PS3 powerful, not expensive says Sony - not optimal says Carmack

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.’s president Ken Kuratagi has defended the price-tag of Sony’s PlayStation 3 game console that will sell for up to $599 in premium flavour, which will make it the most expensive game console ever. Mr. Kuratagi said the cost of the machine is not high, but just right.

“This is the PS3 price. Expensive, cheap – we don’t want you to think of it in terms of game machines,” said Ken Kuratagi in an interview with with Japanese website IT Media, excepts from which have been published by GameIndustry.biz.

X-bit labs - Sony Defends High PlayStation 3 Price Point

John Carmack, head programmer at id Software and the man behind many popular three-dimensional games, said in an interview that the PlayStation 3 game console is not as optimal as Microsoft’s Xbox 360, but admitted that Sony Corp. would retain its leading video game console market positions and software developers would be “forced” to program for the PS3.

“PlayStation 3 gives more theoretical power, but what is going to matter is delivering on the games. I do believe that Sony has made a less optimal decision than Microsoft from the perspective of a game developer,” said John Carmack in an interview with G4 television.

X-bit labs - PlayStation 3 – Not Optimal, Says John Carmack