Real stock issues or marketing tactics?
Amazon.co.jp have pulled pre-orders for the new slim-line PSP, sparking rumours that there's going to be launch day stock shortages... how novel.That a new gaming platform should see shortages on launch day is nothing new, though in recent times it's not been the case with handhelds. The original PSP's launch did see minor shortages and the Nintendo DS roll out, both the original and DS Lite versions, went pretty smoothly, so why are there shortages on what is essentially a face-lift for Sony's handheld?
The cynical amongst us might argue that Sony, perhaps embarrassed by the PS3's refusal to fly off the shelves at launch, have decided to limit stock availability to create an artificial demand. But if the PS3's constant availability is down to Sony getting their launch strategy right, how come the Slimline PSP is, apparently, selling out?
We'll leave you to judge for yourselves. Suffice to say that when they do launch over here, if Game do an upgrade offer similar to the cashback offer they ran on the DS, I'll be getting myself one. Why? Because I'm a techno-whore and that's all there is to it.
