Sony says goodbye to 20GB PlayStation 3

In order to concentrate on a more popular and expensive model with bigger hard drive, Sony Corp. has decided to discontinue selling the cheaper 20-gigabyte version of its next-generation PlayStation 3 gaming console, the media reports said Thursday.

Understanding the diminishing popularity of 20GB PS3 gaming console, which are loosing their passion to the 60GB version with each passing day, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has no other alternative than to confirm that the 20GB PS3 will no longer be shipped out to retailers in North America, due to insufficient demand.

"Due to the overwhelming demand for the 60GB model from both retailers and consumers, we have ceased offering the 20GB model here in North America," SCEA confirmed in a statement.

According to Dave Karraker, spokesman for Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., consumers have been buying the 60-gigabyte model 10 to 1 over the cheaper unit since PS3 unit’s launch in November, demonstrating that gamers are in favor of the advanced technology in a gaming console and not hesitating to pay more for that.

"At launch, we offered two separate models of PlayStation 3 to meet the diverse needs and interests of our PlayStation fan base. Initial retail demand in North America was upwards of 90 per cent in favor of the 60GB SKU, so we manufactured and shipped-in accordingly," the statement reads.

Launched on November 17, 2006 in North America in two different configurations, a $600 model with a 60GB hard drive and a $500 version with a 20GB hard drive, both models have much of the same hardware inside. Besides the higher hard drive capacity what makes the 60GB console superior are built-in wireless support, slots for memory sticks and other storage media.

PS3 is Sony Computer Entertainment's third video game console and the successor to the 7-year-old PlayStation 2. Its 20 GB Basic model retails for $500, while the 60 GB Premium model retails for $600.

As the 20GB PS3 will no longer be offered to retailers for sale in North America, people should move fast in order to pick up a PS3. Retailers have very limited stock of 20-gigabyte models on store shelves, Karraker said, adding that the cheaper and less powerful PS3 will continue to have a suggested retail price of $500 until supplies run out.

However, Sony promises its valuable PS3 20GB customers support and services for their gaming consoles. Gamers who own a lower spec machine will continue to be "100 percent supported with software and services, since all PS3s have the same basic architecture," Karraker said.

The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles.

Among the trio of next generation gaming consoles, Nintendo has emerged as the numero uno in sales after selling 436,000 Wii video game consoles in January and again attained the top position in February by selling 355,000 video game units, continuously outshining both its rivals Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 in the US video game consoles market.

US gamers bought 127,000 of Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 consoles in February, while Microsoft's Xbox 360 managed 228,000 units.

The sales data illustrates that despite having significant graphics and processing power, the PS3 and Xbox 360 have apparently not succeeded in alluring consumers in the United States. Nintendo’s Wii console though has less powerful processors than its rivals but it features an innovative motion-sensing controller that has helped build buzz for the machine. Its motion-sensing control system allows users to play games with their body movement.

The three companies are locked in a fierce battle for dominance in the $13 billion U.S. video game market.