Do you think 3D will have any sort of impact in India, especially with the PS3.
I think there will be a fair amount of 3D hardware adoption, and the PS3 is at the forefront of 3D. So while the pricing of the TVs and 3D hardware will be high initially, it will come down and people want a 3D experience, so it will only get more popular.
Can we expect some sort of Bravia/PS3 collaboration or even bundles?
Sure. Right now we have Sony’s 3D roadshow, where we’re showing 3D playback on Sony Bravia TVs via the PS3. Currently we only have non-playable demos there, but I’ve seen games like MotorStorm, GT5 and WipEout in 3D, and even FIFA running in 3D. They look stunning, so I think 3D on the PS3 could be very popular.
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FIFA in 3D?
Yes, I saw a bit of it. It looks stunning.
Move is something you have to experience yourself to fully understand it. So will we see demo kiosks set up with Move in malls, etc so people can try it out?
We’re currently in process of drawing up our Move roll-out strategy. One of the important aspects of it is how to bring the experience to the consumer. We have over 100 Sony centres, but we would like to expand the experience to other retail stores. Secondly, we would like to go beyond stores and take the Move experience to malls and colleges too. Our focus this year is primarily on Move, and we really feel like an important aspect of gaming in India will open up once it comes here.
Is Sony any closer to starting manufacturing of Blu-ray titles in India?
It’s still under evaluation and the popularity of the Blu-ray format has certainly helped our case. We’re now seeing Indian films on Blu-ray and availability and sales of Hollywood movies on BD is also increasing. Sony has also launched a sub-Rs 10,000 Blu-ray player. Plus, PS3 game sales are constantly on the rise. When I was at E3, several third party publishers, seeing that we manufacture PS2 games here and the increasing sales of PS3 games, enquired if and when we would begin manufacturing PS3 games as well. So we’re definitely making a stronger case for local manufacturing, but its still under evaluation and there’s no deadline set for it. If and when we do start manufacturing Blu-ray here, it will be for movies as well as games.
Is there any chance of Sony offering an extended warranty option for the PS3?
I did have a chat with the service people in Sony India, and it doesn’t seem viable. We did estimate how much we would have to charge for the extended warranty option, and it amounts to as much, if not more, than the ‘50% off on new PS3’ offer we have now. So we won’t be offering an extended warranty option. If we do offer it, it will cost so much that no one would opt for it. It works if we’re able to repair consoles locally, and have the extended warranty cover repair costs, but not when the only option is a replacement with a new console.
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There’s also been a lot of debate regarding the replacement for out of warranty PS3s, mostly due to misinformation from Sony World and the various service centres. One user was told that since his PS3 was over two years old, he would have to pay 75% for a replacement rather than 50%.
That 75% policy applies to certain Sony consumer electronics, but not to the PS3. So that person has been misinformed. It is best to call the service centre to clear up such doubts. The policy is a flat 50% off on the current MRP of the PS3, no matter when it was purchased. So even if you bought a PS3 at launch in 2007 for Rs 39,990, you will only have to pay 50% of the current MRP (Rs 19,990). Of course, within the 1 year warranty period, replacement is free.
Does this policy apply only to PS3s bought from India or all PAL PS3s?
All PAL PS3s. Also, PAL PS3s bought from outside India will be treated as out of warranty even within the 1 year of purchase. So only Indian PS3s carry the 1 year free replacement warranty.
So if they are PAL PS3s from outside India, will the customer be required to show a bill to qualify for the replacement?
Yes, there needs to be a proof of purchase; either the bill or a stamp on the warranty card. More than anything, it helps the service centre determine whether it’s a PAL product. If there is another way to tell a PAL PS3 apart without proof of purchase, we may be able to waive off this requirement, but we’ll have to look into that.
What’s the reason behind not offering warranty on PS3s that are given as replacement under the 50% scheme? Unlike the under-warranty replacements, which don’t come with warranty because the replacement is free, for out of warranty replacements, the consumer is actually paying 50% of the price of the new PS3, so to not have warranty after that is quite disappointing.
As a policy, we only offer warranty on newly purchased PS3s. So even though the PS3s given as replacements are new, they are given as replacements and not new purchases, so there is no warranty coverage. However, since the consumer is paying 50% of the price, I can get in touch with the service department and at least get a comment from them on it.
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