Bumps for Sony as PS3 Pre-Orders Begin

Amazon, Play and more start taking your money, but things aren't wholly smooth at Sony.

It's been an up-and-down time recently for Sony, which saw its UK head of sales quit this week just over a month before the biggest launch yet for the company. Kevin Jowett, a key cog in the delivery machinery for Sony's gaming hardware over the past decade, announced his resignation from Sony this week, reports MCV.

In his role as the commercial director at Sony's UK office, Jowett worked with retailers in the run-up to the launches of the PlayStation 2, the PSP and now the PlayStation 3. Sony is in the thick of talks with stores and chains, which will begin selling the PlayStation 3 in late March.

One unnamed retail source told MCV that the timing of the move was "absolutely incredible".

Jowett had in the past railed against sales of second-hand games, which he said devalued games.

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But Jowett's departure doesn't mean the end of the process of gearing up for the launch. Far from it.

Amazon.co.uk began its pre-order campaign this afternoon for the lone, 60 GB model of the PS3 being offered by Sony. Play.com said this week that it would meet all pre-orders it takes for the PS3, to avoid the long waits buyers had to endure at the oversubscribed launch of the Xbox 360 in 2005. Game also began its campaign, though the company will not commit to filling all pre-orders to takes.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo