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News just in. Sony are having a row with our very own HM Customs and Excise department over the classification of what a PS2 really is. The Customs say it is a videogames player because it is 'not all that different from the Playstation which Sony launched in 1995'. (I am quoting directly here.) Sony, on the other hand, are slightly miffed by this to say the least. They say that with its 128-bit microprocessor and DVD capability it should be classed as a computer, not as a videogames player.
Now, as gamers, we all know exactly what the PS2 is. A games console, right? Then what are Sony playing at?
The truth has dawned. If the PS2 is classed as a videogames player, Sony will have to bear the brunt of an extra 2.2% tax to export it to the UK; if it is classed as a computer, they won't have to pay this extra money, which would add considerably to the losses that the Sony Corporation have already incurred over the launch of the PS2. This news, whichever way you look at it, is bad for gamers. Although Sony won't pass on the extra 2.2% to us gamers by hiking the price of the console, they will eventually find a way of clawing this lost revenue back. But, worst of all, all of us gamers know full well that there is a distinct difference between computers and game consoles, and the PS2 is definitely the latter variety of machine, so are Sony betraying us on the quiet by insisting it's a computer on the one hand and marketing it to us as a games machine on the other? Looks like it to me.
Now, as gamers, we all know exactly what the PS2 is. A games console, right? Then what are Sony playing at?
The truth has dawned. If the PS2 is classed as a videogames player, Sony will have to bear the brunt of an extra 2.2% tax to export it to the UK; if it is classed as a computer, they won't have to pay this extra money, which would add considerably to the losses that the Sony Corporation have already incurred over the launch of the PS2. This news, whichever way you look at it, is bad for gamers. Although Sony won't pass on the extra 2.2% to us gamers by hiking the price of the console, they will eventually find a way of clawing this lost revenue back. But, worst of all, all of us gamers know full well that there is a distinct difference between computers and game consoles, and the PS2 is definitely the latter variety of machine, so are Sony betraying us on the quiet by insisting it's a computer on the one hand and marketing it to us as a games machine on the other? Looks like it to me.
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The X-Box can do that as well.
:)
:)
get it on Import, then you can have it quite soon, instead of having to wait until next year, also why can't it be called a computor? it has everything a PC has minus Wondows 95/98, and a few other details, i'm sure they'll bring out a little mouse and keyboard eventually, otherwise there's nothing this console can't do that a PC can, except for look boring.
get it on Import, then you can have it quite soon, instead of having to wait until next year, also why can't it be called a computor? it has everything a PC has minus Wondows 95/98, and a few other details, i'm sure they'll bring out a little mouse and keyboard eventually, otherwise there's nothing this console can't do that a PC can, except for look boring.
PlayStation 2: It's NOT a games machine? 2-11-00 16:21
Sony is claiming that PS2 is a 'computer' not a 'videogame player' in order to avoid 2.2% duty on PlayStation 2s imported into Europe...
And the bad news - for Sony at least - is that the European powers that be don't believe them, correctly spotting that you can play games on a PS2 and that is, therefore, a 'videogame player'.
The extra 2.2% duty has sent Sony livid and they are now threatening legal action against the European Commission if it doesn't change its ruling. Ooh handbags at dawn...
Even the Sony Big Boss himself Ken Kutaragi has got involved telling the FT "We will file suit if PS2 is going to be classified in a different tax category, then with 100 per cent certainty Sony will have to take some action," he said. Sony's gripe is that as the machine has a 128-bit processor, a DVD drive and in the future the capability to connect to the internet it is actually a computer and (whaddya know) no duties are levied on computers imported into Europe... Nice try fellas.
While it's tempting to have a little chuckle at Sony's expense (and smile knowing that the extra tax raised from the Japanese giant will be put to good use feeding and clothing Europeans) the threat of a livid (and slightly cash strapped) Sony may pass on the extra costs to European punters has us quivering with fear.
£325 for a PS2? It's a computer! It's a computer!
Sony is claiming that PS2 is a 'computer' not a 'videogame player' in order to avoid 2.2% duty on PlayStation 2s imported into Europe...
And the bad news - for Sony at least - is that the European powers that be don't believe them, correctly spotting that you can play games on a PS2 and that is, therefore, a 'videogame player'.
The extra 2.2% duty has sent Sony livid and they are now threatening legal action against the European Commission if it doesn't change its ruling. Ooh handbags at dawn...
Even the Sony Big Boss himself Ken Kutaragi has got involved telling the FT "We will file suit if PS2 is going to be classified in a different tax category, then with 100 per cent certainty Sony will have to take some action," he said. Sony's gripe is that as the machine has a 128-bit processor, a DVD drive and in the future the capability to connect to the internet it is actually a computer and (whaddya know) no duties are levied on computers imported into Europe... Nice try fellas.
While it's tempting to have a little chuckle at Sony's expense (and smile knowing that the extra tax raised from the Japanese giant will be put to good use feeding and clothing Europeans) the threat of a livid (and slightly cash strapped) Sony may pass on the extra costs to European punters has us quivering with fear.
£325 for a PS2? It's a computer! It's a computer!
I'm sorry to say this Babylonian, but aren't you being a tad bit biased now?
I mean, what FantasyMeister says does make sense, and I don't think he is biased towards PS2, and was certainly not in his post.
"Of course, logically, it is a computer - any microprocessor is a computer."
Oh come on. The PS2 is a GAMES CONSOLE, it plays games, and it can also play CDs, and DVDs. The Dreamcast plays CD's, but it wasn't marketed as a Home Entertainment System, it was marketed as a console.
"Where from?"
I'm sure FanstasyMeister didn't just make that up on the spot, and I am equally sure he found the news from a relavant news site.
After all, what he says does make sense.
I mean, what FantasyMeister says does make sense, and I don't think he is biased towards PS2, and was certainly not in his post.
"Of course, logically, it is a computer - any microprocessor is a computer."
Oh come on. The PS2 is a GAMES CONSOLE, it plays games, and it can also play CDs, and DVDs. The Dreamcast plays CD's, but it wasn't marketed as a Home Entertainment System, it was marketed as a console.
"Where from?"
I'm sure FanstasyMeister didn't just make that up on the spot, and I am equally sure he found the news from a relavant news site.
After all, what he says does make sense.
I feel sorry to say it, But playstation 2 will be a big flop, as we have already seen with munch's oddessy games makers are moving to easier to develop for consoles such as X box, and once one moves the others will follow.
Alas yet the Ps2 R.I.P
and such the Dreamcast and X-Box inherit the gaming world as the pirates love the Dreamcast and everyone else goes for the X-BOX due to mass marketing.
Sad to say we won't see anything new and decent for at lease a year
Alas yet the Ps2 R.I.P
and such the Dreamcast and X-Box inherit the gaming world as the pirates love the Dreamcast and everyone else goes for the X-BOX due to mass marketing.
Sad to say we won't see anything new and decent for at lease a year
Of course, logically, it is a computer - any microprocessor is a computer.
It just happens that this one is used primarily for playing games. Well, it is in the UK, anyway. Maybe Sony should point them to Japan, where's it's been bought as a DVD player.
>(I am quoting directly here.)
Where from?
I personally think our customs should p!ss off. I've had a fair bit of stuff imported that you can't buy here - nothing dodgy, just fan club stuff - and they always sting you for bloody tax; like we don't pay enough here anyway.
PS2 aside, if you can't buy something here, the tax man isn't missing out anyway - so why should we have to pay tax on imports? I can understand being taxed on things that you may import simply to get them at a cheaper price, but not on items where you have no choice but to import.
Rant over.
It just happens that this one is used primarily for playing games. Well, it is in the UK, anyway. Maybe Sony should point them to Japan, where's it's been bought as a DVD player.
>(I am quoting directly here.)
Where from?
I personally think our customs should p!ss off. I've had a fair bit of stuff imported that you can't buy here - nothing dodgy, just fan club stuff - and they always sting you for bloody tax; like we don't pay enough here anyway.
PS2 aside, if you can't buy something here, the tax man isn't missing out anyway - so why should we have to pay tax on imports? I can understand being taxed on things that you may import simply to get them at a cheaper price, but not on items where you have no choice but to import.
Rant over.
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