Japan-based Kotaku reader Dewi tipped us about his recent appearance on the TV program "Bankisha," which dealt with the PS3's gray market business. When Dewi saw the final cut, he discovered that he'd been edited right out. He blogs:

The recording went quite well, and I managed to make some good, valid points. So, imagine my horror when I eventually watched the show and realised that they'd edited me out! I spent a good hour or so fuming about it this morning. With hindsight, I think I can now guess why they used the other dudes, but not me. It would seem that my knowledge on the subject stopped me from towing the line, and I actually stood against some of the main points that the program was trying to make.

Dewi's story of what was edited out and part two of the video clip after the jump:

Ok, so basically, in our section [on the program], we had to do an eBay search in our region for PS3s, and then the staff and camera would come over, and we'd chat about it. They basically wanted to show two things; that lots of Japanese units were available abroad, and that people were paying ridiculous prices...

First, I pointed out that eBay had forbidden people from creating ps3 auctions in the UK until February, so any units that were there weren't really indicative of demand, or the real prices being paid. They weren't interested. What they were interested in was the most expensive listing that came up - 1,200 pounds - and they focused on that, going, 'wow, how expensive, just as I thought the UK is the most expensive!'.
Now, this simply wasn't true, and I am sick of the UK getting painted with the 'most expensive' brush. So, I pointed out the truth;

This was a buy it now price, nobody had bid on it, and nobody would, because the guy was being greedy.

Some units (the ones with bids, and I also showed them the finished auctions) were going for less than 500 pounds. He translated that into Japanese yen, and it came out at almost double the Japanese PS3 retail price. 'That's really expensive is!' he said. I didn't think so, considering that the UK PS3 is rumoured to launch at 425 pounds anyway, and won't be coming out for months - it doesn't seem like such a ridiculous price to me when put in that context. There are always some people who just have to have it. He asked me if I'm going to buy the system for 500 pounds. I'm sorry, but what a ridiculous question. I said no, because I live in Japan, and can get it for the Japanese price. He gave me a quizzical look. What the heckfire was he expecting me to say! 'Oh no, I can't buy it... only crazy rich people can afford that!' Seriously, what the hell!! What kind of mentally challenged people watch this show, if they think that Bankisha flew people in from these four countries who can speak Japanese, and now they are going to fly back and buy a PS3?!?

Anyway, so, yeh, I'm pretty bitter about it. Of course, I knew that Japanese TV was crap and sensationalist, like a TV version of the Daily Mail, but I have to say that I was disappointed nonetheless.

So what were the points Dewi was trying to make?

Anyway, besides my own personal grudge, I don't like the basic premise of the program — that PS3's aren't available in Japan because Chinese people and other foreigners are buying them all surreptitiously. No fingers are pointed at Sony for having a pitiful number of units available at launch, and screwing the Euro zone by delaying the launch there and raising the price. Even if not a single foreigner bought a Japanese PS3, they would all be sold out after all — I mean look people, you still can't walk into a store and buy a frikin' DS Lite here!

Well said. Bitter or not, he was sweet enough to even subtitle the show for all. Kudos for that! Brian Ashcraft

Dewi On TV [Nyago Blog]

Contact information for this author is not available.