Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing - Kotaku Comments

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

krunkjuice — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:46:58 MST

@Manny: I'd imagine because MS did this with OSs in the 90s.

krunkjuice

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Leathersoup — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:55:47 MST

@Sollus: Agreed

Leathersoup

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

A-Rude-Hero — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:57:25 MST

@NeoAkira: I don't know, in my area there are 2 cable companies (though is really garbage) and 2 satellite companies. So long as satelite is in the area (which I think is the case in at least most areas) I wouldn't call a cable company a monopoly as their is some type of choice.

A-Rude-Hero

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

A-Rude-Hero — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:55:26 MST

@Lackshmana: No no I understood your intent. The "you" was, as you said, universal, and not in direct response to your comment.

A-Rude-Hero

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

NeoAkira — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:22:53 MST

@baked ham:

Uh, how about the cable monopolies. I think that's a fair place for the government to intervene. Because essentially each cable company has a monopoly on certain areas. Which means consumers can either take it or leave (which they will take it) but no changes will be made through the competitive, liberalistic free-market that this country was founded on.

NeoAkira

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

1080Peter — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:13:37 MST

Some people will complain that Nintendo "won't lower the price of the DS anyway and it'll just pocket the added profit."

Look, that's not the point that Nintendo will get more profit. The point is that two companies are (said to be) participating in an illegal practice -- that of price fixing.

The only way Nintendo, or any other company, will lower prices is a dip in sales or price cutting from a competitor or competition in the form of a new strategy/products..etc. No company is obligated to lower prices until the market dictates so.

I'm not blindly defending Nintendo here. The whole issue need only refer to common sense.

1080Peter

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

satlos — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:23:07 MST

@satlos: ^ From the Japanese side, I mean; at this point, I've filtered out any story regarding EA on this blog.

satlos

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

satlos — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:19:55 MST

At least we're seeing (one of ) the true face(s) of gaming for a change.

satlos

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Lackshmana — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:37:40 MST

@A-Rude-Hero: I'm not sure if you are saying that I took it seriously, or just using the general "you," for people who might...

But to clarify, my post was entirely satirical. As is often the case. Thus the CNN parody.

Lackshmana

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Onizuka-GTO — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:44:34 MST

Bowser, he has his claws everywhere!

(except on Princess Peach)

Onizuka-GTO

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Crazy_Buffet_Happens — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:40:02 MST

too many libertarians.

Crazy_Buffet_Happens

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

KirbyMorph — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:28:49 MST

I wonder if Nintendo initiated this inquiry or if it was a 3rd party that started the investigation into price fixing.

Also, semi-joking here, I can't see how it's price fixing if, after the price is lowered, the cost of a DS stays the same.

KirbyMorph

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

WickedSack — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:19:28 MST

@baked ham: I know, I mean it's the same situation with the EU fining MS over a billion for antitrust. I mean if people didn't want MS software then they shouldn't buy the computers that are packed in with it. Aren't I right?

WickedSack

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

A-Rude-Hero — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:17:39 MST

@Lackshmana: I don't know about that. Drew took a lot of heat for his HD-DVD eulogy/pity party. Personally I think if the picture is that upsetting to you you need to just gtfo the internet.

Yes yes how dare someone tarnish MS's spotless reputation with a photoshop image. No it's not the company involved but it's a clever joke that highlights the situation at play here.

A-Rude-Hero

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

baked ham — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:05:22 MST

@jetsmanfoley: If that's true, that there are instances where the government needs to intervene, okay. Maybe. I haven't seen an instance where I feel that it would be okay, but I'm open to the suggestion that it may at some point in some case be necessary. I definitely don't think the case mentioned here should be messed with by anybody.

baked ham

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Lackshmana — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:58:27 MST

And after a sterling start, Drew hits his first controversy. Picturegate, wherein he used a microsoft/monopoly parody photo for an, at best, marginally related story.

We will keep you updated as the situation progresses, but this may actually help him in the Japanese primaries, then turn around and hurt him in the general election.

Stay tuned to KNN, home of the best post analysis team on cable internet.

Lackshmana

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

jetsmanfoley — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:53:03 MST

@baked ham: Fair enough. I think at some point, governments need to intervene for the benefit of its people. Is this one of those cases? Probably not. In any case, this isnt the forum for political or economic arguments. You are right that the consumers will see no immediate benefit to this.

jetsmanfoley

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

tnx3 — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:52:37 MST

@Old-school Sonic fanboy: They are the actual manufacturers of the DS screen component. Nintendo doesn't actually make a lot of the individual parts of the things they sale. Best example would be the ATI (I think it's ATI) video chip found in a Wii system. Nintendo buys that part from them, buys a lot of other things as well, and assembles a completed product for sale.

tnx3

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

baked ham — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:47:02 MST

@jetsmanfoley: I'm familiar with the concept of oligopoly. I see no reason why governments should involve themselves in the regulation of markets. I'm sorry if you disagree, but that's how I see it.

baked ham

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

baked ham — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:46:15 MST

@boxofthegods: Yeah, what's your point? It's the free market that should determine these kinds of things, not the courts. If a bunch of companies got together and fixed prices, then the people will either pay it, and that will turn out to be a good decision for profitability on the part of the industry, or the people will not pay it, which will then show that the industry needs to either abandon their price fixing agreement or lower their prices to the point where the free market will again deem it a proper value for the product and money will again be spent in that area.

baked ham

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

jetsmanfoley — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:44:07 MST

@baked ham: Well if you make something you have the right to sell it at whatever price you want, but if you collude with other companies to sell at a high price, it creates the same sort of effect as a monopoly and customers get screwed.

I'd imagine that price fixing is pretty hard to prove. I doubt they have an email chain going back and forth between sales people at Hitachi and Sharp with any details.

jetsmanfoley

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Sollus — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:43:50 MST

So if these screens finally become cheaper for nintendo do any of you honestly think that they will lower the price of the DS? Hell no.

Sollus

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

boxofthegods — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:38:10 MST

@baked ham:
What are you going on about this would be like if all the manufacturers of a certain product say mini hard drives got together and decided to sell them at the same price. Could you imagine how much more any of the portable music devices would cost if the manufactures of decided to work together for profit instead of competing like business are supposed to.

boxofthegods

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:37:37 MST

@Xephos: That's not hummer dummy... that's bitterness. If the story was about Microsoft, then it would be funny. The way it is right now, it sounds like an ex-girlfriend named Gwen who doesn't know when the fuck to stop bringing up mistakes that a person made regardless of how much that person has apologized! *breath* You see how sad that was? My point exactly ;)

okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under)

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Callidux — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:37:34 MST

@Xephos: Oh believe me, I enjoy a good Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo/random company bashing as much as the next. But I don't see how this has anything to do with Microsoft, and because it's a completely irrelevant picture I don't find any humor in it.

Callidux

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Xephos — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:30:13 MST

@Callidux:
Chill, it's called HUMOR.

Xephos

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Old-school Sonic fanboy — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:26:57 MST

So..what do they do? Replace DS screens or something?

Old-school Sonic fanboy

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

baked ham — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:25:29 MST

There's nothing wrong with Hitachi and Sharp charging whatever they want. If Nintendo pays it, then that's just fine. If they don't, then they have to lower their prices or lose that business. It's not any government or congress of caucus or court's place to interfere with this sort of thing.

And besides, if they enforce lower prices for Nintendo to pay, that won't make Nintendo lower their prices. It just means more profit for Nintendo. Why does Nintendo deserve that profit and not Hitachi & Sharp? Or will they then force Nintendo to lower the DS's price, as well?

This is all bullshit.

baked ham

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Barob — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:25:24 MST

Wow, way to make too much fuss over a picture, even though it works since it's a play on corporate monopolization and other shady dealings, such as price fixing.

Unfortunately from this whole thing, we as consumers won't see any change in price if found to be true. Nintendo will only make more profit.

Barob

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Nimsim — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:25:24 MST

agreeing.

Nimsim

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Nimsim — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:24:38 MST

@cpmui99: Are you serious? No, monopoly and price fixing is not acceptable. We have competition for a reason. What they have been doing is illegal.

I very much doubt it that you would blatantly accept 2 companies agreeong on keeping their technology at a skyhigh price instead of competing.

Nimsim

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

7th_Ronin — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:22:54 MST

they does the same for lcd screens put in hdtvs for sure... they should investigate them further

7th_Ronin

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Callidux — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:19:33 MST

@Manny: I agree, Microsoft has nothing to do at all with this story, as far as I can tell. That picture really should be changed.

Callidux

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

ShinobiFist(PSN-XBL) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:16:06 MST

As long Nintendo is not part of this mess, is all good.

ShinobiFist(PSN-XBL)

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

cpmui99 — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:13:16 MST

I really don't see what's wrong with that. Sure, it's a pretty jerk thing for them to do but it is their product. They're the ones making the damn things so why shouldn't they be able to charge what they want for it? No one has to buy a DS, Nintendo doesn't have to buy from one of those two companies. If they really were fixing prices, Nintendo could just say 'fuck you' and hire a different company.

cpmui99

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Nimsim — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:11:53 MST

@CarbonatedWater: Maybe. Maybe.

Nimsim

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

CarbonatedWater — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:10:46 MST

@Nimsim: Maybe a Hitachi or Sharp booth babe would be better. Maybe with a thought bubble or something. Everyone wins.

CarbonatedWater

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Manny — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:10:16 MST

I get the Microsoft/Monopoly connection but why is it relevant here?

Manny

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

justhesh — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:09:17 MST

Really, Drew? Really? A Microsoft allusion? Really?

Tsk tsk. Someone's going to bed with no pudding.

But you will get a story, because this is the only time I will ever be able to use the word "allusion".

justhesh

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

ErskinPig — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:08:59 MST

Hitachi and Sharp: You are NOT the Senate.

ErskinPig

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

AndrewMP — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:08:37 MST

You guys already posted this story, I beleive.
[kotaku.com]

AndrewMP

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Nimsim — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:07:10 MST

Although it makes sense to put microsoft pic there. Shouldn't it have been something else? Maybe about hitachi, or sharp. Maybe.

Nimsim

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Knight-Zero — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:07:04 MST

I would think that it would be logical for them to try and price gouge... "If I don't lower my prices, he won't lower his... we all win" - Evil CEO

Knight-Zero

Hitachi and Sharp Under Investigation for DS Price Fixing

Integral_Taken — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:06:37 MST

Thats no good

Integral_Taken