The latest price cut heats up a fierce battle between the console makers, all of which have been cutting their prices in various territories around the world.
The move is being seen as a pre-emptive strike against Microsoft and its Xbox. The Xbox is currently still priced at $299 and Microsoft is expected to cut its price to $199 at next week's video game trade show Electronic Entertainment Expo.
Sony also announced that it is to cut the price of its PlayStation One console from $99 to $49.
The GameCube, like the Xbox, launched in the US in November, and in March and April respectively in the UK. Sony has already cut the price of the PS2 in the UK from 拢299 to 拢199 and, only a month after the launch of the Xbox in the UK, Microsoft slashed the price of the console by 拢100 to 拢199.
This makes both of the boxes 拢70 more costly than Nintendo's GameCube, which cut its UK price before launch from 拢150 to 拢129. The GameCube has been flying off the shelf since launch and might yet force Sony and Microsoft to reconsider their UK pricing strategy.
Unlike Microsoft, the Japanese games company and home of 'Super Mario' launched with 29 games, and some of the best yet seen on third-generation consoles -- including 'Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader'.
Sony said last week it has sold more than 30m PlayStation2 units worldwide, giving it a more than 10-to-1 advantage over rival Microsoft in terms of installed game machines.
The GameCube is just what it says on the box, allowing it to offer the cheaper price. The PS2 plays DVDs and the Xbox has built-in networking capabilities. That said, Nintendo and Sony are planning to allow gamers to play games online later this year.
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