Fair enough, that's certainly a scenario that could occur. I think that could be a bit too many assumptions though. For example, I think it will be hard for Sony to convince a lot of gamers that the PS3 has better potential if their favorite games (GTA, Madden, Star Wars, etc.) all perform better on the 360 (possibly with more content). I'm not sure if many people really care about the problems you listed for MS either; they may just be looking for the cheapest console that has the games they want. Guess we'll see how things play out in the upcoming months. You'd be surprised. With the RSX going to 65nm (or already at 65nm?) and Cell possibly going to 45nm before the end of the year, Sony could certainly shave enough off the PS3's production costs to allow for a $299 PS3 this year. That might be a bit too optimistic though(not sure if they'll get to 45nm this year). Even if it was possible, I think Sony might try to start pocketing more of these savings, relying on their software lineup (among other things) to keep PS3 sales going instead of $100 price cuts every 6 months. And FWIW, I pretty much share the same opinion as Drexlerfan22 about Uncharted. I played plenty of great non-PS3 exclusives in 07, and Uncharted was still one my favorite games of the year. If it released in November of 2008, the only thing offhand that I can think of that I wouldn't like as much (relative to what else was out on the market) would probably be the graphics, although they'd probably still be pretty impressive. Maybe the cutscenes as well if several other Sony games continue to push the envelope in this area (maybe other games can too, but it seemed like only Sony's games were trying to go all out with cinematic cutscenes).
I understand your point about Price-Shaving manufacturing techniques that could potentially lower the PS3 to a low price but the PS3 and Xbox are both top of the line hardware and mini-computers. They will never reach a point to give a PS3 at $300 due to the technology in it not to mention the blu-ray player inside. I will venture to say there will never be a PS3 cheaper than the cheapest Blu-ray stand alone...atleast until blu-ray becomes THE standard since DVD still is. I mean that the Blu-Ray coalition will not allow the PS3 to have the strangehold on the market by offering a product $300 cheaper than the cheapest stand alone product because it would almost be an inter-monopoly so the PS3 will stay at the 400-600 price point until it becomes feasible to offer it lower.
Are you trying to say that Sony and/or Microsoft wouldn't sell their consoles for <$300 simply because they may think the hardware is too advanced to sell below that point? If so, they'd be severely hurting their sales, leaving themselves open to competition (would Sony and MS both agree to do this?), and they'd be angering publishers across the world who are already clamoring for $199 consoles. It isn't like the 360 and PS3 are that different from their predecessors to pull that trick and succeed. If they can make a profit off of selling the hardware at cheaper prices (or at least come out even), they'll drop prices. Simple as that. Well...unless you're in a situation similar to the Wii, DS, or PS2 I guess. That's not really saying much. There are already cheaper Blu-ray players, and I think it has been that way for a while. That will most likely continue in the future, especially as other manufacturers put out their players (Funai is supposed to put out a $200 Blu-ray player this year IIRC). More or less answered above, but just to repeat myself, there are already Blu-ray players cheaper than the PS3. The PS3 is not $300 cheaper than the cheapest Blu-ray player, and that will never be the case from now on (unless they start giving out PS3s for free or something). Hell, the PS3 isn't even the cheapest Blu-ray player made by Sony: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S300...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1204168744&sr=8-2
i dont see why anyone would want to buy a $300 blu-ray player when u can get a ps3 for as low as $400 with blu-ray
We are talking about quality here. PS3 is arguably the best blu-ray player out on the market at the moment. Why sell them at 300 when theres people to pay a premium. Not to sound like a dick either but if the person can only really afford it at 300 I would hazard to guess they wouldnt really be reaping the benefits of blu-ray either.
I don't think it's that simple. PS3 should certainly have a hell of a lot better year, and rightfully so. Stuff like MGS4 obviously, whatever Gran Turismo they end up putting out and if FF makes it this year; and (IMO at least) little Big Planet. But I don't think things are going to do the sudden turnaround like that. 360's hardware problems will bite them in the ass - also rightfully so - but there's a lot they are throwing out that will still be tough to forget about. Gears 2 at the end of the year is probably the cap. Throw in NG2 and say Fable through the year will also help. GTA with exclusive content will also be big - I think that because of its head start the 360 has already helped gain ground as the mainstream system for stuff like this and Madden and that will be hard to change.
360's hardware failure rate is what pushed me to get my ps3 tonight. I don't see why people argue about which is better.. They are both great systems, but man that hardware failure rate sucks.... and the ps3 needing an update for every freaking game sucks too.. but oh well.. thank god for broadband and quick downloads..
Ive repaired 2 of my friends 360 before anyone really figured out the problem and this was about a year and a half ago between the 1st shipments end of warranty and pre-extended warranty. The failure rates are something that almost couldnt be avoided due to how the system was put together but easily fixable.
I totally agree with you that the PS3 will stay at something of a premium price for awhile, due to its BR capabilities. Indeed, now that the war of standards is over, a lot of people are starting to spring for PS3s, even at relatively premium prices, because they know they're not investing in a losing hi-def standard. However, I also believe that there will be a PS3 model selling at $350 or less within the next two years. They want people to pay a premium, and many are/will... but after two years, you're done with the early-adopters, and you start targeting the more price-sensitive consumer in earnest. I mean hey, I want a 360 right now, and I can afford to go buy a 360 right now. Not a problem. I just don't want to pay more than it's worth to me, so I'm not buying now. But if it dropped $100 all of a sudden? Sign me up! I'm sure many people feel the same way about the PS3.
True. I remember researching the problem with my brother when he first got the RROD... we found helpful videos online which walked through the entire repair process (at least, the repair process for what was "usually" the problem, supposedly). I offered to do it for him (we're identical twins, but I'm a techie and he's an arts major... go figure), but he ultimately wasn't comfortable with voiding the warranty by removing the cover. So he ended up sending it away and waiting a few weeks... On the other hand, every one of my 3 PS2s failed because the laser just got tired, which was lame. Notsomuch a construction problem like the 360, but a "cheap parts" problem.
The Xbox doesnt quite have the cheap parts problem it is due to the Heatsink warping away from the CPU and triggering the sensor to the hardware failure rings. Honestly the problem is a bit overblown, as I know around 40 people and only 3 have had a problem so I suppose either my sample was rather lucky or its only the pissed off people that make the most noise. Now if only Adblock would work with the newest firefox
Unfortunately I don't think it is overblown at all; you just have a lucky sample. It is a very major problem and a shame really - I consider it the only 'hiccup' the system really has. too bad it is a big one. It's often very weird things too; I went through several 360s. Two of them had really odd problems. One was grounded incorrectly or something, causing it to wreak havoc with a tv it was plugged into. The other was actually working great - until one of the official updates actually bricked it. I was so pissed about that one. Luckily I had some friends who worked in game stores so getting them changed out was not a problem.
Because the people willing to pay the premium would be such a small part of overall PS3 sales that they wouldn't really matter much. Sony won't be getting 300K+ sales every month for the next 1-2 years (@ $400/$500) simply because it is one of the better Blu-ray players that is also one of the most affordable...which will probably no longer be the case in 1-2 years anyway.
I broke down and ordered a controller from play-asia. Had some issue with them accepting my credit card, so I had to go through PayPal.
Come on T-man. You are such a Xbox Fanboy. It doesn't matter how many Sony devices you own. Everyone here has or has had a microsoft operating system. That doesn't make them not fanboys. As far as MGS on 360, perhaps but that's at least a year after launch. Now that this bundle has become public, there is no doubt that there is some hardline exclusivity agreement for the game. Sony is not going to promote the hell out of this game only to have it released on the Xbox 6 months later. I saw some game footage of Too Human, not quite as impressed as I was of their E3 trailer. Hope it will be good though. Gears of War 2 trailer is pretty ****ed up. Something to hope for. IGN sat down and played through a pre-alpha Little Big Planet and they really like it. IT's good to hear. Can't find the link though. Here is GTA IV hands on: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/855/855615p1.html
i'm a Rockets fanboy. and elite consumer electronics member who's been to going to CES for 7 years and make all of you jealous cause you only read and watch about MGS when I see the real deal. yes I like my Xbox games and yes Street Fighter will always-repeat-always- be better than Final Fantasy. you guys are fanboys cause you want to be in the game, i'm in the game. that's the difference. don't worry, study hard. that UT Austin education will get you places.
