Playstation 3 Pricing Announced

[Refefer]

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Two systems: base, running for $499 and an advanced running at $600.

Lotta money, but better than I had invisioned. Looks like sony is going to be taking a huge hit from each console, though word on the street is that this console is supposed to last 10 years. We'll see

[faster100]

10 years or until xbox is revamped again

[Demiurge]

This is going to be interesting, just based on the pricing alone. It'll be interesting to see how many people bite on them. I was concerned about the XBox 360 just based on the price, but it's a great unit. How much more will this really offer up over the 360 to justify the price difference? The price could easily make the 360 the alternative to most buyers at it's price point.

[tommyboy]

what happened to the good old days when you only had to dish out 200 bucks for videogame hardware. The only reason I would buy the ps3 for this price is because blu-ray players will cost more than $500 anyways but I don't have an hdtv right now so I don't even need a blue ray

[Demiurge]

what happened to the good old days when you only had to dish out 200 bucks for videogame hardware. The only reason I would buy the ps3 for this price is because blu-ray players will cost more than $500 anyways but I don't have an hdtv right now so I don't even need a blue ray

The gaming generation 'grew up' and took their kids along with them. They can definitely command these prices, but this is a new high here. That'll be the interesting part. Then again the average age of gamers is over 30 now.

[neomagus00]

The gaming generation 'grew up' and took their kids along with them. They can definitely command these prices, but this is a new high here. That'll be the interesting part. Then again the average age of gamers is over 30 now.

gamers in general, maybe, but i'm not so sure that applies to consoles... i could be wrong, though

is there any difference between the high-end model and the base other than a bigger HD?

[Sami]

First buyers will take the hit, just like in HD-DVD players now, then the prices will go down. I might take a jump to the console world depending on Blu-Ray prices but I'd still be mainly playing my games on my computer.

[Shizelbs]

Maybe if I wanted to buy a BR player that looked like complete crap. I mean, has anyone tried to watch a DVD on their PS2? Its the worst player ever. Maybe Denon should make the PS3, then I would buy it.

[Demiurge]

Maybe if I wanted to buy a BR player that looked like complete crap. I mean, has anyone tried to watch a DVD on their PS2? Its the worst player ever. Maybe Denon should make the PS3, then I would buy it.

This is why I question the systems value.

[tommyboy]

Maybe if I wanted to buy a BR player that looked like complete crap. I mean, has anyone tried to watch a DVD on their PS2? Its the worst player ever. Maybe Denon should make the PS3, then I would buy it.

You are 100% correct about the dvd feature on the ps2, it sucked, bad. Even if the ps3 was 300 bucks, i still don't think I would buy it. When I bought a ps2 in 2001 for $300, it just sat on my stand collecting dust. The dvd player sucked and there wasn't the games were sub-par (in my opinion). I guess what Im trying to say is that when I buy a game system, I want to play games, not do all this extra **** that I can already do with my computer. The ps2 was the only system I have paid more than 200 dollars for it was by far the worst I owned. So i guess im afraid ps3 would be the same way.

[Shizelbs]

Seriously, why buy the PS3 when the Xbox 'could' look just as good, and my decent nothing special DVD player is going to look better playing movies anyways. Whoopdedoo, I've got a BluRay player. Same stupid boat as my totally rad HTIB has 700W!!!

Which reminds me, next time somebody asks me how many watts my speakers are, I am going to punch a baby.

[Refefer]

So... how many watts are your speakers? Bet mine sound better. Got them for $500 from a guy in the parking lot outside my work, they have like 17 drivers in EACH ONE!!!! They're totally sweet and normally cost $3000, or so he said, they have like 2173 watts of power!!1!11!

:D

[michael_w]

The thing does have some pretty crazy specs but I don't know... that's a lot of cash for a gaming console. I think I'd almost rather put the money towards upgrading my computer and stay out of the console war.

So I'm not the only one that gets frustrated by that question too. Usually goes something like:

"So how many watts is that amp you just bought?"
(me) "Hmm it puts out around 80"
"What?!? And you paid how much?? My car amp puts out like 1600 peak and I got it for $150"
(me) "Oh yea...? good luck with that "

[Refefer]

heh, I remember going into bestbuy to test out their klipsch sb-3s with my t-amp. yeah... the guy looked at me like I was insane when I said I'd be testing them with a 5 watt amp.

[cheddar]

With Halo 3 delayed until Spring 2007 there's only going to be one must have during Christmas for the console gamer (or their parents) with cash. Let's face it, Sony will see millions of PS3s flying off the shelves this holiday season...

[Demiurge]

How do you figure? I think you're wrong. Sony at a higher price point will only help Microsoft, it's obvious. Especially if there are shortages.

[cheddar]

I've seen production figures of between 4-6 million ps3s by Christmas. If there are shortages, then ps3 already wins. And I think that it's really about killer apps. Halo 3 might have been the ps3 killer if they could have simulatneously lowered 360 prices with a holiday must have like that. But what are the die hard console gamers going to brag about for Christmas now? "Hey dude, I just got a 360, wanna come over and see it?" Ya, right.

Like I said, for the gamer with money (and I think there's more out there than one might think, Sony's had to have done a ton of market analysis beforehand), "Hey dude, wanna check out my ps3?" is gonna be the rage. Anybody remember tickle me elmo? If that giggling paper weight can be a top Christmas seller...Christmas buying isn't always rational, for many, it's about buying love...

And a dad still gets to rationalize the purchase by saying he can watch blu-ray on the flat screen that he's had for more than a year now with no HD content...even if the player isn't so good.

[Demiurge]

Halo 3 didn't sell me my XBox 360, nor all of the other units that have been sold thus far. Microsoft's price point is far lower than that the PS3. Those who already have the 360 will be able to buy an HD-DVD drive for their system, which isn't a selling point for either system, IMO. In any event, Microsoft still offers it, and it's the format with the big head start. I don't know anyone who uses their gaming system as their sole DVD player, or even at all, but why beleauger the point?

Sony is also banking on a technology that is 2nd in line -- HD-DVD will have 2 quarters of sales before Blu-Ray. Would you put your money with Blu-Ray? I wouldn't. Especially knowing it's not even a seperate.

You talk about Sony's market analysis -- how good is it? They've been getting their asses kicked lately and this is said to be the last go around for them if this system isn't a hit. Microsoft has money to burn, and Sony doesn't.

I'm probably going to own both units, but like the 360 I will wait and see how things shape up before I put my chips in. Getting gamers to spend $400 on a console was thought to be a stretch, and now they're going to try to get gamers to spend $600? Hey -- since I own a business I can tell you that the less expensive unit is going to be more popular when they more expensive alternative doesn't offer much else. Blu-Ray isn't what I would bank my money on, but that's what Sony has done.

[cheddar]

But isn't that the point? Nobody is going to pony up extra dough to buy Microsoft's HD-DVD player when they've already spent $400 bucks on the console. But Sony is willing to lose hundreds of dollars on each console so that each and every one of those millions sold means a blue-ray player in a household. I'll bet that none of the stand alone HD-DVD players sold before blue-ray comes along appoaches anything close to those numbers.

Microsoft's player is a non-starter, Sony is hoping that the ps3 becomes the media hub for the living room for the next decade. I'll admit it's a somewhat risky proposition with the future of HD players in uncertainty. And I'm not arguing against lower prices selling more units all other things being equal. But Christmas is the great unequalizer with newest and best, bragging rights, and buying love all wild cards that could tip the balance in Sony's favor.

To tell you the truth, I'm waiting till next year to buy the 360 when the price drops out of the stratosphere. But as many on this forum are evidence of, newest and best often trumps patience and frugality...I'm not saying that's a bad thing ;).

...Oh ya, the first stand alone blue-ray players will come along this summer. Very expensive, but I bet there are people out there that will buy these too...

[Demiurge]

But isn't that the point? Nobody is going to pony up extra dough to buy Microsoft's HD-DVD player when they've already spent $400 bucks on the console. But Sony is willing to lose hundreds of dollars on each console so that each and every one of those millions sold means a blue-ray player in a household. I'll bet that none of the stand alone HD-DVD players sold before blue-ray comes along appoaches anything close to those numbers.

Microsoft's player is a non-starter, Sony is hoping that the ps3 becomes the media hub for the living room for the next decade. I'll admit it's a somewhat risky proposition with the future of HD players in uncertainty. And I'm not arguing against lower prices selling more units all other things being equal. But Christmas is the great unequalizer with newest and best, bragging rights, and buying love all wild cards that could tip the balance in Sony's favor.

To tell you the truth, I'm waiting till next year to buy the 360 when the price drops out of the stratosphere. But as many on this forum are evidence of, newest and best often trumps patience and frugality...I'm not saying that's a bad thing ;).

...Oh ya, the first stand alone blue-ray players will come along this summer. Very expensive, but I bet there are people out there that will buy these too...

The point is that Microsoft offers an alternative, not to mention neither of us have any idea what it would cost. The ball is in Microsofts court on that one because they could sell them for $100 and it wouldn't hurt them. It would still be cheaper than the PS-3, and it would be the more popular format (at least as it stands now, as it's the only format).

I'm just saying that people aren't buying their gaming systems for the DVD players, and that's all Sony offers extra from the 360, and it's an unproven technology. HD-DVD has had some great reviews lately and it's already in the marketplace. As far as the media hubs -- XBox 360 is already a media hub with XBox Live, movie trailers, music, and game demos.

You're catching on to my point about Sony too, they've laid all their chips on the table for this one. I'm not saying it can't work, but from a business perspective I see it as one hell of a risk, but then again they had nothing to lose. It's either do something risky and lose your business or do nothing at all and lose your business. The chance of them winning is what is up in the air -- and I just don't see it, but I hope they do. The more competition the better.

I'm just interested to see how far parents go, the Sony price point is a new high, and yes, XBox 360 was too, but this is $200 more! It'll be interesting, that's for sure.

It's amazing that in all this Nintendo isn't even considered a player anymore. That's too bad, but if you've watched all the E3 stuff even the experts say that Nintendo is small time and that the real battle is between Sony and Microsoft.

[cheddar]

Quoting prices for the HD-DVD add on is just wild speculation, but even if it is $100 that's $499 for an xbox with 20gig drive vs. $499 for a ps3 with 20gig drive. And there's no way microsoft is going to fall on its sword for HD-DVD to bring the price that low with no movie library or HDTVs to sell and only a secondary, late on the scene interest in who wins the format war. Remember the cheapest HD-DVD players right now are $499 at the cheapest and the 360 can't even do 1080p. Again, nobody is going to pony up more money for microsoft's player since they can already use the 360 just fine as it is. Your price is $100, I would think that even selling it at cost you're way off.

That will mean that the lowest common denominator will continue to be the 360 with its low capacity optical drive vs millions of blue-ray players world wide by Christmas...geez, it's only $100 dollars more than a 360 with the same size drive, and you get a blue-ray player.

[Demiurge]

Well, I am tired of repeating myself. Have fun with your PS3.

[cheddar]

Since you're probably getting both, you have fun with yours too ;).

[venomclan]

I personally think that Sony is pricing too high. Using the PS3 as a BR player will probably be poor quality playback. One thing to consider is the software prices. BR discs are more expensive. Nobody is going to pay $80 a game.

Here is a quote from a regular at another site I visit. Interesting stuff:

"Hi all,
As you know I work for IBM. I'm currently at a technical symposium here in Orlando,Fla. As you may or may not know, IBM partnered with Sony on the new processor for the PS3.
Today, we just had a presentation of the processor chip that is the core of the new PS3, from the Master Scientist involved in the creation of the product no less. The power of this unit in 3D apps is just astonishing. A side by side comparison of medical 3D images where the slices are drawn onto a screen was shown. In the current technology, one slice takes 2 seconds each, with a the complete image taking 6 minutes to build. On this new processor, the entire image is drawn in 2 seconds. All without needing a custom GPU at all. Since we did not get to see a PS3, I can only imagine what type of gameplay you're gonna see. The $500 price point will be a steal."

Venom

[lanion]

There is certianly another choice : Nintendo Wii...

If you have been watching E3 news like I have, you will find that Nintendo is having an amazing show and right now is far more imperessive than Microsoft or Sony.

[Demiurge]

There is certianly another choice : Nintendo Wii...

If you have been watching E3 news like I have, you will find that Nintendo is having an amazing show and right now is far more imperessive than Microsoft or Sony.

I have been watching E3, and Nintendo doesn't even get mentioned as a competitor. ;)

[cheddar]

It's that new Wii feedback controller thingamagig. Yep, no matter what the prices are, who wins, who loses, it's shaping up to be a great year for console gaming!

[VR3]

There are four things wrong with the PS3 that makes me not want it...

1) It looks like it could cook my food.
2) It costs to much
3) Sony makes it
4) Dosnt have Halo 3

The first 3 are far more important, with the 3rd one being like 99% of the reason.

Sony is a joke, I bet the PS3 wont do half the rated specs, just like the PS2.

[Mjr7531]

It's hard telling with all of this, it's all speculation.
And for what it's worth, the Wii will not cost more than $200, It's hopefully going to be less.
Each system has its own strength, and yes for all of you non-beleivers, Wii has been the most popular booth at E3, with everyone (even hardcore not-Nintendo fans) checking it out.

Like I say, we just need to see how it fleshes out, but most importantly, stop arguing and play. ;)

[drew spelts]

To rehash what venom quoted. The other day I was watching the news. There was a quick little excerpt about the PS3. For a long time I have hated PS and have been loyal to X-box. The tides are about to turn. The program showed some japanese dudes playing some games on a 40" HD (probablye plasma) TV. I literally couldn't breathe. I told everyone to shut the hell up so I could watch the program. this did not go over to well with my folks but what the hell. I am tired of hearing all the speculation over here (I secretly enjoy it but don't tell anyone). The GRAPHICS OMG. Let me just say that if I were to choose solely on graphics this christmas I know I'd be purchasing a box with a little cute logo like "SONY" printed all over it. Now my judgements on systems are almost soley based on graphics. My only worrie for sony is that they will not produce the games that are "killers". The system will TOTALLY hold its own in any show down with the 360 24/7. I hate hate hate sony controllers and their games are generally so so for me and I have never owned one because of all this but hot damn this new kitten will be purring for me to come over and play with her for many moons. I am not here to insult anyone or the 360. I am just here to state what I have seen from both camps now and how I feel on the subject. And if the BluRay player does't suck then more power to the unit because then I will have true HD for my HD TV.