Hot on the heels of Microsoft's "mock" price cut where they slashed the price of the 20GB HDD Xbox 360s to $299, only to replace the $349 SKU with a 60GB HDD, Signal Hill analyst Todd Greenwald is demanding a true 360 price cut to stay competitive with the Playstation 3."We remain very sceptical [sic] of Microsoft's pricing strategy and competitive positioning versus the PlayStation 3", Greenwald recently told investors saying that "at USD 349, with a 60GB hard drive, we just don't think it is a compelling product compared with the PS3 at USD 399 with an 80GB hard drive (along with more processing horsepower, Blu-ray, Wifi, HDMI, and going forward, more exclusive content)." Greenwald further picked apart Microsoft's E3 strategy mentioning that "Sony's biggest announcement was a strong counter-punch to Microsoft's USD 50 price cut on the 360", adding that "beyond Gears of War 2, Microsoft doesn't seem to have the same library of exclusive, must-have titles."
While we don't agree with Greenwald when it comes to the Xbox 360 lacking "must-have titles" or being less of a gaming powerhouse, we tend to agree that Microsoft missed an opportunity with their console pricing. Clearancing out the 20GB HDD models is fine by us, but we truly think a price drop across all models would have helped team Microsoft stay competitive with Sony and Nintendo. Especially in Europe. What say you fellow fanboys? Will a 360 price drop be necessary going into the holidays or will the 360's games library and content partnerships be enough to win the 2008 console war?
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
7-22-2008 @ 1:07PM
e.Missark said...
I hate the 360 controllers because its hard to play shooters with them. The buttons are too small, too far apart and the analog sticks are in the wrong place. The controller is too big and heavy. I 've always liked the PS3 controller better.
7-22-2008 @ 1:51PM
HoPhoSho said...
@e.Missark
Then I'm guessing you played a PS3 before a 360. I would say the exact opposite, and I had a 360 first. To me the PS3 controller feels light/cheap, the left stick is positioned wrong, and the "d-pad" buttons are difficult to use.
Aiming in Resistance was a major chore and difficult to get used to. Also, Resistance is considered a good game? I don't get that -- it's a run-of-the-mill shooter. Who's seriously looking forward to Resistance 2? (Not saying the PS3 has no good games, just saying Resistance isn't one of them.)
7-22-2008 @ 8:53AM
Patton said...
All those "must-have titles" for the PS3 aren't far enough along in development to show anything other than CGI movies. If I want to watch CGI, I'll go see Wall-E.
I have to say that I am getting tired of hearing about these "analysts" and their predictions, and in this case, demands, regarding gaming. Do people actually pay these idiots? Check this out guys, I'm a gaming analyst:
"Gears of War 2 will outsell every game ever made and will no doubt top charts, topple regimes, and it's soundtrack will replace the National Anthem for the U.S."
That'll be $50,000 please.
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7-22-2008 @ 9:06AM
Bluemanrule said...
@ Swamp Donkey
I hope you are correct. The 360, although a premium system, cannot afford its premium pricing. I know that's the only reason several of my friends & family still game in the last generation.
@ everyone else
Now, being a 360 & PS2 owner, Sony's controller is great. It's a natural fit for many people and, lest we forget, not very dissimilar from the Xbox/360 controller. Some people just speak through blind hate and don't want to see the truth. Just look at the buttom layout.
Gears will sell tons this holiday, as will Fable 2. The 3rd party library will rock this holiday season. Between GH: WT, Rock Band 2, RE5, FallOut 3, Tomb Raider Underworld, Dead Space, Dark Void, Mirror's Edge, etc..., execution on each console will determine our 'winner'.
Oh, and for the record, they both 'win' because we're giving our money to both Sony and Microsoft. We win with great entertainment experiences.
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7-22-2008 @ 10:23AM
Wise Guy said...
Please. Hate has got nothing to do with it. The playstation controller has not been updated since PS One first introduced analog in their controllers. The 360 has at least modified the body since releasing the ridiculously big arcade pad that was initially launched. The offset analog sticks also feels more comfortable than 2 symetrical sticks... especially for shooters. Maybe it's a matter of opinion... but it's not hate for Sony.
7-23-2008 @ 12:17PM
pkilla said...
I was always a PS2 fan and so naturally I liked the controller but when I got my 360, I was like this is what a controller supposed to feel and look like. I played resistance and was wishing that I could use my 360 controller. I agree that resistance was not the best shooter around, it was ok but it was no COD4 or GRAW2
7-22-2008 @ 9:07AM
sambob117 said...
it would make sense for ms to keep the pro at $300 and drop the elite to $400. But it is still possible for the prospective new titles to carry xbox sales but I doubt at the levels it has previously held.
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7-22-2008 @ 9:07AM
ScottyGEE said...
It already has a massive install base in America, Microsoft should focus on price cutting in the rest of the world.
Seriously, with your weakening dollar, we Aussies pay the same price for an Arcade than you do for a Pro! Fuck that. I'm sure every other region gets fucked like us, maybe even worse.
Half of the 360's install base is in America, the thing and all its games are cheap there, they don't need to reduce costs there and its pretty clear that people will pay for it.
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7-22-2008 @ 9:14AM
Boff said...
To be honest, whenever I see that we're (UK) getting ripped off versus the US I always think to myself "Oh well at least I don't live in Australia"
Sorry mate!
Although saying that, I don't really know what the situation is like over there now. This is going back to pre-movie downloads and such.
But you get more sunshine! Swings and roundabouts.
7-22-2008 @ 9:13AM
xFenixKnightx said...
I just think MS is underestimating the power of Bluray and Sony acts like if its not a factor in sales. PFFFFFTTT!!! Yeah fucking right, its one of the MAIN reasons that PS3 has been outselling 360 lately.
If the HDDVD/Bluray format war was still going on I doubt PS3 would be selling so much. Think about it, since it sbeen over PS3 has gained a lot of ground. Not because of anything else. MGS4 just came out and is helping but what else? Thats a hardcore game.
It's Bluuuuuray people, also one of the main reasons I bought my PS3.
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7-22-2008 @ 5:01PM
Doug said...
The Blu-ray drive might be one of the main reasons for the uptick in PS3 sales, but it doesn't necessarily mean that games are selling for the console. Based on the numbers I've seen, a lot of people that are buying the PS3 are buying it JUST for the Blu-ray and aren't buying games.
If you compare game sales numbers between the 360 and PS3 it's pretty clear that PS3 game sales are relatively slow especially when balanced against the number of consoles sold. And since Sony isn't making anything on the consoles, the platform isn't making much. That also doesn't bode well for game developers, who tend to like to sell their products.
7-22-2008 @ 6:55PM
Jared said...
+1.
Blu-Ray is what got me to buy one.
I DO think that with the economy tanking, BOTH ms and sony need to realize that until there's an up-swing in people's disposable income, a new game console is going to take a backseat to a LOT of things.
7-22-2008 @ 9:15AM
Magic Whiskey said...
As a clear-headed GAMER over 360 owner, I have this to say:
Sony's E3 showing did kick some ass. They finally showed off games I am personally interested in learning more about (Infamous, Resistance 2), and the featureset and price of the new 'standard' Playstation 3 is competitive, with or without PS2 backwards compatibility.
With that said, the 360 has a better library going into the Holiday season, a better price point, LIVE, and generally more to offer Joe Sixpack than a PS3 does..right now.
I would have to say a price reduction on the Elite model would be a good call within the next 8-10 months. I can see that dropping $50 to match the PS3's 80GB standard unit. That would probably drop the 60GB unit about $25-40 but nothing insanely lower than it is now. Gotta keep out as many little kids as possible, X3F.
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7-22-2008 @ 9:25AM
Boff said...
I have to agree with FenixKnight, almost every PS3 owner I know has purchased it mainly for use as a BR player.
At the time BR hit, that was really the only decent player around. Kudos to Sony for that.
Although most of those PS3 owners already had a 360.
There's probably some irony in there somewhere.
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7-22-2008 @ 9:26AM
RedSonRising said...
@frank
$349USD for the 60GB Xbox360 then another $90USD for wireless and another $399USD for a bluray player the cost of an equivalent system to the PS3 comes in at $838USD!
subtract $399 for the bluray player im never gonna buy (didnt buy the hddvd add on either) and another $90 for the wireless adapter that isnt necessary to get online and the price comes in at, oh wow, $399!! even if you throw in $60 more for a year of XBL its still less than a base ps3 (40gb? 80gb? who knows)..
m$ has added features and usability to the xbox 360 while sony has consistently dropped features to get the price down.. plus those silly games; yeah, we got tons of those.. if i want a bluray player ill buy a ps3 (doh!), if i want to play games - Xbox 360 for me please
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7-22-2008 @ 9:29AM
buff0x said...
They need to have a pricecut soon, for £25 more in the uk, you can buy a similar gamed bundle, this is with the elite vs the 40gb PS3, and for that extra £25 your getting all the extra features. And with a lot more people going HDTV, they will be choosing the PS3 if they can only afford one console, just because of the blu-ray.
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7-22-2008 @ 9:49AM
Gemini Ace said...
Other must haves coming are Alan Wake, Halo Wars, and whatever Bungie is working on, just to name a few. And let's not forget Viva Pinata 2.
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7-22-2008 @ 10:23AM
Lukin said...
Thats the reason i bought my PS3 for its media capabilities. I have had my PS3 for almost 3 months and have just now played 1 game. Hot Shots golf. Other then that my ps3 only gets its blu-ray drive used for movies.
Like mentioned above. I think once the 20gig are sold out they will drop the 60 to 299. and the elite to 399.
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7-22-2008 @ 10:40AM
Vcize said...
Well, I sure do have to give credit to the Sony Marketing Force and the Sony Defense Force....they sure do know how to create buzz (well, except at E3 at least) around mediocre looking games.
I mean seriously, how are a sequel to a massively over-hyped game that failed and a sequel the very definition of a mediocre shooter considered "must have" titles? How is there any buzz around them at all.
Fable 1 and ever Banjo game ever made were far better received than the first iterations of Killzone and Resistance, yet the current-gen sequels to those games are barely even mentioned next to the sequels of a pair of mediocre shooters?
If Sony locked up the sequel to the next Area 51 game they could probably turn the marketing spin on that into a "must have" game too. Hell, they could probably do it with the sequel to Superman 64.
As an owner of all 3 consoles and a self-proclaimed shooter-lover, KZ2 and R2 are faaarrrrr down on the list of games I want in the next year.
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7-22-2008 @ 10:41AM
Dick said...
Good thing you put the [sic] in there Dusty. Though your using it, of all people, is a tad ironic.
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