RSSHome video game console prices reach equilibrium with Xbox 360 drop
By Tim Conneally | Published August 27, 2009, 1:06 PM
Just over a week after Sony debuted its $299, 120 GB PlayStation 3 Slim, Microsoft this morning officially announced that its 120 GB Xbox 360 Elite system will drop to exactly the same price tomorrow.
With that, the seventh generation of home video game consoles looks to finally be able to settle down.
This cut brings the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 closer together in price than they have been since they began competing with each other in 2005. Both Microsoft and Sony will continue to offer their own respective outlying models, though. Microsoft offers the cheapest console (the Xbox 360 Arcade for $199 with no hard drive) and Sony offers the console with the most onboard storage (the 160 GB "fat" PlayStation 3 for $399.)
Sony Computer Entertainment of America President and CEO Jack Tretton said last week that $299 is really the "sweet spot" for home video game consoles.
The original Xbox, as well as the first and second PlayStation consoles actually launched at that price. Nintendo, however, traditionally enters the market at a lower price point than its competitors. The Nintendo 64 and Gamecube, for example, both launched at $199.
With the element of cost almost entirely removed from the consumer's end as a purchasing determinant, the consoles can now compete solely on the basis of the benefits they offer the gamer...and the games.
when was the last time the ps3 had a decent game out? ... I'll take the 360 and a 54.2% failure rate any day.
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|We all know I like the 360 better than the PS3, but the 360's to tend to break a lot. They had my Elite back in no time, not refurbed but brand new with free extras, so I can't complain.
The PS3 is the work horse for out theater, Blu-Ray, Standard DVD upconvert, and internet streaming.
The PS3's OSD / iPod interface really sucks compared to the 360 and you have to go to options every time you plug it in.
You really need to own them both.
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|Well dont drop it from the top of your roof!
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|first! my 360 elite just got sent to ups since it died!! my ps3 still works ;)
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|"First"?
What is this? Youtube?
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|lol, or Megagames...
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|my ps3 works good too, one of the best door stops i ever had, even works better then my ps2!
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|I wanted to annoy somebody and we all know how much "First" bothers folks... so there ya go :) sorry it had to be you :(
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|i think that makes 2 of us... lol
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|I have to wonder what the long term failure rate would be measured against amount of time in use as opposed to time owned. Given the PS3's notorious lack of quality games, and the perpetual "we're gonna make it this year" status of Bluray, I have to wonder how much use all these "rock solid" PS3s are actually getting.
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|What ever the "long term failure rate" would be with more usage... I'm sure it still doesn't measure up to the possible 54.2% FAILURE rate of the 360.
http://gizmodo.com/53443...claim-doesnt-dispute-it
Though 54.2% is a little hard to believe, it is a pretty well known fact that the # is way too high for any product. The real # is probably in the 30's. But thats besides the point... Call the PS3 whatever you want, but don't try to compare failure rates.
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|Lol the 360 failure rate might be a little high, but 54.2% is a load of BS. A magazine, store, or anyone else but MS can not accurately gauge the failure rate.
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|might have to go n get me an elite now
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|yup, I paid $400 for my elite in 2008.. its dead already. Goodluck with yours!
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