This looks good!

This is great news. Now I can look people in the eye when I'm talking smack on Xbox live ;-)

Have you guys noticed......everything is just planned.....will it really come out as planned.....or are they just scaring The PS3 Developers???

Microsoft needs to keep the games fresh and challenging (i.e. Prey and Oblivian). I would love to see more compatability with my windows based computer, possibly running all computer software through my XBOX 360 to my television. Can you imagine...computer programs on a 52" screen?! That in itself would be worth getting a 360.
Microsoft....keep the 360 on the edge of technology ther are adults out there that LOVE your sophisticated entertainment system!!

Get a tv out card/usb dongle for your pc and BAM, 52" windows programs in ugly (relatively)low resolution on your 52" tv (even in 1080p HD resolution). Wow.

Dude... My XP MCE2005 PC has a DVI video connector which easily connects to my wide-screen LCD. It's perfect for watching videos or DVDs on my PC.

I'm not interested in either console until there is some clarity on their copy protection mechanisms. The proposals for AACS/HDCP so far are ridiculous, and there's no way I would support that kind of system by forking out for these devices.

Nintendo Wii might be the best option - at least it's still a games console with some of the most fun games around. ;) Not to mention it's a reasonable price!

What copy protection on 360? The 360 is just like the Wii - It is a game console. 360 has add ons that make it more.

PS3 is the only one that isn't a game only console out of the box.

I think he means the ICT bit, where any console player not connected via a secure digital connection, can be downscaled to DVD quality.

This applies to PS3 basic and XBox360 Core and Premium models.

Exclusivity blows...

Currently, the only game franchises I play religiously are Gran Turismo and Winning Eleven, both on the PS2. Lucky me...I now get to purchase two separate consoles to play the only two games I really enjoy.

But enough about my petty whining...since “Gamers around the world have spoken: They want Xbox 360 and the unique experiences only Xbox 360 affords them."

Worldwide, soccer games are huge sellers. Winning Eleven is generally considered to be the 'cream of the crop,' and always tops the charts when released in Japan. If the global gaming crowd can only play FIFA or PES on the 360, this is a surefire way to boost console sales, especially if a soccerless PS3 is selling for a couple hundred bucks more than the competition.

I still hate EA for killing SEGA's (superior) NFL2K franchise, and i'll hate Microsoft for making me buy two consoles, but in the end, I *will* have to own both a PS3 and a 360.

*sigh*

Congrats, Microsoft. You found the only way you could get my money.

I agree with the NFL2K comment, that was the best football game I've played. Madden sucks compared to that (no innovation and too slow).

Hopefully they'll drop the price of the 360 in time for Christmas.

I'll respectfully disagree that 2k was better, but I really agree that I do not like exclusive league agreements. It creates a small monopoly. The biggest example is baseball. That was a turd this year.

Well I'm no MS fanboy and I love my PS2 but here is my issue with PS3 vs XBox. PS3 is putting all their chips in Blu-Ray. I've seen Blu-Ray myself and wasn't all to impressed over regular dvd. The price isn't right for a console. 600 is too much, call it an alternative to a standalone player but people wont be buying a system to watch movies. They never have and never will. The price will scare normal buyers away and with Sony only realeasing 700k units in North America this is anything but a launch. Did I mention the memory handicaps they are suffering right now which puts it at half speed of the xbox 360. I love Sony guys but they aren't paying attention to gamers. If I were Microsoft I would lower the xbox 360 (if possible) roll the hd-dvd drive, then down the line release an upgraded xbox 360 with the drive included. I'llo keep my fingers crossed for PS3 but like the new walkman I think sonys about to drop the ball. PLEASE DONT FLAME ME AS SOME MS FANBOI. I own both xbox and ps2. I just think Ms has done a better job hardware and software (internal system software) wise with there last 2 consoles.

"Did I mention the memory handicaps they are suffering right now which puts it at half speed of the xbox 360"

Don't believe everything you read on The Inquirer. It was based on a conversation with a buy in a seat next to him on a plane (AKA, bloke down the pub) I think you are referring to this:

http://www.theinquirer.n...ault.aspx?article=32171

As it turns out, the guy read the presentation wrong. This is the speed at which the Cell can read RSX's local memory. Memory bandwidth for the Cell itself is ~25 GB/sec. If the Cell ever wants to access the private RAM of the RSX (why ?) it *is* possible, but it's a lot more efficient to use the normal pathway through main memory...

Who's to say MS won't put one up Sony and release an external Blu-ray drive for the XBOX 360 as well as the HD-DVD drive... Now that would make things interesting........................................................................ dot dot dot)

In other news,

Sony announces 27 playable titles for the September Tokyo Game Show.

Has anyone added up the cost of all those bits listed above? Makes the PS3 look like a bargain...

"On the hardware side of things, gamers will be able to purchase in September a new camera to be used with Xbox Live." So that will be an Eye Toy ripoff then.. Very revolutionary...

"Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, priced at $59.99 USD, along with three new special-edition faceplates that cost $19.99 USD each."

Yawwnn, nearly snoozed off then.. Is this really the best they could come up with? If so, the XBox360 is dead in the water.

"Has anyone added up the cost of all those bits listed above? Makes the PS3 look like a bargain..."

The PS3 is set to retail for $499.00 and $599.00. Add to that the fact that each game for the PS3 is set to retail for somewhere around 70.00 per game.

~dnc

XBox360 Premium with HD-DVD add-on is comparable with PS3 basic. (both 20GB, Component only output, no wifi)

PS3 Basic = $499
XBox360 Premium + HD-DVD = $549

Assuming HD-DVD add-on is $150 (more likely $200 - $220)

XBox360 games on DVD are $70...

http://www.bestbuy.com/s...=1&id=1153999681051

"XBox360 games on DVD are $70..."

For a "Collector's Edition" game, sure. But most are priced between 40.00 and 60.00 (http://www.bestbuy.com/s...=1&id=1127210799579).

~dnc

But, unlike Sony, MS is not forcing their customers to buy a next-gen media format with their console.

Instead they are forcing them to stick with a last gen media format (for games at least)

For the difference in price and spec, I know which I prefer..

There are already multi DVD games, and Halo 3 is rumoured to be the 1st double DVD xbox360 release.

"Instead they are forcing them to stick with a last gen media format"

No they aren't. Those who want an HD-DVD drive can buy one, those who don't want one don't have to. I realize you are big Sony advocate so I usually try not to pay much attention your comments but that was just ridiculous. As for games...

"Halo 3 is rumoured"

Yes, internet rumours are such a great argument to use. Name ONE game that needs more than one 8.5GB DVD. I'm currently not aware of any. Even if they do eventually require two DVDs (oh the humanity) the 360 does have a hard drive if you'll recall. It isn't like you are going to have to be swapping discs to play. Of all the PS3/XBOX arguments the "games will need Blu-Ray discs" is the weakest. Unless you are going to pack them full of video like Sega did with their failed Sega CD they won't. The Blu-Ray drive in the PS3 is nothing more than a gimmick and a way to force the Blu-Ray movie format onto the market. It was not necessary for a game console at all.

"XBox360 games on DVD are $70..."

Ok, now you're just being dishonest. You pick out ONE game, a Collector's Edition, and then try to make the claim that XBox 360 games are all $70.

You must be a Sony fanboy for a comment like:

""On the hardware side of things, gamers will be able to purchase in September a new camera to be used with Xbox Live." So that will be an Eye Toy ripoff then.. Very revolutionary..."

How many things are Sony copying that MS did first? Live, Arcade.. achievements.. just about everything that makes the PS3 different from PS2 except for the hardware.

And as far as adding up all the bits, I guess the PS3 won't have ANY accessories? Its coming with everything! Cool - Maybe I'll get one!

Disc size is so irrelevant. The BluRay capacity in PS3 is NOT going to make it a better console.

It may make it more convenient for games that might end up requiring multiple DVD's on 360, but other than that its a small advantage.

Have you seen Oblivion on the 360? Its a huge world and fits on a single DVD9.

Regardless though, only advantage BluRay has is that it will be a really cheap bluray player if bluray ends up coming out on top. Although by the time that is decided, stand alone players will be even cheaper.

Actually, 360 games are $30.

http://www.bestbuy.com/s...ct&id=1128989365762

Funny how if you pick the right link, you can easily prove your point.

FACT - 360 games are between $40-60 for standard releases.

Be a fanboy if you will, but at least be honest.

I didn't claim all XBox360 games are $70. The poster said PS3 gamea are around $70, I pointed him to a XB360 game that was $70. Simple as that.

That's like saying 'No, I don't want new technology, I'm happy with what I have now even though it is worse'.

More space = bigger and better games.

MS WILL NOT be able to ever have games on HD-DVD for the 360 because that would alienate the people that bought the console from the start and didn't want to pay more for the HD-DVD drive.

The 360 is a slightly better xbox with the same storage limits as the old one.

The PS3 brings games in a new format with more expansive and interesting games.

So, you can have DVD and enjoy it forever more (or until DVDs stop being made in 10/15 years).

Technology moves, get used to it.

Yes they can. At the moment most of the games won't require anything like the amount of space an HD-DVD would provide. In a years time, maybe. Then they can say *marketing speak*: "You bought our great console last year and we gave you great games. Now, we want to give you even better games, but can't. But wait! The HD-DVD drive is here! Buy it for only $ and you can play even BIGGER, more totally AWESOME games (for twice the price) that could've been on multiple DVD using the harddrive but we want you to upgrade."

People will buy it, simple as that. Early PS3 games won't be much more advanced than current XBOX 360 games, so MS was onto a winner releasing it waaaaaaaaaaay before the PS3 to lock in a customer base and then releasing an upgrade to cancel out one of PS3s biggest selling points.

That's like saying 'No, I don't want new technology, I'm happy with what I have now even though it is worse'.

Actually, it is more like saying "What I have now is what I have now. The improvements made by anything new over what I have now must be significant enough to warrant the cost to upgrade." Given most people still do not have HDTVs, they will not be seeing any improvement in movies via either system. The majority of capacity required by games is for content; high-res, high-def content. Again, the generally non-HDTV owning public will see no advantage.

The PS3 brings games in a new format with more expansive and interesting games.
How many games do think are actually going to be released on Bluray? And of those, how many do you think will have been unreleaseable otherwise?

Technology moves, get used to it.
See the first part of this post. Technology moves when it is affordable enough to the general public for it to do so. If your statement were true, everyone would always buy the latest and greatest parts for their computers or the top of the line pre-builts despite the fact that near the high-end you pay double for miniscule performance increases. It just doesn't work that way, you have to figure in cost with the advancement. Bluray just doesn't warrant the high price tag, and building it into the PS3 and its cost makes the PS3 less attractive when the outcome of the next-gen format wars is still very unclear.

Do you work for Apple? ;)

An even simpler solution

Offer two formats for a game - one on HDDVD and one on DVD9 requiring swapping of discs.

Its nothing new - it's done on PC games a lot now.

Maybe you didn't claim ALL, but you didn't quantify that some were less either.

"XBox360 games on DVD are $70..."

That to me seems to indicate 360 games ARE $70 - Not that a few collector's editions are $70.

Why do you feel the need to try to twist the truth?

"How many games do think are actually going to be released on Bluray?"

Every single one actually. Sony have confirmed ALL PS3 titles will be on Blu-Ray.

How many NEED to be on Bluray?

That's a different question. Granted most will be less than DVD9 size. However, you can bet that with all that space to play with, More and more PS3 games will take advantage of it. Wether it be extras, more soundtracks or whatever.

Granted most will be less than DVD9 size...More and more PS3 games will take advantage of it. Wether it be extras, more soundtracks or whatever.
Extras are not my idea of what makes a game more expansive and interesting.
And they can't give me a separate extras disc?
(Especially considering the Bluray media costs per GB are much higher than DVD, and they still would have a very hard time filling a single bluray disc, rendering cost per used GB completely outrageous)

Fair play to MS.

A handful of new games? They better do WAY better than that. They need a whole truckload of new games, good ones. More than that they need to be ready to slash the price on the 360 when the PS3 launches.

I agree totally. And what about the HD-DVD drive???? Sony had blu-ray in theirs... if you want to beat em, join em in the new technology MS!!

Microsoft doesn't need HD or Blu-ray to compete with Sony. The DS is doing just fine without UMD. Sony puts too much hype on their new formats that usually amount to nothing but a waste of money.

don't you think that a lot of people invested in nice HDTV's to play their new HD games on? I know of plenty myself who did... and a lot of gamers also are movie buffs. HDTV's sure look better with HD movies on them. general HD-DVD is around 500 dollars retail to sony's 1,000 retail blu-ray player. ps3 at $700 is a lot of insentive to buy a cheap blu-ray player that is also a gaming console. If MS prices their HD-DVD around $150-$200 it would sure be insentive for a lot of people to have a $500 gaming console that also play HD DVDs rather than a $700 one... Granted, HD DVD and blu-ray are in format wars, noone should base their buying decision soely on high def movies, but it sure is something to think about when its added to the gamin consoles. Who wouldnt spend an extra $150 or so to get HD DVDs on their nice HDTV? I sure would. Not to mention Blu-Ray will sure as heck push a LOT of ps3's...

What's interesting, is a XBox360 Premium, HD-DVD addon (assuming $199), and a wifi adapter costs more then a PS3 basic, and is lower spec.

And yet the PS3 will NOT have a HD...hmmm...

Thats not to say that Sony cant finally score a win with the format wars, but i wont be holding my breath for Blu-Ray. Not to mention DRM...bye bye to "back-ups" :p

Latz, SB

Both PS3's have a HD (Hard Disk), the basic 20GB (same as XB360 premium), the higher spec PS3 60GB.

i believe ps3 will have a higher loss margin at launch than x360 though, basically the reason why ps3 is around the same price as x360 is because sony is paying a % of the purchase price for you :P

i find it silly though that wii isnt mentioned at all, you think that ps3 is the only thing MS is worrying about this holiday season?

Microsoft isn't all that worried about the Wii, in fact they said it would be a good idea to buy both a Wii and 360 (which together would still be less than the $600 PS3). Sony is the one who should worry about the Wii.

The PS3 will have a hard drive.

Lower spec? PS3 and 360 are very close in spec - each has some advantages.

The big difference between the 2 is that Microsoft went the route of giving users full choice on what they want included. Sony bundled much of the optional stuff in and is charging a higher price.

With 360, if you don't need wifi, you don't buy it. Don't need HDDVD, don't get it..etc

All I know is the MS and Nintendo are not "friends". Remember when the president of Nintendo told Steve Balmer to suck "his tiny yellow balls" in front of an entire conference room when MS tried to acquire Nintendo a few years back?

They were offering unheard of amounts of money to integrate Nintendo technology + game franchise into their 1st X-BOX console but Nintendo told them to f*ck off. Now they're talking some sh*t about how people "should buy a 360 AND a Wii?" F*ck you MS you g** d*** monopolizing two-faced b*stards.

Personally I think the Sony is superior technology anyway but I won't buy either console until solid modding of the hardware to play bootlegs is available. And if the protection is too strong, then f*ck both companies I'll stick with my dual-amd monster.

funny you hate ms so much, but love modding consoles.. the xbox is probably the best modded console ever.

with a 500gb HD, XBMC, complete ROM sets and emulators for almost all previous consoles, linux support, homebrew support, a complete alternative online service thru kai, all the games i could ever want so easily accessible thru newsgroups and whatnot, and probably the best console modding community ever, my modded xbox is a modders dream come true.

and none of it would have been possible if not for microsoft................... and their complete lack of security.

"... Now they're talking some sh*t about how people "should buy a 360 AND a Wii?""

Yes. And if you... -was about to be rude but stopped- think logically, that clearly shows they (MS) are not worried about Nintendo, but Sony who has been (and is) he market leader for over a decade. Can they keep continue to do so? the PS3 will be the deciding factor.

To your other comment... yes, the PS3 has more power, but it better does when it comes out! is coming out a year later than the 360! otherwise it would be like AMD's dual core CPU, totally out-performed by Intel's double core CPUs.

Buy Nintendo huh??? If it wasn't for the Japanese pride in the brand, it would be owned by MS now. Ford or GM buying Toyota? LOL -I don't think so.

I have respect for all 3 companies:

Nintendo for the years of fun and for bringing back the gaming industry's sunny days.

Sony for the PlayStation which brought realistic graphics (the best at the time), the PS/2 & PSP consoles and revolutionazing gaming pushing others to improve their products.

Microsoft - for having the guts and doing what they do best, try to take over industries where they are entering as the newbie. I.e Releasing products to compete with Apple (iPod), Google (e-search), Sony/Nintendo/etc... and their products. And of course... for XBOX Live.

My friends, it is called competition and it only means that things get better for US consumers, because things only get better and sooner or later they become affordable.

What I find more interesting and appealing is Xbox360 already has a good collection of games already out, as well as a number of second generation nexgen games coming out while PS3 will all be first-gen games. That and still no significant 'I must have that!' feature for the PS3 compared to 360. Face facts and look at it logically: unless Sony pulls something out of their magical sleeves, Microsoft's marketing, price point and timing is much more polished than the original Xbox; which as bulky as it is stilll grabbed a good chunk of market share for their first attempt in the gaming industry.
Also don't leave out the Wii. It's going to attract casual gamers with it's nostalgia of playing to many games from Sega, it's much more affordable price, it's fit and finish of every game they release and the head above heels classic Nintendo gameplay.
However it plays out will be worth it since game development and the way things are done has competition which in theory is beneficial to the consumer.