360 price drop is a reality

A scan of a WalMart advertisement showing an Xbox 360 Arcade system for $199 makes it official - the 360 will be the first of the new gen system to break the $200 price barrier!

[LightningPS3]

I don't have any doubt that Microsoft will make price a problem for PS3 again. And Sony will just have to answer or loose.

PS3 fans just don't want to face reality. I don't know how they think they can win charging more for the same product.

[Sony Rep]

Since when was the 360 even competitive??

I recall Sony still beating MS in the July NPD, even with their price cut and $299.99 sku.

MS are just shaking in their boots at this time.

[LightningPS3]

Sony says no Price drop, well see about that when they start getting their asses handed to them.

But if PS3 continues to stay on par with 360 even with these price differences, then they will impress the hell out of me.

[FantasyStar]

The first thing consumers look at is the end price tag, everything else that matters like value, the games, and future-proof'ness comes straight afterwards. Unlike the Wii, the 360 has the games and support to back up its system. And the Wii fad is starting to wear off.

I'm not saying Sony has the same, if not more superior advantage when it comes to value, games, and support. But history has already proven that the cheapest, most effective console will win. Last gen, it was PS2, this gen, it might be 360. We'll see soon enough because I know I would pay $400 all over again just for Killzone 2 alone, but I already have my launch 60GB so obviously price wasn't an issue to me, but it might be for others.

[LastDance]

yeah your right lighting....hows YOUR blu ray player going?

[Pedobear]

Do you ever shut up? We get it, your an ex-ps3 fanboy. Stop rubbing it in beofre your on your last bubble.

[PiTCHBLaCK]

Lowering the price can have a negative affect to though.
It'll be saying: The 360 is CHEAPER then the PS3, even CHEAPER
then the Wii, if you get my drift.

[KeiulZen]

but, what they realize is when they've had the system for a while, its cost more than the PS3. This is the Arcade SKU we're talkin about, if you want to experience Xbox Live (which defines the 360) you need a hard drive, headset, Gold Membership, which comes to be $100-200 dollars more.

M$ got people by the look first tactics, but once you look past the nice price and figure in the amount of cash you're dropping in the system for the full experience, you feel kind of played.

[kspraydad]

the PS2 would still be outselling the Wii.

The Xbox will not loose imo the NA market but their price cut is already in effect in the EU and it did nothing for them.

[NO_PUDding]

Microsoft's designing an appropriate white flag by the looks of it.

This is the FINAL thing they can do to boost sales. It says everything.

Seriously though, it's great, becuase it's so damn cheap. These had better sell like hotcakes, and hopefully it will force the PS3 to price drop.

[solidsnakus]

well it better not be long or else i just wont read it like the last one.

[MrReality]

calling me ignorant is mighty high of you when you go off subject to boast about your console when your comment isnt even on topic please go to open zone becuase im tired of the console war going on in peoples minds just play your games and enjoy the pointless time youve typed which will be deleted as off topic.

Back to TOPIC
Smart move xbox the price will help sales imo but nothing drastic.

[TheExecutive]

That is 100% false. Price is ONE factor but its not the first factor.

You know what is? demand. people will always want whatever console they choose no matter the price. Most people who are going to spend an extra couple of hundred dollars on a console will spend extra to get what they want.

We saw this last year when the ps3 outsold the 360 by quite a bit worldwide, this despite not even being out in europe for a quarter of the year.

[LoVeRSaMa]

"I don't know how they think they can win charging more for the same product."

Same product?

You must be unaware of the difrences between xbox360 and PS3.

N4G have heard them many a time, I wont even waste my breath =]

[thenickel]

I agree with the executive on demand being the reason people by anything. However, with a lower price point and very nice lineup on the way the demand will be there this holiday. MS has had this planned out for quite some time and if they can start really promoting they can get back into the limelight.

[solidsnakus]

@ xhi
well i have a ps3 and can tell you that nobody ever uses mics. the most ive EVER seen in one game was in a MGO match there were 3-4 people on our team who were friends and were talking. i swear i thought i was on XBL or something, i actually sync'd my mic just cause there was people talking in the match. but once they left it was back to listening to nothing once again. just like in resistance, motortstorm,warhawk,UT3,MGS4. ive had or rented these games and i know first hand that nobody uses mics in these games. the most is 1-3 people.

the online on ps3 isnt really anything special, theres no invites, you cant see what your friends are doing or what level of the game there on like on the 360. no cross game voice chat, and even the trophy system is all slow,and to top it off it only supports 1 game(retail game). i was a bit arrogant in my first post but i pretty much summed it up about the ps3 being for less hardcore gamers that dont mind having to wait on constant delays and what not.

[Parapraxis]

...you do realize you have to be online to have mics work right?

I assumed you didn't know this, because if you played on PSN you'd see plenty of people with mics. You're either full of it or are using a 56k modem.

[NickatDay]

Now xbl will be supporting 8 player party and private yes private chat and they can go into even movies together and game to game to game and the price cut jeez, my little cousin will be happy with playing xbl with me this Christmas becuase xboxes are a steal at that price and my ather brothers can buy him hardrive and etc. but xi im sure psn is better then that now im sorry for offending psn users its just xhi is very biased and not open minded to other consoles.

[FantasyStar]

Agreed, people overestimate the power of a price drop. By nature the 360 will be more expensive down the road because of overpriced accessories and Xbox Live, but as long as the entry-fee is cheap; people are more likely to buy. And they'll keep buying to get what they want; thus Microsoft's "Choice". I completely agree that price drops aren't the first factor towards a decision, but you cannot deny that the Wii's huge success in sales and maintaining its position as #1 on the market. People saw a cheap, quriky toy, they bought it. Demand rises, viral marketing takes place, a fad begins, Nintendo profits.

It's more conceptual to think that most gamers here can acknowledge that overall the PS3 is a better deal for the buck because accessories are universal (almost) and online is free. However Microsoft has Xbox Live's premium service and quality accessories (Les Paul Guitar). It's a constant tug-o-war match between the two companies, but I ultimately believe that the PS3 will emerge because of its games and value. But that doesn't mean Microsoft won't benefit from a sales surge over the price drop with its current strength. I bought my PS2 when the price dropped to $200, I can believe there are others like me that will bite on that price alone because they already decided to buy a 360. Critics will always unfairly compare the $200 inferior Arcade 360 to the $400 superior 40GB PS3 as grounds for argument. I'm just being realistic to the situation at hand because the price drop is aimed at the casual market. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw a 360 Arcade Scene-It Bundle.

[MrReality]

I to have been in matches with absoulute no sound whatsoever but ive also been in warhawk with a friend and people started to talk to us. So i think it depends what match your in or someone just has to talk but like the guy above me said i do wish psn would get private chatting becuase socom would be alot more tactical with 8 people that you know have mics are chatting. Oh and the xbox for xmas sounds like a pretty good idea with the price now its figuring out whos the lucky nephew!

[solidsnakus]

did you not read my post? i said i played all those games i listed online and people never have mics. i bought a mic when i bought my ps3 last november with motorstorm. i dont know why ps3 only owners always try and say 'theres lots of people that use mics on ps3!' when i know first hand theres a max of maybe 2 people per game of 16 players. if youve played on live 2 people per game with mics is nothing, on live if your in a game with 16 people at LEASED 12 of them have their mics connected.

sometimes its good sometimes its bad, it depends what game your playing, usually the older games are the ones with the best community where you go into a match and see someone youve played with and talked to before. and if you have some annoying 13 year old singing into the mic or something you can mute em from the guide, on any game. on the ps3 i just feel like im playing against bots, smart bots, nobody ever talks i might as well just be playing singleplayer. people comunicating on ps3 is so bad that on resistance they even have text chat while in the lobby. another problem is the inconsistensy of the mic cuality and volume.

[littletad]

You can save clutter on here by nearly 40%. Just the statistics folks. ;)

[thewhoopimen]

Hey look guys, this is the bottom line .... If the 360 can't sell with this price drop, end of story 360 is dead. There simply is no demand period. If they make a killing then we know that the 360 is here to stay this gen and that Sony is definitely going to be last and possibly the Wii second.

Now which is the more likely of the two scenarios? We'll have to wait until the end of the holiday season to tell us.

Can we all agree on this?

[nan0]

I would rather spend 400$ for a great functioning system with a great future ahead of itself, and is actually stable, than spend 200$ on a hay wire system who's exclusives I can hardly care for.

I've grown up with the MGS and Tekken series, and that's what I'm gonna stay with. I don't buy consoles because they cost more or less, I buy what's best.

[vaga_koleso]

Undercutting the competition and brushing off any resulting financial loss as if they were simply getting rid of loose pennies - that's the one thing that Microsoft always did better than anyone else :)

[badz149]

the sales battle is ON and heating up for the coming months! and I think PS3 still sold more in August NPD! I don't know how much longer Sony can take the price hit from M$, but NPD numbers will play a major roll. if 360 sold more like leap and bound PS3 numbers for consecutives month after this price drop, we'll likely see Sony announce their price drop later this year! Christmas is coming and mass appeal is crusial!

[Qdog]

What else could Microsoft do? Their strategy in the Online department, was very smart for Microsoft financially,(not as much for the consumer), but weak spots in financial strategy always show with time... I understand bringing a price drop to keep the pricing on the SKUs competitive, but in all honesty, there comes a pricepoint, where all the discount does is deface any value a console has. Then it becomes a budget aimed console, no longer cutting edge or bleeding tech. I suppose it was only a matter of time though...

[LastDance]

solidsnakus - Hearing nothing is better than those wailing Kids on xbox live!

[dragunrising]

I lol at your avatar pic. On topic, I agree with your point on budget vs value. The way I look at it is that the Xbox and PS2 dropped to $200 and sold the most at that price point. I don't think $200 bones is budget yet but a good value. A good example of budget priced console is the Gamecube at $100 dollars...not too many people saw the console as a value at that point. I might buy one (a 360) to replace my current and get HDMI. Also, for everyone doubting $200 as the magical price point...I have 30 cousins and all the younger ones will be getting a 360 for Christmas at that price (my big Polish family).

[SL1M DADDY]

I am a consumer and I look for a few things when buying a console. One of them is price and 200 bucks is a nice price point but it is only one factor. Secondly I look for functionality. What can the console offer me is a big factor. Paying 200 bucks for something that plays games is nice but paying 400 for something that plays BD movies, upscales DVD's, acts as an entertainment hub in my entertainment center, enables me to brows the web, etc, etc, is a great deal too. Thirdly, I look for quality. You cannot polish a turd. Paying even as little as 200 bucks for a lower quality piece of equipment is too much IMHO. I would rather pay 400 bucks for something hat I know will work than paying 200 on something that WILL break sooner than later.

[sumfood4u]

A scan of a WalMart advertisement showing an Xbox 360 Arcade system for $199 makes it official - the 360 will be the first of the new gen system to break the $200 price barrier! & Besides M$ was the 1st of the next Gen to comeout anyways, so its no surprise they comeout with a price drop that drastict meaning working on a brand new system is in the making Also M$ wasnt the 1st MMO videogame system it was Sega Dreamcast. I keep reading how people say M$ broke MMO videogame system barriers but "Say it Say it Sega!" was 1st. Thanks Dreamcast!

[sumfood4u]

@ Least this price drop came down fasster than a Church womans panties!

[nice_cuppa]

war !!!

[ape007]

WORLD WAR 3

WHERE IS CAPTAIN PRICE?

[caffman]

may he rest in peace

[Chris Hansen]

The final act of desperation. Microsoft better pray to all their gods the PS3 doesn't outsell them after this.

Lowest 360 sku: $199
Lowest PS3 sku: $399

[IzKyD1331]

dont worry, it will

[Fat Onion]

OK. PS3 has been out for about 2 years and has already seen a $100 price drop on both SKU's.

Xbox 360 has been out about 3 years and only after this upcoming price drop will 360 have dropped $100 on both SKU's.

[themyk]

hey genius the ps3 was 600 bucks when it came out.

dude. the 360 is 199 bucks. you don't think that's weak. 199 bucks? come on man.

[Fat Onion]

It was obvious from the beginning that the Arcade would be $199.99. That was the entire reason for the hard drive less arcade version. With the 1st Xbox, MS was unable to match the $129.99 price tag of the PS2 and they blamed it mostly on the fact of the costly HDD.

The answer to your question is NO. I could have told u this would happen years ago.

[power of Green]

I thought PS3 was $600 20 months ago?.

I guess I'm confused, PS3's price has been back and forth up and down. PS3 Sku's have been back and forth, up and down.

20gig-160gig-40gig-80gig-60gi g-80-gig-40gig

^^No real order which is my point, Sony's desperation has them running around like a confused chicken with it's head cut off.

Sony's Xbox-like online services and features/functions are desperation.

Using your logic: MSFT should never cut the price to prove they are not desperate?, even though the PS2 seen the same price point almost a year earlier. lol

[power of Green]

I keep getting dissagree's...

When MSFT starts removing features/hardware from the 360 to sell it cheaper and faster, we'll talk desperation.

LOL PS3 dropped $200 in two years and ontop of that had more than one price drop in its first year in some fashion(drops and SKU swaps).

Sony was so desperate they removed/cut functions/hardware from the consoles to compete lol.

Funny we have Sony fanatics in here screaming DESPERATION!!!! when not all PS3's have the same hardware capabilities on the hardware level.

[Cacolaco]

@ power of green

"When MSFT starts removing features/hardware from the 360 to sell it cheaper and faster, we'll talk desperation."

Uh, what exactly is the Arcade SKU? Isn't it an Xbox 360 with no hard drive that was released because it allowed them to sell it at a more attractive price point?

The last time I checked, hard drives are hardware....

[IzKyD1331]

"When MSFT starts removing features/hardware from the 360 to sell it cheaper and faster, we'll talk desperation."

no HDD means no movies(no netflix), music, demos are a b!tch...no HDMI ports means the highest display setting you can go on is 720p, even if you have a 1080p TV. And wired controllers always suck. Wait, arent they removing all these necessary features to sell it cheaper and faster? wow!

[power of Green]

HUH?...The Arcade "had" more capabilities and is now currently downgraded?

WTF?

The Arcade is superior to what it use to be (core model).

LOL I knew some PS3 fan(s) would twist what I was saying. Not talking about HDD's lol.

Your flaws in your logic makes your comment desperate:

1)That is not the Hardware I was talking about as if being able to save content is not possible on the Arcade.

2)The whole point of my comment was based on having capabilities, then later on removing them, your child-like reasoning is flawed as the Arcade never came with the HDD in the past(or anyother stripppppped SYSTEM hardware).

The Arcade was the core and now comes with a Mem-card and HDMI(up-grade).

Anyways having an HDD or not depending on if you wan't to buy one or not, has little to do with different PS3's on the market not having the same functions/hardware capabilities(You can't upgrade the inferior PS3's to the superior ones lol).

U B on ignor 4 that desperate attempt at the SDF tactic.

[Blakzhuk]

First off, dropping a price is not desperation. If that was the case, then what was the PS3 price drops called? Charity?

The Arcade has ADDED features, not taken them away. It comes with a Wireless controller, 5 games, a memory card and HDMI. Everything you need to play every single game in the Xbox 360's library.

Stop the FUD!!!! Xbox 360 will own this holiday.

"Xbox 360™ Arcade Console

Play together today with Xbox 360™ Arcade, including the Xbox 360 console, wireless controller, and memory unit for game saves.

Have fun right out of the box with five Xbox LIVE® Arcade games including:

* PAC-MAN Championship Edition™
* UNO®
* Luxor 2
* Boom Boom Rocket
* Feeding Frenzy™. "

[Megatron08]

Desperation ? That more like the ps3 the only system in history to ever cut its price by 200 dollars in less then a year. You can also tell that ps3 fanboys are really scared by the price cut by the amount of SDF going on in here.

[Cacolaco]

My point was that the Xbox 360 Arcade (Core also) are systems that Microsoft did not include game-affecting features on in order to make the price more appealing.

Why is it acceptable to introduce reduced feature consoles from the start in order to move systems, and not acceptable for Sony to remove features (ones which don't affect the performance of PS3 games) in order to do the same thing?

Microsoft did it to get a head start, and Sony did it to catch up. Both did it for competitive reasons. They wanted to sell more than each other. The 20gig hard drive for the Xbox still runs around $100, while the 80gig PS3 with backwards compatibility cost $100 more than the 40gig PS3 as well... (not really even though, since an extra $100 gets you backwards compat. and 40 extra gigs as well)

The Xbox 360 website clearly states that many 360 games perform better with a hard drive, and can't even play originial Xbox games (or some 360 games, for that matter) without it... Seriously, check out Microsoft's page for the 360 hard drive. At least PS3's all play games for that system at the same performance level.

Maybe I should give kudos to Microsoft because their feature-light version so thoughtfully allows consumers to get their foot in the door so they can pay through the nose for the features that didn't come included.

Sony cut some nice features to provide a more attractive price point. Microsoft cut corners on their hardware testing and sold "360 Lites" (or Core/Arcade/whatever) from the start to introduce their system sooner and sell more consoles.

Honestly, Microsoft really has no reason to be in "desperation mode" right now, but Sony's efforts to move systems have been no more desperate than Microsoft's efforts to get their system out the door early and build up a lead, so let's keep things in perspective.

Edit: Yes, congratulations to Microsoft for adding features to their 360 Core with the Arcade version. I'm sure they added those features to be nice, and not to sell more systems; the same way that Sony cut their price to be nice...

[Blakzhuk]

@Cacapoopooloco -

"Why is it acceptable to introduce reduced feature consoles from the start in order to move systems, and not acceptable for Sony to remove features (ones which don't affect the performance of PS3 games) in order to do the same thing?"

While I don't like the Arcade personally, it's a great system for households who only want to experience next gen games. If you don't need Live or video downloads, then the Arcade is the system to buy. I can go get Lost Odyssey, Gears of War 1 and Fable 2 and play them on a $199 system. That's pretty awesome if you ask me.

The problem with Sony removing features is that they stated the PS3 would be 100% backward compatible and it isn't. By removing the BC hardware and then taking out the option all together, they've went back on their promises. There are too many households with PS2 libraries that were looking to sell their PS2 and upgrade to the PS3. That's all over now. They also said every game would be 1080p and 120fps. Nope. They said the next generation started when they say so. The next generation started when the 360 launched. The Xbox 360 will utterly crush the PS3 this holiday.

Your arguments over the 360 not having wifi are hilarious. I have a PS3 and 360 and would never use the wifi option for gaming. That's just dumb. How can you get gigabit transfers over your LAN with wireless? Wifi is a feature that would only be needed if you had no other choice or didn't know how to run lan cables through your home.

The 360 is still cheaper. You don't need HD movie playback on the 360 but if you must have it, get a Pro and watch HD downloads or buy an HD-DVD adapter and order movies off of Amazon and Ebay.

The PS3 doesn't even come with a f@cking HD cable. No component cables and no HDMI cables at all. ALL 360 come with component and some come with HDMI. Sony passes on extra cost to the consumer. You cannot play High Def games out of the box with a PS3 because there aren't cables that allow you too. The arcade comes with a component cable thank you!

I can't wait to hear all the FUD this holiday from the PS3 fans after 360 destroys both the Wii and PS3 in holiday sales.

[Cacolaco]

Ok, I will agree that $199 is a nice value for HD gaming. I will also agree that this really isn't a desperation move, and is a nice option for people who can't afford to have everything the PS3 (or even the Xbox Elite) offers. Being able to upgrade is nice, even if MS charges $100 for 20gb of storage, and won't give you a Blu-ray drive.

I stand by my earlier arguments, though, as my main point was that Microsoft's early efforts to gain a big market share lead were as desperate as Sony's efforts to lower cost by removing their hardware backwards compatibility.

So essentially non-reliability vs. non-backwards-compatibility... It doesn't matter, since both of those issues are fading into the past, and I think the Wii will take the holidays again...

Oh, and I never made any specific reference to the Arcade's lack of wi-fi. I am seriously wondering where my argument about the Arcade's lack of wi-fi was in that post...

[Lucas22]

nice now i can buy one. I just hope Microsoft doesn't release their new xbox in a year or two.

[SixZeroFour]

there is a small (very small) possibility that MS would make the next xbox backwards compatable

but yea, great price drop...i still need to get a second xbox360 so i dont have to argue with my bro on whos playing online anymore

[XboxOZ360]

The x720 is backward compatible, of course it is . . and it's due out either late '09 or early 2010 and will be fitted with the new Valhalla Unified GPU and CPU motherboard.

The next 360 due out either later this year or first thing next year will come with the Jasper or Opus motherboards. Reducing production costs even further. The 360 is now in a positive position financially when it comes to production costs, whereas the PS3 is still hampered by the huge $US3.3 billion loss it is wearing. (Official budget position for last quarter by Sony)

The x720 will play all current titles and will certainly cover all previous titles, it HAS to, as one of their new revenue streams is Xbox Originals . . which unless you've forgotten, is "lats-Gen" . .not "This-Gen" . "Next-Gen" is the x720 and the PS4, which btw Sony is busy making as we sit here pondering the arrival of the next xbox. The arrival of the next PS will not be far behind it.

Yes, I hear you Sony fans saying, "but the ps3 has a 10 year "life span" . . News for you, so does the 360 btw! I know you Sony fans don't like to think that Sony would dare make a new machine already, but bad luck, they have been at it now for some time, and even hired staff in Germany to work on their next hardware iteration behind closed doors.

But there's a huge difference between "life span" and development life span. The ps2 will eventually fade out, the PS3 will take its place, the PS4 will be the new kid on the block

Same goes for the Xbox. The 1st-Gen Xbox was the initial stepping stone to get XboxLive up and running (they started working on the 360 in April of 2003, with ideas around it starting the month the 1st-Gen xbox launched in Nov 2002.

The 360 will have a life span of 10 year approx, but be replaced in '09/'10 with the newer version.

And for those whigning about how dare they, get over it, it's how technology works. No company, be it MS or Sony or Nintendo can sit on their laurels and wait 10 years before introducing a new item, they would go broke faster than a corner store.

DO wake up and read things, you'll learn more.

[thewhoopimen]

If I were a console maker, I'd do exactly what sony is doing. Milking that last gen profit for all its worth to fund my next project. I think companies, even MS need to recoup their investment b4 starting a new project. For MS, that means recouping their losses on the first xbox project and this current one. They may be in the black again with this division, but I don't think they are anywhere near making a return on their investment. To come out with a new xbox as early as 09-10 would be illogical, and wouldn't necessarily endear the consumer to the xbox brand.

[Raoh]

hmmm interesting...

maybe the 360 can finally compete with the PS2... it barely comes close time and time again in beating it..

the 360 has put a lot of investment and may finally show the ps2 it means business and is here to stay...

Then the next xbox will be at a better position to take on the ps3 at this rate...

good for you microsoft, your learning

[Jandre02]

But who is going to buy their kid a 360 (oldest console on the market, and this year, the most unpopular console by far.), when they can buy their kid a brand new Nintendo Wii for $50 more.

Rock Band and Guitar Hero used to be a reason for a PS3 or 360, but now the Wii will be getting those games as well. That leaves only demand, which both other consoles definitely have more of. Gears 2 will be huge, but since both Halo and Gears 1 have come and gone, I doubt anyone is really waiting for the $199 price to try those games out.

The only game that can attact anyone at this point is Fable 2. Lol. And I doubt that will pull in more than 500,000 more people worldwide.

[IzKyD1331]

I really don't see why MS keeps making an arcade system, its useless, no HDD, no HDMI, wired controller....what is this, last gen?

[Shadow Man]

Does the ps3 come with a headset, HDMI cable, and Rumble?

[zo6_lover27]

I can use any Bluetooth headset I already have for my phone, an HDMI cable is only about $10 if you get one at the right place(and the ELITE model is the ONLY one that comes with one), and yes, all ps3's come with rumble now.

Do all 360's come with Wifi, a hard drive or an HD movie format?

[KeiulZen]

.....dood, PS3 has had rumble in the box since June. Welcome to the party, I'm so sorry you're late.

[PiTCHBLaCK]

Edited out, no need to comment, others beat me to it.

[OSIRUSSS]

Doing my best Foxworthy voice:

If your game system uses DVD as its Game format......You might be last gen.

[Shadow Man]

I can use any laptop for the Wifi, an hard drive is only about $50 if you get one at the right place(and the ELITE model is the ONLY one that comes with a 120gb Hard drive), and yes, all xbox 360 are compatible with HD DVD add on.

Do all ps3's come with 100% backward compatibility, or a 120gb Hard Drive?

@juuken
IDK, I don't have any homework and non of my friends are on Messenger
I'm just bored -.-'

@OSIRUSSS
"If your game system uses DVD as its Game format......You might be last gen." LOL that was awesome 4 realz man. Bubbles 4 U Sir!

[juuken]

Shadowman, why do you try?
I mean...why are you trying?

[PoSTedUP]

HDMI 1.2 is a joke. 1.3 is waaay more convenient and better over all.

the older 360's didnt come with HDMI just as the ps3 didnt come with rumble, sixaxis is better anyways : ) and now ps3 has rumble and now 360 has a halfassed HDMI XD.

"I can use any laptop for the Wifi"- you still have to buy the add on for the 360 fool! XD.

"an hard drive is only about $50 if you get one at the right place"- you still have to buy the add-on fool! XD. what a 20GB used HD?? XD. good luck with the search. you must be one of the lucky few.

"Do all ps3's come with 100% backward compatibility"- no

do all 360's come with 100% backwards compatibility?- no

so can you have a collection of the new movies coming out on HD-DVD??

does a 360 come with a wireless, rechargeable controller in all systems?

120gigs? wow, is that for all the DL'able movies you CANT keep? good use of the HD ms... XD.

hmmm.. the 360 come with a built in internet browser? built in?? no?

yup, sexy bluetooth headsets : ), can ya use those on your 360?

does the 360 have analogue controllers??? pressure sensitive buttons?

how bout sixaxis? the 360 come with that?

a blu-ray player?? no?

and yo man dont take it to the heart, i am board also and good news i start working tomorrow!!! money money money $$$ cha-ching! cha ching!

[caffman]

but the arcade, certainly in the UK, comes with HDMI and wireless pad. I'll give you the point on HDD though

[PoSTedUP]

sorry but you have to show me where i said anything about the arcade sku in UK. (if you ARE replying to ME)

[TheMART]

"I really don't see why MS keeps making an arcade system, its useless, no HDD, no HDMI, wired controller....what is this, last gen? "

Because for 199 Euro/Dollar you play the multiplatform games the same as on a 399 Euro/Dollar PS3, while in 99% of all the games the quality on the 360 is even better, you can still do savegames on the Memorycard, you still can go online and there are 90% of all families that still don't own a HDTV and game on a SDTV.

May I also remind you that every PS3 only comes with a composite cable?

Its just like this:

360 arcade + GTAIV = 260 Euro/Dollar
PS3 + GTAIV = 460 Euro/Dollar

360 arcade + FFXIII = 260 Euro/Dollar
PS3 + FFXIII = 460 Euro/Dollar

360 arcade + Fallout 3= 260 Euro/Dollar
PS3 + Fallout 3 = 460 Euro/Dollar

You get the picture? People that just want the game without all the extra's...

[pshizle]

and those who dont care for live...or those who have their xbox broke on them keep the hardrive and buy the arcade

[zo6_lover27]

God, I can't believe I missed this argument, there is so much ignorance in Shadow Man's post that it isn't funny.

I'll put in my 2 cents anyway

Guess what, you you need a laptop to do that, which is even more expensive than 2 360's

NO, not one, 360 has 100% BC, not a single one. Only partial BC for models with HDD's.

[caffman]

It was aimed at IZKYD1331

[Johnny Rotten]

a price drop is good, lets hope Sony follows in the near future!

[ape007]

yes,competition is good for all gamers

[Jandre02]

With the price of the LBP bundled being confirmed in Europe for $399 (the price it is right now without a game) I think its pretty safe to assume the PS3 will be getting a price drop on the Core soon after.

I'd guess the PS3 would be sold at $350, since $339 seems a little off.

[PiTCHBLaCK]

The Sony CEO Head said no price drops for the PS3
in the near future, this could change though.

[karlostomy]

the ps3 is already being sold at a gigantic loss.

I daresay Sony won't be able to afford a pricedrop for a long time.
Maybe middle 2009?

[XboxOZ360]

The PS3 can not be dropped in price right now, or for the next 6-10 months at least. Last quarter, the ONLY section in Sony Corp to suffer a loss was- you guessed it Sony Games. And not just a little loss, their last quarter loss was $US3.3billion . . .so you wont find Sony dropping the price just to make customers happy. If they did, they might as well close the doors on the gaming section (which btw was discussed early last year) as it is simply not profitable for them atm.

That does not mean they won't stay in business, or that they won't do everything "possible" to stay in it and lift that loss and get closer to the Black. But cutting costs right now is simply not on the cards.

They have to rely on other means to bring ppl to the table, and one of the biggest winners for them has been the Blu-Ray player as a movie devise morethan a gaming devise. Again, this doesn't mean bad things, it just means that is how it is for them atm.

They used the same stratergy with the PS2, but at that time, they had basically little of no competition, and one of their failing points this time round, was "presuming the xbox platform would just shrink and fad away. They were even quoted as saying the Xbox platform is no worry for them, it will die out in less than 18 months . . .

Again, this was while Japanese ran the company. Now a gajin's run Sony (do a google), and that's something they are having heaps of internal issues with. It's why KK "retired" and why there is division with older Sony employees, and fresh blood employees who see the future as a mix of western and eastern gaming.

There's MUCH more to running these businesses than simply dropping prices. A White paper released in August 2003 showed that they will reduce the cost of the 360 by middle to last quarter of 2008, when they ideally break even on the production costs. They had estimated that they "could lose upwards of $6.3Billion on the platform by end of '08 if everything went pear shaped, which it hasn't. The name of the paper if you want to google it was XE 03 . .. But you'll have to "read it" . .(sarc once again)

[ape007]

good news

this will shake thing up,mark my words

maybe ms don't have much AAA exclusives like sony

but 299$ 60 gb is a steal right there

[kewlkat007]

Great Video and Music choice

Watch the Halo towards the End. I was thinking of doing something like

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

On topic: Price drop yay!! Holiday sales will be good to go with Gears of War 2.

[Wildarmsjecht]

Microsoft has had alot of price drops. Its been...3 years?

[kewlkat007]

I real Price Drop is -$100 if you ask me...

Plus if the console sells well(not super), no need to drop prices so much, that it takes away from profits.

I think the 360 is finally less $100 after 3 years. Not a bad market-price given the SKUs.

[xhi4]

hurts.

A DVD player costs under 100 dollars now, I can get one for 20, so obviously with cheap hardware one is able to lower prices to get it out fast, just in time for the blu-ray replacement.

[ReBurn]

What one person calls desperation anotger person would call normal. The 360 has been out for nearly 3 years. The price should be dropping like this. Some would say that real desperation is discontinuing models, cutting features and dropping $100 off the price within the first year to try to jump start adoption. I'm not saying that's the case, but history speaks for itself.

[poopsack]

interesting.

[Marceles]

wow

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/...

[chrisnick]

continue with the price drops of desperation.

[Shadow Man]

2 price drops in less than a year what do you call that?

[zo6_lover27]

PS3- 1 price drop in 2 years.

360- 2 price drops in 3 years.

They both have had 1 price drop per year since there release.

EDIT

I went one more price drop than I should have.

[KeiulZen]

desperation....I believe that's what it's called.

[juuken]

But did Sony drop the price like crazy on the PS3? Microsoft's pricecuts won't do any good if they have *nothing* to offer with that system.

[cmrbe]

2 price drops were price adjustments. You guys always forget that the PS3 came out at 600 USD.

[KingDizzi]

MS still have to find a way to crack Japan, no matter what anyone says Japan matters and the only way they will do that will be by getting exclusive games for there consoles in the form of FF. Then comes the EU where PS3 sales have caught up with 360 even though it was released a year less, both have had price drops and it makes little difference.

[soxfan2005]

The US price drop will be the most important because the 360 has such a large lead over the PS3. There is a HUGE difference between dropping price to climb out of last place, and dropping price from a superior position to increase a lead.

[Strikepackage Bravo]

I was supposed to get a PS3 in about a week, but this is crazy, I may have to just go with the 360 for now.

I was on gamefly setting up an account when I noticed 360 has 407 GAMES! while PS3 only has 263. That is a huge difference, I had no idea, the gap was so huge.

[PirateThom]

When a console has been out a year longer, that tends to happen... the difference is pretty much nothing.

[Max Power]

a year head start will do that.

[PiTCHBLaCK]

A Year head start does that.

[KeiulZen]

for the 360, so half of it are probably old games (like madden 06 and crap like that).

[Strikepackage Bravo]

good point, 360 has been out longer, but what ever the reason is I dont really care, the problem is it has a lot more games, and I will only have 680 dollars to spend, so I cant get both, but I want the best gaming value.

At these prices I will have cash left for a bunch of the older but great 360 games, plus the new ones coming out. I really want Gears2 and Dead Rising, but I also want MGS4 and LBP :(

[UltimateIdiot911]

You mustn't forget that you have to pay for Live if you want to play online and you must also remember, any accessories and upgrade to the 360 is costly compare to PS3. If you plan on a long term investment, PS3 is the way. It's what ultimately help me decided on the PS3.

Besides that, the games I want are on PS3 or have been known to be on the PS3.

And if you're good, you can find cheap PS3 games. It takes patient though.

[cmrbe]

the games you want the most then buy the console with the most games you like. The PS3 will go down in price as well and the x360 will be more reliable in time as well. Its your choice. Trust your instincts and taste.

[VF34EJ25]

If you really want to consider price, look at the long run. Do you plan to play online? Well the PS3 has a built-in WiFi and Free online. Opposed to the 360 where you have to either just use the ethernet cable or buy a WiFi adapter which is $87.99. Then pay $50 for Live.

If you get a Arcade SKU, I'm pretty sure you'd want to play downloadable games like Braid, Geometry Wars, etc. and be able to download game demos. You'll end up needing to buy a HDD anyway, which right now retails on amazon for $89.99 for a 20gb or $179.99 for a 120gb.

You'll end up spending almost $349 to $399 anyway. So you can just get a 80gb PS3 for $399.99 and call it a day. And it also has one small feature that makes it worth more than the 360. Blu-Ray. If it's not important to you now, think about the future where HDTVs are starting to become standard, and the market starts switching to Blu-Ray. You'll be all set.

But if you STILL decide to go with a 360, just drop money on the 60gb and don't bother with the Arcade SKU.

[Strikepackage Bravo]

live is an added cost, youre right. The only upgrade I would need would be a controller with rumble, I planned to get one for my PS3 and I would do the same for my 360 if I got one, Im pretty sure 360 does not come with rumble in the controller, I could be wrong on that not sure.

This all just got a lot more complicated with that price drop, if Sony drops price too I will be good to go.

[Firstkn1ghT]

It's no brainer really. If you want the best games just get the 360. Their was an article earlier that showed the averages of most games and the 360 had around 102 games that averaged 80 and up while the ps3 only had 48. 17 games on the 360 were rated 90 and up while the ps3 only has 6. With 2-3 of those being multiplatform and they have been proven better on the 360. And Dead Rising is one sweet ass game! :)

And if you like zombie games than you will love Left 4 Dead which was Game Informer's Number 1 game of E3 and exclusive to the 360. This game is going to be a freaking sweet zombiefest. And yes the 360 controller comes with rumble at no additional cost.

[SixZeroFour]

"If you really want to consider price, look at the long run. Do you plan to play online? Well the PS3 has a built-in WiFi and Free online. Opposed to the 360 where you have to either just use the ethernet cable or buy a WiFi adapter which is $87.99. Then pay $50 for Live."

-Ethernet cable and a wired mic usually come with the SKU = 0$
-12 month $50 live subscription, although it isnt free, averages out to about less than 14 cents a day (would still prefer free service though)

"If you get a Arcade SKU, I'm pretty sure you'd want to play downloadable games like Braid, Geometry Wars, etc. and be able to download game demos. You'll end up needing to buy a HDD anyway, which right now retails on amazon for $89.99 for a 20gb or $179.99 for a 120gb."

-if you get an arcade im pretty sure your well aware that you wont be able to download, so you wouldnt be getting one for that reason

"But if you STILL decide to go with a 360, just drop money on the 60gb and don't bother with the Arcade SKU."

-if you WERE really thinking about downloading, this ^^^ is what you should be doing
-------------
my advice is to pick out the console that the majority or your friends, or friends that you prefer to play online with, have...because there is nothing better than playing online with your friends

since my friends all had a 360, i got one for myself and have had awesome moments playing halo3, cod4, bfbc, nhl08, geow with them

[PiTCHBLaCK]

Your not telling him all the facts are you?

While the 360 does have 14 titles
in the 90+ range it also has 44 titles that
were under 50.

The PS3 has 5 titles 90+ but only
11 titles under 50.

Source: http://www.metacritic.com/g...

Either way don't go by game numbers, go by with what
you get more out of.

[Bill Gates]

.

[BLuKhaos]

Ha Ha Ha!!!

[VF34EJ25]

$199 for the Arcade SKU.

$89.99 for a 20g HDD or $179.99 for a 120gb HDD

Why bother? People should just get a $299.99 60gb and call it a day. It's the best value 360.

[juuken]

Well...the end of the 360 is at hand people.
Any last words before we dig that grave?

Because that pricecut reeks of desperation and mass panic.

Let me elaborate.

THIS REEKS OF DESPERATION AND MASS PANIC.

Let me say it one more time.

THIS REEKS OF DESPERATION AND MASS PANIC.

The 360 sales have slowed down, and the only way for Microsoft to *beat* Sony is to drop the price like crazy. Microsoft is digging their own bloody grave!

[Scotracer]

I try to ignore irrelevant drivel but when someone goes out of there way to do so, I should call them out on it.

Look, Microsoft has been able to reduce the costs, of their already cheap console, to a point where they can afford to do such a price drop. The PS2 dropped to $199 in May of 2002 when it launched in 2000. So if anything, the 360 is behind the PS2's price drops.

So it's desperation to reduce the price of your product? I'm sure Sony would drop the price of the PS3 if they could. It's simple economics but I have read your recent posts...and you wouldn't understand that.

[juuken]

Yeah...sure they are.

I'm using common sense.

Microsoft's 360 sales are slowing down. They should be selling more, not cutting prices so quickly.

That's a sign of desperation.

Don't use that logic with Microsoft because I can guarantee they are not cutting production costs. Despite pricecuts and rpg's, the PS3 still outsold the 360. Hell, they even outsold the 360 in 2007. There's no doubt that Sony will reduce the price but right now they don't need to because they're starting to market the PS3 correctly.

How is it that you attack me first on this and yet you couldn't *explain* that to others who said it was desperation?

Everyone else said this was desperation.

Believe what you want to believe.

[Blakzhuk]

@Juuken - Would you say that Sony dropped their PS3 prices out of desperation? Some might agree with your logic if you would say the same thing about Sony's price drops.

[juuken]

Sony dropped the price to adjust the pricing of the consoles.

I'm sorry but has 360 sales increased as of late?

[OSIRUSSS]

"The first thing consumers look at is the end price tag"

Not THIS consumer, buddy!!!

[SixZeroFour]

yea, the first thing THIS consumer looks at is what his friends are playing on

[Lucas22]

when do you think Microsoft will announce the next xbox? Hopefully 2011-2012

[cmrbe]

of 2011.

[Firstkn1ghT]

One thing for sure is that Microsoft has all the right moves and is definitely pushing Sony around. With this price cut the 360 will still profit around $50 a console while Sony is still losing money on the ps3. They can't afford a price cut. Especially since big titles like MGS4 didn't hit their sales expectations.

[VF34EJ25]

Isn't the PS3 breaking even right now?

http://gizmodo.com/344141/p...

[cmrbe]

like MS is pushing the PS3 around in Japan and Europe ATM eh?.

[JOLLY1]

if you look at amazon Japan the 360 is pushing around the ps3 (by quite a lot I might add)

[karlostomy]

You are wrong dude.

Howard stringer has recently stated
that the ps3 is still losing money on each console:

"You also know, however, that our business model is not perfect, and that we make a loss on every console we sell. "

http://news.spong.com/artic...

Who should we believe, Howard Stringer or Gizmodo?

[titntin]

@karlostomy
If you didn't practice selective reading, you'd also notice that he said they make all their money on software sales and are making more than enough to offset the hardware loss. The overall buisness is currently profitable despite the hardware loss. I'd agree they wouldn't want to upset that balance with any price drops, but the buisness is cirrently profitable.

It will be interesting to see how this price cut goes down in the US.
Here in Europe this price cut was made some time ago and the machine has been cheaper than the WII for a long time. I didn't make any impact on sales here, or reverse the trends. The US is a very differnet market though, so it will be interesting to see if it can have more of an effect there.

[scoobysnacks]

The last line of the last paragraph of the article Karlostomy posted, states.

"We are already making more money with the games than we are losing with the hardware."

That can't be taken any other way.

Granted, the hardware is still sold at a loss (a loss that is slowly being reduced with improvements in manufacture). But that loss is offset now by profits pulled in via software sales. Who ever disagreed, take off you fanboy glasses and learn to read.

In regard to the subject of this article however, good move by Microsoft, it should help give some momentum back to their 360 sales, which of late seemed to be really slowing up. If this price drop has a real significant effect on 360 sales, then they've seriously put some pressure back on Sony.

[karlostomy]

(and what firstknight said too)

We both said "the ps3 is losing money"

Nowhere did I deny that "the ps3 is losing money, but it's software sales are *only just breaking the whole thing even*"

My comment stands. The ps3 console is losing money! It is sold at a massive hardware loss to retain marketshare.

Ironically i think we have agreed that the ps3 cannot afford a pricedrop, lest it become unprofitable (incl software sales) again.

Further to this, I find it kind of a big issue for Sony with recent headlines like this
http://www.efluxmedia.com/n...
http://community.winsupersi...

[Silogon]

So lemme get this straight

1 last gen format powering your system's drive
no hdd
dated hardware in the cpu
no hdmi

and this is a deal? hahahahahahahahahahaha this is worth 200 bucks? Try about 100 bucks. If that.

Ps3, no matter what will always hold value over the xbox 360's head. It is running on next gen hardware and it uses a next gen standard format to power itts drive. That alone is future proof and well worth the 200 extra bucks. Think of that 200 bucks as 2 more years on the market.

Xbox 360 has played its last card.

[Enigma_2099]

How much will it cost to add on a HDD? And the hell it didn't... it even met that ridiculous "1 million copies on day one" ultimatum you people set for it...

[VF34EJ25]

20gb

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-...

120gb

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-...

[Common Sense]

would cost $55(120GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Produ...
and $110 for 320Gb
http://www.newegg.com/Produ...

[arngrim229]

but the arcade is useless and only idiots buy it. eitherway u gotta buy a hard drive which is 100, so why didnt they just get rid of arcade and leave the 20 gig at 300???? i dont understand it.

the arcade bundle is a scam, the mem card is useless hard drive is way to go which is why i dont know why MS is keeping arcade bundle, probally just for people to say OOOOhhh 36o for 200!!!!! before they realize how much more crap they gotta buy,......poor fools

[SixZeroFour]

im pretty sure the arcade bundle is focused more on the young gamers that dont download or have/buy a lot of games...game saves dont take up a lot of memory and i think it has enough space to save a couple dozen games

[soxfan2005]

The Arcade can play EVERY Xbox 360 game - that is what most people want to do. It has a wireless controller, HDMI, and enough memory to save games. The only thing you can't do is download from Xbox live - and many people don't care about that. Those that do can buy the 60g - or they can do like I did - buy a used 20g HD for $50, and sell the memory card on Ebay for $20.

[Fighter]

$199 and no HDD included, that's lame.

[Common Sense]

I hope the public buys more 360s and they will but if the Ps3 should outsell it in the month, it's game over. That's unlikely though but that would be pretty embarrassing-getting beat by your opponent at half their price.

I expect the 360 to beat the Ps3 in sales in september and hopefully Sony counters just in time for LBP release.

[themyk]

does anybody care. the only people buying this atrocity well be parents for their young kids. real gamers aren't going to buy this. and the last thing i want to put up with on the psn is a bunch of young 360 athearts. yes i just said athearts i make up words deal with it.

so yes m$ this is pathetic and you've just proved what all of us ps3(truegamers) have been saying all along.

complete garbage company.
complete garbage system.

damn i hate to sound to nasty, but we all know we want to say that.
i'll take the disagree's and the loss of bubbles for the rest of my crew.

[cemelc]

Parents will not be buying 360´s they will be buying wii´s no matter the price.

The 360 has no actual AAA on the way unless you count Halo Wars(but pls this is no AAA) or Alan wake (by the look of thing this game is already M.I.A), and count one or two 3rd party timed exclusive at some point next year, thats it,lets be honest here PS3 and 360 sales are from hardcore gamers (or ppl that at some point know a bit more than the average joe),and that kind of player are well inform buyers(or know how get informed before purchasing), so no matter how you look at it the ps3 will still be outselling the Xbox regardless of the price tag.

[DA_SHREDDER]

I never understood why they sold 360 over $200 buck when its not worth more then that. The only way I would have paid more for a 360 is it came with free online,wifi, bluetooth, internet explorer, optical out, blue ray, an sd card slot, expandable harddrive, and beable to store my mp3's and movies straight to my hard drive. Thats why I paid a little extra for my ps3. It comes with all that, and some.

[arngrim229]

u got that right buddy :D

[SixZeroFour]

actually it looks like you basically listed EVERYTHING in a ps3...so are you saying that you bought a ps3 for 500-600 bucks when you would have bought a 360 with the exact same thing for only 200+

you basically said that you paid 500-600 for a ps3 that YOU THINK is really only worth a bit over 200...thats what i understood from your post

[Ngai]

lol DA_SHREDDER a bubble for you!

[Rob0g0rilla]

Well, that means your incompatible with some games out (like playing Burnout Paradise online) and games that are coming out that require an HDD. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who actually has plans on playing video games on the 360. It's a rip off. Your money goes a lot further if you just buy a 60gb 360. You can try out over 300 games for free before purchasing them. You can't do that with an arcade unit.

[enjoi187]

i have heard a-lot of people that...not want a new gen system because they are to expensive. this will help Microsoft ..and you know whats around the corner..CHRISTMAS

the fact that it is cheaper it will sell..bigger game library to choose from...

the general market will buy....i once again want to mention Christmas

and if there are no wiis parents will buy a 360 or a ps2...not a 400 dollar blu-ray player..

[Harri4444]

ya and microsoft definitely pushing you around making you pay 50 dollers a year for xbot live not offering you games that you will be intrested in for more than 10 hours so you will go right back and wast more of your money.

STOP PLAYING WITH THE DEVIL!

[Mr Marbles]

they are just clearing out Arcades so they can drop the price of the 20 gig to $279 or $250 and call it the new Arcade, while keeping the 60 gig at $350.

[DA_SHREDDER]

Of crap. I mean cmon, most of the games you guys just love on your 360 are on the ps3 too. Give me a break. Also,, Microsoft has a huge library of arcade games and crappy titles. I dont think that is something to brag about. Im sorry but the 360 is not worth $200 bucks if it doesnt come with a harddrive. It seems you 360 only guys love getting shafted.

[Mr Marbles]

Dude what are you taliking about, and who are you talking to?

And your points are not good points, PS2 had a lot of crap on it too, but it also had a lot of good stuff, when you have a massive library crap is going to be a reality along with the good, but one mans crap is another mans gold, its about having more to choose from, and that the 360 has in abundance.

[arngrim229]

honestly theres mostly crap on it, supreme defender? operation darkness??? alska's deadliest catch???? only good exclusives are mass effect, gears halo and NG2, tho more are coming out but most people just like COD, gears and halo honestly. 360 has the most crappy games on it ever besides wii. ps3 doesnt have as big a library but most of the games are quality games atleast with many more on way

[Strikepackage Bravo]

both consoles have mostly all the same games, at least thats what it looks like on gamefly, they have the same games but 360 has a small bunch that PS3 does not have, and most of those are OK games in my opinion.

Why does everyone here hate 360 so much anyway?

[Gitaroo]

I'll probably pick one up when the jasper models are out. My old one crap out too many times and since I already have a 20 gig HDD, should be good enough for atleast awhile. Anyone know if theres anyway to get the free data transfer cable if I ever update the HDD?

[Parapraxis]

My old one crap out too many times ???

Yet you'll still waste money on another?
You are a fine example of ignorant consumerism.

[SixZeroFour]

i dont think he meant that he bought plenty other when he said "crapped out too many times" im pretty sure his warrenty covered him

[PS3PWNSALL]

They can drop the price all they want. The reality is, the PS3 continues to outsell the 360 worldwide and will continue this trend from this day forth. That little Arcade system making big sales is just a pipe dream.

[LosT---SouL]

YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG

Your place is over there >>

[Blakzhuk]

360 price drop for the win. Finally the sales will pick up again and start smothering the Wii and PS3. We knew this was going to happen and Sept 7 marks the day that 360 takes over.

[Parapraxis]

Oh how things change in a year!

Now the 360 NEEDS a price drop and has NO GAEMS!

hilarity.

[thenickel]

My question for MS is when the Heck are they going to drastically reduce the price for a hdd? I mean if they got that down in price then surely sells would sky rocket and people would get over the nickel and dime vibe feeling from them.

[Bladestar]

As everyone knows by now I'm not a fan of Sony... so to a point I will be honest I hope they get slap around this generation enough for them to not try not to use us gamers to promote new "Sony proprietary format" formats as they did with the PSP and the PS3..." that said.. I really hope that Sony is still arrogant and have the same mindset that seem to be very common among their fans...

I really hope Sony is saying, "bahh... the xbox 360 price drop will have no effect on the PS3 in terms of sells... we don't have to drop the price! we are Sony!..." and continue on their mentality as they said before, "we can sell PS3 even without games..." which was true... they did...

I am crossing my fingers that Sony and their fans have the same strategy to capture the mass market that would not pay $400 for a console... but that it would consider it as long as it has great games and a $200 price tag...

Sony! listen to your fans... please! as matter of fact raise the price to $600 again... your are the master! people will buy your consoles no matter what...

:)

[DA_SHREDDER]

But by the time you add everything to your precious 360, you will have exceeded the $350-$400 mark. Truth is, if you could afford a 360,, you might as well and pay the little extra to get your money's worth on a ps3. Also, the ps3 has more AAA exclusives. Of course we would buy a ps3 regardless of a little price differance between it and the 360. Only people who have their mommies buy their games for them are the ones who really care, cause mommy dont wanna support grown men and their hobbies.

[cheapndirty]

The 20gb hard drives are way cheap used on craigslist. No one wants them it seems. So I am going to buy a second 360 for 199.00 and then buy a used 20gb hard drive from some teenager that went splurged on the biggers HD's. I don't download movies to keep and even if I run out of space the content is attached to my gamer tag and I can re download as many times as I want for free. Does everyone know that the 360 also is a media center extender? I am going to be streaming HD content from my PC to all of my 200.00 360's around the house. And, the arcade model is HDMI ready. Monocables.com has them for 5.00.

[Pika-pie]

Who really buys the arcade model?

[silverchode]

12 year olds.

[MRMagoo123]

I have an idea that the price drop on the arcade version wont impact anything at all maybe if the elite was 199 the yeh some ppl might buy it but the arcade isnt worth that much anyway

[cheapndirty]

I assume everyone knows that the 60gb hard drive is going to go for 99.00. It included a headset and and either 1 or 3 months of xbox live. Search ng4 they had an article about it a month ago. Of course, I am buying a used HD.

[D3stroy3R]

The 360 is being outsold by everyone outside the US, but by doing this move of lowering there price under 200, they might be heading back on top. The reason that the Wii is so popular in my own opinion are two reasons: One is the gimick control and the price. For the Wii being around 250, that is an ideal price for the average family or lower class family. Mainly people who buy the truly next gen systems of the Ps3 and the 360, can afford it and are not on a tight budget, mainly gamers or wealthy people (not trying to offend anyone). Now that the price of the 360 is under 200, for it being no hardrive equiped, it can still play the popular games that are out there. Remember that many games that are made for the 360 are being made without a mandatory Hardrive. So to be the first to be under 200 is a great move. The average family can afford one and enjoy a gaming experience. True the Ps3 is catching steam and might eventually destroy the 360, not untill it can have a lower price and meet the main market in terms of price, not graphics. I am no fanboy for either system, just a realistic gamer.

[soxfan2005]

Worldwide sales don't matter in this case - it is a US price drop, and the US is where 360 has a healthy lead over PS3. It would be desperation only if the 360 was in last place, like the Dreamcast was when Sega tried unsuccessfully to gain market share with a price drop. This is similiar to when the PS1 was ahead of both the N64 and Sega Saturn, and Sony dropped the price to $199. It was the end for the Saturn, and it gave the PS1 an insurmountable lead in that console race.

[chidj2]

this is the last hope of microsoft drop the price haha

[Strife Lives]

Please sony,drop your prices one more time .. .then I can buy a Ps3 lol I had the money for one months ago,and I got a HD tv instead.and since then,games keep getting in the way

[karlostomy]

Undoubtedly the ps3 is now destined to remain in third place for a long long time to come.

Can you say "10 year lifecycle - catchup plan?"

[silverchode]

itll be funny when the 360 gets outsold again this month.

[Towers]

It does seem like a last ditch attempt to get buyers. I hope it works as IMO the 360 has some great games. I wonder if this is going to get a lot of casual gamers pick up the 360. There are a lot of PS2 owners still waiting to upgrade and now that it's at a cheap enough price I wonder how many of them will snatch up the Xbox.
PS3 is a good machine and has some great exclusive games coming but Xbox360 has a ton too and if the general public look at the back catalogue of games and see the price I think it could do well.

But like I said, last ditch chance imo, next thing they could do would be to drop live subscription.. Don't see it happening this gen though.

[pwnamon]

Once the console sales have ground to a halt and they're making no money off of Gears 2 sales it will come to PC, like the original and halo 1 and 2.

[THE TERMINATOR]

Destined for the bargain bin

[XboxOZ360]

4.2 -

The x720 is backward compatible, of course it is . . and it's due out either late '09 or early 2010 and will be fitted with the new Valhalla Unified GPU and CPU motherboard.

The next 360 due out either later this year or first thing next year will come with the Jasper or Opus motherboards. Reducing production costs even further. The 360 is now in a positive position financially when it comes to production costs, whereas the PS3 is still hampered by the huge $US3.3 billion loss it is wearing. (Official budget position for last quarter by Sony)

The x720 will play all current titles and will certainly cover all previous titles, it HAS to, as one of their new revenue streams is Xbox Originals . . which unless you've forgotten, is "lats-Gen" . .not "This-Gen" . "Next-Gen" is the x720 and the PS4, which btw Sony is busy making as we sit here pondering the arrival of the next xbox. The arrival of the next PS will not be far behind it.

Yes, I hear you Sony fans saying, "but the ps3 has a 10 year "life span" . . News for you, so does the 360 btw! I know you Sony fans don't like to think that Sony would dare make a new machine already, but bad luck, they have been at it now for some time, and even hired staff in Germany to work on their next hardware iteration behind closed doors.

But there's a huge difference between "life span" and development life span. The ps2 will eventually fade out, the PS3 will take its place, the PS4 will be the new kid on the block

Same goes for the Xbox. The 1st-Gen Xbox was the initial stepping stone to get XboxLive up and running (they started working on the 360 in April of 2003, with ideas around it starting the month the 1st-Gen xbox launched in Nov 2002.

The 360 will have a life span of 10 year approx, but be replaced in '09/'10 with the newer version.

And for those whigning about how dare they, get over it, it's how technology works. No company, be it MS or Sony or Nintendo can sit on their laurels and wait 10 years before introducing a new item, they would go broke faster than a corner store.

DO wake up and read things, you'll learn more.

8.3 -

The PS3 can not be dropped in price right now, or for the next 6-10 months at least. Last quarter, the ONLY section in Sony Corp to suffer a loss was- you guessed it Sony Games. And not just a little loss, their last quarter loss was $US3.3billion . . .so you wont find Sony dropping the price just to make customers happy. If they did, they might as well close the doors on the gaming section (which btw was discussed early last year) as it is simply not profitable for them atm.

That does not mean they won't stay in business, or that they won't do everything "possible" to stay in it and lift that loss and get closer to the Black. But cutting costs right now is simply not on the cards.

They have to rely on other means to bring ppl to the table, and one of the biggest winners for them has been the Blu-Ray player as a movie devise morethan a gaming devise. Again, this doesn't mean bad things, it just means that is how it is for them atm.

They used the same stratergy with the PS2, but at that time, they had basically little of no competition, and one of their failing points this time round, was "presuming the xbox platform would just shrink and fad away. They were even quoted as saying the Xbox platform is no worry for them, it will die out in less than 18 months . . .

Again, this was while Japanese ran the company. Now a gajin's run Sony (do a google), and that's something they are having heaps of internal issues with. It's why KK "retired" and why there is division with older Sony employees, and fresh blood employees who see the future as a mix of western and eastern gaming.

There's MUCH more to running these businesses than simply dropping prices. A White paper released in August 2003 showed that they will reduce the cost of the 360 by middle to last quarter of 2008, when they ideally break even on the production costs. They had estimated that they "could lose upwards of $6.3Billion on the platform by end of '08 if everything went pear shaped, which it hasn't. The name of the paper if you want to google it was XE 03 . .. But you'll have to "read it" . .(sarc once again)

[tudors]

the PS3 is selling well due to new software, the Xbox-360 price drops combined with future hits will keep selling, the 360 is a very good value console and people will buy it, heck if I was a businessman who just wanted a cheap video conferencing solution I would buy the 360, those that have used it already know that the communications side of things on the 360 is top notch.

[Dyingduck]

.

[Jamegohanssj5]

You get what you pay for.

TGSI

[Citizen Cook]

Or 'Buy this year, play next!'

This will help keep those SONY dogs at bay another year or so. And then fase two next year will be to realse the SLIMLINE XBOX 360 which will hold them back another year. lol

And the year or two after that - BAM! XBOX 720!
Just when SOny will be gathering momentum. The game changes again!

[power of Green]

I don't know why that POS troll keeps coming back, seemingly posting in more 360 threads than PS3 threads.

On topic...

If Sony were able to drop the price again after already doing so 3 or 4 times(in some manner) they would.

Who wouldn't wan't to be in a place where a console will appeal to the mass market.

[Naked-Snake]

The XBOX 720 will have a 66% failure rate and if M$ ever decide to make a handheld it's failure rate is going to be 99%.

[air1]

man, you sony fanatics are hard to the core. i mean you cry you would never pay for live but yet cry cause of no hdd? wouldnt the core system be just for you sony campers? a memory card is good enough to save some arcade games and even games since you dont have to install them.. it does come with a wirles controler.

stfu, talking about you can get hdmi cables for 10 bucks lol. you are looking at easy 40 to 50 bucks for that.

since when has a price cut been a bad thing? leave it to a sony camper to flip it and yell doom. but look the other way when ps3 droped 100 bucks in a few months after it came out.

[LilMissGoddess]

i agree with that...ps3 fanboys are ALWAYS complaining about microsoft...u would think as much as they LOVE or say they love sony, they would spend more time on that than this...

[rawd]

Fire saleeeeeee

[jerethdagryphon]

i might pick one up after i pay bills and replace my dridge as i only need it for a single game

as for streaming to a console ive been doing that since day one on my launch ps3

200$for an arcade will shift systems this winter for people wanting a good gift for there grandson or whatever
but most of those wont shift many games
it will openup a ibgger gapin the states but eu and asia wont really care

[Raoh]

don't forget to add $50 to your cost if you want to play online. another $100 if you want wireless.

[AIi_The_Brit]

Its true what they say, you get what you pay for

and with the xbox360 you get a 33% chance of it breaking on you for having the nerve to try play a game and a cheap heater!

wow!

Oh and before POG flips and calls me a troll, i own both, so i have every right to be here :P

[TheMART]

You may own a 360 (I doubt it though), but you still can provide wrong and false info as we read above.

"and with the xbox360 you get a 33% chance of it breaking"

Wrong. The 33% chance came from an online survey were not only 360 owners voted, but also a lot of PS3 fantards (like the many droids we see reacting on this page through SDF) that voted that 'their 360 broke down'.

Second, since the introduction of the extra heatsink on the GPU in new 360s and repaired ones since May 2007 the number of overheated 360's went down, even further with the 65nm CPU in mid summer 2007.

So you may like to spread your SDF fud even more.

And yes you're still a troll. Even by SAYING you own a 360. If you have it or not.

[Blakzhuk]

The RROD is fixed. Shutup.

[JokesOnYou]

damm the way some fanboys sound you would think that sony hasn't done a few price drops...ahhh well its n4g.

JOY

[cheapndirty]

Come on guys, the PS3 picked up steam because of the price drop to 399.00.

I am one of the few that paid 599.00.00 for a launch 60gb PS3. Only to have them clearenced a year later for 399.00 with free movies.

I know of people that are going to buy the arcade model for 200.00. They do not want wireless and do not plan on using Gold Level live services. Silver level is free and you get to download all of the same stuff as the Gold people.

The 360's platinum hits library just keep growing. Forza 2 with all of the DLC included is now 20.00, GRAW 2 is also 20.00.

Then there is gamefly with the more rentals than the ps3.And please do not tell me it is only old sports games. I am a gamefly member and I have observed that is not the case.

Oh yeah, did I mention that these people do not have HDTV's so will not need the blu ray feature. Freak man, look at all of those DVD free wii's that you can rarely find in stock.

Its all about the games, and it seems it will soon be all about the price. Again, this is average Joe consumer. Not the hardcore crowd like us.
My opinion is this console war is not for the faint of heart and expect Sony and Nintendo to counter this with something substantial.

That is of course, if Sonys shareholders let them. The shareholders are a little impatient with Sony's losses at this time. Microsofts shareholders were the same last year. We all know these are publicly traded companies right?

[Jadedz]

Very cool! I can afford one now.
Http://www.squidoo.com/doug...

[ForROME]

To the person that said, lowest priced system always wins. You said Last gen the PS2 actually it was the game cube, they did not win. N64 was cheaper than PS1 it did not win. I think its a combo effect Good pricing and good games wins. Sony has always been between people Saturn Most EXP SONY MIDDLE N64 Least
Xbox Most PS2 Middle Gamecube least.

[ReBurn]

It's always about the games, right? Why buy a console if it doesn't have good software? That's what Sony did right with the PS and PS2.

Microsoft entered the game too late with the Xbox. The PS2 already had a substantial lead when that console was made available. Microsoft has done a good job of securing good software for the 360, and 20 million sold is a good indicator of that. While the 360 may not win this generation, they've made an impact. There's no denying that.

This $199 console is going to be right up the alley of folks who own or would buy a Wii. That system is a huge success without a hard drive, and 99.9% of the current library is playable without one. I don't see how this could be a bad thing.

[Mc187]

Customer: " Here's my 200 dollars"
Walmart Employee: " Here's your gimped system"
...
...
Microsoft: " SUCKER"
Me : "LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL" ;

[SantanaClaus89]

That the cheapest system should also be the cheapest system. It only costs MS pennies to make that faulty hardware, so I'm sure they can afford to lower the price.

[BrotherNick]

Hell, time for my rpg360 arcade system :> I don't think I'll need an HD till XIII comes out.

[ScottEFresh]

Well IF it doesn't sell HUGE then the bots have lost. They ALL claimed it would be over when the gimpbox hit $199.99....CAN'T TAKE IT BACK NOW BOTS...ITS DO OR DIE TIME FOR YOU NOW.

[silverchode]

its cheaper than the wii now so im expecting 500k+ units sold if not then the xbox can be declared dead.

[y0haN]

Sweet, I'll get one if it drops in the UK (but £190 for a 60 Gig premium is already quite good).

[Cynical-Gamerzus]

Sonny better act against this!
there is a BF mistake Sony made with this PS3 that has alienated the 100 mil PS2 gamers from it, and that is PRICE!!!
Not every geek has 500 dollars lying around.
this gen is lost and Sony knows it,they have a Bluray player that may have won but the gaming machine is in limbo till it reaches 199.00 price.
THis should happen soon or else this Gen belongs to MS and Nintendo..
FACT..

[etownone]

This holiday season will be VERY interesting!!

Xbox with Gears 2 and these price drops!!

PS3 with $150 credit towards purchase of PS3 through chase credit card and Ironman, Hulk, and Batman coming out on Blu-Ray!!

As much as I love my 360 and its clear they have an advantage towards the mass market looking for a gaming system with that price...

PS3 has games and also has the advantage of people in the market for a Blu-Ray player.

DAMN!! wish we could place bets!!
I wonder what the odds would be??

[FFXI101]

Don't for get you have to pay about $50-80 for a HDD(new or used) and a headset too. whoever wants to buy it would still have to pay around $300 total for system, headset, and the HDD.

[lewis]

this is just going to give xbox fanboys a cheap thrill.

[lewis]

you people have no clue what you are getting her because most would look at the price and buy that 1rst abd that could be a huge mistake.

[GoldenBoy]

This is a purely selfish comment but I am glad they are dropping the price. I own neither MS or Sony or Ninty stock so as long as they are reasonably profitable I don't care how much money they lose or gain. I have a PS2/PS3 right now (still going through my PS2 backlog) and am looking to add a 360 and Wii eventually but its hard for me to justify spending that much money for a console to collect dust (I have limited playing time) so as the price drops come I get happier because I will eventually pick them up and the variety of discount games they will have available at the time. I have learned patience in gaming a number of years ago and it has paid off by me having spent less than 1/2 of what I would have if I bought what I wanted day one. Now I sit and wait for the pro to drop to $200 because I want a HDD and don't want to pay MS's insane rates (who knows maybe next X-Mas).

[lewis]

SO.

[Sunny_D]

HAHAHAHHA THEY MAKE THEIR CONSOLE SO cheap they going to lose so much money!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahaha and STILL IT GETS OUTSOLD BY THE BETTER AND MORE EXPENSIVBE CONSOLE!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA LIKE BILL GATES SAID BABOONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TIME TO MOVE ON!!!!

[Blakzhuk]

Bubbles for all my 360 supporters!

[PS3PWNSALL]

Bubbles for all my PS3 supporters!

Buy a REAL next gen system and leave the 360 for the Walmart shelves.

[LilMissGoddess]

i do believe that PS3 is sold at walmart too...360 has just as much ups and downs as the ps3...u dont have to admit it but every system has something different about it, and people have there opinions on both consoles...with that said...ps3 fanboys do everyone the favor and SHUT UP!!!

[NanoGeekTech]

Fall 2010............

I am glad MS dropped the price...This gives people the chance to own and experience more than just one gaming system...

What is bothering me is the lack of real AAA titles for the next 15 months besides GOW II and maybe Fable II(Fable I was OK I would not consider it AAA maybe this changes with part 2) What happen to Allen Wake? Will we be seeing this on 360Next....? I was looking foward to this game.........

I believe that the next 360 is right around the corner.....and Microsoft needs a "PS2"(sales, customer install base, loyalty, etc)...but they do not have time on their hands...So I am a huge believer that M$ will screw everyone and come out with a new system early again but this time will still support the 360.....there will be a 360Next and a 360 on the market together...

[NanoGeekTech]

There Will be a 360next years before there is a PS4......at least two years before...I do agree with you>>>>>>&am p;gt ;>>>>> there will be a 360Next 2010 or as early as next year to combat..GOWIII and whatever secret games Sony has up there A$$..........

[Shortstop]

The only way I'd get an Xbox is if I was paid for the electricity costs, as well as the privilege of being able to be played on my TV. Just give the things away already, there's no reason to buy one!

[CAPT IRISH]

nice, but I dont see what it will do

[grantps3]

well its realy the only thing they could do so it wouldnt die out

[Mr_Potato_]

I think it's the real Xbox 360 value... not much.

It's still a desperate move but what could they do ? They're dead in Japan and widely outsold everywhere in the world.

It won't change anything though, especially with the superior Sony lineup.

[MRMagoo123]

Bleh i dont think ide spend even $200 on a console that i keep my fingers crossed with everytime i switch it on.I have the idea it wont make much of a diff in the whole scheme maybe some dumb ppl will buy one but then the smart ones will think if its such a great deal after all.I know at the jb hi i work at i always steer ppl away from the arcade versions and they usually end up either getting an elite (if there hearts are set on a 360) or a ps3 which is what usually happens clueless parents are easily persuaded.

[Raoh]

@ NanoGeekTech

the thing abotu the next 360.. is

1. if this is so (which i agree) it shows how simple the 360 really is. its why some games that didnt make it to the ps3 made it to the 360 AND ps2.. its last gen with better graphics card and faster processor..

2. price.. by the time the new xbox rolls around the ps3 will be really affordable (i hope to have my third ps3 by end of year, one for each room, i hvae two ps3's now).. and the new xbox will be expensive. especially with cable going digital, people buying expensive tv's, a few buying ps3's.. add that having a ps2 like 360, why upgrade so quickly, look at how it slows down ps3 sales having the ps2 on the market.

3. failure rate. sure MS gave out an extension to the warranty. and my first next gen system was a 360. but with all the failure rates that happened (i had 2 failures between march 2007 and october 2007, third system was loud, bought a ps3, loved it and traded the 360 in for a second ps3) aside from diehard xbox fans, most people and the media will advise waiting on purchasing one. i waited a little over a year before buying a 360... next time around.. i'll wait two years at least.

lets not all forget that while microsoft is doing well and stealing some thunder its making power moves because its still trying to catch up to sony in terms of brand. microsoft could slip in an instant, their mistake is that they are treating this like windows trying to sell software (third party software) on the XBOX Live name. problem is gamers will ditch you in a second. and third party developers arent as loyal as pc software developers.

so as it stands with microsoft. they will probably have the higher third party software sales by end of this fiscal year.

with sony and nintendo the higher first and second party software sales by end of this fiscal year.

games are becoming easier to develop for the ps3 so that means less delays. and better quality.. whats the difference then? DLC?

microsoft will continue to pay for DLC and maybe a short timed release.. which will mean operating at a deficit, especially with a new console being released.. (lets not forget the original xbox was a 4Billion dollar loss prior to the 360 release and prior to the 1billion+ extended warranty)

but here is where microsoft may screw themselves.. they hate blu ray.. not because of hd dvd but because the blu ray group didnt choose to use microsoft's HDi menu system (which microsoft would have used to inject LIVE on all fronts) microsoft doesnt want blu ray not because they backed hd dvd but because blu ray wont use their menu system.

every other day toshiba is releasing a new dvd format that raises current dvd storage size. if microsoft uses this dvd system instead of blu ray they can inject their HDi into the menu system and increase game size and quality... great right? except by that time blu ray will have dropped in price, adoption rate though the roof (this holiday alone hulk, batman dark knight, iron man, next year final fantasy advent children on blu ray and with cable going high def signal more ps3/blu ray players will be pushed with each tv)

leaving the next microsoft console blu ray-less undervaluing the system

all my own speculation mixed with some facts but you just have to look at microsofts track record on the pc side to predict their next move..

[Raoh]

sorry didnt mean to type so much

i was typing and playing disgaea 3 so i was in and out of the webpage not really noticing how much i typed

[Dyingduck]

I bet 33% of the total sales will come from RRODed/warranty-expired Xbots...

The other 67% will be returned

RIP Flopbox360

[dj_funky]

desperate measures.