A musing on the prices of consoles

[Sis]

It's optional but most people buy it and the controllers are the same price. Again, it's about value.

Yeah, and? So because it's optional and most people buy it (got numbers on that, by the way?) then we should lump it in with the overall price of a 360?

This whole discussion is exactly what I thought this thread was supposed to illuminate: that trying to compare the two systems feature for feature and dollar for dollar misses the point. Microsoft and Sony are operating under two different pricing models and trying to force one model into the other leads to endless, cyclical debates.

 

[Bigus Dickus]

Well, if we are matching functionality between the consoles as closely as possible, which seems to be the cool thing to do in this thread, then to play HD-DVD movies on PS3 you have to purchase the X360 or HD-DVD player, and to play BluRay on the X360 you have to purchase the PS3 or BluRay player. So in the end let's just say the prices will be essentially identical.

Which illustrates the pointlessness of most of the posts in this thread. These consoles may be marketed to the same general audience, but they do different things and offer different advantages and disadvantages. They aren't clones. Even in the most general sense of playing games they don't play exactly the same games. One will be preferable to a lot of people, and the other to many others. Value is entirely dependent on the subjective view of the purchaser, end of story. Comparing dollar for dollar illustrates that... well, you can add things to both if you need to. Ultimately, people should buy the one that best fits their needs.

 

[Todd33]

I think the point of the thread (OP correct me if I'm wrong) is value and cost are not always black and white. While the 360 can be cheaper, it isn't always.

360: $299-$X
PS3: $500-$Y

X and Y depend on the person and what he/she wants. As has been shown X can be greater than Y because of the high price of MS extras. While the initial cost of the PS3 is high and there is no way to strip out features.

 

[Nesh]

No, I get it. I'm just suggesting that it's not really accurate to add in the cost of renewable items, or at least, to only add it in from one side. Like others have said, you can buy batteries or use batteries that you already have around the house.

What? You mean that if I dont have the charge pack I have to buy butteries everytime the controller needs recharging?

 

[Sis]

What? You mean that if I dont have the charge pack I have to buy butteries everytime the controller needs recharging?

Yes, just like every time you play you have to use electricity to power the machine...

 

[Nesh]

Yes, just like every time you play you have to use electricity to power the machine...

That same electricity would have been charging my controller with less addidtional cost than when buying batteries everytime my controller needs energy. Its better to get the charge pack. Or is that plaqued on a different socket?

 

[TheChefO]

That same electricity would have been charging my controller with less addidtional cost than when buying batteries everytime my controller needs energy. Its better to get the charge pack

To be fair, some people already have rechargable batteries. So for them(me), it would not necessarily be better.

 

[Todd33]

To be fair, some people already have rechargable batteries. So for them(me), it would not necessarily be better.

I bought a quality set of four AA with charge unit. It's cheaper than the MS kit and last longer. If you just have some laying around unused than great, but may be the older technology kind and don't stay charged very long. The new ones are also good for like 1000 charges.

 

[TheChefO]

I bought a quality set of four AA with charge unit. It's cheaper than the MS kit and last longer. If you just have some laying around unused than great, but may be the older technology kind and don't stay charged very long. The new ones are also good for like 1000 charges.

They last longer too? How long are the charge packs supposed to last?

 

[Todd33]

They last longer too? How long are the charge packs supposed to last?

I think MS used a 2100mAh battery pack, which is kind of middle of the road now, unlike like leading brands which are up to 2800mAh.

Here is one opinion.

http://www.coldforged.org/archives/2005/12/01/dont-buy-the-xbox-360-play-charge-kit/

 

[Sis]

That same electricity would have been charging my controller with less addidtional cost than when buying batteries everytime my controller needs energy. Its better to get the charge pack. Or is that plaqued on a different socket?

I agree it's better, which is why I bought them. But not everyone does, so it seems dubious to say that the recharge pack is required thus, counting it in the overall cost.

 

[Todd33]

I agree it's better, which is why I bought them. But not everyone does, so it seems dubious to say that the recharge pack is required thus, counting it in the overall cost.

Dubious? One comes with batteries the other does not. It's not that hard to see, you own a 360 and you bought rechargeable batteries (either MS or other) as does 97% of all 360 owners, thus it's part of owning a 360.

It's about as dubious as including cable cost on the PS3 side but I did that, no one wants to use the included composite. They either have to buy a HDMI or use a left over PS2 component to get HD. I'm being intellectually honest with the price and you are trying to sweep something under the rug to protect your beloved 360.

PS. I own a 360, three wireless controllers and one wired. I am not backing just one horse in this race.

 

[Zassk]

this cant be right

$299.99 Xbox 360 Core
$39.92 64MB Memory Unit Note: Needed for storing game saves

ie sure there must be like 8mb or something built in? if not then noone sane can quote the core being at $299

You don't need to be able to save games in order to play games. I believe almost all X360 games will play without any memory unit. Hence the Core is bundled with Kameo and PGR3 here. You can play those games out of the box without adding a memory unit.

 

[Sis]

I'm being intellectually honest with the price and you are trying to sweep something under the rug to protect your beloved 360.

Ugh. The ever-present "must be a fanb*y" retort. Please leave the GAF retorts at that website, thanks. Twice now in the past week I've had to say this; which is two times more than I have in the previous two years since I've been on this forum. Do people really have the mentallity of "If you don't agree with me, you must be a fanb*y?" I mean, how utterly arrogant to assume that your position is the one true position, and everyone else's must be influenced by bias?

 

[dobwal]

Shifty what your numbers are showing should be expected. Sony is practically spreading the cost of all the PS3 features across the entire userbase with the exception of the 60Gb HDD, wifi, chrome trim and card reader whose cost are spread across the userbase who bought the higher end sku.

If Sony manufactures 10 million PS3 it means 10 million BluRay, Wifi components, HDDs and wireless controller are also needed. If MS manufacturers 10 million 360 then the number of optional components needed are based on consumer demand. Furthermore, since demand for optional 360 components will never be 100% inculsive of the 360 console base, then manufacturing cost will never be as low as if those optional feature were standard.

While full investment into the PS3 will ultimately be cheaper than full investment into the 360, it also means that minimal investment into the PS3 is higher than minimally investing in the 360. Sony's strategy benefits the highend consumer while the 360's benefits the lowend consumer.

 

[zed]

You don't need to be able to save games in order to play games. I believe almost all X360 games will play without any memory unit. Hence the Core is bundled with Kameo and PGR3 here. You can play those games out of the box without adding a memory unit.

(based on assumptions as ive never played it)
kameo takes maybe 10hours to complete
any time u die u will have to start again at the beginning (no save games)
thus the likelyhood of anyone completing more than ~20% of the game is very very low, most would throw their joysticks away in disgust ( hell who even needs joysticks to have fun on the ps2/xbox, im sure u can stick a dvd in the unit + press some buttons on the unit , better to make them an extra as well + ship it at a cheaper price )

 

[hongcho]

I say another useless comparison.

It's like comparing an HD DVD player with a BD player without regards to the actual contents that are available.

Hong.

 

[Sis]

(based on assumptions as ive never played it)
kameo takes maybe 10hours to complete
any time u die u will have to start again at the beginning (no save games)
thus the likelyhood of anyone completing more than ~20% of the game is very very low, most would throw their joysticks away in disgust ( hell who even needs joysticks to have fun on the ps2/xbox, im sure u can stick a dvd in the unit + press some buttons on the unit , better to make them an extra as well + ship it at a cheaper price )

Actually, I knew a guy at work who did exactly this. He bought the core and Kameo and left the console on until he finished the game. I have no idea why he didn't just buy a memory card or buy the premium and I specifically remember doing a double-take when he told me this.

Even given that, though, I must say that adding a memory card should be considered a mandatory purchase and part of the overall cost for an Xbox 360 core.

 

[Todd33]

Actually, I knew a guy at work who did exactly this. He bought the core and Kameo and left the console on until he finished the game. I have no idea why he didn't just buy a memory card or buy the premium and I specifically remember doing a double-take when he told me this.

Even given that, though, I must say that adding a memory card should be considered a mandatory purchase and part of the overall cost for an Xbox 360 core.

He might have been holding out on the HD. Many first adopters were "forced" to buy the core do to shortages and then buy the HD later.

 

[Sis]

He might have been holding out on the HD. Many first adopters were "forced" to buy the core do to shortages and then buy the HD later.

Actually, now that you mention it, you're 100% right. That was his reasoning and he couldn't find a hard drive in stores to buy...I've always disagreed with Microsoft dividing up the initial launch with core units. I understand they needed to set the expectation that core units are out there, but at launch I would expect close to 100% of buyers would want the premium. Why not wait several months to release it, then?