Mixed Information on Consoles or How I learned to loathe PR *spin off*

[Jay]

No, I'm saying more information - see this;



Exactly. This is all I'm saying, some here have said 'people can make an informed choice' - that's simply not true.



Well let's face it, it happens with all hardware - eventually it's replaced or prices come down. There will always be a few people who buy (or sell or upgrade etc) at the 'wrong' time - there is never a perfect time...but as @DSoup said - Scorpio announcment was nothing more than a side-swipe at the impending Pro reveal.

Yea, I understand what your saying. But if they didn't want to give out a price, would it be better for consumers if they never gave any indication of their roadmap at all?

I'm not saying that it wasn't done primarily as spoiler tactics, I'm just saying that being given a roadmap is inherently more information than if you have no idea at all of their plans.

Should you or shouldn't you buy/upgrade to a ps4p, as I'm sure there will be a new console in a couple years, may make a difference knowing if it's 2 years out or 3, cost? Is it worth skipping it or not?

Like you said always possible for people to buy at the wrong time

 

[BRiT]

I'm glad they let us know about project Scorpio as it let me make an informed decision on buying an Xbox One S or not. Typically I have upgraded to the new slim models when they're available, but with the release of more information I was able to make an informed decision to hold off until Scorpio is released.

I don't see how any of that additional information released can be considered bad unless you're in love with the other corporation called Sony.

 

[mpg1]

I'm kind of hoping Microsoft will be aggressive and put a price out there before PS4 Pro launches but I'm guessing we might not know until next May if they have event like they did for Xbox One.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

If it's priced too low, it'll canabalise current XB1 sales. If priced too high, it'll no longer be an alternative for those considering both Scorpio and 4Pro options who'll know to go ahead with 4Pro now. And I don't think MS can price it without Scorpio being either too low or too high. Whereas if they keep their mouths shut, consumers can dither uncertainly, and then they can position it where best to either keep XB1 sales going or challenge 4Pro, also monitoring what the response to 4Pro is.

I see literally no benefit to MS announcing a price now. It's completely in their interests to wait and see.

 

[iroboto]

If it's priced too low, it'll canabalise current XB1 sales. If priced too high, it'll no longer be an alternative for those considering both Scorpio and 4Pro options who'll know to go ahead with 4Pro now. And I don't think MS can price it without Scorpio being either too low or too high. Whereas if they keep their mouths shut, consumers can dither uncertainly, and then they can position it where best to either keep XB1 sales going or challenge 4Pro, also monitoring what the response to 4Pro is.

I see literally no benefit to MS announcing a price now. It's completely in their interests to wait and see.

That I don't think they have the feature set settled yet. If 4PRO is annihilating them, I think MS would be willing cut corners, say toss the UHD drive. Right now it's probably in, to match the XBO S tit for tat.

It's going to be a while before they provide a response to Sony imo. They need to measure actual customer loss. As of this moment, aI'm fairly positive even without real data that a large majority of PRO purchases this year will be upgrades from existing PS4 users, that's not necessarily hurting MS. There will always be the Sony faithful, and those people will always upgrade, and they will get it first.

They are watching to see how many upgrade, they want to get their Xbox customers back.

 

[goonergaz]

I'm glad they let us know about project Scorpio as it let me make an informed decision on buying an Xbox One S or not. Typically I have upgraded to the new slim models when they're available, but with the release of more information I was able to make an informed decision to hold off until Scorpio is released.

I don't see how any of that additional information released can be considered bad unless you're in love with the other corporation called Sony.

I think you'd have to be pretty stupid not to realise MS weren't working on something, we all know MS & Sony release close to each other - it's more surprising that there's a year gap now (which I think will be maintained moving forward). I suppose each to their own, you've decided to hold off - good for you, but in (let's say) 12 months if they say $600 how will you feel? Or, 6 months after Scorpio is out if Sony reveal a 12TF PS4 'due out next year' - how will you feel about that?

Personally I am a big Sony fan - I don't mind admitting it - and I got a XBOs just yesterday and will enjoy it and wait and see what price Scorpio would be. If MS had said the price then I could have made an informed choice to wait until Scorpio (because it is 'only' £XX more) or just get the slim (because it would be too expensive). I've made a choice but it wasn't as informed as I'd like is all I'm saying.

 

[goonergaz]

If it's priced too low, it'll canabalise current XB1 sales. If priced too high, it'll no longer be an alternative for those considering both Scorpio and 4Pro options who'll know to go ahead with 4Pro now. And I don't think MS can price it without Scorpio being either too low or too high. Whereas if they keep their mouths shut, consumers can dither uncertainly, and then they can position it where best to either keep XB1 sales going or challenge 4Pro, also monitoring what the response to 4Pro is.

I see literally no benefit to MS announcing a price now. It's completely in their interests to wait and see.

Well if the price was good then there's every reason to reveal it now. "why buy a $400 4.2TF when you can get 6TF with a load of other big upgrades for just $50 more?". That's $450 and they have a much cheaper console available today that will get you into their ecosystem. Then customers will have an informed choice and no one will be upset.

 

[MrFox]

Well if the price was good then there's every reason to reveal it now. "why buy a $400 4.2TF when you can get 6TF with a load of other big upgrades for just $50 more?". That's $450 and they have a much cheaper console available today that will get you into their ecosystem. Then customers will have an informed choice and no one will be upset.

But at the same time, why wait a year and pay more to buy the odd console, when you can buy the same platform your friends have, right now? Most gamers would need a much bigger difference than this to switch platform at mid-gen, and new buyers tend to get what their friends have either way.

The combination of mystery and hype around scorpio is a well know PR trick to make people wait. It's FUD to prevent informed decisions. And I say this again, the PS3 used the same tricks.

 

[AzBat]

And I say this again, the PS3 used the same tricks.

And the Playstation 2 as well.

Tommy McClain

 

[trainplane]

Consoles are revealed one plus years ahead all the time, and often very vaguely. I can't think of any time the price wasn't revealed close to release though.

Again, I don't think, in their ideal scenario, MS would prefer to reveal Scorpio this early. The rumors were flying already near E3, as they had with PS4 Neo way back in March, so MS got ahead of it and outed it. In this Internet age, leaks will affect your messaging.

So now it makes for one of some really unbiased, on topic, and well reasoned comments in Youtube/Reddit/IGN for all PS4 Pro games for the next year.

 

[Jay]

And the Playstation 2 as well.

Tommy McClain

ps4p mentioned just prior to e3, then radio silence, no price, no specs, nothing.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

That was because asked though, in response to leaks, no? The leak was out, the press asked Sony, and they decided to just say, "yeah, but we're not talking about it." Companies certainly shouldn't start having the messaging timing dictated by leaks!

 

[MrFox]

ps4p mentioned just prior to e3, then radio silence, no price, no specs, nothing.

Because devs docs were leaked, and journalists told the world to expect PS4P to be unveiled at E3. They had to squash that rumor. It was certainly not planned. The plan was to unveil it once they can setup a 4K/HDR hands-on presentation. This required a smaller private event, controlled environment which cannot a, not E3 with standard projectors..

 

[Jay]

how is it any different to any other time they was asked and it's no comment?
leaks had been around for months at that point.
also there had been lots of talk about Scorpio, so maybe Ms just wanted to get ahead of the leaks. Nope, don't really buy that when companies are used to saying no comment.

edit: but then I don't see anything wrong with a company saying our current product will do this, our next one that, and also in comparison to competitors.
only a problem if they don't deliver.
probably why I don't see a problem with roadmaps, early visability etc (even if done as spoiler tactics)

edit 2: Sorry shifty I totally misread your post, but point still stands, whether it was due to leaks, or being asked, they always say no comment until ready to put it out there

 

[iroboto]

But at the same time, why wait a year and pay more to buy the odd console, when you can buy the same platform your friends have, right now? Most gamers would need a much bigger difference than this to switch platform at mid-gen, and new buyers tend to get what their friends have either way.

The combination of mystery and hype around scorpio is a well know PR trick to make people wait. It's FUD to prevent informed decisions. And I say this again, the PS3 used the same tricks.

the only unknown factor is price. really. this is nothing like PS2, PS3. No one understood the merits of those technologies because there was no basis of comparison. We live in an information rich world now, purchasers are much more informed now than ever. Especially when it comes to verifying company claims.

 

[iroboto]

Well if the price was good then there's every reason to reveal it now. "why buy a $400 4.2TF when you can get 6TF with a load of other big upgrades for just $50 more?". That's $450 and they have a much cheaper console available today that will get you into their ecosystem. Then customers will have an informed choice and no one will be upset.

it doesn't quite work like that. You can't reveal price until
a) you've secured everything and your cost points. they definitely have a target price they are aiming for, that's not a good reason to begin taking in pre-orders.
b) the earlier you release your price, the faster they can come up with a counter marketing strategy, and you can't react to the market for another year? You can't anchor a price point and change it in 12 months to respond to your competitor.

 

[iroboto]

That was because asked though, in response to leaks, no? The leak was out, the press asked Sony, and they decided to just say, "yeah, but we're not talking about it." Companies certainly shouldn't start having the messaging timing dictated by leaks!

Yes, definitely in response to leaks. They were probably not going to reveal Scorpio until 2017 E3

 

[eastmen]

I agree in principle but in practise there isn't enough information on Scorpio for consumers to make an informed decision, key information not known is price. What Microsoft have thrown into the mix is uncertainty and it was clearly intended to impact Sony Pro sales but I think there is greater chance of it impacting a year of Xbox One sales. We aren't looking at a clean break generation we're looking at new consoles building on the traction of existing consoles and the traction is on Sony's side and they're launching a year early. Xbox One has less traction to begin with and I can't see how the early announcement of Scorpio helping. The next year of sales will be telling.

Well you know that a new system is coming out , it will be out in the fall of 2017. You know it will be at least 6tflops which is more than the 1.3 of the xbox one. You know current xbox one games will work on it as will accessories. You can most likely guess that the system will be more than $300 the current price of the xbox one .

That is more information than 2 or 3 weeks ago if you were buying a ps4

Take your receipt back to the store and they'll credit you the difference. You usually have 30 days of price protection.

Yes but you are still stuck with an old fat unit vs the sexy new slim or even the option of a pro. Also what if you are outside of that 30 days. What about people who dropped $350 for a ps4 in august ? I am sure they would have wanted to know that in sept or oct the slim would have been avalible for less money or the pro would be avalible for $50 more in Nov .

 

[Deleted member 11852]

I'm glad they let us know about project Scorpio as it let me make an informed decision on buying an Xbox One S or not. Typically I have upgraded to the new slim models when they're available, but with the release of more information I was able to make an informed decision to hold off until Scorpio is released.

Presumably you've been able to make a decision because cost, the factor that remains unknown, isn't an issue for you. I.e. you have enough disposable income to pay whatever Microsoft will charge - based on what you believe Microsoft are likely to charge for such a device. I'm also fortunate enough to be in this position.

I don't see how any of that additional information released can be considered bad unless you're in love with the other corporation called Sony.

It's not, but for people for which price is an issue, lack of price means they can't make an informed decision.

Yes but you are still stuck with an old fat unit vs the sexy new slim or even the option of a pro. Also what if you are outside of that 30 days. What about people who dropped $350 for a ps4 in august ? I am sure they would have wanted to know that in sept or oct the slim would have been avalible for less money or the pro would be avalible for $50 more in Nov .

What about the people who bought an Xbox One days before Microsoft announced the 'S' ? That's life. Apple still sell millions of iPhones in August and early September even though a new phone is around the corner. Products are replaced on an endless cycle, sometimes they are predictable and sometimes not. No matter when you announce new options, a number of people will just have bought the product being replaced.

 

[eastmen]

Presumably you've been able to make a decision because cost, the factor that remains unknown, isn't an issue for you. I.e. you have enough disposable income to pay whatever Microsoft will charge - based on what you believe Microsoft are likely to charge for such a device. I'm also fortunate enough to be in this position.



It's not, but for people for which price is an issue, lack of price means they can't make an informed decision.


What about the people who bought an Xbox One days before Microsoft announced the 'S' ? That's life. Apple still sell millions of iPhones in August and early September even though a new phone is around the corner. Products are replaced on an endless cycle, sometimes they are predictable and sometimes not. No matter when you announce new options, a number of people will just have bought the product being replaced.

the original xbox one was reduced under $300 before the S announcement and came bundled with multiple titles.

I still love the faction that claims that not knowing is better than knowing. Its hilarious