Ms didn't just wake up with dev tools in their laps. They had to create them.
As Shifty mentioned, MS already has decade of experiences deploying and integrating OS, applications, game APIs and SDKs. The IPs was ported to Xbox 360. Even the HD-DVD layer has its roots on Windows.
Sony could have done the same thing and likewise, they didn't just wake up one day and ps3 was on their desk. Sony's planning for ps3 was slow and passive at a time they couldn't afford to be. That's either incompetence, or arrogance. Given the fact they have orchastrated system launches and hardware before, my bet isn't on incompetent.
... or they could be optimistic. Kutaragi is an engineer at heart. It seems that he simply wants to realize his distributed entertainment platform vision (The same way he wanted to realize the original Playstation vision).
Doesn't have to be incompetent or arrogant to be slow and passive (Why only 2
discrete variables). As I mentioned, complexity could be another reason. Even the best OS players, MS and Apple, have their own fair share of slippage (think "Longhorn" and "Pink").
Again, management had to be involved on what would and wouldn't be included in the box and had to be aware of the BOM and consequent required MSRP when factored in with acceptable losses.
Sure, if they truly believe in the value they can bring, perhaps they genuinely think that it's worth US$599 ? Apple priced its iPhone at $599 too. Are they arrogant too ? Pricing a new product is a multi-million dollar business. It's not that simple.
The BOM cost and price could be estimated early, but the software delay may be the one that pull the rug under their feet.
Sony also went through a management shakeout. It is unclear how much of the original plan stayed intact (e.g., PSP launched at a very reasonable price).
The final product is on the shelf.
Not according to the original vision that was demoed.
Games will get better with time just as they do for all platforms. This isn't exclusive to ps3. In some cases, the cell has more room to grow, but this requires more time/money. Thus, it will be exclusive to a handful of titles, likely from Sony. Even in such cases, the difference between a title maximizing ps3's advantage and the same for xb360 will not be so large as to sway the general consumer.
Evidence? Xbox v ps2
Further, more recent evidence: Wii, DS
Historic examples are indicative but may not be always accurate. The rules have changed somewhat this gen. As I said, we shall see.
As we all should be. Like I've said all along, these guys know a thing or two about hardware. They aren't incompetent, just too arrogant.
They simply bite off more than they can chew. Everyone can make that mistake. You don't have to be arrogant about it.
I also think that you have misunderstood my post. Johnny Awesome mentioned that arrogance disrupted Sony's plans ("Their arrogance was their undoing"). I simply stated that complexity may be the main culprit (In a multi-headed conglomerate amidst management shuffle, there are plenty of room for complexity to creep in, who say it must be arrogance).
This is a very different argument from whether Sony is arrogant or not.
People want to label Sony as "arrogant" because they attach their emotion to the high price, and most importantly, some of the Sony execs mishandled PR when the ex-PR head left).
EDIT:
scooby dooby said:
Arrogance and overconfidence tend to go hand in hand, I think you're splitting hairs at this point.
Perhaps ! But people can be overconfident because of wrong intellgence/information from vendors or subordinates, unexpected events, and changing climate. Or the final outcome may be a compromise between multiple strong heads. There could be tons of reasons, I will only settle down when that PS3 book arrive... hopefully I can live to see it.
