Slashdot Mirror
Should You Wait For The PS3?
News for nerds writes "Though Xbox 360 is launching tomorrow in the U.S. to usher the next-generation of game consoles, the champion of the current generation has been quiet... until now. From the CNN Money article with words from Sony's CEO, Sir Howard Stringer: 'Sir Howard said the PS3 will sell for $300 to $400 and will come with a bundle of games, movies, and TV shows, many of which Sony also makes. The question is whether the titles will be bundled on Blu-ray DVD discs or on a built-in hard drive.'" Update: 11/22 22:22 GMT by Z : Chris Morris over at CNN emailed to let us know that there have been signifiCant changes to the story since it was originally posted.
With Sony's recent behaviour, is it really a company you want to support? Is Microsoft?
Maybe you should skip them both, and just buy a nicely decked out new home computer instead - or how about a nice home theater package?
Seriously the prices on these things are just insane.
At the present moment, the current estimated cost per wafer is $9000-$10,000, with about 65 good chips per wafer. So, the current estimated cost per chip is $150 and $175 on the board. Now, don't get me wrong, Sony is pretty wealthy. But how can they afford that? $175 and no drive, GPU or anything. Sony will obviously go into the red in order to be competitively priced. Sony: A) Wants to sell it in the red to be competitively priced. While standalone Blu-Ray players will be an estimated $1,000 , you can get a killer game console AND blu-ray player for less! B) Lock consumers into the system with some good launch games and better specs. C) Once there is enough of a base, Blu-ray will be the obvious choice for movie producers and consumers as a storage format. I'm in doubt of this. Between the rootkit and Betamax, the memory stick, etc., the players/burners will be overpriced and Sony will keep it to themselves. The format will probably be designed with Sony and "movie producer rights" in mind vs. the consumer. I am in doubt that the console alone will be able to make Blu-Ray a success.
Yes, I'd highly suggest waiting until the PS3 to buy an XBox 360. After the PS3 hits, the XBox 360 will likely come down in price, and a whole host of good games should be out for it at the time.
As for getting the PS3, I'd highly suggest you pass.
I am a mindless consumer and will buy both
i don't care
PS3 will be harder to develop for and has only a slight power advantage. That plus it will cost more and come out later. Easy choice.
Are we lucky enough to get our own rootkit with the PS3 as well? I'm so tired of Sony and every let down they have for me. I certainly don't like MS, but well, hey at least in this regard they have always given me what I want.
I will wait for the Nintendo Revolution.
XBOX360 and PS3 bring nothing new to gaming, in my opinion. I AM really tired of things like FIFA 2023 and Splinter Cell XVII.
But if Nintendo really pull off their controller ideas... I believe this is good for a genuine gaming experience.
Nobody writes jokes in base 13. - DNA
Why not wait for Nintendo?
No sig for now.
I'm waiting for the Revolution.
I support the Center for Consumer Freedom
Was I the only one who went "huh?" at the "sir" part?
Speaking is NOT communication
There are hundreds if not thousands of more games available for the PS3. You're looking at all of the old PS1 and PS2 games which will run on the PS3. Not to mention the fact that once the PS3 comes out all of these fantastic games will be bargain bin priced. With Xbox 360 'maybe' being able to run some of their very small collection of Xbox 1 games, who cares? The games make the difference and PS3 will continue to slaughter the Xbox for that very reason.
LeoPolus Web Design: http://www.leopolus.com
will this system be riddled with rootkits and other crazy software to render CDs and DVDs that are not made by sony usable only as a coaster after atempting to watch it on your PS3? or will it only destroy games that you borrow from your friends?
-Boycot shampoo! demand real poo!
This is the PS2 campaign all over again...
(And I bet it won't cost anywhere near $300-$400 either.)
Perhaps he's part of "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure in poor writing".
What would really be a killer move on Microsoft's part would be to apply their apparent emulation software savvy to drive a spike into one of PS3's best features: backwards compatibility.
I mean, if the XBox 360 can support emulating the XBox, what would stop Microsoft from writing emulators for other consoles such as Playstation and Playstation 2? I mean, sure, they can't use the BIOS but it's already been proven that you don't exactly even need it anyway.
And, legally speaking, Bleem! already set precedent in this department. Microsoft could easily use its legal muscle and software savvy to really make current PS2 owners be able to "upgrade" to the 360!
I have an Xbox, when I go to my local BestBuy there are three times as many games for the Playstation. There are some really cool games for Playstation that just aren't available for Xbox. I just purchased a PS2 for my son;-), and will get a P3 when avail.
If Xbox 360 has some really cool games that I really want to play then sure I'll get a 360, until then PS all the way.
The whole Sony/Microsoft whose worse just doesn't matter to me, as it probably doesn't matter to the %99.99 that aren't registered to slashdot.
doomicon
Awesome!
No matter how good it is, the PS3 isn't coming out for several months (at least). And we adults don't have to beg mommy for an advance on our allowance to get a console any more. The idea that console platforms are mutually exclusive and buying into one makes all others "the enemy" is obsolete.
To be honest, I don't give a rats ass about tech specs anymore. It's all about the games.
With the last generation, I picked up a PS2 and a Gamecube (not at the same time mind you). I had friends with XBoxen, and they had some decent games, but nothing that was exclusive that would make me go and spend more money on hardware to play. And the PS2 and GC had titles that I had wanted to play more.
This generation, I'm waiting. I might pick up the YBox, I might not. Ditto for the PS3, or the Revo. All three sound good, sound like they've got some pretty impressive specs and design philosphies all around. But I'm going to wait until the PS3 comes out to see how the games play on it, and see which of the first two I'm going to go for. Not to discount the Revo of course.
But I'll base my decisions on how developers use the new hardware to do something interesting, because I don't care to play yet another console FPS or RPG unless it's different, and not just in the better graphics department.
"I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
-Hoban Washburn
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken - Tyler Durden
I've always felt Sony followed the quantity over quality approach. Especially when the Playstation One was out. Sure they had some great games but there were a lot of other that were pure crap. More so than the other systems. I think Sony just wanted to get as many out as possible so that when people went to the store, saw all the games that Sony offered compaired to Nintendo it'd be a reason for a person to pick up a PS instead. That carried over to the PS2. It's mostly crap with a few good titles mixed in.
"Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
(Disclaimer - my current game systems are PC, Xbox and PS2)
I have trouble believing I enjoy reading all the hype about the systems.
But I guess that is how you find the killer game (app).
The Xbox 360 will likely have a shortage no matter what.
For me, it is all about the games.
1. Most systems that first launch are pricey, have issues and don't have great games.
2. Wait until the dust settles, take a look at a variety of systems and games over time.
3. And when your awesome games debut, buy that system and the games you are looking for.
I personally think if you do not buy the system for the games you love,
you are wasting money, and you aren't going to be satisfied with what you bought.
Example, the PS2.
PS2 comes out year 2000.
I buy the PS2 in 2002, when Metal Gear Solid 2 (flawed game but good game play) and Final Fantasy X arrive.
Then enjoy games like Katamari Damacy, Guitar Hero, God of War, Shadow of the Colossus, etc at your leisure.
(I picked this year's games for anyone looking for some excellent creative games)
Everyone talks about making a choice.... I say get them both and a Revolution :-) There are going to be great games on all 3 systems, don't settle for one. Any kid or adult who enjoys games can save together a couple hundered bucks if they really decide to. Just dont waste your money on the poorly designed flashy games and sign up to some unlimited rental service at gamefly or blockbuster. :-)
By looking at the Xbox 360 screenshots(especially the ghost recon 3 ones) i think microsoft has finally made it.ps3 might b good value 4 money but xbox 360 would b the console 4 me.
No, i'll wait for the Revolution. New consoles that put almost all of their focus on graphics don't impress me. I mean, how many xboxen cores or ps3 cells do you really need to make changes to the numbers in the title of your game and update textures, lighting, and add a few polys to the character models?
It's simply not worth $400 for a console. I didn't buy a single console until the cube dropped down to $100. There is a chance that I'll pick up the Revolution if it's in $150-200 range, but I certainly won't be purchasing a PS3 or a 360. I have more important things to spend my hard earned money on (heating bills anyone?).
The XBOX360 sucks and here is why. I played it at Best Buys for a few hours and its nothing special. Controls for FSP such as Call of Duty 2 are terrible making the FPSs worthless and oh man was I disapointed to see some better graphics, I had better graphics 6 months ago on my PC. The bottom line is if I wanted a computer i'd buy a computer, not a crippled immitation thats already outdated without the ability to upgrade called the XBOX360. The games selection for the PS has always been better while any game worth getting for the Xbox will always be out for the PC. Buy a PS if you want an alternative to the PC that has great titles which won't be out for the PC.
I would have bought one. I had the money. But I am not such an IDIOT as to wait in line for 8 hours to spend $400.
This truly proves that MicroSoft is a company built on luck and monopoly.
My jaw dropped as I saw a fat, stupid manager at WalMart actually be AMUSED that he turned away dozens of people willing to spend $400 EACH on a product from his store.
So now I am so pissed off, I will not buy a 360 until the price goes down. Good job, Bill!!!!!!!!
I've RTFA twice now, and unless I'm blind there is no mention at all about the price of the PS3. No "$300 to $400". The closest thing to that is the rather obvious statement that, "Sony will sell the PS3 at a loss," but no mention at all of a price range.
This is Pete Lewis at Fortune. "Should You Wait for PS3?" was simply sloppy deadline reporting on my part. I spoke to a senior executive at a major videogame company who had read an interview with HowardStringer in The Hollywood Reporter, and most likely I misunderstood the executive's comments about the article. I failed to follow up with Sony, and the rest is history. My apologies to Slashdot for spreading misinformation. I have no excuse for using the word bodacious. A corrected version of the story is now on line. Both Fortune and I regret the upscrew. And for the record, flames received so far are roughly 50/50 either accusing me of being a bitchboy for Microsoft or a fawning sycophant for Sony.