Sony claims Xbox 360 requires HD DVD, etc., thus costs $700
By Ryan Block 
posted October 19th 2006 8:57PM
posted October 19th 2006 8:57PM
P.S. -In the interest of fairness, it's also worth pointing out the Wii browser is what will cost you after the first 6 months -- not their online service. What's more, if you download the browser before June of 2007, it's straight up free. Otherwise, Nintendo hasn't yet announced details of the cost of their online service so far as we know. Another nice one, Sony.
P.P.S. -We just confirmed with Microsoft that another Sony claim -- that you need a memory unit or a hard drive to use the WiFi adapter -- is also false. You can grab a Core pack with no memory card and plug in a WiFi adapter and get on your home network. Sheez Sony, did we mention we moonlight as fact checkers?
Update: SCEA's own Dave Karraker, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, furnished the following response: "Through our comparison chart we are not implying that you must purchase the myriad of peripherals and add-ons that Microsoft offers to play your Xbox 360. You don't. However, if you want to attempt to come close to the performance of the $499 PlayStation 3 by using your Xbox 360, Core or Premium, you could only do that through expensive add-ons -- that is what our chart is demonstrating. Once you add it all up, it would cost you more than our $499 unit, and you would still not come close to everything we offer, ie: free multiplayer gaming, 50GB storage capacity of Blu-ray disc, Blu-ray disc player for games AND movies, processing power of the Cell Broadband Engine." We still think it's apples to oranges not comparing the Premium pack, and talking about "performance" since the Blu-ray drive doesn't help Sony's game experience so much as it helps their movie experience. It's not like they're discussing the Wii in this regard at all, so it's still skewed. Furtheremore, Sony had no apparent comment on the other factual inaccuracies. Ah well.
Someone stated that Xbox 360 will be upgraded somehow to support 1080p but playing HD content on a 9GB DVD will result in having to decompress video which is the benefit of developing content for the Blu-Ray 25/50GB discs (or HD-DVD if Microsoft decides to incorporate this). Compression and decompression are not required with the high capacity HD laser discs. Unless the Xbox 360 is able to harness the HD-DVD for games, HD games will spend a lot of time decompressing (long load times). I heard someone say that they could just put HD content on the hard drive (downloadable?) but then your required price tag goes up and one 20GB hard drive is smaller than one single layer Blu-ray disc.
The fact that Sony used the word 'requires' is misleading, Quite simply the 360 plays games out of the box, and if that's all you want that's all you need.
If Sony claim that what they meant was that the extra are required to make the consoles comparable to the PS3 then they are basically saying that the Wii is comparable in terms of HD ect.
Quite simply it's unclear and badly put together, the best Sony could have done was say if you want everything that the PS3 offers then teh PS3 offers the best value.
Looks like even with the fact-checking, all Sony has done is proven how great a deal the Wii is.
I am directing this message to -BILL GATES-yeah, the king of Microsoft! I hope you find this message or someone you know reads it and tells you. I've used the old XBOX and loved it but I gave it away to one of my cousins. I am planning on buying a new 360 system with the 40 Gig hard drive for me and my son this Christmas. My question to you: Are you going to offer your loyal fans any deals on the 360 for the holidays? I mean if you give gamers the incentives, we will go buy your product! Go on tv and tell your fans, if you buy my system, I'll give you a discount on the add-ons or i'll throw this item in for free.....or whatever!!!
Sony PS3 is out of the question for me. I don't want to have to go to the malls and punch out some nerds, weirdos and retards just to get one of these units...forget it!!! Hey Sony, can you see all the sad children's faces this Christmas because they couldn't get a PS3? Shame on you and yo mama!!!
All I want to do for the holidays is calmly walk into a Walmart or Target and buy a 360 and if the Wii is available, I'll buy it too.
Happy Holidays to all you gamers out there!!!! And to to all a good night.....
I see the 20GB Xbox 360 premium is still selling at Walmart for $399.
The HD-DVD is available at 2 other online retailers for $199.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Home networking is at Walmart for $88.
Wireless controller for the Xbox 360 is selling at Walmart for $49.
Online Subscription from Microsoft available for $50.
Total for 20GB Xbox 360 Premium with similar* features $785.
Total - for 60GB PS3 premium $599.
The PS3 is $186 cheaper using today's prices.
* Xbox hard drive is 20GB vs PS3's 60GB
* HD-DVD drive is not available for game discs (movies only)
* Blu-ray drive, wireless home networking, and wireless controllers are not add-ons but built into the PS3 premium system.
People can say the Xbox 360 is better but they cannot say it is cheaper when in fact it is $186 more expensive if you get all the bells and whistles. Let the price wars begin and hopefully both systems will be cheaper for everyone to enjoy. Competition is a good thing.
This further illustrates that Sony is somewhat concerned for this holiday season. I think it's f*%#in' hilarious how the "mighty" Sony has gone to these lengths to try and detour people into thinking their system has more "bang for the buck". Truly pathetic, and it also further illustrates why I do not own a playstation, and do not ever plan to buy one. They do make awesome tv's though....so they are good at something, in my book.
Correction - I see the Xbox 360 Premium does come with a wireless controller...
I see the 20GB Xbox 360 premium is still selling at Walmart for $399.
The HD-DVD is available at 2 other online retailers for $199.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Home networking is at Walmart for $88.
Online Subscription from Microsoft available for $50.
Total for 20GB Xbox 360 Premium with similar* features $735.
Total - for 60GB PS3 premium $599.
The PS3 is $136 cheaper using today's prices.
* Xbox hard drive is 20GB vs PS3's 60GB
* HD-DVD drive is not available for game discs (movies only)
* Blu-ray drive and wireless home networking are not add-ons but built into the PS3 premium system.
People can say the Xbox 360 is better but they cannot say it is cheaper when in fact it is $186 more expensive if you get all the bells and whistles. Let the price wars begin and hopefully both systems will be cheaper for everyone to enjoy. Competition is a good thing.
correction - $136
The Xbox 360 premium with HD-DVD, wireless home networking and online subscription is $735 which is $136 (not $186) more expensive than the similarly equipped 60GB PS3.
Got interrupted by phone call as I was responding to earlier message.
I see everyone chiding Sony for making unsubstantiated claims but if you add it all up it looks like the PS3 premium is indeed much less expensive and more capable than the Xbox 360 with the same options.
Eric,
You are only taking into account things the PS3 has that the Xbox doesn't, not the things that Xbox has that the PS3 doesn't. But there are "requirements" to bring the PS3 to the standard of what you get with the Premium Xbox too. Here they are, with my estimate of their value:
* Premium Xbox comes with Hexic, great puzzle game. ($10 value).
* Premium Xbox comes with headset/mic, which allows voice chat and voice messaging ($20-$30 value)
* Premium Xbox comes with 1 month free XBL Gold Membership ($4 value, but can be left off since Sonys service is free, even though it may not have equivilant features since headsets aren't standard)
* Component AND Composite cable which allows HDTV owner 1080i, and SDTV owners 480p ($20-$30 value, and also makes it the only console with HD out the box. And the quality of cables in MS systems exceedes most consoles in my experience)
* Customizable Faceplates (well, this is not pricable, but I think it will be extremely expensive to have someone create custom casings for your PS3)
* Controller designed for adult hands (priceless). Okay, this is personal preferance, but I was one of those that loved the original Xbox controller, I have big hands. But although I preferred the PS2 button layout (which is now improved on the 360), the original Big Xbox controller was much more comfortable for extended gaming sessions... to me. I couldn't beleive so many people hated it.
Anyway, they are two different systems, each with benefits and faults. To me, the biggest fault for the PS3 is BluRay. I understand the benefits of the huge capacity, but their were too many drawbacks... $200 price, the 2x speed, the fact it is the primary reason the PS3 is coming out almost a year behind initial schedule, unproven technology (which means it is fails as a format, the cost of producing dead technology usually INCREASES). The exact same system, without BluRay would have destroyed 360 with fanboy following. The $200 increase will be it's downfall.
This is funny. First of all, who said the hd-dvd drive was "required"? Sony, apparently. Second, no one buys the core system. Third, Live kicks ass. Is $50 a year really that big of a deal? It's less than one game!
I like how people keep slinging the term "fanboy" at anyone who defends Sony. I'd much rather be a fanboy than someone who can't entertain the idea that maybe, just maybe, these people are speaking from experience. Like myself, for example, own all three X-Box, PS2 and GC. I won't buy a 360 because to me, the 360 is a weak "next gen" console that would cater to those wowed by the same lackluster appeal the Genesis and Dreamcast had (I won't buy a Wii for the same reason). I just don't buy into that kind of style over substance way of entertainment. Don't get me wrong, both the Genesis and Dreamcast were impressive in many ways...but up against the competition for their respective generations, they lagged behind. Another way history could possibly repeat itself is the idea that both the Genesis and Dreamcast came out first in their generations. They were later outclassed by clearly superior machines. For crying outloud, they were selling Dreamcasts for $100 in the second year and it still got killed. The 360 came first, lets hope MS paid attention to the last 20 years. They've yet to convince the Japanese to jump the Sony/Nintendo fence and come over to their side, that could be because MS has given them no reason to. After all, PS3 and Wii are coming. Why bother?
As far as Sony "trying to go bankrupt"...yeah, they've been trying to go bankrupt for years now, right? That's why everyone bought PS1's and PS2's...right? I guess I, like you, were "required" to buy those. I will buy a PS3 and Wii before I buy a 360. I bought a PS2, GC and X-box in that order...bought the X-box and ended up playing old NES/SNES/Genesis games on it after modding it. I'll hand it to MS on this, they sure made it easy to abuse thier cheap technology and use it for something it was never intended...to play the competitions' games. Maybe if the 360 could be messed with in the same way, I'd buy one. But alas, it's not...yet. Stick to that PC architecture, MS! /laughs Maybe soon I'll buy a 360 to play my Gamecube games on...
OK you Microsoft fanboys. 360 is a HORRIBLE excuse for a system. Let's look at history. The first console to go on a new level ALWAYS FAILS. No you say, lets not forget: Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast. 360 WILL fail, it's not a matter of if but when. 360 is just weaker and less equipped right out of the box, and to be equal it costs more. Face it. We all saw how poorly Windows Vista F-ed up at it's presentation. And when Microsoft has to steal it's OS from Apple.....again, in order to prevent them from taking over......again, I don't have much faith in them. Sony has a SOLID rep in the electronics business and the computer enterprise is one that fluctuates daily. Also, ten years ago, even five years ago, I would say 360 all the way based purely on price, but today, the average consumer is much more technologically aware than in the past and wont mind spending more for a better product, ie: IPods, Alienware, Plasma Screens, Dolby, etc.
To think that in todays market a superior Item will fail based on the base model being slightly more expensive is ridiculous when It clearly out performs for less in the long run. Give it up, Microsoft will be bankrupt in ten years anyway.
Alright, alright, you know what? Anyone who even thinks about siding with the ps3 in this article is retarded! Maybe you should RE-READ the article! Sony is making themselves look like idiots! Xbox 360 all the way! Exclusive games like Gears of War and Halo 3 are much more are reasons to get a 360. I mean what good games are on the ps3 that are going to make you wanna pay 600 dollars for a system. BUY A COMPUTER that is even 10 times better than a PS3 for that and get all the millions of games you want! Anybody going to rethink what they commented on now?
ok first theres one thing i need to address to all u 360 fanboys and that is that blu-ray does alot for games i dont give a crap about hd movies or games but i do care about the blu-ray disk having 50 gb of space to make bigger games with more of well everything for your 360 the make games just as big it would take what 4 or 5 disks so tell me again why is having blu-ray standered in a ps3 a bad thing hmmmm and as for facts posted its all true for your inferer system to come close to what the ps3 does it would cost u alot more
No matter how much I would like to see Sony fail in this console war, I think PS3 will outsell both Xbox 360 and Wii, but with waaaaay smaller margin than "last time" (previous generation). I think that Sony, mainly because of delays and high price, already lost a few % of potential buyers. Someone said how PS3 is more powerfull than Xbox 360. Maybe, but so was Sega's Saturn comparing to PS1. Nobody mention the fact that PS3 practically has 7 CPUs. I don't think I need to tell you how difficult is to write a program that could fully utilize PS3's architecture. So, maybe PS3 is slightly more powerfull than Xbox 360, but I doubt that anyone will ever see any differences between a (same) game running on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Of course, don't forget Nintendo's Wii with all those "weird" but fun gadgets.
As for me, I support Nintendo's strategy - you don't need all those millions of polygons, shaders, light sources for games to look good and, more importantly, be fun to play.
How's this for "retarded" Both the exclusive games you just quoted for the 360...yeah, guess what RETARD. Both of those came out well over a year after the launch of the 360. What exclusives did 360 have that would make me choose it over PS3? Let's see, they had Madden '06 (Madden '07 is on PS3 FYI), Call Of Duty 2 (completely owned by Fall Of Man), Perfect Dark LE (insert loud and almost painful laughter here), Ridge Racer 6(Ridge Racer 7 available on PS3) NHL '06(NHL '07 on PS3), NHK '06(PS3 has '07)... Wow, looks like 360 is not exactly better in ANY respect as far as games on launch. Get your facts straight, "retard". Good job, 360 boy!
The reason M$ wants to sue sony is because if a person wants to buy a next gen system and is interested in the 360 he will try to get the best deal. If he sees this chart that states if you buy a 360, you will need to buy a whole bunch of accessories that the ps3 has or doesn't need which, by looking at this chart, is hundreds of dollars less, he will undoubtedly buy the ps3. IMO That is something to sue for.
You are a dumb ass, maybe you should get yourself straightened out. First of all all of those games you mentioned ARE on the 360, I believe Madden 07 came out on the 360 a month before the PS3 release!! And also you never said anything about the ripoff price of the 360?!?!!? I could buy a gaiming computer for that much with dual sli enable graphics cards and an AMD 64-bit processor. Actually, I just built one for a friend that cost 50 bucks less than the PS3. Just do some research and then you will really find out that the 360 is better.
Wow, you can't read for shit can you? I was talking about LAUNCH TITLES when you were talking about CURRENT TITLES. I also clearly said the 360 has been out for a year already, so yeah you're going to see great games on it like Gears Of War and Halo 3. DUH! You're talking about PS3's CURRENT LAUNCH TITLES which match pound for pound with everything 360 had AT LAUNCH A YEAR AGO. And as for your Dual SLI AMD 64 computer you built for $550...wow, you couldn't pay me to use a computer like that. That's almost like buying a car for $550 and expecting there to be nothing wrong with it. Besides, only the completely ignorant compare PC's to consoles and expect anyone to give a rat's ass. It's like comparing apples to prime rib steak. I know because I favor a PC over any console (and yes, I build them too).
BTW, just for kicks...can your $550 (laughs) PC read BLU-RAY discs, have wireless controls(or just a keyboard and mouse that WASN'T made in Algeria or some other generic $12 crap), wireless LAN, have multiple HD video outputs (can you even connect it via HDMI or just something OTHER than VGA and S-Video?), does that obviously onboard soundcard (laughs, who even uses that worthless crap?) support Dolby 7.1 and the many other audio bells and whistles that come complete with the HDMI connection? Does your monitor even compare to my HDTV (using said HDMI of course)? Oh damn, guess not. Make those adjustments under $50 and let me know. I plan on never hearing from you again because...IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
Here, I'll even help you out.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/21/panasonic-lf-mb121jd-blu-ray-pc-drive-shipping-10-june-for-850/
Yeah, something tells me that's not even the the most expensive one...and that the cheapest one isn't anywhere close to $50. Find a BLU RAY drive to put in your awesome $550 PC that costs $50.
actually i meant "ripoff price of the ps3", my mistake for mistyping :(
im sure you all know what i meant :)
I haven't read engaget for awhile, but articles like this prove that I shouldn't. Why should Sony compare their bottom-line model with Micorsoft's Top of the Line? If they had done that then the X-Box fans would whine about how Sony made the X-Box look more expensive by comparing their cheaper version with Microsoft's more expensive version.
Secondly this isn't a "sony is evil" or "microsoft is ripping us off" comparison. Sony is simply pointing out that if you were planning to buy these features anyway (HD-DVD, HD, etc) then Sony is actually competitive. If all you want is a console for gaming then this comparison doesn't apply. Honestly, that Engadget feels it is necassary to point out that "one does not NEED to buy these features" shows just how low of an estimation they have of their own readership's intelligence. In other words, this site is targeted at fanboys...
Ok If you to just have a gaming console with no thought of the future than get the xbox 360 for 400 dollors and you will get a DVD player. A HD gaming system with games that will have to bedesigned under a total of 4.5 GB or 9 GB DL. you can access there web site w/ no Multie player that is not so bad for right now if you have no thought of the future.
NOw if you want a Gaming console in MY Opinoin with thought of the future that you than get a PS3 were you get out of the box for $500.00 a HD blu-ray player that plays blu-ray HD discs disks that hold 25 GB witch meens more information can be stored for games, free MP online gaming witch in my opinoin is better than the xbox live is. you get full 1080p resulution witch is nice if you want the best there is to offer. And for Sony being desprate they are not Ms is the one that uped there warrenty that is action not posting the truth witch is if you want to get close to the same thing you are going to get with the PS3 by buying the XBOX 360 you are going to need the online sub =$50.00, the HD-DVD drive =$200.00, the system = 400.00 and the wi fi controler = $50.00 so cut the BS you jerks and wise up you guys have been bashing the PS3 witch shows fear not contentment this the Xbox 360 system. they are both good systems the PS3 is a better system for the one who want all the bells and wistle for the best price. as far as MS vs SONY goes there both crooks but MS has a monoply on software what dose Sony take controll over. you xbox fanboys are brainwashed.
Mr. Block
I hope you realize how "retarded" and "fanboyish" (if that's even a word) you sound. Before going off on a rant, and sounding pretty stupid consider this.
The title is "console price comparison," Mr. Block that means, you compare the consoles, with the total amount of accessories, not a handicap.
The Ps3 has a HDD / Next Gen Media Format / Wireless / and free accesses to multiplayer. These are not included in the core pack of the 360, thus to make a "equal" comparison, you must add the total $$$ "required" to buy these addons.
Go back to school.. give your English professor more apples. And come back to me, when you don't sound like a fanboy, and don't make a fool out of your self.
When I want to play the best game on a console, for the cheapest price, I will get an Xbox 360.
When I want the best gaming experience a console, for the cheapest price, I will get a 360.
When I want to play the best looking MOVIE on a console, for the cheapest price, I will get a PS3.
When I want a Shiny chunk of expensive plastic, I will get a PS3 as well.
Sony------> $399
Xbox Premium(20 gig HD, wireless controller, gold mem, and headset)-----$350
$399 for a hunk of plastic? or...
$350 for a great gaming experience?
Gee i wonder......