Sony calls out Xbox and Wii as flea market peddlers
Finally, we're seeing a bit of a fight from the Sony PR team in response to the brutal lambasting the PlayStation 3 has been taking for its poor showing against Microsoft's Xbox and Nintendo's Wii, as well as the fact that it costs more to make than it sells for.
Edge Online reports on a Sony press release called "Keeping Gaming and Entertainment Simple," in which the Japanese consumer electronics giant emphasizes out-of-the-box features of the game console:
- Blu-ray functionality
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- Huge hard drives
- Free online gaming
- "Ten years of value with a future-proof system via firmware updates that offer new services and features."
It's good to see Sony finally saying something about the competition, but this is fairly weak stuff--not all that compelling. It's effectively saying, "don't forget about us" instead of showing why the PS3 is a great platform.
From the release:
"The Xbox 360 requires additional money, multiple upgrades, and additional external devices, putting a burden on the wallet, and (it) adds clutter to the entertainment center.
"And the Wii's lack of enhanced features comes at the expense of a comprehensive entertainment solution."
Wow. Harsh stuff! Seriously though, the PS3 is a really good gaming platform. It's pretty bizarre that Sony hasn't figured out a better marketing strategy over the last few months, including reducing the price to gain market momentum.
Dave Rosenberg dishes up "Software, Interrupted" with nearly 15 years of technology and marketing experience that spans from Bell Labs to multiple start-up IPOs to open-source enterprise software companies. He is co-founder of MuleSource and currently serves as the general manager of Hardy Way. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. You can contact Dave via e-mail at softwareinterrupted@gmail.com.
"It's" is a contraction of "it is", not the possessive pronoun you are trying to use.
When they kiddos can afford the Bravia and PS3, too, more power too them. Of course I want nice things for them. We love playing together as a family.
The PS3 is a masterpiece.
Oh, and my XBOX 360 Pro cost $299 with a 60GB HD.
* Built-in Wi-Fi - Don't need it
* Huge hard drives - Really? 80GB if I can recall is smaller than 120GB
* Free online gaming - I get that with my PC too!
* "Ten years of value with a future-proof system via firmware updates that offer new services and features." - 10 years??? HAHA please. No console has had 10 years as the top gen console and this won't either.
-Blu-ray - Not everyone wants this yet, it's clear. Movies are still too expensive.
-Built in Wi-Fi - Not everyone wants this and it just drives up the minimum price. Any REAL gamer will tell you, gaming on Wi-Fi even if your sitting 2 inches from the router is never the best option. Why force this on people when I can get a 50 foot ethernet able for $15 and never have to worry about lag or dropping the signal.
-Huge HDD, Ok I will give it to them, you can put in any PC HDD into your PS3, but my 360 elite came with a 120GB HDD that I will say is plenty of room. I still have 80GB+ free space.
-Free online gaming, PSN is boring, no one has mics. Home is the most boring thing I have ever seen, it's just a glorified online version of "The Sims".
-10 years of value, if someone's PS3 doesn't break within 10 years I will be impressed.
If an Xbox 360 last over 1.5 years I'm impressed. I know I'm currently on my 4th one since it's launch. I could have bought 2 PS3's for the money I've rolled into microsoft. I wish I had waited to get the PS3. It's a much better piece of hardware for any HD user. But, like most things in life you get what you pay for. Buy crap, get crap.
I am saving for a PS3. I feel guilty selling the xbox 360 to my freinds with all the problems I've had so the kids can have it till it dies.
First you complain about Blu-ray being to expensive then you complain about something that is free? You need to get your thoughts straight and figure out what you are really complaining about. PS3 is said to have a .5% failure rate so I wouldn't be surprised if it did last ten years.
-Blu-ray- is flat out awesome, don't knock it if you can't afford it. I can't afford a personal jet, but that doesn't mean it's not awesome.
Built in wifi- not everyone wants it? And not everyone wants another cord running needlessly threw there living room. . Real gamer? I've been playing since Atari so has all my brothers, and we all have ps3 with no connection problems using our wi-fi. Again don't knock it because you can't afford it.
Huge HDD- it sure does and you don't have to get an elite version to get it.
Free online gaming- does exactly what live does (allow you to play other players) without having to pay $50 bucks.
10 year of value- if someone's Xbox doesn't break within the first 3 months I would be impressed.
When it comes down to it Xbox, pro, elite, whatever will never add up to the value and just plane quality ps3 offers.
I personally think this was a poor strategy on Sony's part, this late in the race, using playground tactics to try to boost their image. Im sure the PS3 has plenty of good qualities they could have used to boost their sales. I'm glad that Sony is a Japanese owned though...because with all the money they are losing with each one they make...they'd be next in line at Congress' door asking for a bailout.
Happy New Year everyone.
wii with the innovative control :funny.
ps3... unfunny, ps3 users played a couple of blu-disk, then motorstorm, then metal gear, then little big planet and that's it!
the quality of a console is proportional to the quality (amusement level) of the games for such console, ps3 in this aspect is losing the battle.
This coming from a company that killed backwards compatibility and left all of those PS2 users who want to play PS3 stuck with 2 systems. Now these people have to either scramble to find someone willing to part with a BC system or filling up their entertainment center with multiple consoles (Yeah thanks Sony).
I like all the systems but i think they all have their place and unfortunately, Sony has not been doing everything they can to make the PS3 appeal to the consumers. There is one monster of a thread growing everyday at the Sony forums about backwards compatibility and Sony continues to pretend it isn't there. The consumers have spoken Sony, if you want your console to reach it's potential you might wanna start listening.
As a gamer who has experience with both systems, here's my take.
The 360 has a number of great games and the LIVE network is great as well. However, the PS3 is getting more exclusive titles, and some that have been exclusive to the 360 will not be much longer (e.g. Halo, Bioshock). If you look at what's available now, there are more choices for the 360 but I think the PS3 is catching up. As for PSN vs. LIVE, LIVE is currently better, however they have begun to implement an achievement with many PS3 games and as I understand it, this is to become a standard feature on all game very soon.
As for gaming on HDTVs... Everyone I know with a PS3 plays on an HDTV. Everyone. No exceptions. They all also have dolby digital speaker systems connected as well. This includes me. I am very happy with the BluRay drive as well. It made it easier to sell my wife on buying the system.
I game on WIFi and never experience problems. It's a good thing... my wife would not let me have a 50 ft ethernet cable laying on the floor.
I bought an 80GB model a few months ago and wish I had held out for the 160. I use my machine to hold music and movies as well and that can take up space. I guess I can connect an external drive to the PS3 if I need to.
Technically, the PS3 is a far superior machine and it has the capability to do things the Wii and 360 cannot do. Unfortunately, this comes with a slightly higher price tag. As someone said above, every system has its place. Some will never need all the features the machine offers and others will use them all. I think the initial price tag is high but for those who pay for it, you find that it is worth it.
Bootch, why use an external drive when it's so easy to replace the internal drive? I only have a 40gig and I still have a lot of space left, but I thought about popping in a 200 gig just for the hell of it.
I consider myself a 'hardcore' gamer (and have been since pong!) and I love the Wii. Not a day goes
by without it being fired up in the house. I have also considered an Xbox360 but the RROD issue needs to be solved first. I don't need (or want) bluray until the price of movies comes down to DVD levels. The Wii controller is also amazing, one of the main reasons I don't use other consoles is the poorly designed controller. Sony has lost this generation console 'wars'... kinda reminds me of Sega.
Fanyboys will argue the 360 point until they're blue in the face but they are only trying to justify their purchase.
I took this picture at a Best Buy in New York a few days before Christmas:
http://www.thebombband.com/images/bestbuyod.jpg
Enough said!
I'm not going to critisize you if you perfer the PS3...hey...it's your choice...but can you tell me that not one PS3 console has had a problem? I dont know about anyone else, but other than paying for the console, games and the LIVE service, I dont feel it has been a financial burden to me. Yeah...when my console red ringed on me ...i got angry and cursed the M$ gods...but I got it replaced at no charge, that same day after getting off the phone to get the box sent out to me, I called again for the LIVE service and informed them that my system had red ringed and would not be able to use LIVE until I got it replaced. The person gave me a refrence number and they ended up crediting me two weeks to my LIVE service after I got my console back...so...I cant realy agree with you that it has been a burdon.
Enough said!
Wii/PS3/Xbox360 all have their pros & cons. My suggestion is buy the one that fits your lifestyle best. You may be OK with simple games/activities the Wii provide; you may be into Hi-Def state-of-art gaming, or downloading new content the Xbox360 & PS3 can give.
I wanted to get the most out of my HDTV, so my choice was the PS3. I could get the most out of eye-popping clarity and selection of movies that only Blu-ray currently provides, combined with the ability to interact online (wireless and for free) and enjoy intense action gaming on my TV. Do I wish that the price were cheaper? Of course!! But I find the things I enjoy on the PS3 justify the price. I doubt Sony is keeping the high price to screw us. I hear they are losing money on every console they sell. And yes, I also considered the Wii & Xbox360, which have good features, but PS3 seemed more fitting TO ME. Maybe if I knew I could afford all three consoles I would.
So, if you are interested in giving one of the consoles a try, just go with the one that seems you'll get the most enjoyment out of within your budget.
They sort of remind me of Sega.
wii (about 2 month ago it was turn on due to an update )
ps3 boring ( lucky it was given to me i would be upset if i would of pay for it ) home is stupid ...
360 - play depends on current game.
Wii - have not played for 2 mts now
PS3 - play depends on game - though I really do like being able to go straight online with games without having to worry about Silver/Gold membership nonsense - plus love all the other features - BluRay.
Home though - uninstalled this after 10 minutes of looking at it - talk about underwhelming. Might give it another look in a few months.
Problem is, Sony forgot their own history. Here's a list of Game titles Sony should be working on.
Twisted Metal online
Destruction Derby Extreme
Wipeout World Tour
Each of these would be unbeatable as both online games as well as face to face competition. But for some reason Sony has been dropping the ball on this. I don't get their problems with making simple and crazy games. Gimme Crunching metal, bombs and death matches!
Why Sony? Why have you fallen from the faith?
I would love to see Crash Bandicoot, nightmare creatures, syphon filter, onimusha, and this titla was on dream cast but would love to see another part on the ps3) soul reaver.
Not to mention Jak and Daxter - excellent humour.
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by Jtthegame316
January 10, 2009 3:16 PM PST
- The 360 has nearly all the best ps 3 games plus its own games that won't go on ps 3. the 360 is cheaper and is all about games. ps 3 seems to be more about movies than gaming.
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