Sony US slags off rival consoles

By Ellie Gibson Published 8 January, 2009

Says 360 "puts a burden on the wallet".

Sony Computer Entertainment America has attempted to spill the pints of Microsoft and Nintendo with a new press release comparing consoles.

The release begins by declaring that PS3 offers "the most features and functionality out of the box", with "no immediate need to upgrade anything" as stuff like Blu-ray and Wi-Fi comes as standard.

"The Xbox 360 and Wii offer a set of features in their own right," the statement generously concedes. "However, when you take a look at the feature offerings side by side, there is only one true winner in delivering total value and price."

No, not the Gizmondo, and not Microsoft's big grey box. "The Xbox 360 requires additional money, multiple upgrades and additional external devices, putting a burden on the wallet, and adds clutter to the entertainment centre," according to SCEA.

But what about Nintendo's little white box? "The Wii's lack of enhanced features comes at the expense of a comprehensive entertainment solution," don't you know.

So what's the answer? You'll never believe it, but SCEA reckons, "The PS3 is the perfect example of a product featuring superior technology and a sophisticated design creating an ideal all-in-one entertainment product."

Finally: "As PS3 continues to evolve without the need for additional parts or expenses, expect the competition to continue peddling add-ons in an effort to keep up with the Jones'." And, presumably, expect the competition to continue making enough money from those add-ons to buy toilet roll made from the silk of worms fed on liquid gold and unicorn meat.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (129) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • the_dudefather #1 3 years ago

    NOTHING TO SEE HERE, MOVE ALONG

  • Fairlane #2 3 years ago

    i love this - hope someone bites!

  • menage #3 3 years ago

    I'll bite.

    Put a freaking HD cable in the box then.

  • mcbi4kh2 #4 3 years ago

    The Xbox 360 requires....

    It doesnt require anything of the sort.

    If you want the extra bits the ps3 is good value, if not its a lot of dosh.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/09 @ 15:42

  • speedjack #5 3 years ago

    Ignore them.

    Attention only makes them think we care.

  • Arcadiian #6 3 years ago

    Dum de dum. I think Microsoft should release a new 360 that comes with a Ferrari. And then they could say 'Ah, but does the PS3 come with a Ferrari?! I think not! Clearly the Xbox 360 is the only games console with all of your Ferrari requirements'.

  • makeamazing #7 3 years ago

    Considering MS's "They will reduce the price", was kinda expecting something back. though Sony do have a point if you have the money to start with to buy the PS3 :)
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/09 @ 15:43

  • DFawkes #8 3 years ago

    Of all the things to try and slag of, go for the thing that has been a barrier stoping people buying PS3s. Well done, you big eejit exec.

  • Hobo #9 3 years ago

    It almost sounds like they're fucking desperate.

  • Lexx87 #10 3 years ago

    I do love how they say all that and don't even put a fucking HD cable in the box :)

  • yupyup #11 3 years ago

    They are fucking desperate. Keep your Blu-Rays and mostly inferior ports, thanks.

  • ronuds #12 3 years ago

    Stealth, "we're not dropping the price" release?

  • Thunderbolt #13 3 years ago

    evilfoxhound,

    Well that was just silliness on your part ;) Did you really need the 120GB HDD? On the 360 really?

  • quantumsheep #14 3 years ago

    Twats, both of them.

    So MS say 'The PS3 price will drop' - in an effort (imho) to put doubt into consumers' minds and stop them buying a PS3 right now in the hope there's a price cut.

    Sony say 'Actually, our system's a bargain if you think about it - the others suck.'

    It's all so childish.

  • miiiguel #15 3 years ago

    I have to agree... 360 games' library quality puts a burden on me wallet, that's a fact.

  • spitfire1945 #16 3 years ago

    Oh my! Sony really is in desperate struggle! LOL

    and I quote menage: it's an HD offer so complete that comes out with an old and useless composite cable instead of a HDMI/component one! SMART!!!
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/09 @ 15:51

  • Xerx3s #17 3 years ago

    It will be funny watching a certain poster eat his own words.

  • Widge #18 3 years ago

    HD Cable and BR Remote as standard would be nice. They've got to be fuck all to produce.
    I do like the fact that its only been £50 to go 320gb on my unit.

    +1 to wanting to hear less about stuff like this from each party. I would rather hear about what the plan to do in the future.

  • SEVQA #19 3 years ago

    " Xbox 360 is the only games console with all of your Ferrari requirements'. "

    Except the fact that Ferrari Challenge is a PS3 exclusive... haha!

  • miiiguel #20 3 years ago

    "I wanted to install all my games to get rid of that jet-engine noise. "

    *All* ? Damn.. I'd need loads of 120gb HDD to do that. Not sure why would I want to do that though. Maybe to whine about the price or... stuff?

  • Thunderbolt #21 3 years ago

    Evil,

    Fair enough. I reckon you should go round Aaron Greenberg's house and kick his arse!

  • HolyJebus #22 3 years ago

    Oh good God Sony, please please be quiet. This is getting embarrassing.

  • IMadeThis #23 3 years ago

    The Xbox 360 requires additional money, multiple upgrades and additional external devices, putting a burden on the wallet, and adds clutter to the entertainment centre,..."

    Um, anyone mentioned PlayTV yet?

  • BlueDot #24 3 years ago

    Hang on, is it January 2007 or 2009 ?

  • Eraysor #25 3 years ago

    Nobjockery! My 360 has not one additional peripheral save for controllers and I've been using it since launch. Also, Blu-ray is old news, I like my regular DVDs.

  • Monkey_Puncher #26 3 years ago

    You spent £45 on a Live subscription and also got an Xbox 360 with a 60 gb and upgraded to 120gb? Are you mental? Do you like getting ripped off? Or are you just making it up as you go along...

  • Katsumoto #27 3 years ago

    I want everyone to remember before saying anything silly that Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo all spout complete bollocks on a pretty much weekly basis. So no "My precious Microsoft would never say such a thing!" comments are necessary.

  • LiamK #28 3 years ago

    Does anyone actually use the web-browser on their games consoles?

    Also, "ridiculous".

  • gingerlink #29 3 years ago

    Nintendo don't spout things on a weekly basis, they do so on a monthly basis when then NPD figures come out and all they spout is essentially "we're loaded"

  • Toothball #30 3 years ago

    All these negative press releases are never any fun to read. They should really focus on their own product, as trying to highlight flaws with other systems just makes it look like they don't have much to talk about in the first place.

  • Katsumoto #31 3 years ago

    Heh, well, that's true I suppose. The main shit-stirring seems to be between Microsoft and Sony. I really do wish they'd shut up. As has been said, it's childish above all else.

  • optimusprym8 #32 3 years ago

    Higher price point to start with, additional / replacement DS3 controllers, HDMI cable, bluetooth headset, over-priced shitty films - yes clearly 360 is a burden and the PS3 isn't.

    Cue SpyroViper and comments along the lines of "I'm so rich I have jeans made out of gold HDMI cables" or something equally batshit.

  • bioreit #33 3 years ago

    @ makeamazing

    "Considering MS's "They will reduce the price", was kinda expecting something back. though Sony do have a point if you have the money to start with to buy the PS3 :) "

    I had the money to start with and went for a 360. Then went for a Wii. Then went for a second 360. Then went for a third 360. Then went for a PS3.

    Order of playing/using time is:

    1. Main 360 for games
    2. Main 360 for streaming movies via Vista MC
    3. PS3 for Blu-Ray
    4. Second 360 for streaming movies via Vista MC
    5. Main 360 for HD-DVD
    6. Second 360 for HD-DVD
    7. Nintendo Wii for games
    8. PS3 for games
    9. Third 360 used in conjunction with main and second 360s for gather-round gaming sessions.

    Money doesn't come into it - requirements and desire for features and games does. In my case, my requirements and personal gaming preferences were catered for much more by a 360.

  • MaliceMajorE15 #34 3 years ago

    "Sony US slags off rival consoles"

    you gotta love those guys at eurogamer eh?!

    when microsoft say somthing about sony its insightful or its abolutley gospel according to them and numerous 360 fanboys. when sony say somthing about microsoft they have portrayed sony as having whiney, bitchy traits like a hormonal teen girl. even when there are figures to support sonys argument.

    i dont want to go on about this type of thing but please ive abandoned gametrailers and kotaku in my quest to find a neutral website. the best so far is found by combining visits to joystiq, with visits to 360 and ps3 fanboy

  • Petulant_Radish #35 3 years ago

    Perhaps they should’ve used this line of attack when the PS3 launched, then they could’ve justified the price of it back then rather than saying people will get a second job to pay for it because it’s called a Playstation. Then they might be in a much better position.

  • JahB #36 3 years ago

    if they'd put a headset in the box, i'd be inclined to agree; those are vital to online gaming, so if you want to provide a full experience without "putting a burden" on your customers wallets, give them the stuff they need before ranting like this

  • laudy #37 3 years ago

    FAO IMadeThis

    Why would anyone mention PlayTV? Is there a similar function on the 360 that you don't have to pay for? Which is essentially what this debate is about...

    All this my dad is bigger than your dad sh*t is embarrassing. You pay yer money, you make yer choice.

  • Vistrix #38 3 years ago

    Sony have admitted in the past they didnt include a HD cable because other companies can produce them far cheaper with the exact same quality.

  • ParanoidZombie #39 3 years ago

    "The Wii's lack of enhanced features comes at the expense of a comprehensive entertainment solution," .

    That's a very weak effort. Looks like those PR guys are finally running out of steam, which is very good news.

  • YobRenoops #40 3 years ago

    Headsets are NOT vital for online gaming. It just encourages twats to spout off.

  • ronuds #41 3 years ago

    @ Evil

    You bought a 60gb and THEN upgraded to 120gb? You could have saved yourself a ton of money had you just bought the 120gb from the start. Not only that, but what's the need to put every single game on your HDD? You want to do things that aren't exactly needed and then you're going to complain about the price to do those things?

    Also, what are the "necessary" add-ons is Sony talking about? I've had my 360 for over 2 years and have only bought an additional controller. How have I been getting along all this time?!?!?

  • ThePissartist #42 3 years ago

    "Dum de dum. I think Microsoft should release a new 360 that comes with a Ferrari. And then they could say 'Ah, but does the PS3 come with a Ferrari?! I think not! Clearly the Xbox 360 is the only games console with all of your Ferrari requirements'."

    Great post, hilarious.

    evilfoxhound do you just go out and buy every peripheral that's available, then complain that it all costs so much? I brought myself a 360 on release and haven't had to buy ANY peripherals, at all. Works fine for me (and I'm sure the PS3 will too, when I can afford it).

  • Dark_Stranger #43 3 years ago

    I feel sorry for the silkworms being fed on Liquid gold as that stuff use to make my head get all hot & get tunnel vision. I got no nutritional value from it what so ever.

  • MasterNameless #44 3 years ago

    @Xerxes

    " It will be funny watching a certain poster eat his own words. "

    Haha! That was exactly what I was thinking.

  • HuggyAtHome #45 3 years ago

    ^ Blimey!! Somebody is well wedged up!!

    It is all just noise - buy whatever one you want, and if you can afford it buy all three, or five if you include the two main handhelds, (or a few of each if you are bioreit - lucky sod). Then enjoy the best that each has to offer whilst growing slowly paler and more introverted through lack of exercise/sunlight/social life. ;-)

  • Widge #46 3 years ago

    "the value is in what you use, not what you buy. If you don't need parts then why pay for them, but if you use the full package then it's comparable value."

    the facts!

  • MaxiSleep #47 3 years ago

    Says 360 "puts a burden on the wallet".

    That would be the cash still in it?

  • HuggyAtHome #48 3 years ago

    Somebody has been on the SingStar too much over Xmas.

  • mcwildcard #49 3 years ago

    I agree with all that they've said, but disagree with the smug tone in which they've said it.

  • sanctusmortis #50 3 years ago

    As usual, I think it's bollocks.

  • kinky_mong #51 3 years ago

    They forgot to mention that on the Wii and 360 you have to pay an extra £30-40 every time you want a new game whereas this isn't a problem with the PS3 because there aren't any games!

    Sorry couldn't resist.

  • jack_klugman #52 3 years ago

    Good Lord! If only I'd seen this sooner. I'll be selling my Wii and Xbox immediately. PlayStation here I come!

  • Razzajazz #53 3 years ago

    I don't know why everyone finds this cock-size comparing between MS and Sony irritating or childish, I find it bloody hilarious! I want these press releases to keep coming, I've found this whole "rabid fanboy" mentality that has come about since this generation of consoles highly amusing.

    And without this kind of info coming through, there's no fuel for our favourite fanboy commenters. Actually, here's an idea, EG, next to the 'Ignore Poster" link, can we have a "Batshit Insane Poster" link, which collates all of the day's most inane rantings into an easy-to-read (and easy-to-laugh) format, please?

  • AdmiralPellaeon #54 3 years ago

    "The PS3 is the perfect example of a product featuring superior technology and a sophisticated design of a Sandwich toaster creating an ideal all-in-one entertainment & Kitchen product."


  • laudy #55 3 years ago

    I fail to see why anyone cares! Perhaps we should forward the links to all the 360/ps3 face-offs conducted on this site to the bod at Sony who dared to do his job by belittling a competitor? It doesn't happen often in the UK, but, in marketing campaigns across the pond in the US, "slagging off" competition is par for the course...only folk on MS retainers would be offended and rise to the bait...

    Maybe he'd change his stance and say the real "burden on your wallet" is buying games that are glitchy, tearing, 560p masquerading as 720p, lazy port, po' cuzn versions of the 360 real McCoy...

  • wanderingkid #56 3 years ago

    Why is EG so xbox biased? It doesn't even make sense.
    Anyway you have to admit they have a point; online gaming, internet services and blue-ray player straight out of the box (don't agree with the Wii statement though).

    And as far as i'm aware, neither console comes with a HD cable right? Which is ridiculous of course.

  • alpha-0ne #57 3 years ago

    Well sony must be right they are outselling everyone and are the market leader ;-)

    How embarrasing ehrn a company preaches they are the best value but customer say actually i dont need bluray, wireless etc why should i pay for them..we the answer is they dont

  • Wendelius #58 3 years ago

    @wanderingkid: "And as far as i'm aware, neither console comes with a HD cable right? Which is ridiculous of course."

    You are mistaken.

    Wendelius

  • andywilkie35 #59 3 years ago

    fuuuuucking hell this article reminds me of why Sony are cunts! My ps3 has been an absolute rip off, cunts

  • mkreku #60 3 years ago

    Can't Microsoft just release a Blu Ray player and get this over with? I'd want one..

  • bioreit #61 3 years ago

    @ HuggyAtHome

    "enjoy the best that each has to offer whilst growing slowly paler and more introverted through lack of exercise/sunlight/social life. ;-) "

    I oughta punch you on the noggin for saying that! But I can't go outside because I burn too easily, and all of my strength resides in my thumbs now.

    Instead, I shall have to be satsified with posting rude and libellous comments about you on various forums, safe in the knowledge that Internet-gifted anonymity will protect me :-)

  • Wendelius #62 3 years ago

    "Can't Microsoft just release a Blu Ray player and get this over with? I'd want one.. "

    Not I. I bought the Sony 350 from amazon for nearly the same price as the old HD DVD add-on for the 360 at release. It's got more output options than the PS3 or the 360 and consumes much less power. Now that cheap players are here, I'd recommend keeping your console and home theatre set-up separate. Not all your eggs in one basket and all that...

    Wendelius

  • Foxclose #63 3 years ago

    Sony Desperate?! I think not. It's doing super at the current price.
    It was only yesterday, that MSFT were begging them to drop the price; only failing to realized that their boxes are a little short of tech! Great response, I think.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/09 @ 17:17

  • assache #64 3 years ago

    "And here is the best one. To get digital audio output and use a HDMI at the same time, you have to buy a fucking special MS cable! That cost me another £20!"

    Factually incorrect. You really should check the contents of your box before wasting your money.

  • sneetch #65 3 years ago

    @evilfoxhound
    "Thunderbolt!, yes I did need a 120GB HDD.

    I wanted to install all my games to get rid of that jet-engine noise.

    Do you know what's worse? The data transfer cable that came with the 120HDD isn't compatable with the 60GB HDD. I then had to buy a £30 memory card to transfer my saves over!

    Then I payed £45 for a gold account.

    And here is the best one. To get digital audio output and use a HDMI at the same time, you have to buy a fucking special MS cable! That cost me another £20!

    Already that's £95 on top of the price of a pro 360. It's a joke. It's a rediculous price, especially for a console that does not even have a web browser or BR playback."

    So you wanted a 120 GB hard drive to install and cut down on the noise but you didn't need it as you already had a 60 GB one. ;)

    Most (if not all) of that is included in the Elite package with the exception of the hard disk transfer cable (which worked fine for a friend of mine here at work, you have to use the USB port at the back of the console). The timing was just unlucky, if you'd bought it to begin with you would have saved a fortune. I know, that's not a lot of use when the Elite came out a year or two after launch but one of my friends traded in his old 360 for an Elite (for the HDMI) and got it for relatively little. They even transferred his HD for him. I think it was GAME or Gamestop.

    How much did your PS3's hard-drive cost you? (I could be mad, but I seem to recall you saying you put a monster HD into your PS3).

  • Wendelius #66 3 years ago

    @ J1GSAW: "why waste money with a seperate blu ray player if you have a ps3? just a waste "

    I agree. But I don't have a PS3. I thought about it but went for the stand-alone Blu Ray to complement my 360 (partially for the reasons mentioned above. Mainly cost but also outputs, power consumption, multiregion DVD playback,, ...). My answer was mainly to the "360 should have Blu Ray playback" comment. It would suffer from the same limitations as the PS3. So, for me, it's better to keep separates for gaming and Blu Ray playback. But you are obviously right if one already has a PS3!

    Wendelius

  • guernican #67 3 years ago

    This is the gaming equivalent of those tedious "Gerrard backs Liverpool for the title" articles you see every year.

    Of course he fucking does. It's not news. News would be "Gerrard calls Liverpool fans a bunch of thieving Scouse no-marks".

  • Jay-ITFC #68 3 years ago

    Yet more evidence that Sony still has its head so far up its own arse they can't see the wood for the trees. Instead of wasting time on pointless press releases such as this one would it not be a better idea to focus on:

    1. Creating some decent games

    2. Securing some new console exclusives rather than letting the opposition lure them all away

    3. Dropping the complete mess that is Home from the drawing board all together

    4. Making a dam profit!

    The don't seem to understand that consumers want choice. Not everyone wants blu-ray/wi-fi/hard drives/second life clones. Yes PS2 was and still is VERY sucessful. It made Sony the king. But it's fast becoming the past. And you can't live off past glory for ever. The king can be pushed off his throne. They will get left behind if they are not careful...
    Edited by 2 at 08/01/09 @ 17:31

  • Retroid #69 3 years ago

    @evilfoxhound

    I paid £70 for my 120gb HDD, and I've never, ever paid more than £30 for Live.

    It helps to shop around.

  • ronuds #70 3 years ago

    @ evil
    "All my 360's sound like fucking vacum-cleaners when a disc is spinning. I really can't tollerate it and NEEDED to install my games to enjoy pleying them."

    I'm not saying you wouldn't want to or shouldn't install all of your games to the HDD (although I don't really buy the "jet engine" excuse on a newer 360 model, but that's beside the point). But what's the need to install them ALL AT ONCE? You could, ya know, install a few, play them, delete it, install another, etc., etc. It's called space management. And with the 60gb, you can install quite a few at a time. Instead, you're going to have a bunch of games installed to your HDD that you probably rarely play, if at all.

    It sounds to me like the 120gb was more gravy for you than anything else, in which case complaining about the price comes off as a little ridiculous.

  • Rash' #71 3 years ago

    Xerx3s, lol. well they had to respond didn't they after yesterday's bull crap from ms. either way as i said yesterday all this soap opera drama is bull crap. fun at times but still disposable info. nice try with "eating my own words", but ms have been the more vocal of the two devils this gen.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/09 @ 18:06

  • ronuds #72 3 years ago

    "but ms have been the more vocal of the two devils this gen."

    Lately I'd tend to agree. Overall, though? HELLLLL NO! Sony talked so much trash from the start that dump trucks were making deposits at their headquarters. It's been mostly in the last year or so that MS has been the kings of sling.

  • cherryuk #73 3 years ago

    Being a PS3 owner I'm grateful for not paying Network subscriptions however I see this as a disadvantage because there are some PS2 games that I would still like to play - Timesplitters 2 & 3, Burnout etc that all the servers have closed down and this is due to Sony being greedy buggers and not thinking about the consumers.

  • Mr-Bozzey #74 3 years ago

    LMAO i love how all the MS kids are getting dead annoyed at sony 1st little insulting commen

    t. something that MS have been doing for years now with low blow comments and soon as you get 1 back at ya your start to whine like little babys !


    fair play to sony

    as for you MS kids well .... dont dish out what you can't eat yourselfs

    rofl unicorn meat hahahahahaha

  • bonker #75 3 years ago

    "When your console costs £300 to make and you sell it for £300 and you sell 20 million units in two years. That's great. "

    Fixed.

  • muzzer77 #76 3 years ago

    As petty as this is, i helped my mum get a 360 for Christmas (for her husband)and once you get into looking at it M$ advertising is very sneaky, always advertising the cheapest console. There will be many gamers (and parents) who won't realise there is more to come. The arcade is a waste of time with M$ banging on about xbox live you need a hard drive. M$ should stick it all in one console. A next generation console without wireless, that disappointed me the most about my 360. Selling add ons to make up for the savings you made on the machine is naughty especially as virtually all the M$ ads show games that require a hard drive and Xbox live to get the most out of it.

  • Ryze #77 3 years ago

    HDMI, HDD due to mandatory installs, the whole controller once the battery dies, the whole controller for rumble for all of your loyal early adopters, a headset so you can talk to yourself online...

    ...then you'll need a 360 as well - to play the best games being released. That's one hell of a required upgrade.

    /runs
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/09 @ 18:31

  • Ryze #78 3 years ago

    @evilfoxhound

    "When your console costs £300 and you sell 20 million units in two years. That's great."

    Not when each of those 20 million consoles costs up to £400+ to manufacture it's not!

  • Chufty #79 3 years ago

    Why are the 360 fanboys slagging off the really quite minor point that the PS3 doesn't come with a HDMI cable? I would argue that this enables the consumer to choose the quality of their cable, perhaps based on the quality of their TV.

    C'mon children, you can do better than that.

  • Xerx3s #80 3 years ago

    Rash': If that's what you believe. Be a gent and use a napkin though.

  • des #81 3 years ago

    So 360 is more expensive than PS3(according to Sony),but on the other hand 360 is outselling PS3 2:1,so hmm

    Sony is clearly running out out of spin-ideas,cut-pasting 2006 articles.

    The so called "value" always had a personal note,try to sell an air conditioner to penguins on Antarctica next,Sony...

  • bad09 #82 3 years ago

    "good point.. why don't Sony mention the need cost of a PS2 if you want to play PS2 games? they forgot that bit."

    LOL that made me laugh!

    It is true, but MS are no angels in the B/C lies either "yes, yes every Xbox will eventually be B/C on 360...honest". Still at least quite a few work on 360.

    / glares at Sony and their most idiotic decision ever with the PS brand (well that and cancelling The Getaway 3)
    / also glares at MS because his MGS2: Substance sits dusty and unloved on his shelf.

  • ronuds #83 3 years ago

    "Why are the 360 fanboys slagging off the really quite minor point that the PS3 doesn't come with a HDMI cable?"

    I think mostly because one of Sony's biggest selling points for the PS3 is that it's an HD console - yet you can't play it in HD resolution unless you buy something extra.

  • ronuds #84 3 years ago

    @ evil

    "The only ridiculous thing here is tha fact that a 300GB HDD for the PS3 costs £40 and a 120GB HDD for the 360 costs £100.
    I'll stand by that opinion no matter what people say."

    Very convenient of you to choose 5 words of a 200 word statement to reply to. Talk about "out of context"!

    Anyhow, nobody's arguing that to buy an HDD separately for the 360 it won't cost you more than it should. What we were arguing was the fact that you were complaining about doing so, even though you really had no need to.

    It is nice that you can get a 300gb for so cheap for the PS3, but I think the fact that only 1 in 10000 people actually need to do so invalidates the point a bit. I'm talking about mainstream here - not about the 1% of gaming nerds who have to have the best and most of everything.

  • bad09 #85 3 years ago

    "It is nice that you can get a 300gb for so cheap for the PS3, but I think the fact that only 1 in 10000 people actually need to do so invalidates the point a bit. I'm talking about mainstream here - not about the 1% of gaming nerds who have to have the best and most of everything."

    Actually when the movie/music store hits even joe average will need a bigger HDD on his PS3 for all the stuff he can own. Probably why Sony are selling that 160gb model.

  • ThreeOutsideDown #86 3 years ago

    pfft.

    marketers, they're as bad as politicians.

    you can't believe a single word that comes out of their mouths...

  • ronuds #87 3 years ago

    @ bad09

    Is the movie service a rental service or to own? Who in their right mind would DL a movie to own onto a console?

    If it's just a rental service, I don't really see the need for a huge storage device. You can fit thousands of songs in only a few gig as well, so I don't see music as being a need for a huge storage device either. Plus, doesn't everyone already DL all of their music onto their consoles these days? I know tons of people do it with the 360, but that's also because you can play the music through any game. Not sure if you can do that with the PS3?

  • bad09 #88 3 years ago

    @ ronuds

    You will be able to own or rent apparently.

    "Is the movie service a rental service or to own? Who in their right mind would DL a movie to own onto a console?"

    Well that's it isn't it? The Wii is a games console but 360 and PS3 are multi-media devices. I used my 360 for media (ah, poor HD DVD) and I am loving the PS3 media aspect with all my TV shows on there and I only watch movies on Sky or digital/DVD/Blu on PS3/PSP now.

    Of course the DRM will be there (I very much doubt the movie industry will ever go down the DRM free route, there is too much greed and stupidity in the industry) but at least you will be able to copy to your PSP for a movie on the go.

    (I'm hoping you will be able to download movies on to other machines like you can with the games)

    I'm against DRM but having a home version and portable is just enough to make me think about using it and I'm sure that will be the case for many.

  • patchbox360 #89 3 years ago

    The PS3 is the perfect example of a product featuring superior technology and a sophisticated design creating an ideal all-in-one entertainment product."

    yeah if it had some decent games bar mgs4

  • sparkymark75 #90 3 years ago

    Maybe it's the fact that there are far more better game available for the 360? That's the burden on your wallet!

  • ronuds #91 3 years ago

    @ bad09

    If you could somehow transfer your purchased movies from the PS3 to somewhere else, then I could see a use for owning it. If you can only buy a movie and then play it on your PS3 forever, or keep it on your PS3's HDD, then it's a bit of a waste. I want to be able to burn any movie I buy to DVD or at least watch it whenever or wherever I want, which a console doesn't really provide (unless, of course, you want to carry it around all over the place).

    Hard to say how popular the movie service will be. I don't think XBLM was doing all that hot until NetFlix became part of the service. Since so many had NetFlix, using it through the 360 became an obvious choice. I wonder how many people have signed up for NetFlix through the 360 though? I wouldn't suspect many...

  • drumbaby #92 3 years ago

    PS3 games and Blu-rays have set me back alot of dosh too, so he's only partially right.

  • Bennicus #93 3 years ago

    silkworms eat mulberry leaves

  • kaya08 #94 3 years ago

    Might have a point if anyone wanted a blue ray player (beyond the hardcore must own every new piece of tech crowd). Or if anyone didn't have access to a PC.

  • foamy #95 3 years ago

    I actually want to buy a PS3, but with this kind of marketing (?) it's hard to make Sony a likeable brand.

  • bad09 #96 3 years ago

    @ ronuds

    I used to burn to DVD to when I had no PS3 but now I see no point as I'd only stick in the DVD in the PS anyway! :)

    You're right it is hard to judge but I do think the ability to both rent or own movies and buy music (and transfer to your PSP with ease) will be a big boost for the George Forman if the price (and content) is right.

  • SilentScream #97 3 years ago

    The whole point of what the interview was that he was saying for what you get for the Playstation 3 you have to buy as extras for the Xbox 360, so even the the Xbox 360 console is cheap, all of the extras add up.

    Xbox 360 Elite (120gb) - £169.99
    Wireless Adapter - £60
    Quick Charge Kit - £19.99 (+ £9.99 for additional battery packs depending on amount of controllers)
    Xbox Live Gold - £40 (Annual)

    Total = £289.98 (+ $40 per year)

    Playstation 3 60gb - £300 (discontinued I know but for comparison purposes)
    Everything else available for the Xbox 360 is included

    Similar prices, saying how cheap the Xbox 360 console is.
    You could also include the price of a Blu-ray player as well, if you wanted everything that the PS3 has available to it for the Xbox 360
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/09 @ 21:15

  • SniperZoz #98 3 years ago

    Thank you Sony for clearing this up .... we (consumers/gamers) are a dumb constituency after all! Had Sony clearly made this statment at launch we would have not wasted cash on MS's and Nintendo's console.

    Phew - that's settled then!

  • Rash' #99 3 years ago

    Xerx3s, napkins are unhygienic. i'll stick with tissues if it's all the same with you. ;o)

    re sony and dreamcast. oh put a sock in it. you guys who can't let go of the "lies" that destroyed the dreamcast are an incredibly boring bunch. you'd think that if sega can move on with it then so can the rest of us, but no it's always with the lies that sony told. well you know what? dreamcast was a quality gaming console hampered by the lack of third party support and an indulgence in online few were ready for. and ultimately ps2 was soo much more capable than dreamcast. god of war pissed over anything thing dreamcast could muster. i love the dreamcast, i have two bloody versions and an extensive collection of games for it for gods sake but get over it. honestly you ex sega fans masquerading as 360 loyalists are like a broken record (and we all know there's more of you than you'll admit). learn to let it go.
    Edited by 2 at 08/01/09 @ 21:30

  • SilentScream #100 3 years ago

    Yeah, I know what you mean entirely, and probably a lot of people made that choice also, because of the Games Catalogue available.

    All the prices were taken from Amazon before the price cuts, so it will vary.

  • LowEnergyCycle #101 3 years ago

    I wonder why you never hear this kind of shit-talking from Sony's other hardware devisions. I mean, they never go on about how "Panasonic's HDTVs are a burden on your wallet." Or how "the Aiwa Stereo's lack of enhanced features comes at the expense of a comprehensive entertainment solution"

  • trousers #102 3 years ago

    "I would argue that this enables the consumer to choose the quality of their cable, perhaps based on the quality of their TV."

    More than likely based on how stupid they are. Monster cable with gold plated connectors and oxidised snake oil should suffice.

  • Hypercube #103 3 years ago

    Great. Now I really can't decide which console to get!

    *hugs PS2 tighter*

  • Katsumoto #104 3 years ago

    I really don't understand comments like "this sort of marketing talk makes me love my 360 even more" etc. Microsoft say the same sort of thing with even more regularity, surely. They're at least as bad as each other.

  • Proffitt8 #105 3 years ago

    Some ones desprate

  • Slipstream #106 3 years ago

    I don't even own a PS3 but Sony make valid points. I am even sold. This'll be joining me 360 and Wii soon enough.

  • bratmandu #107 3 years ago

    It's all true, but the ps3 is just balls.

  • Gradius #108 3 years ago

    @Rash'

    "re sony and dreamcast. oh put a sock in it. you guys who can't let go of the "lies" that destroyed the dreamcast are an incredibly boring bunch. you'd think that if sega can move on with it then so can the rest of us"

    So essentially what you're saying is that people should pretend that Sony didn't/don't lie and become Sony apologists like yourself? Sounds like a plan... If you like being a blinkered fanboy, that is.

  • zzyzx #109 3 years ago

    I don't mind some having some fun at Sony's expense. Most public relations releases deserve nothing less.

    Fact is, though, Sony is right. At least in the U.S.

    Comparing the lowest price points of the two consoles:

    Xbox 360 Arcade $199
    Wireless Network Adaptor $99
    Hard Drive $100-150
    Xbox Live subscription $50 (annual)
    Total cost: $438 (plus $50 each additional year)

    Sony PS3 60GB $399

    Of course, not all who buy the Xbox 360 want or need wireless networking or a hard drive. Sony is correct in that they are comparing 'apples to apples'. Problem is that some would rather have an orange.

    This also assumes that PS3's online has the same value as Xbox Live. I don't think it's too fanboy-ish to say that some might question this.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/09 @ 06:27

  • Daikon #110 3 years ago

    expect the competition to continue peddling add-ons in an effort to keep up with the Jones

    I'm not going to make a comment about lack of rumble in controllers. That's just kicking the dog when it's already down.

  • Rash' #111 3 years ago

    Gradius, no i think my post is quite clear. it's boring and deluded to suggest sony are to blame for dreamcast's demise. it's a romantic notion it was sony's fault. truth is it was mismanagement that cost sega. so please let it go. and that's coming from an ex sega fan.

    retibra, excellent post. it's the hypocrisy of "gamers". it never ceases to amaze me how many spout ms's propaganda without any thought of their own.
    Edited by 6 at 09/01/09 @ 09:17

  • mazzl #112 3 years ago

    wireless is to expensive, but for the rest i think it's good value for the money the xbox costs.
    would be funny if microsoft made gold free this Christmas and put a wireless adapter in the new revision.
    but Sony does have a point with the add ons.
    comparing the wii is just not fair... it's a totally different product.

  • Farzlepot #113 3 years ago

    While this level of jackassery is pretty irritating regardless of which of the companies it comes from, it's nothing compared to the days of the third/fourth generation consoles. At least they're not devoting multi-thousand-pound TV ads to slagging each other off yet. What is it that Nintendon't do again?

    Incidentally, to get wireless on a 360 you don't have to invest in Microsoft's adaptor - there are plenty of other, non-Microsoft devices fit-for-purpose that cost less. As my 360 is a mere two feet away from my router though it's not much of an issue for me.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/09 @ 09:04

  • sneetch #114 3 years ago

    @retibra
    "Look, let's be honest here. Regardless of whether you think the 360 is a better console than the PS3 or not, you absolutely cannot deny that MS are price-gouging bastards when it comes to the price of the add-ons! I mean come on, do you honestly think that the prices they charge for hard-drives and network adapters represent value for money?

    Call Sony cheap cunts for pointing out the ridiculous RRP's that MS set, but they aren't making this shit up.

    Same deal with the price of Live subscriptions. Noone's arguing that it offers a better service than PSN, but quite honestly what do you expect when its been running since 2002. PSN's only been around since November 2006 and unsuprisingly its nowhere near as mature a service. Point is, MS are asking £50 a year - that isn't cheap.

    And let's be honest, you don't pay for a Gold sub the actual value of Live as a service is severely reduced.

    The 360 does have a lot of additional costs - albeit optionally- on top of the basic hardware price. It's a fact.

    What never ceases to amaze me is that so many people are apparently so hyper aware of every shortcoming and fuckup Sony commits yet they seem unwilling to recognize MS many dubious decisions.

    If you hate Sony and the PS3, fine. But would someone please explain to me why you are letting MS off scot-free with what they are doing? Wouldn't it be more productive to give the people who's services you are (apparently) most likely to be using a bit of a kicking every now and then to stop them taking the piss?"

    Personally, I think all these "my dad is bigger than yours, so there" stories are a bit pathetic regardless of where they come from, but I am hugely amused at the eternal vigilance of the various faction fanboys, so swift to point shaking fingers at these articles and excitedly shout "A-HA!" whenever they think they're getting some piss-poor ammunition for their misguided causes. (Not talking about you there, BTW). Neither MS, Nintendo nor Sony have any real interest in anything but our money and people should remember that.

    There are a lot of costly optional add-ons as you rightly said however I think that they are very optional, the only add-on I've bought for my 360 (Elite, mind you so I got better peripherals/cables out-of-box) is a play and charge cable/battery for about €15. And Live Gold, which I've since cancelled: I can only assume some sort of oxygen deprivation in my brain caused me to even momentarily be willing to pay to play games online when I have a perfectly good PC for such things.

    But yes, things like MS expecting people to pay to play games online (which I imagine hurts their service and game sales more than they would be willing to admit) or not including a wireless internet adapter as standard are stupid and greedy: it would have cost a few extra quid to install one in each console and the price of their external adapters is ridiculous. But we all know that the 360 is cheaply manufactured and breaks if you use harsh language in the same room and I believe the vast majority of 360 owners more tolerate those faults because it has good games than they celebrate it as a great deal from a sturdy, complete hardware point of view.

    I'm still kicking myself for missing the start of the half-price sale in the nearest toy-store to me. A half price PS3 would be damn good value. The PS3 does offer good value in terms of "completeness" if you're looking for a "total entertainment solution" or whatever but is still seriously overpriced when all you want is a games console.

  • ThePissartist #115 3 years ago

    I like playing games, doesn't matter which machine they're on. I don't care if they're black or white, or if they're pink (actually that might bother me a bit).

    I bought an Xbox 360 for a couple of reasons; it came out when I wanted a new system, and it's as cheap as chips. I'd go as far to say that 80% of people buy an Arcade unit and DON'T go on to buy further peripherals. I buy a games machine to play games on, not watch movies, or listen to music (I only did it once to see the visualiser).

    I WILL also be buying a PS3, but NOT while it costs £300, because I'll only use it for games and I can’t justify spending that kind of money on a games machine.

    The question I have for Sony is: why makes consumers pay for technology that the consumers themselves don't want bundled with their system and costs everyone (including Sony) more money to manufacture and then buy??

  • nippy58 #116 3 years ago

    Why buy a bus when you only need a taxi?

  • monkeywithnoeyes #117 3 years ago

    "As PS3 continues to evolve without the need for additional parts or expenses, expect the competition to continue peddling add-ons in an effort to keep up with the Jones' This is so stupid, the kind of thing only the brainless insecure fanboys lap up. Anybody with an once of intelligence behind them knows that the 360 doesnt "need" any additional addons in order to play... its a CHOICE offered..if you want blueray, wifi, anyway then yes the ps3 is better value for money...but the majority of people want a games consoles for games..and you dont need anything extra in order to do that other than the TV you hook the thing up to. Which is why the 360 can be sold at a price lower than the wii and make a profit, and the ps3 is still over twice the cost and losing money with each console sale. its twice the cost because you ARE actually paying for these "additional addons" in the box .

    I also like the fact that in their report they were comparing the launch core systems..and stating a lack of HDMI port because of that.. yet they failed to make any mention of the ps3's £600 introductory price..remember that? or fail to mention the optional extra's you then "need" in order to play a ps3..such as lead to allow HD gaming, mic, rumble equiped control pad..all things inside a current £99 arcade system (£99 at sainsburys btw).

    But yes, i agree £299 for those "free" additional extra's is a better deal

  • ThePissartist #118 3 years ago

    "so being critical of MS pricing for these "optional" extras is I think completely fair."

    I think it’s wrong to suggest that the competitions’ methods of selling more consoles is flawed when it’s one of the very reasons the competition has managed to sell more machines.

    Sony is looking at the errors they have made - added blu-ray with every machine, adding the PS2 chip (which they have since changed), both which must add to a fairly substantial amount of $s to the manufacturing price – and are trying to say that it’s the competition that’s made the mistake by not adding them (even though MS and N are making more $s as a result). Frankly I find it a little absurd.

    Oh and I want a PS3, just when it comes down in price.

  • monkeywithnoeyes #119 3 years ago

    exactly.. you might as well say you've got to pay £90 extra for a ps2 to get backwards compatability on their "introduction" 40gig system.

    You can get the 60gig 360 for £160 with 2 new releases for the past 4months at Game. The 40gig ps3 is still atleast £100 up on that standalone. For that extra £100 you get a blueray player, and wifi.. which is little help if you dont want a blue ray player, or dont want to pay the then additional price of a router to make use of the wifi.

  • Crispo1981 #120 3 years ago

    Don't get me wrong I love my PS3 ...

    ... but ...

    ... he's blowing his own trumpet a bit there considering Sony removed the 2 USB ports, Cut the HDD to 40GB and ripped out the memory card reader, packed it without a HDMI cable oh and yeah thanks for making the Dualshock pad the standard, oh no you didn't did you I forgot I had to buy one (along with a HDMI cable, bigger hard drive, USB exstension, eye camera, extra fans, stand, another vibraty-shaky gamepad, beanbag with speaker in, headphones (live with bird), Full HD 40" TV so it looks better etc.)!

    Okay so I got a bit carried away but you see my point!

  • Sutekh #121 3 years ago

    It's hardly unfair to criticise the cost of the extras you'd need to get the best out of the 360 Arcade when Microsoft are telling consumers that you don't need them.

    Don't get why people are still going on about the lack of rumble in the Sixaxis pad and having to replace it with a Dualshock 3. So what? How can that possibly be as bad as Microsoft releasing the Xbox 360 to the public while it was riddled with flaws? The lack of rumble was a stupid decision on Sony's part, but releasing a machine as badly broken as the 360 was borders on contempt for your customers.

  • monkeywithnoeyes #122 3 years ago

    people are going on about the lack of rumble pad because its a ludicous as saying you NEED that optional extra, as it is saying you NEED wifi as an optional extra.

  • Bill Gates is Evil #123 3 years ago

    "However, when you take a look at the feature offerings side by side, there is only one true winner in delivering total value and price."

    This quote is awesome. PS3 does indeed win in delivering total "price".

  • Calgon #124 3 years ago

    @evilfoxhound hang on I see your point about the cost of buying a 120GB HDD(this is a laptop style HDD though and proprietary; its always more expensive that way unless you can give me examples from Sony or Nintendo to the contrary?) and an a official HDMI(the cheapest Ive seen it going for is about 30 quid, its about 40-50 in other places cant see how they justify that either)...

    But if you could be bothered finding decent prices on the extras you bought(really who else pays £45 for a gold membership on Eurogamer?) then you would have been better off getting an Elite which still looks good value next to the PS3.

    Thats just leaves the wireless arguement which is how much? Another £40-50?
    I dont need Wi-Fi for gaming but recently since Ive learned how to install XBMC on my classic Xbox; I bought a second one for downstairs... my router was already ready for wireless so I just got a refurbished wireless bridge for about £8+delivery(about £15 all together), which means now I can stream my media wirelessly(wired would have been even better but takes more effort and its not my house). As a bonus when I do get a 360 I can connect to live downstairs too.

  • Kryon #125 3 years ago

    SCHLAAAAGZ!

  • Mr.Gordons #126 3 years ago

    "buy toilet roll made from the silk of worms fed on liquid gold and unicorn meat. "

    Wow, what do you think sony is smoking?

  • doriangray #127 3 years ago

    But I don't wan't a blu ray player, sony. I dont' want an "entertainment centre". I want a games console. Don't try and make it sound like you're the better deal because you included crap that I didn't want.

  • TsunamiRR #128 3 years ago

    "And, presumably, expect the competition to continue making enough money from those add-ons to buy toilet roll made from the silk of worms fed on liquid gold and unicorn meat. " - lol! :D

  • Sunyavadin #129 3 years ago

    "Sony have admitted in the past they didnt include a HD cable because other companies can produce them far cheaper with the exact same quality."

    Kinda like Blu-ray players?