Xbox 360 Pro and Elite price cuts confirmed in Target ad for next week

Thomas Ricker: We just received a pair of pics from "next week's" Target Ad. As has been heavily rumored, the Xbox 360 60GB Pro system will be cut to $250 while the 120GB Elite will drop to $300.

[N4PS3G]

So it's the PRO with 2 controllers for 249?

Nice Price..this is definitely to clear out the stock

[AKNAA]

Too bad I'm already getting a PS3 slim for X-mas....Hmmm, I wonder if its gonna be bundled with GT5 by then:)?!?!

[jammy_70]

xbox'x are so 2008, yearrrr blah blah late......

[Sanzee]

Once again, cheaper than the PlayStation 3. Interesting to see how this turns out. Oh, p.s., that wasn't sarcism but realism. I'm not here to argue with whiney fanboys. I don't have the time. See, I do things in life. Take your RRoD bullsh*t somewhere else. Not you PS3N4G, anyone who follows up on my comment. You're probably the only respectable PS3 owner on this whole website. You're actually worthy of such a fantastic console. You're debate facts, and don't argue opinions. And you don't use the RRoD problem like a junkie uses heroin. Cause you've got more weapons than that.

[Guido]

We all know how that turned out. I hope they both sell well over the holidays but realistically speaking, Sony has the upper hand in terms of hardware. More to the PS3 package and right now people save money when looking for both a high def movie player and video game console when they buy the PS3. You get two machines in one.

[whoelse]

We all know that they are getting rid of the pro anyway so it priced at $249 won't do much since it won't be around for much longer.

[Dreamworker]

I think MS could afford to sell the elite for $249,Pro $199 and the Arcade for $149. In the following 2 years they get the money back from the buyer with the $59 online fee.

[Ju]

Feature wise I might agree, but its still MS. I doubt they can build it with a margin at that price. Anyhow, I don't understand why everybody is so obsessed with the Elite. I think the Pro for $249 is a great value. What's the big difference to the Elite ? (except HDD size and the head set ?). I'd think they should focus on that $249 market segment, and just can' the $300 (Elite or not).

[AAACE5]

This Holiday season will be a hell of a thing! Now that all of the consoles are around the price people are used to paying, I can see some serious sales for each company.

[Gamertags]

MS is very good at stealing Thunder and they will do so again with a price cut.

[sonarus]

250 pro is to clear out stock. Xmas battle would be interesting but microsoft QUICK response tells you they are very concerned about how PS3 sales boost affects them. They already promised to outsell PS3 this gen...they wouldn't wanna disappoint.

Games are all that matter to me and don't give a fvk about sales. But i bet thats all that matter to some of you 360 owners already begging for an additional price cut.

[ABizzel1]

There's no point in getting the Pro the Elite also comes with 2 controllers and it's only $50 more, but you get an extra 60GB and HDMI. This is a really good deal (especially if you still get Halo 3 and Fable 2 with the Elite), but again this will have not effect on the PS3 Slim and MS is taking away extra profit that they could be making.

[Sarcasm]

Someone mentioned a $149 arcade? Wow, that's cheaper than a PSP and a DSi.

I think MS should just ditch the arcade and stick with the Elite sittin pretty at $299 and Pro at $199. That'll move some 360s for sure.

[Christopher]

I bought my PS3s and 360 when they were at their prior price points, costing me more. Knowing what I do know about both systems after having used them both, I'd still go with the PS3 even if the 360 got down to a $199 price for the Elite. Software on both is equal for me, online services for what I use are both more than acceptable, but the PS3 provides me more overall for my use and is very solid hardware.

[iChaos Amongus]

My situation is I've been a PS3 owner since 2007 and just got my Xbox 360 last December for Christmas. I've got to admit, I now prefer Xbox 360 as my "main console". I feel it has better online games(multiplats are better on XBL too IMO), better features to connect with people and make friends, better and many more RPG's, and there is a difference in game quality in multiplats.

I've gone and picked up games because I wanted to play them online on XBL after having owned them on PS3 and sold them in the past(GTA4) and seriously there is a difference in performance, not too mention it being more fun with everyone having mics and parties and such. It's just different for everybody.

[poet215]

I've owned a launch 60gb PS3 from day 1, back in 2006. Had PS2 at it's launch back in 2000. However, I didn't leave Nintendo for PS1 until it was almost 5 years old. Except for buying an N64, I was sticking with Super Nintendo/Genesis till the end of that era. I still own an original Xbox and enjoy it's games that I missed out on while I was in love with my PS2. I have nothing against Xbox, I just prefer Playstation 1st. I had a launch 360, but sold it off to a friend later that same day. Figured I'd holdout & wait for Sony's new toy. I will buy another 360, one day soon. As a gamer, you can't deny either console, if your budget allows you to have them all. But I say this seriously, I'd rather see Sony in control of the game industry again as it was the last two gaming generations. Not because I prefer them, but because it's almost like politics. With Sony in office, the gaming industry saw many profits. Gaming as a whole was made better. Microsoft, on the other hand seems to be stagnating the growth process for the entire industry, in my opinion. I like their machine & a lot of what they bring to the table, but I don't think they do what they do for the good of gaming. I think they hold things back, primarily because they got into gaming just to be the top dog. Not because delivering games was their passion, but because they wanted to rule & monopolize another territory. I do know it's a business for all game companies. But, when I look at Sony & Nintendo, the vibe I get is completely different from that of MS. Unlike the many Sony haters, that were just upset at Sony for being #1, I'm not mad at MicroSoft, I just think that while they've had their time as the more popular choice amongst real gamers, they haven't spent their time wisely. They've done some good as far as pushing online play on a console basis. Being very competitive for exclusive games & dlc. Only a fool would speak as if MS has done nothing good at all, but most of the good they've done seems to benefit them only and I just feel that they haven't made the entire industry better as a whole. Whereas when Nintendo & Sega fought it out, and during Sony's reign......those companies broke ground in pushing gaming forward with the innovating ideas. For some strange reason, I think MS is more than ok with holding back progress just as long as they reap the benefits......sorry to offend anyone if I did.

[Veneno]

Then the PS3 slim has to be somewhere in there too. I wonder what that one looks like.

[Raptors]

I still don't understand the logic of how the elite and ps3 can be the same price????

[Christopher]

All those things you listed, I have no need for in the capacity that Xbox 360 has. I don't talk online, and if I game with friends online it's okay but not necessary. The PS3 allows me to stay connected to my friends and to play games solo and online.

As far as game quality, it's the rare game that doesn't play as well on the PS3 and 360 today. Sure, the pixels may be off by a few and whatnot, but honestly people should be honest in that they rarely see the difference when playing most games today unless it's a blatant issue.

[masterg]

So when the Xbox Pro goes out of stock, potential xbox buyers will actually feel the price has gone up.

[f789790]

But I think I'll get a Zune HD instead. YES I SAID A ZUNE! Same as the itouch (screw the appstore).

[Socrates]

How in the world would they feel like the price has increased? The Elite goes for $399.99 right now and the Pro goes for $299.99. No matter how you look at it people are going to know that they are getting a better deal. Even if the speculation is correct and the $250 Pro goes away, people aren't going to be oblivious to the fact that they will then be able to get an Elite for the same price as the Pro was going for.

[Jaces]

I really can't complain.

All this competition and price cuts are turning out to give me the better end of the deal. 360 here I come.

[Hobadoon]

Gamers need to realize - THIS is thee best time to own both consoles. With this war goin on between the two big wigs, all it creates for us is cheaper priced consoles!

The only reason keeping those from owning a PS3 and 360 at this point is blind loyalty to one side... That or not being employed (Which is understandable given this craptastic economy).

For instance, Sunday was a great day. Why you ask? Woke up and played Shadow Complex for about 5 hours and then switched over to WipeOut HD for about another 6 hours. Both consoles are too much of a win. (Btw I just got Fury over the weekend. That Add-On is nasty).

[majorsuave]

Be a fanboy of one console or the other, you will have to admit that it's a great week for gaming :)

No console ships above 299$ ... well not including... shipping price :)

This truly is a great moment in gaming.
The Wii seems ridiculously overpriced with both HD competitors having a 120G Hard Drive, working online networks and games that are actually fun to play for more than 42 minutes.

I can finally buy a PS3 to hold my 360's green hand :)
Maybe one day the Wii will drop to a friendly 129, 149$ then I might consider buying one.

[Pika-pie]

Hmmm MS seems worried about something?!?!

[Jdaco6]

Maybe they will drop the elite to $249 after they have cleared the pro's seems logical to me: Lower price immediately to fight off PS3 slim then do their planned price cut and get rid of the Pro model.

We shall have to wait and see!

[N4PS3G]

That seems logical..clear the pro and before christmas cut the elite to $249 and the arcade to $179

[-MD-]

The Elite is going to be 299.99 even after the sale this sale is insane though considering it's $50 bucks off and you get a free $50 controller.

I'm so buying this.

[N4G king]

"I'm so buying this"

"Nobody had to buy a second console because we all had a warranty"

http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News...

[Greywulf]

why are you buying another console?

[N4PS3G]

people buy more than 1 console? or they can only own 1?

I have 2 xbox 360 and 1 ps3

[-MD-]

To get my younger brother out of my room.

We only have 1 360 in the house at the moment and he likes to play Modern Warfare on it. It gets quite annoying having him talk into his mic when I'm playing Team Fortress 2 so I'm getting him his own 360 for his bedroom.

Lol look at N4G King trying his hardest to make me look foolish when all he did was make himself look like a tool. Try harder bro, you'll get on my level one day.

Man you made my night.

[N4G king]

"people buy more than 1 console? or they can only own 1?"

"Nobody had to buy a second console because we all had a warranty"

bots are not on the same side
lol

nice spin man

[-MD-]

Why did you just quote the same quote twice? I stand by what I said in that nobody had to buy a second 360 because we had warranties.

Incase you missed it the first time I'm buying my younger brother a 360 not myself a second one. Talk about being man handled on an internet forum =D

Edit: And he thinks I'm spinning it how awesome is this? This truly is amazing.

I'll be taking that extra controller though I need a third one for my console. And here come the disagrees :) denial is very powerful on this site.

[droid and bot]

damage control
again

[-MD-]

N4G King is always on damage control can you blame him?

@Below --- I know what you mean man, hes so desperate it's pathetic. I'm glad you can see right through him though, bubbles for you Droid and Bot.

[droid and bot]

lol
its you
its like he only post like 1 or 2 sentences and you reply with a wall of text and thousands of edits

ontopic
good some Competition
Competition is always good

[mynd]

N4GKing, while you at it could you run thourgh all the posts and find out if AKNAA already owns a PS3 for us would ya be so kind, as you some sort of police on the matter.

What no? Why? Because you only put all your efforts into 360 fans posts?
Oh, fair enough.

[caladbolg777]

Agreed. He'll be at your level soon enough. He's only gotta lose one more bubble, then you'll be even.

[Mo0eY]

They reek of desperation.

[-MD-]

LOL scared?

I would like to thank Sony for making this price drop possible.

[N4PS3G]

are you sure is not you the desperate one?

[DelbertGrady]

Killzone 2 being developed for 5 years and then becoming a platinum title 6 months after it's release. Now that's desperate, and synonymous with the failure that is the Playstation 3.

Pm me when it's not 8 million behind the 360.

[Lawliet]

For the last time does anybody even know what games go Platinum means!? Seriously, I don't get how it became a trolling material. LOL! Troll out of ideas or something?

Anyway, I don't see how this will effect Sony marketing the Slim. C'mon $250? Just $49.99 more I could get myself a PlayStation 3 and that's a steal!

[36T]

"I would like to thank Sony for making this price drop possible."

Yep! Sonys brain dead stupid just like their followers. The 360 cost less to make so whatever price the PS3rd drops too, Microsoft can follow easily. I`m sure the Elite could be sold at $200 and they still make a small profit. Sony on the other hand is taking a BIG risk. If the PS3 slim doesn't sell well, Sony will be in the hole for quite some time. Either way you look at it, Sony's PS3 failed hard so far this gen.

For all the losers saying Microsoft is desperate. Are you all idiots or what? Sony's the one that's desperate for lowering the price to $300 when they can't even afford it. Microsoft could've lowered the cost of the 360 a looong time ago. No blu ray, no wifi, no HDMI cable = CHEEPER TO MAKE! Fvckin people are dumb on this site.

I am REALLY starting to feel sorry for the PS3rd fanboys on this site. Like how sad can somebody get? I know it sucks that the PS3 is in third place to stay but damn, live with it or sell that piece of garbage. Hell, by next year the PS3 should be thrown in the bargain bin so all you loser fanboys could buy 3 or 4 PS3's to support Sony's failed system.

Next year the gap between the two consoles will just get larger and larger. When Natal drops.... oh boy, you should start seeing $50 PS3rd's at garage sales. I'll try to bargain it down to $25 or NO DEAL!

@ Lawliet

"C'mon $250? Just $49.99 more I could get myself a PlayStation 3 and that's a steal!"

The PS3rd at $300 is considered a steal to you and plain robbery to me, so what does Sony do now? Bluray player? You could get one at $100 or cheeper on Ebay.

[Lawliet]

@36T

I used my PlayStation3 to surf the internet such as accessing to facebook, twitter and watch streaming videos with the build-in web browser. I listen to the load of musics and watch countless of downloadable videos, with my 500GB hard disk I never have to worry about lack of space. When there are new contents, I get free access to the PSN and check what new is there. Further more I get to watch True HD with the built-in Blu-Ray Player and with 8.1 surround sound system is simply the best entertainment experience! Last but not least, I get to play all exclusive masterpiece!

"Bluray player?" I don't think I get what your trying to tell us here.. But,
$399.90 just to experience something the same as me is no doubt a steal!

[Mo0eY]

Poor bots. So quick to jump to the defensive. They think M$ had this planned the entire time.

Sure, Murderdolls, you can thank Sony, but why do you care? You have a 360... or did it already RRoD, and you've been looking to buy another one?

@N4PS3G
Nice try. Sony had this planned from the start. There was an article on N4G that states this. Microsoft was so quick to jump the gun, they had rumors one week before it was announced. Sony? 3-5 months.

@Soda
Why are you still talking?
http://www.n4g.com/Redirect...
http://n4g.com/NewsCom-3830...

Nuff said.

@36T
"Yep! Sonys brain dead stupid just like their followers."
Yet you and several millions continue to buy a console that dies 54.2% of the time.

And the rest of your paragraphs was so full of stupidity that I'm not even going to bother trying to reply to it.

@All bots:
DESPERATE IS MICROSOFT IN THE CONSOLE WAR.

[iChaos Amongus]

I don't think anyone thinks that man. It's strategy, MS could have dropped the price long ago but they didn't need to. Sony has to though, and MS just reacts, this making it virtually impossible for PS3 to catch up.

This price move by MS is "defensive". The Xbox 360 Slim, Natal, Halo: Reach and big advertising campaign will be their "offensive" moves in 2010.

[cyborg6971]

Your avatar looks like it's sucking a big green d!ck. Much like you do in real life. Ms's green d!ck.

[Consoldtobots]

thats assuming that MS and the 360 have ANY control over how the Ps3 sells. Xbots like to think so while Sony fans say it was the price.

Who will be proven right? Judging by the sales on Amazon I tend to think it is the latter.

what do you think?

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

desperation applys to those who are lagging behind, falling behind, in the back of the line, 3rd or last. 360 isn't last, the PS3 is. Any price cut from the PS3 is desperation because it's... last... uh... 3rd... and uh... wants to... uh ... get out of last place. This 360 price cut is to make sure the PS3 stays there in that comfy last place spot :D

[cyborg6971]

This has nothing to do with desperation and everything to do with the natural cycle of the ps3. MS is in for a rude awakening when the peeps who have been waiting for the $ drop pick up a ps3 and not the self destructing hal 9000.

[Socrates]

Anybody that claims that Microsoft is desperate and that Sony isn't is living in a fantasy world. If anyone's desperate, it's Sony. Let's look at the facts:

1. Sony has dropped the price of the PS3 $300 from the price it launched at. The Xbox 360 Pro SKU went for $399.99 at launch and will soon be lowered to $250, which is only a $150 difference.

2. The PS3 is in last place and was recently falling even further behind. The price cut was a smart move by Sony in order to try to move more units.

3. By some estimates Sony is still losing money on each PS3 sold, yet they are still going forward with a price cut.

Both companies are making the best strategic moves they can, but out of the two, Sony is clearly in a more desperate situation.

[dale1]

ms said no price drops for a long time yet,greenburg stated that it could be years,the man has a short memory,or his years are shorter than mine.

[Cyrax_87]

.

[morganfell]

Microsoft is hitting the panic button like they are playing an arcade game. It doesn't matter if the Elite is $299. It isn't the Elite on which the public has been awaiting a price drop. It's the PS3. It's what the public always wanted. 360s have been cheaper since launch and even then they either barely outsold the PS3 or outright lost to Sony.

This is futility at it's most blatant and will do no good. When the next NPD hits it will be a laugh. It's over for MS and this flailing around won't help while they are gutted.

[JackBNimble]

M$ couldn't out sell the PS3 even when it was the EXPENSIVE console!Now that we're on even ground does anyone really think that the 360 will START to out sell the PS3?

[-MD-]

"M$ couldn't out sell the PS3"

They were 100,000 units ahead of PS3 this last quarter I believe. Know what you're talking about.

[morganfell]

Ha ha Jack, so true. These bots will scream NPD that only covers the US and pretend that the rest of the world - including the largest gaming territory which is Europe - doesn't matter.

[DelbertGrady]

http://www.n4g.com/News-383...

http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News...

Please don't leave us!!! Please buy our games!!!

[Once Upon a Fable]

lol! Killzone 2 is already Platinum?? Didn't it just release?

FLOP!

PS3 Slim = owned before release

[morganfell]

Ha ha Fable, thanks for complimenting Killzone 2. It did release less than a year ago and it's already platinum due to high sales. You know (or apparently do not) that with Sony a game goes platinum in the same manner as music. High sales.

Care to insert your other foot?

[The Xbox Empire]

"thanks for complimenting Killzone 2. It did release less than a year ago and it's already platinum due to high sales. You know (or apparently do not) that with Sony a game goes platinum in the same manner as music. High sales."

lulz...has Killzone 2 even sold 2 million?(no).... and wasn't it released in February? And there's already a Platinum edition? lol I smell underperformance. Sony is trying tp push the Platinum out there this fast because sales have already died.

[Socrates]

morganfell, Europe isn't the biggest gaming territory, North America is. Look it up.

[n to the b]

I know I read a little while back that Europe was the largest GROWTH region (out of North America, Europe & Japan), not the LARGEST region. maybe that's what Morganfell was thinking of.

[Panthers]

I dont have a 360 yet so this is nice, but I will have to wait and see. Only games I want are the Mass Effect games.

[AngelorD]

you can get them on PC u know

[mynd]

@3.1 Yeah because buying a PC is so much cheaper?

[LittleBigSackBoy]

making a pc that can run mass effect is cheaper actually

[mynd]

Really, a medium build rig that will run Mass Effect 2 as good as a 360? + Monitor?

[Double Toasted]

said you could build a computer to run Mass Effect cheaper than buying a 360? People say anything nowadays, they must be trying to get that market share for their favorite company, ha. I had this same argument with someone who said they could build or buy a computer that could run games with the same fidelity as Gears 2...I'm like, there is no way in hell you can find or build a computer cheaper than $199, the idiot must've thought you needed the hard drive to play Gears or something...pfft.

[blackmagic]

I price compared each component at 4 different computer stores web sites to build the cheapest computer possible. Even if you steal a copy of XP it was still $271. This pc would be LUCKY to get 5 frames per second running Mass Effect with all the video options set at their lowest. This is literally a dead end computer since the 310W power supply is not big enough to run even a midrange video card (ATI 4850 requires 450W power supply) The Arcade and Pro are presently priced at $200cdn and $300cdn with a price cut coming next week.

Pirated Windows XP - $0cdn
ASUS M2n68 Motherboard with integrated video, audio and lan - $58cdn
AMD Athlon 1640 CPU - $45cdn
1 GB Crucial RAM - $19cdn
80 GB Seagate Hard Drive - $48cdn
LG DVD Drive - $19cdn
Coolermaster Case - $44cdn
High Power 310W power supply - $38cdn
Total - $271cdn

[Ju]

Duct-tape to hold everything together: 50cents.

[LittleBigSackBoy]

my pc could run mass effect on high at 1680 x 1050, and it cost me 120£ to build, and you can just use any old monitor, i mean c'mon, who doesn't have at least 1 monitor in their house.

[bednet]

It's true that you can't build a decent gaming rig (that'll last a few years) for 199$, but that being said, who dosen't already have a PC at home...nobody. just add a freakin 9800GTX in there for 120$ and 4GB of Corsair RAM for 70$, that'll put your 360 and PS3 to shame.

You're screwed if you own a laptop.

[SaberEdge]

You can't just add a graphics card to any old CPU and expect to get any decent results. Any PC gamer can tell you that. I'd say to build a halfway decent gaming PC that will play most of todays games at a pretty good quality you are going to need to spend at least $500. Most PC gamers spend far more than that though.

In any case, there are a whole lot of games that the 360 gets that you can't get on the PC. Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Halo 3 and Alan Wake to name a few.

[bednet]

Wow, just wow...I guess I didn't do this on many PCs after all, this guy says it's not possible.

[N4G king]

well
they said that the 360 well have a 10 year life cycle

at this rate
it'll cost like 50$ in its 5th year

[Pizzagaki]

360 could indeed become a very cheap console, for the late adaptors, by the time the next xbox is out.

[-MD-]

It'll never drop under 100 bucks.

[mynd]

Unfortunatly the PS3 will beat it there "at this rate"

[-MD-]

Very true, the PS3 dropped what? $300 so far in 3 years while the 360 dropped $100 in 4 years.

[ReBurn]

Isn't it funny how when Sony cuts price it's a strategic move, but when Microsoft does it people call it desperation? The spin makes me so dizzy!

[Once Upon a Fable]

lol It may well become more and more affordable. One thing is for certain: PS3 lost.

[WhittO]

People say it's a desperate move because MS alway seems to have a 'need' to be cheaper than the ps3, as soon as the ps3 slim was rumoured with price cuts etc - which would make the consoles equal prices, there they go cutting in again to make sure they are cheaper.

The 360 doesn't outsell the ps3 at the old prices by that much worldwide, so I'm guessing MS doesn't want them
at equal pricing!

It seems 'desperate' because MS seem to only react to what Sony do, Sony cuts the price, MS instantly
go cheaper.

[creeping judas]

I have so been saying the same thing every time this gets brought up!! Glad I'm not the only one noticing the hypocrisy!!

[Captain Tuttle]

While I agree with you you're just pissing in the wind.

[evrfighter]

"People say it's a desperate move because MS alway seems to have a 'need' to be cheaper than the ps3"

That's because the 360 SHOULD be cheaper than the ps3. The hardware components used in it are readily available, cheap to build, and low quality. The parts get cheaper and cheaper every month.

as for the ps3 blu-ray, cell, xdr ram. Sony really shot themselves in the foot. It's taken years for the price on ps3 parts to go down. While the 360 in the same fashion as the pc has hardware in it thats stupidly dirt cheap to make.

[Ri0tSquad]

But I don't think they would do it considering how much money they would lose on each sold.

@ Reburn

People were calling Sony's move desperate as well since they are losing money on each sold.

[N4G king]

lol @ desperate M$

[Once Upon a Fable]

lol PS3 is getting a Slim in its SECOND YEAR. Its INCREDIBLY desperate and MS is just going to do what it takes to win.

Sucks for you. PS3 lost.

[N4G king]

first of all its the 3rd year
and every playstation gets a slim
second the wii won
even the xbox lost
what are you 10 years old ??

[36T]

Explain to me how MS is desperate and then i'll respond.

"first of all its the 3rd year" and still failing
"and every playstation gets a slim" Sony cut costs to break even
"second the wii won" Won what? best women's platform?
"even the xbox lost" sales figures prove otherwise hardware & software
"what are you 10 years old??" Why you looking for a friend?

[Nelson M]

Mr 36T who's got the R to the R to the o and a D
The 3Shitsty Sucks
And you Bought one
Just Deal with it

Now Pull up yer Pants
Wipe the Snot away from your Nose
And wait for your Xbox to come back from repairs

That's all you gotta do
Thy Silly Little BoT

[Gue1]

Desperate it's Micro$oft'$ second name!

[Hyrius]

Wow, they're so scared of the Slim.

[Once Upon a Fable]

Scared? More like they are winning, they have the price advantage...and will keep it, throughout this generation. So get used to it. PS3 lost.

[Ju]

Its a defensive action. And putting the emphasis on a $249 price point obviously tries to suggest the 360 is still the cheaper console. But cutting 50 and 100 off your margin is certainly not a business solution, but a counter reaction (otherwise, this would have come with a cost reduced version).

[Argento-Nox]

@Once Upon a Fable

Uh huh....sure. You do realize the Wii is the actual market leader, right? The 360 was paced by the PS3 for 3 years at a much higher price point and you call that a win for the 360?

If I were you, I'd check back "after" Sony releases GT5. That game alone has a huge following worldwide, each GT game has sold an average of 10 million units. Plus, the 360 no longer has a price advantage for the Elite model anymore.

[Consoldtobots]

I agree

this is a reactive market strategy instead of a proactive one. They have no strategy for propelling further sales of the console while maintaining the same margins. This drop your pants to beat the other guy strategy is not sustainable for any real business.

Actions speak louder than words and Microsofts actions prove that Sony is the undisputed market leader. I know the fanboys will argue that point and call it silly and I ask you this. If Sony "effed up" "is stuck in last place" "made a blunder with bluray and the PS3" then why does MS always react to what they do? We know why don't we.

[evrfighter]

@ above

your only correct if the the cost to build the ps3 and 360 are the same. I guarantee you the parts to build a 360 is at least twice as cheap to build then a ps3.

I also guarantee you that M$ still makes a profit, even at $199

[Consoldtobots]

sorry everfighter

but Microsofts own quaterly reports bear out my analysis as accurate. Their profits from the gaming division were WAY down from 08 despite having moved more units. That = dropping your pants.

you might be right that they make profit on a barebones stripped down 360 but then again its not in demand.

[potenquatro]

I agree. That's basically what MS are doing. And they're actions do make it seem like they see Sony as the market leader. The thing is Sony WAS the market leader when 360 lauched. 360 business strategy revolves around COMPETING with Sony. It's purely a reaction, but MS HAS to compete. It HAS to compete or it DIES. Sony went on an ego trip, didn't compete and now it's last. Xbox should be cheaper then PS3 and it IS. The 360's story hasn't changed: great GAMING machine with the best online at a good price. MS has to figure out how to grow profit though(without eliminating HD cables).

[evrfighter]

"but Microsofts own quaterly reports bear out my analysis as accurate."

The thing about that statement is. You gave no analysis. You simply proclaimed Sony as the undisputed champ in non-fanboy fashion. Well in blantant fanboy fashion considering the nature of your post.

As far as their quarterly reports go. There is no mention of how much it costs to build a 360. One simply has to look at basic pc hardware components in general to figure out that pc parts (the basis on which the 360 was built on) are lower than dirt cheap compared to where they were then the 360 first launched at $199. While the XDR Ram, Cell, Blu-Ray components of a ps3 have taken years to drop only a really low percentage.

Every month it becomes even cheaper to build a 360. While for the ps3 it would be closer to every year. quarterly gaming division results do not matter to me when it comes to the bottom line. The bottom line is how much it cost to build a console.

I don't own a 360 or ps3. I'm a pc enthusiast. I build gaming pc's as a hobby and sell them and have been doing this for a few years now. Part of my daily routine involves scouring the web for pc components that will give me the best bang for my buck. My opinion is from a point of view untainted by console fanboyism.

[-MD-]

:)

[cjflora]

The head honchos for Microsoft and Sony are probably sitting in a room together right now, on chairs made of money, reading these posts and laughing at all of us.

[blizzard_cool]

A price cut almost at the same time as the PS3 slim... coincidence?
Sure, what ever makes you sleep better at night MS :)

EDIT: I would buy it if I was sure that there were no RRoD waiting for me... But then again I'm only interested in Gears of War. Nah, I wow u PS3 <3

EDIT2: I know I came over as a fanboy but I really just care for PS3... Sorry guys.

[Ju]

I am on the fence, too. I am eyeballing the $249. I think its an attractive price. Not sure if its enough for me to get one, though. I gotta go thru the game library again and find something I really must play. ...

[leeger]

With this price cut the 360 can still outsell the slim. But the 360 can outsell the PS3 10 to 1, imho the PS3 is still a better console because of exclusive games.

[Once Upon a Fable]

sorry but no

[YogiBear]

Sorry but yes.

[The Xbox Empire]

Reality says no.

[Sarcasm]

Logic says yes

[Socrates]

Logic? About something so subjective? The only objective metric we have says that the 360 has more games and more highly rated games. Your opinion that the PS3 has the best exclusives is just that, an opinion. I think the PS3 has some good exclusives, but for my tastes the 360 has more exclusives that I care about.

[Obama]

360 has exclusives? I can play most on pc..that's wierd :3

[SaberEdge]

I can play Halo 3, Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Halo Wars, Forza 3 and Alan Wake on the PC? Weird, I couldn't seem to find them on the shelves of my local game store (I know, Alan Wake and Forza 3 aren't out yet, but you get my point).

The fact is, I don't care if they were all on the PC. I am a console gamer and all I care about is if a game is on my 360 or on my PS3.

[N4G king]

some bots quots

"Nobody had to buy a second console because we all had a warranty"
Murderdolls @ 1.1 in this page(open zone)
http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News...

"I'm so buying this"
Murderdolls @ 2.2 in this page (gamer zone)
http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/...

And while all those bots talking about getting another xbox360

"Only a f#cking idiot would buy a second PS3. Why not buy a PS2 as well to get BC? Hell, buy 3 PS2's and a couple of PSP Go's while you're at it just to hug those Sony nuts even more! If possible get Sony's account number and transfer all your belongings to them..."
Soda Popinsky@ 8 in this page (open zone)
http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News...

talking about hypocrisy and spinning at its best

[-MD-]

You seem to assume the reason someone would buy a second console it to replace the first one when in reality it's just to put a second console in the house.

Once again because you're extremely ignorant and probably can't read very well. Nobody NEEDS to buy a second console due to hardware failures because everybody has a warranty.

Agreeing with yourself on your alt accounts must take some time.

[aldesko]

Let it go, man... you're trying way too hard.

And you should probably stay in the open zone.

[Mo0eY]

Murderdolls just got owned. *Snapshot*

[TheDeadMetalhead]

"Nobody NEEDS to buy a second console due to hardware failures because everybody has a warranty."

Anybody who has bought a 360 before August 2006 no longer has a warranty, since it only lasts 3 years (assuming they didn't get a warranty from the store they bought it from). Now what will happen when their 360 fails again?

They'll have to buy a second console.

[-MD-]

Pretty fail comment Mooey.

[Gue1]

@N4G king you just owned with that. You need more bubbles, seriously... You proved just how hypocrite are some of these so called xbots. =D

[forgot my password]

does anyone even care that the 360 is that cheap? if anyone here is going to buy anything for $249 it should be the wii.

sales wise, the 360 should be beating the wii and all i ever see is "OMG PS3 IS A LOSIN TO THE CHEAP 360 THAT COST LESS THAN A WII AND THE WII IS WINNIN BUT I DONT CARE ABOUT THE SALES OF THE WII CAUSE ITS A TOY AND I LIKE BUT PLUGZ"

[TheMART]

No it should not.

If you're dumb enough that you don't understand that the 360 and PS3 sell to the same target audience, but the Wii sells to its own. The group of nongamers and casuals.

They will buy a Wii @ 250 bucks, even if the PS3 Slim become 199 bucks.

Thats the group of people that don't want a controller, but have motion stuff. Now when Natal is released, is when it can become interesting competing the Wii.

Till that time its only between PS3 and 360.

It isn't so hard now to understand, is it? Your fat mum and lazy sis want to step on Wiifit, they don't want to play Gears of War, nor Uncharted.

[forgot my password]

"but the Wii sells to its own. The group of nongamers and casuals."
last i checked the wii was a "gaming console". so shut the fck up, eat a dck, and go play some queers of war opps i mean cliffy b's beefy man action 2

[TheMART]

Well I own a 360, PS3 and Wii.

And I can honestly tell you that the Wii I only use softmodded for emulating old consoles. And the most people you see buying a Wii don't buy it for games as we know them on the 360 and PS3, but for Wiifit as your fat mum and lazy sister also jump them.

People would still buy a Wii if both PS3 and 360 would cost 100 bucks and had no motion controls.

Thus no, its 360 and PS3 only competing each other now.

So is this your 152th account already? Soonish it'll be done with the multiple accounts with the site update thank God.

[36T]

"last i checked the wii was a "gaming console". so shut the fck up"

Sorry to inform you, but you're dumb as a post. The Wii is a completely different market hence the reason why MS and Sony are coming out with their own motion controls. Duh!

Have i mentioned that Sony fanboys are getting dumber by the day? It must be caused by panic. SPIN baby SPIN.. like a helicopter..a na na..

You know what to do with the Xbox 360 when you see it at the store.. "just thrown it in the bag. oh ohhhh oh ohh oh ohhhhhhh"

Sorry, got a few songs in my head this morning :P

[forgot my password]

when the npd data comes out, i hope to see 700k 360's sold or more if not... then youz a flop boi

[no_more_trolling]

words of a teenager

[wxer]

MS don't understand
no one needs a cheap xbox
its already the cheapest console out there

[rohail88]

they think Marketshare is everything!

[coolirisGB]

Yeah Sony should have left the PS2 at $200 because no one cares... Retard fuc.

[cjflora]

I'll buy one as soon as the price is low enough to justify the failure rate...

[Omega4]

Well it seems it will all come down to software now and with the 360 you got H:ODST, Forza and L4D2 while on the PS3 all you have is U2. And if those preorder charts are anything to go by the 360 could easily win this holiday again.

But for Sonys sake hopefully they do well cause lets be honest they need to

[Ju]

So, what about GT5 ? What about R&C (eye popper) ? Well, last time I check KZ2 is still on the shelf (for those who buy the console new, that doesn't matter). Halo is just Halo, again. L4D, yeah, kill some more zombies (that should be an XBL game, IMO). Forza, maybe...

[nycredude]

Wow omega4 you make me ashamed to be an xbox 360 owner. I've got both of the consoles and for you to think Ps3 only has Uncharted shows how much of a tool you are. What happened to Demon's Souls, Rachet and Clank, GT5 (you bet that is dropping this year)? So let see by the end of this year the consoles will have:

Ps3:
MLB the show 2009
Killzone 2
Demon's Souls
Uncharted 2
GT5
Rachet and Clank Future
Infamous

Xbox:
Halo Wars
Halo: ODST
Forza 3
L4D2

Both have good games but come on to say the Ps3 has only Uncharted 2 is retarded. BTW IMHO I would take Uncharted 2 over all four of those games put together!

[mrv321]

Eyepet is coming out to.

Sony have spread their hits out all year while Microsoft is going for one big thing this christmas and to be honest I'm not excited for L4D2 BUT odst loooks interesting and so does Forza 3.

[Socrates]

He was talking about mega hits, guys.

[rohail88]

D-D-Damage Control!

[Briefcase Joe]

Why the fvck do so many poeple on this site give a sh!t about sales? Do you work for Sony or Microsoft? I just want them to stay in business so the developers can make me some damn games on their systems.

[Once Upon a Fable]

Their obsessed with being the losers. AKA sore losers.

[tonsoffun]

Exactly, competition breeds innovation..

Do you honestly think that we would be seeing these type of games if there was only one platform on the market?

Look at what happened to the handheld market after ninty saw of the game gear and the lynx.... nothing happened. It took many years before ninty puled the finger out it's collective arse and released a color version. Even then it took some serious competition from the PSP (well, the threat of competition) before they truly made a great hand held.

The same applies here. We need all the platforms to stay in business in order to get great games. You are not going to get a share of the profits from these sales. WHO THE F**K CARES? This applies to both sides fo the fence - once upon a fable, this applies to you too. There is no need for the constant tit for tat flamebait articles that accomplish nothing but aggravate members here.

Christ, sometimes I'm embarrassed to call myself a gamer when I see the behavior of some of the fanboys here..

[ipe]

where is demons souls,ngs2,super car challenge,rachet and clank?(we already have kz2,yakuza 3 and infamous AAA games)

from dec/january till april u ll se gt5,mag,wkc,heavy rain,gow3...

[creeping judas]

Is Demon Souls confirmed?? If so awesome!!
But no PS3 owner is going to buy Super Car Challenge, the only racer they will buy is GT5, we'll at least according to the comments on N4G anyways.

[Ju]

Wouldn't say that. Ferrari challenge was quite a good game, the rain mode is pretty awesome. SuperCar Challenge is just a follow up on that one, a wet road is a wet road this time. Won't match GT5, but still. As a racing game its better then say Grid, IMO (which I think is still a good game, also).

[TheMART]

Wait a second... When Microsoft drops the price of the 360 its desperation, why didn't we hear you PS3 fantards when the PS3 price in Europe dropped to 400 Euro after just 6 months on the market?

Or the fact that the PS3 is just out here for 2.5 years and it got from 600 Euro to 300 Euro?

The 360 Pro went from 400 Euro to 239 Euro now.

So the PS3 got cut 50% in less then 3 years on the market, the 360 got cut less then 50% being almost 4 years on the market.

I smell desperation at Sony's side

[forgot my password]

I'm picturing you ripping your hairs out of your scalp chanting "why did they lower the price on the playstation,omg!! MOM do something about the playstation!!"

[All Time Greatness]

Forgot my password, I think maybe your making things up in your head.

He ACTUALLY MADE SENSE and used facts and didn't just say "lol RROD" over and over.

PS3 cut its price and its still going to be the loser.

I imagine you pulling your hair out and crying because MS reacted so quickly to counter Sonys price cut.

[forgot my password]

why would he say "lol rrod" he's a xbox fanboy.
and nice job on using my lines p.s don't worry about it. next time you want to use one of my jokes or lines, just hit me up with a pm. dane cook jr
and enjoy paying for new games aka dlc packs as new games

[Sez]

i picking up a Elite 360 next month. i can put the 360 pro down stairs in my living room and the Elite in my bedroom. thanks for the price drop MS.

[All Time Greatness]

Nice, I'm giving my brother my Pro and buying the Elite.

[Captain Tuttle]

I saw a $259 Pro in Blockbuster this weekend.

[free3sixty]

the only company which is afraid is SONY, dropping the PS3s price by 50% in only 2 years but thats ok isnt it sonyfukheads?

But when MS drops the price by 50 USD than thats desperation?

lol, midgets.

[All Time Greatness]

PS3 failed

[Sez]

the sonyfanboys on this site are hypocrites. they claim MS is desperate for droping their price. but it's sony thats desperate. having three price cuts in less than 3 years, remodeling the ps3 in less that 3 years, re-releasing KZ2 as a platium game in less than 6 months out( because it didn't sell), hiding ps3 loses in your financial report to fool investors,ect.

all this spinning the sonyfanboys are doing and crying that the MS is desperate. only show how worried the sonyfanboys are. sony has been getting their @ss kicked. and with the price cut to counter the ps3 slim. you are showing how real nervious you are about the ps3 falling ferther behind the 360.

@below.

the only one the xbox 360 has been losing to is the Wii. the ps3 has been getting that @ss whooped sinced it launched. it's you guys that switch up. first you guys say the wii doesn't count because it's for casuals. but it counts when people say the 360 is whipping the ps3 @ss.

just like you guys say sells don't matter. but when the ps3 slim is announced or a new exclusive. you turn around and say the ps3 will outsell the 360.

example 1) when GT5 release everyone and their mothers will run out a buy a ps3.

example 2) when ps3 drop the price. watch how it outsells the 360.

example 3) when GoW3 comes out ps3 will sell. because everyone is waiting for that game.

example 4) with exclusive like KZ2,LBP,R2( with it's 64 player online),infamious,ect. it will outsell the 360. because the 360 has no games for 09.

you say sales don't matter. because the ps3 isn't selling well. but sales matter when you compare games like GT5 to forza3. sales don't matter when the ps3 is getting out sold buy the 360. but sales matter when you think the ps3 slim will outsell the 360.

now your here talking about the MS being desperate for countering the 360. funny sony wasn't desperate to drop the price of the ps3 three time in less than 3 years. remodel the ps3 in less than 3 years.

[forgot my password]

what's also funny is that the 360 has been losing to the wii (also the ps3) but the xbabies just say "but the Wii sells to its own. The group of nongamers and casuals." by-the mart the super retard- talk about hypocrisy

[TheDeadMetalhead]

Cry moar, vega75/Jason 360

Also, The 360 has gone from $400 to $200 since launch. The price has been cut in half just like the PS3's, but you just choose to ignore that, don't you?

[Socrates]

It's not the same SKU though, and you know it. The Pro SKU launched at $399.99 and will soon go for $250, so that is only a drop of $150. The PS3 price has been cut in half, from $600 to $300. Tell me again who is desperate.

[vagisil]

and the retarded droids on n4g say "its teh xbots that are hypocrites" give me a fukin break. EVERYDAY i see droids lie, and being hypocritical. here i will list some of these RETARDED N4G DROIDS-

ultimolu/ladydeathstrike/juuk en- yes they are all the same person.
morganfail
piratethom
moey
obama- GTFO go back to your birth place kenya. oh BTW ya health care plan SUCKS donkey nuts.

anyways back to vega, good sh1t man. best post i have seen on n4g in AGES. keep it up. oops a few ore things i would like to say..

"i'll get it on pc"
"only teh bots play teh salezzzzzzzz"

hahahhahahhaha retarded sony fanbrat droids. go play some games mofo's it is always the same ones posting on here everyday, every hour!

[TheMART]

More fails for the PS3:

Killzone 2, Motorstorm 2 and Resistance 2 all got 29,95 sale now. So called 'Platinums' because they sell well right? Nope.

KZ2 was bundled, so that 1.5 mln. sales might have 50% bundle sales. FAIL!

Wasn't Motorstorm 2 also bundled? Just as Resistance 2? Also LBP that got a pricecut just after 4 months. MGS4, same story, pricecut after 4 months.

Fail fail fail.

PS3 from 600 to 300 bucks in less then 3 years. Major fail confirmed.

[Taarec10ToTheEnd]

Do you even know what qualifies a title to become a Platinum Hit? No, you obviously don't. A title has to sell 1 million copies in that region, which Killzone 2 has in EU. And the in America, to become a greatest hit, the game must have garnered a least a million sales also, And you'll be Killzone 2 will be a Greatest Hit around October and November, though it has sold around 2 million copies, because when consumers pick up a $299 PS3 during the holidays, they are going to want AAA game, and seeing Killzone 2 at 29.99 versus Modern Warfare at 59.99 or 69.99 Euros, you'll be more inclined to pick up Killzone 2. And the reason why they dropped the price of Killzone 2 early in EU, because it is more popular in that region, so Killzone 2 will sell a lot more at a discount.

[TheDeadMetalhead]

"Killzone 2, Motorstorm 2 and Resistance 2 all got 29,95 sale now."

What are you talking about? All of those games are still $60 where I live...

[Bluemaster77]

This Deal should def be jumped on Just own both consoles this winter and you'll be free from worry

[tonsoffun]

Totally agree and bubbles to you....

This is the BEST way to ensure that you will have the most complete and BEST gaming experience there is.

You don't have to worry about timed exclusives, platform exclusives, which one looks the best.... just buy the best version of the game.

PLAY THE GAMES PEOPLE!!!!

[Hudahudahuda]

EXACTLY RIGHT ON!

Instead of spending money on games to play on the system you already own you should totally drop $250 or $299 on another console with 85% of the same game library. That's a fantastic idea! Not a waste of money at all!

People that show off having multiple consoles are tool's. Nobody cares about your crappy money management and lack of life.

[tonsoffun]

so frequenting news aggregation sites blatantly spewing hate and fanboy nonsense about which platform is better is having a life then?!?!

yeah, you are totally right.

Just because I can afford (quite easily mind you) to have all the current gen platforms in my home, I have bad money management? Yeah, it's nothing to do with my hard work *rolleseyes*

Because I have all three platforms, I can have the best gaming experience out there, I get the best multiplats and the best exclusives.

Can you say that you can play all the AAA titles on ALL the systems?

Didn't think so kid....

what's really funny is that you have both a Wii and a PS3 tag in your profile.... so you are a multiplat gamer........

[Hudahudahuda]

I wouldn't say "frequent". I come on this site for 10 minutes tops daily to read some news. My life doesn't really revolve around this.

That's the kind of crap that I find annoying, that just because someone doesn't want a console mean's they can't afford it. Just because I don't want a piece of dog crap in my hand doesn't mean I can't go out and find it. You're probably the kind of moron that enjoys showing off his games system more than he does playing games for them.

"Can you say that you can play all the AAA titles on ALL the systems?"

You seem to think this is some kind of goal for me.For one I might not even desire playing the games on the said system I don't own so why would I even care about this? There's no way there is enough time in my daily life for me to fully enjoy more than 2 consoles so it really doesn't interest me at all. There's atleast 10 new games coming out for one system alone, how would I find the time to play and fully enjoy more for another system? Unless you spend 24/7 playing games, you won't..

Yeah, I have a Wii and a PS3 but I'm not telling anyone they aren't getting the best out of video games just because they didn't spend money on 3 different consoles.

[tonsoffun]

You say that your life does not revolve around this site, good for you, you're special. Yet you find the compulsion, the need to comment on other's opinions..... yep... that certainly sounds like you have no interest here *rollseyes*

I understand that you do not see the need to spend what little money you have on all the platforms, that's fine bud, each to their own, BUT there is only one way to play the best games this gen. That isn't to own a PS3, a 360 or a Wii, it's simply to own all of them. As it's stand you can't play what the 360 has to offer and let's be fair, it offers a load of great games, just as much, if not more so than the PS3. That's just how it is. It isn't taking anything away from the PS3 - it has some amazing exclusives too.

Now to be honest, all of my games are in one of those cd wallet things, so no I don't like to show off my games - all the cases are neatly packed away safely. Besides, what does that matter anyway? I am a gamer, playing games is part of my life, granted, once you grow up and have adult responsibilities, like myself, you won't spend as much time as you would like playing games, but that's what being an adult is all about, you'll get there a few years after you hit puberty bud.

anyhoo, I digress, there are loads of games for each system, that's for sure, but I can cherry pick the best from all platforms to play, you can't. That doesn't make you any less of a person (although your IQ may do) or the like.

My motto is play games, not the platforms and it's obvious that you can't do that, either due to choice, or being daft, whatever.

[Hudahudahuda]

Commenting here takes me 2 minutes tops. Again, just because I commented doesn't mean my life revolves around this website. Stop projecting.

Read again, you animal. Me not owning another system that has mostly the same library as the PS3 with a few games here and there that are exclusive has nothing to do with lack of money, it has to do with lack of desire. I definitly do not agree that the 360 is any better than the PS3 and that's why I was trying to warn anyone who might take your idiotic advice seriously to think clearly and not waste their money. If you have a PS3 you don't need a 360 and if you have a 360 you don't need a PS3. To me the 360 lacks games that I really need to play or couldn't get on my PS3 already. Why in the world would I buy it then? With the Wii there was enough of a difference in games and controls that I could justify owning it. Owning a 360 and a PS3 is simply redundant and is nothing worth showing off.

And even if you did own them all you still can't get past the fact that the average person will not have the time to play and fully enjoy all the games for each system (unless you spend 24/7 playing games, in which case, that's just freaking sad) and will just half-ass every game he buys. Again, not worth it.

[FlipMode]

M$ desperation is very apparent.

[LCF]

I think its more the MS/X360 loyalist that are. Everyday after the release of the slim/price cut they go on the defensive. It's becoming a religion to these MS/X360 loyalist.

Well school is starting for alot of these loyalist, so you should be seeing less Anti-Sony FUD/Blogs soon.

[No FanS Land]

well, yesterday in my local ebgames I've seen an elite for 349.99 (canada) when I bought Metroid prime trilogy. but nothing's official until next week I think?

[Sez]

ha ha ha. i can see sony will be droping the price of the ps3 again. when they see nothing has changed. the 360 will still be outselling the ps3 slim. watch the sonyfanboys say " sells don't matter" when the 360 keeps outselling the ps3. LMFAO ;)

[TheDeadMetalhead]

"outselling"?

2.5 years

PS3: 23 million
360: 19 million

Vega 360 has it backwards.

[air1]

why do sony fanatics hide behind the little wii so much?

bu bu but the 360 cant out sell the wii!

didnt sony say they ont consider the wii competition?! oh, they did..

http://gamer.blorge.com/200...

[FlipMode]

Exactly it cant sell out the wii at 50 bucks cheaper.

[air1]

flip, you just cant see the bigger picture can you.

fine you win the 360 cant out sell the wii just like the ps3 couldnt out sell the 360. so now they are all desperate with a new design,lol..

how many price cuts since launch has the ps3 had? under 3 years and already a new design, ppfff...

the funny part is that sony had to gimp the hell out of the ps3 in order to try and keep up with the 360.

[FlipMode]

but now the 360 is half the price it did when it launched like the ps3 and the xbox price cuts are always right after sony's

[air1]

everything is "but" with you.

so is it miros fault that the damn ps3 had a price cut every year since launch?

[FlipMode]

Sony does price cuts on their own time all Micro can do is cut the price right after, Sony is the leaders Micro is the followers.

Flip out.

[Socrates]

BS. This PS3 price cut is a direct counter to the price cut Microsoft gave the 360 last fall, since the PS3 was falling further behind. Sony has been following this whole generation. Hell, they basically copied everything Microsoft did with Xbox LIVE.

[bobdog626]

Going to play SF4 and MassEffect nothing to see here , just move along people.

[air1]

http://www.industrygamers.c...

i guess its always a good time for sony to constantly drop the price

bu but look at the wii! lmfao you clown..

wii is the leader is it not? i mean you love the thing so much

lmfao. "you have to look at sony as a whole" cause as you read the playstation is on crutches..

[ForROME]

@Once Upon a Fable

Seriously, i like the 360 but even having you defending it like a bias child out of blind loyalty is deplorable STFU already

[zok310]

This is a clearance deal and it is not that bad of a deal, but MS need to come down more because the PS3 still holds it's value when the 360 is priced this close.

[Wizziokid]

It's not that they need t come down more its the fact that they need to put more in the bundle, yes you do currently get a healthy selection but when the PS3 has built in WiFi and 360 users need to buy theirs separate its a big loss and would drive more people for the PS3 as you do get more for your money.

[gumgum99]

Not surprised by this move here. In any case, we'll see how it plays out during the holidays.

[i3eyond the Circle]

I know business. I work in its stress inducing heart with a fierce company.

Xbox360 has created a brand trend and with Xbox Live has created and World of Warcraft like suction.

A price cut is what will boost it.

Remember with the Ps2 slim how it sold megatons?

That was because before it the regular Ps2 was selling megatons and its new design and price made it EVEN more compelling.

Ps3 Slim is the dawning of a system with a darkened and less followed 3rd place past...I feel that is only standing due to its blu ray counterpart.

Working at Viacom and seeing trends and knowing the outlook of the world can give you understanding that MSFT just have to play strategically to never be toppled from 2nd place.

The Wii is unstoppable because of the youth.

Kids people...they'll grow out of that wii and upgrade to Xbox360. It's a bold thing to say but it WILL happen I can assure.

[iChaos Amongus]

I think PS3 my still win by a little this Holiday season, and ofcourse it might not, but it will have more of a buzz because its actual new hardware.

But I think next year when MS announces the 360 Slim with Natal, Halo: Reach and their advertising that will be as big as when 360 launched...360 will have the full momentum next year, and Sony can't drop anymore for awhile after this one.

[tonsoffun]

why do you assume they will automatically go to the 360?

I mean from a price standpoint, I could have agreed with you prior to a price cut, but not now.

besides, when these kids do grow out of the wii, strike that, if they grow out of the wii, it will still be a few years down the line.... I'm sorry, but only the PS3 will still be around, Ms will be on the next gen.

BUT to be honest, I am ready for another console right now. I don't mind if MS releases the 720 or whatever it's called in a year or two....

[Consoldtobots]

if you work at viacom I need to talk to the hiring manager and find out when they started employing the mentally challenged. Most people like you have NO IDEA how this industry works or what makes it tick. YOU ALWAYS THINK you have something figured out because you play the numbers game. This business isn't about numbers, its about creativity driving another kind of numbers...1s and 0s. Thats something MS is not that good at. Their lack of first party studios is a testament to their lack of committment and understanding of this industry.

[Mindsucker]

Of course you are going to side with MS. Viacom and MS have an advertising partnership and I am certain you realise how shady they both are. hell your the type of person I would not let recommend a product to my worst enemy.

[Grandreaper9999]

In all honesty they HAD to. I would go so far as to say it was a forced move by them. Not so much "desperation", but an absolutely critical move for them to make. Anybody who's anybody can see that despite the previous price differences of the 360 and ps3, the ps3 only lagged a bit (although consistently due to pricing). The 360 should have stomped PS3 out of the race by now. With lots of support from the (now dominant) western Developers, many (arguably) biased and major media outlets on their side, and monster ad campaigns, I still don't understand why they're only like 7 million ahead of the ps3 with a whole year head start, not to mention millions of re-purchases from broken consoles. I'm sure by the end of September that 7 million lead will be shorter as well.

I don't think MS wants to start losing to the PS3 in its third year of the planned 10. Not dropping their prices would have been suicide.

I'll give this holiday season to MS I think. they usually go out with a bang every year. They always have something for the year end. I do think 3 halo games in less than two years is a bit much though (assuming reach comes out spring/mid next year).

Come November, the great battle for our living rooms will be much more interesting. Can't wait.

[Veneno]

is that they got two kindergarteners with 360 controllers in hand, which is basically 85% of the userbase. LOL.

[Omega Zues]

"Scared? More like they are winning, they have the price advantage...and will keep it, throughout this generation. So get used to it. PS3 lost"

LOL

Sony annouces the Slim and some how randomly MS goes and drops prices on their already cheap console?

Right, that sounds like Winning to me.

>.>

[Alcon Caper]

Pretty good strategy. MS had been moving Arcade units more than the higher end models, but by tacking on a 60 GB HDD for only $50.00 more than the Arcade, they're bound to sell more of the Elites. Especially when the guy at Best Buy or wherever says, but for just $50.00 more you can get a 60 GB HDD, which normally sells for much more separately.

I believe this strategy is used to push the upper models and give consumers more of an option.

[keysy420]

you'll get bu ray wi fi rechargable controllers andother 60 gb of hard drive a internet browser and the games

[Alcon Caper]

that's for $100.00. I'm talking about the difference between a $200.00 Arcade and the $250.00 Pro.

[keysy420]

the problem is that m$ can drop their price but it starts to look bad the system i 200 dollars and th eps3 is 300 any more of a pirce drop from sony and the xbox might as well come out with a new xbox

[dragonelite]

We need fierce competition between both companies for prices to drop and quality to rise. We as gamers need to support our console. Fanboys are stupid to wish a other console death because that would mean sony/ms has to compete with Nintendo for quality and lets just say we wont see graphical/gameplay innovations then.

[FF7numbaone]

MS: Sony just just released the slim, Press the Panic the button!!!!

[tonywood24]

Halo is a great game, but if anyone buys a X360 at $250 over a Playstation 3 at $300.....you should be shot!

I have a X360, Wii, and Ps3, however...my 1st bought system was a PS3 because it was the best option for me. (Kill Bill in Blu Ray!!!!) MS had no intention on delivering to its fanbase, but to their credit...they made a ton of bucks! (Mostly of Halo 3, and the 2 Gears games.) Anyway...no superfan can argue about PS3 vs 360...In terms of quality, best exclusives, and price anymore.AND THE WINNER..ONCE AGAIN,

SONY.

[DJ Pillz 317]

I think MS is going to clear out the Pro stock at $249, then afterwards drop the Elite to $249, with the arcade sitting at $179.

[R4mpage]

I see the Elite price dropping again in November if PS3 sales will be as strong as it's preorders. I'll buy an Elite again at 250.

[TheDeadMetalhead]

Maybe I'll buy one for Christmas. :P

[Obama]

Desperate time calls for desperate measures. :)

[Socrates]

I know. Thank god the PS3 got another $100 price cut.

[coolirisGB]

PS3 had a price cut 2 or 3 times in the first 2 years. So when Sony has to drop the price because they're in last place it's Microsoft that's desperate? Making sure PS3 stays in last place isn't desperation it's smart.

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

don't stand a chance against the PS3... MS's Pro console is now the price of a Nintendo Wii, obviously with a better flow of better games than the Wii see's... not to mention more mature of games for those that wanted them but couldn't afford it. Like the kids just coming out of the Nintendo era per-say?. Now days, $50 is $50 and that's savings. Hell you can get a Pro 360 console with Gears 1 & 2 both barely breaking $300 total... not bad at all!

The picture is bigger than MOST minds on this site want to see... it's sad really!!!!

Currently enjoying Batman Darkham Asylum on my PS3... just beat Bane!!! this game is stellar, I recommend it to all!!!

[i_zamorak_i]

i use my ps3 for gaming.

and to browse the ,internet and open this page up, and read your stupid comments, :)
watch movies. :) listen to music :D

[R4mpage]

It's obvious that Microsoft only reacts to Sony's moves. If Microsoft sees that the Slim is outselling Microsoft at this price, Microsoft is sure to reduce the price again in a few months. Judging by preorder sales alone of the PS3, Microsoft is sure to reduce the price around November again, so I suggest waiting, for ppl that want a 360.

[V0LT]

hey look its a RRoD clearance sale...

[Droid Control]

i want a slimline 360...

Oh, i forgot, M$ can't make a standard size console yet... 4FOUR years on!

[guacman88]

everyone who wants a 360 already has one and the people who picks one up are the people whose broke down. 3..2..1 and here comes the profanity!

[horndog]

Most who buy a ps3 pick it up for bluray player use only and all those who pick up xbox is for gaming.

[StrboyM]

I've been around some really ignorant people in my time, but some of you on this site...Wow?

Soda said something along the lines of. call me when the ps3 isn't 8 millions units behind?....seriously?

Ok some simple math...if the 360 has 33 million units sold, and the Ps3 has 26 million sold....and the 360 has a failure rate of 54%.....you do realize that that puts you somewhere in the neighborhood of 17.5 million units sold....ok ok lets say 50% of those people got thier units fixed..then you have 25 million, which would put M$ no where near 8 million ahead of sony

but let me guess you say other wise eh?....I hope your smart enough to grasp this simple concept of defective units and math!

(video game quote)
"this is a sneaking mission"

[SaberEdge]

Ok, why does the 360 sell far more software than the PS3 then? You can't have it both ways. You can't say "well of course the 360 sells more software, it has a much bigger installed base" then turn around and say "the 360's installed base is actually much smaller than it appears due to replacements".

It's simple, if the 360's installed base is actually smaller than the PS3's then why does it sell more software? This is despite the fact that there is piracy on the 360 that the PS3 doesn't really suffer from. Also, if there are only 25 million Xbox 360s in people's homes how in the world are there 20 million active users on Xbox LIVE? Are you really claiming that 4/5ths of all Xbox 360 owners are connected to Xbox LIVE?

No two ways around it, your claims don't add up.

BTW, since when has the PS3 sold 26 million units?

[Mindsucker]

Looks like MS realises that having a lower price for the 360 is the only way they can stay competitive. Now that is sad and it will be even sadder once people realise how screwed up Microsoft is. Now all Sony has to do is learn how to play dirty and market there product better like MS.

[air1]

micros plan was to always be cheaper than the ps3. whats so sad about that? this is sony we are talking about look at how the ps2 sold, they are no push over.

dont you think its sad though how sony gimped the ps3 to try and keep up with the competition? the ps3 had a damn price cut for every year its been out starting like 4 months after launch. then a redesign and branding in such a short time?

[Mindsucker]

Gimped the PS3 and YOu think the 360 is better value? That is the stupidest statement I have ever herd Even with all the "gimping" they have done the 360 still can not compare. unless your a blind fanatic or just brain-damaged the only thing MS has is software and that is only as good as your hard ware as you fanatics will soon find out

[deividpaulo]

this console crap must be for free...

[armogangsta]

maybe its not really a pricecut from microsoft
maybe target is just having a special
cuz it says no rainchecks and quantities limited
isnt that something they usually write when they are having a sale?

[memphis2]

lmao, looks like who's playing catch up with sony now!

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

lmao @ Sony and MS trying to play catch up to Wii!

Be a gamer and not a fanboy, makes you look like a mindless droid!

[memphis2]

i am just talking about sony and micrsoft. nintendo has nothing to do with it. fanboy iwentbrokeforgaming!

[hates video games]

yep

[Memo-Xen x3100]

The 360 has some SH!T hardware. I know nobody in person who bought the 360 and didn't have it break on them. Open tray, E69, E71 through 79, the dreaded rings of death, it's eating my games, no video... the list goes on and on. The current xbox is worth 150 tops, that's all I'll pay for it brand new off the shelf in about two years and it better have the same warranty programs it currently limps through the market with or it's no go. Microsoft has a plan for you feeble gaming hungry no-it-all teenie boppers. -Buy our system so we can suck every last red cent out of you. Got a bunch of games in the year it took your system to break? Good! Gotta get it fixed or buy another now, you're trapped. Ya'll don't know what kind of company Microsoft is internally, they are cold and calculating. Microsoft is a monopoly that will sink every dollar they can logically afford into gift wrapping a kick in the nuts for morons. Disagree central for this article but the truth has been told. Why do you think MS gets sued once a month, because they are a crooked, evil company.

[picoso36]

* 50% failure rate (RRoD)
* feels like an old Chevy - plasticky, cheap feel
* no Blu-ray....

MS should just go down in history as having the biggest fire sale ever, unload the crap on middle America, and head back to the drawing board...

I own all 3 consoles - I know...

[vydeljr]

The factory defect rate for Xbox 360 consoles in August 2005 - four months prior to its US launch - was as high as 68 per cent.

What's more, the initial yield on the three-core CPU designed by IBM for the next-generation console was just 16 per cent.

That's all according to a report by VentureBeat's Dean Takahashi, author of the console's unofficial biography, of sorts, Xbox 360 Uncloaked, who attributed the numbers to "several sources".

In his article Xbox 360 defects: an inside history of Microsoft's videogame console woes, Takahashi also wrote that during meetings to outline the Xbox 360 project, "Secretly, Microsoft had planned on selling 50 million Xbox 360s".

Later on, Takahashi's sources claim that Microsoft was well aware of the massive defect rate (although entertainment division boss Robbie Bach has subsequently denied there was any concern about it at the time) and chose to press on with the console's launch anyway.

Over 1.2 million consoles were returned by early 2007, he wrote, and eventually Microsoft announced a free replacement service as it got its head around the problem.

As to why, Takahashi identified any number of things, but in terms of the early round of problems it sounds like feature-creep, with the late addition of hard disks and wireless controllers blocking airflow

"It turned out in the end that this was all going too far, too fast," said one source quoted by Takahashi. "They were adding too many features after things were locked down. That incremental feature adding just made it fragile."

Microsoft also took ownership of the ATI and IBM chip designs at the heart of the console. "However," Takahashi pointed out, "this was a mistake: it was now responsible for failures related to the chip." Yeah - oops.

The result of all the failures was, initially, a "bone pile" in a warehouse at manufacturer Wistron and a repair centre in Texas of over 500,000 consoles that either didn't work to begin with or broke quickly. All the while we were being told failures were within "normal rates for consumer electronics products".

Later, between January and June 2007, Microsoft even shut down manufacturing, according to Takahashi, in order to investigate.

Yet for all this, Takahashi reported that Robbie Bach told fellow diners at some sort of technology banquet in July that gamers have largely forgiven the company for the defectives 360s.

For Microsoft's part, it said: "This new story repeats old information, and contains rumors and innuendo from anonymous sources, attempting to create a new sensational angle, and is highly irresponsible."

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

MS and Sony are desperate to compete with Nintendo, as both 360 and PS3 sales combined still don't equal Wii sales!

Sony fanboys bash 360 saying "360's tech is holding back gaming, PS3 is moving it forward" etc., fanboy banter, etc., etc...

Nintendo is the last gen console this gen, NOT 360...

and Nintendo dominates both in consoles moved, so whats some of your answers now?

Im a multiconsole owner. My Nintendo Wii has been in the box since the 1st week Madworld came out. But I can say Nintendo at one point had me sold and got a sale out of me!

I went from Intelevision to NES, NES is when gaming became a hobby in my life. I will always owe my debt to Nintendo as a gamer, cause it's the only console I can play that can take me back to my childhood!

The sweet spot this gen is the Wii spot, console price is the first stepping stone for both 360 and PS3... MS is closer in the price point range.

Both MS and Sony KNOW they need the Wii effect in both price and their soon to be released motion gimicry. Thus why they are going for both so badly!