http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/09/business/sony.php

Wow, $500!

heath

$500 unit doesn't have Wifi, Memory Stick or HDMI. My recommendation is to spend the extra $100.

It's just like the Xbox 360--$300 base, $400 with extras. But still, $200 more. Then again, Blu-Ray. Will the Xbox 360 cost more with an HD-DVD drive? Can you buy it after you've bought an Xbox 360 without the HD-DVD drive? When is it coming out, btw?

heath

Hey, you guys in the 25+ age range...
You remember when a pimp Nintendo Entertainment System was $80 and an entry level PC was $1500? Now you can get a new PC for half the price of the pimp game system.

How the hell does that work?

When is it coming out, btw?

heath

I think Sony said November.

Glenn,

I meant the HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360.

heath

Yeah Dyan I was thinking the same thing. Although video games have always been pretty expensive. I remember my sister bought me the NES game Kung Fu for my birthday one year. She told me it was $25 or $30 and that it cost her one whole day of work.

Even with that said $400-$600 for a game system is up there. I wonder how many "kids" will actually be able to convice their folks to buy one. My guess is only if their folks have some money or are gamers themselves. I'd rather get my kid into computer games at that price. Cheaper upgradable system.

FWIW, Sega introduced the Saturn console at the $500 pricepoint and the 3DO also arrived at $500. Neither did very well...

IMO, the magic price for a game console to be accepted is about $350 or less and peak sales volumes won't be reached until the system can be purchased for less than $200.

I think what Sony is gambling on here is that the PlayStation3 will sell because it will also be the cheapest available Blu-Ray player for this coming holiday season. I haven't seen much of PS3 with my own eyes so I can't comment. However, I attended a seminar yesterday where Sony was demonstrating the BDP-S1 and we got to view it connected to a 1080p front projection system as well as connected to a 60" SXRD at 1080i. Anyway, without trying to derail this thread, I think Sony does have a winning product here and I'm not so enthusiastic about my Toshiba HD-A1 player and 2 movies I currently own anymore.

As both a gamer and movie enthusiast (and someone in the 30+ age group who has owned tons of systems), the Playstation 3 is a no-brainer purchase at $500. But I will probably pass on the BDP-S1 player for now and if I want a dedicated player later for Blu-Ray, I'll wait for the next generation of players which will undoubtedly bring more features at a lower price.

For buying the Sega Saturn when it first came out for around 400 dollars I shouldn’t have any problem with a 500 dollar price tag on the PS3 but since than game system prices have been going down. Even with the included blue ray. Sony better play it smart and release the top version for 400 not 600 dollars if they want to kill Microsoft because by the time the PS3 is to come out their will probably be a 100 dollar decrees in the XBOX 360.

Glenn,

I meant the HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360.

heath

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-12331_7-6513186-1.html?tag=cnetfd.ld1
In the video they say by the holidays. They didn't specify a price however.

Thanks, Erik. I found a more direct link:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4331-12331_7-6519324.html?tag=blog

hwm

I think price doesn't matter (almost). Sony are the dominant player, by a HUGE margin. People will buy the PS3 at US$500, or even US$700.