Analysts predict 360 price cut tomorrow.......

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Logan, I hope you kept your receipt handy on your Xbox 360 you just bought.........

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6299&Itemid=2

Analyst: Xbox 360 Price Cut Imminent

By Kris Graft

UPDATE - Analysts have weighed in on the PlayStation 3 price cut today, with one saying that Microsoft will be cutting the price of all Xbox 360 models this week.
Update: Added Microsoft comments.

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter stated in a note to investors today that Microsoft will announce an Xbox 360 price cut tomorrow at the start of the revamped E3 Media & Business Summit, which takes place all week.

Microsoft is holding its E3 press conference Tuesday evening.

He said that the price cut will affect all three Xbox 360 models. The $299 Core pack will drop to $249; the $399 Premium pack will drop to $349; and the recently released $479 Elite model will drop to $399.

Such a price cut would be a likely move for Microsoft following the PS3 pricing announcement today. Sony dropped the price of the 60GB PS3 from $599 to $499 and announced an 80GB PS3 with MotorStorm bundled for $599. The price drop appears to be in response to lower-than-expected sales of the console.

The drop in PS3 price puts the standard 60-gigger precariously close in price to the top-end Xbox 360 Elite, which is currently priced at $479.

Pachter stated, “…The value proposition for the PS3 is increased at the new lower price point, putting increased pressure on Microsoft to cut the price of its Xbox 360. The 80GB and 60GB PS3 models compare favorably to the 120GB and 20GB Xbox 360 models.”

He added, “Last week, Microsoft announced a slight Xbox 360 shipment shortfall (11.6 million units versus prior guidance of 12 million units through June 30), and we do not believe that the company is prepared to allow Sony to erode its pricing advantage.”

Pachter said that he expects the Xbox 360 to lose some share to the PS3 next year, mainly due to the PS3’s secondary ability to act as a high-def movie player. He expects $250 Nintendo Wii to outpace sales of Xbox 360 and PS3 until the latter consoles come down further in price.

Lazard Capital Markets’ Colin Sebastian said in his own investor note today that such a price cut for the PS3 is likely to generate more consumer interest, but the new $499 price point “still firmly occupies the high end of the current lineup of next-generation video game consoles.”

He added, “…We are encouraged by Sony’s willingness to cut the PS3 retail price less than a year following launch as component and production costs have decreased somewhat.”

Microsoft is still keeping its plans under wraps. "Microsoft has not made any announcements regarding a price cut on Xbox 360," a rep told Next-Gen in an e-mail today.

[CraigSca]

Wow! Might have to pick up an elite at that price point.

[Flasch186]

I bought GME (Gamestop) stock today. I know its at a high and anticipate some ups and downs but I suspect that the 3rd and 4th qtr of this year could be a huge season for games, system, and accessory buying. I plan on holding it through at least next January.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Wow! Might have to pick up an elite at that price point.

It's a good move on the Elite price point. Part of the pricing problem at $479 was that you could get a PS3 for only $20 more with a HD movie player and built-in Wifi connection. Excluding the movie player, you can now get an Elite for $399 and purchase the $100 Wifi if you want it and still spend only $499, which compares similarly to the PS3.

The next move by Sony and MS will be the add-ons like packed in games or throw-ins for online store credit, which can be given away at minimal costs. We likely will see more price cutting/giveaways before the holiday season is over.

[Deattribution]

The PS3 really needed to drop 125-150 bucks, they already tried the 499 market with the 20gig model and it just didn't work. I know there are some considerable differences between the two models but not enough that they're going to start flying off the shelves now like they initially thought they would.

Putting the core 360 in line with the Wii price (250) would be a smart move as well.

[albionmoonlight]

Capitalism = Roxxors!

[Atocep]

Microsoft's gaming division is running circles around Sony's.

This is probably enough to get me to pick up a 360 soon.

[Eaglesfan27]

I bought GME (Gamestop) stock today. I know its at a high and anticipate some ups and downs but I suspect that the 3rd and 4th qtr of this year could be a huge season for games, system, and accessory buying. I plan on holding it through at least next January.


I have some, too. So far, it has been a good investment.

[wade moore]

Capitalism = Roxxors!

Yeah, I'm trying to figure out the right time to make the move. I would really like NCAA/Madden on a next gen system this year, but if prices are going to drop another $100 or so come the holidays, then I'd just assume play these out on the PS2 and then get a new system.

But I don't want to get into that constant waiting game always waiting for the next price cut.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Yeah, I'm trying to figure out the right time to make the move. I would really like NCAA/Madden on a next gen system this year, but if prices are going to drop another $100 or so come the holidays, then I'd just assume play these out on the PS2 and then get a new system.

But I don't want to get into that constant waiting game always waiting for the next price cut.

If you really want a PS3 or 360, why wait at this point? You get to play the games right now at a lower price point for both systems.

A lot of people keep waiting and then never end up buying a system. If you don't game that much, perhaps that's the best option.

[wade moore]

If you really want a PS3 or 360, why wait at this point? You get to play the games right now at a lower price point for both systems.

A lot of people keep waiting and then never end up buying a system. If you don't game that much, perhaps that's the best option.

I don't game that much and it's an option I'm considering.

This is basically a system for NCAA Basketball and NCAA Football and/or Madden.

[wade moore]

Dola:

But that's part of the problem with this generation and why the Wii is winning by such a large margin. This is the first generation, imo, that the price point is just so out of reach for the casual gamer.

[Logan]

LOL...read closely Mizz...I was planning on buying it this coming Sunday :). Thanks for the heads-up though.

[KWhit]

Dola:

But that's part of the problem with this generation and why the Wii is winning by such a large margin. This is the first generation, imo, that the price point is just so out of reach for the casual gamer.

Yep. I could afford a PS3 or 360, but just can't justify spending that much on a console. So I bought a Wii and love it so far.

[wade moore]

Yep. I could afford a PS3 or 360, but just can't justify spending that much on a console. So I bought a Wii and love it so far.

Exactly. It's not that I can't afford it, it's that I can't justify the expense for how much time I put into it.

I keep meaning to go to a friend's to play the Wii to see how I like it. If I did (especially if my fiance also likes it which I think she will), that may be my solution. I just don't know that it's that great of a solution for my sports gaming needs.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

LOL...read closely Mizz...I was planning on buying it this coming Sunday :). Thanks for the heads-up though.

They do price matches as long as you keep the receipt. Just wanted to make sure you were covered. :)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Exactly. It's not that I can't afford it, it's that I can't justify the expense for how much time I put into it.

I keep meaning to go to a friend's to play the Wii to see how I like it. If I did (especially if my fiance also likes it which I think she will), that may be my solution. I just don't know that it's that great of a solution for my sports gaming needs.

If the price cut for the 360 is true, you'll be able to get a Core system for the same price as a Wii and the Premium system for only $100 more. The difference in price fades away in a hurry if the price cut comes to pass.

[Pyser]

im still holding out for when rock band comes out, since it appears that wont be for ps2. whichever has a better bundle at that point, or a better deal, anyway, if it isnt bundled, will win for me.

right now, its 360.

[KWhit]

Exactly. It's not that I can't afford it, it's that I can't justify the expense for how much time I put into it.

I keep meaning to go to a friend's to play the Wii to see how I like it. If I did (especially if my fiance also likes it which I think she will), that may be my solution. I just don't know that it's that great of a solution for my sports gaming needs.

Depends on how well they integrate the Wii-mote. Once developers get better at integrating that into games (and make it a priority to do so), I think the sports gaming experience has the potential to be the best of the bunch. I love Wii Sports and would love to see what a serious sports game can do with similar control mechanisms.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Depends on how well they integrate the Wii-mote. Once developers get better at integrating that into games (and make it a priority to do so), I think the sports gaming experience has the potential to be the best of the bunch. I love Wii Sports and would love to see what a serious sports game can do with similar control mechanisms.

I'm looking forward to the new bowling game where you can do a pro career. It seems like an idea that could really be good given that the Wii Sports: Bowling was done so well.

[Eaglesfan27]

I think the Wii is a great, fun system. However, I can't see it ever being my primary sports console system as it is unlikely to ever get some of the best gameplay improvements that games will have. For example, I doubt the Wii will ever get gang tackling, branching animations, etc in Madden. The direction seems to be more focused on novel control in the game.

[SackAttack]

Now that's funny.

I posted the story about Sony's price cut last night around 9:30pm Pacific.

Did a little writeup after the story talking about ramifications and whatnot.

What I expect is more likely to happen is incremental price cuts for all three SKUs; Core down to $249 to compete with Wii, Premium down to $349, Elite down to $429 (the $1 billion charge Microsoft is taking on their new three-year warranty program for systems suffering from the "Ring of Death" is the reason I expect a more muted response).

There's a couple things in that story that I'd like to have back, but I think I predicted Microsoft's response rather nicely. Shame I whiffed on that Elite price point, though. :)

[KWhit]

I think the Wii is a great, fun system. However, I can't see it ever being my primary sports console system as it is unlikely to ever get some of the best gameplay improvements that games will have. For example, I doubt the Wii will ever get gang tackling, branching animations, etc in Madden. The direction seems to be more focused on novel control in the game.

Gameplay improvements? I don't know if I'd call gang tackling and branching animations big gameplay improvements. Improved graphics are nice, but they don't equal fun to me.

I had more fun playing WiiSports Tennis than I've ever had playing Madden. I'm usually a stat head when playing games, so I wish I could have been able to have some kind of career mode or something like that in the Tennis game, but it was just so damn fun that I didn't care.

[wade moore]

If the price cut for the 360 is true, you'll be able to get a Core system for the same price as a Wii and the Premium system for only $100 more. The difference in price fades away in a hurry if the price cut comes to pass.The Core doesn't even have a HD, right?

[Deattribution]

The Core doesn't even have a HD, right?

Right, you can always purchase one later seperately, or purchase memory cards to save your games though.

[SackAttack]

Shoot, you can buy a 512 MB card (matching the Wii's internal memory) for $50.

Value isn't quite equivalent - game + card + system = $350 on the Core - but it makes it a much harder decision for the "one system" families that are out there.

[Eaglesfan27]

Gameplay improvements? I don't know if I'd call gang tackling and branching animations big gameplay improvements. Improved graphics are nice, but they don't equal fun to me.

I had more fun playing WiiSports Tennis than I've ever had playing Madden. I'm usually a stat head when playing games, so I wish I could have been able to have some kind of career mode or something like that in the Tennis game, but it was just so damn fun that I didn't care.

I may be wrong, but I think those two new features are going to make the game much more realistic than past versions. If they do, I'd say they are significant gameplay improvements. I've played the Wii at a few friends house, and I think it is a great system and I've also had a lot of fun playing WiiSports Tennis. I just don't think it would serve me well as my primary sports console system.

[wade moore]

I may be wrong, but I think those two new features are going to make the game much more realistic than past versions. If they do, I'd say they are significant gameplay improvements. I've played the Wii at a few friends house, and I think it is a great system and I've also had a lot of fun playing WiiSports Tennis. I just don't think it would serve me well as my primary sports console system.

Yeah, but let's face it - you're a hardcore gamer. I think it's pretty clear that the 360/PS3 are the system choices for hardcore gamers. I'd be pretty surprised to find someone using the Wii as their primary/only system when they're a hardcore gamer.

[wade moore]

Right, you can always purchase one later seperately, or purchase memory cards to save your games though.

Memory Cards, ugh..

Buying one later, ugh..

[Kodos]

I really think your best bet is to get the Premium 360. And I'm with EaglesFan27 - I can't take sports games on the Wii seriously. It's a fun party-system, but I can't see it being much good for a serious dynasty type game like NCAA Football or Madden.

[wade moore]

I really think your best bet is to get the Premium 360. And I'm with EaglesFan27 - I can't take sports games on the Wii seriously. It's a fun party-system, but I can't see it being much good for a serious dynasty type game like NCAA Football or Madden.Yeah, the Premium is what I've considered to be the sytem I'd buy if I bought one.

I'm just a cheap bastard sometimes ;).

[Kodos]

Only sometimes?




;)

[albionmoonlight]

Are the new .65nm chips worth waiting for?

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=7972

[gstelmack]

Are the new .65nm chips worth waiting for?

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=7972

They aren't going to be faster or have any new features, just be cooler and cheaper for Microsoft to produce. With the 3 year warranty announced, is it worth you waiting months without playing it just to get a cooler box?

[albionmoonlight]

They aren't going to be faster or have any new features, just be cooler and cheaper for Microsoft to produce. With the 3 year warranty announced, is it worth you waiting months without playing it just to get a cooler box?

Probably not.

Although in my case, it looks like it will end up being a Christmas purchase anyway, so it will probably be a moot point.

[Rich1033]

Any more info on this? A search of the web just turned up random rumors and every place still selling for $399. I am looking to buy a one, Id just hate to see it drop 50 bucks the week after I pick it up.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Any more info on this? A search of the web just turned up random rumors and every place still selling for $399. I am looking to buy a one, Id just hate to see it drop 50 bucks the week after I pick it up.

Yes, that was interesting that nothing came through in the presentation last night. Probably should wait until E3 is complete though before we start wondering about why MS didn't drop the price on the 360. They could be just holding this back until right before the Sony presentation and then release it to upstage Sony's thunder.

But if we don't see one by early next week, then we can begin to wonder.

[Logan]

Any more info on this? A search of the web just turned up random rumors and every place still selling for $399. I am looking to buy a one, Id just hate to see it drop 50 bucks the week after I pick it up.

I'm buying it at Circuit City on Sunday, as the system will come with a free year of XBox Live. Through them, you're also protected on drops in price for 30 days...you'll get the full difference if you show up with your receipt. I figure that if it's going to happen, it will be within that timeframe, and if not, no big deal.

[dawgfan]

But if we don't see one by early next week, then we can begin to wonder.
I have to admit I'm surprised that MS continues to say publicly that they feel no compulsion to drop the price. Maybe that's just PR bluster and they really are going to drop their prices soon, but if not - wow. Yes, they've built up a pretty big lead on the PS3. Yes, Sony has very few exclusives left, and some games on both systems actually look worse on the PS3. But now is not the time to let Sony try to regain some ground - now is the time to put the boot to the throat and give gamers no reason to consider buying a PS3.

I have this feeling that MS has gotten too cocky with their lead, with Sony losing exclusives and with the strong lineup MS has going into this holiday season and is looking to do a little short-term profit-taking by keeping their prices static, at the probable expense of letting Sony gain some ground on install base.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I have to admit I'm surprised that MS continues to say publicly that they feel no compulsion to drop the price. Maybe that's just PR bluster and they really are going to drop their prices soon, but if not - wow. Yes, they've built up a pretty big lead on the PS3. Yes, Sony has very few exclusives left, and some games on both systems actually look worse on the PS3. But now is not the time to let Sony try to regain some ground - now is the time to put the boot to the throat and give gamers no reason to consider buying a PS3.

I have this feeling that MS has gotten too cocky with their lead, with Sony losing exclusives and with the strong lineup MS has going into this holiday season and is looking to do a little short-term profit-taking by keeping their prices static, at the probable expense of letting Sony gain some ground on install base.

Totally agree. MS should be going for the jugular right now.

I get the feeling (especially after the Nintendo presentation) that both Nintendo and MS are a bit too comfortable with the margin and Sony's early struggles. Sony's got a lot of work to do, but they have a solid machine who's only major fault right now is that it's still $100 too high. If they can find a way to get the 60 GB system down another $100 near the holidays, MS may be wishing that they would have stepped on the throttle a bit sooner.

[wade moore]

Totally agree. MS should be going for the jugular right now.

I get the feeling (especially after the Nintendo presentation) that both Nintendo and MS are a bit too comfortable with the margin and Sony's early struggles. Sony's got a lot of work to do, but they have a solid machine who's only major fault right now is that it's still $100 too high. If they can find a way to get the 60 GB system down another $100 near the holidays, MS may be wishing that they would have stepped on the throttle a bit sooner.

Totally agree with your 1st statement, only partially agree with the 2nd.

MS should be going for the jugular, it's just stupid that they're not.

You know as well as I do (and lord knows TroyF does) that the only major fault of the PS3 is not the cost.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

You know as well as I do (and lord knows TroyF does) that the only major fault of the PS3 is not the cost.

What is the other issue? The reason the games aren't out for it is because there's a small installed base at this point. Some talk about that it's difficult to develop for, but they'd have no issues finding ways to develop for it if it had 10M installed base. The reason for the installed base problem? Price. It's a very simple equation and it's textbook economics.

[Kodos]

But some people prefer 30 FPS to 60! It's a fact!

[Eaglesfan27]

What is the other issue? The reason the games aren't out for it is because there's a small installed base at this point. Some talk about that it's difficult to develop for, but they'd have no issues finding ways to develop for it if it had 10M installed base. The reason for the installed base problem? Price. It's a very simple equation and it's textbook economics.



Whether it is the chicken or the egg - people aren't going to buy the system in masses if the games aren't there. Right now, the games aren't there. It doesn't look like the system seller type games will be there until 08 at the earliest. You know that is a problem, just as much as the price of the system.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Whether it is the chicken or the egg - people aren't going to buy the system in masses if the games aren't there. Right now, the games aren't there. It doesn't look like the system seller type games will be there until 08 at the earliest. You know that is a problem, just as much as the price of the system.

That is a problem, but these developers are pushing back those games until '08 because of the lack of installed base. If Sony would have released a system at $399 or $499, the base would have been bigger and these games would have had these 'delays'. Regardless, Sony created the situation, so they now have to dig their way out as best they can.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

But some people prefer 30 FPS to 60! It's a fact!

Seriously? Who said that? Link?

[Eaglesfan27]

That is a problem, but these developers are pushing back those games until '08 because of the lack of installed base. If Sony would have released a system at $399 or $499, the base would have been bigger and these games would have had these 'delays'. Regardless, Sony created the situation, so they now have to dig their way out as best they can.

Or they are pushing them back because the PS3 is difficult to program for as several developers have said.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Or they are pushing them back because the PS3 is difficult to program for as several developers have said.

There's also already been more than one article detailing developers who admitted that they intentionally are pushing back games that could be otherwise released. I'll buy that somewhat, but as I said, they'd have games out for the PS3 in droves by now if there was a major installed base.

I don't want to take this topic too off topic, so I'll stop there.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Looks like Bill Harris was just as surprised that Microsoft didn't even attempt to go for a kill shot......

E3 Post #2--Microsoft Press Conference: Has Anyone Seen the Bridge? Where's That Confounded Bridge?

Sony stumbles into E3, covered in their own puke, croaks about a $100 price cut, and collapses. When they roll over as they dry heave, their head winds up under Microsoft's steel-toed boot.

So what does Microsoft do?

Nothing.

Incredibly, Microsoft did absolutely nothing at the E3 press conference to press their advantage. No price cut. No stealth price cut. No new exclusives.

No future, strangely, as the focus of their presentation was that all (well, almost all) of the games they were showing were coming out by the end of 2007.

It's easy to see what they were trying to do--focus on the crushing number of excellent games that are coming out for the system in the next five months--but good grief, give us a taste of the future, at least.

Oh, and they introduced a four button controller that they should have just gone ahead and called My First Imitation Wii Controller. Except it doesn't have motion sensing.

Blech. It would have been one thing to swing and miss, but hell, Microsoft didn't even take a swing.

They may well still hammer Sony this fall, but they could have "more bettered" hammered them with a price cut.

Three words: "press the advantage."

And Nintendo? Nintendo is long, long gone.

[Kodos]

Seriously? Who said that? Link?


Exaggeration, sir. You just seem to be downplaying the fact that PS3 has a lower framerate than the 360 for some prominent sports games. Just having fun. :)

[sabotai]

Has Microsoft ever done anything at E3? Every year it seems like they just come in and do some wort of business-like "state of the union" presentation. Sony has always understood how to get the hype machine working (well, except the year they said "And it'll be released at a retail price of $599"). They (Sony) always seem to win E3.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Exaggeration, sir. You just seem to be downplaying the fact that PS3 has a lower framerate than the 360 for some prominent sports games. Just having fun. :)

No, I said that EA will likely have plenty of bugs that will render the FPS problem a moot point. I'm not buying it for that reason, not because of the FPS.

[Kodos]

That's all well and dandy, but for lots of PS3 owners who like Madden, 30 FPS could be a BIG issue.

[Rich1033]

Looks like its not happening anytime soon. I was trying to figure out the answer now because I ordered a refurb premium for 299. I figure with the failure rate I may as well take the chance and save a hundred bucks. It still comes with a warranty from MS so it can be sent back. However, if I could grab a new one for 349 I was going to cancel the refurb order and save myself the trouble.

[ageofquarrel]

That's all well and dandy, but for lots of PS3 owners who like Madden, 30 FPS could be a BIG issue.

I doubt it I'm going to say that 95% of madden players don't even know what frames per second is.

[Kodos]

But they probably can notice choppiness.

[Eaglesfan27]

But they probably can notice choppiness.

And if they ever play it on a 360 at a friend's house which is likely since 360's are much more prevalent, they will notice that it doesn't look nearly as smooth on their PS3.

[DeToxRox]

Thanks to my beautiful girlfriend as an anniversary gift, she paid half of the cost of an Xbox so I picked one up yesterday rather then wait until Saturday.

For the time being I only have Gears of War (well and Halo 2) and I'm on XBL as DeToxRox.

[jaygr]

I'm still as torn on getting a 360 as I was at the end of last year. I went with a Wii, and don't regret getting it, as I love it and what it has to offer.

However, it does not offer the very best versions of madden and ncaa (not at all). Quite honestly, I think that the Wii controls for madden aren't so great. Maybe it is because I am used to playing on a gamepad and got frustrated going back to square one so to speak, but whatever it is I still prefer the gamepad. The motion controls work well for a lot of games, but not ones where it just feels like you are replacing the buttons with movements just because you can. In madden it feels more natural and comfortable for me to press a button to use a stiff arm then to use the remote shaped object to flick around.

So like I was saying, I am torn again. I really want to play madden and ncaa on the 360 to get the best to offer from what are by far my most played games every year, but quite honestly that is all I would really do with the 360. Sure, I may get other games here and there, but for the most part it would be a sports gaming machine. So I just don't know if I can justify all that money (though the price cut makes it more tempting) for a madden/ncaa machine.

[KWhit]

Thanks to my beautiful girlfriend as an anniversary gift, she paid half of the cost of an Xbox so I picked one up yesterday rather then wait until Saturday.

Hopefully you paid her back by giving her half an orgasm.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Hopefully you paid her back by giving her half an orgasm.

Which Xbox controller button does that?

[Ksyrup]

Which Xbox controller button does that?

The Wii Wii.

OK, I apologize. That was bad. :D

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The Wii Wii.

OK, I apologize. That was bad. :D

It's my fault. I set you up to fail in the first place. It won't happen again.

[TroyF]

Has Microsoft ever done anything at E3? Every year it seems like they just come in and do some wort of business-like "state of the union" presentation. Sony has always understood how to get the hype machine working (well, except the year they said "And it'll be released at a retail price of $599"). They (Sony) always seem to win E3.

Sony always won E3 with the PS2 vs. the Xbox because the PS2 was a better system with a hell of a lot more games.

Last year, the first E3 with the 360 in the hands of users, MS destroyed Sony, even before Sony announced the $600 price point. (same reasons, one had games to show, the other had a bunch of nothing)

This year seemed to be a draw with all three. They all sucked in terms of their presentations. Watching recaps of them is pretty amazing. It's like none of them even bothered to try to come up with something interesting.

[Deattribution]

This year seemed to be a draw with all three. They all sucked in terms of their presentations. Watching recaps of them is pretty amazing. It's like none of them even bothered to try to come up with something interesting.

I don't agree with that, nor do alot of other people. Generally most people agree Microsoft was by far the most boring and the worst of the three, with Nintendo somewhere in the middle and Sony having the best of the three. Nintendo got some edge just because they had several solid release date numbers and Sony got the biggest edge because they talked about alot of different games, the new PSP, the new price points ect. Microsoft was just a year in review, babbling about sales mostly and other useless stuff that had nothing to do with about their games coming out except for a few minutes here and there.

[TroyF]

I only know what I watched. Yeah, Sony had more games, but nothing blew the doors off me. The new PSP looks like the old PSP. It can do more and I may eventually buy one, but it's not something that just struck me as WOW, THIS IS SO FREAKIN COOL.

And most of the gamers impressions I've read from sites are meh on all three presentations. That was my take on them. I didn't think anyone stood out at all. The loss is MS's. They had a chance and screwed up royally.

[14ers]

Does the 360 really come with w Microsoft 3 year warranty now? My local BestBuy and Circuit City are really trying to push their extended warranty at a huge crazy price???

[Ksyrup]

Does the 360 really come with w Microsoft 3 year warranty now? My local BestBuy and Circuit City are really trying to push their extended warranty at a huge crazy price???

The unit comes with the standard 1 year warranty, plus an additional 2 years on the RROD issue. The 3 year warranty is only on the RROD. I can't tell you what BB or CC are doing with their extended warranties, but IIRC, they start immediately the day of purchase, do they not, and overlap the manufacturer's coverage? Microsoft's extended warranty (the one offered by Microsoft itself) picks up where the manufacturer's warranty ends. I might be wrong about the BB/CC warranties, though, since they don't pay me! :)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Does the 360 really come with w Microsoft 3 year warranty now? My local BestBuy and Circuit City are really trying to push their extended warranty at a huge crazy price???

I know that previous reports indicated that those stores doubled the extended warranty price because so many of the machines were being returned. With that said, given BB and CC's previous history, they'll likely take full advantage of this announcement to leave the price of the extended warranty higher and push sales of it by using the MS announcement as a major sales pitch to scare people into buying the warranty.

[Ksyrup]

From a quick search online, I'm fairly certain the BB/CC-type warranties run concurrently with the manufacturer's warranty. So I have no idea what BB/CC is doing now that Microsoft has upped the RROD warranty to 3 years. Previously, with just a flat 1 year warranty, if you bought the 2 year extended warranty from BB/CC (which is really a misnomer because the contract doesn't "extend" the underlying warranty), BB/CC covered you for the 1 year of manufacturer's coverage, plus an additional year. If they keep that in place with the RROD death warranty at 3 years, then the underlying warranty on the RROD issue would outlast the BB/CC extended warranty.

If anyone finds out how BB/CC is going to work that issue, I'd be interested in knowing.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

From a quick search online, I'm fairly certain the BB/CC-type warranties run concurrently with the manufacturer's warranty. So I have no idea what BB/CC is doing now that Microsoft has upped the RROD warranty to 3 years. Previously, with just a flat 1 year warranty, if you bought the 2 year extended warranty from BB/CC (which is really a misnomer because the contract doesn't "extend" the underlying warranty), BB/CC covered you for the 1 year of manufacturer's coverage, plus an additional year. If they keep that in place with the RROD death warranty at 3 years, then the underlying warranty on the RROD issue would outlast the BB/CC extended warranty.

If anyone finds out how BB/CC is going to work that issue, I'd be interested in knowing.

I always thought that the store warranties ran at the same time as the manufacturer warranty. The big selling point that the store always uses is 'Hey, you can use the manufacturer's warranty, or you can get ours and just return the broken one for a new one in store without any questions ask!" Easy replacement was always a big selling point.

[SackAttack]

I don't agree with that, nor do alot of other people. Generally most people agree Microsoft was by far the most boring and the worst of the three, with Nintendo somewhere in the middle and Sony having the best of the three. Nintendo got some edge just because they had several solid release date numbers and Sony got the biggest edge because they talked about alot of different games, the new PSP, the new price points ect. Microsoft was just a year in review, babbling about sales mostly and other useless stuff that had nothing to do with about their games coming out except for a few minutes here and there.

I'll have conference reports for all three going up later tonight, but my thought was that nobody really ran away with it; you could make a solid case for all three.

Microsoft showed off a slate of exclusives, both third party and first party, and basically said "Yeah, Sony, look what we've got. Why do we need to cut our price to match you? We can sell on our games alone."

Nintendo said "Everybody loves us, and here's a few things that should show you why that won't change."

Sony said "We fucked up last year. We were gonna announce a price drop, but that cat got let out of the bag, so here's some other stuff we're doing...and look at OUR exclusives."

Sony had a couple of real intriguing games on show, but none of them would convince me to drop five or six bones on a PS3 right now. However, some of the exclusives they showed - like Folklore - mean that I'm almost certain to get one...eventually. They started to show me reasons why I need a PS3, just not why I need one right this second.

[DeToxRox]

Sack -

I heard Capcom is going PS3 exclusive but I heard MGS 4: SOL will eventually land on 360? Am I just holding out false hope or were there any rumblings about that?

[SackAttack]

Sack -

I heard Capcom is going PS3 exclusive but I heard MGS 4: SOL will eventually land on 360? Am I just holding out false hope or were there any rumblings about that?

You mean Konami, I presume, and no, that's not true - Ace Combat 6 and Beautiful Katamari put lie to that rumor real quick.

Capcom, on the other hand, is all over the place - Wii, 360, PS3, and I see no reason for them to change that anytime soon.

MGS 4, I was talking to Jason walking back to the hotel Wednesday night, and I'll tell you what I told him - Sony bringing out Hideo Kojima felt an awful lot like the big musclehead at the beach going "Are you looking at my woman? You ain't looking at my woman, are you, dickweed?"

Sort of an insecure power play. They went out of their way to stress that MGS4 was a PS3 exclusive, but I think everybody more or less wonders how long that will last.