Most of you know me as a Sony supporter--or, what they call on here a "cow". So you may think it's weird that I'd make this thread. In fact, in a previous blog of mine I made the exact opposite argument--namely, that PS3 will win.
But every good argument deserves a rebuttal, and I think KeyWii's thread was pretty good. So here goes...
11 reasons why the Xbox 360 will win.Â
1. Games...lots of 'em
2. Price
Let's face it: price matters. And in this very competitive environment, consumers pay attention to price. With the PS3 priced at $600, and the 20 gig version being dropped, the price of the PS3 effectively shuts out a large portion of consumers who simply can't afford it. Furthermore, the price of the PS3 places it as a "Mercedes" type of product, which is not a good perception in the eyes of the average consumer, who prefers value over pompousness.
In the words of Sony CEO Howard Stringer himself: "If we fail, it is because we positioned PS3 sales as the Mercedes of the videogame field." Source
3. First out the Gate
The fact that the 360 was first out the gate is significant. Momentum is very important in this race, and the 360 had the starting momentum and the ability to last the race. The Wii currently has more momentum, but will its technology still be compelling 3 or 4 years down the line? The PS3 at the present time has virtually no momentum, and there is no guarantee that future titles in its repertoire will propel it past the 360.
4. Comparative Advantage
I employ this term not in its traditional sense--namely, when it is used to describe desparities in production efficiency. What I mean by "comparative advantage" is that when a consumer evaluates the 360 and the PS3 side by side, they see that they get the same value for a cheaper price with the 360. When Sony showed off the E3 CG trailers, and then revealed what their games really looked like, everyone saw that the PS3 and 360's graphical capabilities were approximately the same. When you buy a 360, you're basically getting games that look just as good or better for a lower price.
5. Choice
The 360 offers options in its SKU's. The PS3 has one model which costs a prohibitive price. The 360 offers the core, the premium, and now the Elite. This allows it to branch out and touch every income category of the market, which in turn means more sales for the console to a broader audience.
6. Blu-ray?
Sony defenders argue that blu-ray will propel Playstation 3 sales when it wins over HD-DVD. While blu-ray does have a good likelihood of winning, who's to say that the market is even ready for blu-ray? Most folks won't want to replace their entire DVD collection for a marginal increase in fidelity--only the hardcore technology fans are likely to do so.
As for the argument that blu-ray is needed, here's a thought: if the massive world of Oblivion won't fill a DVD9, why is blu-ray needed? It seems that Sony has stepped too far into the future for its own good. Blu-ray doesn't help the PS3--it cripples it, because blu-ray increases the production cost of the console and makes it hard for Sony to price it cheaper. Merrill Lynch estimates that Sony loses $200-$300 per console, no doubt in part because of blu-ray.
Moreover, people who want a game system but not an expensive movie player will see more value in the 360 than the PS3.
7. Secure Exclusives
The PS3's top killer app titles--i.e. MGS4, Final Fantasy XIII--are third-party. That means they always have the potential of being stolen away. Look at GTA IV and DMC4...those were two franchises that two years back, no one would have imagined launching simultaneously on the 360. The 360's killer titles, on the other hand--i.e. Halo 3, Gears of War 2, and Mass Effect--are first or second party titles that could never be stolen. When you're considering a console purchase, you know for sure that the only system you're going to be able to play those games on--ever--is the Xbox 360.
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8. Levelling the Playing Field
Last generation, a lot of publishers were hesitant to jump on the Xbox bandwagon, as the platform was still untested. This time around, there is no question on the mind of any publisher that Microsoft has the intention and wherewithal to succeed. That's why you're seeing so many games going multiplat. Japanese developers are climbing aboard too. The support of gamemakers like Capcom and Mistwalker are sure to increase the diversity of the 360's portfolio vis-a-vis the PS3's.
The argument that Xbox 360 only offers shooters, and therefore won't appeal to people looking for a diverse library is ridiculous. Look at the list above--it is no less diverse than the one in the "10 Reasons" PS3 thread. Microsoft has also done a better job of securing third-party exclusives--titles like Bioshock and Splinter Cell 5 prove the point.
9. Master Chief
Sure, Sony's got Kratos, but how many units does Kratos move? God of War only sold 2.5 million, and its sequel has just passed 1 million, but Halo 1 and 2 combined have sold a whopping 14.3 million. Looks like the energy sword is greater than the Blades of Athena.
10. Xbox Live
Let's be frank: Xbox Live is a tried and true service. Playstation Network and Home? Not so much. Let's also not forget that Sony tends to over-promise and under-deliver. Setting up a dependable, consistent online service is no small task, and there is good reason to doubt that Sony will surpass Microsoft in the online sector.
11. Multiplats are better looking, score higher, and have better framerates on the 360
The majority of multiplat games have scored higher, looked better, and run smoother on the 360 than the PS3. Gamespot did a comparison of multiplats awhile back, and here was their conclusion:
"The Xbox 360 had better graphics in almost all the games we examined...the Xbox 360 games generally offered better framerates too."
Check out the comparisons for yourself: http://www.gamespot.com/features/6162742/p-8.html
In conclusion, the Xbox 360 is just as good of a deal as the PS3, without the mandatory feature of an expensive movie player, and all at a lower price for the consumer who knows what's most important--games.
 
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