[QUOTE="Darth_Tigris"]I still don't understand, why would Sony be in a better position to drop prices than MS????????????teebeenz

Think you're a tad mixed up there. The 360 has been using the smaller, cheaper, cooler65nm chips since late summer. The next step was to get to 45nm chips by the end of 2008.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/01/xbox-360-65nm-chips-out-there-45nm-chips-in-the-future/

As for Sony's ability to drop the cost of manufacturing the PS3, it is still not profitable. They are at a point where they really cannot continue to drop it like they have during its first year. MS has not dropped its price signficantly AND has been manufacturing the 360 for longer than Sony has the PS3. So why wouldn't you think that MS would be in a BETTER position to drop their price significantly?

[QUOTE="Darth_Tigris"]?teebeenz

I still don't understand, why would Sony be in a better position to drop prices than MS????????????

i remember the times where GTA was with sony and Elder scrolls was with microsoft, anybody miss though days? or do you like the non exclusive systems of today.

TFrieden0928

To be honest, GTA was never a console exclusive. IT was a TIMED exclusive last gen.

Exclusives will always be part of a multi-console generation. But things are moving more toward FIRST PARTY exclusives only. I have no problem with that. I never much cared for third party exclusives as a rule. It comes across as favortism on the part of the publishers.

[QUOTE="Darth_Tigris"]>4) It is imperative that, during this year where the PS3 will receive some high profile titles, that MS distance itself price-wise from the PS3 and move much, MUCH closer to the Wii.teebeenz

?

why would there be a price cut? the thing is already inexpensive.

A pro with 2 games is 350.

tommcruise

Several reasons that I can think of.

1) The 360 is NOT inexpensive. Sure, compared to a PS3 it is, but so is a Lexus compared to an Audi. MS has consistently talked about the importance of getting to a mass market price ($199 is what they stated) to really get sales going this gen. As much as they have talked about it, I would suspect a plan has been put into place to get them there by a certain timeframe.

2) The 360 was released in 11/05. It is now 1/08. Manufacturing cost have unquestionably come down significantly since then (I've read that the PS3 is around half of the rumored original cost to manufacturer now). That being the case, it would only make sense that MS has been positioning themselves for a price cut by reducing manufacturing costs.

3) The first price cut (which, for the record, came later in its respective lifespan than any other console before it) was a small price cut, timed for the release of Madden '08 in particular. With expected high console sales during the release of Madden and Halo 3, MS didn't HAVE to do a price cut. Packing the two games in the box, IIRC, was part of a holiday bundle. I don't know if it is something that will continue indefinitely. With the first price cut being so small, it would only make sense that a LARGER price cut was being planned. Another $20-50 price cut would just not move them close enough to that mass market price.

4) It is imperative that, during this year where the PS3 will receive some high profile titles, that MS distance itself price-wise from the PS3 and move much, MUCH closer to the Wii.

Well, those are my reasons (at least all I can think of right now). So that's where my $199 Arcade, $249 Pro and $349 Elite predictions came from. And the timing comes from GTA IV's expected release timeframe.

Especially if you play online co-op. Its one of the best co-op experiences out there.

After reading some opinion pieces over at vgchartz, I'm curious as to what people feel this will be. We know its coming (particularly in light of the measly $50 cut in 2007), but when? And how much do you think it'll be this time. My take?

WHEN: I say its coming in late spring/early summer.

HOW MUCH: I say for the standard unit (the current $350 Pro model), it'll be a full $100 drop this time to $250. That being said, I see the Arcade being $200 and the Elite being $350 for the Elite. All of this can be confirmed or ruined by any introduction of a new SKU.

MS needs to distance itself signficantly from the lowest PS3 SKU price of $400 AND get closer (and possibly undercut) the price of the Wii, and both of those MUST happen this year or they are really, truly setting themself up for possibly being that 'middle system' in a bad way.

Wow. This thread has really surprised me. I've made many comments similar to the TC, but more often than not got lambasted for it.

What bothers me the most is how so many of the top rated, AAA titles are the uber violent ones. As a 360, I know this even more than Wii and PS3 owners. As game graphics and environments have become more realistic, the violence has become more disturbing. When I recently watched some Killzone 2 footage and saw the reaction of enemy characters as they were being gunned down from close range and the way they twitched and blood spilled ...... it just really made me stop and ask "what are we doing?"

I borrowed a friends Wii and played SMG recently. It was a really eye opening moment for me. I had so, soooooo much fun with that game. Why are we so far away from more AAA games being like that instead of games that there is no way you can play them in front of most of our parents and grandparents without feeling shame?