Sony Rolls Out New $399 PlayStation 3

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

In a move to compete with rivals Microsoft and Nintendo, Sony announced plans to slash the price of the 80-GB PlayStation 3 to $499 and is introducing a new 40-GB model for $399.

Sony's new lower-cost PS3 makes it just $50 more than its closest rival -- Microsoft's Xbox 360. The entry-level Xbox is $349 with a hard drive. Nintendo sells its popular Wii console for $250.

"We're pleased to offer the consumer a lower price point without sacrificing the core technology components that make PS3 the most advanced high-definition entertainment system available," Jack Tretton, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, said in a statement. "Every PS3 comes with a Blu-ray drive, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine, and a built-in hard drive."

Read entire story here (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20071019/tc_nf/56140).

[wingnut2600]

It is time to just move to the PS3. It is the future of HD gaming. I wrote here (http://www.pressuretobear.com/?p=63) about this change and implicitly implied the three major reasons to move:

-Cheaper than the 360 to game online using WiFi and with a Hard Drive (al least $50 less)

-The dominant HD video format built into the system ($180 extra for an HD-DVD for the 360)

- HDTVs will become the norm soon, might as well buy-in 100% (Best Buy stops selling analog TVs at the end of the month).

The PS3 is a sweet machine, and I was really thinking of going Wii60 at first...

It looks expensive, but you have to buy a hard drive ($90 minimum), a $60 a year sub to XBOX Live and a $100 WiFi attachment to make the 360 meet your expectations, and this is just to game. It lacks a HD video playback device that you can rent things at your corner video store (yes, I realize you can DL HD WMAs and play them off a USB drive for a 360).

The PS3 allows you to change your HD to any size or brand you want and even officially allows Linux distros. It is a surprisingly pirate-friendly system with excellent free, legal online content.

Just make the plunge... for $400, you can't go wrong and you have a bear of a system that will grow with you over the years.

[Sephiroth]

I don't think the PS3 has much of a chance this generation. Especially with the 40gb version they took out Backwards compatibility. The only reason why I would ever buy a PS3 would be so I could play my PS2 games on my HDTV without it looking like ass. And you can't do that with the 40gb version.

I don't buy for potential, if Sony can turn things around this generation then I may be open to get one and by the look of things Sony doesn't even have a chance until next year and by then they will probably have released 2-3 more new hardware packages with lower prices. Until then I am perfectly happy with my 360.

Wifi is not ideal for online gaming because it increases your latency and can cut out. You are better off running a wired connection if you can.

Upscaled DVDs look fine and the Next gen video formats are too expensive. I would rather buy two new dvds than one HD-DVD or Bluray disc.

Bluray and HDDVD in consoles is really worthless unless you plan on watching movies.

For the record with the 360 if you get the premium version it has a harddrive and everything you need for gaming you don't have to buy wireless pack, or hd-dvd add on or a hard drive or really anything else to play games. You only need xbox live if you want to play multiplayer online, everything else on live you can do with the free account.

[wingnut2600]

I don't think the PS3 has much of a chance this generation. Especially with the 40gb version they took out Backwards compatibility. The only reason why I would ever buy a PS3 would be so I could play my PS2 games on my HDTV without it looking like ass. And you can't do that with the 40gb version.

I don't buy for potential, if Sony can turn things around this generation then I may be open to get one and by the look of things Sony doesn't even have a chance until next year and by then they will probably have released 2-3 more new hardware packages with lower prices. Until then I am perfectly happy with my 360.

Wifi is not ideal for online gaming because it increases your latency and can cut out. You are better off running a wired connection if you can.

Upscaled DVDs look fine and the Next gen video formats are too expensive. I would rather buy two new dvds than one HD-DVD or Bluray disc.

Bluray and HDDVD in consoles is really worthless unless you plan on watching movies.

For the record with the 360 if you get the premium version it has a harddrive and everything you need for gaming you don't have to buy wireless pack, or hd-dvd add on or a hard drive or really anything else to play games. You only need xbox live if you want to play multiplayer online, everything else on live you can do with the free account.

Valid points each and every one...

But you are a different sort of gamer sir, and we both know this. I think this is a real option for a media center/HD video player/VG player for a mainstream consumer.

Blu Ray raises the bar so far above DVD that they look like shit afterwards. Who wants to run an RJ45 cable to their TV if you don't play FPSs online?

The PS3 does have quite a bit of potential... even now designers are starting to really use the Cell processors more efficiently with far better results and games are able to be put on one disc of media instead of multiple discs (creators dislike this limitation).

This said, I am sure I will eventually buy a 360 before the end of its lifecycle, but the $100 WiFi adaptor seems like you are being fucked hard. It is not as if I am a ps3 fanboy. I am a DS fanboy, to tell you the truth.

I was originally smitten with the Wii60 idea, but the 360s are just too unreliable for me to feel good buying one (red rings of death are not rare). The new Falcon chipset may swing me over to that side (pending if they are more reliable), but I couldn't buy one knowing about that serious design flaw.

The Ps3 is a well-designed system that does what it says, does it well and will become far better in the future.

People should just jump on board and buy a 20GB or a 60GB now (for BC), because they will be kicking themselves later...

[Signa]

i have to say wingnut, of all the pro ps3 bullshit i have read, yours is the most logically stated and even convincing. that being said, im still not sold on the ps3 at all. if i couldnt bring myself to pay $350 for an xbox with all the good games i see on it, how am i supposed to pay $400 for something that i think has like 1 game i want?

i find more and more as time goes on that im just not much of a console user. the PC just works for me too well. i get all the multimedia options that i want, and a mouse and keyboard are far better than any gamepad. despite that, i find i cant leave the nintendo franchises alone. games like zelda, mario and metriod are far too good to never play. i did pick up a Wii when it came out and i still havnt been disappointed. because of my affinity with the PC, i dont play the wii much, but i dont regret buying it.

i will say one last thing though. that DS is becoming a heavy contender for my "best console ever" against the snes.

[Mels_Smileys45]

I think the ps3 is screwed and ive said that from the get go. They need a killer app to push sales and that aint happening. Video game developers do not want to waste their time and money on a poor selling ps3 only game. So what the ps3 is getting is ported 360 games which will never show off what the ps3 should be able to do.

By the time the ps3 becomes cheap enough and rolls out a killer game this gen will have passed them by. MS is already talking about making the HD DVD standard for the 360 but IMO, Blu R or HD dvds do not excite gamers or make mom and dad jump up to shell out big money for a toy that plays movies.

Learn from Tendo wii big boys. Gamers want fun games and a console that doesnt try to be everything else but a game pushing geek magnet.


Im with you though Signa. I like my PC games. Im not a huge gamer like I was once upon a time but I get a real kick out of my PC games. I like restro gaming thru MAME alot and I like building a PC myself, which its almost time to do again. Im looking forward to Soldier of Fortune 3 coming out next month. I hope it doesnt suck like Im afraid its going to. Looking at the video Im scared! Activision seems to not give a flying fuck anymore.

EDIT: Um, I just saw some of the newer vids of SOF3 and it does like very nice. If only it plays like SOF2, fingers crossed!

[Sephiroth]

Valid points each and every one...

But you are a different sort of gamer sir, and we both know this. I think this is a real option for a media center/HD video player/VG player for a mainstream consumer.

Blu Ray raises the bar so far above DVD that they look like shit afterwards. Who wants to run an RJ45 cable to their TV if you don't play FPSs online?

The PS3 does have quite a bit of potential... even now designers are starting to really use the Cell processors more efficiently with far better results and games are able to be put on one disc of media instead of multiple discs (creators dislike this limitation).

This said, I am sure I will eventually buy a 360 before the end of its lifecycle, but the $100 WiFi adaptor seems like you are being fucked hard. It is not as if I am a ps3 fanboy. I am a DS fanboy, to tell you the truth.

I was originally smitten with the Wii60 idea, but the 360s are just too unreliable for me to feel good buying one (red rings of death are not rare). The new Falcon chipset may swing me over to that side (pending if they are more reliable), but I couldn't buy one knowing about that serious design flaw.

The Ps3 is a well-designed system that does what it says, does it well and will become far better in the future.

People should just jump on board and buy a 20GB or a 60GB now (for BC), because they will be kicking themselves later...

Bluray was included in the PS3 specifically to help Sony win the format war against HD-DVD, not because it provides a real benefit to gaming because the read speed of Bluray is so slow that game developers have to copy the game numerous times on the disc so it can ready it fast enough negating the disc space advantage.

The only developers that are really working on using Cell is Sony's own developers or projects that were started for the PS3 before it came out when everyone thought it would be the sure thing. Most of the games for the PS3 do not look better than 360 games. Even some of the hyped up games like Lair turned out to be a disappointment.

If I am going to spend $500 on anything it better have more than just potential going for it.

I will want to a hard wire to my game console if that means I will get lower latency and less lag and a better gaming experience. Wifi is not really that great for gaming because there is a slightly higher latency and there is a chance of interference and disconnects. Not everyone needs to connect through Wifi so why force people to pay for it.

Most wireless bridges on newegg cost 80-100 dollars so the xbox wireless adapter is in the market price for a wireless bridge and is not a rip off.

Unless you have a 360 in a confined space where it cannot ventilate then the RROD shouldn't be a problem. Microsoft changed the designed of the 360 so anyone who buys a new 360 today isn't effected by any RROD defects and even if you did buy a console in the past MS upped the warranty to 3 years.

Microsoft handled the problem way better than Sony has when the PS2 had design problems like the dreaded read disc error. All Sony did was deny there was a problem and force people to pay for repairs or buy a new console.

Also I just want to mention that before the PS3 I was a huge Sony fan and do own the PS1 and PS2 and I was turned off by Sony's arrogance and the lack of good games.

[meyou123]

Bluray was included in the PS3 specifically to help Sony win the format war against HD-DVD, not because it provides a real benefit to gaming because the read speed of Bluray is so slow that game developers have to copy the game numerous times on the disc so it can ready it fast enough negating the disc space advantage.

The only developers that are really working on using Cell is Sony's own developers or projects that were started for the PS3 before it came out when everyone thought it would be the sure thing. Most of the games for the PS3 do not look better than 360 games. Even some of the hyped up games like Lair turned out to be a disappointment.

If I am going to spend $500 on anything it better have more than just potential going for it.

I will want to a hard wire to my game console if that means I will get lower latency and less lag and a better gaming experience. Wifi is not really that great for gaming because there is a slightly higher latency and there is a chance of interference and disconnects. Not everyone needs to connect through Wifi so why force people to pay for it.

Most wireless bridges on newegg cost 80-100 dollars so the xbox wireless adapter is in the market price for a wireless bridge and is not a rip off.

Unless you have a 360 in a confined space where it cannot ventilate then the RROD shouldn't be a problem. Microsoft changed the designed of the 360 so anyone who buys a new 360 today isn't effected by any RROD defects and even if you did buy a console in the past MS upped the warranty to 3 years.

Microsoft handled the problem way better than Sony has when the PS2 had design problems like the dreaded read disc error. All Sony did was deny there was a problem and force people to pay for repairs or buy a new console.

Also I just want to mention that before the PS3 I was a huge Sony fan and do own the PS1 and PS2 and I was turned off by Sony's arrogance and the lack of good games.


I agree. I was also a very big Sony fan until the PS3 came out. Now I am looking at buying an XBox 360. The games for the PS3 simply do NOT have the more outstading graphics sony is claiming. Matter of fact....most of the screenshot comparisons I have seen between the PS3 and XBox 360 has the XBox 360 winning every time!

Not only that , but the games for the 360 FAR outnumber the games for the PS3 and by the time the PS3 is really ready for primetime...it will be too late. Sony dropped the ball on the PS3...they came out WAY late in the ballgame while the 360 had market share by itself for a long time. Not a good thing!

Now Sony is the one trying to play catch up. But if you recall, one of the biggest games of the year GRAND THEFT AUTO IV is going to have exclusive content for XBox 360 owners. They may have some kind of add on for the PS3 later on...but that is later on...IF they decide to do it at all.

PS3 seems not to be what it is made out to be after all.

[devils.master]

When PS3 prices are not slashed even than people are buying it, But with the price slash even the people who are thinking for buying a Nintendo or X-Box games will also come back to the PS3 as PS3 is in the priority list of many people.:icon_shak

[djaehere]

they don't have much games for ps3. although heavenly sword looks dope as flump. i saw some kid playing it at bestbuy.

[KiwiTHUGG]

but what they fail to mention is yes the price is good but with the 40gb version they have taken out the backwards compatibility.... so no ps2 games will play... well thats the case of the 40gb here in nz.... the only available version in nz format are the 60gb and 40gb.... i will still stick with my 360.... had a p3 but didnt like it.... but thats my opinion...

[meyou123]

but what they fail to mention is yes the price is good but with the 40gb version they have taken out the backwards compatibility.... so no ps2 games will play... well thats the case of the 40gb here in nz.... the only available version in nz format are the 60gb and 40gb.... i will still stick with my 360.... had a p3 but didnt like it.... but thats my opinion...


Yeah,I agree that it sucks they took out backwards compatibility for the PS3. I have a regular PS2 so it would not be a problem for me, but a lot of people buying this new console might sell theirs off believing that they could just play their old games on the PS3.

But that is not why I do not want a PS3. It is the game selection.What good is having a console that is supposed to be all ramped up, but only a small number of games compared to the Xbox 360 to play on it?

That is why I will probably end up getting a Xbox 360. Even though I got to admit that the overheating problems I have been hearing about make me hesitate to buy even that!

It basically goes like this right now for consoles....the Xbox 360 has overheating problems,the PS3 suffers from being late in the game coming out and does not have a large game selection to show for it. The Wii is a great buy, but many consider it a kids toy, because a lot of the games it has is marketed for kids. Not all but a lot.

So you basically have the console market in kind of a slump as far as new ideas are concerned. I just hope the next generation of consoles they make, concentrate on stability and backwards compatibility.

If they do build a stable, backwards compatible system and GET IT OUT early enough that it can have plenty of games, it would sell like hotcakes.

Look at the PS2 and why it is still doing so well. And it's time is WAY passed.But it is cheap, stable and has a ton of games. No wonder they are still selling them!

I think Sony and Microsoft thought as soon as their new consoles came out,regardless of price or stability, people would drop their old consoles and go buy theirs, but it has not happened quite like they imagined. Hopefully those giant companies CAN learn a lesson from this and next time they come out with something new, concentrate on stability FIRST!

After all, what good is a brand new console if it has overheating problems (Xbox 360) or comes out so late that even though it has the newest technology, it is so expensive at first and does not have a large game library to make people want to purchase it?(Sony PS3)

The Wii is a great little console, but is not going after hardcore gamers. Apparently it was not meant for that, it was simply meant to be another nintendo console that has a "middle of the road" approach.