In 360 news..

[Funkmasterr]

Business Week is reporting (and a contact at the company confirmed) that Microsoft will indeed be cutting prices on the Xbox 360. Taking a page from the Nintendo camp, the Arcade Xbox 360 SKU will now drop down to $199 putting the 360 as the cheapest of the three home consoles. The Pro SKU will run for $299 and finally the Elite will clock in at $399. The new prices will go into effect on Friday, Sept 5.

This strategy can be paired with the upcoming software update for the Xbox 360 Dashboard. The new system will be a much more user-friendly interface and experience with a total overhaul of the system. You can check out our preview of the new Dashboard from E3 2008 here.

Good news indeed, should definitely help the 360 gain even more momentum.

[Aardor]

Not so good news: http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/ ... ly-/?biz=1 (not so bad or unexpected either)

[Funkmasterr]

Yeah, that was bound to happen at some point. Sony has the upper hand there, but MS has the upper hand in some aspects too being as the 360 has more RAM that is dedicated to game usage as opposed to system usage.

It all about evens out, and developers will find ways to optimize things for both consoles. By the end of this console cycle, the PS3 might surpass the 360 graphically, but I don't think it will be by much, certainly not by as much as many seem to think.

[miir]

should definitely help the 360 gain even more momentum.

Seeing as the 360 has been having a terrible year (sales wise), it needs all the momentum it can get.


12 months ago, the 360 and Wii were on par for total sales (roughly 11 million). Since then, the Wii has outsold it by more than 2-1 and now holds a 11 million sales advantage.

12 months ago, the 360 held a 7 million advantage in sales over the PS3. That advantage has shrunk to 4 million.

22 months after release, the 360 had sold 11 million units.
22 months after release, the PS3 has sold 16 million units.
22 months after release, the Wii has sold 32 million units.


MS loses another round of the console wars.

[Funkmasterr]

should definitely help the 360 gain even more momentum.

Seeing as the 360 has been having a terrible year (sales wise), it needs all the momentum it can get.


12 months ago, the 360 and Wii were on par for total sales (roughly 11 million). Since then, the Wii has outsold it by more than 2-1 and now holds a 11 million sales advantage.

12 months ago, the 360 held a 7 million advantage in sales over the PS3. That advantage has shrunk to 4 million.

22 months after release, the 360 had sold 11 million units.
22 months after release, the PS3 has sold 16 million units.
22 months after release, the Wii has sold 32 million units.


MS loses another round of the console wars.

Do I really have to explain to you again the importance of software sales, and how MS is still ahead of the other two in software attachment, and will be through the end of this round of consoles?

You should really just close yer mouf when grown folk talkin bwoy.

[miir]

And do I have to explain once again that during the same timeframe after release, the 360, PS3 and Wii all have near identical attach rates (within 1)?

The amount of time a console has been available has a direct correlation on software attach rates.
The PS2 has an attach rate more than double that of the 360... using your logic, the PS2 is the current top console.

[Funkmasterr]

The amount of time a console has been available has a direct correlation on software attach rates.

I understand that, which is why I made a point to say that I firmly believe (just looking at game line ups will tell you this) that the 360 will continue to have a higher attach rate for the life of this console cycle.

[miir]

I understand that, which is why I made a point to say that I firmly believe (just looking at game line ups will tell you this) that the 360 will continue to have a higher attach rate for the life of this console cycle.

No.

[Fash]

They all came out at different times, and some had more launch issues than others, some took longer to catch on, and they all had different pricing models. It's not apples to apples.

The 360, when everything is considered, is in the best shape with the best offering...

The only add-on I'd be interested in is a BluRay drive. If MS would do that, it would eliminate the possibility that I might buy a PS3.

[Funkmasterr]

I understand that, which is why I made a point to say that I firmly believe (just looking at game line ups will tell you this) that the 360 will continue to have a higher attach rate for the life of this console cycle.

No.

We'll see then gramps. You want to bet on it?

[Bubba Grizz]

When saying ps2 do you really mean ps3?

[Truant]

When saying ps2 do you really mean ps3?

No, he means ps2. Funk always declares that software sales/attach rates are the deciding factor in console wars.
ps2 has higher sales/attach than any next gen, so it must be the best console.

[Funkmasterr]

When saying ps2 do you really mean ps3?

No, he means ps2. Funk always declares that software sales/attach rates are the deciding factor in console wars.
ps2 has higher sales/attach than any next gen, so it must be the best console.

Right, if you are just being obnoxious and completely ignore that I have clearly stated that we are talking about this generation of consoles, you are totally correct!

[Bubba Grizz]

Sorry for the confusion. I thought that the ps2 was old stuff and that the ps3 was more comparable to the 360 and wii. Then again I forget how long they have all been out.

[Aslanna]

It looks like Microsoft and the 360 are the clear losers here the same as McCain and Palin. This is a great time to be alive!

[Aardor]

Sorry for the confusion. I thought that the ps2 was old stuff and that the ps3 was more comparable to the 360 and wii. Then again I forget how long they have all been out.

Well, you're right that the ps2 was the last gen of consoles, and the ps3, 360, and wii are the same generation (even though hardware wise, the wii is at the level of a last gen console). Regardless of the generation of console, the ps2 still has the best game sales of any system (or it did for a long while with this generation of console). Hell, aren't they still making new ps2 games?

[Bubba Grizz]

It looks like Microsoft and the 360 are the clear losers here the same as McCain and Palin. This is a great time to be alive!

No.....no....bad Aslanna bad. Don't bring that here.

[miir]

The 360, when everything is considered, is in the best shape with the best offering...

Sales per month:

Wii - 1.45 million
PS3 - 730k
360 - 600k

Attach rate growth is nearly equal on all 3 consoles.


The Wii appeals to casual and hardcore gamers of all ages and to both men and women.
The PS3 appeals to hardcore male gamers 15-35 and consumers looking for a Blu-Ray player
The 360 appeals to hardcore male gamers 15-35.


The 360 has the smallest market demographic and unless they start coming out with more titles that appeal to other consumers (casual, children, women, etc) they are going to reach saturation a lot quicker than the Wii and PS3.

[Truant]

Hell, aren't they still making new ps2 games?

Yes.

[Kilmoll the Sexy]

The 360, when everything is considered, is in the best shape with the best offering...

Sales per month:

Wii - 1.45 million
PS3 - 730k
360 - 600k

Attach rate growth is nearly equal on all 3 consoles.


The Wii appeals to casual and hardcore gamers of all ages and to both men and women.
The PS3 appeals to hardcore male gamers 15-35 and consumers looking for a Blu-Ray player
The 360 appeals to hardcore male gamers 15-35.


The 360 has the smallest market demographic and unless they start coming out with more titles that appeal to other consumers (casual, children, women, etc) they are going to reach saturation a lot quicker than the Wii and PS3.

The Wii does not appeal to hardcore gamers. At all. Ever. In any regard.

[Truant]

Kilmoll, you're wrong.

[miir]

I'm pretty much a hardcore gamer and the Wii was the first of the next gen consoles I bought.

[Winnow]

The Wii is a gimmick!

[Boogahz]

The Wii is a gimmick!

Miir is a gimmick.

[miir]

The Wii is a gimmick!

Miir is a gimmick.

If I get rid of the r and turn the M upside down....

[Winnow]

the 360 outsold the ps3 in August despite the fact that many people were waiting for the rumored price drops. Now that the 360 has dropped in price,

look out now!

[Winnow]

Short movie showing the new 360 avatar creation system:

http://kotaku.com/5052562/how-to-build- ... 360-avatar

Pretty basic but seems fast and easy enough.

[Fairweather Pure]

Looks like fun. I know my wife will get a kick out of making her own character. So will my kids when they are a bit older.

I don't understand all the hate on in those comments. It's a cool, free feature IMO. I don't mind that it compies the Wii at all. I thought it was a great feature on the Wii and the kids loved making their own avatars.

[Funkmasterr]

Looks like fun. I know my wife will get a kick out of making her own character. So will my kids when they are a bit older.

I don't understand all the hate on in those comments. It's a cool, free feature IMO. I don't mind that it compies the Wii at all. I thought it was a great feature on the Wii and the kids loved making their own avatars.

Yeah I don't see an issue with it either. I think it's really cool that there will be different pieces of clothing/accessories that you will get to put on your avatar from getting achievements. So what if it's like mii's - it's another cool feature in the REALLY long list of cool features on Xbox Live.