Bright Star <Single_Star.RemoveThis@webtv.net> wrote:
> With SONY delaying the release of the Playstation3, that should give
> Microsoft the edge it needs to become the dominant force in the video
> game world.
Not really. First, the delay is only going to mainly affect the Japanese
launch - which got pushed from Spring '06 to November '06. Xbox360 is
already a lost cause in Japan, so it doesn't matter whether the PS3
launches in a few months, or later this year because it's clear that the
majority of gamers have already made up their mind to just WAIT for either
Sony or Nintendo's next console to hit the shelves. In the meantime,
there are plenty of releases for the currentally released hardware to keep
them busy - as evidenced by the sales numbers.
In the US, it was always sort of assumed that the PS3 would launch in time
for the '06 Christmas rush. Assuming that Sony does manage to do a
worldwide release, then nothing's changed. Of course, there's still the
worry that Sony - like Microsoft - won't have enough consoles available.
Even so, I really don't see the library of the 360 being able to lure THAT
many people away from the Playstation.
> Now don't get me wrong, I'm just as anxious as anybody else to get my
> hands on a Playstation3 BUT let's face it-people aren't going to wait
> forever.
That depends. The Sony fanboys will wait, and the anti-Microsoft fanboys
will make a point of NOT buying a 360 to make their point. As for the
majority of the market, they'll simply wait until there are enough games
to make the purchase worthwhile. Unfortunatly, based on what I've seen of
both consoles' projected releases, it seems that most games will simply be
sequels of previous titles. So, if you like FPS and sports games, once
again, you should buy a 360. If you like RGPs, platformers and other
types of games, then buy a PS3. Same goes for Revolution.
> A lot of people who would have bought a Playstation3 had it been
> released in the spring won't be waiting until November. They'll just buy
> an Xbox 360, which isn't having anymore shortage problems.
First, the spring release was only for Japan, wasn't it? Sony had never
said anything about a global release in Spring. The PS2 came out in
spring, followed by the US launch in November, and the European launch the
following March.
Second, I don't think you give people enough paitence. With all the games
still coming out for the PS2, I don't think most people are going to mind
waiting for another 8 or 9 months.
As for the 360, I still don't see them on the floors of my local Best Buy,
so I wouldn't say the shortage is over just yet...
> As of right now, SONY is the #1 video game company in the world. BUT
> this delay can change all that. Remember-there was a time when Nintendo
> was #1 & that was years before SONY got into the business. & let's not
> forget Sega who had quite a reputation with the Sega Genesis.
> Microsoft is on the verge of knocking SONY off its lofty perch. & with
> what I've seen of the Xbox 360, they have the advantage of over a year
> headstart. How SONY is supposed to overcome that disadvantage remains to
> be seen.
Of course no company should rest on its laurels, I don't think you fully
appreciate the positions of Sony vs. Microsoft. At worst, the PS2 outsold
the Xbox by 7 to 1. For Microsoft to catch up, they need to attract
customers from from Sony and based on the 360's library, I really don't
see that happening in large numbers.
At least with Sony vs. Nintendo, Sony stole Square away from Nintendo -
and with it, the console RPG market which proved crucial in not only
establishing Sony in the market, but establshed them as a leader.
You also overlook the fact that both the PS1 AND PS2 were not the first
consoles to launch in their respective generations. In fact, the PS2
launched an entire year AFTER the Dreamcast did, and just like the 360,
the Dreamcast had an uncontested Christmas in the US and didn't even have
the supply problems that the 360 did. Yet that wasn't enough. Barely
after the Dreamcast turned 1 year old in the US, Sega killed it. Seems
that too many people were more interested in waiting for the PS2 to arrive
rather than buy another console that was in ample supply.
> By the time the Playstation3 is released, the Xbox 360 will be getting
> 2nd generation games that will make any launch games for the
> Playstation3 look & play terrible by comparison. PLUS the shortages that
> occured last Christmas won't be repeated. In other words, Microsoft is
> going to kick SONY's ass.
Again, this assumes that people are just going to give up on the PS3 and
just buy a PS3. That is not going to be the case.
> The Playstation3 will be in short supply & not too many games to choose
> from will be available. YES, you can play Playstation 1 & 2 games on it
> BUT most people will want to play Playstation3 specific games on it. &
> you have to know, that many systems won't work properly-BUGS.
It remains to be seen what, if any, problems there will be with the PS3.
The main problem of the PS2, for instance, didn't really start showing up
until 6-9 months after the system was relesaed. Meanwhile, the Xbox had a
recall announced against the first 3 years worth of console models almost
4 years AFTER the thing was initially released. My point is that it's
impossible to predict problems, and not all problems will be apparent at
launch, nor fixed after just one year.
> & at $450 to $500 per system, many people are just going to wait till
> the price comes down, EVEN IF it means waiting a year or more.
If people want the PS3, price won't be an issue. Look at the folks who
bought (are buying) the 360 for $400 now. Final pricing has not been
announced for the US, but based on the Japanese price of 50000Yen, I think
we'll see a US price of $400.
> Wanna bet that the Xbox 360 will be lower in price later this year
> than it had been last year? That's more than likely to happen.
> & waiting in the wings, watching all this unfold, is Nintendo with
> their upcoming Revolution system.
If Microsoft is smart, they'll drop the Core to $199 and the Premium to
$299 once the PS3 launches.
This would allow the Premium to be $100 less than the PS3, while the Core
would be the same price the Revolution is expected to launch at.
In fact, if Microsoft were smart, they'd drop the price on the 360 $50 for
the spring, in an attempt to garner more sales. They should also try to
move release schedules up to try and pump out as many games as possible
before the PS3 launches. This is going to be the only time Microsoft will
have an uncontested market for the next-gen. Once the PS3 and Revolution
come out, it'll be a 3-way fight once again. Microsoft has to use every
opportunity they have now to get ahead because once the others come out,
they're going to gain quickly.
I don't think Microsoft is going to be the top seller this time around.
But they definitely have to close the gap between themselves and Sony and
at least break even. If they don't, I seriously doubt there'll be a Xbox3.
>> Stay informed about: SONY's Delay is Microsoft's edge 
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