Microsoft Europe bosses: Sony "forcing" consumers into Blu-ray purchase
In a video interview today, the heads of Microsoft Europe and Xbox UK's leaders had some very pointed words for Sony's pricing of the Playstation 3 and its included Blu-ray player. Noting the failure of Betamax and the current uncertainty between HD DVD and Blu-ray, they said Microsoft's strategy of an add-on player allows customers to upgrade when they are ready, rather than force them to pay several extra hundred pounds for something they don't necessarily want or are ready for yet. Of course, thats pretty much exactly Sony's strategy, to create an installed base of Blu-ray players and dominate the high definition DVD market. The Xbox UK head, Neil Thompson, called Sony's business model "challenging" due to the high entry price. It's all a matter of perspective we guess, high priced game machine or low priced Blu-ray player, how will consumers see it and how will it affect sales.
Filed under: Sony
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zombieflanders @ May 30th 2006 4:56PM
The idea that Microsoft, of all companies, is complaining about forcing anything on anyone boggles the mind.
Bojanglez @ May 30th 2006 5:09PM
No one is being forced to do anything, if people want a system without Blu-Ray they can buy a 360. These comments suggest to me that this guy doesn't think people actually want a 360 so therefore have no choice but to buy a PS3. I think Microsoft are getting scared that the PS3 is going to out sell the 360 even with it's higher price.
Zach @ May 30th 2006 6:59PM
"I think Microsoft are getting scared that the PS3 is going to out sell the 360 even with it's higher price."
That gave me a good laugh... Because Microsoft didnt expect to turn 100 Million + gamers in the Sony fan base to switch sides.
hmurchison @ May 30th 2006 7:23PM
Sheesh you guys are dense.
He's spot on with his comments. Truth is you can have an Xbox 360 for $299 and then decide to upgrade to HD-DVD playback when you want or have the funds. That option simply doesn't exist with the PS3. If you simply want a game machine your dollars are going to subsidize some movie lovers dreams of low cost HD. Wake up and smell the coffee
Ted Worshovski @ May 30th 2006 11:09PM
Anyone that thinks the Xbox has a future shouldn't spend any time in the stock market or casinos.
That said, the PS3 will disappoint and Sony will be forced to lose a chunk of change on the PS4.
(MS will go after the pre-adolescent market with their next console system...much like McDonalds did long ago in the fast-food industry.)
Larry @ May 31st 2006 9:53AM
hmurchison is correct. Sony is taking a huge gamble with this Blu-Ray console. It is not a gaming console primarily but a blu-ray platform. Making people spend $200 for Blu-Ray is stupid. The consumers are gamers first not movie watchers. Nintendo doesn't even think this generation is ready for HD at all.
Nick @ May 31st 2006 10:54AM
People need to see that Sony is not willing to lose the High Def DVD war. Ok, so there is a lot of money involved in thew video game war, but does anyone have the numbers that will show how much money Sony will make is Blu Ray becomes the standard for next gen DVDs? I'm sure there's a big chunk of change that many people don't even think about.
Sony is trying to win both battles with the same weapon which in my opinion is very smart on their part. True, it will cost you more money to get a PS3, but I know I'd rather spend the money on a PS3 with Blu Ray than buy a gaming devide and then spend an extra $400 on a High Def DVD player.
Larry @ May 31st 2006 11:41AM
I think people understand what Sony stands to gain. The problem the Microsoft points out is that gamers are not clamoring for the next generation dvd tech. In truth even if there was no split in formats there may not be that high a demand.
Microsoft plans to give you a $250 or less add-on to HD Dvd. That is the real smart move for a gaming company. How many dead or dying formats have Sony put out in the last 10 years?
Ben Hobbs @ May 31st 2006 11:57AM
But you can have an Xbox360 AND a HD DVD player for the same price as the PS3.
That way people can actually watch movies in their homes, regardless of whether or not their kids are playing games.
Theres no way the typical HD consumer is going to want to use a joystick to navigate menus, run through A sony OS UI.
I don't understand the PS3 fanboys, at the end of the day I'm playing High-Def games today, The Sony isn;t even out yet and when it is released it will be 99% the same games anyway.
I don't see how Sony can fit a fully fledged gaming machine and a blu-ray player in a box 15% the size of the next smallest blu-ray player at 1/2 the price. Stunted, will most probably be the most common word used when referring to the Blu-Ray player in the PS3.
JJ @ May 31st 2006 12:45PM
I dunno... the way i see it, if you can afford a 360 (400) you can afford a PS3 (500).
Lets not kid ourselvs... NO ONE buys the 299 360, because its an essentially, worthless system at 299, you cant do anything with it, cant save games, cant go onlin, etc. In order to have any functionality you need the hardrive which costs 100 bucks or a memory card which costs 40.. which would you buy? seriously.
at least at 500 you're not getting a gimped PS3. Only thing you're missing is a built in Wifi, card reader and HDMI. Which if you have a 360 aint a big deal because that doesnt ahve an HDMI either.
Besides most people i know will either have all 3 systems, or for the average consumer.. will just get a Wii. heh.
Besides who is gonna complain about blu ray on a PS3.. and THEN go out and buy an HDDVD player for the 360? sounds kinda silly to me if hte player costs anywhere above 100 bucks, the system will cost the same as the PS3, except for the fact the blu ray drive on PS3 can be used for games AND Movies and the HDDVD on the 360 will just be for movies
TOM @ May 31st 2006 1:43PM
I THINK SONY IS A GREAT SYSTEM FROM THE PS1 UP TO NOW.
I DONT HAVE FAITH IN MICROSOFT AT ALL BECAUSE FROM WHAT
IVE SEEN AND HEARD THE OS ON THE XBOX IS A REAL PAIN IN
THE A$$. MANY PROBLEMS WITH OPERATING SYS. IT LOCKS YOU OUT AND THATS CRAPPY. THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE THEM A LITTLE MORE USER FRIENDLY NO OS DISK TO RESCUE OR RESTORE THE DRIVE WHAT A JOKE THEN THEY WANT ANOTHER $100 TO REPAIR!!! REALITY IS SONY DOES NOT HASSLE YOU WITH PROTECTION ERRORS AND THAT CRAP.IVE TRIED MANY GAME SYSTEMS ALL THE WAY BACK TO ATARI AND YET TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS XBOX HAS HAD. IF THERE WAS ANY PROBLEMS THEY WERE USER FRIENDLY PROBLEMS LIKE THE CARTRIDGE WAS DIRTY. SONY OFFERS ALSO YOU CAN STILL PLAY THE GAMES FROM THE EARLIER SYSTEMS XBOX DONT.THE CELL TECHNOLOGY SONY BOASTS ABOUT I THINK IS WHERE THE PRICE COMES FROM NOT REALLY THE BLU RAY OPTION BUT THAT IS MY OPINION AND WE ALL HAVE THEM. I THINK XBOX IS OUT FOR THE MONEY MOSTLY BY THE TIME YOU RETIRE THE XBOX IT COST YOU MORE THAN A NEW PS3.SO WEIGH OUT THE DIFFERENCES FOR YOURSELF. I DONT HATE XBOX BUT REALLY KIND OF BUMMED ABOUT ALL THE ERRORS YOU GET. LEAVE THE MONEY IN CONSUMERS POCKETS FOR NEW GAMES NOT REPAIRS!!!
JJ @ May 31st 2006 3:00PM
Tom...FYI... nobody listens to people who type in caps.
its kind of annoying. Just letting ya know.
Guillermo @ May 31st 2006 3:42PM
Tom
I guess you never owned the first original playstations. They have a lot of problems with their lasers and over heating. I remember some of my friends flipping the original playstation to prevented it from over heating. Also, the Xbox 360 does let you play "some" of the original Xbox games and they still working in upgrading the list of titles that you will be able to play. About the OS, I keep hearing that is more easy to make games for the Xbox 360 than the Cell. I also have owned all the systems starting with the Atari 2600 up to the Xbox. I still do not have an Xbox 360. I was waiting for the PS3 but from what I have seen and heard about it, it did not convince me enough to buy it. I have the money for it, I just think the Xbox 360 is a better choice for me. If you think the PS3 is a better choice for you, then great. A lot of my friends were waiting for the PS3 (rabid Sony supporters) and now they are planning and even some have bought (I am still shocked) the Xbox 360.
TOM @ Jun 1st 2006 4:22AM
Well let me tell a few people about how i see sony
I bought a nintendo 64 when it first came out what a mistake talk about junk. sony also was out about the same time. The sony game system had 20 games to 1 nintendo game and the games were crummy. Sony is a leader if you want to follow thats fine but i never had the problems xbox lunchbox has had in fact i owned 1 nothing but a pain.1st every time you unplug you have to reset the clock because no bios battery backup. 2nd my power supply shorted out. 3rd after they exchanged system 3 months later hardrive crashed. I would rather play the game rather than send it in for repairs. Its a video game not a car. I went to a friends house since my system was down he was having problems too. Thats when i said enough is enough. So i went out bought a ps2 it was great no unexplained errors out of the blue. Its been great that means no problems i turn it on and guess what it works!!! its not hard to believe its called quality. so to me sony won the race. Yes i can say i do like some of the game xbox had but the problems these systems had i said forget it. I want to enjoy the game not throw it out of a window at 100mph +. you might get some fun out of it then. As for cooling system on ps1 i never had a problem but im sure its possible. I gave xbox a chance and it failed.
TOM @ Jun 1st 2006 5:21AM
GUILLERMO
I dont get it its a game not a pancake!!! I seen few and far LESS problems with sony than the xbox. by the time you upgrade the new xbox to where the ps3 is.you spent just as much or more and still be limited.
You said SOME games you can play on xbox 360 and they are still upgrading the list I thought you said it was easier to make games. Sounds like its a problem that should have been addressed before they put the game on the market wouldnt you say so. So much for your opinion. As for your (rabid Sony supporters) good luck to them and there choices (sounds like they are tired of waiting). I will stick with quality. Microsoft just wants all your money, quality comes second in there books. I guess its easier to build junk and it is also cheaper.
Larry @ Jun 1st 2006 7:33AM
Microsoft has given gamer choices. Yes they will take your money hand over fist, but you have the option not to buy. Ultimately, this is the argument the Microsoft guy is trying to make. People from this forum may not by the core version of Microsoft's system, but there are a lot of familes looking for a X-mas present for their kids. The 299 version will be more appealing to that market.