The console wars continue to rage, as Sony continues its line that the PlayStation 3 offers more value for money in the face of the significantly cheaper Xbox 360. Choosing to focus on the Xbox Live Gold subscription, Sony explains that, rather than drop $50 to play Halo 3 and Gears of War 2, you could instead give all that money to the PSN.
"Rather than paying a $50 subscription fee that competitors charge for on-line services, PlayStation Network users could put that money towards a variety of content," claims Sony.
This is actually the kind of thing Sony needs to focus on more aggressively. To the average consumer, the Xbox 360 will always look like the better deal simply because it's cheaper. Sony seems to just assume everyone knows about the Xbox 360's extra costs, but your general punter really doesn't.
However, with Xbox Live continuing to fleece consumers for their money, despite the fact that we all know it's bullsh*t, Sony might not have much success enticing people over to the dark side. Simply too many people want to play Halo 3 and Gears of War 2.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
Likes
PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
50 comments | showing # 1 to 50
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
1:20 PM on 02.12.2009
| 
In the end, though, these points don't really matter. People are going to go where the games they want are, whether or not they have to pay for online.
Somewhere in here is my funny comment on my distaste for Home on the PS3, I just don't want to exert the effort. You get what you pay for?
I guess I just did.
Which is all the more reason I wish they'd stop. I WANT BROKEN STEEL, @$%# IT!
And Jim, you're 100% right. Sony needs to publicly make points like this more often. By the time you tack on a larger hard drive, the wi-fi adapter, and xbl subscription fees, you're left with a console that's not a whole hell of alot cheaper than a low end PS3. However, the souped up 360 isn't, nor will it ever be, a bluray player. It's an argument that's been made before, and this is largely because it's accurate.
I am quite happy with the amount of games on the PSN and could care less about exclusive Fallout 3 and GTA DLC, I havn't touched Fallout 3 in 4 months and GTA is for sale for $40 and I only got about 40% into...mwa ha ha
Exclusive DLC does not persue me in any way to want the game on whatever console the DLC resides in, just not that into DLC as much as a downloaded standalone game.
@SilverDragon
If I walk into a retailer or buy online from Microsoft, the price is probably going to be $49.99 for 12 months. You can also find PS3s for less than $400 if you look. Unless we can reliably get a thing at X price anywhere, X is not the price, it's just on sale at that particular place.
Besides, I don't think the price point issue is all that interesting -- each console's game library ought to be a larger factor in deciding which you want.
still...I'd love to plunk money at PS3. But the highest offer is still at 400.
Also why do 360 guys think they are better than everyone? I've never replace my PS3. I don't need to put batteries in my controller. I don't need to pay to play online. I don't need to by a blu-ray to watch HD Movies.
@Arrested Developer
Yeah you get exclusive DLC, but that doesn't bring the DLC down a single cent. It seriously has no advantage whatsoever for the consumer. Only MS themselves.
I've never replaced my 360, have rechargeable (and replaceable -- take that Sony) battery packs in my controllers, and stream HD movies on my 360 with Netflix ;)
Oh god, I'm trolling in a console war thread.
---
Non-troll mode:
I don't think either console is better. It all comes down to the games, and even then it's not as simple as "my console has the best games so yours sucks" -- it's all subjective based on the kind of games you enjoy. I love my 360, but I'm sure I'd love a PS3 if I had one instead.
"The thing is that $50 goes towards Microsoft locking down exclusive DLC for games like Fallout, GTA, and Tomb Raider."
But what good does exclusivity do for 360 owners?
Trust me, I would love to have Braid and N+ on PSN. XBL has some gems and so does PSN(Monsters, Eden, Flower). I've played on both systems for many hours and my friends were the reason I played my PS3 more. Not to mention I love the way the PS3 looks and the features it has out of the box.
Its easy to say "Its onlt 50 bucks" and "blah blah blah my connection is better" but when it comes down to the principle I get the to do something you 360 guys can't do....play online for free.
Personally, I find it very convenient that I don't have to pay to play online, because there are times I cannot turn on my PS3 for a couple of weeks. Now it would be to bad if I had to pay for those times.
Its true, but you cant play the games I want to play, the fact ps3 is free online doesnt mean a whole lot to me when the only game I really want for ps3 doesnt even have online functionality, IE Valkyria Chronicles
That is Sony's main problem. I have problems with x-box 360, I am pulling for Sony because I grew up with Playstation being so good, however for Sony to say that because of their free online they're better than x-box, is white noise.
That was a long comment, sorry if I upset anyone, I just want to further the converstation.
Sometimes I wish these articles didn't have comment options, and this stuff went down in the forum.
Sony's got it right, it is cheaper in the long run, in general, you get more bang for your buck.
Does Sony have all the games and content as Microsoft? No. But, they are catching up, with a year behind the 360 they are clearly doing very well. There are plenty of exclusive/non exclusive reasons to log onto PSN. It's free, all online is free, you can even put nextflix on the damned thing, for free. ( www.mediamall.com to download trial software + www.netflix.com for trial account if you want to try it).
The ps3 needs a price drop, badly, but there are more and more reasons everyday to own the unit. Free online, no batteries, bluray, games, psn, wifi, replaceable/upgradeable hard drive, etc, sony's looking good, they just need to let people know, and drop the price 100 bucks (and probably throw in a PSN game and/or a Bluray movie at that cost.
The advantage to the customer is that they can purchase something that is potentially enjoyable. I'll agree that it is more of a positive for the console to have an exclusive than it is the customer but exclusivity brings up the whole haves and have nots scenario. It feel nice to have something that someone else can't have, that's just human nature.
@ Mix
I can understand not wanting a certain DLC pack but that doesn't strip the Fallout and Gta exclusive dlc of all value, others are really looking forward to them. I didn't enjoy Resistance: FOM on my PS3 but that doesn't mean the other 3.5 million people that bought it hated it too.
@ everyone else
This is turning into the same old argument. 360 guys say they don't mind paying the 30-50 bucks a year for what they consider to be a superior service. PS3 guys call 360 dumb for paying what they feel is a comparable service to their free one. Then everyone just starts comparing dicks.
To top it off theres the pricipal of the whole thing, I should shovel out 50 $ a year for internet that I already pay for, f#ck that. Thats just wrong no matter how you try to spin it.
And just for the record, I'm going to save up for a PS3, so I'm no fanboy, just voicing my opinion.
PC games have been doing this for nearly 20 years without charge, PSN follows the same model. If you 360 lasts 10 years, and assuming MS keep the subscription (because, let's face it: There are too many of you willing to part with your money over something so trivial), that costs $500. Almost the price of a PS3 at launch.
You can argue that that $50 is going toward getting you exclusive DLC, there are two counters to that:
1 - Why do you still have to pay for the DLC?
2 - Are you that petty you only want your console, and your "elite" group to be the only ones to enjoy extra game content?
If the 2 were equal then yes, FREE is the winner. XboxLive is simply far in advance of the competition, never mind the games issue. The back end of running a service like Xbox Live is astronomical (google it). Sony profits were down 95% last quarter. I doubt they will have bigger fish to fry than to worry about the PS3 or any FREE online service.
You get what you pay for.
You do get what you pay for. But lets not delude ourselves that Live offers anything more than PSN that justifies that $50.
Last I heard most people are waiting 20mins for a 5min game of Gears2. You're paying for a premium service, and you're waiting longer than you're playing?
PSN has it's problems, but it's forgiven because it's free and evolving, as it should be. PSN and Live are ultimately tools to generate money with little effort (through DLC, games, movies), having to pay just to play those games you've bought is silly.
lets all go play on our seperate networks and shut the fuck up!