SvennoJ said:
JustBeingReal said:
SvennoJ said:
Fries said things could change with the upcoming release of virtual and augmented reality devices. Microsoft and Sony have taken different approaches in that emerging space and so that wildcard could still shake things up.
What is Microsoft developing for XBox One?
Project hololens still seems very much a prototype and, needing it's own onboard processors etc, likely won't be a mass consumer product anytime soon.
I doubt it will shake up anything though. Morpheus Is going to be $300 at least as well if not more.
|
That's highly doubtful, the components that make up a headmounted display aren't expensive enough to make that happen.
Hell even if Morpheus came with another PS4 APU & 2GBs of GDDR5 in a module that directly connects to Morpheus, to boost processing for VR it wouldn't be that expensive, worse case scenario about $200 for everything at launch, with extra processing and memory hardware.
We're literally talking about a Plastic frame for the panels, sensors and stuff to sit in, along with some soft foam (maybe memory foam) for comfort around the ears and the back & top of your head/neck.
The sensors envolved in this kind of thing only cost a few pounds/dollars at most.
2X 5.7inch 960X1080 OLED panels, those aren't expensive now, hell Vita's oled tech was like $50 in 2012, that's probably still the most expensive part in Morpheus and costs have come down, but tech has vastly improved since Vita came out.
The OLED panels, as in both of them probably don't cost more than $50 today, all in all I'd be surprised if each Morpheus headset cost more than $100 to make, so Sony could make a decent profit releasing at around $129, if they're fine breaking even then $99 is definitely doable, though they may take a hit on shipping and boxing each unit.
$99 would be the sweat spot with a unit that doesn't have extra processing hardware to boost the system, if Morpheus requires another "module", with an APU and RAM then $199 will be the launch price.
Shu has already said that Sony wants to make the headset as cheap as possible, to get the install base up from day one.
Expecting Morpheus to cost the same as PS4 will be when Morpheus comes out is ridiculous.
|
Maybe if they want to sell it at production cost.
With an new unknown product that's a gamble but maybe it will pay off.
The HMZ-T3 is still over $800, that has 2 separate 720p screens, Morpheus will share one for both eyes. (960x1080 per eye)
Add sensors and a lot of R&D that needs to be paid for as well and releasing around $129 seems suicide.
It might get to that price in a few years, you don't start a hot new product at bottom price level.
Kinect could have been $60 at launch to break even with production costs in 2010, it still isn't.
|
PS4 was released to the market at production cost (it made a profit when a game was bought with it), Morpheus will be using the same business model as a console, release the hardware at either break even or a slight loss and make your money back with software sales and Sony will have game software specifically for Morpheus at launch and beyond.
The hmz-t3w can be had for a lot less than that now and it wasn't made in big quantities like Morpheus will be, which would drastically reduce the cost of production and materials for Sony.
I thought Morpheus had 2 panels, my mistake, but that just makes things cheaper still 1 panel is cheaper than 2 and reduces production time, because people don't have to spend time fiddling about getting 2 panels into the system.
Vita's lower resolution panel cost $50 for Sony, back in 2011, it's been 4 years since then, the technology is much cheaper now.
As I said costs to make something like this aren't expensive by any means now, hence why we're getting to a stage where it can come out and be released wth the intention to create a big install base.
I accounted for all parts that would go into making Morpheus, it's not that complicated really, not when you look into the hardware that goes into making the thing work, it doesn't even need some expensive battery, because it's connected through a power coard, maybe the retail unit would have a battery.
I stand by what I said, $99 is probably the break even price of the hardware, costs of boxing and shipping maybe add $10 to that figure, $129 would be a profit, $19 of profit is far from suicidal, actually it's probably just right and most people that are interested in Morpheus would happily pay that, they could probably get a bundle deal with 2 games for $199 and Sony will be happy with selling a couple of million units on launch day and 10% of the PS4's install base buying it over the life of the console.
Your kinect example is irrelevent to this argument, we're talking about a plastic headset, with foam, an OLED panel, sensors and some LED lights, $100 is probably even profitable for this kind of tech, kinect costing way more than production to buy is Microsoft's business decision, it has absolutely nothing to do with how Sony works.
The cheaper Morpheus is the more people will buy it and they will buy a boat load of games for it too.
