I wonder from a risk point of view whether MS can actually make the console $499 - surely it will be a considerable loss per console. Even if its only $50 per console that still a quarter of a billion dollar loss on the first 5 million consoles. And it could be closer to $100 per console.
The flip side is - I really don't see how launching at higher than $499 is going to let them build a viable ecosystem quickly. After inflation, the $500 Xbox One cost (with Kinect included) cost about $560 in today's dollars. People did not buy it. Take Kinect out, but noting the console is more powerful (for its day), and hopefully they can make $499 happen. Any more and they're competing on value with Sony with a likely higher price (and rightly or wrongly, PS is still viewed as more valuable than Xbox, despite Xbox's incredibly strong online service and subscription offering).
starcraft - Playing Games = FUN, Talking about Games = SERIOUS
