If ps4 and nextbox are priced above 500 $ , I can see a very hard time being on the market. WiiU will have had a fine library of good games until then. And let's not forget the global crisis. If someone was shocked about the original price of Ps3 in 2006, do you believe someone would be cool to give 500$ for a ps4 in 2013? Just too bad!

It is because of the games. At launch it seems I’ll have a ‘balanced diet’ of titles to consume. I loved both inFAMOUS and Killzone, so naturally I'll continue with those two. I'm a GT buff so DriveCulb is a natural choice for me. And of course there's Knack – a platformer - to balance the aforementioned titles. Unlike the Wii U and PS3, I am sure the PS4/Xbox will have superior multiplats at launch, so I'll be inclined to pick up games like Watch Dogs, Battlefield 4, AC IV etc. on PS4. I have experienced open world multiplat games on the PS3, and I do admit there are issues with some of them, so I’d prefer to avoid that. The PS4 would allow me to enjoy them minus the issues (or majority of issues).

The majority of the features Sony showed were ‘medium to long term’, so I don’t expect them to be realized by launch. Added to that, I care not for the majority of them, but I am interested in the software.

If Nintendo had a new Zelda and Smash game for the Wii U I would have purchased one already, but their current offerings are not strong enough to coax me into making a purchase. I'll likely get one around the time those games launch. It will look more attractive by the time Pikmin, Bayonetta and Zelda WW are out though (but still not enough).

That's why I do not think those systems will be too expensive. I think they'll be products of austerity, if you will.

Anything over $400 is too much for a console.

Fair enough. I definitely trust Sony to host some great titles on PS4, early and often.

I'm just worried about the price tag. I didn't get a PS3 until Christmas 2009 because the price was so high. I imagine it will play out in a similar way with PS4.

Yes, $ 500 is too much. It doesnt mean that the devices are not worth the price, but the average consumer wont be paying that much for a gaming console with many other cheaper options available on the market.

Yes, that is a legitimate concern. I probably won’t get it at launch, and not necessarily because of the price. My concern lies with bugs that usually accompany launch hardware. I’m not inclined to shell out $400 or so for a faulty system, especially when I can wait and pay less for an improved version down the road. Plus, by then it will have more games to justify the purchase.

I’m in a similar position as you – albeit for different reasons. I got out of gaming for a number of years, so I entered this generation a bit late (at the end of 2011). As a result, I have a HUGE backlog of games. So you see where I’m going with this. If I manage to chop down a significant number of titles between now and launch I’ll have an incentive to upgrade. If not, I might wait it out. But my point still stands; Sony has done enough to get me to consider purchasing it early. They will have to do a bit more to lock my decision – be it through hype, greater availability of software, low price point or a combination of these.

With the amazing gaming value steam has been giving me... I'd find it tough to pay more then 200 for a console.

Heck with that 200 I could buy 5 to 20+ games on steam....

It's going to take a game breaking/genre breaking game to get me to buy a new console.

I bought my PS3 when MGS4 was released at $450 (I think that was the price). The way I look at it, people who bought it at $600 paid $150 dollars to enjoy the first year and a half of PS3, personally I don't think it was worth it but like you said value is relative and I'm sure early a good part of early adopters were satisfied with their purchase.

i really don't understand gamers...
people is always talking about power, graphics, features, innovative gameplay, etc etc etc... but the time comes to put the money where your mouth is... they come here saying $xxx is too much, if the tech, OS features, games through the years, all that work with services, are there, why is it to much?
will give you some examples on how your views are clouded... a flagship smartphone cost manufacturers no more than 60% of the price tag, yet consoles must not be priced higher than manufacture cost... uhhh??? yes, thats right... does it make sense??? not to me. other examples, based on some other hobbies people have, i have 4 or 5 friends that have cycling as a hobby, do anyone know how much does their bike cost? i know a few car tunning dudes, dont get me started on this subject... movie collectors, music lovers with endless album collections, pot smokers... the list goes on and on...


now... is $500 too much? $100 per year on HW is dirty cheap for this hobby...