1. The subscription model exist for the 360, but we only see rumors for the next Xbox's prices. Lets wait and see before we get worked up and piss and moan about prices.

When was the last time the 360 received a price cut? Why does it matter? The 360 is reasonably priced comapared to its competition.

2.3.4.5. No you didn't. You just babbled about people being stupid and MS is hurting us all by taking their money through subscriptions.

6. The 360 hasn't needed a price cut. The 360 sells well and is very profitable. Its also cheaper than the PS3 and Wii U entry models.

I'm not being defensive, you're just over reacting.

Sony fans used to worry that Live's success was going to make charging for online gaming standard. But it didn't happen. Sony instead created a different type of service that pleased their fans.

Now here you are, a Sony fan worried that MS's subscription model is going to keep hardware expensive thus hurting consumers. Do your shoulders hurt from always being up in arms with MS?

When avid Sony fans aren't getting upset about MS rumors, they start making predictions of how MS will hurt consumers. Seriously dude, is this the only crap your brain thinks about?

HIs concern is the subscription model will be a success and deter price cuts for all consoles.

He's always pontificating on how MS is hurting the industry and consumers.

So the solution is for console manufacturers, specifically Sony and M$, to just continue to take huge losses, potentially for several years, when launching new consoles?

Do you think the PS3 really cost only $499-$599 at launch, or the 360 a mere $299 for the core/arcade model at launch?  Would you rather they had launched their consoles at actual cost, which would have been over $800 for the PS3?

M$ is doing a smart thing here... giving consumers options, while ensuring that they won't be hemorrhaging cash the way Sony was when they launched the PS3.  The subscription thing has been around for decades now... first cable / satellite TV companies, then mobile phone providers, and now videogame console manufacturers.  Except with videogame consoles, they aren't subsidizing the hardware out to a variety of 3rd party manufacturers, driving costs up even more.  Panasonic did it with the 3DO, and Phillips with the CD-I, and look how that turned out.

There's nothing wrong with M$ or even Sony (if they wanted to) giving consumers a subscription-based option to their own services to lower the up-front cost of their consoles.  Seems to me that this all comes down to Xbox Live and how people are still whining about M$ charging for it.  Yes, in a perfect world it would be free... and consoles would still cost under $200 and come with 2 controllers plus a AAA pack-in game.  Sorry, but nothing's perfect.

It's like you didn't even read the OP.

Are you going to participate in the thread or continue on your rampage?

Another one who didn't read the thread.

It is Sony and MIcrosofts decision to launch expensive consoles. I'm not worried about their financial situation. I really don't care. All I do care about is them providing affordable consoles. If that means cutting back on power and going the Nintendo route, I'd be disappointed, but I'd learn to deal with it.

This seems like a great idea. Giving consumers options while increasing profitability for the the console manufacturers. We're already seeing the negative effects of this though. The Xbox 360 hasn't had a price cut in years. Instead, its advertised on TV as "starting at $99". This has nothing to do with Xbox Live or whether or not it should be free.

1. The prices don't matter. No one is pissing and moaning about the prices. If you read the OP you would know that.
2.3.4.5. Nope. This isn't about Microsfot, its about the industry in general and where it could be headed. Stop being so defensive.
6. It does need a price cut. Outside the holidays it sells horribly and the PS3 ends up getting ~1million lead in the first 9months of the years. Like you said, PS3 is more expensive.

If anyone is over reacting here, it's you. Console preferences don't matter here. Why are you even bringing them up?

While true in the literal sense, they've had several different bundles / SKUs over the last few years that have given added value to the console.  Sony has done the same thing with the Slim since introducing in back in 2009... it's received one $50 price cut and has been at $250 for the past couple of years with various bundles / SKUs.  Both consoles are still selling very well considering the fact that they are going into their 7th and 8th years on the market, so why drop the price further if it's not necessary?

1. You're making predictions and betting on prices we haven't seen. So yeah, it seems the prices do matter to you.

2.3.4.5. This isn't about MS? But they're your main focus for this thread. Don't play dumb.

6. Just because the PS3 is selling better doesn't mean the 360 has been selling horribly. That's just some silly Sony fan logic of yours.

Annual sales also matter more than weekly sales. The 360 has a bigger casual and US following than the PS3 and that's why it has had a bigger boost during the holidays.

You only make threads like this because of your console preference.

Read your own thread. people have said it already. Cell phones drop in price, your example used. Being in a contract does not negate needing to be price competitive. They are not mutually exclusive options. You can have contracts, you can purchase up front, you can choose to purchase something else, you can have price drops. There isn't much to discuss here as you have flawed premises that dont make any actual sense. Just because you have some weird belief(unless you have actuall devices or items in real life that have not had price cuts because they are bought in contract, you know facts) that things dont drop in price if they can be purchased by contract doesnt make it true, especially when all devices have price drops wether they can be bought with a contract or not. I bought my car with a loan and contract, and the following year that very same car could have been bought cheaper, I bought a cell phone the same way, and the same thing happened, it got cheaper.