libellule - 90%? Last time I checked, PS3's European compatibility was at 50% for perfect compatibility, then was broken up into subcategories of games that work to varying degrees, which also stated that 10% didn't work at all (which is probably the number you're looking at).


Anyways, here's some reasons the 360 isn't doing better, IMHO.

1) Price - People almost always look at the better model if they feel the cheaper one is gimped, which is the perspective that the "core" unit gives off, so we have either a 400 or 480 dollar console. The ps2 made 80% of it's hardware sales at $200 or less, I think the PS1 was the same.

2) Reliability - It's already been said.

3) Software variety - The xbox console focus heavily on certain genres of games and offers a lopsided library in some perspectives, either you love it or can't find anything to play for it (which I fall into the category of).

4) Online focus - I realize this is a major "selling point" of how good the online services and focus of the console and games are, but what about the 33% of Americans who can't even GET a internet connection capable of using it? Technically, you're cutting out 1/3 of the audience with such a heavy focus on it.

No, partially removed. The EE is now mostly rendered redundant, it's a relatively cheap chip compared to the rest of the system. I never owned a PS2, but I recently bought Ape Escape 2, God of War and Jak3 and they play fine on my EU PS3. There are other reasons why the PS3 costs more in EU countries, such as logistics related costs (translations, different legal systems, EU employees costing more money overall, more costly and more diverse taxing systems, etc). Anywhow the PAL version of many PS2 games offer higher resolutions than the NTSC version, so maybe you are getting the better deal afterall.

Well but doesn't xbox360 have software emulation also? (I honestly don't know how good it is)

 So far, from what I've experienced --(i bought 4 xbox games), all four fired right up with no issues whatsoever -- just as if the would have on the original xbox.  Given my early experience I suspect that software emulation, when done right, is more than adequate.

1 True

2 True

3......VERY TRUE! I am going to wait on getting mine now, till 12 ,million are sold worldwide

Maybe they didn't have an extra $200 to cover the price difference.  At least with the Wii they could pick up a few games with the price difference.

I think another factor is that people wanted a PS3, based on the past success of the playstation brand. The original Xbox wasn't a huge seller and didn't have such a diverse variety of games as the PS2. They wanted to see what the PS3 was like before they chose which console to buy, and the Wii for that matter, so they've held off buying until they have a better idea.

I think they're still waiting to see what comes out for the PS3 and the Wii before they make their mind up. Not to mention being put off the PS3 by the price. I'm talking mainly about casual players like me who will probably only want to buy one console, and don't want to waste alot of money on something they hardly play on.

I think the female factor is huge. Even if the 360 was $150, I'd still have to spend ages to convince my girlfriend to allow me to buy it when she would say that it could be spent elsewhere around the house. When we went to a friends house though and she played Wii Sports, she decided then and there to get one, and didn't blink at spending over $300 (CDN) for the system, games, and controllers.....

I've banged the drum on price before, but yeah ... when the premium or elite hits $299, I'll be there to pick one up, along with Gears and Settlers of Catan.

Gears of War and a selection of Euro boardgames would be worth $299 to me, but at $479? No way.