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Forums - Microsoft - $99 for an X-Box 360.... Smart move? Or an act of desperation?

1st off M$ isnt even offering these gift cards. Walmart is! M$ has nothing to do with it.

Second of all M$ is not desperate. Even if PS3 retakes 2nd place world wide by the end of the gen m$ are still the real winners as they actually sold competitively with Sony this gen and they have a good foot in the door so to speak for next gen.

In the end Gamers are the real winners. Competition is an amazing thing and without it the market would stagnate. So lets all realize that having both Sony and M$ making consoles is a very good thing



Long Live SHIO!

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theprof00 said:
nightsurge said:
theprof00 said:
ORLY?

why don't you explain yourself before I report you for flaming.

Good luck.  Flame, I did not.

I'd explain why it was full of fail, but I'm really tired of repeating the same thing 1000x to people.

OK fine, I'll explain for the last time, give me time to edit this.

 

1.  MS is NOT losing lots of money right now.  In fact they have shown strong profits in their gaming division for like the last 2 years now.  MS overall has not reported a loss in years.

I wrote that myself at the bottom

Yes, but then why did you try to claim they were losing money when they weren't?  FUD.

2.  This is neither a price drop nor a special deal.  It is not supported by MS in any way, shape, or form.  It is a Walmart early Black Friday deal.  They did this exact same deal on the PS3 twice already.  It is their choice, and MS has no involvement in it.  They are offering the Arcade AT NORMAL PRICE and are giving you a gift card that can ONLY BE USED at Walmart.  None of this is going to some charity or whatever.  And if this was an official price drop everywhere to $99 the Xbox 360 would outsell the PS3 for the remainder of the generation.  Oops I shouldn't say that because I'm starting to sound like a PS3 fanboy

You think Walmart is just giving away 100$? This is at least partially supported by MS giving them cheaper consoles at volume. Black Friday isn't meant to give away high volume items. Xbox 360 already sells a lot of consoles in the US, of which Walmart is probably already a huge market percentage. Just look at the other in store offers on the walmart ad. At least two of them are refurb special products, the tvs are only 100$ and 200$ off respectively, and are both discontinued products. The Xbox360 in this ad is different from the other products in every single way. Both in savings to price ratio, and in being an actual supported product. However, as any avid BF-fan will tell you, there is always something special and lacking with these offers. Either these consoles are refurbs packaged new, or this is being funded by MS. Walmart would not just give away 100$ for something that would sell at 200$. At least with the other products there is a reason for the price drop. They are discontinued, unsupported products that they still have stock of and can't sell for MSRP anymore.

Walmart is not "giving away $100" because they are forcing you to return this money to THEM.  Also, they did this already with the PS3 twice in one year when the PS3 saw its 2008 sales surges.  Of these deals, all are price drops, EXCEPT the 360.  It is a gift card promotion because it is their loss leader.  They get people in there wanting 360's and then those people use the gift card to buy other items.  There is nothing special about these consoles.  They are brand new jasper models manufactured in July or later of 2009.  They even have the newest packaging.  This is not being funded by MS just as the deals with the PS3's last year was not funded by Sony.  So, while the other "price drops" are of older products being discontinued, this is NOT a price drop on the 360 so it doesn't really apply to that deal.  All the other deals were one day only, yet this one for the 360 + Gift Card is a full week, just like the PS3 deals Walmart had!

 

Do you honestly think a $99 Xbox 360 would not have much of a sales affect?  I'd love to hear the flawed reasoning behind that one.

Flawed reasoning? 360s sales boost from the 50$ price drop is already gone and saw minimal increases. Additionally, I think there has become this sentiment among the public that there are multiple 360s and each consecutively is more valuable than the last. Meaning that, as a customer looking at a 200$ 360, I'm thinking, "I wonder what missing from the regular console". Also, that idea is encouraged by subtitling it, "Arcade", meaning it's different from the regular system. If the Arcade ever became 100$, which it will, not only would it be in direct competition with the cheaper, better supported, slimmer ps2, but customers would seriously question what is actually missing from the console. Just look now, 360 fans have been saying on here for a while now that the core system sells more than the arcade.

Yes, flawed reasoning, or perhaps you just don't understand the situation.  There was no $50 price cut.  That was a one week long rebate offer.  Also, the 360 Arcade, if it dropped to $99, would be the better supported, better deal compared to the PS2.  And while in most of the year the Pro/Elite sells more, in the Holidays the Arcade sells more because price is a bigger factor.  As far as your view of the average customer, you give them WAY more credit than is due.  The average customer does not sit around and read video game news or forums.  They go to the store, ask the clerk what to buy, and buy that, or they buy what they have played and enjoyed at their friend's house, which statistically would be more often 360.  The Arcade can play any game a PS2 can, with more features, better visuals, etc.

 

3.  Profit.. a BAD thing?  Seriously, I thought your post was entirely sarcastic because of how ridiculous it was!  MS is both profiting and still beating Sony is this imaginary intangible war you incorrectly think Sony to be winning all of the sudden from their drastic price cut and rebranding....  I don't know if you are aware, but the Wii is still dominating the HD consoles in sales, and the PS3 is still near 7 million behind the 360... So the Wii is still winning this imaginary intangible war, the 360 is still second in this imaginary intangible war, and the PS3 is still last in this imaginary intangible war that you don't care about at all yet secretly it is very important to you if you feel the need to spread all this FUD and at the same time incorrectly claim that you think Sony is now somehow winning that war.

AH, so here is the crux of the debate. You honestly don't know the war between sony and MS. This isn't about market share. It isn't about profit. It isn't even about video games. Maybe I should inform you about it? Hmmm, I'll let you decide. Here's a hint: Why did MS join the video game industry in the first place?

Oh I am well aware of this personal little battle between Sony and MS, more aware than you it seems.  That's how it is incredibly obvious that the PS3 and Sony is still losing.  They are losing more money on the PS3 while MS is gaining money on the 360.  Sony is losing major marketshare in the living room domination scene while MS is gaining.  This is glaringly obvious when looking at how badly Sony has fallen compared to last gen and how much MS has improved over last gen. Yes the PS3 has seen more sales than the 360 for the last 2 months (YIPPEE END OF THE GEN SONY WINS!!!!111one! /sarcasm), but as you will begin to see starting with the next weeks numbers, the 360 will start to close the gap and the holidays will be about even because the Arcade is the dominant selling HD console when price is the biggest factor.

 

YAY

 

As I expected.  More flawed reasoning.  You PS3 fan types are hopeless.



It would sell bucket loads. I mean if you bundled a game at that price the console becomes near free.

I dont think its going to happen tho.



account2099 said:
id call the ps3 slim an act of desperation personally.

In three years the ps3 dropped by $300.

In four years the 360 Core only dropped $100 to the Arcade.

Tell me who has been more desperate?

The 360 launched $399 - $499

 



 

mM
leo-j said:
account2099 said:
id call the ps3 slim an act of desperation personally.

In three years the ps3 dropped by $300.

In four years the 360 Core only dropped $100 to the Arcade.

Tell me who has been more desperate?

The 360 launched $299 - $399

 

Fixed for you leo-j



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Yeah but the elite came out in August of 2007 for $479. Now it's $299. The lowest priced PS3 in 2007 was $399 now the lowest priced PS3 is $299. Stop spinning you're gonna get dizzy.



They will cut to $150 before slashing off another $100!!!



*Al Bundy's My Hero*

 

*Al Bundy For President*

Waiting On GT7!!!

 PSN ID: Acidfacekiller

Steroid said:

Yeah but the elite came out in August of 2007 for $479. Now it's $299. The lowest priced PS3 in 2007 was $399 now the lowest priced PS3 is $299. Stop spinning you're gonna get dizzy.

Lol so I'm spinning?  The Elite which launched only 2 years ago dropped by $180.  The PS3 that launched 3 years ago dropped by $300.  I think you're already a bit too dizzy.  If it were following the drastic price reduction desperation structure of the PS3 it'd be at least $200 cheaper, but it's still only $180 cheaper if you actually think it still represents the Elite.

The Elite that it was is no more.  Now it is a Pro with 120GB HDD and black color.  The Elite as it is now is basically their way of upgrading the Pro's hard drive but making it look more valuable.  Seriously stop trying to make the PS3 situation look better than it actually is.

Old Pro:
60GB HDD
White Console
Component HD Cables
White Wireless Controller
Headset
Ethernet

Old Elite:
120GB HDD
Black Console
HDMI cable included + Component HD Cables
Black Wireless Controller
Headset
Ethernet

New Elite:
120GB HDD
Black Console
Composite SD Cables ONLY
Black Wireless Controller
Headset
Ethernet

I don't even think Ethernet cables are included anymore in the Elite package.  So basically they stripped it of what made it actually somewhat worth the price (HDMI Cable included), and made it the new Pro upgrade.  By keeping the Elite they give the illusion of offering more for less since everyone knew the Elite was the best SKU around, even if it now is no longer different than a Pro.



account2099 said:
id call the ps3 slim an act of desperation personally.

In three years the ps3 dropped by $300.

In four years the 360 Core only dropped $100 to the Arcade.

Tell me who has been more desperate?

I completly agree with this.



 

   PROUD MEMBER OF THE PLAYSTATION 3 : RPG FAN CLUB

 

nightsurge said:


Yes, but then why did you try to claim they were losing money when they weren't?  FUD.

They are losing money on every arcade, they are making money on every other unit, and on total sales. Not FUD.

Walmart is not "giving away $100" because they are forcing you to return this money to THEM. 

And losing 100$ worth of product.

Also, they did this already with the PS3 twice in one year when the PS3 saw its 2008 sales surges. 

Also, the surges were less than 100k units, AND had two big releases at the same time. MGS4 and LBP/motorstorm/Resistance 2 (within 10 days of the second sale)

Of these deals, all are price drops, EXCEPT the 360.  It is a gift card promotion because it is their loss leader.  They get people in there wanting 360's and then those people use the gift card to buy other items. 

But they aren't making profit on the giftcard sales.

There is nothing special about these consoles.  They are brand new jasper models manufactured in July or later of 2009.  They even have the newest packaging.  This is not being funded by MS just as the deals with the PS3's last year was not funded by Sony. 

You don't have proof of that. Neither do I. But evidence strongly suggests that these deals were made available for Sony as a way to boost those game sales.

So, while the other "price drops" are of older products being discontinued, this is NOT a price drop on the 360 so it doesn't really apply to that deal.  All the other deals were one day only, yet this one for the 360 + Gift Card is a full week, just like the PS3 deals Walmart had!

No, they aren't "being discontinued" they've BEEN discontinued for over a year now. These are not price drops, they are clearances. They are trying to make some, any, money back on bad investments. This offer does not qualify as that. Additionally, the ps3 deals were a minimum 4 per store, and this deal is a minimum 10 per store. Seeing as how america ps3 sales did about 100k more than usual (I'm not going to figure in the release of mGS4, even though it contributed to higher sales), the 360 should sell a bit more than twice that amount. 220k additional units. Walmart is giving away 22M $ in giftcards. Because Walmart already gets things for the bare minimum from most companies, if somebody buys the system and uses the giftcard to buy stuff, they are effectively losing 100$ per console save for the margin on the products that are purchased. In terms of the console and game sales, that would roughly be 15-20%, so about 80%.

They are losing about 16-18M with this deal.

Yes, flawed reasoning, or perhaps you just don't understand the situation.  There was no $50 price cut.  That was a one week long rebate offer.

http://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=1618

 Also, the 360 Arcade, if it dropped to $99, would be the better supported, better deal compared to the PS2.  And while in most of the year the Pro/Elite sells more, in the Holidays the Arcade sells more because price is a bigger factor.  As far as your view of the average customer, you give them WAY more credit than is due.  The average customer does not sit around and read video game news or forums.  They go to the store, ask the clerk what to buy, and buy that, or they buy what they have played and enjoyed at their friend's house, which statistically would be more often 360.  The Arcade can play any game a PS2 can, with more features, better visuals, etc.

"The Arcade can play any game a PS2 can, with more features, better visuals, etc."- WHAT?

I'll assume that was what a customer would think... So then if price is the biggest factor, why would they pick a 99$ 360 over a 79$ ps2? 

I'm also referring to the fact that people will go to stores and say, "can I get a 360". To which the clerk will reply, which one the regular, the elite, or the arcade. This will eventually lead to customers asking what the difference is and so on. You don't have to be on a forum to find out what something does. Simply in the purchase of it, there will inevitably be questions.

 

Oh I am well aware of this personal little battle between Sony and MS, more aware than you it seems.  That's how it is incredibly obvious that the PS3 and Sony is still losing.  They are losing more money on the PS3 while MS is gaining money on the 360.  Sony is losing major marketshare in the living room domination scene while MS is gaining.  This is glaringly obvious when looking at how badly Sony has fallen compared to last gen and how much MS has improved over last gen. Yes the PS3 has seen more sales than the 360 for the last 2 months (YIPPEE END OF THE GEN SONY WINS!!!!111one! /sarcasm), but as you will begin to see starting with the next weeks numbers, the 360 will start to close the gap and the holidays will be about even because the Arcade is the dominant selling HD console when price is the biggest factor.

Xbox was released because of Sony motives. Sony started challenging the personal computer with their console, probably not intentionally. Computers once were one of the largest gaming platforms, and has obviously been steadily decreasing, as anyone can tell you. MS sold a lot of copies of windows and made a lot of licensing profits simply from people buying a computer for gaming. Consoles, became a much cheaper alternative to a computer, and were offering a very similar, and in some cases, better experience. Simply from the success of the ps1, MS saw that consoles were becoming very very popular. The whole point of the xbox was to reinvigorate the computing experience. Why do you think MS wanted xbox and PC to be so compatible to the point that all xbox exclusives could be shared? To make the PC the best gaming platform again. This may seem counterintuitive, but having a console dedicated to gaming is a great way to procure a large variety of high quality games. Without the xbox, PCs today would be much more limited in their gaming attractiveness.

Later, this was further challenged by the PSX which had a DVDR built in, and capable of photo, video, editing and other computer capabilities. Then, the ps3 challenged DVD itself with BR. Sony is moving the home console closer and closer to being a cheap computer, because there is a good market for it.

PS3 is winning this war because Sony is continuing to make strides toward replacing computers. MS wanted to stop them but couldn't. PC sales are down all over the board.

Yes, MS also want to make profit, because they are technically trying to recuperate losses to the PC income, but that is not their true purpose. What they are doing is providing even more competition to PCs, and in turn, decreasing potential Windows (among other software) sales. They are being counterproductive. They are being counterproductive because they don't know what to do. They've changed their strategy several times over with varying degrees of success.

Their goal, at the end of this, is to reinvigorate PC software sales. They are a software company, and windows and licensing makes them more money than any other avenue of income. Profit on the 360 is not important to that goal because they have a potential to make 10 times their losses back with the PC.

YAY