That actually seems to be a point against the steam box.

Price comes into play here, as gaming PCs tend to be a good deal more expensive than consoles*.

Besides, Valve hardly loses out if PCs beat their console.

*Provided console manufacturers haven't entirely lost their minds...

Back in the Dreamcast/PS2 days, high end PC's were upwards of $1200, consoles were $200-$300 (N64 and PS1 were $99). In those days, even if I favored PC games (and I hated most genres they did well), the cost of entry was too high, plus the few games I did buy for my computer never quite worked right. The cost of an adequetly powered desktop can be had much cheaper nowadays, which aids the PC and hurts the console (I reiterate my position that Sony doomed the PS3 when it launched at a $600 price point, which is what a nice desktop can be had for).

Yeah, there are tripped out and amazing gaming PC's that cross the $1000 barrier, but overall the cost of entry is a much more level playing field nowadays.

On that note, rumor is that PS4 will be $350, Xbox One will be $400. Thoughts? I'm obviously thinking this is something where Sony can hold Microsoft's balls to the fire in a pricing war (not to mention Nintendo) and gain an advantage right out of the gate.

I would imagine if launch prices are that low, it would be because MS and Sony will find other ways to drain money out of people. For instance, you may have to pay a monthly fee to be online to use the Xbox One. I don't know if they can technically force someone to pay to be online and thus use the system, but I'm sure they will find ways. Once Xbox One and PS4 are out, it will probably be a good time to get a Wii U (assuming all this always online and no used games crap still hold for the Xbox and PS4).

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/ … e-and-ps4/

I think they just based it on materials. I have heard Microsoft is more likely to offer a discounted hardware price for a subscription fee, but it's all speculation right now.

In any case, I think Sony learned their lesson.

Me personally, I don't want any of these systems, but if a must have game did pop up (Marvel vs Capcom 4? ), $350-$400 is a reasonable striking range.

New campaign to end DRM on Xbox and PS4

http://news.yahoo.com/gamers-plan-campa … 08760.html

Depends on what you want. Let's say you got some great Full HD screen, most of your games get PC ports (or came from there), and you set high value on image quality, on the games actually making use of the available resolution, then for Xbox 360/PS3 games a hypothetical Steam Box may be preferable considering how many Xbox 360/PS3 games are actually sub HD. The PC's advantage is its flexibility, its disadvantage is the effort involved in putting together a PC that's both does the job as a living room gaming system and isn't all too expensive for that. Steam Box appears to be targeted at people who want that flexibility but don't want to put in said effort.

Exactly!

what it boils down to is this...

aside from PS4,,, gamers will have the option of a Wii-U from nintendo,, or a big f***-U from microsoft

Don't be so sure about the PS4. Sony may have tricks up their sleeve as well.

Neither Microsoft nor Sony have any franchises that are a must-have for me.  If they keep this B.S. up I'll just be getting a new Nintendo console this generation.

I thought so too initially, but after the shit storm Microsoft has whipped up I can't imagine any sane exec at Sony trying it now. Perhaps next gen, after the dust settles. I could see the future becoming another 2 console era, or it could stay just the same as a trio, but with Steam replacing Sony.

I think Steam would replace MS in that scenario, since both are US based and MS has shown to be on people's badside already. I don't think the Japanese market will allow Nintendo and two US companies to dominate (not to say much about the Japanese market anymore).

dude i just realized your name reads like 'goldfish sex'... would that be like Koi tus

Nothing like a little grouperotica.

Sorry, that was a typo. I meant Microsoft.

Yeah, all the rumors right now are pointing to the PS4 having the same "features" as the Xbone when it comes to enabling 3rd parties to control game license activations. It will be interesting to see if Sony addresses the topic this week or puts off the discussion for later.

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-hyp … 58566.html

"Microsoft announced last week that the successor to the Xbox 360 must be connected to the Internet every 24 hours to operate, and the system would ideally always be online."

"...will be released in November and cost $499"

"In a blog post on Microsoft's site last Thursday ahead of E3, the company outlined more details about the console, including that there would be restrictions on how previously played or used games could be shared."

"Microsoft Corp. kicked off Monday's presentation by revealing the Xbox 360 is getting a makeover with a design inspired by the Xbox One."

Just to confirm, there is no way I'm going to purchase this piece of crud! I hope this blows up in their face, and they learn that if you try to screw people over, you will get your just desserts. If Sony pulls something similar, they too deserve to fail. Also, $500 for a machine that has built in spyware and DRM? Laughable and sad. I really wish Orwell was here to comment on this. Oh, and lastly, apparently they are "changing" the 360. In what way I can not say. It might be just cosmetic, or perhaps they plan on starting with their draconian BS on 360 consoles now.

http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/license

Anyone can play your games on your console--regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you.

The fact that they even mention this, is phenomenal (and not in a good way).

Give your games to friends:...There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once.

So, basically every game is now a renter.

Third party publishers may opt in or out of supporting game resale and may set up business terms or transfer fees with retailers... Loaning or renting games won’t be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners.

So, basically every game is now a renter.

As we move into this new generation of games and entertainment, from time to time, Microsoft may change its policies, terms, products and services to reflect modifications and improvements to our services, feedback from customers and our business partners or changes in our business priorities and business models or for other reasons.  We may also cease to offer certain services or products for similar reasons.

Translation: we're going to screw you as much as we can, perhaps even more so. Although we reserve the right to screw you less, you know, in case all this screwing around should somehow hurt our finances. Now, please bend over...

It's just a redesign to make it smaller and quieter, nothing sinister. The PS3 got its second major redesign last fall, and now the Xbox 360 is getting its second one.

This is actually a positive since playing a friend's game on their system without logging in is a huge pain in the ass on the 360.

Sort of. There is simply no such thing as owning a video game on the Xbox One. You purchase a license to play the game for as long as the publisher and MSFT continue to provide access to the registration and authentication servers. This is my most hated aspect of the Xbone so far. As far as "renting" goes, MSFT may introduce an actual rental model later, but they explicitly stated that rentals (and loaning) will not be supported at launch (as you noted in the quote after this one). When it comes to eliminating consumer rights, this next generation of consoles is sure going for the throat.

Also, and I didn't see you quote this part, but amongst all the bad news, there is actually one curious piece of good news:

That's oddly generous of them.

microsoft has bypassed microlimp and gone right to microimpotent.

do you think ANY parent would buy a console with possible video spyware?
would it even be legal if, even inadvertently, they ended up monitoring minors? not just civilly illegal, but criminally.
i mean, who here can honestly say they have never played video games while sitting around in their underwear?

I think Sony just won the next-gen console war. My facebook just went haywire, lol.

$400. Good game, MS. Go back to tweaking Windows 8.

Okay anybody who's read anything I've posted here in the last... 15 years or whatever knows that I've never been a tremendous fan of a lot of what Sony's done.  That said, they really did just demolish Microsoft's unveiling in every way.  I wonder how many of their decisions weren't final until they let MS play their hand first (pricing, DRM stuff).  Regardless, keeping quiet may have been a good decision.

Also, I love this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWSIFh8ICaA

Sony just bitch slapped MSFT hard tonight. Not only is the PS4 a full $100 cheaper than the Xbone at $400, Sony proudly stated that there would be no restrictions on disc-based games for PS4, allowing continued ownership of physical products. A grinning Jack Tretton delivered the news to a cheering crowd and thunderous response on Twitter. While doing this, he slipped in the bad news that online play will no longer be free on PS4 (it will require a PS+ subscription), but at least all of the media apps are still subscription free which is still better than Xbox Live's Gold requirement. Speaking of Xbox Live, MSFT is clearly feeling some competitive pressure from PS+ since Gold will now hand out free games each month in the same way that PS+ does.

Yeah, this was a slaughter. I don't feel even remotely bad for Microsoft. The required PS Plus is irritating but at least there's great perks with the service.

I wonder how far they plan on going to verify family relationships.  Still, Xbone is in last place in my book.

Wow, Sony really did slap Microsoft in the face, and a deserved slap it was! I wonder if Microsoft knows just how screwed they are. Probably not, but hey, you reap what you sow. By the way, here's a link to the press announcement where Sony destroys Microsoft. Also, at the end is the "how to share your games on PS4"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpvdKREKZMs

I don't buy used games or sell my own games that much so the used games restrictions weren't a huge deal for me (though not being able to freely loan or borrow is annoying).  The $500 starting price is prohibitive and the always-on internet requirement is the deal breaker.  Add the always-on Kinect issue and it's pretty shocking the restrictions MS are putting on their potential customers and the disregard for privacy.

People should keep in mind that they can always drop the price to help level the playing field (though not before holiday 2013 at least, that would be pretty embarrassing).  And I wouldn't be surprised if they even lessened the always online requirement once they start feeling the heat, which they are already.

The used game restrictions though I imagine they're stuck carrying through.  Obviously consumers don't like it so the only thing that remains to be seen is whether they get any preferential treatment from certain publishers for it.

As far as games go, I have a lot of videos and previews to sort through but as of now Panzer Dragoo.... er, Crimson Dragon is the only exclusive I'm hurtin for.

Yeah, the response on Twitter and the like has been tremendously enjoyable to read.
Sony has totally won me over as well. I'll likely be getting the PS4 day one, and I'll never bother with the Xbone.

So short and so good.

Whenever Nintendo finally releases Smash Bros or Mario Kart they should do the same for online multiplayer.

"Some of the advantages that you get, of having, a box that is designed to use an online state, so, that, uh, to me is the future-proof choice, and I think people, could’ve arguably gone the other way if we didn’t do it and fortunately we have a product for people who aren’t able to get some form of connectivity, it’s called Xbox 360."

That was Don Mattrack, from Microsoft, who clearly babbled, and basically ended up telling people to purchase a 360. Wow! great way to push your new system there buddy, by telling people to purchase the previous gen system.

http://news.yahoo.com/video-xbox-boss-i … 37016.html

Well after watching a lot of vids of E3...I pre ordered a PS4 Thursday.  I can't deal or be bothered with all the restrictions MS is putting into the X1.  At this point I hope the X1 bombs big time.  It's nice to know that day one I can sit my ass down pop a disc into the PS4 and play a video game offline, no strings attached.

if the xbox one bombs,, they could always send them over to North Korea as peace offering,, then we could monitor everything their government and military does...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudios … at-amazon/

"Amazon is currently running a Facebook poll asking consumers which console they’ll purchase, PS4 or Xbox One. With only six hours left in the poll, 95% of the over 40,000 gamers who replied said they’d be purchasing a PS4.

I think that says it all.