Microsoft: $499 Xbox One Will "Over-Deliver" on Value

[ASan83]

Keep on digging, Microsoft. Someday you'll find yourself out of that hole. Or you could shut up for a little while, let the dust settle, and move on from there. Whatever works for you.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Right, there are only three possible choices.

The third console curse is actually a thing, Sony have hired Mattrick and placed him in Microsoft's infrastructure or the NSA commissioned Microsoft to make a surveillance device and Microsoft are being the good guys and making it terrible so nobody buys the thing.

I'm honestly waiting for this next.

 

[Vylox]

Yes! Just what I need... a system that is twice as expensive and half as powerful as my tablet. Might I add that it does less than my tablet too ¿

Let's see... I don't watch TV, so I'd have to pay for television services alongside my internet, costing me more money. I'd have to get XBLA, costing me more money, I'd have to pay $60 for games again costing me more money as compared to the free or $5 I pay for games on my tablet. I'd have to deal with a camera that reports back to a company that I have refused to support for the past 15 years.....

I'm really seeing the thousands of dollars in value for a $500 price tag.

 

[ritchards]

"Over value"... as long as you live in one of 21 countries... and can access all the things considered to be adding value...

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

this is indeed an eerie replication of Sony's attitude during the runup to the PS3. Apparently whatever possessed Kutaragi at the time has now moved on to Mattrick.

 

[Dastardly]

"[$499] is a lower number than some of the analysts had forecasted," said Don Mattrick, head of interactive entertainment for Microsoft. "We're over-delivering value against other choices I think consumers can get. Any modern product you look at these days and $499 isn't a ridiculous price point. We're delivering thousands of dollars of value to people so I think they're going to love it when they use it." According to Mattrick the Xbox One will provide a unique combination of "devices and services" that will include Xbox Live, Kinect and SmartGlass, among other features.

So, in addition to failing to understand that internet availability isn't entirely under each customer's control, this guy also fails to understand how you convince people to buy your shit. He's told people not to buy the XBone if they don't have super internet, and now he's just telling people that, despite what they believe, $500 isn't a lot of money. Instead of telling them WHY your product is worth $500, you're just saying, "Awww, c'mon, it's not THAT much, look at these other guys!"

Can you make yourself appear any more out of touch with the average gamer?

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Lolno. Most of the hardcore market already knows about Micro$oft's shit, and to the more casual gamers both of the consoles seem equal anyways, so they're going to go with the cheaper one. Really the only thing I can see saving the xBone is brand loyalty, and that tends to slam face first once people realize how shit the console actually is.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

Yawn. Another day, another Microsoft statement. Insert the words "cloud", "value", "vibrant" and "sharing" at your leisure.

Give it a few more weeks and he'll be saying "The Xbone is the best console because it's powered by leprechauns."

 

[kael013]

[quote/]"We're over-delivering value against other choices I think consumers can get. Any modern product you look at these days and $499 isn't a ridiculous price point*. We're delivering thousands of dollars of value** to people so I think they're going to love it when they use it." According to Mattrick the Xbox One will provide a unique combination of "devices and services" that will include Xbox Live***, Kinect and SmartGlass****, among other features*****.[/quote]

* When all your competition is undercutting your price, yes it is.
** You mean the games we have to buy at $60?
*** Requires monthly subscription
**** Requires a tablet
***** Like [i/][b/]what?[/b][/i] The DRM? Those are called limitations not "features" MS.

Captcha: What. ever. Sums up my feelings perfectly.

 

[Marowit]

sure their hardware might be up-to-date with the competitors, but jeewhiz are they setting themselves up behind an eightball when it comes to consumers. All the online garbage, having to pay-to-play for so many features we already get for free through the current PS3's we might own.

Now, being priced at $100 more, I guess they're banking on un-witting parents buying these machines for their kids, because I can't really see any reason an 18y.o.+ gamer would support this.

 

[Something Amyss]

Uh-huh. Well, given that it's the customers who decide whether something is worth "thousands of dollars of value", I'm thinking you might get a little opposition to this idea.

Seriously, putting that price on it, declaring that it's actually worth so much more, like they're doing us a favor putting it $100 more than PS4 with more restrictions? How remarkably stupid they must think gamers.

consider that it's pretty much marketing 101, this has no greater disdain for the intelligence of the consumer than is demonstrated by the rest of the market.

And quite frankly, none more than is merited. If you think this is a sign of stupidity, consumers really are that stupid.

 

[ZZoMBiE13]

Dear Microsoft,

Just ask someone at Sony how it works out when you launch with the highest priced console. (you end up third in a race of three)

Yours truly,
Paul

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

You think the Xbone is secretly worth thousands of dollars? Over-delivering?

Nothing of substance was said here today.

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

Well, now I'm worried that the Xbone is going to pull solid gold out of its ass on launch day, and I'll be stuck with a crummy PS4. Because before, even if it had happened, at least I could say Microsoft didn't think their console was better either.

 

[tardcore]

Hoo boy you microsoft deluded corporate fuck sticks. Gamers wanted a new more powerful game console with kick ass new games. Instead you twonks designed some kind of Frankenstein's monster social media device where gaming not only comes with draconian restrictions but seems to be an afterthought. Face it, your idea is not popular. Of course now that you see that, there is nothing you can do but keep beating the drum on how awesome your idea is until your stupid little ship hits the big iceberg your competitor has launched and you sink into the depths.

 

[Something Amyss]

Can you make yourself appear any more out of touch with the average gamer?

This reminds me of an awkwrd series of conversations I once had about this girl that apparently liked me, but I didn't really like. I already had someone I was interested in and while we were yet to define our relationship in any solid way, it looked like things were going that way. And my friends were trying to talk me into this really nice girl with the sort of argument that she's "really not that bad." not those exact words, but the same sort of sentiment.

It's awkward when it's social. It's pathetic when it's a product you're marketing.

 

[Saltyk]

I got it! I know their plan. They intend to make so many stupid decisions, PR disasters, and horrible out of touch statements, that people will slam their heads into their desks repeatedly. Eventually, all that trauma will take it's toll. And people will actually start to believe this nonsense. Then, they will BUY the console.

That's the only explanation!

Also, does anyone have actual data regarding the Preorders? I'd love to know what sort of value people actually think there is. I already saw the Amazon Top 100 Gaming section. It was enlightening. But I'd like numbers.

 

[Xannieros]

I wouldn't be using half the features it has. Kinect should be optional, it provides me nothing other than raising the cost.

I want a gaming console that is just for games. PS4 and the Wii seem to be closer to what I want.

And the fact they have to reassure consumers that it will be worth it shows they're afraid.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

"[$499] is a lower number than some of the analysts had forecasted," said Don Mattrick, head of interactive entertainment for Microsoft. "We're over-delivering value against other choices I think consumers can get. Any modern product you look at these days and $499 isn't a ridiculous price point. We're delivering thousands of dollars of value to people so I think they're going to love it when they use it."

I have no real words to describe this. So I'll let Bender do it for me.


For 500 bucks you can build a PC that could reasonably compete with the Xbone's hardware, and would be capable of doing most of the stuff MS brags about for free, without a need for an XBL subscription. And without a need to live in the United States or one of the 21 countries Microsoft has deemed worthy, either.

This guy really just needs to learn when to shut up.

the exact thing i was going to post, word for word. xbox really fucked up with this, as mentioned, you could build a competent pc for that money that does ALL THOSE THINGS without big brother xbox watching over you, and nickel and diming you for every little thing you think about doing.

"oh what's that, you're thinking about ordering from amazon? 5 dollars for 3rd party fees...WITH EACH ITEM YOU LOOK UP."

 

[Dastardly]

Can you make yourself appear any more out of touch with the average gamer?

This reminds me of an awkwrd series of conversations I once had about this girl that apparently liked me, but I didn't really like. I already had someone I was interested in and while we were yet to define our relationship in any solid way, it looked like things were going that way. And my friends were trying to talk me into this really nice girl with the sort of argument that she's "really not that bad." not those exact words, but the same sort of sentiment.

It's awkward when it's social. It's pathetic when it's a product you're marketing.

Indeed. This is not a glowing recommendation for your product -- "Hey, it's not that crazy a price."

What it tells me -- and this is a very big deal -- is that MS executives have the firm belief that everyone feels a need to buy a next-gen console. So they don't have to make their product amazing, and worth $500. They just have to make it good enough, and you'll buy it -- because you need them. They've forgotten that consoles are optional.. and often not optimal.

It's one thing for a company to have consumers by the balls. It's another thing entirely when they just think they do. It gives us a neat window into that kind of thinking.