Sony questions value of rival consoles

Sony Computer Entertainment America has taken public pot shots at its console rivals by issuing a press release favourably comparing pricing and highlighting what it sees as weaknesses of the Wii and Xbox 360.

While Microsoft recently pointed out that it is outselling the PS3 by more than eight million units worldwide, Sony has retaliated by highlighting the additional expenses associated with Xbox 360, including paying for online gaming and extra peripherals.

"The Xbox 360 requires additional money, multiple upgrades and additional external devices, putting a burden on the wallet and adds clutter to the entertainment centre," said Sony.

"The PS3 is the perfect example of a product featuring superior technology and a sophisticated design creating an ideal all-in-one entertainment product."

And while Sony boss Howard Stringer has said in the past that he doesn't see Nintendo's Wii as a competitor to the PlayStation 3, it hasn't stopped the company from calling out the wildly popular console for featuring less hi-tech functionality.

"The Wii’s lack of enhanced features comes at the expense of a comprehensive entertainment solution," said Sony

"So as PS3 continues to evolve without the need for additional parts or expenses, expect the competition to continue peddling add-ons in an effort to keep up with the Jones'," added SCEA.

The statement boasts about the functionality of the PS3, highlighting that the out of the box console cost covers built-in Wi-Fi, hard drive, online service, Blu-ray player and HDMI output for USD 399.

According to Sony, to upgrade the Xbox 360 Arcade unit to the same level would cost between of USD 449 - 499 and many of the upgrades simply aren't available on the Nintendo Wii.

"The Xbox 360 and Wii offer a set of features in their own right. However, when you take a look at the feature offerings side by side, there is only one true winner in delivering total value and price," added Sony.

Sony's PlayStation 3 has recently taken a beating in the press, with an editorial by the Wall Street Journal suggesting publisher's may consider the console an afterthought if sales do not improve.

"Sony's strategy of selling a pricey game machine with advanced features and cutting-edge components appears to be backfiring," said the respected publication.

Research by the Nielsen Group shows that the PlayStation 3 was the least played of all major consoles in the US during 2008, even being beaten by the original Xbox console, which is no longer in production.