There's been much noise about the comparison chart Sony put out trying to show that their console is in fact cheaper than the Xbox 360. Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokesguy sent along his response to the whole kerfluffle:

"Through our comparison chart we are not implying that you must purchase the myriad of peripherals and add-ons that Microsoft offers to play your Xbox 360. You don't. However, if you want to attempt to come close to the performance of the $499 PlayStation 3 by using your Xbox 360, Core or Premium, you could only do that through expensive add-ons — that is what our chart is demonstrating. Once you add it all up, it would cost you more than our $499 unit, and you would still not come close to everything we offer, ie: free multiplayer gaming, 50GB storage capacity of Blu-ray disc, Blu-ray disc player for games AND movies, processing power of the Cell Broadband Engine."

-Dave Karraker, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Sony Computer Entertainment of America

I think the issue isn't the whole chart, just Sony's decision to use the phrase "Requires users to buy". The fact is they're not requirements and to say they are is absurd. It is fair to try and compare value by showing what you would pay to get the same thing. Like adding the cost of the HD DVD player because it is comparable to the Blu-ray drive. But is certainly isn't required. Brian Crecente

Ps. This is, of course, similar to the thing I tried to do back in September.

Sony Chart Claims 360 is More Expensive than Fully Tricked PS3 [Kotaku]

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