“Has there ever been as confused a launch as the Xbox 360? Microsoft offers gamers two different choices. One has a hard drive, component display cable and a wireless controller. The other is a stripped-down model that lacks a hard drive, has a composite cable and a fixed-line controller,” Ed Lin writes for Forbes. “Want the one with the hard drive but don’t want (or need) the wireless controller or component cable? Tough. Buy the composite cable and wired controller separately. On top of this enforced ‘freedom’ of choice, retailers took it another step and offered pre-orders on systems bundled with games, accessories and even pre-paid game rentals.”
“The confusion may be intentional. Microsoft likely hoped to cover up its lack of original games available at launch… Ridge Racer 6? Project Gotham Racing 3? Do developers (and Microsoft) lack so much faith in the new system that they have to recycle repetitious-by-nature racing games? How embarrassing is it that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has been delayed to some point in 2006? How embarrassing is it that the advertising blitz for that game had already begun before the delay was announced? It doesn’t matter how many different faceplates a gamer can slap onto the front of a system,” Lin writes. “If anything, the Xbox 360 is aptly named: Microsoft is trying to give gamers the spin.”
Full article here.
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I meant “successor” in that last sentence. Damn bad Monday morning grammar!
MS already HAS an online game store and it is called “Xbox Live Arcade”. Sure it’s retro classics, but it is a start. Now..did they come up with this themselves? Dunno since the Revolution was slated to have downloadable Nintendo game prior to any such announcement from Microsoft. Of course considering the size of games it’s even worst than buying video online. You just can’t compress a Dual Layer DVD that much..and…the Xbox 360 can apparently read HD-DVD, but only for game disks. That means that the good games can be HUGE. Would you pay the money and then wait for 30 gigs to download?
I think Nintendo bottomed out w/ the Gamecube and stands to actually gain marketshare w/ the Revolution. Sony will obviously get most of the PS2 owners to upgrade to the PS3 and grab the new gamers (at launch time) who want the top of the line console. MS has a temporary lead and they will get some people on their platform and only buying their games, but that will only be great for them until the other consoles launch. Then they are the ones w/ the 4.5 gen console instead of 5th gen (and that’s how they’ve managed to get into the game in the first place). All this means that more and more people will have multiple consoles and as for PC gaming being better…ok for like the 3 or 4 really hardcore FPS games and maybe 3 MMORGs…but even the last set of consoles had more hit games than PC games.
I agree w/ scottm4321 about the future of consoles. It’s something Apple can’t get into now so why is this discussion here..Oh yeah..because the xbox comes from microsoft,… Let’s hope someone gives their console a high level of mac compatibility.
“Mac will never catch up with PCs when it comes to gaming”
Just wait…
I’m never good on predicting success of consoles. I thought the Dreamcast was definitely more impressive than the Playstation (mainly due to Sega’s superior games and available internet play, though playing online on 56k wasn’t practical to say the least) and I’ve enjoyed my Xbox far more than my PS2 (faster load times, hard drive, better graphics), but both of these systems were trampled by their competitors on system sales.
I think what happened to Sega is what’s going to happen to MS – I’m waiting to see how the PS3 looks and, I’m guessing, the PS3 will be more impressive. Of course, if the PS3 costs an arm and a leg (ahem, cell processor, BluRay), and Microsoft drops the price…
Word has it that the PS3 is going to be VERY expensive, even approaching four figures. If that’s true, Xbox 360 has nothing to fear. Hardcore gamers may drop $700-$1,000 for a system, but most people won’t, especially when you start figuring on accessories like extra controllers. Sony is about to screw up PS3, and Nintendo Revolution is poised to jump all over them both by providing a quality system, unique games and characters (something besides a FPS or racing game), and enough lead time to correct all the deficiencies of Xbox 360.
Can you say….”iBox”?
Too right Paul,
Wait till the xBlob crowd learn next July that their 400 dollar system – that they stood in line for on a foggy November evening – has no HD-DVD! Wha….?!
But, I suspect most of the M$ Moonies will be all too eager to supplement Bill and Ballmers retirement fund. They’ll brag that they got their ENTIRE system cheaper than PS3’s initial price. But, you know that they’re gonna have to spend 300 bucks more than the rumored $1000 PS3 price. And – of course – they’ll ‘forget’ to mention all the add-ons that they got nickel-and-dimed for.
MonkeyBoy: Why of course our fantastic xBox360 media console plays HD-DVD. It does so very well with the built in M$ media management software. All YOU have to do is get the $59 xBox360 remote control and the $49 xBox360 remote control console adapter. For all those whom don’t have the built-in HD-DVD in their xBox360 we’ll ship you a FREE xBox360-SP1 for a $179 recycling fee and $239 shipping and handing fee. You’ll get it in 6 to 8 weeks, unless you send in the UPC codes from 15 different xBox360 game titles – then you’ll jump the queue and get it in 5 to 7 weeks.
Does anyone even remotely believe that the PS3 will be ‘very expensive’ FUD 4 figures. Sure, we were told it would be expensive; but compared to last gen consoles the xbox 360 (real version) is very expensive. Sony is going to use Blu-Ray for their media and the PS3 will be subsidized partially to sell games and partially to entrench Blu-Ray. Sony isn’t stupid. Components are going to come down in price between november 22nd and whenever the PS3 comes out. I don’t think it will be more than $50 above the xbox 360 when the PS3 is launched and may be the same price if not lower. Sony knows Microsoft wants to try to steal their fire by popping out Halo 360 on the same day Sony launches so they aren’t going to try selling anything close to the alleged 4 figures mark. Remember, PS2’s are less than $150.00 the xbox 360 is more than twice the price. Of course that’s very expensive. You can buy component home theatre systems that are listed as BEST in gamers magazines for under 500 and that’s also very expensive. The price is relative. It’s a LOT more than the last console, but there is no way Sony will shoot themselves in the foot w/ the launch price being more than an xbox 360 w/ halo 360.
Gamers? The world’s population is getting fatter and you’re playing games?
Gaming=obesity
Ok Ron, I’m sure that you’re healthy as can be sitting in front of your computer while you read this. It may come as a shock, but some gamers are actually very fit. If things like DDR and snowboard/skate decks didn’t help w/ our electronic exercise regime then eyetoy certainly made gave us the best option.
First we have the EyeToy Kinetic workout, which you can view here http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/sports/eyetoykinetic/media.html and currently works on the PS2.
Now I realize this isn’t a halo killer…yet, but obviously the studios have plans. Nothing sells like thinly veiled sleazy sex and the future of gaming will obviously be the PS3 total immersion ‘more-real-than-reality’ version of Carmen Electra’s Aerobic Striptease : http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/carmen_electras_aerobic_striptease/dvd.php?select=1
So enjoy that fast food created obesity while you still can…the potatoes are leaving the couch and they just don’t know it yet.