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Rousterfar |
The single most successful thing Microsoft managed to do this generation with the Xbox was create an “image of success.” It mazes me how many people think MS is neck and neck with Sony in console sales. Truth is the Xbox has been outsold by the PS2 by more then 3 times as many world-wide and currently Sony’s lead is growing. Sony’s PS2 could hit 100 million sold this holiday buying season. That would put the PS2 at 100 million a couple years ahead of the amount of time it took the PSOne to reach that goal.
So the question becomes how is this possible? How did MS manage to create this image of success for a console that has far under achieved what it should have, selling against far less powerful, far less feature rich hardware? I think it all boils down to good PR and the natural tendency for people to root for the underdog (it always makes me laugh to call MS the “underdog” in ANYTHING). Microsoft is always sending out press releases that talk about how they are taking a leadership position in the console market when that couldn’t be further from the truth. I love the Xbox and I love LIVE, but it’s simple truth. MS’s opening battle with the Japanese giant Sony has not gone well for them. While the war is not over yet, the momentum is in Sony’s favor going into next generation.  |
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radioactive21 |
I hate sony, and i have every right to say that just look at my busted PS2 in the back of my closet. I spent $300 plus and games and plus assecessories. Not to mention over $100 in laser head replacement, and it still a pile of dust. Bitterness is an understatement. I have tons of games which i cant play right now. Buy another console you say? pay another $150? Hell no, who will assure me that it will last longer than 1 year, which is how long i've had my ps2. Repair it you say? spend another $80-100? I might as well buy another machine.
I am at the point where my only option is to buy another console but maybe that was Sony's sick twisted point. Make products last about 1-2 years and force users to buy another console. I for one will never buy another sony product. I dont know what user base you're talking about, but definetly doesnt involve me and the people involved in the class action lawesuit that sony lost. |
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Decelerate |
Here's an interesting link I found on a TeamXbox comment:
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7... Lowest common denominator... |
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SnowboardingTobi |
Sony PS3 for $299
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009VXAM0/ref=ord_ca...shr/102-2309846-8326516?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKI...[.com] At least that's what Amazon has it priced at |
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JediNinjaWizards |
consoles are teh stupid. Long Live PC Gaming!!!
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packfan_dave |
My guess is that this was a reaction to the $399 PS3 stories (and Krazy Ken insisting that the PS3 is going to be expensive) and the original plan was for there to be a single, $299 SKU with the "Core" system + hard drive + HD cables. But it's cementing my plan not to buy a next-gen console before at least one round of price cuts.
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Decelerate |
No HDD as a standard?
XBox 1.5 indeed... |
#3, Maybe it's XBox 180.
:
wesley96
(#43)
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DrDillyBar |
With HDD please.
Anything less would be uncivilized... :) |
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Miek |
One other thing I find interesting in this is the trend to move toward "optional" components. I though the whole intention behind a console was a tightly controlled environment where everything was the same?
If they keep going more an more optional, we'll be back to a PC... |
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Hattig |
With the PS2 hitting $99 soon, it will be interesting to see what happens when the XBox360 is 3x/4x the price. Buy the unproven 'basic' XBox360? Pay another $100 on top for the decent package? Or buy a few more PS2 games to last you a year until the price drops and you can see all the consoles line up against each other?
The one thing that the XBox360 has going for it is its early release. Of course, the Dreamcast proves this isn't enough, then again, with Microsoft behind it. I suppose it also has looks on its side this time around. The PS3 ... well, if it is the same price as the XBox360, then people will buy it for the 'free' HD Bluray player. However, it is all down to the games. Except for those people who will buy it to be the first on the block with one... |
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5150 Joker |
No standard HD? Bad news for xbollocks. Guess that means more PoS3's will sell like crazy. As for PoS3's price, since everyone here is playing miss cleo, I'll predict it sells at the same price range as the Xbollox 360, maybe even a bit cheaper. The difference will be that Sony will still make a profit.
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zurich |
More importantly, with two different SKUs, MS can see just how much consumer interest there is in HDs. If the HD-less Xb360 outsells the HD-with Xb360 4 to 1, then the consumers have spoken - end of story.
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PerfectCr |
As a Xbox owner and current Xbox Live subscriber I have to say this is really disappointing. The thing that made Xbox so different was the game patches, new content, and the like could be downloaded to your Xbox, almost like a mini-PC. Now you will have a significant number of people with "Xbox 360 Lite".
That presents an interesting scenario. Take Halo 2 for example. They release patches and you cannot play on Xbox Live without downloading the new patch. So what happens to the people with no HDD? They cannot play online anymore? Or, do you take away to ability of a developer to release patches, even if a serious flaw in online play is discovered (like cheating exploits)?? Bad move! I think I might skip the 360 afterall and let my Xbox Live membership expire. :'( |
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crose |
Smart, with a "basic" version for only $299 they can say that they are less expensive than PS3. Of course no one is going to buy it without the hard drive so the actual price will be $399.
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Rousterfar |
MS just lost one of it's two (the other being LIVE) "big" advantages over the PS3, standard HDD support. Since the HDD won't be in every system sold, it won't be 100% universal like it was with the Xbox. Considering how badly Sony is beating MS in the console market I am suprised MS is willing to give up its ace in the hole.
Things just got really interesting. Don't be suprised if Sony's PS3 is priced just like the X360. A $299 "bare-bones" version and a "Value Pack" at $399. |
Mark my words. XBOX2 will even the playing field with PS3. It'll be more profitable, it'll have a better integration with everything borg, it'll rip the pants of Sony in the future past PS3, and watch for a nintendo desparation buyout eventually. (Not a bad move, but Sony needs a better online strategy, like, yesteryear)