The X-Box 360

[drothgery]

Also, the hardware apparently is actually similar to that of the 360 (Power PC based, ATI graphics), but presumably more powerful, since it's about a year newer.

Since Nintendo has no interest in losing even a little bit of money on hardware (never has, never will), and has traditionally aimed for lower price points (the Cube launced at $199 against the $299 Xbox), it's likely that the Revolution will not be more powerful than the Xbox 360.

 

[John Crichton]

Anyone who thinks that any of these manufacturers will release a console with a basic price point over $400 is nuts. Matter of fact, I'd be surprised if it released for more than $299. That is the sweet spot for a console price launch. Yeah, the actual purchase ends up being higher after buying extra controllers and games but the basic unit itself won't be more than $300.

And I'll wait to see the games before commenting on the console itself. None of the A-list titles or sequels are coming out on the Next Gen systems as of yet.

 

[ohGr]

If you don't know, this is the standard business model for console providers (Microsoft, Sony, & Nintendo). They sell thier product at a hefty loss in order to get it into as many homes as possible.

As drothgery mentioned, Nintendo has never lost money on any of its consoles; every Nintendo console has sold for profit from day 1. It's a major reason why Ninty is still around and kicking after coming in dead last in two consecutive console generations. (The primary reason being their vice-like stranglehold on the handheld market.)

EDIT: Hell, from 1998-2004, Nintendo has been the most profitable of the three. (Comparing to only the game divisions of Sony and Microsoft, of course.)
http://www.playmoreconsoles.com/fullnews.asp?NewsID=5592

 

[drothgery]

EDIT: Hell, from 1998-2004, Nintendo has been the most profitable of the three. (Comparing to only the game divisions of Sony and Microsoft, of course.)
http://www.playmoreconsoles.com/fullnews.asp?NewsID=5592

It's probably worth noting, though, that at least in the PlayStation era, the game division of Sony was a very major profit center for them (when the PS2 was new and therefore not especially profitable, Sony's profits were down by quite a bit; I don't know what's happened since then with Sony's bottom line); Microsoft pulls in enormous profits from Windows, Office, and server software, while Xbox/home entertainment is not a big deal on their balance sheet.

 

[John Crichton]

As drothgery mentioned, Nintendo has never lost money on any of its consoles; every Nintendo console has sold for profit from day 1. It's a major reason why Ninty is still around and kicking after coming in dead last in two consecutive console generations. (The primary reason being their vice-like stranglehold on the handheld market.)

Yeah, The Big N has stuck around because of Pokemon & Gameboy. But if they don't hurry up and start making some better DS games they are going to get killed by the Sony's PSP.

 

[Captain Tagon]

I for one am looking forward to the 360. If nothing else the machine just looks wicked cool.

 

[ohGr]

It's probably worth noting, though, that at least in the PlayStation era, the game division of Sony was a very major profit center for them (when the PS2 was new and therefore not especially profitable, Sony's profits were down by quite a bit; I don't know what's happened since then with Sony's bottom line);

Yeah, IIRC, for a while there, Sony's game division was actually the most profitable division in the entire company. They must have taken a real bath on the PS2 to be behind now.

...Microsoft pulls in enormous profits from Windows, Office, and server software, while Xbox/home entertainment is not a big deal on their balance sheet.

That's why the article only compared profit margins for the game divisions of Sony and MS. Comparing li'l ol' Nintendo's profits to the total profits of megacorps like Sony and MS, instead of just that of their game divisions, would give a seriously skewed view of the videogame industry.

 

[Welverin]

(Even actually looks like the Dreamcast. Same color and basic shape, though a bit more melted looking)

Like hell, they look absolutely nothing alike.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I'm not a ps2 head, but I am more excited about the new Cell techonology that the ps3 is going to use. I don't really see anything with the new xbox that a sooped up computer can't do. I do likea free online network though.

To my knowledge, the online network isn't going to be free. I think Microsoft plans on using the same XBox Live pay-to-play model that they currently are using.

 

[TwistedBishop]

There is going to be a free Live service (Live Silver, I believe) and the standard pay service we have now (Live Gold), not as seperate entities but overlapping.. I believe Marketplace is going to be on Silver, and for a lot of people I suspect that's all they'll use. I know my only real interest in Live is for downloadable content.