The X-Box 360

[Lobo Lurker]

Halo 3 & Quake 4 have been announced as launch titles for the XBox 360. While that's really cool for Microsoft that means nothing to me as I don't particularly like that style of game.

It should be noted that while XBox Live (Silver) is free, a broadband internet connection is required in order to use it (which isn't so free).

 

[Allanon]

Although the nintendo revolution is still not officially revealed from the rumors surrounding it and the facts from the unveilings of both the Xbox360 and the PS3 it's safe to say the Xbox 360 will be the weakest (in pure power) of the three consoles with the PS3 the most likely candidate for the top position. But then the Xbox360 will be released almost a year earlier than the other two which could give it a significant lead if it can ship with some stellar games.

 

[Michael Morris]

Oh I severely doubt that. The PSP was 300 dollars and that is without all thegadgets. As the videogame generation matures so does the hardware and these next ones are going to be able to do more stuff than ever. Look for 500 dollar machines, maybe 450.

$300 debuts are a tradition in the video game industry stretching all the way back to the Atari 2600 (yes, in 1978 it too debuted at $299, and back then $299 was worth a lot more ) I doubt it's a trend likely to change

(Only a few systems have bucked the trend - notably Neo Geo and the Nintendo NES, debuting at $1000 and $200 respectively).

 

[Allanon]

$300 debuts are a tradition in the video game industry stretching all the way back to the Atari 2600 (yes, in 1978 it too debuted at $299, and back then $299 was worth a lot more ) I doubt it's a trend likely to change

(Only a few systems have bucked the trend - notably Neo Geo and the Nintendo NES, debuting at $1000 and $200 respectively).

I agree with Michael here, even if one of the three would opt for a higher starting price the other two would then quickly capitalize on that and price their respective offerings below that price. All three know that for the budget minded mother or father (which remain one of the largest buyer groups out there) price is everything.

 

[drothgery]

(Only a few systems have bucked the trend - notably Neo Geo and the Nintendo NES, debuting at $1000 and $200 respectively).

The GameCube (and the SNES, IIRC) debuted at $199. The Saturn debuted at $399. The N64 launched at $249.

 

[TwistedBishop]

Halo 3 & Quake 4 have been announced as launch titles for the XBox 360. While that's really cool for Microsoft that means nothing to me as I don't particularly like that style of game.

I'm not sure about Quake 4, but Halo 3 isn't an Xbox 360 launch title ("launch title" means within three months of release; expected 360 release is November). The plan they're going with is to release Halo 3 when the PS3 releases in Spring '06 (guessing that means a release around May).

 

[Mystery Man]

I say I'm not going to rush out and buy one when it first comes out but I know I will. I'm weak.

 

[TwistedBishop]

Although the nintendo revolution is still not officially revealed from the rumors surrounding it and the facts from the unveilings of both the Xbox360 and the PS3 it's safe to say the Xbox 360 will be the weakest (in pure power) of the three consoles with the PS3 the most likely candidate for the top position. But then the Xbox360 will be released almost a year earlier than the other two which could give it a significant lead if it can ship with some stellar games.

While I don't know about the Revolution (ironic that the 360 is based around a "revolution" marketing scheme, isn't it?), I'd say that's probably true. I think the Xbox 360 won't have more than a 6 month head start on the PS3, but getting in at the holiday season, and the ambush of Halo 3 at PS3's release, should give Microsoft a much stronger position.

Will not being top-dog graphically mean Microsoft loses its footing? Having the most advanced system didn't topple the PS2. I have little doubt that Sony will continue to dominate the console market. I do think, though, we're going to see more and more of its user base eroded by Microsoft. The Xbox is really hanging in there, and making steps forward. I was watching the E3 videos of both Sony and Microsoft unveiling the new systems earlier, and it's pretty shocking how much Sony is relying on the "we're the most power system now" crutch, with very dry and lengthy dialogue accompanying charts and graphs. Not to get into a consolewar type attitude, but that seems like a bad idea to me. Microsoft's demonstration was far more engaging and entertaining.

I'm personally going to get a 360 if the price at release isn't insane. It's simply the console that makes games I want to play, at this point. I purchased a PS2 out of a sense of obligation long ago, because it was the "gamer's console" and because of my fondness for having played RE1 on the PS1 so long ago, and quickly discovered I couldn't stand most of its current top line-up.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

But then the Xbox360 will be released almost a year earlier than the other two which could give it a significant lead if it can ship with some stellar games.

Actually the PS3 will be coming out in spring of 2006, that's only four months, I doubt it will be faster than the Xbox... IMHO Sony seems scared in this fight... Their releasing information quicker than they planned to and I think they just bumped up their initial release date in the hopes of delaying Xbox 360's momentum.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/video_game_expo

 

[trancejeremy]

Well, actually, Sony always planned to release the PS3 info now at E3. It was MS that moved up releasing details on the Xbox 360 in that stupid MTV special before E3 to avoid a conflict with Sony.

I really doubt Sony is scared. If anything, they are probably too dismissive of MS.

Anyway, the specs of the PS3 are very impressive. On paper, about twice as powerful as the Xbox 360 and seemingly does everything the Xbox 360 does but does it better. It also seems to have more software already running on it.

People say that all you need is a head start, but that never worked for Sega. They had a head start with both the Saturn and the Dreamcast. And to say the power of the Xbox isn't an advantage isn't true - for multiplatform games, usually the Xbox version sells better, presumably because they look better. (Just this week, Star Wars for the Xbox outsold Star Wars for the PS2.)

I think in order to have made a lot of inroads MS would have had to be first and be more powerful. MS seems to be relying more on marketing this time around - MTV, soft drinks, trying to be hip & cool. Which could work, but ultimately is going to be shallow.