Vote on new XBOX controller colors...

[drothgery]

Everything John said... Microsoft knew going into this that they would make no money off the console itself.

Still, I won't be surprised at all if the Xbox 2 is designed to be more cost-effective than the current one (and I still think MS's losses on Xbox hardware are very consistently overstated).

But anyhow, who cares? I'm certainly not going to base my game-buying decisions on if there will be a another version system... Hell, the best gaming console of all time is the Dreamcast, which had no sequal.

Eh. It has a lot of really good games in a short period of time, so if you're awarding best by 'percentage of good games', the Dreamcast is a contender, but that's about the only way it's a contender. 'Most good games' is the original PlayStation in a walk (also 'most bad games'). 'Most powerful system' is the Xbox in a walk. And the highly subjective nostalgia factor favors the SNES, in my book.

 

[Ristamar]

From what I've read, I don't think the losses are overstated at all. Microsoft has lost a lot (2 billion or more) on the XBOX venture when you factor in cost of hardware and setting up and maintaining the XBOX Live network.

Regardless, their pockets are so deep, it doesn't matter how much they lose. There will certainly be an XBOX 2, unless grumblings from shareholders persuade them to do differently (in other words, put the money that would fund XBOX into other, profitable investments.)

I also agree that XBOX 1st party support has been relatively poor. That could change quickly, though, if Rare manages to craft a few gems. I'm anxious to see what they'll show at E3.

Oh, and my favorite console of all time would have to be the SNES. The 16-bit era of gaming was amazing.

 

[faete]

I've seen interviews w/ Microsoft developers who worked on the X-box. They were specifically designed to lose money (~150-200 $ per unit).

The idea was coined in order to gain market share by producing a more powerful machine than was currently available. The next generation of X box was supposed to be more cost effective, that way they would be able to regain much of the lost revenue though sales to the larger market.

 

[Tiberius]

If only they'd make the old "big" controller in these crazy colors.

I have no use, need, or desire for the Controller-S, regardless of color.

Yay! Big controllers rock. Are they still produced, or must people with large hands suffer the S version?

-Tiberius

 

[Ristamar]

Yay! Big controllers rock. Are they still produced, or must people with large hands suffer the S version?

-Tiberius

They're still available.