But Sony could pre-empt the market leaders in that case because they took the games industry in a completely new direction - a direction that it has been going in since the Playstaion started it, and that was making video games cool.
It was kinda a case of doing the right thing at the right time. It did something that the market leader was never planning to do - reinvent the market.
Now, unless Microsoft want to turn the market on its head like the Playstation did years ago, pre-empting the market leader isn't going to lead to the same success as the Playstation, or even guarantee any success at all in this case. The stakes are higher, and as far as marketing avenues are concerned, the lowest common denominator has alreday been targetted for many years now.
The Playstation boom was circumstantial to the leap from 2D to 3D, and the marketing stance. It had all the right ingredients to tackle Nintendo and Sega at the time.
The XBox 360 is up against Sony's PS3. Marketing is what they do best. I don't think Microsoft are going catch Sony sleeping on the job like Sony did to Nintendo years ago.
And, it's all about the games. If XBox 360 has Halo 3 and Perfect Dark, that could be enough to ensure it's success. I mean, the first XBox only ever sold on Halo for many months after it's release. XBox 360'll be OK.
Last edited by Red Superfly on Jun 6th, 2005 at 07:48 PM
That would seem to make sense, Fly. I really think Microsoft has a lot more to lose in terms of being second to market.... Sony is so well-established in the market now, that it will do more damage being perceived as the follower for a second time around than it would be to try and take first crack at the next generation and steal some of Sony's thunder.
Microsoft is in a tough position either way you cut it... their lack of concern for styling and design from an overseas standpoint really hurt them as they alienated a huge group. Most unfortunate, since I feel that the Xbox really was the technologically superior machine. If Microsoft's first batch of titles look good at release, I still feel that they've got an uphill battle to fight in terms of stealing market share in the long run, but I anticipate both Sony and Microsoft doing well this next go around.
Nintendo, on the other hand, really is just one giant question mark. Can't figure them out. I look at them, and I see the slow downward spiral that Sega followed after churning out multiple platforms in a small amount of time. The bad thing is that Nintendo is now doing what Sega did, but they're now doing it with their portable consoles. GBA, GBA-SP, DS and now this GBA micro (or whatever they're going to call it)... it's like they can't settle on a format. As a consumer, I find this like the frustrating exepreince of buying a computer, only to have it obsolete within a week of purchase. Since I have hardly anything in terms of specs for the Revolution, this is all I have to attribute to the big N's corporate mindset... it's very strange. Somehow, they always seem to pull something out that keeps them in the equation... but man, I don't know what they're up to this time.
you have to wonder if microsofts bad press that comes with the awfulness of their operating systems and their evil giant world conquering jean baptiste emanuel zorg reputation will affect the x box
Oh look, an educated reply, how UNUSUAL on an internet message board. I have a feeling what Nintendo has planned for Revolution will mark it as a classic in the future, with downloadable games from the Golden Age of gaming, that's just smart right there. Sony saying Ps3 will be more than a gaming console is interesting, but I like Nintendo's plan more. Oh look a hard drive and shit in the 360, I'm REALLY f***in impressed, oh wait I already own a computer, so why buy another one? A WHITE one? Yeah, I'll be called a Sony/Nintendo fanboy, but XBox 360 hasn't impressed me so far, Full Auto looks like a game on Halo 2 par for graphics, & that controller is still obnoxious to me anyway.
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they are releasing it early becuz they know their console sucks a$$ and they know that gaming companies like Nintendo and Sony have better consoles, games and "gaming fanbase" to blow them out of the water for the next millienia so they are hoping very silly people will go and buy their console so that they can cash in on the anticapation and expectancy of the gaming public.
The Xbox does not "suck ass", nor do I expect the next gen to be any different. In fact, not a single one of the consoles in this generation could even be considered a bad console. Underutilized or a victim of insufficient application, yes. Falt out bad, no.
The Xbox was the technically superior console of the three, as evidenced by games like Halo, Ninja Gaiden and the incorporation of online play. As I said before, their failure was in the alienation of the European and Japanese gaming community.
Sony did excatly what it was supposed to in order to maintain its stronghold over Microsoft and Nintendo... excellent marketing and a very good first-party development. While Microsoft put some high-quality titles out that just could not be run on the PS2, they were too few and far between. For every Halo-type release, Sony was putting out another GTA, Metal Gear, Ratchet and Clank or God of War type of game. Yes, the games like Vice City and Sons of Liberty made it over to Xbox eventually (and looked better), but it took a hell of a long time given Sony's repuation in the halls of the Konami, Rockstar and Capcom.
Nintendo's Gamecube probably had the most potential for it that never was implemented. They moved from cartidge to disc format... smart move. The development of the Game Boy Player was just a terrific idea, and the incorporation of GBA/GC crossover interaction could have been so much more. The game selection is so much more limited than the other two, but I feel that Nintendo first-party titles have tried to maintain the feel of games that made earlier entries so successful. Zelda and Mario titles felt the way they were meant to be played, but still instilled a feel about them that made them feel like the next generation of games. This was the little engine that could, and despite being the least of the three consoles in terms of performance and game selection, it was a very good console.
To say that any system "sucks" shows your fanatical nature... and I highly doubt that a large portion of this group really took the time to play all three systems.
Primitive, GC was under XBOX but above PS2 in terms of performance. Or do you mean something different?
It sure looks like Nintendo is going down like Sega but I dont think they will. Sega didnt have the same amount of main characters like Nintendo does. Also, it didnt have the same amount of diehard fans. Lastly, Nintendo has the talent to pull off some of the best game of the year while Sega didnt. Thats why I think Nintendo wont do what Sega did.
The churning of console for Nintendo is actually working for them. People bought the original GBA, then bought the SP version. DS is completly different system and the Micro is basically an alternative option to the SP. It hasnt hurt them at all, it actually got them more money. Also, they have been doing that for years with original Gameboy (Pocket, the face colour version, then Gameboy Colour). Unlike console systems, the new versions of GBA are not obselete because you dont need to buy it. Its there if you want too. You can still play new GBA games on the original one.
No, that's what I meant... I think you're right though, looking back in retrospect. I guess GC was supposed to be more powerful than PS2, though the lact of application and the smaller amount of titles probably was what led me to think the other way. I stand corrected on that point.
I agree with Smasandian. The reason Sega weren't able to hang on like Nintendo have is their lack of franchise characters. Instead of building on existing titles they went the innovative approach of trying new directions (some of which did not work) and probably hoped that the diversity of their games would hold sway. It didn't and you will notice that since Sega have ditched consoles they have started turning out more sequels (Altered Beast 2, Outrun 2, Shinobi whatever and rumour has it a new Afterburner).
If you look at the past decade or so of gaming you'd be hard pressed to find a company with a more diverse portfolio than Sega and a lot of companies owe a lot of their success to ideas Sega pioneered.
Anyhoo, I pretty much think when the next generation of consoles roll around not much will change except we will be playing better looking (but not necessarily better) games. Sony will remain unmoved, Microsoft will cement their place with another solid effort and Nintendo will continue to cater for those left in the cold by the other two fighting it out.
The churning of console for Nintendo is actually working for them. People bought the original GBA, then bought the SP version. DS is completly different system and the Micro is basically an alternative option to the SP. It hasnt hurt them at all, it actually got them more money. Also, they have been doing that for years with original Gameboy (Pocket, the face colour version, then Gameboy Colour). Unlike console systems, the new versions of GBA are not obselete because you dont need to buy it. Its there if you want too. You can still play new GBA games on the original one.
Exactly, all along Nintendo has had backwards compatibility under their belt, but through handhelds, not the consoles. Now the time for backwards compatibility on their new console is done, and CORRECTLY.
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Well backward compatibilty sometimes doesnt work.
The DS software didnt sell at all because the games were weak, so people just played GBA games.
It could happen with the Revoultion. The graphics are said to be 3 times as powerful, which isnt the biggest leap. If the new games arent good, the Revolution software sales will dwindle due to the fact that they can play all thier GC games and if the older titles are free, play all the old school games too, for free. That means no software sales.
Consoles companies make thier money on software and not the actual console. Look at the rumored pricing for the XBOX. Obviously, theyre not going to make any profit with it but actually make a ton of profit from sales. Consdering for each game sold, MS will be getting a cut of that, that will turn out to be alot of money.
microsoft wants to sell their product early bfore the nintendo releases revolution and Sony releases the PS3 so people will be hooked on the xbox 360 and will not want to buy the PS3 or Revolution. Heh..it's kind of funny that Microsoft plans to release halo 3 on the date that the PS3 is released.
I read an article on it, and they are releasing it so early so that when the new Sony system is released, Sony will walk right into the release of Halo 3. Nice marketing plan... heh heh...
your fanboyism nullifies any effect of intimidating n00bs, cuz halo is overrated & you need to realize one game would NEVER destroy an entire company/console.
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Okay Boys and Girls lets open your history books. You should all remember this it wasn't that long ago.
Remember when the dreamcast came out? great System, but When the PS2 came out it blue it out of the water it terms of Hype. Nevermind the fact that the dreamcast had better games at PS2 launch....anyway this is unrelated...
My main point is, Look at how much of a market lead Sony gained by launching PS2 early with relatively no competition. Coming from an already formidably established postion only helped.
Microsoft went from industry rookie, to heavy weight second place. If microsoft had gotten a better launch(with the type S controllers and better follow up games after that 4 month period where you get bored of your launch titles) microsoft could be in a completly different position. They want to establish the same lead that Sony did with the PS2. However, there is a lack of hype over the 36o since they showed us everyone thing about it, and the fact that nowdays everything is next gen.
Nintendo won't go the way of Sega no matter how many times you analyze it.
1.While the Gamecube did not perform nearly as well as Nintendo had hoped, it was no where near a absolute failure.
2. Nintendo learned many important lessons during this console cycle. They learned how badly the kiddy image had hurt them, as well as the lack of online play, and the small media disc format they had used.
3. Nintendo has such a large fanbase, that even if they buy a 360, or PS3, odds are they will get a revolution.
4. Gameboys are much cheaper and are an already established format. Almost everyone has one. I don't know what Nintendo is doing with the Micro, but if it's priced cheap I may pick one up. Sometimes the DS is to big to carry around.
The key difference between Nintendo and Sega is that When the Saturn flopped, it flopped BIG. The company lost millions. They had no fallback, and weak franchises, it wasn't competitively priced, and lacked any strong must have titles. Many of it's best games never were translated for us release in it's final months. They lacked a sutiable marketing campaign to breakpast the PS2 hype and Console complacency that had developed. PSX owners wanted to wait for the Ps2. N64 users had a bunch of new games on the way, as well as the hope the "dolphin" would come out soon. they also lacked any truly stand out launch titles.. The gamecube however, as much as it did flop, it was no where even comparable to the saturn. Nintendo did not lose nearly as much money as Sega, and they were able to complete a partial recover thanks to the fantastic first party games such as Zelda, metroid, Mario kart, and some great games from capcom(traitorus bastards). The cube hasn't faded into oblivion, like the saturn and dream cast.
now my main message.
get this through your ****ing heads. When Nintendo pulls out of the console industry, they will PULL OUT OF THE GAMING INDUSTRY!
if you want to keep playing Zelda, Mario, Metroid, and all the other awsome Nintendo games, you need to support the company. You have got to stop being short sighted.
KMC Community Forums
Jun 6th, 2005 07:41 PM
Yeah, I'll be called a Sony/Nintendo fanboy, but XBox 360 hasn't impressed me so far, Full Auto looks like a game on Halo 2 par for graphics, & that controller is still obnoxious to me anyway.
