Slashdot Mirror
On Xbox's Progression, Positioning For The Future
Thanks to GameSpy for its article charting the progression of the Xbox from its launch to the present day, with the author's introduction suggesting: "For Microsoft, the video-game industry has been a whiplash rollercoaster ride with lucrative peaks, costly valleys, and a changing list of passengers going along for the ride." After charting a timeline for Xbox's history so far, he concludes: "Xbox has not lived up to all of the predictions, but Microsoft has more than made its point. After two years and two months on the market, the numbers speak for themselves." Has the Xbox been all you expected and wanted it to be?
The XBOX is really a fantastic console, and imo, its a huge leap in the console market.
:P
-The hard drive is absolutely fantastic; game saves are effortless, and i don't need to buy memory cards. What happens when i run out? By that time, we'll be way into XBOX3 or XBOX4
Custom soundtracks are a pretty cool feature, i love funking out to gorillaz down a mountain on Amped (Snowboarding game), when i get bored of the music in the game.
XBOX Live is, dare i say, the most fantastic, complete product that MS has ever made:
-Downloads are plentiful, and a great incentive for me to keep those single player games that are 'play through once'. The new Splinter Cell levels were great.
-Cheating protection is great. Modchips are are automatically banned, and if anyone ever finds a game exploit, patching is automatic and mandatory, and in some cases (MotoGP) scoreboards are reset.
-Voice Support completely changes everything. On PC, it's pretty much optional, but on LIVE, nearly everyone has a communicator (it comes with the kits) and EVERY GAME SUPPORTS IT. The difference in team organization in a first person shooter, for instance, is immediately clear.
-Prizes, leagues, tournaments. I don't have an XSN game myself, but from what other people have told me, the setup is pretty good. Prizes are a cool addition too; right now there is an official competition for a cool $25,000US. Nice.
On top of all this, the lineup is shaping up, too. It doesnt have the Japanese RPGs like the PS2, or the Nintendo games, but it has everything else. Its the only console for which FPSs actually work *AT ALL* (Gamecube's controls are too rigid, and PS2's analog sticks are too short), and i actually prefer (blasphemy!) the analog sticks to WASD and a mouse.. its just so much more natural.
So yeah, MS did an excellent job with the XBOX. Surprise, Surprise.
Newsie, Moderator, www.tauniverse.com
Which is why the Xbox DVD adaptor comes with a remote control.
Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
when I first heard about the sales in japan, on slashdot mind you, they were selling less than the original black and white game boy each week. And the new one was out.