Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Xbox Gains Ground, Outsells PS2 In U.S.?

Posted by simoniker on from the offer-good-one-month-only dept.

Thanks to Reuters for its story noting that Microsoft's Xbox is "expected to have outsold Sony's PlayStation 2 for the first time on a monthly basis in April" , apparently helped "by a price cut that made the Xbox cheaper than the PS2" - though a PlayStation 2 price cut to $149 is seemingly rumored for announcement at E3. The rise of the Xbox-exclusive title is also noted: "Titles like 'Ninja Gaiden' and 'Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow' rode rave reviews to big sales, both finishing among the top five titles in sales for March, according to the NPD Group." Elsewhere in the same article, Dan Hsu of EGM comments on Xbox 2's possible showing at E3, commenting: "I think it'd be very strange for them to announce anything like that, because it would only hurt this holiday season for them... Even if this thing is not coming out for a year or two years, that still gives the impression that [the Xbox] is outdated technology."

103 comments

  1. Wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    We like Microsoft when it comes to the xbox, right?

    1. Re:Wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's a little too strong, it's more like we *don't hate* Microsoft when it comes to the xbox.

    2. Re:Wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More like we "forget about Microsoft" when it comes to the Xbox.

      Actually, make that everyone else except me.

    3. Re:Wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      actually I hate Microsoft MORE when it come to hex-box

    4. Re:Wait a minute... by NanoGator · · Score: 0, Troll

      "We like Microsoft when it comes to the xbox, right? "

      Only if you can install Linux on it even though there's little reason to do so.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    5. Re:Wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      wow, you are as funny and insightful as ever....
      which is not at all! 0(^_^)0
      you suck nanogator!!!

    6. Re:Wait a minute... by Stormwatch · · Score: 1

      Sort of... more importantly, we just hate Sony so much, anyone beating them is good news!

      --
      Circumcision is child abuse.
    7. Re:Wait a minute... by incubusnb · · Score: 1

      We never "like" Microsoft, but the X-Box makes it somewhat bearable to have them around

      --
      /. is overrun by bed-wetting elitist nerds
      let it be known, for anything other than servers, a *nix OS sucks
    8. Re:Wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually, Sony can be even nastier than Microsoft when it comes to licensing games for their platform. They can stonewall you indefinitely by nitpicking the TRC (Technical Requirement Certification) if they decide they just don't want your game to come out--and that decision can be entirely political, not based upon the quality of your game. They also insist that the PS/2 title have more features than competing consoles, even though the PS/2 is long in the tooth, and had major design flaws right from the outset. For anti-competitive behaviour, M$ has nothing on Sony.

    9. Re:Wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Indeed. A few weeks ago there was an interview over the bringing over of more SNK games onto the console (I believe it was on Gamespot but I don't remember exactly nor do I have the link, someone check it out?) and one of the representatives pointed out that they COULDN'T bring Metal Slug 3 to the PS2 because Sony refused to allow it. (Even though Metal Slug 3 is considered to be the last high point of 2 side-shooting scrollers to date.)

    10. Re:Wait a minute... by pommaq · · Score: 1

      No, we don't, didn't you get the memo? You're supposed to back Nintendo in the console wars! :)

      That said, I do find the whole Xbox concept revolting. Build a computer, brand it as a console, use your monopoly in other markets to dump it at ridiculous loss just to force yourself into the market? No thanks. Even if the machine itself appealed to me (too big, too noisy, too fragile, and... all those moving parts? m-m-mad, i tell you) I wouldn't touch it with a 3.048m pole. The idea sickens me and I'd rather have companies who actually need and care about the console market bringing me my video games. We get the companies we deserve, and if we choose to back Microsoft on this we're heading for doom and gloom in the console market as well.

    11. Re:Wait a minute... by bkakes · · Score: 2, Informative

      too big
      Because this really matters? It fits in perfectly with my receiver and, cable box, and DVD player. On the other hand, my Gamecube doesn't fit into the entertainment cabinet quite correctly.


      too noisy
      Mine's much quieter than my PS2. Lest you think it's a fluke, we have 3 Xboxes in our house and two PS2s, so I've got a good basis for comparison.


      too fragile
      Huh? Ours has been running fine for well over a year with no problems. That includes the controller. My old PS2, on the other hand, occasionally didn't load games correctly due to a fault with the DVD drive.


      all those moving parts?
      What the hell are you talking about? You mean, the DVD drive and the single fan? This is different from other systems how? Or do you mean a hard drive as opposed to a much-more-likely-to-be-lost-or-damaged memory card?


      Nintendo makes some really fun games (we also have a Gamecube), but it's pretty hard for me to back them when the Xbox just delivers a lot more. Dolby Digital sound, component video, longer controller cables, built-in hard drive and networking (add the network adapter and a memory stick and even a Gamecube costs more than an Xbox)...these things matter to me. No, the average kid might not have a good sound setup or a big screen TV, but some of us do. The Xbox utilizes them and the Gamecube doesn't.

      And it's not like there aren't a bunch of great Xbox games, either. Mario Kart is fun, but we're already rather tired of it...after more than a year, we still play Halo regularly. I'd rather have Splinter Cell in Dolby Digital and 480p than Twin Snakes in stereo and SVideo.

    12. Re:Wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why aren't you playing Twin Snakes on your GameCube in component video and DPLII instead of S-video and stereo, if such things matter to you? I mean, you bought either the Xbox component cable or the breakout box, right? The GameCube component cable is available at nintendo.com and for DPLII all you need is to run the audio lead into a compatible receiver (which you've already got if you're listening to your Xbox in true DD already - otherwise, the DD you're listening to really isn't).

    13. Re:Wait a minute... by bkakes · · Score: 1

      which you've already got if you're listening to your Xbox in true DD already - otherwise, the DD you're listening to really isn't

      This is technically not true. We have a high-end B&K receiver that does 7.1 DTS and Dolby Digital EX which doesn't support ProLogic II without an additional module. But that's somewhat besides the point. Most receivers these days handle Dolby Digital streams; it's the new "standard", for whatever that's worth.

    14. Re:Wait a minute... by wolssiloa · · Score: 1

      Metal Slug 3 was ported to the PS2 though. I played it too.

  2. Not all that surprising... by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the XBOX (or the GC) started to outsell the PS2. The PS2's been around longer, and was also a good deal more popular. Eventaully it'll hit a saturation point to where people start wondering what's going on with the other 2. Though I really don't care much for Sony or the PS2, I wouldn't be quick to jump on the "See, I told you that system sucks" bandwagon.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
    1. Re:Not all that surprising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Saturation point?! If the there was a saturation point for the PS2, the only sold in Japan would be those being replaced for breaking down...

    2. Re:Not all that surprising... by MBCook · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I agree. I think that to a large degree the PS2 is reatching saturation. The people who want a PS2 by and large have one, so their sales will drop to lower levels.

      At the same time, the people who bought a PS2 but want something else (like a GC or PS2) are likely to buy one with the low price, so theirs sales will go up.

      The PS2 is the oldest system and will soon be replaced. It's only natural that it's sales are starting to dip at the end of it's life.

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    3. Re:Not all that surprising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't agree that XBOX is smoking PS2 because of so-called "saturation point".
      If that were the case, XBOX would have overtaken PS2 without the price cut.
      PS2 was still far outselling XBOX right before this price cut. More than that, the PSOne has now sold well over a hundred million, as against only 70 million for the PS2 which was released into even more markets. So is defintely not "saturation point" nothing.
      Bottom line: XBOX is smoking PS2 bucause of a mixture of XBOX price cuts and great kick butt games for the XBOX in recent weeks.
      Plus of course the XBOX has always been a far better console than PS2 anyway, and a much better value for money, coming as it does with a hard drive, network card, the most powerdul processor, most powerful graphics card, double the memory of the PS2 and is far easier to develop games for than the PS2.
      Consumers have finally caught on to the superb qualities of the XBOX are are fleeing the PS2 for the superior XBOX.
      About time too.

    4. Re:Not all that surprising... by Tesla+Tank · · Score: 1
      At the same time, the people who bought a PS2 but want something else (like a GC or PS2) are likely to buy one with the low price, so theirs sales will go up.

      Must be a PS2 fanboy. Who else would buy a second PS2 to look for "something else"?

    5. Re:Not all that surprising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great. A fanboy.

    6. Re:Not all that surprising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      the most powerdul processor

      boy, you said it

    7. Re:Not all that surprising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      an Idiot? oh wait, you said Fanboy already...

    8. Re:Not all that surprising... by MBCook · · Score: 1

      LOL. I didn't realize I did that. No, I won't be buying a second PS2 (unless the rerelease it ala the PSOne and they do something really fantastic to make me want it).

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  3. I am a diehard PS2'er ... by doublesix · · Score: -1, Troll

    When the price dropped, I bought one and modded it out. It makes a wicked little living room all in one media center, once you strip out all the MS crap.

    If MS dropped the price to drive the sale of games, it didn't work on me, I've yet to play an acutal game on it!

    I suppose I should give some props to xbox linux, too. I had it running debian for a while.

    1. Re:I am a diehard PS2'er ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

      "Strip out the MS crap?" The whole thing is a revenue stream for MS; when you license part of it from Microsoft, you license all of it from Microsoft. (And you sure ain't buying it.)

      The Microsoft tax is never low enough.

  4. so what? by Datasage · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If this was near the launch of the consoles it might mean something, but microsoft is going to keep playing a catchup game. There are still alot more PS2's on the market than there are xboxs.

    --
    In America we are imprisoned by our fear of them.
    1. Re:so what? by Golias · · Score: 1
      GTA has been the Killer App of the PS2 up until a few months ago. For two years, PS2-owning friends would say to me: "Yea, DOA3 looks kind of cool, HALO is awesome, and that 'Knights of the Old Republic' game that's coming out soon looks impressive, but GTA is the best reason for owning a console. I would never bother buying a machine which couldn't play it."

      Once Rockstar finally ported GTA-III and GTA:VC to the X-Box, my PS2-owning friends looked at the X-Box a lot more favorably. It now played their very favorite PS2 games, and also a few X-Box exclusive games which they envied.

      By the time I'm completely bored with those two games, the new one will probably be ported over as well.

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

    2. Re:so what? by MWoody · · Score: 1

      Hey, if you can wait an entire year for the XBox port of GTA:San Andreas, be my guest. Me, I'll be beating up old ladies for their medicine money and then using it to buy whores and guns the second the game hits the shelves. ^_^

  5. GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    ....seven months ago, due to a price drop. PS2 quickly re-took second place (behind the GameBoy Advance) the following month.

    And before anyone opens their mouth about that being non-news....that's exactly what is being claimed here about the Xbox now.

    1. Re:GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gamecube NEVER outsold PS2. Not even after Gamecube was reduced to $99.
      Get your facts right.

    2. Re:GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought GameCube was always the highest seller, worldwide.

    3. Re:GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No FUD, please.

      In the U.S., GameCube outsold PS2 for a short period because of a price drop. GameCube also led the PS2 for a very short period in late 2002, at Toys`R'Us only, after the release of Super Mario Sunshine.

      In the U.K., GameCube outsold PS2 for a short period because of a price drop.

      In Japan, GameCube outsold PS2 for a short period because of the release of Tales of Symphonia.

      Get your facts right.

    4. Re:GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GameCube has never been the #1 game system in worldwide sales. That honor has belonged to the GameBoy Advance since shortly after its introduction.

      In addition to never beating the GameBoy Advance, GameCube has also never surpassed the PS2 on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis worldwide. Its successes over the PS2 have always been regional (as in, a few weeks in the U.S., a few weeks in the U.K. and Europe, and a few weeks in Japan).

      The GameCube's successes over the Xbox, in overall worldwide and Japanese/Asian sales, are common knowledge. However, its successes over the Xbox in Xbox-strong territories such as the U.S. and the U.K. have been only slightly more common than its successes over the PS2. After the GameCube's price drop and before the Xbox's, these periods were actually very pronounced in the U.S., however.

    5. Re:GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Give me just ONE single month that Gamecube EVER outsold the PS2 in the USA?
      Just one.
      Its no use vaguely saying "for a short period of time". That simply won't wash.
      Bottom line: Gamecube NEVER outsold the PS2 for ANY month in its entire history.
      Unless you want to start counting hours here?

    6. Re:GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Heh, you sound like self-inflicted idiocy victim Mike Hawk.

      I never claimed that the GameCube outsold the PS2 in any region for any month. Read the OP fifteen times if you have to, then read it again. I said that the GameCube led the PS2 after its price drop, and elaborated later that it was on the order of isolated weeks. The PS2 did succeed the GameCube the following month after Black Friday, having been beaten by the GameCube in previous weeks due to aggressive pricing. But it was beaten again by the GameCube in the final weeks of December.

      Your post claimed: "Gamecube NEVER outsold PS2." But now you're talking months and hours in some sort of flawed, revisionist justification of "what you meant to say".

      I told you to get your facts right.

      Now get them right.

    7. Re:GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gamecube nutcase : "I never claimed that the GameCube outsold the PS2 in any region for any month. Read the OP fifteen times if you have to, then read it again. I said that the GameCube led the PS2 after its price drop, and elaborated later that it was on the order of isolated weeks"

      Hey you are just playing with words here, pal. You are more slipery than Bill and Hilary Clinton combined with their "I did not have sex with that woman" weasel out.

      You never "claimed that the GameCube outsold the PS2 in any region for any month", but at the same time you "said that the GameCube led the PS2 after its price drop, and elaborated later that it was on the order of isolated weeks"?
      Explain to me how those two statements can both be true at the same time please?
      You are making two totally mutually exclusive statments with a straight face ad actually pretending to believe in them too!!
      If you say that the gamecube led the PS2 in the "order of isolated weeks", then you ARE claiming that Gamecube did lead PS2 for some weeks aren't you?
      Now since that is clearly NOT true, isn't it time for you to pack your bags and crawl back into the whole from which you came from?

    8. Re:GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Westley · · Score: 1

      How are they mutually exclusive statements?

      Here's an example of how it could have gone, for a particular month (with completely artbitrary figures - this is just a logical demonstration):

      Week 1: GC 100, PS2 80
      Week 2: GC 100, PS2 80
      Week 3: GC 50, PS2 80
      Week 4: GC 50, PS2 80

      Total: GC 300, PS2 320

      There, the GC led the PS2 for the first two weeks, but didn't lead for the whole month.

      Is that so difficult to imagine happening for real?

    9. Re:GameCube already outsold PS2.... by Fjord · · Score: 1

      I never claimed that the GameCube outsold the PS2 in any region for any month.

      This statement is rather disingenuous. You never explicitly stated it, but you did implicitly state it two ways. The first is with the statment:
      GameCube already outsold PS2 seven months ago, due to a price drop. PS2 quickly re-took second place (behind the GameBoy Advance) the following month.

      The implication here is that the PS2 was out of second place for the month, having to retake it the following month.

      The second place is with this statement:
      that's exactly what is being claimed here about the Xbox now
      which, from the blurb, we know that was is being claimed is:
      Microsoft's Xbox is "expected to have outsold Sony's PlayStation 2 for the first time on a monthly basis"

      The implication is that the GameCube, exactly like the XBox, once outsold Sony's PlayStation 2 on a monthly basis.

      If you truly did not mean to say that the GC outsold the PS2 over a month's tracing, then your statement about this being the same as the Xbox is wrong.

      --
      -no broken link
  6. Expected by who exactly? by fondue · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Analysts? The same analysts who've been telling us online console gaming is going to be "like, so huge, maaan" and Nintendo should quit while they're drowning in money for the past five years now?

    Pardon me while I laugh hysterically.

    --

    Preferences > Homepage > Customize stories on homepage > Authors > Zonk > Uncheck

    1. Re:Expected by who exactly? by superpulpsicle · · Score: 1

      Analysts who didn't see this coming are on crack.

      When a million people already own a PS2, what's the chance that they'd buy a second PS2? Of course they are going to buy a "new" console... xbox or gamecube. So it doesn't surprise me that xbox sales will eventually outpace PS2 sales for a couple months.

  7. the reason by spir0 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    nearly everyone already has a PS2, so of course the sales have dropped.

    dumb fucks.

    it's soon going to be time for PS3, and even tho xbox has a long way to go to reach saturation point, MS will probably release a new console very very close to the PS3 so that Sony don't reach saturation first.

    --
    The reason girls and Windows users don't understand UNIX is because all the documentation is in Man files.
  8. The Beginning of the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    ...for the PS2. So what's the ratio of upcoming quality exclusive titles for the XBox compared to PS2? Like 4:1 these days? Fable, Doom 3, Advent Rising, Halo 2, KOTOR II, Starcraft Ghost, Full Spectrum Warrior, Jade Empire... the list just goes on and on (not to mention the ones already released).

    Forgive me if I don't bemoan the absence of countless forgettable sushi-RPGs and repetitive kung-fu fighting games on the Xbox, which is all I've seen exclusive to the PS2 of late. Oh, please, please, please can I play Shrek II?!!!

    I think not.

    1. Re:The Beginning of the End... by MBraynard · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Yeah, I never thought that would happen. That use to be the reason that PS2 would own everything. I was just trying to think of upcoming PS2 games that were exclusive and going to be dominent but yeah, they are all sushirpg.

      Plus, with Madden going online with XBL, the reasons for going PS2 are fewer than ever.

    2. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Cap-America · · Score: 3, Interesting

      wait a sec

      Fable - PC
      Doom 3 - PC
      KOTOR II - PC
      Advent Rising - PC
      Full Spectrum Warrior - PC
      Starcraft Ghost - PS2 and GameCube
      Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow - PS2 and GameCube (this week or next if I'm not mistaken)
      Halo 2 & Jade Empire - Would not be surprised to see PC versions

      The only reasons the Xbox out sold the PS2 is
      1. $50 cheaper
      2. Everyone like owns 2 or 3 PS2 by now.

      Heres a question, by how many consoles did the Xbox out sell the PS2 by? 100,000? 10,000? 1,000? 100? 10? 1?

      What pretty much happen was MS drooped the price and people said what the hell, nothing good came out this month, might as well pick up this console for the hell of it. Its not because it has good "exclusive" titles, I'm sorry but it has one of the worst selections of "exclusive" games. 90% of the time you can go out and by their "exclusive" titles for the PC for like $10-$20 less with all the same features.

      The PS2 will always have the largest selection of REAL "exclusive" titles. All the Xbox is getting are more PC ports and calling them "exclusive" titles and on top of that their not that great too. Take Rare's latest game.

      Really how many boring RPGs and stupid FPS can you stand? Come on! Lets see I have a choice of Doom3, Half Life 2, Halo 2, UT2005, Quake 4 and what ever other FPS come out. And I rather play a FPS on the PC where I can uses a mouse and keyboard and also make Maps and Mods for the game. I like nothing more then being able to run around UT2k4 as Bender.

      And come on KotoR was not that great, it maybe one of the best Star Wars games I've played in a long time, but it was one of the worst RPGs I've played. KotoR would have made a good MMORPG. The game was so boring and dry and the ending could have been written by a 10 year old. I uses to joke around about how that could be the ending and it turn out to really be it.

      And all Ninja Gaiden was, was Shinobi with more blood, it was also another very lage disapointment. I'm glad I only rented it and didn't waste my money buying it.

      It's one stupid month people, next month the PS2 will be back on top.

      Don't forget people a couple months back the GameCube out sold the PS2 too.

      --

      -------- -Cap
      ~Bommers, Why did it have to be Bommers!?!

    3. Re:The Beginning of the End... by incubusnb · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Gran Turismo 4, Altered Beast, Driv3r, Street Racing Syndicate, NARC, Devil May Cry 3, Kindom Hearts 2, Final Fantasy XII, and on and on...

      yes, i know some of those aren't exclusive, but you did the same thing (Starcraft: Ghost and Full Spectrum Warrior both have PS2 release dates)

      that being said, the "sushi-RPGs and repetitive kung-fu fighting games" are catering to an Audience that you probably don't subscribe to, then again, i could care less about Doom 3, FSW, and Advent Rising because i don't subscribe to their intended audience (but the rest that you mentioned are on my must-buy list... yes, that means i own an X-Box)

      i also want to note, that anyone that didn't see a sale slump for the PS2 coming from 6 months ago needs a reality check, do P2-450MHZ computers sell as well now as they did when they first came out? i think not, old technology will be replaced, thats a proven fact

      --
      /. is overrun by bed-wetting elitist nerds
      let it be known, for anything other than servers, a *nix OS sucks
    4. Re:The Beginning of the End... by incubusnb · · Score: 1

      actually, as much as i'd like to agree with you, in the console world, "Exclusive" refers to the fact that its exclusive for that console, most Exclusivity agreements make no mention of PC because its a completely different platform, which is the Reason that GTA3 and Vice city where able to be ported to the PC.

      --
      /. is overrun by bed-wetting elitist nerds
      let it be known, for anything other than servers, a *nix OS sucks
    5. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      PS2's best days are behind it. Get uesd to it.
      This is not just a month affair. We are talking first quarter PS2 sales for Sony down 28% from last year, Sony's profits down massively in the first quarter due to a sharp drop in sales of both PS2 consoles and games.
      Meanwhile XBOX was the only console that actually had an increase on console sales in January and February, even before any price cuts were announced. Plus an increase of a whopping 80% in games sales.
      And now this.
      Erm.. about that quaestion of yours , the answer is : "The score: 270,000 units to 200,000 versus 100,000 for Nintendo's GameCube in April" (http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7 BB2CCAA2F-12BF-4446-944B-7487D59FAF5E%7D&siteid=go ogle&dist=google)

      Even the anti-American British publication "The Economist" has come around to the view that Microsoft is about to eat Sony's lunch.(http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?g uid=%7BB2CCAA2F-12BF-4446-944B-7487D59FAF5E%7D&sit eid=google&dist=google)

      Extract : "Next week, the industry's biggest trade show, E3, which takes place in Los Angeles, will provide the first glimpses of the next round. It is expected to be a brutal two-way fight. For, after a difficult start, Microsoft has now established itself as Sony's main rival, and is gaining momentum. Most important, it has won the crucial support of games publishers, says Nick Gibson of Games Investor, a consultancy. That means Microsoft will "pretty much be neck and neck with Sony" in the next round"

      Its time for you to wake up and smell the coffee.

    6. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Cap-America · · Score: 1

      Precents mean dick, you can make a percent mean what ever you want, by saying Xbox went up 80% means nothing. all that could have happen is they went from 1000 units to 1250 units, thats a 80% incress right there. PS2 drop from 28%, hell that could mean they droped from 100,000 to 80,000.

      the great thing about satistics is you can make them say what ever you want.

      The Xbox has always done better in the UK, but thats because Sony and Nintendo haven't embrased them as much as MS has.

      MS still has a loooong way to fight, The Next Gen will be very hard on them.

      Japan sale figures: (for the week ending April 25th)
      1. PlayStation 2 - 44,950 - (1,090,050)
      2. Game Boy Advance SP - 43,720 - (1,086,120)
      3. GameCube - 5,750 - (338,150)
      4. Game Boy Advance - 3,540 - (128,040)
      5. Xbox - 430 - (17,930)
      6. PSone - 310 - (9,100)
      7. Wonder Swan Crystal - 50 - (5,050)

      --

      -------- -Cap
      ~Bommers, Why did it have to be Bommers!?!

    7. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Percentages mean exactly that, and PS2 console and games sales were massively down in the first quarter, while XBOX sales of both games and consoles were very much up, with XBOX games up a massive 80%
      That is what this battle is about.
      In addition of course, XBOX sold a very nice 270,000 units in April far outselling the PS2 with only 200,000 sold and the Gamecube with 100,000 sold.

      As for Japan sales, I couldn't give two hoots about that.
      Its irrelevant to this idscussion. This discussion is about AMERICAN sales. Why bring in Japanese sales unless you are losing badly?
      Plus the Japanese are notoriously jongoistic, inward looking and hostile to all foreign ideas and products anyway.

      Bottom line: America is BY FAR the biggest video games market on the planet, nearly TWICE that of the Japanese market.
      Plus American companies like Electronic Arts and Take Two Interactive now dominate the games business.
      If XBOX rules in America, PS2 is in deep trouble.

      As for the next generation console, Microsoft is now set to crush Sony when the next generatiuon consoles come out, having managed to get ready to launch the next XBOX BEFORE Sony even knows what hit them.

    8. Re:The Beginning of the End... by falcon5768 · · Score: 1
      figures you make a excelent point to a dumb shits comment and your not modded up!

      your exactly right, the PS 2 has reached its end all, the PSX and PS3 are around the corner and of course everyone is going to start buying the systems they havent got. THATS why I have a gamecube now, I have had a PS 2 since the day they came out, WHY would I want to buy another one???

      I hate when people miss the point entirely and assume something is gaining ground cause its good, NOT because there are other reasons (price drop, want to have systems with games they cant get on the PS 2) The only reason I got a gamecube is cause I wanted to play some of the fun Nintendo games, not cause its better or anything, I wanted to play mario party and Animal Crossing!

      Honestly I still dont think the Xbox is a good buy cause all they have are PC games that arnt even first run PC games in some cases. Halo honestly blew, I wasnt any more impressed than I was with any of the sequals to Quake, Doom, Wolfenstein, or Unreal. FPS have reached their point and I cna only play so many oriiginal ones. I LOVED Undying even though it wasnt graphically cool simply cause the story kicked ass over running around and blasting the shit out of skript kiddies in a level.

      The true test is to look a the actual numbers, if the GameCube has ALSO gone up in sales, and the PS 2 down, then THATs your answer right there, oversaturation.

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    9. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What a fanboy. I find it ironic that you use the nickname "cap-america" when you're obviously Japanese. Either that or you don't pay much attention in school.

    10. Re:The Beginning of the End... by fr0dicus · · Score: 1
      could have happen is they went from 1000 units to 1250 units, thats a 80% incress right there.

      In our universe that's 25%.

    11. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah. When you start seeing words like "sushi-RPG" being thrown around, you know you're on slashdot.

    12. Re:The Beginning of the End... by metroid+composite · · Score: 1
      which is the Reason that GTA3 and Vice city where able to be ported to the PC.

      Which is why they've also been ported to the XBox, right? Or why Rockstar waited seven months release the PC version in both cases? IIRC Sony's agreement only required exclusivity for a certain time period.

    13. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Cap-America · · Score: 1

      Sorry typing error.
      I ment 1800, I was doing the wrong equation. but you still get the idea.

      Saying something that grew 80% from an all ready low number is still a low number compared to something that dropped 28% from a very high number.

      As for me being Japanese, I wish, lol. Nope, I'm a 100% full red blooded American born and raised in the beautiful state of New Hampshire.

      --

      -------- -Cap
      ~Bommers, Why did it have to be Bommers!?!

    14. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Rayonic · · Score: 1

      I realize that you have an axe to grind against the Xbox, but it's pretty sad that you're willing to call KOTOR and Ninja Gaiden bad games just to make yourself feel justified.

      I mean, check out Game Rankings and look up those two games. See the universally high ratings? Face it -- the game reviewers of the world are right, and you are wrong.

      --
      [PowerPoint] is a tool for capitalist presentation
    15. Re:The Beginning of the End... by JFMulder · · Score: 1


      The only reasons the Xbox out sold the PS2 is
      1. $50 cheaper
      2. Everyone like owns 2 or 3 PS2 by now.
      Plus if someone wants to play all these games, he or she can either pay 150US$ NOW and play these games as they come out or pay 400US$ on a nigh-end video card now and PRAY that these games will run when/if they come out on the PC.

      Not everybody enjoys keeping up with the latest video card. That's why I bought an Xbox. PC-like games with no annual updates to the hardware.

    16. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I payed $30 for my GeForce 2 MX card and it runs Halo, KotoR and Splinter Cell 1 & 2 great. I'll most likely need to upgrade my card for Doom3 and HL2, but I highly dought I'll have to chuck out $400 for it.

      The Xbox games are pretty much developed for a GeForce 3 MX card. It just has a few extra bells and whisles.

    17. Re:The Beginning of the End... by incubusnb · · Score: 1

      actually, the reason they where able to release the Double pack on the X-Box was due to a loop-hole in the Contract, the agreement doesn't end until this Fall, this is evident by the fact that the next game in the series is PS2 Exclusive

      --
      /. is overrun by bed-wetting elitist nerds
      let it be known, for anything other than servers, a *nix OS sucks
    18. Re:The Beginning of the End... by MBraynard · · Score: 1
      I actually had never seen that term before I read it in the post I replied to. But it does make sense.

      Still, does that apply to Kingdom Hearts and the upcoming sequel? Or do the characters all have to be anime-ish?

    19. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "But it does make sense."

      How? Is Baldur's Gate a "hamburger-RPG" because it's American?

      Is GTA Vice City a "haggis-adventure" because it's Scottish?

      Having fun with words is one thing, but things like this definitely don't make sense. Figures, considering the retarded nature of the OP that you replied to.

    20. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What, there are no American-born people of Japanese heritage in New Hampshire? Their blood would be red too, no? Is it really that boring over there?

      Actually, I've been to New Hampshire. There's no question about how boring it is. :)

      (Ignore me, I just thought I'd butt in and waste everyone's time.)

    21. Re:The Beginning of the End... by MBraynard · · Score: 1
      Actually, it does make sense. Consider how the gaming market is not uniform - what does well in J does not often do as well in USA, and vice versa, and there is definitly a consistent style to the FF RPG, etc. type games, I think it is fair to give them a catagory. Just like you should give Diablo clones a catagory. It just makes sense to group them together.

      Now, as for the use of the term 'sushi,' I really don't see that as anything to take offense at. Sushi is closely identified with J culture, so attaching it to a game catagory that does seems reasonable. Just like 'rice' rockets.

      And yes, I bet there are a lot of 'hamburger' type catagories in other countries that we aren't aware of due to us being in the US. I am not offended.

    22. Re:The Beginning of the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Actually, it does make sense."

      No, you're talking about obvious differences. I'm talking about nonsensical terminology.

      "Now, as for the use of the term 'sushi,' I really don't see that as anything to take offense at."

      I'm not talking about offensiveness. I'm still talking about sense.

      "Sushi is closely identified with J culture, so attaching it to a game catagory that does seems reasonable."

      Which, although I don't care about offensiveness, is one reason that it might be offensive.

      "Just like 'rice' rockets."

      Yeah, exactly the same. And that could be offensive too, but who cares - it makes NO SENSE.

      I may not be aware of any anti-American nonsense that non-Americans use, but it would be nice to know that such things wouldn't be said around me out of ignorance. Likewise, I don't tend to associate foreign concepts with foreign food either, so maybe I'm in a minority amongst a bunch of simple-minded weirdos.

    23. Re:The Beginning of the End... by MBraynard · · Score: 1
      It does make sense. These games originated and are exceptionally popular in Japan.

      Just like the style of cartoon known as 'anime.' The use of the Japanese-ish word to describe common traits of a cartoon.

      Similarly, rice rockets to make sense because of origin of the automobiles being small, rocket-like Japanese cars.

      I think you need to get over the common application of culture-related terms to nouns that are associated with that culture.

      maybe I'm in a minority amongst a bunch of simple-minded weirdos.

      Saying that you can't grasp this abstraction suggests that you are the 'simple minded wierdo.'

  9. XBOX has all the momentum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    PS2's best days are behind it. Get used to it.
    This is not just a month affair. We are talking first quarter PS2 sales for Sony down 28% from last year, Sony's profits down massively in the first quarter due to a sharp drop in sales of both PS2 consoles and games.
    Meanwhile XBOX was the only console that actually had an increase on console sales in January and February, even before any price cuts were announced. Plus an increase of a whopping 80% in games sales.
    And now this.
    Sales figures for game consoles in April were XBOX 270,000 units to PS2 200,000 versus Gamecube 100,000 for Nintendo's GameCube . (http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7 BB2CCAA2F-12BF-4446-944B-7487D59FAF5E%7D&siteid=go ogle&dist=google)

    Even the anti-American British publication "The Economist" has come around to the view that Microsoft is about to eat Sony's lunch.(http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?g uid=%7BB2CCAA2F-12BF-4446-944B-7487D59FAF5E%7D&sit eid=google&dist=google)

    Extract : "Next week, the industry's biggest trade show, E3, which takes place in Los Angeles, will provide the first glimpses of the next round. It is expected to be a brutal two-way fight. For, after a difficult start, Microsoft has now established itself as Sony's main rival, and is gaining momentum. Most important, it has won the crucial support of games publishers, says Nick Gibson of Games Investor, a consultancy. That means Microsoft will "pretty much be neck and neck with Sony" in the next round"

    XBOX has been by far the best game console on the market, best processor, best graphics, more memory than any other console, hard drive included, network card as standard, its the easiest console to develop games for and has always been the best value for money by far, even before this recent price cuts.
    Now are having some of the best games on XBOX coming out now and later this year.
    Consumers have finally figured it all out and are feeling the PS2 to get themselves an XBOX as quickly as they can.
    Its time for you to wake up and smell the coffee.

    1. Re:XBOX has all the momentum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Even the anti-American British publication "The Economist"

      Erm... Say what?

      Just because something doesn't toe the party line doesn't necessarily mean it's anti-American. Honest reporting doesn't ignore difficult concepts - with all the criticism of the British government's policies that goes on in most of the UK's press, are you going to call them anti-British too?

      </political>

    2. Re:XBOX has all the momentum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      British media aplogist: "Just because something doesn't toe the party line doesn't necessarily mean it's anti-American. Honest reporting doesn't ignore difficult concepts"

      Honest reporting? Is that what you are calling it now? Don't make me luagh!
      You mean honest reporting like the rabidly anti-American BBC making things up during the Iraq war to such an extent that even your own Independent Commision in Britain found the BBC guilty not only of lying regularly through their teeth, but of BBC executives doing everything in their power to cover up these lies as well.
      If you call that "honest" reporting, you are smoking something pretty strong!
      Having lived lived in Britain for some time myself, I know for a fact that the Daily Mirror regularly lies to stir up anti-American hatred. sSame thing with the "Indepenent" and the "Guardian".
      I should know. I used to read those pathetic British rags regularly and watch the BBC news for over 10 years.
      There is nothing "honest" about the coverage of American news by the "Economist", and this has been the case long before President Bush was even on the horizon, having read the "Economist" since I was a boy, for over 20 years.

    3. Re:XBOX has all the momentum by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1

      Actually, to your average American, if you're not toeing the party line, you ARE being actively anti-American.

      Ironic, really.

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
    4. Re:XBOX has all the momentum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      SuiteSisterMary : "Actually, to your average American, if you're not toeing the party line, you ARE being actively anti-American"
      I think you got it th wrong way around.
      Having lived for a very long time in Europe before moving back to Americ, this is the conclusion I came to: To the average European, being viciously and rabidly anti-American and biased is called being "balanced" about America.
      Basically there is no such thing as blanced reporting rom Europen media about America. Period.
      We only have degrees of viciousness and blatant bias.
      Why is all this? Boils down to Eurpean angst and jealousy about American wealth and power.
      Old Europe still can't bring themselvs to deal with losing their colonies and being striped of their primary power status on the planet, so they are reduced to sniping like rabid dogs on the heels of the American super power.

    5. Re:XBOX has all the momentum by Pendersempai · · Score: 1

      -1: Works for Microsoft

    6. Re:XBOX has all the momentum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      -1: Elitist Anti-Microsoft Douchebag. Also, worthless.

  10. XBox is the root of all evil by Phazz666 · · Score: -1, Troll

    How can we trust a product that comes from Microsoft. The way that Xbox is going, Microsoft will need to release patches for it every month. Every man and his dog can "use" it but I'm guessing it will crash with kernel errors like our faithful friend Windows. Just because it theoretically can process more than the ps2 doesn't mean it will do this without fault. It's no wonder they can reduce the cost of the Xbox, how can you put a value on something so worthless.

  11. Pointless Discussion by MarkPNeyer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If you look at the top selling video games, you're certaintly not going to see japenese imports that are exclusive to the PS2 - you'll see regular, every day games, most of which are on all three systems. The PS2 Is not the best selling console because it's got the best line-up of exclusive titles - it's the best selling most likely because it came out first. Consider this list of the top 10 best selling console games of 2003: 1 PS2 - Madden NFL 2004 (Electronics Arts) 2 GBA - Pokemon Ruby (Nintendo) 3 GBA - Pokemon Sapphire (Nintendo) 4 PS2 - Need for Speed Underground (Electronics Arts) 5 NGC - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Nintendo) 6 PS2 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Rockstar) 7 NGC - Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Nintendo) 8 PS2 - Tony Hawk's Underground (Activision) 9 PS2 - Enter the Matrix (Atari) 10 PS2 - Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (Electronics Arts) Now, I ask you - how many are PS2 exclusives? None! The game cube, on the other hand, has two exclusive titles on the list. Based on this information, one would be hard pressed to argue that the PS2 sold the best because it has the most exclusive titles. Why has the PS2 done so well ? My conclusion is that it's almost entirely the result of the fact that it came out first. I based this on my observation of people's video-game buying habits. My brothers were conviced by some dude at gamestop to get an Xbox instead of a PS2, so they did. I saw how much fun halo was, and I told me friend about it - so he bought an xbox. My other friend, who one an xbox in the taco bell promotion but never used it, then bought a copy of halo so that we could have LAN parties. Other friends would show up at LAN parties, see how much fun their were, and buy xboxes of their own. I'm sure similar things happened with PS2 (obviously not the LAN party bit, since it didn't have a network adapter untill long after the xbox was out) You may personally beleive that the PS2 offers the best library of exclusive titles, which is a perfectly valid opinion. But you'd be wrong to conclude that the library of exclusive titles explains the PS2 out selling the xbox - the facts just don't support that conclusion.

    --

    My blog
    1. Re:Pointless Discussion by Tezkah · · Score: 0

      Its a cycle, it got the good games, sold systems, which in turn enticed game developers to create more games for the system. Its like a a perpetual motion device. This must be how Matt Damon feels when he approaches a blank sheet of paper!

    2. Re:Pointless Discussion by metroid+composite · · Score: 1
      But you'd be wrong to conclude that the library of exclusive titles explains the PS2 out selling the xbox - the facts just don't support that conclusion.

      Maybe not recent titles. Want to know the four games on the PS2 that were nominated in the GameFAQs Spring Contest? Final Fantasy X (2001 exclusive) Kingdom Hearts (2001 exclusive) Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001 exclusive) Vice City (was exclusive for a while, and...heck GTA3 was a 2001 exclusive at one point too). Looking at Gamerankings, and at the sales charts I have, it looks like Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (another 2001 exclusive) was the biggest snub.

      Nevermind the fact that small companies will now make games just for the PS2 to save money given the massive install base, so it gets a whole lot of small-name exclusives. This attracts some enthusiasts of certain genres (like, say, console RPGs, fighting games...). Yeah, sure, exclusives haven't helped the PS2.

    3. Re:Pointless Discussion by MarkPNeyer · · Score: 1

      The fact that GameFAQs nominated PS2 exclusives does nothing to challenge the crux of my argument - GameFAQs is a site used mainly by gamers, the type of people who buy the PS2 for titles like Kingdom hearts. When you look at the list of the top ten best selling titles, I think you'd be forced to conclude that the NGC is popular because of its two exclusive titles on the list. When you see an atrociously medicore game like 'Medal of Honor - Rising Sun' on the list of the best selling games of 2002, I think you'll have to conclude that your rank and file PS2 owner isn't a connoisseur of games like Kingdom Hearts, but rather someone who just buys whatever they see advertised on TV. The fact that all PS2 games on the list were availible on all three consoles (with the exception of Vice City, which still availible onthe XBox) shows that there's something about the PS2 other that its fantastic library of exclusive titles that explain its staggering sales.

      --

      My blog
    4. Re:Pointless Discussion by angle_slam · · Score: 1
      Consider this list of the top 10 best selling console games of 2003: 1 PS2 - Madden NFL 2004 (Electronics Arts) 2 GBA - Pokemon Ruby (Nintendo) 3 GBA - Pokemon Sapphire (Nintendo) 4 PS2 - Need for Speed Underground (Electronics Arts) 5 NGC - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Nintendo) 6 PS2 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Rockstar) 7 NGC - Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Nintendo) 8 PS2 - Tony Hawk's Underground (Activision) 9 PS2 - Enter the Matrix (Atari) 10 PS2 - Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (Electronics Arts) Now, I ask you - how many are PS2 exclusives? None!

      But Madden and THUG only support on-line play on the PS2. And GTA:VC for the PS2 came out months before it came out for XBox.

  12. by Phazz666 is the root of all evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Had my XBOX for over two years, no crashes,no kernel errors, no patches, works like a dream everytime.
    And the XBOX IS superior to PS2 in every single way I can think of.
    Plus its the most worthwhile, value for money, fun, money you can spend for any game console. Period!
    Why don't you get a life dude?
    And I don't mean lurking around salshdot spewing out vitriol and hate either.
    That is not called a life. Its called stupidity!

  13. Netcraft Confirms: Sony is Dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    It is official; Netcraft now confirms that Sony Playstation 2 is dying. The Sony community is reeling today after Netcraft announced that Playstation 2 marketshare has fallen yet again. After several months of decline, Playstation 2 now makes up less than 1 percent of all servers in the world.

    This comes as no surprise to those on the front lines. They have known for at least year now that Playstation 2 has fallen out of favor with the average system administrator.

    In fact, a recent EE Times survey of system administrators worldwide revealed some juicy details about their plans: None of them had any plans to migrate their corporate servers to Playstation 2; Those that were already running Playstation 2 were planning on phasing them out in favor of "alternative" platforms such as Xbox or Gamecube. A shocking minority even revealed their intentions on migrating to the new "Phantom" system which has been seen recently on the internet. The proof is right there: Playstation 2 is dying.

    You don't need to be a system administrator to know Playstation 2's future is bleak. You might say that there is no future at all. In fact, what more needs to be said? Netcraft has already confirmed; Playstation 2 is dying. It cannot be stopped. The prudent course of action is of course to begin the transition to other platforms because Playstation 2 is dying. Those that resist this change will end up in the same place as Playstation 2: Dying, dead, and buried. Netcraft has confirmed it.

    1. Re:Netcraft Confirms: Sony is Dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you come up with all of that yourself? wow, you must need some Ice on your head after all that thinking...

    2. Re:Netcraft Confirms: Sony is Dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it's a standard "insert system/distro/lemonade here" form since I read the exact same wording before, just with Gamecube Linux as the "victim".

  14. Re: by Phazz666 is the root of all evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ahahahah

    "Vitriol."

    So, how you doing?

  15. Re: by Phazz666 is the root of all evil by cujo_1111 · · Score: 1

    But the XBox doesn't have Gran Turismo... Big marks against it right there.

    --
    If I point out that you are incorrect, making me a foe does not make you any more correct.
  16. Re: by Phazz666 is the root of all evil by drjenk · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Gran Tarismo is old news, nobody that owns an xbox cares. Spend an hour playing PGR2, TOCA 2, or Rallisport Challenge 2 on xbox live, then tell me all about Gran Turismo, I dare you.

  17. Re: by Phazz666 is the root of all evil by incubusnb · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Spend an hour playing PGR2, TOCA 2, or Rallisport Challenge 2 on xbox live, then tell me all about Gran Turismo

    done, done, done... Gran Turismo 3 still beats them in terms of overall Racing goodness, maybe not Graphically, but in Physics and Customisation GT has them beat, as well as in overall replayability

    IMO, Gran Turismo 4 will crush them even more, 800+ cars, 50+ tracks, completely true-to-life Tuning and Customisation, Full Online, including Downloadable cars and tracks with the HD and NA Expansions, a Physics engine that is, in some cases, less than 1/10 of a second in difference from Reality(in comparative tests), and just about anything else a Hardcore racing fan could ever think of... How can anything else compare

    now, in giving credit where credit is due, all three of the games you mentioned are very well done games and IMO are 3 of the best Racing games on the Market, but they just can't compare to the overall immersion that the GT Series gives you

    --
    /. is overrun by bed-wetting elitist nerds
    let it be known, for anything other than servers, a *nix OS sucks
  18. Say what? by metroid+composite · · Score: 1
    Meanwhile XBOX was the only console that actually had an increase on console sales in January and February

    Actually, GameCube sales were massively spiking in January and February. FFCC perhaps? Or maybe Mario Kart?

    1. Re:Say what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      These are the figures for XBOX market shae for January 2004 :
      "January NPD data shows Xbox enjoyed its highest United States share since
      launch, up 6 points to 29% from a year ago. Xbox video game console continues to
      make these gains while essentially holding its pricing from last year.

      Xbox software sales dramatically outpaced the market, growing 80%
      year-over-year, compared to the market being up 37% and PlayStation 2 up only
      11%. This represents more than a million additional software units sold in
      January 2004 on Xbox, compared to January 2003. NPD data shows that in the
      month of January, Xbox console and software unit sales outpaced the market for
      the third month in a row - Xbox console units were up 16% while the market was
      down 7% and PlayStation 2 dropped 28%.

      In Canada, the Xbox unit share surpassed 40% for the first time, increasing an
      incredible 7.2 market share points from December. Xbox holds 40.5% share vs.
      PlayStation 2's 42.9% market share. In Australia, Xbox owned 41% of the
      January market. Two weeks into February, the number improved to 44%. Xbox has
      been selling strong in more than 1200 retail outlets in Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan
      and Singapore, while Xbox consoles and games continue to post triple digit
      growth in Mexico.

      Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore join the Xbox Live community in April, pushing
      the total number of Live-enabled countries to 22. One in every ten Xbox owners
      plays online, a number that's sure to surge with highly anticipated titles like
      "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora's Tomorrow" (Ubisoft) and Xbox exclusive
      "Ninja Gaiden" (Tecmo), both hitting store shelves soon"

      http://www.xbox365.com/news/zcomment.cgi/article /E pZZFpApyuIumtxkeo/tmpl/xxt_zc_template/prof/dev

      XBOX had its highest market share to date in January (higher than Nintendo) in the world's biggest games market by far, the USA, plus in Canada and Australia as well.
      And this was all long before this current price cut.

  19. Odd... by JFMulder · · Score: 1

    ... cause I remember when I bought my Xbox almost a year ago that the seller told me when I asked him after my purchase that the ratio of Xbox sold to PS2s back then was about 5:3. That was two months before KOTOR came out. I never asked him again afterwards if it still was the case. I don't live in the US, so maybe these stats are US centric.

  20. Re: by Phazz666 is the root of all evil by phrasebook · · Score: 1

    Tried any PC racing games? How about LFS, or the upcoming GTR. I dunno. Console racing games just don't cut the mustard for me generally. Not enough depth, not as fun online.

  21. Wrong by n0wak · · Score: 2, Informative

    The PS2 Is not the best selling console because it's got the best line-up of exclusive titles - it's the best selling most likely because it came out first.

    Your selective memory seems to forget that the Dreamcast came first. And not only was it first, but it had the far better game library. The PS2 was absolutely barren for almost a year! Just because you're the first on the block doesn't mean you'll be first in sales (see also Saturn).

  22. Singapore: XBox set to overtake PS2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The XBOX momentum continues even in Singapore.

    Quote :"
    SINGAPORE--Microsoft's XBox could succeed in grabbing the lion's share of the local game console hardware market by November this year, sources told CNETAsia.

    Sony's Playstation 2 (PS2) and the XBox are currently embroiled in a two-way fight for market dominance in the republic, with the PS2 traditionally holding its edge over the newer rival. However, it appears that Sony's edge is being eroded fast. According to an industry source, the XBox is actually outselling the PS2, garnering 65 percent of the monthly console shipments in Singapore. "

    http://asia.cnet.com/newstech/personaltech/0,390 01 147,39177962,00.htm

  23. Ooh Ooh, I know why! by aflat362 · · Score: 1
    Could it be because the PS2 is showing its age?

    Or could it be because the people are getting their X-Boxes for free from the Mountain Dew Promotion? www.dewu.com

    I've amassed 315 points, gaining on the 550 for an XBox.

    --

    Conserve Oil, Recycle, Boycott Walmart

    1. Re:Ooh Ooh, I know why! by Xlipse · · Score: 1

      The PS2 showed it's age as soon as the Dreamcast came out! Seriously..

    2. Re:Ooh Ooh, I know why! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      _I_ know what you mean. But if you'd posted this earlier in the discussion I'm sure you would have had your share of idiots trying to correct you.

    3. Re:Ooh Ooh, I know why! by WebGangsta · · Score: 1
      You've got to be kidding me. You might as well just go out and buy the freakin' Xbox straight off the shelf instead.

      Mountain Dew is awarding 6 points per 12-pack, and figuring that you're buying your 12-packs on sale at $2 apiece, you're still looking at...

      [clickity-clackity click, carry the 2, and...]

      92 12-packs? That can't be right. There's no way that you'd spend a total of $184 to get an XBox with your sugar buzz.

      Heck, let's say you started today -- you're looking at drinking (or at least buying) 1104 Dews before the game ends on 8/18/04... which (lucky for you) is just 96 days away. Drinking just a shade over 12 Dews per day.

      Even at your 315 points, you still need to get [clackity clack] 40 more 12-packs (worth $80 on sale). It's a bit more realistic to see you drink 5 Dews a day until the end of the promotion, but even so...

      This Mountain Dew promotion is almost as good as the comedian who pointed out that the "Marlboro Miles" promotion had you smoking 10 packs a day for 5 years just to get the fake-leather fanny pack.

    4. Re:Ooh Ooh, I know why! by aflat362 · · Score: 1

      If I see a cap in the recycling bin at work I'll grab it out. People also know I'm saving them so they give them to me. Plus I drink a lot of mountain dew anyway so what the hell.

      --

      Conserve Oil, Recycle, Boycott Walmart

  24. Re: by Phazz666 is the root of all evil by incubusnb · · Score: 1
    i just can't get into PC racers, the feel just isn't right, maybe its just cuz my PC is a piece of crap and won't run anything made after 1998.

    but judging from the Screenshots and what i can see on the site, neither game has really impressed me, sure, the graphics are really good, but i think i'll wait for GT4

    --
    /. is overrun by bed-wetting elitist nerds
    let it be known, for anything other than servers, a *nix OS sucks
  25. Packaging & Multiplayer... by TalMaximus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...have had the biggest impact on me moving to an Xbox over the PS2. The PS2 came without a hard drive or ethernet connection built in. The Xbox doesn't have that handicap. No shame towards Sony there except that it took them far too long to market a network adapter...and then finally a hard drive (which, BTW, you can't get without buying Final Fantasy XI). The most frustrating aspect of the PS2 has been Sony's...suprisingly...their slow movement. A lot of my friends love playing multiplayer/LAN party style games. The king of that particular genre for us right now is Halo. Nothing on the PS2 compares...and you don't have to buy ethernet adapters (or multitaps for that matter) along with an Xbox. The PS2 still rules the RPG market...though KOTOR took a bite out of that... but I like actually seeing people every once in a while so the Xbox has definitely taken priority because of a more multiplayer friendly system. Sony keeps dragging their feet in innovation to the existing PS2. Sure, they were faster than anyone else getting it out there, but after that they took their time with everything else.

  26. I am off topic, but I am also sad. by UltimaL337Star · · Score: 1

    Damnet... I thought this was another crazy headline saying Gain Ground from Sega Genesis was gonna be a remake on xbox http://www.retrogames.co.uk/stock/assets/images/Ge nesis_-_Gain_Ground.jpg

  27. Re: by Phazz666 is the root of all evil by cujo_1111 · · Score: 1

    None of those have the variety of cars available that you can tune and drive around a wide range of different circuits.

    Want to take a Skyline GTR rallying? No probs (BTW give it a go, very good fun)

    --
    If I point out that you are incorrect, making me a foe does not make you any more correct.
  28. What in the world are you talking about? by AlexMax2742 · · Score: 1

    Do you really know what you're talking about?

    I used to sound like you, until I actually got an Xbox. It has a ton of great games, the Controller S is a dream to play with (Racing Games especially), Xbox Live is great (as far as online gaming groups go, there are plenty of idiots, but then again, there are idiots in every online community) and really, that's all that matters to me. I havn't modded it, I havn't touched it with Linux, I haven't done ANYTHING to it.

    It made a lot of bad decisions at launch, but Microsoft *gasp* seems to have learned from mistakes and is now a formitable contendor in the console wars. I, for one, can't wait for the Xbox 2 to come out, and will probably buy one, reguardless of how 'moddible' it is.

    --
    I'm the guy with the unpopular opinion