Slashdot Mirror
Out Of The XBox
theodp writes 'Bill G.'s snagged the cover of this week's Time, which asks the question: Is Microsoft about to do in the living room with the Xbox 360 what it did in the office with Windows? Turn to page 13 in your Book of Xenon, please: 'As the world's software leader, Microsoft is among the best suited to enable and capitalize this transformation. This is our opportunity to lose.' If PlayStation 3 folks are scared, they're not showing it. 'We look at delivering a quantum leap in technology, not just Xbox version 1.5,' quips a Sony spokeswoman.' The story also reveals that the previously discussed rumor about Halo 3 parrying the PS3 launch is accurate.
The biggest problem that I have with the Xbox is the lack of unique, good, exclusive, first party games. Let's look at the top 10 Xbox games on Game Rankings: 1. Halo - Released on PC 2. Halo 2 - Xbox Exclusive, but it isn't a very unique game. It has excellent reviews (although I don't really like Halo games), but it isn't radically different than Half-Life 2, UT2K5, or other great FPS games. 3. Forza Motorsport - This is a good racing game, but there are dozens of good racing games out there. 4. Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic - Released on PC 5. Grand Theft Auto Double Pack - Released on PC and PS2 6. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory - Released on Multiple Systems 7. Burnout 3 - Released on PS2 8. Splinter Cell - Released on Multiple Systems 9. Project Gotham Racing - This is a good racing game, but there are dozens of good racing games out there. 10. Splinter Cell - Pandora Tomorrow - Released on Multiple Systems. So, out of the top 10 games, only Halo 2, Forza Motorsport, and Project Gotham Racing are Xbox exclusive. FPS and Racing games are a dime a dozen; I can get similiar experiences on other systems. Now, let's look at the Gamecube: 1. Metroid Prime - GC exclusive. I don't know of any other high quality FPS games with similiar gameplay. 2. Resident Evil 4 - To be released on PS2. Exclusive to GC until Q4 2005. 3. Zelda: Windwaker - GC exclusive. 4. Soul Calibur 2 - Released on Multiple Systems. 5. SSX 3 - Released on Mutliple Systems. 6. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time - Released on Multiple Systems. 7. Metroid Prime 2 - GC exclusive. I don't know of any other high quality FPS games with similiar gameplay. 8. Viewtiful Joe - Released on PS2. 9. Super Mario Sunshine - GC exclusive. 10. Time Splitters 2 - Released on Mutliple Systems. So, the Gamecube has Metroid Prime, Windwaker, Metroid Prime 2, Super Mario Sunshine, and Resident Evil 4, for 4.5 unique, good, exclusive games (Resident Evil 4 is 1/2 a point since it isn't out yet on PS2). In addition, it has a couple dozen or so excellent first and second party games, Mario Kart, Mario sports games, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Monkey Ball, Pikmin, Paper Mario, etc. Maybe I'm wrong, but when I think of good Xbox games, I think of Halo, sports games, and a few action games like Ninja Gaiden. In comparison, Nintendo has a varied, deep, unique selection of games for the Gamecube. (Note: I'm not comparing the PS2 to either system, because it has a much larger library of games than these two. In essence, they're out of its league.)
Is Microsoft about to do in the living room with the Xbox 360 what it did in the office with Windows?
No
Ruby on Rails Screencast