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The 360's Position in the Next-Gen War
An anonymous reader wrote to mention a great article on the Elite Bastards site looking at the Xbox 360's positioning in the next-gen market. In the first of a three part article series, the author looks at the lessons Microsoft learned from its first hardware outing, and what he feels the company's strategy will be in the near future. From the article: "Clearly my impression of the Xbox 360 is that it is positioned to compete significantly better in the next gen console race than its predecessor. The difference this time around is that although Microsoft will no longer have the decidedly most powerful console, they also won't have the most expensive console, and believe me, they will compete on price. The Xbox 360s media (DVD) and input device (gamepad) are safe choices and the CPU may be merely adequate, but the GPU is quite potent and should go far in keeping Microsoft's box in the same league as Sony's overall despite the disparity in time to market."
MS aren't fooling anyone. As soon as the PS3 arrives, it's gonna mop the floor with the 360. It's inevitable. They might as well just focus on battling the Revolution for 2nd place.
It seems like Nintendo fanboys can't help but slag the 360 and upcoming PS3 at every opportunity, and tout the upcoming magical box from Nintendo as the one that will win the hearts and minds of everybody.
What they conveniently overlook is Nintendo's lack of HD support is going to be awful for them.
Not a lot of people are using HD sets yet but most of the new ones being sold are HD systems.
Even if they don't have such a TV, families will walk into the store next Christmas season and see PS3, X-Box, and Nintendo screens side by side in demo areas, and next to the other two, the Nintendo will look like something from a 1980s arcade machine.
Meanwhile, the 360 will have a year's worth of new games to show off, the PS3 will have its usual stable of Sony exclusives, and the Revolution will have.... what? A "para para" game to take advantage of the new interface, and maybe a puppy simulator? Wow. That will still be dazzling people ten months from now, eh?
In spite of all that, it will still sell, because teenage boys are no longer the whole market. Some would be quick to point out that they never really were. Nintendo is pretty good at putting out games that appeal to a broader range of people than Microsoft or Sony.
Here's the real story:
There is no console "war."
The gaming market is now big enough to handle three major players. Probably more. All three consoles are probably going to end up making lots and lots of money. The only people who care about a "winner" between the three consoles are drooling fanboys of one platform or another.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
They are also console developers. Way to flame it out. Go talk to Tecmo and shutup about it.
-]Phreak Out[-
HD is a performance drain.
Then again, so is color. Why not just make it black and white?
No reason to lie.
Or, from another angle: Sony and Microsoft are working hard to field the finest cavalry regiments ever seen on a field of battle. Nintendo is working hard on building a tank.
Or, from reality: Sony and Microsoft are working hard to field the finest cavalry regiments ever seen on a field of battle. Nintendo is cheerfully prancing and arranging flowers in the middle of the field, completely oblivious, and wondering why no third parties are scurrying to pick flowers for their pretty bouquet.
Just like they've done for the last two generations.