"Considering Nintendo is trying to be the most innovative, it's surprising that they're the only ones sticking to the classic business strategies to actually make money off of a product and to actually make an effort to meet demand."
It also has a lot to do with the hardware - the Wii is an incredibly similar system to the Gamecube architecture-wise. The components are also cheaper and easier to produce.
"Microsoft is (and should be) trying hard to break into Japan"
Microsoft barely spent a dime on pre-360 release marketing in Japan. There were reports of gamers going to stores to buy Xbox1, seeing the 360, and thinking it was just an Xbox1 with a new look.
Microsoft only started marketing in Japan a few months ago when it was confirmed that Sony was having major pushbacks in dates. Even then it wasn't much.
Truth is Japan has some of the most brand-loyal customers in the world. They will buy a Japanese console over an American one even if it is far inferior. In America I don't think I've met a person who will buy the 360 over PS3/WII simply because it is based in the US.
"In the gaming industry, the platform that hosts World of Warcraft and its seven million subscribers is a niche market?"
You do know 7 million subscribers is less than the number of copies Blizzard has sold with Diablo2 and with Starcraft right?
PC's are becoming a niche market - for MMORPG's. Everything else to this point seems better fit for a console.
The number of dollars saved from having to test and develop for endless combinations of CPU/GPU/OS/etc is enormous. That extra time/money is spent enhancing the game rather than just making it work.
Teenagers don't have this kind of money, and most parents won't buy it for them.
Adult gamers will prefer to Wii, due to their Nintendo roots, innovative design, and cheaper price.
Home theater enthusiasts will have a separate professional high definition player.
The only market I see is the 20somethings out-of-college with disposable income. But even then, the bulk of this market already has a 360 and may not want both.
Just don't see where the demand will be coming from.
Why such an outdated video card when every other spec is so advanced? There has just been a ton of new video card technology released - full of much better choices.
I think people see why getting an exclusive NFL license was well worth it. Football is a sport that just seems to be invented for consoles.
On a side note I've owned Madden almost every year since the Sega Genesis. The 360 version is the best one I've played hands-down. Gameplay is very realistic (need to focus on run to open up pass, defensive play calling most important I've ever seen), zoomed-in graphics are breathtaking, and the high-definition photos of each player are a great addition.
I love having a real-life ESPN ticker on the bottom. The UI itself is very smooth and intuitive. The mini games are a blast when you have a few friends over but don't want a longer competition between just 2 people.
"Otherwise I can't see how Microsoft can really promote the drive with just the limited selection of movies around at the moment."
Microsoft released this primarily to stop people from buying the PS3 because it was the only next-gen game machine capable of playing high definition movies.
Customers now have the choice of a 360, 360+HDDVD, or PS3+BR.
"So, $399.99 for a new 360 with HDMI output (needed for the ubershizzle HD-DVD) plus another, what, $199.99 for the HD-DVD player? Wow, comes to the same price as a PS3 - only that's an all-in-one system with complete compatability with both PS1 and PS2 games. If Sony takes a beating over that price point, then it's only fair to batter MS for arriving at the same price. Oh, and if that snazzy HD-DVD player costs more than $199.99, then it's game over man."
Yes, it does come to the same price as a PS3. Only one difference - most people could care less about HDDVD or BR and would rather just play games.
The Blu-Ray drive does not fit a market. Gamers are usually younger and do not have the HD capabilities for the movies. Home theater enthusiasts with the proper setups will be buying a professional high definition player from a different vender. How many home theater enthusiasts out there use the crappy DVD player from an xbox or a ps2??
Very good way to spend your money is to spend the $60 saved up for a new 360 game and buy a whole slew of XBL games. They are a great compliment to the major 360 titles.
360 games are selling like crazy in the US. Few weeks ago 7 of the top 10 games sold in America were 360 games (PS2 had the #10 spot with Kingdom Hearts, New Super Mario Bros #1, DDR for Gamecube somewhere in the middle).
360 also has the highest games sold/console ratio of any major console. Have to chuckle at the people who say the system has a limited library.
You would need to TRY to fail in making a Star Wars MMORPG fail.
Yes, I was suckered into it. The combat in the game was useless - you could solo anything in the game. The crafting system was the best I've ever seen in a game, but with the combat flaws and high rate of durability loss it didn't matter. The "Entertainer" professions were a joke.
There wasn't interesting quests. There wasn't unique enemies that required special tactics. It was one of the most poorly designed games of our generation.
What he has done to deserve an article boggles my mind.
"I found that amusing, even if Sony totally screws up and comes in last place in the world, they'll still beat Microsoft in Japan."
Why wouldn't they? The Japanese are some of the most brand-loyal consumers in the world. Like hell if they are buying an American product over a Japanese product, even if the Japanese product is overpriced and underdelivers.
Slashdot Mirror
...not because the 360 has changed, but that reality has set in that PS3 will have fewer features for a higher price.
What is Jobs susposed to say? "I'm scared, help me!!!" ?
The only way I see a MMO doing well on a console would be twitch-style gameplay. Anything with hardcore RPG elements is better done with a keyboard.
The only twitch-based MMO I can think of is Sony's Planetscape (I believe). I hope they go this route, it would be fun on a console.
"Considering Nintendo is trying to be the most innovative, it's surprising that they're the only ones sticking to the classic business strategies to actually make money off of a product and to actually make an effort to meet demand."
It also has a lot to do with the hardware - the Wii is an incredibly similar system to the Gamecube architecture-wise. The components are also cheaper and easier to produce.
"Microsoft is (and should be) trying hard to break into Japan"
Microsoft barely spent a dime on pre-360 release marketing in Japan. There were reports of gamers going to stores to buy Xbox1, seeing the 360, and thinking it was just an Xbox1 with a new look.
Microsoft only started marketing in Japan a few months ago when it was confirmed that Sony was having major pushbacks in dates. Even then it wasn't much.
Truth is Japan has some of the most brand-loyal customers in the world. They will buy a Japanese console over an American one even if it is far inferior. In America I don't think I've met a person who will buy the 360 over PS3/WII simply because it is based in the US.
"In the gaming industry, the platform that hosts World of Warcraft and its seven million subscribers is a niche market?"
You do know 7 million subscribers is less than the number of copies Blizzard has sold with Diablo2 and with Starcraft right?
PC's are becoming a niche market - for MMORPG's. Everything else to this point seems better fit for a console.
The number of dollars saved from having to test and develop for endless combinations of CPU/GPU/OS/etc is enormous. That extra time/money is spent enhancing the game rather than just making it work.
Found out yesterday that Sony isn't including a HDMI cable in their packages. OK I can sorta see why.
"'HD Premium Component Cable' for $59.99 "
Component cables should be included. This isn't the 1980's.
What demographic are they aiming for?
Teenagers don't have this kind of money, and most parents won't buy it for them.
Adult gamers will prefer to Wii, due to their Nintendo roots, innovative design, and cheaper price.
Home theater enthusiasts will have a separate professional high definition player.
The only market I see is the 20somethings out-of-college with disposable income. But even then, the bulk of this market already has a 360 and may not want both.
Just don't see where the demand will be coming from.
Why such an outdated video card when every other spec is so advanced? There has just been a ton of new video card technology released - full of much better choices.
MMO's are huge in Asia. Games like Lineage have been hitting huge numbers (not WoW numbers, but not far off) for awhile now.
Warcraft and Blizzard are 2 of the biggest names in gaming in the US.
The combination hits a sweet spot for both markets.
p.s. when is someone going to make a Grand Theft Auto MMORPG!!!
The PS3 is $600 for one reason, Sony pushing their Blu-Ray format.
Now they have decided to release this ungodly expensive machine without an HDMI cable, which is required for playing Blu-Ray movies.
So for $600 dollars you are buying something most people don't want or need (Blu-Ray) but still will not even have the ability to use it.
I think people see why getting an exclusive NFL license was well worth it. Football is a sport that just seems to be invented for consoles.
On a side note I've owned Madden almost every year since the Sega Genesis. The 360 version is the best one I've played hands-down. Gameplay is very realistic (need to focus on run to open up pass, defensive play calling most important I've ever seen), zoomed-in graphics are breathtaking, and the high-definition photos of each player are a great addition.
I love having a real-life ESPN ticker on the bottom. The UI itself is very smooth and intuitive. The mini games are a blast when you have a few friends over but don't want a longer competition between just 2 people.
Xbox Live downloads have exceeded iTunes downloads. I have a 360, and the only game I have that I don't play online is Oblivion.
The United States has more pure land mass than all of the countries listed put together.
They are still ahead in price ! :)
"Otherwise I can't see how Microsoft can really promote the drive with just the limited selection of movies around at the moment."
Microsoft released this primarily to stop people from buying the PS3 because it was the only next-gen game machine capable of playing high definition movies.
Customers now have the choice of a 360, 360+HDDVD, or PS3+BR.
"So, $399.99 for a new 360 with HDMI output (needed for the ubershizzle HD-DVD) plus another, what, $199.99 for the HD-DVD player? Wow, comes to the same price as a PS3 - only that's an all-in-one system with complete compatability with both PS1 and PS2 games. If Sony takes a beating over that price point, then it's only fair to batter MS for arriving at the same price. Oh, and if that snazzy HD-DVD player costs more than $199.99, then it's game over man."
Yes, it does come to the same price as a PS3. Only one difference - most people could care less about HDDVD or BR and would rather just play games.
The Blu-Ray drive does not fit a market. Gamers are usually younger and do not have the HD capabilities for the movies. Home theater enthusiasts with the proper setups will be buying a professional high definition player from a different vender. How many home theater enthusiasts out there use the crappy DVD player from an xbox or a ps2??
This will just make more people buy a 360.
Sony will keep people from buying PS3's. They are doing a good job already.
Very good way to spend your money is to spend the $60 saved up for a new 360 game and buy a whole slew of XBL games. They are a great compliment to the major 360 titles.
360 games are selling like crazy in the US. Few weeks ago 7 of the top 10 games sold in America were 360 games (PS2 had the #10 spot with Kingdom Hearts, New Super Mario Bros #1, DDR for Gamecube somewhere in the middle).
360 also has the highest games sold/console ratio of any major console. Have to chuckle at the people who say the system has a limited library.
You would need to TRY to fail in making a Star Wars MMORPG fail.
Yes, I was suckered into it. The combat in the game was useless - you could solo anything in the game. The crafting system was the best I've ever seen in a game, but with the combat flaws and high rate of durability loss it didn't matter. The "Entertainer" professions were a joke.
There wasn't interesting quests. There wasn't unique enemies that required special tactics. It was one of the most poorly designed games of our generation.
What he has done to deserve an article boggles my mind.
"I found that amusing, even if Sony totally screws up and comes in last place in the world, they'll still beat Microsoft in Japan."
Why wouldn't they? The Japanese are some of the most brand-loyal consumers in the world. Like hell if they are buying an American product over a Japanese product, even if the Japanese product is overpriced and underdelivers.
These kind of numbers were promised by the venders who manufactured the 360, and look what happened.
I'll believe it when I see it.
Dear Microsoft:
Make an MP3 player with a slick interface that plays Xbox Live Arcade games and has public development kits for homebrew. I'll buy 2.
They will just find a way to tax it.
"One less reason to use Windows for those who need/want Lotus."
You expect organizations that STILL have not gotten rid of Notes to ditch Windows????