posted on September 17, 2001 10:30:48 AM
Isn't Microsoft out of their element? Can they really touch SONY? I highly doubt it. It's one Godzilla going up against another, and the Japanese always seem to create things with higher quality than Americans. I could see it being a total flop. JMHO
posted on September 17, 2001 10:39:11 AM
My 14 year old is video game crazy. I asked him about the X-box and he said none of his friends wanted it.....they don't think it's going to be any good!!
posted on September 17, 2001 11:53:50 AM
I doubt if the X-Box will be as hot as the PS2. It's an impressive machine from what I've seen and read of it, but I don't think that all of those people that bought a PS2 are going to be buying a new machine so soon. Also, Nintendo is coming out with a new machine at the same time so that will further dilute the market.
posted on September 17, 2001 12:27:44 PM
I don't think it will be as popular as the PS2, for a handful of reasons.
1. When the PS2 was first released, there wasn't enough of them to go around. People were stumbling all over themselves to get the relatively few units that were released. I didn't have any trouble at all locating a company who's pre-selling the X-Boxes, so I got my order in early. They had a number of packages to choose from.
2. It'll be harder for avid video gamers to plunk down another $500 for the X-Box so soon after the PS2 came out. I say $500 because the only way I've found to be able to purchase the X-Box is in a package that contains the console and a pre-selected group of games, and it runs about $500. So far I haven't seen anywhere that the console can be purchased separately.
3. (Possibly) Microsoft is a newbie when it comes to video game units. But I think Sony was a newbie too when they released the original Playstation, and look where they are now! But Microsoft has left a bad taste in the mouths of a lot of people because of the way it has monopolized the computer industry. I think they've got their work cut out for them as far as being able to follow in the footsteps of Sony.
4. I haven't seen much advertising for the X-Box, except on video game websites and magazines. I don't think I've seen even one TV commercial for it.
That said, there are some AWESOME-sounding X-Box games scheduled to be released before Christmas! I think it'll be a great machine, but not quite as popular as the PS2.
posted on October 6, 2001 08:47:52 PM
From a technical standpoint the X-box is awesome. It will also have many sweet games.
However not many people have much love for microsoft.
posted on October 7, 2001 11:38:06 AM
Sony may have been a newbie to videogames, but they were not a newbie to consumer electronics.
Microsoft has, for a long time, never had to worry itself with things such as competition or marketing. Everyone buys Microsoft stuff because that's all there is to buy.
As well, Microsoft has no experience at all in the general consumer electronics world.
Sega, well experienced at videogames, produced a fabulous, state of the art system, that folded less than 2 years after its launch. It wasn't selling enough and there is too much competition in this space.
I predict that the X-BOX will be an enormous flop for Microsoft.
posted on October 8, 2001 08:22:33 AM
As an avid video gamer (and current owner of the PS2), I welcome the Xbox to the mix...the stats I've seen on it look pretty impressive. I think where Microsoft is going to have a struggle is in the 3rd party software support. Not all of the games that come out for PSone and PS2 are great, but just look at the sheer numbers. Remember the battle between Beta and VHS videotapes oh so long ago? Beta was a superior format, but it was tough to find movies in Beta, and eventually it died. I doubt if the Xbox will topple the PS2. I hope it sells well though...competition would just improve the atmosphere (= better games) for us gamers!
Nintendo's Gamecube looks nice too...but personally I think Nintendo is too hung up on games that are geared more towards the little kiddies.
"Who's tending the bar? Sniping works up a thirst"
posted on October 8, 2001 08:33:18 AM
Another issue is backwards compatability. I believe one of the things that mad the PS2 so popular is the fact that you could still play your old PS games on it. The Xbox doesn't have that ablility.
Also, when PS2 was released, something had happened to mess up the intial supply (I don't know what) so they were very hard to get. Heck, I lucked out and got one at Wal-mart at the very beginning (and to think that I only stopped in for milk), and I was escorted to my car with it by two employees to make sure that no one jumped me for it. They wouldn't even let me get my milk.
Anyway, Microsoft has taken precautions from the very beginning to make sure that there is a more than adequate supply of Xboxes for Xmas. So I doubt if you see such a rush. After all, Microsoft wants to make as much money as possible, right?
JMHO
But Microsoft has left a bad taste in the mouths of a lot of people because of the way it has monopolized the computer industry. I think they've got their work cut out for them as far as being able to follow in the footsteps of Sony.
Sniping works up a thirst"