microsoft taking on sony..?

[darkmage479]

The main reason the Xbox didn't sell well in Japan was because it was big, about the size of Japan it self. No doubt about it. The president of Xbox's Japanese Division said so him self.

 

then how come the gamecube doesn't outsell ps2?

 

actually it's pretty obvious, seeing the third-party mismatch (square enix vs. rare - oops, where did those sneaky Englishmen run off to?) but it's true that size does matter. It's just not the defining factor in the massive sales difference.

[L.S.D]

It's mostly features (PS2 users have to buy and install Network Adapters and Hard Drives. The A/V qualities are not nearly as played-up, etc) but it's also the way they advertise. M$ definately has the "get the guys together for a beer and a game" hook down in their marketing. Sony still caters primarily to "gamers."

 

L.S.D you said it yourself - that's the primary reason why Micro$oft is struggling. It's much easier for Sony to feed a well-established addiction than for Microsoft to turn people into junkies from scratch. Remeber, consistent software sales (not hardware) from repeat buyers makes these companies profitable.

Err....darkmage, I didn't say that

[Daeval]

It's mostly features (PS2 users have to buy and install Network Adapters and Hard Drives. The A/V qualities are not nearly as played-up, etc) but it's also the way they advertise. M$ definately has the "get the guys together for a beer and a game" hook down in their marketing. Sony still caters primarily to "gamers."

 

L.S.D you said it yourself - that's the primary reason why Micro$oft is struggling. It's much easier for Sony to feed a well-established addiction than for Microsoft to turn people into junkies from scratch. Remeber, consistent software sales (not hardware) from repeat buyers makes these companies profitable.

Err....darkmage, I didn't say that

Yeah, that was me.

 

I agree about software being the money maker, but system sales do A LOT to promote software sales. That's why companies are willing to take hits on hardware almost from the get go. Even if Joe Usual doesn't drop his entire paycheck on games every week (although you'd be surprised how much these "casual gamers" spend), if the four games he buys this quarter are for your system, that's four games you have up on the competition. Not to mention accessory tie-ins like extra controllers or Live! or whatnot that Joe needs to enjoy his latest game. Once the system is in their hands, it adds up pretty quick.

 

Speaking strictly of the American market, M$ is closing the gap created by Sony's 1-Year head start quicker than I think most people expected. Maybe they aren't all hardcore gamers, but when the next round of systems comes out, chances are those "raised" on Xbox will be biased in their decision. XBox fanboys are absolutely rabid.

[Daeval]

The main reason the Xbox didn't sell well in Japan was because it was big, about the size of Japan it self. No doubt about it.  The president of Xbox's Japanese Division said so him self.

Ahahaha, that's great!

 

Supposedly, cellphones about the size of credit cards are pretty common over there. They probably think the XBox looks about ten years old.

[Wizard]

Making fun of the BillBox is my speciality.

 

It's so big, it can be a planet.

[L.S.D]

LOL, Japanese want their things to be small since most of them live in a very small and cramped apartment

 

And about M$ fans are rabid, I think we can find a few example in our fellow members here

[jeffkong]

XBox is appealing to the US and Europe but it will never succeed in Japan.

 

As XBox continues to gain popularity, US and European companies will make more games for it, resulting in more of the type of games they have now, shooters, mech games, driving, sports, flying, GTA like games, etc. The RPGs will be more like Baldur's Gate, or Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, very dark with real time battles.

Microsoft also has the money to buy developers. They probably will make deals for new GTA games to first appear on their system.

 

Because of the early next-gen XBox release, it can capture the US and European market before Sony.

The PS2, which most people have, is very old. The next XBox will appear to be almost 2 generations above it. Good graphics, mature, dark games, XBox will become the "cool system" instead of Playstation and this will really appeal to the mainstream casual gamers where image means everything.

 

Microsoft can also make it cheap by taking loses. The next XBox is rumored to have Tivo like capabilities, so that will be very very appealing if it's true.

 

PS3 and the next Gamecbue will stay mainly in Japan due to their quirky, bright Japanese games.

 

Of course, the console market isn't everything. The handheld market is about as big and Microsoft has yet to try to claim it... but that's a different story.

[Agozer]

Making fun of the BillBox is my speciality.

 

It's so big, it can be a planet.

Hey, mine too. I think it could be converted to a portable oven with minimal effort.

 

Jeffkong: And the Playstation doesn't have mature, dark games? To be quite honest, hell will freeze over before I'll buy a Bill-BOX....I'd rather get a GameCube instead.

 

...maybe I'm just different than most Europeans.

Edited July 23, 2004 by Agozer

[Agozer]

Faggoty double-post.

Edited July 23, 2004 by Agozer

[Ryuken]

if more japanese games are sold in da US i think more people won't buy X-box

[jeffkong]

Making fun of the BillBox is my speciality.

 

It's so big, it can be a planet.

Hey, mine too. I think it could be converted to a portable oven with minimal effort.

 

Jeffkong: And the Playstation doesn't have mature, dark games? To be quite honest, hell will freeze over before I'll buy a Bill-BOX....I'd rather get a GameCube instead.

 

...maybe I'm just different than most Europeans.

The Playstation has many mature, dark games. I never said it didn't.

 

I said the XBox is devoted more to the types of games US and European gamers tend to buy, so it may succeed in those places.

 

Sony has many different types of games, but their next system isn't coming out for a year after the next XBox. If Microsoft can create the image, as Sony has, as the "cool system" they will be popular and dominate the US/European market before PS3's release. With their mature games, and their new looking graphics it won't be hard. Most casual gamers aren't going to wait until PS3 when they can get a system that looks almost 2 generations above it right then.

 

This domination will also lead to much Third Party support, also Microsoft has more than enough money to buy exclusive developers.

 

I don't think Japanese gamers will care much, because the types of games that dominate the XBox don't appeal to them. Also the XBox is foreign that also has a lot to do with it.

[random guy]

Making fun of the BillBox is my speciality.

 

It's so big, it can be a planet.

Hey, mine too. I think it could be converted to a portable oven with minimal effort.

 

Jeffkong: And the Playstation doesn't have mature, dark games? To be quite honest, hell will freeze over before I'll buy a Bill-BOX....I'd rather get a GameCube instead.

 

...maybe I'm just different than most Europeans.

The Playstation has many mature, dark games. I never said it didn't.

 

I said the XBox is devoted more to the types of games US and European gamers tend to buy, so it may succeed in those places.

 

Sony has many different types of games, but their next system isn't coming out for a year after the next XBox. If Microsoft can create the image, as Sony has, as the "cool system" they will be popular and dominate the US/European market before PS3's release. With their mature games, and their new looking graphics it won't be hard. Most casual gamers aren't going to wait until PS3 when they can get a system that looks almost 2 generations above it right then.

 

This domination will also lead to much Third Party support, also Microsoft has more than enough money to buy exclusive developers.

 

I don't think Japanese gamers will care much, because the types of games that dominate the XBox don't appeal to them. Also the XBox is foreign that also has a lot to do with it.

And yet, with all that, Microsoft is still the devil.

[jeffkong]

of course Microsoft is the devil, it doesn't change that

[Wizard]

Some certain devs have ranted oh much they've hated the PS2 for coding & developing onto it (Great Example: The guy who leads Team Ninja, the guys who make the DoA games).

 

Although the demographic for the PS2 is aimed at 18 to 35 market. SomeMost don't even buy it for the games. They'll pick up maybe 2 games and the rest would be DVD movies. My PS2 is rendered useless to me until I get SF3. And I refuse to get a new one.