The Successes and Failures of the XBox 99
thegamebiz writes "Amped IGO continues its 'XBox Retrospective Week' with a great two-page feature breaking down exactly where Microsoft went right and wrong with the XBox. From the article: 'Both lists have included hardware and the acquisitions of developers, but both have ended by reverting to the big issue: games...No matter how many impressive technical specs are shoved down our throats we must remember one simple fact: in the end, it's all about the games.'"
ybox in the next six months. (Score:5, Informative)
SUCCESSES:
5. VIRAL MARKETING: Check
4. THE HARD DRIVE: Not the standard in all machines, which is major key to the original xbox. This might lead to a failure of the system.
3. XBOX LIVE: Check, all your box are belong to us! More invasive than before, even.
2. NORTH AMERICAN MARKET PENETRATION: Check, maybe, if the supply chain holds up.
1. THE ACQUISITION OF BUNGIE: Check, sorta, they are still there but without any radical or life changing games in the pipeline. Time to ressurect Marathon?
FAILURES:
5. THE "DUKE" CONTROLLER: The new controller is a lot different. Until I actually use it...
4. THE ACQUISITION OF RARE: This is going into the success column, I think, cause the new games they are working on.
3. THE CANCELLATION OF TRUE FANTASY LIVE ONLINE: Check, still not there. I'm sure they'll be working on MMO's for xbox 360 though. Hard drive required.
2. NO ASIAN MARKET PENETRATION: Without a massive games lineup change, I don't see this happening.
1. LACK OF GENRE VARIETY: On launch, the differences between xbox 360 games and previous gen games is so small, I think this is a major failure.
We'll see how the launch goes. Not much time left though...