Xbox 360 Launches In U.S. 551
Well, it's here. Braving long lines and launch parties, and even jail time, those that were willing to pony up the time and money have their hands on the first player in the next-gen war. 360 impressions are available all across the web, with [H]ardOCP and Gamespot offering exhaustive experiences for the interested gamer. The BBC, as always, offers a bigger perspective on the launch, and Gamasutra confirms that Microsoft is in for the long haul in the games industry. From the BBC: "Sony and Nintendo are planning to unleash their next gen consoles during 2006, giving Microsoft an edge over its rivals. The software giant is virtually tied with Nintendo for second place, way behind Sony, in a games market worth $25 billion globally. Microsoft has ambitious plans for its new machine. It said it expects to ship up to three million 360s worldwide within 90 days. But the company has admitted that the worldwide launch of the console could mean shortages in the run-up to Christmas. The console is due to hit Europe on 2 December and Japan on 10 December and some retailers are also warning about limited supplies."
I tried to find a store in Maryland... SOLD OUT (Score:1, Interesting)
Anyway, I'm going to fire up Call of Duty on my Mac G5 so that hopefully that will quell my itch to play a video game.
Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually if you read the HARDOCP review (Score:5, Interesting)
I was actually impressed with its ability to work with other devices to include an iPOD and PsP. The nice thing about this machine is that it really is expandable as wireless gives them many options. You will probably see an addon keyboard/mouse combo one day.
There are many of us out here who don't need our PCs to program on, we have them for games, other entertainment, e-mail, and surfing. Give me an insta-on box with those features and I may just consider it. The XBOX360 is actually the first console I am seriously considering because of the potential.
Playing DvDs is a bonus, if it means one less component I have to hook up or keep up with all the better. People harped on the PS2 for the same reason yet I know many who have one for that very reason.
Just because its Microsoft doesn't make it wrong which seems to be your whole beef against it. (who made it)
(allow me to run some IBM style emulator/vpn over the net with a wireless keyboard and I really really need a PC even less)
Poorly Managed Release. Traders making money. (Score:4, Interesting)
Sony should lower the price of PS2 to $99 (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:3, Interesting)
Not if it's hackable. If I knew the Xbox 360 were going to be hackable, I'd be more interested in buying one now, at full price. Since it might not be (odds are, even if it is, it will be a much bigger PITA than the Xbox) I'm not buying one until either hacks come out or the price comes down quite a bit.
just say NO to Sony? (Score:1, Interesting)
or do you not really care when faced with the prospect of not having your precious game console?
Re:Actually if you read the HARDOCP review (Score:5, Interesting)
There are many of us out here who don't need our PCs to program on, we have them for games, other entertainment, e-mail, and surfing. Give me an insta-on box with those features and I may just consider it. The XBOX360 is actually the first console I am seriously considering because of the potential.
That's the point I think is being missed. After everything is said and done, the thing is still, design-wise, pretty much a glorified PC. Microsoft has come out with a proprietary platform which they're using the gamer market to propagate. They can gradually add other functionality to increase it's market.
Don't be surprised when it eventually evolves into what amounts to the Microsoft version of the Mac.
I hope this drive Linux dev for PPC (Score:3, Interesting)
My problem with gaming... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:eBay (Score:5, Interesting)
The cost of such an astroturfing operation is the eBay listing fees and that's it. Pretty cheap for a lot of buzz.
Just a thought.
Re:I don't know... (Score:5, Interesting)
Not free access. Many, many Nintendo reps (including president Iwata) have gone on record saying not free. You'll pay. You won't pay much, but you'll pay.
Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:5, Interesting)
See, that's the thing. I believe more people than you give credit will use it as both a media center and a game console. Essentially anyone living in a smaller space like an apartment will like the idea being able to play games, watch movies and listen to music--all in high-definition and surround sound--without having a big (and expensive) stack of components.
In addition, the console brings something pretty new to the scene. Now, if you have video or audio stored on your computer you can play it on your 360 via wireless or wired networking. Why try to watch content on your computer from an uncomfortable chair using poor speakers watching on a small monitor when instead you can watch it from the comfort of a coutch on a large TV screen (YMMV here).
Is the 360 some magical gift from God? Obviously not, but in the same token it's not the same game console we played back in 1985. Also, nobody should make it sound like it's a big Microsoft ploy to hype this up as much as they can. Sony is just as bad (if not worse in some ways) about hyping up anything new they release. Nintendo doesn't seem to be quite as bad, but they still do some crazy stuff [1up.com] to try and get attention [vgcats.com].
Check Out the Innovation! (Score:3, Interesting)
- nuff said
b00tl3g
Re:I tried to find a store in Maryland... SOLD OUT (Score:3, Interesting)
Employees don't get discounts on systems anyhow since there is virtually no markup on them. AFAIK, this holds true at other retailers.
Re:I hope this drive Linux dev for PPC (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:1, Interesting)
<critical>Maybe Microsoft could make some money off the machine if they knew how to actually design hardware rather than slapping a new case on a PC.</critical>
Seriously, at $399 a unit, I'm absolutely shocked that Microsoft is still losing money on the thing. The CPU and the GPU are the two expensive components. In bulk, I'd have a hard time believing that they cost more than $150-$175 together. The rest of the hardware is relatively inexpensive stuff, costing maybe $50-$100 at most. That leaves me with a total of $200-$275 for manufacturing, making me wonder where the inefficiency is. Is Microsoft really that BAD at hardware design that they can't sell a $399 integrated PC at anything less than a loss?
Zero Hour (Score:4, Interesting)
I am impressed how well Live is integrated with the console. When we got there, they gave us a free memory unit and helped us transfer our Live account on it. Then we were able to play on Live wtih the number of games that were available. I think Live will dominate over whatever Sony has to offer as far as online integration with the console.
Despite being not overly impressed with any of the titles, there was one that my buddy and I played for over an hour. It was from Live Arcade (a number of small titles you can download from Live). The game was called Geometry Wars. Yes, strangely enough, it wasn't the multi-million dollar developed games that won my game of the show, but this small independently developed game you can download from Live.
I'll wait around like I did with the original Xbox before I get one. Same thing goes with the PS3. Comes back to what we said many a time: good games make good consoles.
Re:Actually if you read the HARDOCP review (Score:5, Interesting)
What, you mean kinda like this [intellivisionlives.com]?
The fact of the matter is every console is pretty much a "glorified PC" (or a "dumbed down" PC, depending on your perspective), and every single time - yes, every single time a new console is released, the manufacturer claims that it's going to do this, that and the other thing eventually, or that it's going to converge a whole bunch of devices into one. This is true going all the way back to the Odyssey II and Atari 2600, which also promised PC functionality. The Sega CD and NEC Turbo CD were the first (or among the first) to then promise home entertainment functionality once optical storage became the norm.
The reality is people just don't care. A few do, and those are the kind of people that sued Mattel when they never actually released their promised keyboard component from lack of interest (they only had something like 4,000 orders, which meant they couldn't get the component cost low enough to make a profit). Those people can be very vocal. They're the real hardcore. They're on the internet complaining when companies don't release promised add-ons, they're the ones that always have to be the contrarians when someone like me points out that they're the minority.
But they are the extreme, extreme minority. I agree with the parent poster who said as soon as the next hot console comes along, gamers will abandon the Xbox 360, because it really is about the games and only about the games, and it always will be. This is not going to be some great window into the living room. It is simply the console of the moment, and in five years it will be forgotten like every other console of the moment. MS is not creating some sort of home entertainment "standard" with the Xbox 360.
It never ceases to amuse me how people say the exact same things every time a new console is released. "It's going to do all these great things besides playing video games! It's revolutionary!" Ha! So in other words, it's just like every other console ever.
Re:Fry's Line (Score:3, Interesting)
I was in line at 7 am Monday for the midnight sale - and was #91 in line. It was quite the experience being there. I don't regret it for a second. Especially since my 360 is worth it, I can tell already.
(BTW, never thought much of it before, but being able to stream my music from my PC to my 360 as custom soundtrack for any game just is amazing - couple that with the media player and visualizations, and my 200 CD changer is now unnecessary)
Half of Gamers Waiting (Score:3, Interesting)
Well at least I know I'm not alone.
Minimal Microsoft Association (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:eBay (Score:2, Interesting)
Anyone find such an auction for the 360?
Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:3, Interesting)
Not sure how much the shortage is actually real, but what I know is this morning, while eating breakfast, news reporters from several channels were talking about those people waiting in line since about midnight in anticipation of the store opening at 8am (for those stores that didn't take pre-orders). Then, when I got to work (at about 10.30am), I wanted to look at those "Sold out" banners Microsoft made for the retailers, so I went to downtown Montreal's Future Shop (equivalent of Best Buy up here), and there were still 2 core systems and 3 full-systems on the shelves... I could have just taken one to the cash register and brought it home, while a bunch of suckers didn't sleep last night waiting in line in the cold rain...
Ordering from eBay and waiting for shipping is already pretty pointless, preordering is also useless over here apparently.
Re:Bitterness over other's success or excesses (Score:3, Interesting)
Why do you have a computer then? Why do you have a house? Why don't you live in a small hut with 15 other people?
This "we should spend the extra $$$ to the 3rd world" is nonsense. Fine, spend it! But be aware that the poor WILL NOT GET THE MONEY. Instead, your money will end in the pockets of the ultra-rich 1% in the 3rd world.
You want to help? Push your country to open trade with the 3rd world countries. THIS is what everyone wants over there. The first world countries do not want this in order to protect their economy. Instead, they spend millions and finance the life of the upper class over there.
Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:3, Interesting)
I agree, although I should point out that the original Xbox also works great as a game player -- an emulation game player. After sturggling for years waiting for the Dreamcast's SNES emulation to improve, I finally bought an Xbox and softmodded it. Now I have XBMC for tonnes of media playback, and some really nice SNES, Genesis, and even a few PSone games under emulation. All with just one gizmo cluttering under the television.
With a new dashboard (Unleash) and big hard drive, you can even set up a nice menu system the kids can pick and play what they want without messy cartridges or Discs. Until the new Xbox 360 can do all that, I can't even drum up a yawn for it.
Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Zero Hour (Score:2, Interesting)
How many of you pay to play a MMORPG? How many of you play diablo II still, or GuildWars because you don't want to pay every month? I know I would be playing WoW right now if it was free to play online. Yet obviously, the MMORPG servers are centralized, and usually can't afford to run without these payments. Does Xbox Live suffer this same problem?
Take Half-life 2 for instance. On steam, all online games are free to play online (imagine the userbase that would be lost if Counter-Strike had a monthly fee). Can you honestly belive that there isn't a similar loss of players on certain console games because of this? This is all possible because people host thier own servers. All Xbox live is doing is taking away your power to host your own server, and charging you for it.
Re:I admit it (Score:3, Interesting)
How long do you think this "competition" will last? The console market is not currently profitable at Microsoft, but they have their sights at the long term. And do you know what the long term goal is? Allow me illustrate to you their goal with evidence from Microsoft's hisotry of business practices:
Microsoft will keep throwing money at the problem to gain market share. And once they get rid of Sony, they will eventually out-last Nintendo as well. And when they do, do not expect Microsoft to provide any innovation.
They are notorious for taking over markets and then stop putting any Research and Development money into their monopolies. In other words, since they are saving money on R&D once they have a monopoly, they make profit for years to come. At the same time, Microsoft stifle innovation because the money that consumers give them gets no return in terms of R&D.
As consumers, we lose when Microsoft takes over a market. Microsoft's entry into the console market DOES NOT benefit us in the long run.