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Long, long ago (well, about 10 years) there was a little something called the Gameboy). I would say that 85% of hard-core gamers would have played on this machine. Back in its day, it was a “must have” for everyone. I think that one of the nice things was, to us and to Nintendo, was that it appealed to girls, as well as it did boys. I think that this was partially to do with the great success of the Gameboy, not just in this country, but worldwide, and the fact that the games weren’t all male related.
As kids of the digital age, I think we all craved about having a portable NES in our hands on those boring car journeys we had. We are wanted to have something to do, but we never dreamed of having something as good as what we have today. Nintendo are not silly, they know what us gamers want. So, come 1988, they released their fantastic new handheld machine, which quenched our thirst for a hand held computer. At last, we could finally say goodbye to those boring journeys and look forward to playing the games like Mario, which would keep us entertained for hours on end.
As the gameboy was a huge success, Nintendo couldn’t help but make another handheld. This was called the Gameboy Pocket. What was new then? Well, surprise, surprise (as Cilla Black would say) this was a hand held that could fit in your pocket, mainly due to the original having the same weight and dimensions of a breeze block. The same thing happened, as before, it was a huge success.
Later on Nintendo found the technology to release another gameboy. The next Gameboy (named Gameboy Colour) would be in full colour. We could finally say goodbye to the black and white gameboys and say hello to the new coloured ones.
Where am I going with this? Well, Nintendo was very lucky to have the GameBoy so well liked by people. Let’s just take a second to look at the Sega GameGear. This had a bigger screen, and it was in colour (unlike the GameBoy original). The only problem was that, despite the fantastic games and Sega’s magic, the machine ate batteries for breakfast with its backlight screen and was far too chunky, being almost twice as big as the gameboy.
And even though Nintendo didn’t upgrade the machine for a long time, people were still buying the original Gameboy, leaving the GameGear to be a bit of a flop really. Now, let’s turn things around. Lets imagine that the GameGear was selling more than the Gameboy, then that would be it for Nintendo with the hand held side of gaming.
This is where we have to feel sorry for companies that didn’t quite get there. Even if their first attempt wasn’t super, if it was selling well then they would make money, and therefore have the money to make a new handheld.
This doesn’t just go for the computer companies, but also for the game companies. If they release a game that sells well, they are obviously going to make sequels.
This is where it starts to leave a sour taste in my mouth.
I wish companies would quit will they are ahead. I would hate to see a company go bankrupt just because they rushed into trying to make another console without putting as much thought as the previous consoles had. Why would they do this? Because money gets the better of them. I’m not saying that computer companies should stop making consoles altogether after they release a console that sells well, just to wait a long time until they release another.
I think this is a good tactic because the longer you keep gamers waiting for a machine, the more they are going to want to get it.
This leaves companies in a hard position. Deep down, they know that if they wait too long to release a console, another company could release theirs and then gamers would get that instead.
Personally, I think that companies should risk it, and wait as long as possible to release their console. I have four reasons for this,
1) It will keep the gamer waiting, therefore making them want it more.
2) The company will have more time designing, making, and just finishing the final touches to the console…everything counts, you know!
3) It would also (and this is very important) give the game developer longer to make the launch titles, making them look and play like they have not been rushed. Also, if a certain developer is having troubles, they know they are not being pushed too fast to make a game.
4) If you wait until rival consoles are released, you may find that people could be disappointed with them, and wait for your one to be released instead.
All these are some pluses in waiting to release a console, but you also have to look at the minuses.
1) As stated before, a company could halt the release too long, resulting in the gamer to look elsewhere for a computer.
2) Argh, I hate this one. HYPE. People are going to be hyped so much about the console because they have been waiting so long, and maybe their expectations have gone too high. This will leave them disappointed with the console, then they are bound to tell their friend that they are disappointed with it, and then the friends are going to think twice about buying one.
I really do think that the decision (when to release the console) is a very important issue with gaming because it could be the key to success or if you do not get it right, the slide to hell. I would hate if the decision was all down to me, wouldn’t you?
Sega decided that they wanted to release their 128-bit console before everyone else’s and just look at what has happened to the Dreamcast. Okay. It made some excellent games, and was loved by thousands but at the end of the day, come March 2002 the Dreamcast will stop producing games for all us Dreamcast owners. Now, let us just think for a moment. If Sega could turn back the clocks, do you think they would have released their console a little latter on?
If you ask me, they would have released it a couple of months either side of the Ps2 launch release, but that’s just a guess.
And maybe if Sega released the Dreamcast later on, it may have been much more successful and we wouldn't be seeing headlines such as “Dreamcast. RIP”. We will just never know though.
So, this is where I would like to ask you if you think companies should release their console before, the same time, or after rival consoles?
Have your say.
Cheers.
As kids of the digital age, I think we all craved about having a portable NES in our hands on those boring car journeys we had. We are wanted to have something to do, but we never dreamed of having something as good as what we have today. Nintendo are not silly, they know what us gamers want. So, come 1988, they released their fantastic new handheld machine, which quenched our thirst for a hand held computer. At last, we could finally say goodbye to those boring journeys and look forward to playing the games like Mario, which would keep us entertained for hours on end.
As the gameboy was a huge success, Nintendo couldn’t help but make another handheld. This was called the Gameboy Pocket. What was new then? Well, surprise, surprise (as Cilla Black would say) this was a hand held that could fit in your pocket, mainly due to the original having the same weight and dimensions of a breeze block. The same thing happened, as before, it was a huge success.
Later on Nintendo found the technology to release another gameboy. The next Gameboy (named Gameboy Colour) would be in full colour. We could finally say goodbye to the black and white gameboys and say hello to the new coloured ones.
Where am I going with this? Well, Nintendo was very lucky to have the GameBoy so well liked by people. Let’s just take a second to look at the Sega GameGear. This had a bigger screen, and it was in colour (unlike the GameBoy original). The only problem was that, despite the fantastic games and Sega’s magic, the machine ate batteries for breakfast with its backlight screen and was far too chunky, being almost twice as big as the gameboy.
And even though Nintendo didn’t upgrade the machine for a long time, people were still buying the original Gameboy, leaving the GameGear to be a bit of a flop really. Now, let’s turn things around. Lets imagine that the GameGear was selling more than the Gameboy, then that would be it for Nintendo with the hand held side of gaming.
This is where we have to feel sorry for companies that didn’t quite get there. Even if their first attempt wasn’t super, if it was selling well then they would make money, and therefore have the money to make a new handheld.
This doesn’t just go for the computer companies, but also for the game companies. If they release a game that sells well, they are obviously going to make sequels.
This is where it starts to leave a sour taste in my mouth.
I wish companies would quit will they are ahead. I would hate to see a company go bankrupt just because they rushed into trying to make another console without putting as much thought as the previous consoles had. Why would they do this? Because money gets the better of them. I’m not saying that computer companies should stop making consoles altogether after they release a console that sells well, just to wait a long time until they release another.
I think this is a good tactic because the longer you keep gamers waiting for a machine, the more they are going to want to get it.
This leaves companies in a hard position. Deep down, they know that if they wait too long to release a console, another company could release theirs and then gamers would get that instead.
Personally, I think that companies should risk it, and wait as long as possible to release their console. I have four reasons for this,
1) It will keep the gamer waiting, therefore making them want it more.
2) The company will have more time designing, making, and just finishing the final touches to the console…everything counts, you know!
3) It would also (and this is very important) give the game developer longer to make the launch titles, making them look and play like they have not been rushed. Also, if a certain developer is having troubles, they know they are not being pushed too fast to make a game.
4) If you wait until rival consoles are released, you may find that people could be disappointed with them, and wait for your one to be released instead.
All these are some pluses in waiting to release a console, but you also have to look at the minuses.
1) As stated before, a company could halt the release too long, resulting in the gamer to look elsewhere for a computer.
2) Argh, I hate this one. HYPE. People are going to be hyped so much about the console because they have been waiting so long, and maybe their expectations have gone too high. This will leave them disappointed with the console, then they are bound to tell their friend that they are disappointed with it, and then the friends are going to think twice about buying one.
I really do think that the decision (when to release the console) is a very important issue with gaming because it could be the key to success or if you do not get it right, the slide to hell. I would hate if the decision was all down to me, wouldn’t you?
Sega decided that they wanted to release their 128-bit console before everyone else’s and just look at what has happened to the Dreamcast. Okay. It made some excellent games, and was loved by thousands but at the end of the day, come March 2002 the Dreamcast will stop producing games for all us Dreamcast owners. Now, let us just think for a moment. If Sega could turn back the clocks, do you think they would have released their console a little latter on?
If you ask me, they would have released it a couple of months either side of the Ps2 launch release, but that’s just a guess.
And maybe if Sega released the Dreamcast later on, it may have been much more successful and we wouldn't be seeing headlines such as “Dreamcast. RIP”. We will just never know though.
So, this is where I would like to ask you if you think companies should release their console before, the same time, or after rival consoles?
Have your say.
Cheers.
Page:
I was going to read all your long posts, but not now. Maybe later. Anyway, I did notice a lot of Microsoft stuff, so here's my contribution:
Microsoft must DIE!!!
MWHAAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Microsoft must DIE!!!
MWHAAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Edge I get the feeling that you do not have aclue about the internal gubbings of a PS2, go to PS2 Physics thread and you'll be able to read what I wrote explaining the situation in there. As for your point game, I really can't see the gamecube getting a proper foothold outside of hardcore gamers, and that is dangerous, as SEGA know fine and well, the best thing they could have done is released the Gamecube and GBA together and use the GBA to help advertise the Gamecube along with those little critters that I really can't stand.
Thats my half baked idea anyway, they also released the PS2 well before the online capabilities were ready for the same reason, they can make more money out of hardcore gamers, when the pricecut comes, i'll bet you can buy a PS2, broadband modem and HDD for aroung £299, and the killer games will be shipping too. Sony are starting to set examples, F1 2001 is the first Sony produced game I have bought and, it truely is the best looking racer I have played, and for it to cruise along at the speed it does with no slow down. They are also releasing their programming libraries constantly to developers to see the latest way in which to utilise the hardware, things will only get better, lets just hope, the up and coming games live up to expectations.
As you probably know the GAMECUBE is being release 3 days before the X-Box in the States...I think this is a VERY good move by Nintendo...a $100 cheaper machine, quality games and a ship-load of experience! There is no match for that, even Halo won't do it!
Microsoft, I think, will have trouble getting off the ground...and as big as they are, they'll depend on a lot of little people to get them through the first year...
They can't throw money as the problem cause if they do Nintendo and even SONY will just eat them up! They need a much better strategy and I think with a Machine the same price as the PS2 with fewer games won't get them anywhere...
There is no denying the X-Box is a quality piece of machinery, the spec is amazing and you can see by the in-game MPEG's it can procude, but with a VERY small amount of experience through the 3rd parties MS will struggle to keep up with Nintendo doing what they do best - Make Games!
The PS2 is sailing, the games are coming and there is no doubt a promising future is there...(or will be...:D) buteven with an already large and ever-incresing user-base a game can sell a thousand consoles....and I think that SFA or Rogue Leader will do just that...
Nintendo, in my book have made a good decision...I dont know whether it was Microsoft who released the info first or Nintendo, either way Nintendo h=are in the best position...
But hey, the world of gaming is a wacky one, who knows what will happen...and they say 'Anything can happen in the WWF' Move over Stone Cold cause to be honest, the drama and excitement around this christmas will far outweigh the excitment of Raw Is War...:D
Game
Microsoft, I think, will have trouble getting off the ground...and as big as they are, they'll depend on a lot of little people to get them through the first year...
They can't throw money as the problem cause if they do Nintendo and even SONY will just eat them up! They need a much better strategy and I think with a Machine the same price as the PS2 with fewer games won't get them anywhere...
There is no denying the X-Box is a quality piece of machinery, the spec is amazing and you can see by the in-game MPEG's it can procude, but with a VERY small amount of experience through the 3rd parties MS will struggle to keep up with Nintendo doing what they do best - Make Games!
The PS2 is sailing, the games are coming and there is no doubt a promising future is there...(or will be...:D) buteven with an already large and ever-incresing user-base a game can sell a thousand consoles....and I think that SFA or Rogue Leader will do just that...
Nintendo, in my book have made a good decision...I dont know whether it was Microsoft who released the info first or Nintendo, either way Nintendo h=are in the best position...
But hey, the world of gaming is a wacky one, who knows what will happen...and they say 'Anything can happen in the WWF' Move over Stone Cold cause to be honest, the drama and excitement around this christmas will far outweigh the excitment of Raw Is War...:D
Game
Bonus wrote:
> Not really!!
The games aren't getting as good as they should do. So, to deter people from complaining they give us extras - i.e. a DVD player, a stand and the like. To make us feel better - but internal aesthetics are the most important, not external. Integrating a cup holder is ony the next step and it probably will happen - I mean the Cube, however impressive it looks, has a handle!
Next Sega console 'Umbrella256'.
> Not really!!
The games aren't getting as good as they should do. So, to deter people from complaining they give us extras - i.e. a DVD player, a stand and the like. To make us feel better - but internal aesthetics are the most important, not external. Integrating a cup holder is ony the next step and it probably will happen - I mean the Cube, however impressive it looks, has a handle!
Next Sega console 'Umbrella256'.
Bonus wrote:
> You never know, but they have just under a year to make themselves
> mainstream, how many people do you know who aren't really into games
> have heard of the Xbox or the Gamecube, i know very few, an awful
> lot more know about the PS2, and if they drop the price to
> £199 in time for christmas, when it will be the only console
> parents can buy their whining kids, it's game set and match Sony.
Yes, that is very true. Maybe that is Sony's plan. Release the console early (before GAMECUBE and X-Box) witha high price. Then, hopefully some hardcore gamers will pay the full price. Sony make money. then, when Christmas is close, they can afford to cut the price, in order for loads of people to buy one for Christmas. Then, sony will be one step ahead of the GAMECUBE and X-Box.
> You never know, but they have just under a year to make themselves
> mainstream, how many people do you know who aren't really into games
> have heard of the Xbox or the Gamecube, i know very few, an awful
> lot more know about the PS2, and if they drop the price to
> £199 in time for christmas, when it will be the only console
> parents can buy their whining kids, it's game set and match Sony.
Yes, that is very true. Maybe that is Sony's plan. Release the console early (before GAMECUBE and X-Box) witha high price. Then, hopefully some hardcore gamers will pay the full price. Sony make money. then, when Christmas is close, they can afford to cut the price, in order for loads of people to buy one for Christmas. Then, sony will be one step ahead of the GAMECUBE and X-Box.
Not really!!
You never know, but they have just under a year to make themselves mainstream, how many people do you know who aren't really into games have heard of the Xbox or the Gamecube, i know very few, an awful lot more know about the PS2, and if they drop the price to £199 in time for christmas, when it will be the only console parents can buy their whining kids, it's game set and match Sony.
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