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Thinking Positively About The X-Box : - )
OK, many of you know that I’m not the biggest Microsoft Fan. However Microsoft’s new machine the X-box is starting to look like something special, and even I'm impressed. So instead of Focusing on the negative I've decided to focus on the positive things about the X-box.
So what is there to know about the X-box, well when it comes out in the US this November it will be the worlds most powerful home console/entertainment system. It will cost $299 stateside, so this means it will probably cost £299 by the time it arrives in the UK in early 2002.
The Games look impressive with Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, Dead or Alive 3, Star Wars Obi-Wan, Crazy Taxi, Panzer Dragoon, The Simpsons Road Rage, Jet Set Radio Future, SegaSports NBA 2K2, Sega Sports NFL 2K2, Sega GT, House of the Dead 3, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2X, Dino Crisis 3,Genma Onimusha, Madden NFL 2002, F1 2001, a new FIFA game, and WWF Raw is War to name but a few of the titles that are being developed for this machine
However what interested me the most was the new features Microsoft has put into the X-box’s basic user interface (Called the X-box Dashboard). Not only will their be parental controls that will allow parents to prevent their children from playing games/or sections of games with a violent or mature content. The dashboard will also allow gamers for the first time to play the music they want in their favorite games. Normal audio CDs can be put into the X-box, and the music can be stored on the X-box’s 8GB hard drive. This means for the first time that gamers will be able to take full control of a games music. This is something that was on my wish list for a next generation console, and surprisingly it now looks like someone at Microsoft was listening to the voices of the gamers everywhere.
There are some grey areas with regards to the X-box, most notably what internet connectivity features will be available in the final machine, and if the machine will play DVDs. I have just visited www.xbox.com and so far there seems to be no official line on this.
However Microsoft has said that they expect a broadband hardware add on to be available for the machine in the second half of 2002, so hopefully by the time the X-box reaches the UK this feature may be built in.
Microsoft certainly have the power, money and influence to deliver broadband Internet access to gamers, they own are large share of the UK cable company NTL so perhaps an online future isn’t that far away. :-)
OK, many of you know that I’m not the biggest Microsoft Fan. However Microsoft’s new machine the X-box is starting to look like something special, and even I'm impressed. So instead of Focusing on the negative I've decided to focus on the positive things about the X-box.
So what is there to know about the X-box, well when it comes out in the US this November it will be the worlds most powerful home console/entertainment system. It will cost $299 stateside, so this means it will probably cost £299 by the time it arrives in the UK in early 2002.
The Games look impressive with Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, Dead or Alive 3, Star Wars Obi-Wan, Crazy Taxi, Panzer Dragoon, The Simpsons Road Rage, Jet Set Radio Future, SegaSports NBA 2K2, Sega Sports NFL 2K2, Sega GT, House of the Dead 3, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2X, Dino Crisis 3,Genma Onimusha, Madden NFL 2002, F1 2001, a new FIFA game, and WWF Raw is War to name but a few of the titles that are being developed for this machine
However what interested me the most was the new features Microsoft has put into the X-box’s basic user interface (Called the X-box Dashboard). Not only will their be parental controls that will allow parents to prevent their children from playing games/or sections of games with a violent or mature content. The dashboard will also allow gamers for the first time to play the music they want in their favorite games. Normal audio CDs can be put into the X-box, and the music can be stored on the X-box’s 8GB hard drive. This means for the first time that gamers will be able to take full control of a games music. This is something that was on my wish list for a next generation console, and surprisingly it now looks like someone at Microsoft was listening to the voices of the gamers everywhere.
There are some grey areas with regards to the X-box, most notably what internet connectivity features will be available in the final machine, and if the machine will play DVDs. I have just visited www.xbox.com and so far there seems to be no official line on this.
However Microsoft has said that they expect a broadband hardware add on to be available for the machine in the second half of 2002, so hopefully by the time the X-box reaches the UK this feature may be built in.
Microsoft certainly have the power, money and influence to deliver broadband Internet access to gamers, they own are large share of the UK cable company NTL so perhaps an online future isn’t that far away. :-)
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Offical Dreamcast Magazine isn't that biased.
When you think about it, it's not in the company's (Sega, Sony, Nintendo etc) interest to have a biased magazine. Why? Simply because of what New Jimmy has just said.
If an official magazine is biased, then no one will buy it. No one buys it, less money for the parent company (Sega etc) as official magazines are one way they get some revenue in.
But, if the official magazines aren't biased, and are honest about the games, well, that may not be a good thing. Say Sega release a game thats utter crap, and the official magazine says it's rubbish, well, less people will buy it so less money for Sega.
So, what can they do?
I think that they are biased, but not a huge amount.
They have to be honest, or no one will buy the magazine, but they can't be too honest or people may not buy the games. So what do they do?
Perhaps mark their games slightly more leniently than competitors? Run more previews on 1st party games? Seems to be that way. I don't remember a non-Sega game getting more than a 2 side spread in a magazine. Whereas Sega games get them quite often, Headhunter being an example from the current issue.
Cover CD's were also mentioned. I admit, the first time I bought ODM it was because it had a cover CD. But after reading it and finding that it wasn't that biased, I continued to get it.
I feel that some people should give official magazines more of a chance. Afterall, it doesn;t matter how biased the review is if you can play a demo of the game. The demo should make your mind up, afterall, only you know what you're prepared to spend £30+ on.
When you think about it, it's not in the company's (Sega, Sony, Nintendo etc) interest to have a biased magazine. Why? Simply because of what New Jimmy has just said.
If an official magazine is biased, then no one will buy it. No one buys it, less money for the parent company (Sega etc) as official magazines are one way they get some revenue in.
But, if the official magazines aren't biased, and are honest about the games, well, that may not be a good thing. Say Sega release a game thats utter crap, and the official magazine says it's rubbish, well, less people will buy it so less money for Sega.
So, what can they do?
I think that they are biased, but not a huge amount.
They have to be honest, or no one will buy the magazine, but they can't be too honest or people may not buy the games. So what do they do?
Perhaps mark their games slightly more leniently than competitors? Run more previews on 1st party games? Seems to be that way. I don't remember a non-Sega game getting more than a 2 side spread in a magazine. Whereas Sega games get them quite often, Headhunter being an example from the current issue.
Cover CD's were also mentioned. I admit, the first time I bought ODM it was because it had a cover CD. But after reading it and finding that it wasn't that biased, I continued to get it.
I feel that some people should give official magazines more of a chance. Afterall, it doesn;t matter how biased the review is if you can play a demo of the game. The demo should make your mind up, afterall, only you know what you're prepared to spend £30+ on.
The problem with official magazines is not just there price but also that theyre biased... The magazine is barely worth the read as their opinions are biased toward the success of the console they promote, and depend on for their jobs.
Games reviews by official mags are useless, particularly where a big title is concerned. Look at MetalGearSolid2...if this game is rubbish or contains the worst flaw of its predecessor (ie no replayability) then the official magazine will still give it 98%
My point is that most people buy official magazines for the coverdisc, these should be cheaper as theyre basically adverts on a disc.
Games reviews by official mags are useless, particularly where a big title is concerned. Look at MetalGearSolid2...if this game is rubbish or contains the worst flaw of its predecessor (ie no replayability) then the official magazine will still give it 98%
My point is that most people buy official magazines for the coverdisc, these should be cheaper as theyre basically adverts on a disc.
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have no control over mag prices. I buy OPS2 and it's well worth the fiver, as you get in depth reviews my proper, mature (*cough* NOM *cough) people who know their stuff. It's a great read, and you get a luuuuurvely DVD as well.
Official UK Xbox magazine needs a budding young journalist, anyone interested should follow the link
http://teamxbox.msxbox.com/ news.php?id=1542 (remove spaces)
If you get the job, get them to lower their prices :-)
Also in the news Plantronics a telephone communications company are to make the headset for the Xbox, to see the full press release and a picture of the headset follow the link below:
http://www.plantronics.com/ corporate/press/07172001.html# (remove spaces)
http://teamxbox.msxbox.com/ news.php?id=1542 (remove spaces)
If you get the job, get them to lower their prices :-)
Also in the news Plantronics a telephone communications company are to make the headset for the Xbox, to see the full press release and a picture of the headset follow the link below:
http://www.plantronics.com/ corporate/press/07172001.html# (remove spaces)
I would only buy an Official Magazine for the coverdisc, but the fact that the Americans get away with only paying £1 -£1.50 for their magazines whereas we pay £3-£4 per issue is just wrong.
Its true our magazines are usually slightly bigger (Compare the size of the US edition of Maxim with the UK edition to see what I mean), but surely this does not justify the price hike.
Were getting ripped off, as for buying the official magazine off the shelf (as oppossed to subscription) thats even worse at £5 a pop.
Its true our magazines are usually slightly bigger (Compare the size of the US edition of Maxim with the UK edition to see what I mean), but surely this does not justify the price hike.
Were getting ripped off, as for buying the official magazine off the shelf (as oppossed to subscription) thats even worse at £5 a pop.
I think that we should get cheaper computer game magazines. If the Yanks get it for half the price we pay then that is really unfair.
I have laready downloaded the patch for Black & white since it is one of my GAD winnings!!
I have been following the XBOX news and GC news quite closely and I have seen that although GC has another year in development and the XBOX has only months, in development.
And I am not trying to be biased but the edges and details dont look as sharp ans the GC's although they are well drawn a bit better than the GC with better lighting effects etc. they seem a little blurred around the edges and on small deatails!!
But the XBOX still looks good and in pretty good shape!!
And is Black & White cumin out on XBOX too?
And I am not trying to be biased but the edges and details dont look as sharp ans the GC's although they are well drawn a bit better than the GC with better lighting effects etc. they seem a little blurred around the edges and on small deatails!!
But the XBOX still looks good and in pretty good shape!!
And is Black & White cumin out on XBOX too?
This is the big 100th post, making this probably the most popular Xbox based thread on the SpecialReserve site...so as always I have some more Xbox news... and a topic to discuss, read on :-)
Microsofts official Xbox website has just announced that the official Xbox magazine will be launched this September. See the following link for the latest details
http://www.xbox.com/news /0107/0203.htm (remove spaces)
The magazine will set us back will come with a coverdisc packed with the latest games. In the US a years subscription will cost $24.95, Canadians will pay $38.95 and we will have to fork out $48.95.
This means well have to pay about £30 for a years subscription, which is not bad at all its about £3 an issue. However the Americans will pay half that....the question is why are we getting ripped off by so many companys when it comes to buying their official magazines! :-(
Sony and Microsoft should lower their prices for the UK, after all the magazines are in effect advertisements for their consoles and products.
I think Microsoft and Sony are giving us a bad deal, why should we pay twice as much as the Americans??? Discuss
Microsofts official Xbox website has just announced that the official Xbox magazine will be launched this September. See the following link for the latest details
http://www.xbox.com/news /0107/0203.htm (remove spaces)
The magazine will set us back will come with a coverdisc packed with the latest games. In the US a years subscription will cost $24.95, Canadians will pay $38.95 and we will have to fork out $48.95.
This means well have to pay about £30 for a years subscription, which is not bad at all its about £3 an issue. However the Americans will pay half that....the question is why are we getting ripped off by so many companys when it comes to buying their official magazines! :-(
Sony and Microsoft should lower their prices for the UK, after all the magazines are in effect advertisements for their consoles and products.
I think Microsoft and Sony are giving us a bad deal, why should we pay twice as much as the Americans??? Discuss
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