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"XBOX: MOST DEFINITELY THE FUTURE"

Well it isn't the past or present, and it's going to be made so it isn't the conditional, so XBox is the future so you better get ready for it...

How could the first ‘console’ from the software giants Microsoft fare? Will it be any good? I hope so. Maybe this new machine can change the way we play games and add a whole new aspect to the way consoles are made.

If it has internet access then that'll be great, if it can replicate all the strong qualities of the PC and combine them with the ease of use of Games consoles then maybe we'll have a PC/Console Hybrid. If Microsoft get things right, and it seems as though they have so far, then we could see the future potential winner of the next generation of Gaming hardware.

What about the competition though? Have the PS2 shortages meant that the XBox could trample all over it? No chance. Could Sega's lack of financial capital for advertising mean the Dreamcast will be easy to beat? Of course. And will the 'solely for games' Game-Cube from Nintendo just be a simple obstacle for the Mighty XBox? I doubt it. With a lot of money for advertising, and lots of developer and publisher support, it could be the best new machine of recent times.

But there is one problem: the public's perception of Microsoft, Bill Gates, and the company image overall. I think that Sony have won a lot of fans with the success of Playstation (over 70million consoles sold in 5 years) and the PS2 isn't exactly collecting dust on the shelves. And, what about the Nintendo faithful? I doubt if they'll be won over easily.

Oh no, Microsoft will have to impress - big time. Otherwise we could see the quickest failure and demise of a company ever. If Microsoft really too much on capturing console gamers then they will have an uphill struggle on their hands, but if they aim more directly at PC owners, then we could see a potential Apple Mac rival and beater.

The main ingredients for success are: Great Games - this console will have to have a huge amount of quality ORIGINAL titles, because if people see the same old Fifa and RPG clones and the bog standard Ridge Racer games then Microsoft will lose face very quickly indeed. As it is, Microsoft hasn’t got the best reputation at the moment, especially since the company was forced to break into two due to its 'monopolising' nature. With over 733Mhz of processing power (over double that of the PS2) they surely will get a lot of great looking games, hopefully.

As it stands, the most appealing console in the future market seems to be the GameCube - after a stunning E3 display, Nintendo are on for a lot of success, but Microsoft have a lot of backing. Nearly every developer in the world has signed the dotted line.

Look out for Bizarre Creations' MSR 'sequel' aptly named Project Gotham, it actually looks stunning though - from the screen shots I have seen.

EA are with Microsoft, spreading there wings, and should release some decent enough sports games on the format.

More importantly, Sega Sports along with Sega are with Xbox - and that does bode well. Anyone who's played Virtua tennis and NBA2k know why.

Microsoft of course can make their own games! Age of Empires and AOE2 are probably the best RTS games around, and the XBox is bound to get this.

Championship Manager will be on the Xbox. That my friends, is a very, very good thing.

Namco, Konami, THQ, Rareware, Activision, Acclaim, Infogrames, Ubi Soft - basically everyone will be making games for the box.

Let's hope they're good!
Microsoft will also need to advertise. A LOT. And they need to make it clear what product they're advertising by not making their adds too abstract - something that Sega didn't do too well (remember those Euro 2000 adverts about Online gaming? No? Exactly.) And so if they produce a lot of adverts and promote the XBox well, then they may stand a chance.

Well, it'll be a year before the XBox sees the light of day in Europe, but I'm sure the Microsoft XBox team have been working non stop so far to ensure complete domination of the games industry. Except, they haven't quite convinced Japan, and that is a problem. You see, our very, very distant relatives in Japan don't take too kindly to imports, especially when it comes down to gaming. Microsoft is American, and I don't think Microsoft have endeared there box of tricks to the land, of Shenmue and, of the rising sun.

Let me firstly say that they WON'T dominate the market, there IS room for 3 games consoles (GC, PS2 and X), but there is no way on earth that Mr Gate's firm won't be aiming for the top, they'll want to take the crown away from whoever wears it come the beginning of 2002. Dreamcast hasn't been squashed by Playstation 2, games companies simpy can't be bothered with it - at retail, it is dead. Game Cube will have a good Christmas I'm sure, and the PS2 and PSone will probably be doing very well, although I don't think PS2 will rule at all - plenty of Nintendo fans out there, still probably playing Golden Eye - which is a very good idea.

Forget Game Boy Advance, for the moment. We don't need a 32bit hand held in a 128bit world - well we do, but for now just concentrate on machines that were actually designed to sit on the floor (or stand, growl or scream for that matter). The XBox. It will be the most advanced machine ever released, and it will be a sure fire hit because of the way in which Microsoft have gone, and will go about marketing the console:

Game Store assistants will have a special Microsoft chip implanted in their brains (maybe it'll make them audible) so that they only recommend the XBox despite the millions of PS owners...

The Coca-Cola advertisement at Christmas will be interrupted by special arrangement - courtesy of Microsoft, and the voice will change just before the words 'Holidays are coming, holidays are coming' (you know the one) replaced by a drone style voice 'XBox is coming' 'XBox is coming' and then we'll all be brainwashed by this obviously...

Every prime time television soap, commercial and news report will be sponsored by Microsoft, with semi commercials happening during every single TV with a robot dog shouting 'XBox'. Everything will turn X-shape - we'll be buying X-shape cars, TV's, mobiles, fast food and all sorts!

But seriously now (for a change), Microsoft could not only become the dominant force in the gaming industry, but they will convert loyal and dedicated PC owners over to the world of style and compact ability - XBox will reach out to you, ask you what you desire and it will happen as long as you buy one. Bill Gates is one of the most 'envied' and perhaps, somewhat 'resented' people in the world, simply because he is the most successful living being on our planet, but he will have the most powerful weapon up his sleeve, and it won't be the XBox.

$500million is what the company has pledged for the promotion and advertising campaigns alone for the XBox. This is a huge amount of money, when you think how much the Dreamcast cost to develop (the same amount) you'll understand!

The gaming industry is about to be set alight with new entries and intense competition - it'll be exciting for onlookers, but for those competing it'll be ugly, and possibly even fatal...

The final ingredient is Timing. When will they console launch? Will it be too early? Or, perhaps it’ll arrive too late? Could the market be in the hands of Sony and Nintendo in the mean time? Well, if they want to bring their console out after the Game Cube, then they can forget it. The XBox really needs to be released in time for this Christmas, preferably sooner. It won’t be and 2002 beckons…

Game Cube will be released first. Let's see what happens.


The console will not be a true console – welcome to the first true hybrid. They’re here, they’ll do well, and it'll be a very interesting time for the games industry!

I'm off to make some money - I need a GBA game to go with my GBA!

Somehow I don't think that Rareware themselves will be develloping for Nintendo's rivals.

Perhaps a brakeaway team like those who created Timesplitters but not Rareware themselves.

Microsoft themselves said that they will try to keep Bill gates as far away as possible from the marketing of the x-box. The guy is a complete and utter turnoff.

Too many people hate Microsoft because they are 'Microsoft'

They need to up their image to win gamers over

I'm not entirely sure why I'm half standing up for Microsoft.

The Xbox crashed at E3,juddered to high heaven and looked graphically identical to a standard pc,I wouldn't buy this thing for £20. I think PC owners are looking into it but just have a think, why is the xbox topic always at the bottom of the list here at SR.

It's just an unrealible PC in disguise with joystick support and TV output.


Nintendo have a sure winner on their hands.

Sony have found their feet with the PS2 and it's building it's nice selection of games.

Apple Imac's are better and more reliable, maybe they should make a console.

--------Unfair to who? They don't really have any rivals other than Nintendo and Sony.

Sorry I was talking about the computer industry

------Have you played any XBox games? If not, which is probably the answer you'd give, how on earth do you know that the gameply isn't right?

I have read dozens of views on games at e3. None said they were very innovative, not as fun or involving as any of the PS2 or GC games. My friend is a games journalist, he went to e3 and was not as impressed as he thought he would be by the X-box. He hated the controller but liked the games although he also said they were nothing special. He also saw Halo crash mid-play which wasn't too convincing.


------------Ever played any Microsoft own games? Age of Empires rocks!

I have got it but it's no where near as good as Command and Conquer in my opinion

I have nothing against
> Microsoft (Except they have globalised the industry, they are unfair
> to rival companies,

Unfair to who? They don't really have any rivals other than Nintendo and Sony. They already hold a monopoly. that;d be quite funny actually - if Microsoft released a virtual Monopoly game.

my windows ME has had to be fixed 3 times and
> the poor design of windows)

Considering the vast amount of ME owners, there haven't been too many complaints, but I empathise - I HATE it when new products go faulty.



"I
> want to see good games but Microsof haven't got it into their heads
> that it's gameplay that makes a game good and not the graphics."

Have you played any XBox games? If not, which is probably the answer you'd give, how on earth do you know that the gameply isn't right?

Ever played any Microsoft own games? Age of Empires rocks!

Firstly Microsoft have to listen to the public opinions. The controller is apparently like holding "two large sausages" and the buttons were awkwardly placed. So far what have Microsoft done to improve on this: Nothing.

I have nothing against Microsoft (Except they have globalised the industry, they are unfair to rival companies, my windows ME has had to be fixed 3 times and the poor design of windows). I want to play good games and if the X-box has the games then I will buy it but so far i'm not convinced. Even the Gamecube has not totally convinced me yet but I will definitely buy it because of the guaranteed quality of the games and the innovative hardware.

I want to see the Japanese smaller controller, from whats been said it's more comfortable to hold.

I want to see good games but Microsof haven't got it into their heads that it's gameplay that makes a game good and not the graphics. A report from a USA newspaper (printed on the IGN boards) stated that the guy demonstrating Mad Dash was more concerned about how many layers of textures were used and the number of polygons were being used. They also stated that not once did he talk about the gameplay, replay value, the physics or the 'fun aspect of the' game.

So far some of what we have heard about the X-box is lies. The amount of polygons that it stated that it can push across the screen is over 60 million(i'm not sure of the value) but in actual fact it can only just about push as much as the Gamecube. The theroretical value is without bump-mapping, AI, bit mapping and all other efects on. Nintendo have built in software into the Gamecube like special effects that means polygons don't need to be sacrificed in order to make way for these. Most of the X-box demos shown before e3 were technical demos that showed graphics/fmv that would not be achieved so they were portraying a false image about the technical abilities.

X-Box may be the future but developers are being drawn towards Nintendo and Sony after their strong showings at E3. After seeing a documentry about Microsoft it put me off the X-box so much. J Allard is a p***k. Most of the X-box's decisions were made over games of Robotron (now you know how the controller came out badly).

I will eventually buy an X-Box but a DVD player+ Ge Force 2+ large box does not make a good console, The games do.

Sorry about the bad SPAG and i'm not a fanboy of any console

"That's ok"

Yippee! Thanx. Another amazing game for my collection....thanks specialreserve!