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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!
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!
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Well, if Sega had made better use of their money, then the Dreamcast would still be rolling off the production line. However, in MY personal view I am glad that the DC has stopped production simply because I am now no longer restricted to buying a Sega console - the games are multi format soon and that's damn impressive!
Sega advertology:
Stone throwings: cinema/sky 1. Pointless.
Barber's competition/up to 6billion players. Pointless, but funny.
Sega Bass Fishing: Actually one of the best adverts from Sega - except for the most ridiculous voice. WHY OH WHY ALEXI SAYLE? Tut Tut. Sega Bass sold very well considering how boring it was. true to life as it were...very realistic.
Tomb Raider 4/Lara Croft: Who really wanted Tomb Raider? Essentially a PlayStation port this version looked out of place on the DC. Pointless. the game sold half as expected.
MSR: Ah yes, this was actually a good advert - in game footage, great voice acting and really nicely done. Shame no one watched it as it was on at non peak times.
Euro 2000. Have you ever seen anything so ridiculous? They made fun of the German's, French and Spanish, all in the attempt to promote online gaming. However they forgot to tell us about the game which was online. Probably for the best - ChuChu Rocket in game footage in an add? Hmmm
HMV's Dreamcast XMas add: Jet Set Radio, Shenmue and MSR all being advertised a lot - in one advert. Brilliant. NOt enough to save the Dreamcast.
That's about it.
Sega wasted their cash on Arsenal, St. Etienne, Deportivo and Sampdoria.
There you go.
Sega advertology:
Stone throwings: cinema/sky 1. Pointless.
Barber's competition/up to 6billion players. Pointless, but funny.
Sega Bass Fishing: Actually one of the best adverts from Sega - except for the most ridiculous voice. WHY OH WHY ALEXI SAYLE? Tut Tut. Sega Bass sold very well considering how boring it was. true to life as it were...very realistic.
Tomb Raider 4/Lara Croft: Who really wanted Tomb Raider? Essentially a PlayStation port this version looked out of place on the DC. Pointless. the game sold half as expected.
MSR: Ah yes, this was actually a good advert - in game footage, great voice acting and really nicely done. Shame no one watched it as it was on at non peak times.
Euro 2000. Have you ever seen anything so ridiculous? They made fun of the German's, French and Spanish, all in the attempt to promote online gaming. However they forgot to tell us about the game which was online. Probably for the best - ChuChu Rocket in game footage in an add? Hmmm
HMV's Dreamcast XMas add: Jet Set Radio, Shenmue and MSR all being advertised a lot - in one advert. Brilliant. NOt enough to save the Dreamcast.
That's about it.
Sega wasted their cash on Arsenal, St. Etienne, Deportivo and Sampdoria.
There you go.
I think that the Dreamcast failing is one of the best things to happen to gaming. Sega undoubtably make some of the best and most original games ever and now everyone will be able to enjoy their great games regardless of the console that they own. This can only be a good thing.
It's not that Sega didn't want to advertise, it's because they couldn't. After losing money 3 years in a row they just didnt have enough money to plaster dreamcast ads all day and night-unlike sony. Instead they relied on games-hoping that the games make the machine-well they should anyway, but it seems that this isn't the case anymore...shame really.
In my view, the Dreamcast is the king of the hill as you put it - in terms of shear quality and downright fun! Hand me two maracas, a dance mat and Sonic's most original game ever and I'm happy. Samba!
But Jd99 - I agree, I never use my keyboard, I rarely go online, the Dreamcast mouse was useless, apart from that it's fine. The PS2 is getting, a keyboard, mouse and t'net, you better watch your back, cos thats what you're gonna get.
Sorry about the rhyming - just say it in a 'Who's line is it anyway?' style hodown at the end :)
Dan
But Jd99 - I agree, I never use my keyboard, I rarely go online, the Dreamcast mouse was useless, apart from that it's fine. The PS2 is getting, a keyboard, mouse and t'net, you better watch your back, cos thats what you're gonna get.
Sorry about the rhyming - just say it in a 'Who's line is it anyway?' style hodown at the end :)
Dan
SLIGHTLY RELYING??? The whole reason for the PS2 being alive is because of the original. If consoles were bought due to the quality of its games then the DC would be the king of the hill. It seems that gamers these days are just biast, refusing to move away from Sony because it would be "uncool". Microsoft cant destroy the market, it would seem the markets already dead.
VenomByte wrote:
> It's almost as if Microsoft seem to think they can release a patch
> for it to fix all the bugs a couple months after it's released...
Ha they probably will. Along with this will come a barrage of half finished games, backed up by patches. This sort of thing will not be acceptable but is likely to happen as console gaming becomes intergrated to PC gaming. Ahhh well at least I've still got my Playstation, now there was a GAMES console. None of this keyboard, modem and hard drive rubbish. We were happy, we didn't ask or need this stuff. We played games and enjoyed the experience.
> It's almost as if Microsoft seem to think they can release a patch
> for it to fix all the bugs a couple months after it's released...
Ha they probably will. Along with this will come a barrage of half finished games, backed up by patches. This sort of thing will not be acceptable but is likely to happen as console gaming becomes intergrated to PC gaming. Ahhh well at least I've still got my Playstation, now there was a GAMES console. None of this keyboard, modem and hard drive rubbish. We were happy, we didn't ask or need this stuff. We played games and enjoyed the experience.
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