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I am sure that all of us by now have read reports of bad Xbox sales, forums being overrun with negative slur's and many sites reporting on it.
This sets out a number of questions for you yourself to answer and wonder what is this really about?
Here is my take on all that has been going on in the past few weeks:
Anti Xbox or Anti Microsoft
=============================
When you are such a large company with so much control as Microsoft you will always find people willing to point out the down sides. The Windows Vs Linux arguments rampaged on and on for months and then everyone realised that although Linux was a nice Operating System, Windows just had to many positives to rule it out completely. A lot of people choose to have both Operating Systems and admit that Microsoft still has the most compatible interface available.
The fact that the Xbox displays the Microsoft logo is the only thing in my eyes that is causing all this Anti-Xbox propaganda we are experiencing. With the numerous sites covering negative commentary on the Xbox I am less then convinced of it being just general reporting but rather a farce. A farce that actual can succeed in destroying the Xbox. We all know that advertising is a powerful medium for getting people's attention to buy a product, but this also means that internet sites all covering these insane articles about the so called "Xbox Flop" isn't helping matters.
Xbox Power or Cower
=============================
The console itself most of us admit is the most powerful we have ever seen and now we are seeing the games that are tapping into the heart of the new world Microsoft promised all that time ago. Online gaming is now becoming a reality for console owners. Yes Sega initially had it's own version, but that was dial-up access and not the 100% broadband Xbox is offering. The built in Hard Drive for custom music for games, virtually unlimited game saves and the future option for developers to have add-ons (not patches) for games to add extra levels, characters and statistics.
These are what make this console in particular more exciting, but let's not forget that it is the most powerful console in the market today....
With the help of NVIDIA graphics and a lovely Intel Processor, we are finally experiencing what the PC world has been slowly building up to graphically.
The whole point of a console is the fact that every part (if done properly) can be optimised to make the most of the game features graphically, gameplay and music for creation. PC's although do have all these features and are getting more with new graphics cards entering the market every 6 months, the Xbox has the power to make the use of these features now. PC's have the problem of people playing catch up. Not everybody has the same configuration which causes many problems for programmers and PC users. The constant need for expensive upgrades, driver updates and the wish to build a very fast PC leaves most PC users behind the times in keeping up with technology. This leaves the game creators the task of trying to cater for everybody with resolution options, detail options, Direct X Vs OpenGL speeds and tweak guides for many games and indeed the Operating Systems on which they run. Consoles are static, never change making it ideal for the programming community to tap into every feature if they so wish to.
Xbox or PC?
=============================
Another Anti-Xbox argument is that it is basically a cut down PC. This may be true but why is this suggested? Is it because it uses PC components? Well maybe the other consoles then use something else? Doesn't the Sony Playstation 2 have a graphics chip? yes it does... doesn't the Sony Playstation 2 have a DVD ROM drive? Yes it does. In fact the PS2 goes further then the Xbox in the way of having USB ports for a mouse maybe and a keyboard! Does this make the PS2 A cut down PC also?
Conclusion
=============================
We all have a right to have an opinion and free speech is a good thing in a democratic country, but I personally feel that people are ganging up together to make the Xbox sound like a worthless pile of rubbish when in fact their is a loyal fan base including the visitors to my site and many other Xbox sites around the internet, a constantly growing and diverse games range with some impressive titles such as Halo, Dead or Alive 3, Quantum Redshift, Project Gotham Racing, Unreal Championship to name but a few. Remember developers are making Xbox versions of Serious Sam, maybe even Doom 3 and Unreal 2 for the Xbox. Is this a failing machine or a perfect platform for developers to make graphical splendour and gameplay a reality. Well that is for you to decide. What ever your decision remember this:
It is a console, it is the most powerful, it has only been out for a year, and people like me will always support something that has the potential to revolutionise the console world. You may dislike the Xbox with pleasure, but there is no need for constantly bashing the system to influence neutrals who are deciding which console to go for. Let them decide. Let them go to various stores to view each console and its games and decide for themselves, not have all these internet sites and people on forum's creating propaganda to influence their decision.
I love the Xbox, many people do, so let all the Xbox owners of this article unite and swear to follow the Xbox potential as I myself haven't been this excited since the very start of 3D graphics for the PC. That for one is worth something.
This sets out a number of questions for you yourself to answer and wonder what is this really about?
Here is my take on all that has been going on in the past few weeks:
Anti Xbox or Anti Microsoft
=============================
When you are such a large company with so much control as Microsoft you will always find people willing to point out the down sides. The Windows Vs Linux arguments rampaged on and on for months and then everyone realised that although Linux was a nice Operating System, Windows just had to many positives to rule it out completely. A lot of people choose to have both Operating Systems and admit that Microsoft still has the most compatible interface available.
The fact that the Xbox displays the Microsoft logo is the only thing in my eyes that is causing all this Anti-Xbox propaganda we are experiencing. With the numerous sites covering negative commentary on the Xbox I am less then convinced of it being just general reporting but rather a farce. A farce that actual can succeed in destroying the Xbox. We all know that advertising is a powerful medium for getting people's attention to buy a product, but this also means that internet sites all covering these insane articles about the so called "Xbox Flop" isn't helping matters.
Xbox Power or Cower
=============================
The console itself most of us admit is the most powerful we have ever seen and now we are seeing the games that are tapping into the heart of the new world Microsoft promised all that time ago. Online gaming is now becoming a reality for console owners. Yes Sega initially had it's own version, but that was dial-up access and not the 100% broadband Xbox is offering. The built in Hard Drive for custom music for games, virtually unlimited game saves and the future option for developers to have add-ons (not patches) for games to add extra levels, characters and statistics.
These are what make this console in particular more exciting, but let's not forget that it is the most powerful console in the market today....
With the help of NVIDIA graphics and a lovely Intel Processor, we are finally experiencing what the PC world has been slowly building up to graphically.
The whole point of a console is the fact that every part (if done properly) can be optimised to make the most of the game features graphically, gameplay and music for creation. PC's although do have all these features and are getting more with new graphics cards entering the market every 6 months, the Xbox has the power to make the use of these features now. PC's have the problem of people playing catch up. Not everybody has the same configuration which causes many problems for programmers and PC users. The constant need for expensive upgrades, driver updates and the wish to build a very fast PC leaves most PC users behind the times in keeping up with technology. This leaves the game creators the task of trying to cater for everybody with resolution options, detail options, Direct X Vs OpenGL speeds and tweak guides for many games and indeed the Operating Systems on which they run. Consoles are static, never change making it ideal for the programming community to tap into every feature if they so wish to.
Xbox or PC?
=============================
Another Anti-Xbox argument is that it is basically a cut down PC. This may be true but why is this suggested? Is it because it uses PC components? Well maybe the other consoles then use something else? Doesn't the Sony Playstation 2 have a graphics chip? yes it does... doesn't the Sony Playstation 2 have a DVD ROM drive? Yes it does. In fact the PS2 goes further then the Xbox in the way of having USB ports for a mouse maybe and a keyboard! Does this make the PS2 A cut down PC also?
Conclusion
=============================
We all have a right to have an opinion and free speech is a good thing in a democratic country, but I personally feel that people are ganging up together to make the Xbox sound like a worthless pile of rubbish when in fact their is a loyal fan base including the visitors to my site and many other Xbox sites around the internet, a constantly growing and diverse games range with some impressive titles such as Halo, Dead or Alive 3, Quantum Redshift, Project Gotham Racing, Unreal Championship to name but a few. Remember developers are making Xbox versions of Serious Sam, maybe even Doom 3 and Unreal 2 for the Xbox. Is this a failing machine or a perfect platform for developers to make graphical splendour and gameplay a reality. Well that is for you to decide. What ever your decision remember this:
It is a console, it is the most powerful, it has only been out for a year, and people like me will always support something that has the potential to revolutionise the console world. You may dislike the Xbox with pleasure, but there is no need for constantly bashing the system to influence neutrals who are deciding which console to go for. Let them decide. Let them go to various stores to view each console and its games and decide for themselves, not have all these internet sites and people on forum's creating propaganda to influence their decision.
I love the Xbox, many people do, so let all the Xbox owners of this article unite and swear to follow the Xbox potential as I myself haven't been this excited since the very start of 3D graphics for the PC. That for one is worth something.
Page:
------"Recording your own music to the HD is a lovely ides, but hardly any developers use it - and that's not surprising. After all, why pay a lot of money to licence songs, or get someone to compose a soundtrack, if people can stick their own tracks on and probably never listen to it? If you've spent a fortune on your soundtrack, you won't let people put something else on instead. So that's really more of a gimmick than a feature. "
Actually m8 a lot of games use this feature starting with games like Project Gotham Racing and following on with games like Deathrow, Dave Mirra, Aggressive Inline, and many more. It is nice to have your own music playing especially if you have written music yourself ;) As for the storage, my Xbox lives downstairs in the Living Room and has all my fav' CD's recorded on to it to save me swapping disks :)
-------"They've built a Widescreen option into the operating system. Great, but I've not seen a game yet that plays in Widescreen - even the 'killer app' Halo. "
I admit I was a little annoyed that Halo didn't support Widescreen, but more and more games are supporting this viewing format! Recent ones include Hitman 2, Quantum Reshift, Deathrow....
-------"There's also no question that Xbox is the most powerful system, yet the difference is not as great as MS would like us to believe. A 733MHz Pentium is probably only slightly more powerful in real terms than the custom gaming CPU's in the PS2 or GC."
Strictly looking at processor speeds you could say well there is not much difference, but for the Xbox the processor is more used for gameplay AI etc rather then graphical looks. Its the Graphics Chip you need to pay attention to on the Xbox and that is fully stocked ;)
-------"And the software side has been dire since launch, with few triple-A titles. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: MS may as well have launched Xbox this month or next, because the past 7 months have been stagnant - not far short of a complete waste, in my personal opinion."
I think myself people have been a bit harsh on the software after all with ports suffer only a few added graphical features and smoother frame rates. As for the Xbox Only games these are on the most part beautiful and brilliant. If you play Quantum Redshift, just look at the gorgeous bump mapping, the reflections, the rain as you race along moving up the camera with the wind speeds affecting it and all this at 60fps.
------"To be fair, even Gamecube could have done a lot better, but it has been helped immensely by its initially low price, and the fact that the Japanese are actually buying it."
Gamecube or should I say Nintendo have a reputation in Japan for great consoles so of course they also have an advantage over Microsoft as this is their first console. Xbox doesnt have the games in my opinion to compete as they cover more adult markets and PC like games, its other territories Im interested in like the US and UK and Xbox is doing very well there as the games are better suited.
-------"Another thing that has damaged the Xbox is the price drops. Dropping the price by £100 after just four weeks was the first mistake. Halving it in under a year raises all sorts of doubts. Sure, it gives gamers a better deal, but it also lets the worries creep in. Is it worth getting one? Will I get any value out of it? Will it be gone within a year? Are sales that slow? Will developers develop for a console with low sales?"
I understand you completely, it does make you think "what is going off here then", but look at the specs, look at the second generation of games starting to come through and maybe, just maybe I can convince you :)
Thanks for all your comments, I enjoyed the read :)
Actually m8 a lot of games use this feature starting with games like Project Gotham Racing and following on with games like Deathrow, Dave Mirra, Aggressive Inline, and many more. It is nice to have your own music playing especially if you have written music yourself ;) As for the storage, my Xbox lives downstairs in the Living Room and has all my fav' CD's recorded on to it to save me swapping disks :)
-------"They've built a Widescreen option into the operating system. Great, but I've not seen a game yet that plays in Widescreen - even the 'killer app' Halo. "
I admit I was a little annoyed that Halo didn't support Widescreen, but more and more games are supporting this viewing format! Recent ones include Hitman 2, Quantum Reshift, Deathrow....
-------"There's also no question that Xbox is the most powerful system, yet the difference is not as great as MS would like us to believe. A 733MHz Pentium is probably only slightly more powerful in real terms than the custom gaming CPU's in the PS2 or GC."
Strictly looking at processor speeds you could say well there is not much difference, but for the Xbox the processor is more used for gameplay AI etc rather then graphical looks. Its the Graphics Chip you need to pay attention to on the Xbox and that is fully stocked ;)
-------"And the software side has been dire since launch, with few triple-A titles. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: MS may as well have launched Xbox this month or next, because the past 7 months have been stagnant - not far short of a complete waste, in my personal opinion."
I think myself people have been a bit harsh on the software after all with ports suffer only a few added graphical features and smoother frame rates. As for the Xbox Only games these are on the most part beautiful and brilliant. If you play Quantum Redshift, just look at the gorgeous bump mapping, the reflections, the rain as you race along moving up the camera with the wind speeds affecting it and all this at 60fps.
------"To be fair, even Gamecube could have done a lot better, but it has been helped immensely by its initially low price, and the fact that the Japanese are actually buying it."
Gamecube or should I say Nintendo have a reputation in Japan for great consoles so of course they also have an advantage over Microsoft as this is their first console. Xbox doesnt have the games in my opinion to compete as they cover more adult markets and PC like games, its other territories Im interested in like the US and UK and Xbox is doing very well there as the games are better suited.
-------"Another thing that has damaged the Xbox is the price drops. Dropping the price by £100 after just four weeks was the first mistake. Halving it in under a year raises all sorts of doubts. Sure, it gives gamers a better deal, but it also lets the worries creep in. Is it worth getting one? Will I get any value out of it? Will it be gone within a year? Are sales that slow? Will developers develop for a console with low sales?"
I understand you completely, it does make you think "what is going off here then", but look at the specs, look at the second generation of games starting to come through and maybe, just maybe I can convince you :)
Thanks for all your comments, I enjoyed the read :)
Sooooo True!!
I had to make a decision in which console to get, Xbox or PS2. Guess what I chose? Xbox. Not like you PS2 owners who bought PS2 before Xbox came out. I PICKED Xbox over PS2. Now we got all of you jealous(Ya I said it) PS2 owners who try to put Xbox down because you made the wrong decision in which console to buy.
I know about 25 people who have an Xbox and I dont know one that regrets buying it. Many of my friends have both an Xbox and a PS2. Guess which one they like better? Xbox. My point is that half of you PS2 "fans" either haven't played Xbox, or you have played it and are just jealous(Ya I said it again)! So, for all I care, you can spread all the rumors you want, but the truth is, Xbox is more powerful, has better graphics, has a built-in harddrive, and is just a better overall system by far.
I had to make a decision in which console to get, Xbox or PS2. Guess what I chose? Xbox. Not like you PS2 owners who bought PS2 before Xbox came out. I PICKED Xbox over PS2. Now we got all of you jealous(Ya I said it) PS2 owners who try to put Xbox down because you made the wrong decision in which console to buy.
I know about 25 people who have an Xbox and I dont know one that regrets buying it. Many of my friends have both an Xbox and a PS2. Guess which one they like better? Xbox. My point is that half of you PS2 "fans" either haven't played Xbox, or you have played it and are just jealous(Ya I said it again)! So, for all I care, you can spread all the rumors you want, but the truth is, Xbox is more powerful, has better graphics, has a built-in harddrive, and is just a better overall system by far.
I don't like Microsoft and I don't like X-Box. What does the make me?
Excellent stuff.
Many regulars to the forums have me down as anti-Xbox, but I'm not. I dislike Microsoft, that's true - but I don't dislike the Xbox. I just feel that it is under-achieving badly.
MS promised great things, and in my eyes they haven't delivered. For all Microsoft's fanfares and claims, the machine simply hasn't taken off. It was already well behind PS2 because of the head-start Sony had, and with the sales figures quoted every so often on these forums and elsewhere, the gap is still growing.
It seems that the Japanese just do not want the thing, no matter what MS do or how much money they throw at it. The fact that they haven't broken the Japanese market won't mean the end of the console, but it will mean that they will never compete in terms of sales figures.
Xbox also has some very nice features which are hardly used by developers.
Recording your own music to the HD is a lovely ides, but hardly any developers use it - and that's not surprising. After all, why pay a lot of money to licence songs, or get someone to compose a soundtrack, if people can stick their own tracks on and probably never listen to it? If you've spent a fortune on your soundtrack, you won't let people put something else on instead. So that's really more of a gimmick than a feature.
They've built a Widescreen option into the operating system. Great, but I've not seen a game yet that plays in Widescreen - even the 'killer app' Halo.
There's also no question that Xbox is the most powerful system, yet the difference is not as great as MS would like us to believe. A 733MHz Pentium is probably only slightly more powerful in real terms than the custom gaming CPU's in the PS2 or GC.
And the software side has been dire since launch, with few triple-A titles. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: MS may as well have launched Xbox this month or next, because the past 7 months have been stagnant - not far short of a complete waste, in my personal opinion.
It's true that the established PS2 has also had a quiet summer, but the difference is that it already had a large back-catalogue of titles for people to choose from. A new system needs quality support immediately, not a summer gaming lull.
Even if you consider PS2's launch line-up inferior, the difference was that it was launched just prior to Xmas - a time when people would get games as gifts, and therefore ask others to buy them games they weren't too sure of.
To be fair, even Gamecube could have done a lot better, but it has been helped immensely by its initially low price, and the fact that the Japanese are actually buying it.
Another thing that has damaged the Xbox is the price drops. Dropping the price by £100 after just four weeks was the first mistake. Halving it in under a year raises all sorts of doubts. Sure, it gives gamers a better deal, but it also lets the worries creep in. Is it worth getting one? Will I get any value out of it? Will it be gone within a year? Are sales that slow? Will developers develop for a console with low sales?
The answer to this last question is invariably "no". They didn't for Dreamcast, and as far as Xbox is concerned, Konami - one of the largest and most well-known companies in the world - has already said no. No 'MGS:Substance' in Japan, because it's not worth it as Xbox sales are so low.
Why? MGS is popular the world over, and sales elsewhere would easily cover losses incurred on a Japanese Xbox version many times over. But still they say no.
They may be the only company to do this so far, and MGS:Substance may be the only game they do it with. But already the question is raised: is this a one-off, or will more follow? And now no Burnout 2 either?
Only now, as Xmas approaches, should they have even considered dropping the price - and then only to £199. To drop so far, so fast, shakes the confidence of the average buyer - as would appear to be proven by the still-struggling sales figures.
It's like waiting around until the end of the day at the local market - you can get some real bargains, because the stall-holders want to offload the unsold veg before it spoils.
It doesn't matter if fans of the machine don't agree with this outlook. The fact is that these questions are being asked more and more, as is evidenced by the growing amount of discussion about the topic on the web - the very point of this thread.
MS launched at the wrong time in my view. They made a big splash, but had little to follow it up with, and the competition has extended their lead further over the last seven months, despite the traditional summer games drought. Things would seem to be looking up for Xbox with the games due upto and over Xmas, but I still see Xbox at the top of a slippery slope; and if MS don't get their crampons stuck in over Xmas, they'd better watch out for the trees on the way down.
Many regulars to the forums have me down as anti-Xbox, but I'm not. I dislike Microsoft, that's true - but I don't dislike the Xbox. I just feel that it is under-achieving badly.
MS promised great things, and in my eyes they haven't delivered. For all Microsoft's fanfares and claims, the machine simply hasn't taken off. It was already well behind PS2 because of the head-start Sony had, and with the sales figures quoted every so often on these forums and elsewhere, the gap is still growing.
It seems that the Japanese just do not want the thing, no matter what MS do or how much money they throw at it. The fact that they haven't broken the Japanese market won't mean the end of the console, but it will mean that they will never compete in terms of sales figures.
Xbox also has some very nice features which are hardly used by developers.
Recording your own music to the HD is a lovely ides, but hardly any developers use it - and that's not surprising. After all, why pay a lot of money to licence songs, or get someone to compose a soundtrack, if people can stick their own tracks on and probably never listen to it? If you've spent a fortune on your soundtrack, you won't let people put something else on instead. So that's really more of a gimmick than a feature.
They've built a Widescreen option into the operating system. Great, but I've not seen a game yet that plays in Widescreen - even the 'killer app' Halo.
There's also no question that Xbox is the most powerful system, yet the difference is not as great as MS would like us to believe. A 733MHz Pentium is probably only slightly more powerful in real terms than the custom gaming CPU's in the PS2 or GC.
And the software side has been dire since launch, with few triple-A titles. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: MS may as well have launched Xbox this month or next, because the past 7 months have been stagnant - not far short of a complete waste, in my personal opinion.
It's true that the established PS2 has also had a quiet summer, but the difference is that it already had a large back-catalogue of titles for people to choose from. A new system needs quality support immediately, not a summer gaming lull.
Even if you consider PS2's launch line-up inferior, the difference was that it was launched just prior to Xmas - a time when people would get games as gifts, and therefore ask others to buy them games they weren't too sure of.
To be fair, even Gamecube could have done a lot better, but it has been helped immensely by its initially low price, and the fact that the Japanese are actually buying it.
Another thing that has damaged the Xbox is the price drops. Dropping the price by £100 after just four weeks was the first mistake. Halving it in under a year raises all sorts of doubts. Sure, it gives gamers a better deal, but it also lets the worries creep in. Is it worth getting one? Will I get any value out of it? Will it be gone within a year? Are sales that slow? Will developers develop for a console with low sales?
The answer to this last question is invariably "no". They didn't for Dreamcast, and as far as Xbox is concerned, Konami - one of the largest and most well-known companies in the world - has already said no. No 'MGS:Substance' in Japan, because it's not worth it as Xbox sales are so low.
Why? MGS is popular the world over, and sales elsewhere would easily cover losses incurred on a Japanese Xbox version many times over. But still they say no.
They may be the only company to do this so far, and MGS:Substance may be the only game they do it with. But already the question is raised: is this a one-off, or will more follow? And now no Burnout 2 either?
Only now, as Xmas approaches, should they have even considered dropping the price - and then only to £199. To drop so far, so fast, shakes the confidence of the average buyer - as would appear to be proven by the still-struggling sales figures.
It's like waiting around until the end of the day at the local market - you can get some real bargains, because the stall-holders want to offload the unsold veg before it spoils.
It doesn't matter if fans of the machine don't agree with this outlook. The fact is that these questions are being asked more and more, as is evidenced by the growing amount of discussion about the topic on the web - the very point of this thread.
MS launched at the wrong time in my view. They made a big splash, but had little to follow it up with, and the competition has extended their lead further over the last seven months, despite the traditional summer games drought. Things would seem to be looking up for Xbox with the games due upto and over Xmas, but I still see Xbox at the top of a slippery slope; and if MS don't get their crampons stuck in over Xmas, they'd better watch out for the trees on the way down.
I am sure that all of us by now have read reports of bad Xbox sales, forums being overrun with negative slur's and many sites reporting on it.
This sets out a number of questions for you yourself to answer and wonder what is this really about?
Here is my take on all that has been going on in the past few weeks:
Anti Xbox or Anti Microsoft
=============================
When you are such a large company with so much control as Microsoft you will always find people willing to point out the down sides. The Windows Vs Linux arguments rampaged on and on for months and then everyone realised that although Linux was a nice Operating System, Windows just had to many positives to rule it out completely. A lot of people choose to have both Operating Systems and admit that Microsoft still has the most compatible interface available.
The fact that the Xbox displays the Microsoft logo is the only thing in my eyes that is causing all this Anti-Xbox propaganda we are experiencing. With the numerous sites covering negative commentary on the Xbox I am less then convinced of it being just general reporting but rather a farce. A farce that actual can succeed in destroying the Xbox. We all know that advertising is a powerful medium for getting people's attention to buy a product, but this also means that internet sites all covering these insane articles about the so called "Xbox Flop" isn't helping matters.
Xbox Power or Cower
=============================
The console itself most of us admit is the most powerful we have ever seen and now we are seeing the games that are tapping into the heart of the new world Microsoft promised all that time ago. Online gaming is now becoming a reality for console owners. Yes Sega initially had it's own version, but that was dial-up access and not the 100% broadband Xbox is offering. The built in Hard Drive for custom music for games, virtually unlimited game saves and the future option for developers to have add-ons (not patches) for games to add extra levels, characters and statistics.
These are what make this console in particular more exciting, but let's not forget that it is the most powerful console in the market today....
With the help of NVIDIA graphics and a lovely Intel Processor, we are finally experiencing what the PC world has been slowly building up to graphically.
The whole point of a console is the fact that every part (if done properly) can be optimised to make the most of the game features graphically, gameplay and music for creation. PC's although do have all these features and are getting more with new graphics cards entering the market every 6 months, the Xbox has the power to make the use of these features now. PC's have the problem of people playing catch up. Not everybody has the same configuration which causes many problems for programmers and PC users. The constant need for expensive upgrades, driver updates and the wish to build a very fast PC leaves most PC users behind the times in keeping up with technology. This leaves the game creators the task of trying to cater for everybody with resolution options, detail options, Direct X Vs OpenGL speeds and tweak guides for many games and indeed the Operating Systems on which they run. Consoles are static, never change making it ideal for the programming community to tap into every feature if they so wish to.
Xbox or PC?
=============================
Another Anti-Xbox argument is that it is basically a cut down PC. This may be true but why is this suggested? Is it because it uses PC components? Well maybe the other consoles then use something else? Doesn't the Sony Playstation 2 have a graphics chip? yes it does... doesn't the Sony Playstation 2 have a DVD ROM drive? Yes it does. In fact the PS2 goes further then the Xbox in the way of having USB ports for a mouse maybe and a keyboard! Does this make the PS2 A cut down PC also?
Conclusion
=============================
We all have a right to have an opinion and free speech is a good thing in a democratic country, but I personally feel that people are ganging up together to make the Xbox sound like a worthless pile of rubbish when in fact their is a loyal fan base including the visitors to my site and many other Xbox sites around the internet, a constantly growing and diverse games range with some impressive titles such as Halo, Dead or Alive 3, Quantum Redshift, Project Gotham Racing, Unreal Championship to name but a few. Remember developers are making Xbox versions of Serious Sam, maybe even Doom 3 and Unreal 2 for the Xbox. Is this a failing machine or a perfect platform for developers to make graphical splendour and gameplay a reality. Well that is for you to decide. What ever your decision remember this:
It is a console, it is the most powerful, it has only been out for a year, and people like me will always support something that has the potential to revolutionise the console world. You may dislike the Xbox with pleasure, but there is no need for constantly bashing the system to influence neutrals who are deciding which console to go for. Let them decide. Let them go to various stores to view each console and its games and decide for themselves, not have all these internet sites and people on forum's creating propaganda to influence their decision.
I love the Xbox, many people do, so let all the Xbox owners of this article unite and swear to follow the Xbox potential as I myself haven't been this excited since the very start of 3D graphics for the PC. That for one is worth something.
This sets out a number of questions for you yourself to answer and wonder what is this really about?
Here is my take on all that has been going on in the past few weeks:
Anti Xbox or Anti Microsoft
=============================
When you are such a large company with so much control as Microsoft you will always find people willing to point out the down sides. The Windows Vs Linux arguments rampaged on and on for months and then everyone realised that although Linux was a nice Operating System, Windows just had to many positives to rule it out completely. A lot of people choose to have both Operating Systems and admit that Microsoft still has the most compatible interface available.
The fact that the Xbox displays the Microsoft logo is the only thing in my eyes that is causing all this Anti-Xbox propaganda we are experiencing. With the numerous sites covering negative commentary on the Xbox I am less then convinced of it being just general reporting but rather a farce. A farce that actual can succeed in destroying the Xbox. We all know that advertising is a powerful medium for getting people's attention to buy a product, but this also means that internet sites all covering these insane articles about the so called "Xbox Flop" isn't helping matters.
Xbox Power or Cower
=============================
The console itself most of us admit is the most powerful we have ever seen and now we are seeing the games that are tapping into the heart of the new world Microsoft promised all that time ago. Online gaming is now becoming a reality for console owners. Yes Sega initially had it's own version, but that was dial-up access and not the 100% broadband Xbox is offering. The built in Hard Drive for custom music for games, virtually unlimited game saves and the future option for developers to have add-ons (not patches) for games to add extra levels, characters and statistics.
These are what make this console in particular more exciting, but let's not forget that it is the most powerful console in the market today....
With the help of NVIDIA graphics and a lovely Intel Processor, we are finally experiencing what the PC world has been slowly building up to graphically.
The whole point of a console is the fact that every part (if done properly) can be optimised to make the most of the game features graphically, gameplay and music for creation. PC's although do have all these features and are getting more with new graphics cards entering the market every 6 months, the Xbox has the power to make the use of these features now. PC's have the problem of people playing catch up. Not everybody has the same configuration which causes many problems for programmers and PC users. The constant need for expensive upgrades, driver updates and the wish to build a very fast PC leaves most PC users behind the times in keeping up with technology. This leaves the game creators the task of trying to cater for everybody with resolution options, detail options, Direct X Vs OpenGL speeds and tweak guides for many games and indeed the Operating Systems on which they run. Consoles are static, never change making it ideal for the programming community to tap into every feature if they so wish to.
Xbox or PC?
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Another Anti-Xbox argument is that it is basically a cut down PC. This may be true but why is this suggested? Is it because it uses PC components? Well maybe the other consoles then use something else? Doesn't the Sony Playstation 2 have a graphics chip? yes it does... doesn't the Sony Playstation 2 have a DVD ROM drive? Yes it does. In fact the PS2 goes further then the Xbox in the way of having USB ports for a mouse maybe and a keyboard! Does this make the PS2 A cut down PC also?
Conclusion
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We all have a right to have an opinion and free speech is a good thing in a democratic country, but I personally feel that people are ganging up together to make the Xbox sound like a worthless pile of rubbish when in fact their is a loyal fan base including the visitors to my site and many other Xbox sites around the internet, a constantly growing and diverse games range with some impressive titles such as Halo, Dead or Alive 3, Quantum Redshift, Project Gotham Racing, Unreal Championship to name but a few. Remember developers are making Xbox versions of Serious Sam, maybe even Doom 3 and Unreal 2 for the Xbox. Is this a failing machine or a perfect platform for developers to make graphical splendour and gameplay a reality. Well that is for you to decide. What ever your decision remember this:
It is a console, it is the most powerful, it has only been out for a year, and people like me will always support something that has the potential to revolutionise the console world. You may dislike the Xbox with pleasure, but there is no need for constantly bashing the system to influence neutrals who are deciding which console to go for. Let them decide. Let them go to various stores to view each console and its games and decide for themselves, not have all these internet sites and people on forum's creating propaganda to influence their decision.
I love the Xbox, many people do, so let all the Xbox owners of this article unite and swear to follow the Xbox potential as I myself haven't been this excited since the very start of 3D graphics for the PC. That for one is worth something.
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