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"Ok, in todays general studies, we are going to look at a bit of history."
There were moans and grumbles from the class, most of them didnt want to be there in the first place, General Studies, what a waste of time!
"Im going to tell you a story that begins back in 1975. When Sony released a brand spanking new machine. Everyone was amazed by it, it did the unthinkable! What was it called? What did it do?
"It was called Betamax, and it recorded stuff off of the telly, onto tape. Big deal you may think, but remember, this is the mid-70's.
"A year passes and Sony have sold over 30,000 machines in the US alone. Then another machine comes along. Its made by JVC, its called a VHS recorder. It does the same thing as Betamax, almost.
"There were a few differences. The VHS had double the recording capacity of Betamax, 2 hours instead of 1. But that is the only advantage VHS held. Betamax was a vastly superior machine, it had some functions built in, that VHS did not include until the late 80's early 90's, automatic tuning and autmoatic program search being just two examples.
"The VHS machine began to outsell Betamax. In a big way. Why, you may ask, did VHS sell more if Betamax was a better machine? The answer lies in better marketing and the mass market opinion im afraid."
"What do you mean Sir?" Came a quiet question from the back.
"Well, I suppose an example from your generation would be the Playstation games console. When it was released, there was a machine out with equal power, the Amiga CD32, and one that was twice as powerful, the Atari Jaguar. Yet the PSX managed to outsell them both and still be around today, even though it wasnt the best quality option available at the time.
"Through mainly pleasing the mass market, instead of the relatively small proportion of "hardcore" gamers that were around at the time, as well as having a cunning marketing strategy, Sony managed to conquer the console market with their first attempt."
"Where are you taking this Sir?"
"Going back to the console analogy again, do you think the Dreamcast would have sold more if the mass market and the media didnt hype up the PS2 so much? Didnt you feel a bit of pressure from your mates to buy a PSX rather than an N64? It's decisions like these that we need to make ourselves, not have them decided by the mass market, who quite often, get it wrong. As is obviously the case with Betamax and VHS.
"All im trying to get across to you is that just because "your mate" says that something is the best, doesnt make it so. Again, just because something is the best-seller, it doesnt mean that it fits your requirements, everyone is different and we all want different things.
"Decide for yourselves, buy what you want to buy, dont feel pressured by adverts/your mates etc. At the end of the day its your money and you can spend it on what you want. You may all know someone, or have done it yourself, where you have bought something you werent too sure on, but due to peer pressure you bought it anyway. Only to find, after a while, you wished you'd spent your money on something else.
"The moral? Buy what you want. Dont always believe the hype, or the marketing. Be your own person."
There were moans and grumbles from the class, most of them didnt want to be there in the first place, General Studies, what a waste of time!
"Im going to tell you a story that begins back in 1975. When Sony released a brand spanking new machine. Everyone was amazed by it, it did the unthinkable! What was it called? What did it do?
"It was called Betamax, and it recorded stuff off of the telly, onto tape. Big deal you may think, but remember, this is the mid-70's.
"A year passes and Sony have sold over 30,000 machines in the US alone. Then another machine comes along. Its made by JVC, its called a VHS recorder. It does the same thing as Betamax, almost.
"There were a few differences. The VHS had double the recording capacity of Betamax, 2 hours instead of 1. But that is the only advantage VHS held. Betamax was a vastly superior machine, it had some functions built in, that VHS did not include until the late 80's early 90's, automatic tuning and autmoatic program search being just two examples.
"The VHS machine began to outsell Betamax. In a big way. Why, you may ask, did VHS sell more if Betamax was a better machine? The answer lies in better marketing and the mass market opinion im afraid."
"What do you mean Sir?" Came a quiet question from the back.
"Well, I suppose an example from your generation would be the Playstation games console. When it was released, there was a machine out with equal power, the Amiga CD32, and one that was twice as powerful, the Atari Jaguar. Yet the PSX managed to outsell them both and still be around today, even though it wasnt the best quality option available at the time.
"Through mainly pleasing the mass market, instead of the relatively small proportion of "hardcore" gamers that were around at the time, as well as having a cunning marketing strategy, Sony managed to conquer the console market with their first attempt."
"Where are you taking this Sir?"
"Going back to the console analogy again, do you think the Dreamcast would have sold more if the mass market and the media didnt hype up the PS2 so much? Didnt you feel a bit of pressure from your mates to buy a PSX rather than an N64? It's decisions like these that we need to make ourselves, not have them decided by the mass market, who quite often, get it wrong. As is obviously the case with Betamax and VHS.
"All im trying to get across to you is that just because "your mate" says that something is the best, doesnt make it so. Again, just because something is the best-seller, it doesnt mean that it fits your requirements, everyone is different and we all want different things.
"Decide for yourselves, buy what you want to buy, dont feel pressured by adverts/your mates etc. At the end of the day its your money and you can spend it on what you want. You may all know someone, or have done it yourself, where you have bought something you werent too sure on, but due to peer pressure you bought it anyway. Only to find, after a while, you wished you'd spent your money on something else.
"The moral? Buy what you want. Dont always believe the hype, or the marketing. Be your own person."
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Ha Ha Ha! In my dreams.
It's just I think Sniper has a very good chance of winning today, that's all, no slight was intended.
Mattyboy's Review? That was the one I was talking about...Anyhoo.
I wasn't insulting SNIPER, it is just that FM said something about being beaten by him that's all...
..The Game
I wasn't insulting SNIPER, it is just that FM said something about being beaten by him that's all...
..The Game
Where is Snipers Starfighter review? I cant find it anywhere.
I've just noticed that Ali used the name we created for him, in our stories, in his Starfighter review... :)
Its not an insult to be beaten by Snipe, he's a top bloke, i wish him all the best.
You didn't win Your Honour....or at least you won't...have you seen that Starfighter review?!?!?!
OUCH....that has a VERY good chance!
Anyhoo, I wish you the best...seeing as I am, to you, a well-wisher...in that I don't wish you any SPECIFIC harm....
The Game ... ^_^
PS: Is it the ultimate insult to be beaten by SNIPER in Gameaday then?!?!?!
No Offense Mate!
OUCH....that has a VERY good chance!
Anyhoo, I wish you the best...seeing as I am, to you, a well-wisher...in that I don't wish you any SPECIFIC harm....
The Game ... ^_^
PS: Is it the ultimate insult to be beaten by SNIPER in Gameaday then?!?!?!
No Offense Mate!
When do they announce the winner anyway, or have they already?
In that case you won't mind if Sniper wins today then....
It would be nice to win, but im not really that bothered. In the words of the bad guy from Rocky IV: "If he dies, he dies" or something.
I cant really afford to buy my games, being a poor student. But then i havent really got that much time to play them either.
I cant really afford to buy my games, being a poor student. But then i havent really got that much time to play them either.
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