DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

Have a look here at one of Microsofts X-Box Live pages about using broadband

LOL

Geezer

I suppose Microsoft have to try something, as they have been fairly and squarely beaten by Sony in the console war.

Geezer

Miles

Have they ? Discuss.

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

PMSL - Since when ?! What planet are you from ? Planet Bullsh1t ?

DominicA

on units sold i would think Sony have completely slaughtered Microsoft..

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

Given that Sony released their console nearly a year before Microsoft I would think so too.

GaryK

http://www.infosatellite.com/news/20...311002ps2.html Says it all, mind you Billys money will probably sort it out eventually. They are getting trounced in Japan though, PS2 units: 10.9million, Gamecube units: 1.57 million, XBox units:247,000!!!

Gary

P1Fanatic

I would agree. X box may be the better console but the PS2 seems to be owned by more people.

swiss scooby

Of course, PS2 sales cannot be reached by the Xbox anymore. It's now down to the 2nd place for the current console generation (Gamecube/Xbox). The next generation will be more interesting with PS3 vs. Xbox2. Microsoft should now focus on getting a big fan/user base and on their 'Xbox-Live'. This will help them for the next console war. In the future, I see Sony and Microsoft next to eachother. Unfortunately Nintendo need to take a step back. I really don't think that we will see Sega (and maybe Nintendo?) in the future of Hardware sales (except for Sega's arcade machines). Just my opinion.

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

Lies, damn lies & statistics

IMO X-Box is the better console. Period.

Anyway, back to the original subject, they have a point

snowcrash

you can get a lan adaptor for PS2 too

P1Fanatic

DJ Dunk - we werent arguing if it was better or not - the answer to that is obviously in the Xbox's favour. Sony have sold far more units than MS (even over the same time scales) which means they are winning the battle - once they have the console in ur home u buy their games, its that simple. Hats off to them doing it with an inferior box. Of course they already had a hug fan base from the PSX so MS would always struggle. I think even MS admit they havent sold as many units as they wanted.

I think they made a wrong move making the Xbox a more adult orientated console and under-estimated the buying power of the under 18's. The PS2 apppeals more to the family man with its wide range of games. The fact the Xbox costs a hell of lot more to make hasnt helped MS. IIRC they lose around $105 per unit sold compared to Sony who lose around $15.

The biggest selling game of all time GTA:Vice City is on the PS2 (and only PC in 2003 AFAIK). These sorts of deals with software vendors helps keep sony at the top.

Simon.

P.S. Interesting fact of the day - GTA:Vice City was designed by Rockstar North - the Scottish daughter company of Rockstar Games in the US. Wow Jocks are useful for something

[Edited by P1Fanatic - 11/26/2002 7:54:54 PM]

DazV

PS2 has such a head start and ready installed user base that XBOX was never, ever going to topple Sony - in this round of the console wars.

More interesting is what will happen with PS3 and XBOX2. By then, I'd imagine Nintendo will have pulled out of hardware, leaving MS and Sony to compete directly. My money will be on Microsoft learning from their mistakes and making one helluva machine to compete with Sony.

I can only be good for the consumer. I just hope MS persuade all my favourite developers next time!

dsmith

Winning is about sales not techincal superiority - ask a BetaMax owner or a Token-Ring LAN manufacturer. You're probably using Windows after all - so another example

The killer stroke for PS2 was the existing back catalogue of PS1 games so cheap.

Whilst your 20-30 single male is a large market your family would I magine be even larger. the ability to go and buy a handful of colourful basic games to keep very young kids happy is just not there with XBox.

Deano

dsmith

And BB is a small market still in the UK - lots of people dont have ADSL/Cable and a home LAN setup.(the wierdos ) so hardly a master stroke of marketing.

Deano

Miles

We quote statistics from Japan, but has anyone seen the stats from the US, that would be interesting. Perhaps even more of a representative sample would be Europe as we here don't have perhaps the national loyalty to "our" console.

Personally, I think the Xbox is catching on and doing well. Was in GAME about a six weeks ago and was well surprised at the number of games on the shelf for the Xbox. Actually, when I was in Houston about a month ago, I popped into Fry's Electronics to pick up a couple of the small, "S", Xbox controllers and they gave the Xbox and PS2 equal shelf space in the store.

WRXBOB

The "better" box doesnt always succeed!

Anyone old enough to remember the VHS v Betamax battle?

Apparently the Betamax WAS the better video... but more people had (and wanted) the VHS soit won in the end

IMHO the X-Box is excellent but the PS2 is more popular

Bob

GaryK

god my parents had a betamax, one of those clunky ones with an eject button where it popup thru the top!

I remember reading the main reason for VHS winning the war was the porno industry started doing VHS films and people were buying machines for just that!

Hmmmm Billy brings us interactive debbie does dallas for the XBox

Gary

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

So we are agreed X-Box is the better console but PS2 has sold more

PS. Was playing LOTR:The Two Towers last night on PS2 and its superb

[Edited by DJ Dunk - 11/27/2002 9:24:52 AM]

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

This gets better! Microsoft have now removed their PS2 comment !

Geezer

Sorry, I didn't make it clear, I was not saying that the PS2 is any better. Sony did have a years start, but since Xbox was released, PS2 has outsold it by a huge margin.

Microsoft aren't in this for technical accolade, or to cheer you chappies up by giving you a great gaming experience, they want your money. On that basis, I reiterate - they have been fairly and squarely beaten by Sony.

Geezer

swiss scooby

I guess it's up to the next console generation (Xbox2/PS3). The current one is already clear for Xbox, PS2 wins by far in sales figures. I will be really surprised if Nintendo would even bring out any console for the next generation. My guess is, that Nindendo will go the same way as Sega did (sounds really sad, I know). It will be up to Microsoft and Sony, and to have a win/win situation as a customer I will be getting both consoles (PS3/Xbox2)!! Who would have thought about this 8 years ago, that companies like Sony and Microsoft will be running the gaming industry. Gone are the good old days of only having Sega/Nintendo as competitors.

Ducati 996

I'd guess the XBOX2 will be along quicker, and probably be quicker off the blocks, simply because it's a Win2K kernel, and effectively the next generation of PC architecture and games developed for the PC will be easily ported over to this platform. I'd guess Sony may well wait and see what MS do.... and then spring back with the PS3 and probably kick MS **** again.

I really doubt that MS will ever get into the realms of competing with Sony, they've had this marked sewn up for around 5-6 years, and in console years, that's a bloody long time.

CraigH

Yeah but Sega and Nintendo had the Market sewn up for longer than that and look at them now......

Geezer

I think one of the main problems for Microsoft (and indeed all the others) is image. Most people think of Microsoft as the writers of Windows and a few other pieces of software. Sony on the other hand, are an electronics giant who make all sorts of quality goods that the general public are already used to. That is a hard notion to beat, and why I think that Sony will always beat them.

Geezer