The Xbox 360’s holiday makeover
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| Xbox 360 gets an image makeover to compete with the Wii. Image: Microsoft |
By Yi-Wyn Yen
The Xbox 360 is getting a major software update designed to transform it into a multimedia machine.
Starting Wednesday, all Xbox 360 owners will be required to update their gaming consoles so that they can watch movies in high-definition, stream TV shows and movies from Netflix (NFLX) and navigate categories like games, photos, and videos through a simplified dashboard populated with cutesy avatars.
Microsoft (MSFT) is counting on the Xbox makeover to not only drive console sales during a grim holiday-spending season but to broaden its appeal to casual gamers. In a statement, Microsoft hailed the move as “a new dawn in home entertainment,” going so far as to compare the Xbox Experience to the dawn of color television.
The company has been trying for years to brand the Xbox as the digital entertainment hub for the living room. Microsoft executive Shane Kim bragged that through the improved Xbox, the company is “building the world’s largest social and entertainment network” that connects to televisions. The Xbox is now referred to as the “New Xbox Experience.”
Some analysts argue that a recent price cut, not the Xbox Experience, is the console’s major appeal. Microsoft reduced its entry-level Xbox by $80 in early September to $199 and saw U.S. sales rise 33% in October, according to market researcher NPD. The Xbox Experience “is a marginal improvement,” said Todd Greenwald, a senior gaming analyst with Signal Hill. “I think if people are at Target and see an Xbox on a store shelf, they may see the Xbox Experience as a nice feature, but the price point is a much bigger driver.”
Both Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation 3 (SNE) are trying to make inroads to compete with Nintendo’s top-selling Wii. In October, Microsoft sold 391,000 Xboxes in the U.S. while Sony sold 190,000 PS3s. But Nintendo (NTDOY) outsold both gaming consoles by moving 803,000 Wiis, according to NPD.
Xbox Experience, which will offer more than 12,000 movie titles to rent from MGM, Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., is part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to appeal beyond the hardcore gamer market.
Sony is also taking the multimedia approach. The PS3, which lets consumers play Blu-ray discs, is currently building a sophisticated virtual reality world called Home to make gaming a more social experience. Said Susan Panico, senior director of the PlayStation Network, “Our goal from Day 1 is to be an entertainment network. It’s about original programming and videos, and now we’ll bring Home to the PlayStation network.”
Greenwald says new software features Xbox and PS3 aren’t enough to take down the Wii. “I don’t think the Wii is successful because of the Mii avatars. With the Wii, you just pick up a motion-controlled wand and play. You don’t have to learn a controller and all its functions,” Greenwald said.
Microsoft’s Kim says it’s not trying to out-Wii the Wii, but noted the 360 can compete with Nintendo on price. The low-end version of the Xbox is $50 cheaper than the Wii, a point that Kim stresses. “We feel great about having the lowest price for a console, and that will be a big advantage for the holiday season,” he said. “When consumers are looking to buy a console for their kid this holiday, they will see that we’re at $200. Hey, $200 is $200.”
Xbox 360 is the greatest. I love my xbox 360. It has the best classic games, Halo(1,2,3) , Gears 1 and 2, BIOSHOCK. It gets games and new conent(maps, updates thru xbox live) before PS3. Xbox live is greath, for $50 a year. The only thing PS3 has over xbox is the blue ray player. If the Xbox had a blue ray player on it, PS3 would be out of business or if PS3 did not have a blue ray player it would be out of business. Xbox 360 is for true video gamers.
My wife and I are both very casual console gamers (I’m a devoted PC gamer though), so the wii works well for us. My good friends all have 360’s, and they seem to be fine. Several of my coworkers have PS3’s, and they all like them. Like someone said below, pick your console based on what games you want to play.
Also, someone mentioned that small, high capacity audio players (ipod) have replaced compact disks. I agree, but you still can’t beat the sound quality of a CD. My car’s sound system allows me to play either (who’s doesn’t these days), and I can EASILY tell the difference between an original mastered CD and its legal (or illegal) downloaded MP3 equivalent.
I have a Xbox 360 and I like it, but as a candid observer, I can tell you exactly why the Wii is doing so well.
The Wii is a very novel concept with the motion wand and Sport/Fit packs that can appeal to all sorts of demographics. It is through that one little difference that a true gamer such as myself finds interest in the Wii. My wife, who when it comes to gaming systems is illiterate wants the Wii for those purposes. One Xbox and Playstation do the same with their controllers, as well as release some family friendly games (as well as their best sellers) the Wii’s sales will taper off.
There is also a number, though I am not sure of that number, of retirement homes that are purchasing the Wii for its residents who also love the Sport and Fit packages.
Both Xbox and Playstation can release these family friendly games, they just choose not to, it is not nearly as profitable as the Halo’s or God of War games each platform releases. They both will fight to over take Wii, but it will most likely be a futile attempt until the next generation, when Nintendos sucess will be duplicated by the others
The new XBOX360’s do not have the same issues as the first generation models did. Microsoft spent $3 billion to fix the problems and the new ones are not like the older models as they use a more efficient processor that does not generate as much heat. As for the ones that got stuck in a the refurbish game I think this is a bad move by Microsoft and they should have made some execptions for those that had to keep sending theirs back. I have played both consoles and the Xbox is tops, but the PS3 is nice. I am looking forward to getting my xbox here soon.
GOD I DON’T KNOW WHAT PLANET YOU GUYS ARE ON, PS3 HAS THE BETTER CONTROLLER (COMPARED TO XBOX360′S BIG CLUNKER), ALSO PSN NETWORK IS EASIER AND FREE, AND IF YOU THINK ANYTHING DIFFERENT, ASK THE 50,000 ONLINE PLAYERS WHO PAY SOCOM ON A DAILY BASIS, FOR EAST TO WEST (NOT TO MENTION INTERNATIONAL). THAT SINGLE GAME HAS MORE PLAYERS ON IT AT ANY GIVEN TIME THEN ANY XBOX GAME (INCLUDING HALO), TOP OF THE YEAR PS3 HAS A BETTER LIST OF GAMES COMING OUT (LIKE THE EXCLUSIVE NEW TEKEN AND MAX PAIN JUST TO NAME A FEW) PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT PS3 ARE THOSE WHO HAVE ONLY IN THE PAST PLAYED ON XBOX, PUBLISHERS HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROCESSOR IN THE PS3, BUT ONCE THEY DO, XBOX LOOK OUT!!!
I have played all three systems and like the PS3 the best. So that is what I have now. The Blu-Ray, video chatting and the games (mostly shared titles with the XBox) make it worth while. And it does have a motion controller. Not exactly like the Wii, but you can use it on driving games, also to bowl, ski, skydive etc.
The Wii was the biggest waste of money for me. It feels too much like a child based system. I loved my 360… All 7 of them!! Since they all were sent back to get fixed and proceeded to send me refurbished ones that broke soon after I became disenchanted with Microsoft and it’s poor customer service and my 360 (I had to pay shipping charges twice without them sending me a box or RA tag). So I bought a PS3. Although I had a better experience game wise and online play was the best I am satisfied with my PS3. After all I had my PS2 since day one without it breaking on me and till this day it still works. Now that’s reliability!
Wii a fad? What planet do you come from? Do you even own a Wii? Until XBox or PS3 comes with a motion controller, Nintendo has nothing to worry about.
Our Wii has provided interactive entertainment for the whole family. It has been one of the best purchases that I have made.
These companies would do themselves a favor by keeping consoles under $300, lowering the cost of games under $50.00 and stop trying to get extremely high profit margins on peripherals.
Each system has its benefits and drawbacks.
Wii – Fun and easy to pick up. Great system for family games. The WiiMote control scheme allows for some interesting gameplay mechanics that can not be mimiced on other systems.
The downside is the graphics/sound are not in the ball park when compared to the PS3/Xbox360. Outside Nintendo’s first party titles, there is not many “must have” games to purchase. It is also limited in its media capabilities which also hurt it.
PS3 – Blu-Ray drive, great graphics/sound and some user mods like upgrading the hard drive are great additions. The free online play is nice but is nowhere near Xbox Live’s functionality.
The downside to the PS3 is cost and rather limited console exclusives. If it was not for Little Big Planet, I would not even consider purchasing one.
Xbox 360 – Xbox Live, best controller, great graphics/sound, and some of the best console exclusives. If you are a gamer, you should be concerned about the games the most. Right now, the Xbox is the system with the best games. With its tight integration into Live, it is even better. It is also the cheapest at $199. (I recommend the Pro for $299 though). Plus, the New Experience adds Netflix and a cleaner interface.
The biggest downside I see for the Xbox is faulty units and lack of blu-ray support. I don’t believe blu-ray has a big need for gaming currently and has kept the price down but it is one area that the PS3 kills the Xbox. With the inclusion of Netflix HD streaming, that might be less of an issue going forward.
So in closing, if you are looking for a console for a family of casual gamers, I suggest you get a Wii. If you are looking for a great media centered system then I recommend the PS3. If you are looking for more of a gamers system, you can’t go wrong with the Xbox.
Look I own all 3 consoles and ppl complaining about $39 or $49 a year (depending on whether u buy from amazon or M$) is just stupid.
First PSN is not that great, second it’s $50 a year. Most people spend more then that for a weekend. $4 a month is nothing and you get far more out of xbox live than you do PSN.
Finally graphics wise PS3 is only marginally better for the price. If I didn’t get mine for free with my TV I wouldn’t have got one (the store was out of BD players so I asked them to sub it with a PS3 which was the same price at the time).
The wii dominates both these consoles and will continue to. Those hoping for a PS3 come back a dreaming. New consoles will be coming about in about a year, there is no way the PS3 will be able to top either the wii or 360.
Wii is not in the same market really as PS3 and X360. It’s going after an entirely different segment of the market – kids, women, and people who are more interested in casual gaming. That’s a big market – and they have the sales to prove it.
PS3 & X360 on the other hand – are exactly what MS and Sony contend – entertainment hubs for the living room. Their power and functionality blow anything that Nintendo has to offer out of the water.
Nintendo is competing circa 1996 whereas MS and Sony are anticipating your needs 5 years from now.
Nothing the Wii offers isnt something that can’t be easily replicated in either of the competitors. And what will nintendo do once PS3 and 360 offer motion controllers a la the Wii mote? Rely upon its existing user base and huge catalog of games… oh wait…
Some one else said it best – game consoles rely on content to generate sales – and the Wii is woefully lacking in non-nintendo produced content.
The problem with the Blu-ray argument…to enjoy it fully you need a 1080p TV over 32″ in size to “see” the difference. Even if some people see the subtle differences, when faced with the cost of the hardware setup and the price of those discs vs. regular DVDs or watching a HD movie in demand…it’s a no brainer to the vast majority of the public who aren’t videophiles. When I was 22 and had money to burn, sure…why wouldn’t I want the best setup for each pixel to hit my eyes. Now 32, married, a child and a mortgage? I’ll take on demand, low cost and “looks pretty good” for my taste and budget.
The Xbox wants to streamline the media experience into the one box for everything approach. It’s not perfect, but it’s going in the direction of the future. I can’t wait to see Sony’s Home network by the way…coming in 2085 at this point….
Updates to the software are all well and good, but in my experience (ower of an Xbox and now Xbox 360) Microsoft demonstrates a lack of understanding relating to hardware requirements and specifications, resulting in units that freeze up and die, then require repairs. If you’re unfamiliar with the Xbox/360 hardware issues, google “xbox 360 red flasing lights” and see what kind of issues consumers are dealing with. How many people are willing to gamble with their media by pinning the use on a shoddy product? Would you want to send your dvd player, music collection & stereo, gaming console and photo collection out for 6 weeks for repairs. How would you feel if, after 6 weeks, you got the system back and realized that all your saved info was gone?
I have a XBOX, and I use Windows Home Server for storage. I converted all my media to electronic and now I stream my music and movies wirelessly to the XBOX. I only use my BLU-Ray when I rent a movie from a brick&mortar.
PS3 is too expensive. Wii intrigues me but I don’t want to spend money on something that will be a fad.
There you go that my opinion
Wow, some serious dis-information running rampant on theses comments. Here are facts.
1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION XBOX LIVE = $49.99
($39 on Amazon for card- free shipping)
WIRELESS 360 CONTROLLER = $49.99
($39 on Amazon – Free shipping))
360 WIRELESS NET ADAPTER = $99.99
($82.96 on Amazon – Free shipping)
To the guy claiming to have spent $1200 for Xbox and accessories; you are either stupid or a Sony Fanboy. (I’m guessing both)
With Wii sales surging, it’s about time for Microsoft (or a 3rd prty developer) to go wee-wee on the Wii and offer one of those silly motion-sensing controllers.
This move will simply appeal to current Xbox 360 users. I highly doubt it will cause any dents into Nintendo’s already dominant position. Having said that, I’ll enjoy the more streamlined interface.
I think the real issue with the xbox 360 is quality control. They may have fixed the issues with the console and the dreaded red rings of death but the early adopters are still reeling as they have been placed in a vicious cycle of sending in faulty refurbished units in for repair time and again.
Sorry i’m a bit biased as I’m in the process of sending my 3rd console in for repairs. I have always recieved a refurbished model rather than a repaired console which is never a good sign.
All of you are waaaaay prematurely calling the time of death for blu-ray. Digital downloads in real HD? Maybe some day. But not any time soon. Here’s why:
1) Take a look at ISPs across the nation, they are moving to bandwidth caps. Know that that means? Means you won’t be downloading many HD Lite movies, legal or otherwise.
2) The content available on OnDemand services is not real HD – it’s HD Lite. There’s more to an HD signal than just resolution – there’s also bitrate and compression. No one beats blu ray, no one. Look up the technical specs. You can only do so much with an image that is missing huge chunks of data.
3) even without ISP caps on downloading, most people do not have the internet connection available to support downloading. Your mom’s 1.5 Mbps DSL line ain’t gonna cut it. Nor is your brother in law’s “fast” 7 Mbps. I have a 25 Mbps connection – and its not really even viable on that.
Pound for pound – blu ray delivers the best, easiest, and most cost effective HD movie experience.
Do not confuse slow adoption of blu ray with a rejection of it, or an endorsement of a digital download future.
I’ve had all three consoles for quite some time. First, I’d like to point out that the Xbox can already play HD movies, all they are really doing now is adding more via Netflix.
As to which one we like the most, I’d say the PS3 wins right now. The Wii can be a blast, but in reality there aren’t that many really good games for it.
The Xbox has great games, but too many are of the type I don’t want my kids playing. Plus it is very loud, runs hot, and I am always worried I’ll get a Red Ring Of Death if I leave it running too long. Also, though the Xbox plays standard DVD’s, it’s not built as well as the PS3 in terms of being used as a primary DVD player, that’s just a fact. And quite frankly, we do like blu-ray movies, we stopped buying standard some time ago. Places like Amazon often have great deals on them.
The PS3 is what we play the most right now, especially since Little Big Planet came out. Great game. The quality of it is right up there with Nintendo’s best.
Both the Xbox and PS3 make great entertainment hubs. I stream music and video from my network to both all the time. My main PC has Vista Ultimate 64 bit running, with tuner cards, so I can watch cable via either device. But the PS3 is quieter and though it too runs warm, it’s not as loud or hot as the Xbox, so I tend to use it more.
Oh, as to controllers, somebody posted they cost $60, the guy obviously doesn’t know where to shop. I got my 360 controllers for under $40 each via buy.com, and just got a Japanese Silver PS3 Dualshock controller for under $50 (the white is even cheaper) via Amazon. If you know where to shop, you can get the accessories a lot cheaper than retail stores.
The bottom line is, decide what games you want to play, then buy a console. Don’t just go based on the console, they all have great games, and the games aren’t always the same, so consider that first.
I’m not too sure the company that owns the rights to BlueRay will let Microsoft just simply “add it to the XBOX”…
We haven’t bought a new system yet. We are still using a Gamecube. I decided to take a wait-and-see approach before purchasing as I’m tired of buying something just to have it become obsolete in two years!
As someone who is about to make a purchase, here’s what I have decided:
I don’t care about Blue Ray. While I prefer physical medium to streaming, I don’t think Blue Ray discs are worth the extra money over regular DVD’s. Yes, I have a 65″ HDTV. While I can see the difference between standard and high def DVD’s, the extra money is not worth it for the extra detail. So, that’s a hit for the PS3.
My co-workers that own the PS3 say it is a good system, but they are very disappointed with the game selection. I don’t like the price for the console or the games.
Having looked at the games that have come out over the last two years, I think the games for the XBOX are way too violent. All the games are basically the same with each new title seeing if they can out-frag and out-detail the killing from the previous one. Games used to be about fun.
Microsoft is all about getting you to pay over and over again for the same stuff. This rules out the Xbox 360 for me. I’m tired of paying monthly fees to do everything. At least when I buy a game or DVD, I pay for it once and can play or watch it again without having to pay for it all over again. (Ever lose your job? No money coming in means no money to pay these monthly fees.)
So, we are left with the Wii. I’ve never really tried the wand that people are talking about. But, I have always like the Nintendo line of products. The games have always been more family friendly and more fun (IMHO). I still think the price is too high for the games, but I do like the wide selection.
I think it will be the Wii for us, if we decide to buy a new console this holiday season.
Happy holidays.
I totally agree that the Wii is a fad. I can see it going the way of the Furby and Tickle Me Elmo (not a bad thing I guess) with a little more long term staying power, but not much.
Also, the PS3 is completely dominating the XBox in Europe, not sure exactly why though.
Blu-Ray will be catching on slowly as 1080pi TVs become almost standard in homes – they are already becoming extremely cheap compared to what they used to be. When the TVs and Blu-Ray equipment come down in price and become more common (just like when the CD was introduced) consoles with extended capability will be in high demand. XBox played it right and is waiting for the NexGen Xbox to introduce HD/Blu-Ray capabilities when it is more economical to do so.
I own all the systems.
IMO The PS3 is the best console with the best controllers.
The PS3 offers FREE online game play. (this is a big deal to me)
Warhawk is an awesome game!
One nod for the XBox 360 is that it plays most of the old games such as Ghost Recon 2 (the xbox version of this game is my fav) and GTA. It also has Halo and a huge selection of games.
The Wii is great and easy for kids but it rarely gets used.
We use the ps3 every night and it’s Blue Ray player once a week for a family movie night.
Truly the Xbox 360 is the console to have this Christmas. The new Xbox Experience and not only will it bring NetFlix movie libary to your family room, but soon will add massive online family games to your family room. Also it needs to be said the Wii although it has sold incredibly has a horrible selection of good quality games. The last quality game that takes advantage of the motion controls released in August of 2007 (That is not a typo 2007 is correct.). The Wii has not lived up to its billing. Even Nintendo has had a hard time creating fun good content that uses the motion controls to make the experience easier and more fun.
One more thing…
People in this post are right. The future is not in a disk. 16 GB Digital music players the size of a box of Orbit gum that can hold thousands of songs have done in the Compact Disk.
Eventually you will not buy a DVD but simply access a movie file you have downloaded through a blazing FiOS-like connection onto some sort of multi Terabyte HDD hooked up to your digital/Internet capable LCD TV.
I’ll miss the album art and liner notes but I won’t miss the excess packaging (non-green), the shipping (non-green) and the all the space owning hundreds of CDs and DVDs take up in home or apartment. I’d have to imagine the margins on selling a file are a wee (no pun) bit higher than the cost of producing, packaging and shipping the same material in a tangible format.
Yah this prediction is a no brainer.
Have to disagree with maddawg, xbox live subscription does not cost $99 a year, its $50. in fact you can buy a card from a major jungle retailer for even less than that. Came out to 3 bucks a month for me, which is great.
My favorite console last generation was the PS2 and I had all 3. The Gamecube was fun with 3 other people for small party games. Now with this generation my favorite console is the Xbox 360. Better games than ps3, great graphics, plus Xbox Live service is great. Even when my real friends aren’t online or they don’t have a game I have, I can meet new people and never play alone. Now I don’t have to wait until game night. The Wii is still fun, for parties and for the kids and old folks.
I wanted the PS3 to be better but with exclusive games like Gears of War 2, Left 4 Dead I have to declare Xbox 360 the winner this generation (in terms of best overall console)
and whoever made the comment about Cover Flow, Apple bought the company that made it, just like Microsoft bought Word.
I’m a PC gamer but I like some of the offerings on both the Xbox and the PS3. My wife, however, wouldn’t so much at look at an Xbox or PS3. She wants a Wii. Not only is the pricepoint right, it’s an ACTIVITY we can do together during the long, cold New England winter. She is very interested int eh Wii fit. If I want my hardcore gaming fix, I have my PC MMORPG. But for a casual excursion into interactive video entertainment, the Wii delivers.
I got the new system and in general it is a good upgrade. I also have a Wii and a PS3. Overall the Xbox is the better value. The Wii is great for family games and the PS3 has a couple decent titles. The major selling points are installing games (Quicker Load Times) and the Netflix integration.
onebuttoncontroller.com
I’m glad we have human beings who like to fork out money like there’s no problems. You want to get rid of physical discs and just do downloads? I’m sure you’ll love the excessive fees when those bandwidth caps go into effect. And say, what happens when you have internet connectivity issues? It’s too bad there’s no physical discs anymore, looks like you’ll have nothing at all available!
Welcome to the human race. All they want is more, more and more. And they want it their way right now. How sickening. I mean.. we’re just talking about ENTERTAINMENT, right? Something to provide a quick break from REALITY, right?
The Wii is a phenomenon, but it really is all about the interaction paradigm of the wand, IMO. I have both Wii and XBOX — the XBOX has some great games, but it’s the XBOX Live that differentiates, and the path Microsoft is going with movies and additional entertainment content is just the path they need to go. This will be good for them, but they can’t sit still on other fronts.
If BluRay ever really takes off, it will be simple to add it to the XBOX 360. No big deal. It’s just a more expensive model Sony is doing that already, and it’s not working out very well for them. If the market changes, putting in BluRay is no problem. The other problem with PS3 of course is the lack of games. Good hardware performance + hard to write for = few games = few sales. These game consoles are platforms for games, and need a game ecosystem, folks.
Where I’d personally like to see the XBOX make some strides would be in the console platform. It’s quite good actually, but I wish there was a way to access the my media collection (say, stream songs from my PC in the basement to my entertainment system in the living room) without having to powerup the full capabilities of the XBOX. This would cut heat, and fan noise — two areas where the Wii had XBOX beat. Of course, Wii is not nearly as powerful a machine, but if you’re just listening to music you don’t need that power. (and yes, I know there are Media Extenders for this, but the XBOX 360 already *is* a media extender, as well as being a game machine + access point to digital content online via XBOX Live.)
Sony really botched the PS3, on every level. It has half the games and is twice the cost of the XBOX 360. They should have released it on time and not tied it to a dying bloated format, Blu-Ray…discs….when the world is moving to digital download.
Given the price difference….Santa won’t be nice to Sony this year.
Coverflow is not Apple invention by the way it has been there for sometime in many multimedia home software form different companies like cycbelink and others. Not everything Apple make is theirs they Just good at marketing it, and all these year they can not come up with a gaming console or even a computer good for gaming. Yes Wii still rule, PS3 expensive, Xbox 360 good price but not a Wii experience.
i’d disagree with andrew.
my kids for months and months asked for ps3 or xbox…(one wanted ps3, one wanted xbox) and they both wanted wii.
when it came time that i decided to buy, i did my research and found the xbox was the best bet for now and the future. (many reasons, dont ask, just do the in-depth research yourself; also, we’ll likely be getting the wii unless MS comes up with a motion/sensor component for xbox)
and let’s not be mistaken in the least…if you go xbox, or any other console for that matter, the $199 is not all you’ll pay. (if you want to have any fun at all)
you’ll need at least one extra controller, $60/each, if not 3 more for the full 4 player capability, the $199 comes with the 20gb hdd which is just too small for todays games, gamers and entertainment junkies that use the device to the fullest.
also, you’ll need your xbox live subscription, $99/year. you’ll likey want/get the wireless NIC for $100, and of course, you’ll need at least one game if not two minimum to get decent length of fun out of it.
all in all, i spent ~ $1200 for our 120GB, xbox system and all the components & games, but of course, it can do everything but clean the dishes. (dang my kids R lucky but they’re worth it!)
blu-ray required?? not really for any forseeable time in the near future…at least a couple of years still, if at all.
(blu-ray will be replaced in only a couple of years i predict; it’s too proprietary and expensive and just like beta, that makes for a short life span in todays consumer driven economy)
I do not see how microsoft is going to benefit from this new “makeover”. When in reality is just trying to keep up with the PS3.
Sony already has the capability to stream line movies into your home in regular and high definition. Came with it right out of the box.
I own all three systems. And hands down the PS3 is the superior system to the other two. The wii is a nice niche for kids and adults trying to regain there youth. But the reality is all the functions of the wii can be done with a flick of the wrist. And with Sony’s siaxis you can pretty much render yourself a similar wii experience but in 1080p and superior games.
Here is how i see it break down:
Sony’s PS3: Best value
Nintendo’s Wii: Best Marketing
Microsoft Xbox: Best Bookend
Blu-ray is dead.
I have Apple TV and I am just waiting for Netflix on XBox and once I have that, no more trips to BlockBuster. I don’t want physical media anymore. I want to watch movies on demand in HD. Yes, Apple’s HD is 720p but that is way better than DVD and good enough for me. Netflix’s HD will probably be also good enough for me.
All most consumers want is all movies available at all times. I don’t want to go to BB only to find out everything is rented. That’s just silly in this day and age. I also use Napster at home for music and it’s amazing. I don’t own music anymore. I own the right to listen to music. Works for me.
Nobody cares about blu Ray. Look at thos NPD numbers for further proof. The Xbox outsold the PS3 by 200,000 units.
It is also fact that Blu Ray has done nothing, NOTHING, to further the movie and gaming experience. The third party games on the PS3 have been the butt of all jokes for the industry and perform, generally, much worse than the Xbox (another factor being that the Xbox is easier to develop for). HD movies are available for Xbox without the Blu Ray format thus rendering it useless.
I believe what Microsoft and Sony are missing is that adults are buying a Wii for themselves… not just their kids. If you’re on budget this holiday season and your kid wants a Wii and a Xbox, if you want a Wii also which one are you going to buy?
“Anyway, when Microsoft really wants to get up to date, they’ll put Blu-ray in.”
If you haven’t noticed blu-ray is not taking off even after hd-dvd is dead. The wave of the future is not a disc, its online and downloaded content. After playing both ps3 and xbox, I have decided that the xbox offers a better experience and in most cases better graphics and more games. The Wii is in a class of its own with people that never even thought about playing video games. I think sony should have kept their ambitions in check with the blu-ray offering, it has made the price point too high and especially at this moment in the market. Greed can come back to haunt you and sony likes to repeat that over and over.
I believe the Microsoft approach is to bypass Blu-ray through direct download of HD content.
Hey, look a that!
Apple’s Coverflow view sure has taken a grip on the design world.
Anyway, when Microsoft really wants to get up to date, they’ll put Blu-ray in.
Last – Kim’s note
“When consumers are looking to buy a console for their kid this holiday, they will see that we’re at $200. Hey, $200 is $200.”
is silly. I don’t know of any parent whose kids want a console but haven’t repeated, over and over, which one they want. If it’s between a PS3 and an Xbox, and the kids really haven’t said, -maybe- the parents will go the more expensive route. But if it’s between Wii and Xbox, especially with younger kids, I think it’s safe to say the Wii is and will continue to win out.
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To the guy who can only write in CAPS (get your keyboard fixed). 50,000 players at any given time for SOCOM 3 on PS3, while impressive, doesn’t come close to Halo (unless you’re referring to the original one and not halo 3). When the game first came out i saw as many as 1+ million unique users playing at the same time. I logged on two days ago and one of the 12+ game types had 30,000 unique users in it…crazy sony fanboy, get your facts straight.