Video Game Console Reviews (1 Viewer)

[David_LM]

Let the reviews begin. The reviews on the new consoles should be rolling in now. My local newspaper, The Columbus Dispatch, reviewed the XBox and the Cube in the "Technology Section" of the November 12 paper.
The final conclusion: "Serious gamers will get more satisfaction from the XBox and that is why the XBox is the console we (Dispatch) pick to take the video game crown". Typically Microsoft gets tough reviews in this section of the paper. XBox got points for high speed internet connection for online gaming, processing power and graphics, 8 GB hard drive, DVD playback, ability to rip music from audio CDs, audio (5.1 DD), and DOA3 and Halo. Cube got points for price, compact size of console, controller, and great games for kids.
The bottom line is that the review felt that the XBox in the long run would have the staying power and appeal to a broader audience (based on the muscle of the hardware, Microsoft and sophisticated games) and that the kiddy charm of the Cube would hurt it in the long run.
[Edited last by David_LM on November 13, 2001 at 09:46 PM]

 

[Jeffrey Forner]

I would think that a system that has games for both kids (Pikmin, Luigi's Mansion) and adults (Rogue Leader, Eternal Darkness) would give the GCN a broader appeal, but oh well. It's their opinion.
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-J.Fo
"He represents all that is soulless and wrong... and you slept with him!"

 

[Morgan Jolley]

How much you wanna bet the reviewer for that newspaper is not a gamer and just looked at the specs of the XB. I doubt they were able to used even half of the XB's features, and while that shouldn't hurt the console, it wouldn't really count as a review, but rather a prediction for how things will be.

 

[Anthony_J]

I happen to agree with the review that xbox will probably be the more successful of the two and probably dethrone PS2 as well. (Sony has just announced that they're speeding up development of the PS3 for release within 3-4 years, because they think the Xbox will drastically shorten the PS2's life expectancy).
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Nintendo. Some of my best memories from childhood involve hours and hours of Zelda or Ikari Warriors on my SNES, and Goldeneye is still one of the best games ever.
However, I don't think that Nintendo has the image to appeal to the target audience (males in their late teens through late 20's) for these types of items.
Of course, there's always going to be a die-hard faction of "people in the know" who appreciate the system regardless of it's popular appeal (a la Sega and the Dreamcast), but as we all know, these people can't force a system to be popular.
The mass audience (i.e., non die-hard) of video game consoles appreciates and recognizes certain types of games, specifically sports and fighting games. Unfortunately, Nintendo's reputation with these genres isn't the greatest. Most of the sports games I've seen for the N64 couldn't hold a candle to any EA sports or Gameday title for the original Playstation.
People who really follow games might consider "Perfect Dark" or "Goldeneye" or "Phantasy Star OnLine" or "Metal Gear Solid" to be bona fide system sellers (a solid reason to buy the system.). The majority of the folks out there, however, might appreciate the above for being fantastic games, but they won't consider them reasons to buy the system. That's where the importance of a strong sports series comes into play for any console
The average guy on the street couldn't tell you who Snake is, but he sure can tell you who Randy Moss plays for. And he will buy an Xbox or PS2 to get the latest version of Madden or NHL.
If you were to go into an average college dorm and count the number of original Playstations with Madden vs. N64s with Perfect Dark or Goldeneye, the difference would probably be huge in playstation's favor.
That's why the Xbox, with Madden, the NFL2k series, and NFL Fever, NHL Hitz, in it's original launch line up, will do better. The GCN will achieve good sales, due to the die hard and younger audiences, but the Xbox will be wildy successful because of the mass market appeal of it's game lineup.
Unless it can get the target audience to buy the GCN, Nintendo can't compete at the same level. The only way to do that is to change its image with a great sports series that can compete with Madden on PS2 (the reigning king of sports franchises). An action game won't cut it, Nintendo tried that with "Conkers" by advertising its risque content in bars and in Playboy, but most people just laughed and went back to their Playstations.
The average guy could care less about how gorgeous Luigi's Mansion looks, because its got that "kiddie game" image. Honestly, if it weren't for the support of the younger audiences for Pokemon and Mario, I don't think Nintendo would have made it in the States as a non-portable console manufacturer.

 

[Rob Varto]

Sony will not develop a PS3 because of the capabilities of the X-Box. They will do so because that is the nature of business. They will release a new product with unbelievable features and the rest of the pack will follow. A PS3, X-Box 2 and GC2 are inevitable - unless one fails miserably and gets out of the business altogether.
This isn't the time to argue about what system is "king" it's the time to be a happy gamer! Never have gamers had so many options and so much technology at their disposal. In two years there better be a PS3 because advancement in technology and hardware grow at an exponential rate - who wants to work with a console that is outdated the day it ships?
Personally, Im getting a GC as a X-mas gift and Ill buy the X-Box in the spring. I plan to enjoy all the consoles for what they have to offer - I've never been happier than with my PS2 but all 3 consoles have got some serious upside.

 

[Camp]

Sony has just announced that they're speeding up development of the PS3 for release within 3-4 years, because they think the Xbox will drastically shorten the PS2's life expectancy

Please! Sony didn't announce anything of the sort. One Sony employee shared his vague opinion with the media and people blow it all up into the end of the PS2.

 

[Rusty Ray]

even if ps3 comes out in 4 years that gives the ps2 about a 6 yr life... about the same as n64... not bad at all....
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"As long as you are out there, I can never be number one...."
My DVD List

 

[Morgan Jolley]

The XB just came out. Given some time, people will realize if it was worth it or not. Same will happen for the GCN.
Around next summer, we will know if MS had enough of an impact to speed up the PS3 development.
In that article, they said the PS3 MIGHT have to come out a year or two earlier because of the XB's advanced features. They also said the chips were scheduled for being produced in 2004.

 

[Camp]

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[Edited last by Camp on November 15, 2001 at 06:01 PM]