Are you impressed yet with MS?
- Thread starter Monk
- Start date
open_mouth_ said:
Ask this question a few years ago... substitute all the above instances of Sony with Nintendo.... and all instance of Xbox/MS with Playstation/Sony with some editing of the 2nd paragraph.
The more fanboys change... the more they stay the same.
Mike I just want to say lately you've elevated your game... You have quickly become a poster with the type of sarcastic responses that truely remind me of what I would post... if I had enough interest to post long funny, sarcastic posts anymore.
Mike Works said:That's right, you don't know. I own 47 current gen console games. 17 of them were made in Japan.
1) A space always comes after a comma.
2) Coming from the guy who's named himself after a Buffy character with the pixelated picture of another Buffy character.
3) I didn't reply with a stupid post. I replied to one. In a thread judging Microsoft's accomplishments or lack thereof, letting their console off for having poor Japanese (developer) support because you can always get that from a rival console is the kind of retardation that could get your hands cut off in Iran.
But hey, maybe I could change my name to Giles and shrink this
down to avatar size. Then I could try plugging my Dual Shock into my XBox while attempting to conquer the extreme mental plane that you seem to be on right now. One day I will reach the summit of that internal mountain and wrap my fingers around the mushy logic you so gracefully possess. And at that very moment, I will know bliss itself.
Also the mountain will be called Cordelia.
And it will have Seth Green's face carved on it.
:lol:lol:lol You're ruthless man.
I repeat this for anyone who seems to ignore it: Consoles are made to play console games not PC games. At least this is my definition of a console. IMHO PC gamers should have stayed with PC gaming and console gamers with console gaming.
I've been incredibly impressed. I was excited when the Xbox was announced. I'm a big Oddworld fan and I can remember seeing screens of Munch's Odysee at E3 and hearing Lorne Lanning say that the Xbox gave him more opputunities to make the game he wanted to. But that was it for my expectations. More power, and some good games.
Xbox Live has amazed me. I'm now buying sports games from sports I don't even care about so I can play them online.
Halo amazed me. I didn't get Halo until about a year after I had my Xbox. It has become what "The guys do" instead of playing cards or just hanging out now. We're always trying to find time to get together to play it.
I am a launch day buyer of the Xbox2. I can't wait to hear about the launch line-up and what the console offers.
Xbox Live has amazed me. I'm now buying sports games from sports I don't even care about so I can play them online.
Halo amazed me. I didn't get Halo until about a year after I had my Xbox. It has become what "The guys do" instead of playing cards or just hanging out now. We're always trying to find time to get together to play it.
I am a launch day buyer of the Xbox2. I can't wait to hear about the launch line-up and what the console offers.
Angelus said:
There's a few things that don't exactly make sense. The perspective you speak from is narrow, because you cannot consider something to have great 3rd party support if an entire major videogame development market mostly overlooks it. That's ludicrous. You can say it has done well despite that, and I'd be inclined to agree. But we have to balance the good with the bad honestly.
People who ignore key segments of the market are not being honest about the prospects. You can say the Japanese market is slowing and that Microsoft doesn't need them, but that'd be wrong. And if it continues for eternity, then they'll never reach that #1 spot of dominance. Which is really why the Mistwalker announcement seems very positive, since the first true major announcement on Xbox Next happens to be about a Japanese team.
Further, your comment is burdened by several assertions that seem to be more a matter of faith for you than anything else. You know that Bungie and Rare will have the games in place down the line? Well, Bungie has made... Halo and Halo 2. Two games for the entire Xbox generation. Two great games, granted, but it's not exactly filled in all the holes. Now it's said they will be working on something different soon, but that's still nothing we can know without seeing the products or hearing more about their next gen plans. And as for RARE... well, when they finally get around to releasing Conker that'll be a grand total of two Xbox games as well. And one sucked heaps of ass, and the other is a remake of a game that came out in 1999! If you're hedging your hopes for Xbox Next on two companies who have made a total of four games between them, then what can I say. You have a lot more faith than I do (especially in RARE).
I love Bioware though. So no complaints there
Finally, I take objection to your "strong ties to the Western and Euro market development wise" comment. Not the Western part, obviously, but the Euro part. A very, very strong case could be made for it still not being close to where it should. It's improved over the last few years, but "strong" is not necessarily what I'd use to describe it yet.
Anyway, that's about it. I just think people need to have a more level-headed perspective on these things. Yes, Microsoft did better than a lot of us expected (I admit, myself included) and the Xbox has many games that you and I love playing (it's true!), but overall in terms of several factors that I believe the topic starter was implying (and which spurred these discussions) there are still many serious things that prevent it from being close to the level it needs to be.
open_mouth_
insert_foot_
DarienA said:
...says one of the biggest fanboys of all time.
Anyway, as I recall, you were one of the biggest early Xbox bashers/haterz/disbelievers/etc. and put it down and mocked it at nearly every turn. Even a year or two in, you'd throw jabs in here and there. Finally, when it started to move past the Gamecube and put up respectable numbers in the west did you, and alot of others, slow your bashing a bit, only because it was no longer the "in" thing and made no sense. Last year, you laughed when some predicted that Xenon could go head-to-head with Sony next generation, but now you're not laughing nearly as hard I noticed. It's no longer an impossibility; it's become plausible. When Microsoft can make someone like you believe, even a little, then that's impressive.
Hellraizah
Member
Yep, I'm very impressed with Metal Slug. Now let's see how they can manage to put up Metal Slug 6 (GOTY) on AtomisWave.
open_mouth_ said:
You'd so love to believe that... today. proof? Link? No? Thought so. The reality is that I don't particpate in the official game threads that much, nor do I tend to post my own opinions/reviews on titles nor do I often let folks know what I'm currently playing I generally keep that stuff to my self.
Biggest? That's interesting because I remember arguing on both sides in regards to XBL vs. PS2 online... but that's neither here nor there. Very few people expected MS to be succesful, but that's because we need to look at the definition of success is. Is it based on profits generated by the unit alone? If so, has the Xbox by itself turned a profit? Is success based on userbase? If so the Xbox has had success in that regard. Is success defined by exclusive titles from third parties? If so... again the Xbox has had some success in that regard. Is success defined by at certain points during it's life having the #1 console sales or software sales for a particular month? Again, if that's the cause the Xbox has had some success.
A year or two in? That's kinda weird... correct me if I'm wrong, but a year or two in(closer to 2) was when GAF was really getting in to Midnight Club 2 and Midtown Madness 3 IIRC(God I thought that Mariah Carey shit was never gonna blow over...)... and I was quite often found on XBL playing both of those titles.
Define laughed, and define what go head to head means. Launch at the same time? Anybody can do that. Become the #1 console? Who can predict that? I certainly can't.... actually I don't remember participating in many of the Xenon threads because I haven't followed the development of either next next gen console very closely.
I've found lately that I'm enjoying my gaming more if I leave that stuff to people like you.
BTW what has MS made me believe? That they can release a console and have someone developed good games for it? Hell so what does it mean that I own an Gamecube?
Neither MS or Nintendo made me believe anything this gen that I didn't already have leanings about going in.
Mrbob said:
It's different strokes for different folks. The majority of the XBox online games are shooters and I've had shit luck with them. Had much better experiences (Lagwise) with Socom. And I also have no problem with lag on the pc. I know this is not just me either, because I remember when RTCW came out and everyone was raving and leading me to believe I was the only one with a problem... and then I saw the X-Play review and their online footage was skipping all over the place too. The MotoGP games, however, were the best online console games this generation.
Agent Icebeezy
Welcome beautful toddler, Madison Elizabeth, to the horde!
This is sad, that in 2005, we still have loyalties to consoles. I thought I was the last bastion of people to be associated with this. To say, that a console only has 2 games to play is asinine beyond belief. We play games, not consoles. I will be buying all 3 the day they are released, I will shit talk a console if I see fit, but I feel I'll be afforded that because I actually bought the system instead of shit talking from the sidelines.
In my case, I was last to buy a Xbox among my 3 systems because I wasn't sure the Xbox would factor heavily into Microsoft's plans and I'd be left with a very little supported system. I bought mine when NBA 2K3 came out. From that moment on, it became my system of choice, largely due to the (IMHO) superior new controller which was the controller S. Then it was Splinter Cell that further immersed me. I hadn't even played Halo, since I thought the hype was hyperbole and it was run of the mill. Silly me. It blew me away, and even I, the jaded gamer, came to accept what it was, the true late at night with buddies successor to Goldeneye. I was so taken by it, I downloaded XBConnect to get an online fix for it, sorry speeds negated that. This is all before Xbox Live, which I got when Rainbow 6 3 came out. I buy games now that I might have passed on previously due to the sense of community that Xbox Live brings. Like Fight Night 2. I would have never bought this game if it was offline. Due to the fact I can fight and talk shit to my friends halfway across the country, it's so neccessary.
In general, I don't see how a true gamer(one who have all 3 by now anyways, unless short on funds) could claim that they haven't impressed you. Regardless of the fact that they have a shitload of money. They have made something from nothing, whether you'd like to admit or not and set a lot of firsts in the meantime. If not for anything else, respect them for breaking new ground in gaming, regardless of where your loyalties may lie.
In my case, I was last to buy a Xbox among my 3 systems because I wasn't sure the Xbox would factor heavily into Microsoft's plans and I'd be left with a very little supported system. I bought mine when NBA 2K3 came out. From that moment on, it became my system of choice, largely due to the (IMHO) superior new controller which was the controller S. Then it was Splinter Cell that further immersed me. I hadn't even played Halo, since I thought the hype was hyperbole and it was run of the mill. Silly me. It blew me away, and even I, the jaded gamer, came to accept what it was, the true late at night with buddies successor to Goldeneye. I was so taken by it, I downloaded XBConnect to get an online fix for it, sorry speeds negated that. This is all before Xbox Live, which I got when Rainbow 6 3 came out. I buy games now that I might have passed on previously due to the sense of community that Xbox Live brings. Like Fight Night 2. I would have never bought this game if it was offline. Due to the fact I can fight and talk shit to my friends halfway across the country, it's so neccessary.
In general, I don't see how a true gamer(one who have all 3 by now anyways, unless short on funds) could claim that they haven't impressed you. Regardless of the fact that they have a shitload of money. They have made something from nothing, whether you'd like to admit or not and set a lot of firsts in the meantime. If not for anything else, respect them for breaking new ground in gaming, regardless of where your loyalties may lie.
Enigma said:
On a whole Xbox Live! online experiences are much, MUUUUCCCHHh smoother. The whole community aspect of Live! will get much stronger next gen with all games requiring to be, at the very least, Live! aware.
When I go online on Live! I just need to worry about logging in with my gamertag and that is it with everything on Live! linked to it. I realize you can save your login status on PS2 memory cards but Live! is just so much more easy experience.
Virgin Wii
Banned
Amir0x said:
You're right, but I think you responded to the wrong guy. It sounded like he was talking solely about how MS has catered to his gaming needs, not how their strategies are going to claim them the #1 spot. I see his point of view; I really don't give a crap about that stuff myself, as long as I'm happy with their product. Xenon could have 0 Japanese support, even cutting off ties with the likes of Team Ninja, and I'd still consider the console an option simply because I'm not too crazy about Japanese games beyond fighters or simple action games like Devil May Cry, which I feel benefit from the Japanese level of polish. Japanese developers kind of lost me with the transistion of 2D to 3D.
I could see Xenon being #1 is North America without Japanese support. My friends, who are about as mainstream as they come, don't have ANY Japanese games whatsoever. They have a whole bunch of football games, various FPS's, some wrestlers, crap, even Army Men, but no Japanese titles. I think they represent the majority of American gamers (even though I think their taste sucks). On the flip side, that would assuredly mean a bomb in Japan and perhaps other parts of the world, but as a person who likes Western games, should I care? Will the Xenon's lack of clout in the East prevent Western developers from making games on the Xenon, even though their games don't sell in the East anyway? And should I as a consumer care that without Japanese support, MS will never become the top dog in the worldwide console race?
Now, if I was a high ranking exec at MS, I would have a completely different view.
RE4 vs. SH4 said:
Although I certainly understand what you're getting at and understand what you're saying, it seems clear to me that his implication was much more far-reaching and absolutist. He said "It has great 3rd party support." He didn't say "It has good enough 3rd party support for me." Because incidentally, you can't consider yourself to have great support if entire market segments ignore you. That's what I am getting at. It also makes sense in the larger topic of this debate, since that was sort of the topic here
Now to your smaller point here, that's absolutely fine. I judge systems the exact same way. If it has games I want to play, then it's good for my specific needs. That's really all that matters. And if you dislike all Japanese games and love mostly Western titles, then naturally the Xbox would become a far more superior choice.
RE4 vs. SH4 said:
I could certainly see them being #1 in North America. It's not out of the realm of possibility. Of course, they still have a mighty mountain to climb. It's not exactly like the PS2 stopped selling spectacularly despite Microsoft's growing popularity in the states. That said, I don't know exactly how true your anecdotal evidence is. Not that American games don't have more resonance among American gamers (GTA:SA++), but just that I feel a few Japanese games do round out most mainstream gamers videogame choices. I have almost no friends who aren't mainstream gamers, and even they occasionally pick up things like Devil May Cry, Virtua Fighter 4: Evo and Tekken 5.
RE4 vs. SH4 said:
Should you care? Well, if you're going to own multiple consoles you shouldn't. But as a gamer, if Xenon would be the only system you own... of course you should care. Why limit your options? You play games, I play games. Certainly you cannot deny that even if you dislike most Japanese games that there has still been plenty of fantastic Japanese titles - even your name suggests as much. So why limit choices? The more third party support, the better. And that includes Japanese support.
At the end it all comes down to your own preference and your needs. But back on point, I don't believe that was exactly what he was implying in that statement although I'm sure he'll claim otherwise now.
Virgin Wii
Banned
Amir0x said:Although I certainly understand what you're getting at and understand what you're saying, it seems clear to me that his implication was much more far-reaching and absolutist. He said "It has great 3rd party support." He didn't say "It has good enough 3rd party support for me." Because incidentally, you can't consider yourself to have great support if entire market segments ignore you. That's what I am getting at. It also makes sense in the larger topic of this debate, since that was sort of the topic here
My first post in this thread was entirely based on how I felt about the Xbox, not Microsoft's position or strategy. There have been other posts made in a similar fashion; I wouldn't be so quick to assume where he was going based on the context of this thread. A lot of people, myself included, only read the topic header and didn't bother with the first post.
I don't dislike all Japanese games. I think they make the best fighters and the best arcadey experiences, and I love their 2D stuff. I just don't feel that they're really pushing any boundaries. It seems like most of them are stuck refining the same ideas over and over again, which is great for polish, but just doesn't excite me as much as it used to. There are some exceptions to this, and hey, it's not like the majority of Western devs are hot shit either, but most of the stuff I see that truly interests me comes from the west.
I'm not sure if my anecdotal evidence holds up, either, but it's my experience and as such I have to trust in it at least a little bit. I'm not sure about DMC (way too hard and way too great of a game for casuals), but I do admit I know a lot of Tekken players. And I own them all with Tekken 3-era Jin. Really, I wipe the floor with them. I was at a party once with 20 or so people, and 10 of them claimed to be masters of Tekken Tag. I spent 4 hours going through all of them multiple times, not losing once. I even switched it up with characters I barely even knew, and I still didn't loose. My best friend, who knew not to challenge me, gave excellent commentary as I kicked all of their asses. "He's playin' with ya!" "He does shit like that sometimes, letting you get up and crap." "See, you pissed him off now."
Fighters are the one Japanese dominated genre that I see American gamers buying in large #s. Let's face it, Western fighters suck. From the perspective of someone who might buy one or two Japanese titles in a generation, I don't think Japanese support is an issue at all. Not that I don't buy more than that, but some people are like that. Sure, you miss out on some games, but you'll miss out on games regardless of which console you choose if you're dedicated to only one. At least with the Xenon, you're sure not to miss out on any of the big Western games, which can't be gauranteed going with the PS3.
RE4 vs. SH4 said:
Not trying to ignore the rest of your post, but I'm just trying to slow down the amount of huge debates I'm in the moment. However, this part I'm interested in responding to. Now, purely going off of PS2 and Xbox, then your final statement does not ring true at all. With PS2, I can still play plenty of Western developed titles and Japanese titles.
With Xbox, almost every Japanese game I want to play is absent. There's a huge, monumental difference. With PS2 the western game may not be Halo or KOTOR, which are admittedly big releases (as you can tell I'm typing from a computer so if I didn't own an Xbox, I could just play those particular titles on my PC), but they're still provided in a variety and in various high quality releases. With Xbox you have Phantom Dust and... DOA. That's hyperbole, of course, but the problem is way, way more slanted toward the Xbox in terms of which developers they are lacking.
Now as you said you don't care about Japanese developers, but if I'm going to resign myself to one console (which is just the point of this little debate we're having), I'm going to select the console that has the largest variety of developers out there... for the simple fact that it gives me more options. And no matter how impressed you are with Xbox, there's no denying that the PS2 has many more options when it comes to third party support.
That may or may not change with Xenon/PS3. So we'll see how that goes. None of this discussion really matters since I will own all three consoles anyway, but I'm just expressing my thoughts on what I think needs improving with Xenon before I'm 100% impressed with MS.
So, to sum everything up... am I impressed what MS? To a degree, but not completely. Do I think what they have done is enough? Absolutely not. There's a lot that needs to be done yet for me to be satisfied, and I hope the situaiton continues to improve. Personally, I would love to see Japanese developers embrace a console that has such an outstanding online infrastructure.
MS has made as many bad decisions as they have right decisions just like most companies. Given that I am neither impressed nor unimpressed with what they have done. The main thing I am impressed about with the Xbox was something that MS never wanted for their console and thats its modability.
DIrtyWeasel
Member
Good post. I agree.Shaheed79 said:
Success-wise, hell yes, they have impressed me.
Games-wise, no. My favorite games of this gen, Viewtiful Joe, F-Zero GX, Super Monkey Ball, Metroid Prime, others, are not available for the XBOX. Their games tend to be too easy and short-lived, sometimes artificially extended by the novelty of playing against other humans on Live. Now don't get mad at me for calling it a novelty -- I recognize it for the great system that it is -- but until the whole "Holy crap, I'm playing with ACTUAL PEOPLE in another state/country" feeling wears off, I will look at it as a fad. But I'm not writing it off. I'm standing by to see where console online play is headed.
Games-wise, no. My favorite games of this gen, Viewtiful Joe, F-Zero GX, Super Monkey Ball, Metroid Prime, others, are not available for the XBOX. Their games tend to be too easy and short-lived, sometimes artificially extended by the novelty of playing against other humans on Live. Now don't get mad at me for calling it a novelty -- I recognize it for the great system that it is -- but until the whole "Holy crap, I'm playing with ACTUAL PEOPLE in another state/country" feeling wears off, I will look at it as a fad. But I'm not writing it off. I'm standing by to see where console online play is headed.
thorns said:
With an attitude so cocky, I already am sorry. :s
Nah, but you know what I mean. There are difficult games and there are difficult games with depth. Take Super Mario Sunshine. Some people claim it's difficult, so let's assume it is. After you pass whatever obstacle is giving you difficulty, that's it: you passed it.
But if you look at a game like F-Zero GX, there's always room to improve something. When you pick up a new strategy, there is always a higher strategy. There are always more tactics to master. The game has depth, and that's the kind of difficulty I'm looking for. I've played PGR1, but not 2, and unless significant gameplay changes were made, I'm not impressed.
Red Scarlet
Member
Monk said:
No.
Virgin Wii
Banned
Amir0x said:
It's true that PS2 has a lot of western games, but the best of them (that aren't developed by Sony affiliated studios, who crank out stuff like Twisted Metal every once in a while) are either multiplatform or Xbox exclusive. And the best of the best tend to release only on Xbox. Admittedly, the 'best of the best' are often ports of big PC games, but as a console gamer I really don't mind; not in the habit of upgrading my computer unless something blows up, these are games I otherwise would never have played.
Consider how PC developers favor Xbox now, millions of units behind the PS2. Imagine if Xenon were to take 1st place in North America next gen, and how that favoritism would increase as a result. That would mean a lot to the people who love the types of games Xbox has to offer now.
It's great having options. It would be wonderful to be able to play any game - Nintendo developed, Sony developed, MS developed or otherwise - on whatever system you happen to have. That will never happen though, so we single console owners have to make compromises; consider what we like most and go with whoever's providing it. Do you think a diehard FPS fan would be content with only a PS2? How about a western RPG player? Would it be optimal to not get any of the best games in the genres you love most, but have a larger variety of games in genres you don't care for as much?
For the people who favor Japanese games (and like the occasional western game, too), it's very easy to go Playstation. Xbox is an easy choice for the vice versa, though they get a bit more screwed out of Japanese games than PS2ers do out of western games. A bit more, I must emphasize; your average multiplatform western title doesn't stack up to the average Japanese title, so most of the stuff Playstation is getting is bogus anyway, whereas when Xbox gets a Japanese title it's usually pretty darn good.
And I DO care about Japanese developers. I'm just saying that I have enough of a preference to go without them if I have to, because I'm seriously considering being a single console owner next gen.
Am I impressed with MS?
Yes, I am impressed at how you can lose 3 billion dollars (probably more) and still wind up so distant from first place in terms of marketshare and the such.
For all those people going "They beat Nintendo! Sony is next!" : So basically it's impressive that Microsoft can spend over 3 billion dollars entering the industry and barely beat the Nintendo Gamecube in terms of marketshare? I don't see how that's impressive, seeing as how Nintendo has been in a decline in marketshare with systems since the NES. And considering there was no Mario game at launch, Wind Waker was cel-shaded, Rare didn't deliver another Goldeneye hit, the whole 'kiddie' purple lunchbox shit from the media/press, and there was no online at all aside from Sega, I don't see how that's impressive in any positive way.
I think they've definitely made improvements since they got here, but they still have a lot to learn.
While the Xbox has had its fair share of good games, the fact that the only truly successful titles on the system are both Halo games is a bit depressing. Is there any doubt that without Halo that the Xbox would've tanked horribly?
I've had some great game experiences with the Xbox, but in the end, they all could've been had on either other system.
Yes, I am impressed at how you can lose 3 billion dollars (probably more) and still wind up so distant from first place in terms of marketshare and the such.
For all those people going "They beat Nintendo! Sony is next!" : So basically it's impressive that Microsoft can spend over 3 billion dollars entering the industry and barely beat the Nintendo Gamecube in terms of marketshare? I don't see how that's impressive, seeing as how Nintendo has been in a decline in marketshare with systems since the NES. And considering there was no Mario game at launch, Wind Waker was cel-shaded, Rare didn't deliver another Goldeneye hit, the whole 'kiddie' purple lunchbox shit from the media/press, and there was no online at all aside from Sega, I don't see how that's impressive in any positive way.
I think they've definitely made improvements since they got here, but they still have a lot to learn.
While the Xbox has had its fair share of good games, the fact that the only truly successful titles on the system are both Halo games is a bit depressing. Is there any doubt that without Halo that the Xbox would've tanked horribly?
I've had some great game experiences with the Xbox, but in the end, they all could've been had on either other system.
disabledHeliocentric
Member
I give Microsoft mixed marks with the XBOX, however I am very impressed anyways, because they have done some bold things just to stay in the market despite prolonged unimpressive streaks.
- Hardware design is a little iffy, but we all know this is GREAT gaming hardware on the inside. I'm impressed by the edge this machine has.
- XBOX live is impressive. They have this worked out, and it works like a charm. Way to go.
- They are slowly accumulating some hugely impressive development talent, impressive. I mean, Halo and Halo 2 are impressive and I bet Jade Empire will be too. Rare in a way was impressive just due tothe magnitude of it and the fact they can absord that hit even if it has yet to pay.
But...
-Aside from Halo the early going for XBOX was far from impressive. They got real lucky in the sense GCN was perceived to be a tad fruity. It wasn't really until last year that the xbox had kick ass software year round in sufficient quantity.
-Microsoft has not found the hidden talent and developed it much. Surely, not the way Sony has. All of Microsoft's quirky little development shoot offs have either sucked, or when they were good they get dropped. I mean, star with Naughty Dog, Insomniac, Polyphany, Incog/Santa Monica, and their JP based teams... On the other hand, with Sony you don't see, aside from Gran Turismo, the Halo sized monster, but then again you don't see the Ratchet and Clanks, ICO, Sly etc. from Microsoft.
When Sony really goes for something they have succeeded. Microsoft has only succeeded when it goes for PC FPS and PC RPG.
So, imo, I'll be a bit more impressed when Microsoft tightens up a bit. Certainly I would have thought Double Fine and Oddworld Inhabitants could play a role in that. Fable looks like it could be something in the future... but we need more, like they should snag Swinging Ape or Starbreeze.
Microsoft getting all conservative doesn't impress me, either; I like it when a first party throws out a few prestige titles, you know artsy stuff and really hardcore stuff.
- Hardware design is a little iffy, but we all know this is GREAT gaming hardware on the inside. I'm impressed by the edge this machine has.
- XBOX live is impressive. They have this worked out, and it works like a charm. Way to go.
- They are slowly accumulating some hugely impressive development talent, impressive. I mean, Halo and Halo 2 are impressive and I bet Jade Empire will be too. Rare in a way was impressive just due tothe magnitude of it and the fact they can absord that hit even if it has yet to pay.
But...
-Aside from Halo the early going for XBOX was far from impressive. They got real lucky in the sense GCN was perceived to be a tad fruity. It wasn't really until last year that the xbox had kick ass software year round in sufficient quantity.
-Microsoft has not found the hidden talent and developed it much. Surely, not the way Sony has. All of Microsoft's quirky little development shoot offs have either sucked, or when they were good they get dropped. I mean, star with Naughty Dog, Insomniac, Polyphany, Incog/Santa Monica, and their JP based teams... On the other hand, with Sony you don't see, aside from Gran Turismo, the Halo sized monster, but then again you don't see the Ratchet and Clanks, ICO, Sly etc. from Microsoft.
When Sony really goes for something they have succeeded. Microsoft has only succeeded when it goes for PC FPS and PC RPG.
So, imo, I'll be a bit more impressed when Microsoft tightens up a bit. Certainly I would have thought Double Fine and Oddworld Inhabitants could play a role in that. Fable looks like it could be something in the future... but we need more, like they should snag Swinging Ape or Starbreeze.
Microsoft getting all conservative doesn't impress me, either; I like it when a first party throws out a few prestige titles, you know artsy stuff and really hardcore stuff.
captainbiotch
Banned
I am not impressed. However powerful the Xbox may be, I end up finding many of the titles I play completely unappealing aesthetically thanks to aliasing or low framerates. The loading times are too high for my tastes. Almost all their first party stuff sucks and/or tanks in sales. Heck thats one thing I like about the system, you can usually find the good titles for 20 bucks just 2 months after release. I've had some good fun with the system, but games I love like morrowind and kotor 2 are in better form on PC. As of right now my xbox is solely being used as a dvd player, and the only title I'm looking forward to in the future is Conker.
gollumsluvslave
Member
Addressing the question the thread asks:-
Am I impressed with MS?
The question can (and has been) interpreted in a variety of ways.
1. Am I impressed with the Xbox as a console? Yes, very much - it's a very solid product - I've had mine for 2 years without a problem.
2. Am I impressed with the games MS has made available for the system?
Yes and No - MS has managed to get a fair amount of good games, some AAA games, but have also brought a fair amount of stinkers to the table as well. However the Xbox library caters to the majority of my gaming needs
Xbox Live is a very sweet icing on a moderately tasty cake.
3. Am I impressed with decisions that MS has made?
Again, Yes and No.
NO
**
Rare :-I think that Ed Fries left due to the Rare sale. I'm not impressed with that decision at this time. Maybe that will change in the next year or 2.
Euro launch price :- MS made an almost fatal mistake by launching at £299. Very embarrassing for them.
EA on Live :- They should have had EA onboard live from the start.
Japan :- Their attitude going into the Xbox launch was very arrogant, and that is the biggest stumbling block to them succeding in Japan moving forward.
Yes
***
Humble Pie attitude :- The biggest thing I've been impressed with is that when they have got it wrong, they've held their hands up and went on to correct the situation; S Controller, EA on Live, Euro launch price.
Overall the biggest thing that has impressed me about MS/Xbox is my past experience of MS in the PC workspace. I really didn't think they would get it as solid as they did first time - I thought that Xbox would be like Win 95 when it ended up more like Win2K/XP.
Moving forward they will impress me with Xenon if they show less arrogance, show they have learned lessons.
Oh and bring the XBMC team in for Xenon please :lol :lol :lol
Am I impressed with MS?
The question can (and has been) interpreted in a variety of ways.
1. Am I impressed with the Xbox as a console? Yes, very much - it's a very solid product - I've had mine for 2 years without a problem.
2. Am I impressed with the games MS has made available for the system?
Yes and No - MS has managed to get a fair amount of good games, some AAA games, but have also brought a fair amount of stinkers to the table as well. However the Xbox library caters to the majority of my gaming needs
Xbox Live is a very sweet icing on a moderately tasty cake.
3. Am I impressed with decisions that MS has made?
Again, Yes and No.
NO
**
Rare :-I think that Ed Fries left due to the Rare sale. I'm not impressed with that decision at this time. Maybe that will change in the next year or 2.
Euro launch price :- MS made an almost fatal mistake by launching at £299. Very embarrassing for them.
EA on Live :- They should have had EA onboard live from the start.
Japan :- Their attitude going into the Xbox launch was very arrogant, and that is the biggest stumbling block to them succeding in Japan moving forward.
Yes
***
Humble Pie attitude :- The biggest thing I've been impressed with is that when they have got it wrong, they've held their hands up and went on to correct the situation; S Controller, EA on Live, Euro launch price.
Overall the biggest thing that has impressed me about MS/Xbox is my past experience of MS in the PC workspace. I really didn't think they would get it as solid as they did first time - I thought that Xbox would be like Win 95 when it ended up more like Win2K/XP.
Moving forward they will impress me with Xenon if they show less arrogance, show they have learned lessons.
Oh and bring the XBMC team in for Xenon please :lol :lol :lol
Scottlarock
Banned
100% what he said. and well said.open_mouth_ said:
Scottlarock
Banned
Link1110 said:
ummm......okay....
Scottlarock
Banned
its a investment. sony will not sell 80 million next generation and xbox will not sell 10 million. it'll be more like 40 million xbox/ 50 million ps3... and with 40 million owners xbox can make alot of money.
you don't have to be the market leader to make money.(see nintendo)
open_mouth_
insert_foot_
DarienA said:
Damnit, Dareina, just admit to your fanboy tendencies and you shall be forgiven! Salvation doesn't come without Sacrifice! Admit that you sleep coudled up next to your PS2... I compel thee!
Anyway, I know some people have difficulty admitting or accepting when they were wrong sometimes, so that's OK. It takes a big man to accept the truth and admit his faults.
psycho_snake
I went to WAGs boutique and all I got was a sniff
I think they have done great. They have sold more units than Nintendo and the gap is still growing with MS earning a comfortable 2nd place in the console wars. I like their online plan, they've definately revolutionized that part of the industry and I think that the harddrive was a great idea. Ive actually not heard about the RPG's, but thats going to help them. i wonder if they can maintain that 2nd place though. Nintendo have yet to release Zelda, which will no doubt sell millions of copies and a lot of Gamecubes.
open_mouth_
insert_foot_
DarienA said:
I was behind Xbox from even before it was announced.
I don't like either of the other 2 consoles nearly as much. In fact, sometimes it's borderline hatred but I don't know why. PS2 and GC both have some nice games that I like. I think it's because the worse they seemingly do, the better it is for my favorite. Even next-gen when nothing is established, people will have their favorites and try to berate the competition for the same reason, like it'll convince enough people and somehow give their console the "edge". Pathetic I know. Mostly I sarcastically poke fun at other peoples' tastes when it doesn't agree with my own.
I assume alot about people from reading just a few of their posts, which is completely assinine. I assume you're a jackass sometimes, which is partly true, but I don't really think you're a bad guy or that most people on these forums are bad guys or girls.
I spend way too much time on these forums and on the 'net in general when I should instead be working or doing something productive. Checking the 'net once a day for like 30 mins should be my max. I need more self-control.
I'm sometimes very anal about things. I become a perfectionist sometimes, which I hate to become. I'm mostly a reaslist and see things how they are and accept the way things are. I try not to get too high or too low on things because I hate getting let down in the end. I try to treat everyone around me with respect even though I don't always feel respect towards them and actually dislike or ridicule them in my head. I sometimes take the easy way out instead of working hard to reach where I want to reach. I'm afraid of certain types of success and the changes it will bring sometimes. I'm just as afraid of failure and feeling imcompetent. I don't like to be a follower especially in things that everyone else is doing and especially when it's just because everyone else is doing it. I hate when people are "fake" or act when around others and I try to be real always but I'm sometimes "fake" as well. I'm capable of being one of the biggest bullshitters around and having everyone like me by feeding them bullshit but I choose not to most of the time even if it'll make them feel better. I hate when people try to tell me what to do, especially when I'm not open to hearing suggestions or when I've made up my mind already. I like hearing thoughtful suggestions and I actually listen, especially from people with more experience, but I hate being treated like I can't make my own decision in the matter. I don't always listen to my parents. I used to expect too much from my fiance sometimes instead of letting her be the wonderful person she is. I feel terrible when bad things happen to innocent people around the world, but I don't show emotion outwardly and I don't really do anything about it. I think that a little bit isn't going to do anything to change anything in the grand scheme of things so I don't even try, even when I know that even a little helps. I'm farting too much lately. I go over the speed limit alot. I spend too much time on games and recreation instead of bettering myself in some way (by reading or working out more). I've pirated some music and a movie back in the day.
How about you?
open_mouth_ said:
I think you're all f'n insane... and that I'm insane for hanging with the lot of you.
I think that regardless of what I say here if I see a good game comes out I pick it up for which of the three consoles it comes out for.
I think I've had PERIODS of fanboyism for a one console over another... but that time ended when I added the other 2 consoles to my collection.
I think some of you take this too seriously, and I think some of us post more just to get a rise out of others.
I think the most impressive thing about Xbox is the Live infrastructure - and how many games support online features. Least impressive is of course lack of Japanese support, but then again Xbox was my third choice, behind PS2 and GC anyways. When you have money to burn it doesn't really matter what you wanna choose. I'll have to disagree with people on saying that only Japanese fighting games sell... Aside from an RPG tied to a license (Star Wars), what Western RPGs have sold a lot? (We'll see how Jade Empire does) And racing games as well, the best racers always come out of Japan. Of course right now the trend with people are FPSes and sports games, but every genre seems to have their dominance. In 16 bit days it was platformers and fighters, then in 32 bit days it was RPGs (the best time), now it's FPSes, GTA clones, and sports. Who knows, maybe in 5 years everybody will be playing puzzle games and SHMUPs.
66% of my Xbox library is Japanese anyways, I'm probably somewhat of an oxymoron on here - but I vastly prefer Japanese style and polish. The best Western games don't even come close to approaching the best Japanese games, IMO (though some are very fun - POP, Halo, GTA).
66% of my Xbox library is Japanese anyways, I'm probably somewhat of an oxymoron on here - but I vastly prefer Japanese style and polish. The best Western games don't even come close to approaching the best Japanese games, IMO (though some are very fun - POP, Halo, GTA).
RE4 vs. SH4 said:
Cutting the fluff again so just so you know I'm not ignoring you.
But at the end, it comes down to this statement:
RE4 vs. SH4 said:
If you think it's only a bit more or that most of the stuff PlayStation gets is "bogus", then we can't really go any further. I mean I can sit here and list game after game that, our opinions aside, have been widely received as fantastic. Many, many more than on Xbox, so it's really coming down to preferences now. I have problems with several key Japanese genre, but a near-total dismissal of arguably the greatest game library this generation as "bogus" and that the tilt is only a "bit" skewed is going into waters that are impossible to chart. We'll just have to agree to disagree.
Virgin Wii
Banned
Amir0x said:
Man, you misunderstood my statement to the maximum degree possible. "Most of the stuff Playstation is getting" was a very obvious referral to western games. Not only that, but your 'cutting of the fluff' just happened to ignore the strongest parts of my argument.
Whatever. You don't want to debate with me then fine, don't debate with me; refrain from the half-assed responses.