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Microsoft entering handheld market.
- Thread starter bunkum
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Musashi Wins!
FLAWLESS VICTOLY!
It's just so pointless...I don't get it. At least if we're talking a game machine.
ProgramFighter
Member
shpankey said:
I agree with this completely. Makes most sense as far as MS being in the handheld department goes.
sonycowboy
Member
bunkum said:
Aren't they already in the handheld market?
Gizmondo & PocketPC.
I'll ask around, but I'm really surprised. I asked my most reliable contact about a possible handheld not so long ago and he completely denied that MS would enter the market in the next few years.bunkum said:
Could be interesting if true, but I don't care about handhelds anyway.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
so what was the reason? oh wait, it's a secret and you can't tell. what a surprise! so why bother mentioning it at all?bunkum said:
TheTurtleTitan
Member
Handheld Market Crash imminent? It's not like consoles - handhelds can't support three competitors, can it?
Xpod music player maybe. I could see them doing that first to sync with 360/pc and download music to (to compete with Ipod) and then maybe move on from there to a portable movie/game player than also synce with 360/pc to download movies/games/etc. But I see those as more 2-4 years down the road.
Smiles and Cries
Member
Serge: Microsoft is entering handheld market.
Axel Foley: Get the fuck outta here!
Serge: No, I can not. It's serious.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Did he actually hear that from someone within MS, or is it just some theory of his that sounds sound? I know analysts have been saying such thing for a while, but top MS execs have been denying it every time (often almost ridiculing handhelds and saying how Sony will lose focus going that way, etc.)
CamHostage
Member
Docpan said:
They did not, they just kind of casually mentioned that it's possible to hook up with anything since it's USB.
As far as the rumor, whatever with what it's real, but it makes all kinds of sense for MS to come out with a version of the removable hard drive with a screen and some buttons for gameplay. I'm not sure what the business model would be behind the games, but it'd be a perfect component to Xbox, like the DreamCast VMU, except useful.
Wario64 said:
No need to compete against the other two handhelds. Microsoft's portable is going to allow you to play games with your toes. They are aiming to get a foothold on the 'footheld' market before anyone else does. The official orders weren't 'being sworn to secrecy' - it was 'putting a sock in it'. Total giveaway.
Sony, Apple and Google are assaulting Microsoft on all fronts, so Microsoft has no choice but to fight back the only way it knows how... by releasing kick ass products to DOMINATE!
They've got Xbox, they've got LOnghorn coming, they've got MSN search, they've got their own Itunes in the works, they've got a handheld coming and a million other things that you must have, baby. Generals advised Hitler that it wasn't wise to fight a war on multiple fronts, but someone forgot to tell Microsoft.
They've got Xbox, they've got LOnghorn coming, they've got MSN search, they've got their own Itunes in the works, they've got a handheld coming and a million other things that you must have, baby. Generals advised Hitler that it wasn't wise to fight a war on multiple fronts, but someone forgot to tell Microsoft.
sol5377 said:
By the time Longhorn comes out, it would've been excised of nearly all of the features that would've made it a necessary upgrade. "Kick ass" products? Yeah, right. Call me when they've supplanted Google in search; Sony in video games; Apple in digital audio, and TiVo in the living room.
It's just killing Microsoft that they spent so much time focusing on the PC market that they didn't see these other markets spring up around them, and now it's too late to really get in on them the easy way.
xsarien said:
that's my point... Microsoft has to stop all this mish mash jumping into every market and focus on their core competencies, instead. Xbox home console, Windows, MSN, server/Office stuff. Those are the big potential money makers. handheld crap is going to divert their attention big time.
The Abominable Snowman
Member
MS is already pretty damned close to being in the handheld game industry. They play crucial roles in Nokia's, Tapwave's, Tiger's, and various PDA makers' hardware.sol5377 said:
If MS decides to open a revenue stream from handheld games, I bet they would enforce a spec, a feature spec, and license it out to external parties who would advertise their own spins of the platform.
Lets say they call their new gaming setup PocketX. Microsoft advertises PocketX akin to their advertising of Windows XP. It's spec requires some things, so all games and apps are developed on a centralized platform.
Creative likes the idea, and licenses PocketX. Their iteration of it is a high-end media player going directly at Apple's (GPod) and Sony's (PSP) throats.
Nokia also licenses it, merging it with their (defunct) NGage line and the other phones in that series. Their spin on it is a phone with some media capability, and exclusive games.
Dell licenses it, and their form is an inexpensive gaming machine that doubles as a huge MP3 jukebox.
Sega licenses it and makes a more dedicated, small, inexpensive game machine with limited media capability and full web browsing capability.
etc. etc.
I think that model would work well if they expanded their dev force, and perhaps even purchased a company with experience in that field.
I'd personally LOVE the idea if they used online distribution, and you would not have to scour malls and game shops for the game you want, and pay exorbitant prices for custom media.
However, it would be hard to develop a lot, and persuade devs to develop a lot, while keeping focus on the Xbox 360. They'd do better asking devs to just port a great amount of content from consoles and other handhelds to their platform.
midnightguy
Member
Xboy will be to Xbox what GBA is to SNES I wish, haha!
I wish, haha!
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