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What if Microsoft releases a new console every 4 year?
- Thread starter Wollan
- Start date
CarlosX360
Banned
Far fetched. Microsoft is a multibillionare....what makes you think that?The Take Out Bandit said:
Nintendo X said:
Not that I'm anti MS or Xbox, but regardless of how much resources they have, if they lose another 4 billion on 360 and there is little movement in terms of market share, MS will more than likely pull the plug on the X-box program and attack the market from another perspective.
I had suggested a while ago, that it may in fact be more profitable for MS to work towards a one console future and provide their OS for that one console.
For all the hatred by some people have towards Nintendo and their profitability model of doing business (very strange really that GAF expects welfare handouts from giant corporations losing money) being profitable is what MS has been very good at. Windows is a giant cash cow for them and they are in the games business to make money, not lose 4 billion dollars every generation to gain a few percent of market share.
It's not that far-fetched in theory... if the 360 doesn't make money, I don't think Microsoft would stick around for round three and instead opt to leverage their software development tools as a way to stick around in the industry while also making easy profits. It's kind of a pointless debate, though, since I think the 360 will make money fairly easily. Just look at those accessory prices.Nintendo X said:
Anyway, I agree with what someone (Stinkles, I think) said earlier: it's not like Microsoft is hell-bent on changing the cycle and ruining the industry. The Xbox is killing them financially, so they wanted to close the book on it ASAP. If the 360 is profitable, they're probably not going to put out another Xbox in 2008 or 2009 -- they'll give it a more traditional lifespan.
Mike Works
Member
Hi, my name's Mike. Just to make a quick correction for you, it pisses me off more than developers.papercut said:
You know, just for the record.
Mr Nash
square pies = communism
If they can turn a profit on them, then c'est la vie. If future consoles bleed money like the Xbox did, expect shareholders to pull the plug right quite.
Wha? They've been a "third party" in the PC market for years. Crimson Skies / Age of Empires / MechWarrior / Links / Flight Simulator anyone?
Wha? They've been a "third party" in the PC market for years. Crimson Skies / Age of Empires / MechWarrior / Links / Flight Simulator anyone?
Blackace said:
Has any other single division lost this much money with the results still up in the air? When console incumbents can f'ck up and as much as it's looking like a lock for PS3 right now, nothing is for sure given how fast things move. I think a lot of the money they spent was wasted. 4 billion dollars for brand building is excessive especially when the industry resets after each console cycle. They could have opted for a limited entry and pushed a little bit deeper with each reset.
Marketshare, consumer good will, partnerships and experience will be sighted as intangibles that they have gained, but frankly, Sony did it without losing 4 billion dollars. They spent the Superfami era as a third party. MS's approach is classic American blow shit up approach in the way they tried to bulldoze into Sony's turf. And this has caused Sony to respond with an overpowered and subsidized PS3 that will most likely suck the giant profits Bill Gates had projected five years agowhen he was looking at possible profit pictures if MS's entry into gaming is successful.
I know the consensus seems to be that the Xbox was/is a success. But I think its too soon to tell and I'm certainly playing devil's advocate here. I think a reasonable argument can be made that the Xbox was a failure and performed below MS expectaitons and the reaction they got from Sony may doom them from future profitability.
Hitler Stole My Potato
Banned
---- said:
This is GAF. There is no room for reality or logic here. It's easier to work yourself up over crazy speculation or hyperbole. So take it somewhere else, Mr. smarty pants.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Mr Nash said:
That's the problem. Even if they do make a profit it would still piss off devs and gamers if they go for a 4 year plan. And how in the hell can devs release Xbox 3 games for two years while PS3 and Rev games will still need to be made.
1. Xbox 3 comes out in 2009 and causes people to spend more money on hardware
(EA, MS, and proably Ubisoft can easily make game for them)
2. PS3 in 2009 still cranking out great games at a lower price
3. Revolution still cranking out great games at even a lower price than Sony's PS3
Conclusion: How in the hell can people like a MS 4 year plan for consoles is far beyond me?
Blackace
if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
Deku said:
I am just saying only two divisions in MS make money.. and that is how it has been for years. But with that said the "games" division did turn a profit on the xbox...so that makes it 3 divisions. Sony did lose a butt load of money on the PS2, PSP, and the PS3.. just ask the mass load of people who were just laid off this month.. as all big companies MS and Sony juggle the books so their loses don't look as bad as they are.. Sony just does it better because they have so many factions they can spread it over...
Deku said:
Nintendo had all of those things + 62% market share before the PSOne launch, and Sony stepped on them. Developers stopped working with them exclusively except for mostly scraps and side projects.
Gaming went in one year from having a company without the leadership, vision, or appeal to grow the gaming industry to one whose victory is pretty much certain.
What MS did wasn't easy, and the company jumped more hurdles than Sony or Nintendo ever did on their respective journeys to the top. The reward? 16% of the console market. And a Western gaming public that knows what an Xbox is.
Personally, I think Microsoft ought to license out Xbox compatibility to other hardware makers. They're not making the money off of their hardware sales anyway - by all means, they should encourage some competition in this area so they have a larger market for their software. That's how Windows rose to the top, after all.
Wrong. Sony Corp. loses money. It has been a pretty poorly run company. SCEI (the division that makes the PS) has only lost money for a few quarters at a time. They lost money for like the first 3 quarters on the PS1. I think they lost money for the first two or three quarters on the PS2, and they are gonna lose money on the launch of the PS3. I believe they might actually post a loss for this fiscal year, but they've also had another product launch (PSP) plus the buildup to the PS3. Overall, Sony has made a mint of money off the PS brand, and far more than they've lost in the long run. The brand has been responsible for up to 40% of Sony Corp.'s total revenue at one point. The layoffs have nothing to do with SCEI, although some of the fat will be trimmed from that company to shore up the conglomerate at large. Sonycowboy and/or jarrod no doubt have better records of this, but you are completely wrong. PEACE.Blackace said:
V
Vennt
Unconfirmed Member
sonarrat said:
Haven't we had enough Xbox 3D0 jokes yet?
Seriously though, this would be alright if you don't mind paying $600+ for your console, personally I like the subsidized nature of paying less for my hardware than it costs to build
Vennt said:Haven't we had enough Xbox 3D0 jokes yet?
Seriously though, this would be alright if you don't mind paying $600+ for your console, personally I like the subsidized nature of paying less for my hardware than it costs to build
I'm not a market expert, but I strongly suspect that if f the technology was being used by multiple manufacturers, it would drive costs down. Think DVD players.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Blackace do you think MS going with a 4 year console plan is a good thing?
C- Warrior
Banned
:lol :loldrohne said:
Well, PS3 is going to hit 6 years (in Japan) minimum.
Probably 6 years here in the US as well.
I don't think anyone can really bitch about that.
I was ready for a change 2 years ago, but maybe thats just me.
Hell, MS might go just 3 years next time.
And look for support to drop like a rock then too, just like the original XBox.
Probably 6 years here in the US as well.
I don't think anyone can really bitch about that.
I was ready for a change 2 years ago, but maybe thats just me.
Hell, MS might go just 3 years next time.
And look for support to drop like a rock then too, just like the original XBox.
Juice said:
I think X360 is coming out next month more as an effort to pre-empt Sony, since in terms of hardware the X360 will still be losing money in the near term. The profitability argument probably had more influence over how and what components are used to make the X360.
People I don't think it's Microsoft is shortening the life cycle of the consoles, nor do the plan to do it on purpose because as manufacturers lose money on consoles it is in their best interest to try and make a system last as long as possible. What people seem to be missing out on here, is that Microsoft and Nintendo, for that matter of fact, entered this generation, one to two years too late. That is the main reason why the Xbox's lifespan was only 4 years.
Well, Microsoft could gain marketshare over Sony this gen, and then be in a position to milk the cow a bit longer than 5 years.
But if PS3 dominates x360 again thanks to the playstation brand, better japanese developpers support, and tech appeal (blue ray + HDMI output will make games look prettier), Microsoft will obviously need to make a desperate move such as launching a new console in 4 years indeed.
Let's face it, it's too soon to tell. We first need to know how powerful the PS3 will be (do we agree Xbox primary audience is made of graphic whores?) and how much it will cost (if Sony is ready for a bloody fight and have the PS3 cost almost the same as the x360, I would assume it could repeat its strong dominance over the traditional gamers crowd).
Meanwhile, somewhere in a quiet place, Nintendo is preparing the launch of a timeless machine called Revolution.
But if PS3 dominates x360 again thanks to the playstation brand, better japanese developpers support, and tech appeal (blue ray + HDMI output will make games look prettier), Microsoft will obviously need to make a desperate move such as launching a new console in 4 years indeed.
Let's face it, it's too soon to tell. We first need to know how powerful the PS3 will be (do we agree Xbox primary audience is made of graphic whores?) and how much it will cost (if Sony is ready for a bloody fight and have the PS3 cost almost the same as the x360, I would assume it could repeat its strong dominance over the traditional gamers crowd).
Meanwhile, somewhere in a quiet place, Nintendo is preparing the launch of a timeless machine called Revolution.
The Take Out Bandit
Member
It's a 50/50 post. Part troll, part speculation based on the fact that Microsoft's strength is and always will be the software market. I can totally see them just developing game software and attempting to license Live (We can drop the "Xbox" prefix in a future with no Xboxen) gaming services to other game companies.
The Nintendo crack was just there to spite Xkids. We all know we'll be playing Mario and Halo on the PS4.
Blackace said:
You don't need sources, you can read the readily available informati--
Blackace said:
--oh. That's right, it's a conspiracy and Sony is playing their books to make it seem like the PlayStation division has been wildly successful/profitable these past two generations. Damn they're clever.
Tell your "sources" good work on keeping us good forumers informed.
NintendosBooger
Member
It's all about the games and 1st party.
If Microsoft can establish new, exciting franchises, as well as carry heavy 3rd-party support, and provide them in regular rotation over the course of 4 years, it won't matter. People will buy their new machine no matter what. If they don't have these games and furthermore fail to provide consumers the justification behind purchasing a new console, they'll sink.
It's that simple.
If Microsoft can establish new, exciting franchises, as well as carry heavy 3rd-party support, and provide them in regular rotation over the course of 4 years, it won't matter. People will buy their new machine no matter what. If they don't have these games and furthermore fail to provide consumers the justification behind purchasing a new console, they'll sink.
It's that simple.
NintendosBooger said:
I think you are thinking nintendo there..
NintendosBooger said:
Exciting new franchises are hard to quantify in a boardroom and I doubt it will be the main driving force for the release of new hardware. It'll be more about profitability and competition strategy that will be the main driving force.