Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action (More info?)
Not with my 7800GT(or Ultra)-SLI pair and my A64 4800+
CPU............. 🙂 🙂
PC gamers make great beta-testers before a port of the same game to
the storage-deficient consoles -- near-infinite patch space on a PC.
Also, how does the console deal with client-side updates which can
give new life to an on-line game -- for example high-resolution and/or
new map-packs not available when the game is released.... oh, I know,
instead of a free download, go buy the expanded version again from
your handy-dandy retail store.
For dedicated gamers, the console entry cost will certainly be low
( classic "loss-leader") but the running-cost will be very high. All
console manufacturers sell their hardware at break-even or loss and
will continue to do so. They make the money on the software, either
directly like M$$ Studios, or getting a significant percentage of the
revenue on third-party games. No problem -- captive audience of
console owners.
I might just get a PS3 for its very useful Blu-ray/Multiformat DVD
player and other multimedia benefits. And my family will enjoy some of
the action games. However, for other games really needing
keyboard/mouse and some focussed-concentration - back to my faithful
PC.
On a related topic of considerable M$$ embarrassment:-
( Please don't complain about the following content being posted
here instead of to a console group -- it is a prime example of the
problems faced when computer-hardware is frozen into a console...
for up to 5 years..... while technology is rapidly changing....)
The Xbox360 management needs to properly address the huge
problem of its DVD player/rom asap, or it will come back to haunt
them.
What's the point of having a console capable of HD-quality output
without a corresponding DVD-rom/player ? M$$'s dilemma here is very
obvious and it is all tied up with their hurried introduction. There a
a big fight going on between the two HD formats --- HD-DVD and
Blu-ray. From the latest industry statements, it currently looks as if
Blu-ray is going to win -- driven by Sony's intent to put it in the
PS3, thus automatically making Blu-ray HD available to millions of
potential users almost at introduction of the technology and
without having to purchase a separate player. Blu-ray is supported by
the 2 consumer heavyweights, Sony and Panasonic ( who, in the past
have been at loggerheads on new technology..). And in the unlikely
event that HD-DVD wins, then Sony will have time to incorporate that
alternate technology. M$$ on their current schedule will not.... !!!
The using part of the consumer industry refuses to go along with OEM
dual-standard HD-players -- they will be very expensive to manufacture
-- and the problem demands urgent resolution. Consumers are now very
wary of standards-fights and tend to put off related purchasing
decisions.............
All this argument puts M$$ in a big fix. If they incorporate Blu-ray
in the Xbox360, a la Sony, they will have to pay Sony/Panasonic
profit margin, while Sony gets to put it in their console at cost. If
they incorporate HD-DVD, they may have leaped on to the wrong
horse.....
So M$$ is doing nothing with regard to embedding a HD-style DVD
player in their box. I bet that they will be forced to do something
when the standards-issue is finally resolved, but it is already too
late to change the first Xbox360 configuration, unless the Xbox360
November schedule is slipped..... And if the schedule indeed does not
slip then expect to see an Xbox360 MkII with a HD-capable DVD player
by the following Christmas 2006. The original Xbox360 will be an
orphan.....I cannot see it being economically updated. All because
M$$ is in a panic-hurry to be ahead of Sony, and cannot wait for a
final resolution to the HD-DVD fight before they ship.
Remember that an embedded HD-player can also support games or
games-collections requiring vast disk-space. The Xbox360 cannot
wait 5 years for the Xbox720 ( one more spin for console-heads..)
before incorporating the HD player.
As for us with the PC, we can freely add either HD-DVD or Blu-ray
to our machines (including burners too) whenever it seems right,
either for price, functionality or both.................. how nice..!!
No need to throw away our shiny near-new console and buy another
one...
BTW, I personally believe that the Xbox360 will slip schedule
anyway. If that thing gets shipped in a hurry and major system bugs
requiring returns are found by users because of hurried/inadequate QC
testing, M$$ will have to eat a lot of the profit from their other
divisions ----- remember the console hardware WILL effectively be sold
at a loss for the first year or two --- amortizing the huge
development cost -- even if the manufacturing/distribution cost is
covered by the sales price.
John Lewis
Not with my 7800GT(or Ultra)-SLI pair and my A64 4800+
CPU............. 🙂 🙂
PC gamers make great beta-testers before a port of the same game to
the storage-deficient consoles -- near-infinite patch space on a PC.
Also, how does the console deal with client-side updates which can
give new life to an on-line game -- for example high-resolution and/or
new map-packs not available when the game is released.... oh, I know,
instead of a free download, go buy the expanded version again from
your handy-dandy retail store.
For dedicated gamers, the console entry cost will certainly be low
( classic "loss-leader") but the running-cost will be very high. All
console manufacturers sell their hardware at break-even or loss and
will continue to do so. They make the money on the software, either
directly like M$$ Studios, or getting a significant percentage of the
revenue on third-party games. No problem -- captive audience of
console owners.
I might just get a PS3 for its very useful Blu-ray/Multiformat DVD
player and other multimedia benefits. And my family will enjoy some of
the action games. However, for other games really needing
keyboard/mouse and some focussed-concentration - back to my faithful
PC.
On a related topic of considerable M$$ embarrassment:-
( Please don't complain about the following content being posted
here instead of to a console group -- it is a prime example of the
problems faced when computer-hardware is frozen into a console...
for up to 5 years..... while technology is rapidly changing....)
The Xbox360 management needs to properly address the huge
problem of its DVD player/rom asap, or it will come back to haunt
them.
What's the point of having a console capable of HD-quality output
without a corresponding DVD-rom/player ? M$$'s dilemma here is very
obvious and it is all tied up with their hurried introduction. There a
a big fight going on between the two HD formats --- HD-DVD and
Blu-ray. From the latest industry statements, it currently looks as if
Blu-ray is going to win -- driven by Sony's intent to put it in the
PS3, thus automatically making Blu-ray HD available to millions of
potential users almost at introduction of the technology and
without having to purchase a separate player. Blu-ray is supported by
the 2 consumer heavyweights, Sony and Panasonic ( who, in the past
have been at loggerheads on new technology..). And in the unlikely
event that HD-DVD wins, then Sony will have time to incorporate that
alternate technology. M$$ on their current schedule will not.... !!!
The using part of the consumer industry refuses to go along with OEM
dual-standard HD-players -- they will be very expensive to manufacture
-- and the problem demands urgent resolution. Consumers are now very
wary of standards-fights and tend to put off related purchasing
decisions.............
All this argument puts M$$ in a big fix. If they incorporate Blu-ray
in the Xbox360, a la Sony, they will have to pay Sony/Panasonic
profit margin, while Sony gets to put it in their console at cost. If
they incorporate HD-DVD, they may have leaped on to the wrong
horse.....
So M$$ is doing nothing with regard to embedding a HD-style DVD
player in their box. I bet that they will be forced to do something
when the standards-issue is finally resolved, but it is already too
late to change the first Xbox360 configuration, unless the Xbox360
November schedule is slipped..... And if the schedule indeed does not
slip then expect to see an Xbox360 MkII with a HD-capable DVD player
by the following Christmas 2006. The original Xbox360 will be an
orphan.....I cannot see it being economically updated. All because
M$$ is in a panic-hurry to be ahead of Sony, and cannot wait for a
final resolution to the HD-DVD fight before they ship.
Remember that an embedded HD-player can also support games or
games-collections requiring vast disk-space. The Xbox360 cannot
wait 5 years for the Xbox720 ( one more spin for console-heads..)
before incorporating the HD player.
As for us with the PC, we can freely add either HD-DVD or Blu-ray
to our machines (including burners too) whenever it seems right,
either for price, functionality or both.................. how nice..!!
No need to throw away our shiny near-new console and buy another
one...
BTW, I personally believe that the Xbox360 will slip schedule
anyway. If that thing gets shipped in a hurry and major system bugs
requiring returns are found by users because of hurried/inadequate QC
testing, M$$ will have to eat a lot of the profit from their other
divisions ----- remember the console hardware WILL effectively be sold
at a loss for the first year or two --- amortizing the huge
development cost -- even if the manufacturing/distribution cost is
covered by the sales price.
John Lewis
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