Microsoft doing the same mistakes as Sega??

[nightwalker]

Dont know about you guys but if you look at microsoft and all the different version of the 360 and now colored controls http://www.ebgames.com/search.asp?N=133+116 a pink one, blue, black, halo 3. The consoles the core, premium, elite, halo, the simpsons one and now this http://gear.ign.com/articles/691/691935p1.html the project name is "origami" that thing is HUGE!!!!!!.

Well to get to the point... Everybody knows that competition is good for consumer why because of the price and the different type of new ideas that this company develops for us users. The downside we all know how cool was knuckles chaotic or tempo for the 32x and mickey mania for the sega cd or popful mail. For the turbo cd we had rondo of blood (this one we can play it again psp users) and I just recently got to play knuckles chaotix and popful mail because I couldn't afford it by that time. It had to pass 10 or more years so I could buy it. So imagine if sony and nintendo start doing the same we are gonna be left out just playing one thing.

I don't know if I'm being clear on this situation and I know its nothing to worry about. I'm just being paranoiac or something its just thats it is and interesting point that sometimes are similar situation in your present time that happened in your past.

[racketboy]

The origami thing has been around for a while hasn't it?

Also, at least MS has the money to take chances and stuff.
What MS really needs to focus on is the Japanese market. They've been improving, but that's their main weakness in the gaming market now.

In the US, they have been looking good.

[JJJ]

I think its a good idea for MS to focus on promoting Japanese games on XBLA. If they can get some fresh, 'simpler' games to come out for XBLA instead of, say DS or PSP that would be a major coup. I'm talking about all those wacky games like brain training, cooking, puzzle etc. All that quirky stuff would be at home on XBLA for a small price.

Anyway it seems like they are focusing here so thats a good start. As far as JRPGs, they seem to be on the right track here too - though Blue Dragon didn't go over well on this side of the ocean, they loved it in Japan.

Still, aside from Japan, if the rumours are true that MS just lost Bungie then they have much, much bigger problems than cracking the Japanese market.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=9139

If thats true, it might be a good idea to talk to just get it over with and buy Rockstar Games. For any price. Exclusive GTA games would secure MS domination in North America/Europe...

[Abras]

Personally, I think the Japanese market is already lost. I think they should concentrate on the West, and that will most likely put them in a solid 2nd through this generation. As for Bungie, I really don't think they are anything special . I'm sure MS owns all the rights to Halo, and could easily find a new dev. if necessary.

Although I do agree with buying Rockstar. It's going to cost big bucks though

[nightwalker]

The origami thing has been around for a while hasn't it?

Also, at least MS has the money to take chances and stuff.
What MS really needs to focus on is the Japanese market. They've been improving, but that's their main weakness in the gaming market now.

In the US, they have been looking good.

Yeah the first time I saw it was 3 months ago but I guess it been more time since they announced it. But personally I prefer that should stay in sketch boards. They have the money but too many mistakes can lead you downhill look at sony. And if you look at the bankruptcy list Microsoft already filled 2 chapter 11. And I think sony filled the first one last month or something.

And yes they got a pretty good audience in the us and what they are doing in japan is giving them good results. If I were them I just stick to making good games and making live free that would give them a major boost. Because I got to say of the three consoles Microsoft is the best one offering live content on their consoles.

[GagaMan]

It's a shame really, Microsoft have really tried to push for the Japanese market but they're just not having it. Even a ton of new RPG's can't seem to get them to buy the things, and the system was even designed by a Japanese designer.

[RadarScope1]

I'm not sure I understand the OP correctly. Is nightwalker saying all these SKUs are making it hard for comsumers to choose an xbox? That they are fragmenting the way Sega did at the end of the Genesis/beginning of Saturn time frame?

I could see that. MS is putting a lot of stuff out there on shelves. I think the No. 1 confusing thing is the HDD. You need it, but you don't need it. Joe average gamer (or their parents) don't get it. I think they're going to (or should) phase out the core next year and lower the price of their HDDs -- by a LOT for people who bought a core. Slowly bring in games that will require HDD and get people use to that. Then the market will be less fragmented.

Sony is doing this too. They keep jumping all over the place with SKUs. You only need to look at the Wii with its single, cheap SKU to see that people often respond to what is easiest.

As for Japan. Don't know the answer there. I think MS is doing everything they can. Pushing slowly but surely with some cool XBLA games and some safe-but-sure JRPGs seems to be inching them forward, but not by enough to win. It might be a deal where they just look ahead to the next generation and try to keep chipping away at Japan while they actually do something in NA and EU.

[JJJ]

I agree with you RadarScope1, there are too many SKUs for Microsoft (also for Sony! I mean who ever heard of discontinuing versions of a new system that fast...)

I can't imagine anyone wanting a 360 without a HDD. Those that do, probably are ignorant of what a HDD is. Yes, they should drop that SKU and have a super-low upgrade price for Core customers ($99 for a 20gb HDD is outrageous).

As for the Elite version, it is sold here in Canada but there is really no point to it whatsoever. It comes with a 120gb HDD, but what good is that when we don't have the ability to purchase TV/Movies over XBL? I think it just confuses the issue here. Once MS brings over TV/Movies in our country it could be reintroduced.

In countries without TV/Movies, just the Premium version would be fine. Easier to shop for, easier to understand for everyone. But the truth is monopolies like MS LOVE multiple versions of a product - I learnt that in University economics. Just look at their Vista product, it must have 10+ different SKUs!

[nightwalker]

I'm not sure I understand the OP correctly. Is nightwalker saying all these SKUs are making it hard for comsumers to choose an xbox? That they are fragmenting the way Sega did at the end of the Genesis/beginning of Saturn time frame?

I could see that. MS is putting a lot of stuff out there on shelves. I think the No. 1 confusing thing is the HDD. You need it, but you don't need it. Joe average gamer (or their parents) don't get it. I think they're going to (or should) phase out the core next year and lower the price of their HDDs -- by a LOT for people who bought a core. Slowly bring in games that will require HDD and get people use to that. Then the market will be less fragmented.

Sony is doing this too. They keep jumping all over the place with SKUs. You only need to look at the Wii with its single, cheap SKU to see that people often respond to what is easiest.

As for Japan. Don't know the answer there. I think MS is doing everything they can. Pushing slowly but surely with some cool XBLA games and some safe-but-sure JRPGs seems to be inching them forward, but not by enough to win. It might be a deal where they just look ahead to the next generation and try to keep chipping away at Japan while they actually do something in NA and EU.

Kinda. Nightwalker is saying that they are doing what you said about the genesis saturn time. They are just throwing whatever idea theyve got without analising it. My comment was more on the origami side and that if you got another hanheld on the market you got 3 handhelds out there and you know theres the exclusive games part. You and I and everybody here is a gamer (duh silly me ) we want to play games. So therefore more consoles mean more problems for your pocket, for example god of war for psp. People liked the god of war series but almost everybody have a ps2 but if you want to play the psp one you got to get a psp.

Lets say this game turns out to be better than the first two and they decide to throw the sequel or whatever to the "origami" or whatever other console out there you have to go and buy another console and we all know games are not something you need its (don't know the word) hobby or pleasure. And they are expensive.

And the part of microsoft doing the same mistakes as sega is sure we all know they have money and believe me they do. But if you keep doing mistakes you can kiss your company goodbye. Imagine all of us that made a sacrifice to buy a console and in two three years it dissapears (Dreamcast anyone) and you just end up with something that theres no more games coming out for it. And you got to start saving for another console, which you are gonna do it someday but we all buy a console here for the long run.

Thats just me telling it from my point of view.
P.S.
Oh and more thing:
If some of my word sound like offending someone or something thats not my intention. I usually don't practice english a lot.

[migo]

Origami isn't targetted at gaming at all. It's a follow up to the tablet PC. They couldn't get it to catch on, so they're trying something smaller. In fact, Origami hasn't been used as a code name for a LOOOONG time. Origami = UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC).