Replies

"And XBOX Live is still smoking anyway."

1.4 million subscribers after 4 years, two of them stagnant at 1 million, is not smoking. Let me put it like this: out of the 6.5 million Halo 2 copies sold, only 400,000 are being played online.

And the largest games publisher in the world allowing its games to be playable online on the Xbox ISN'T of relevance? Go look up some Madden sales.

"It played at least a part in Sega's decision."

No, it didn't. The threat of bankruptcy did. After cancelling the Dreamcast, Sega turned into a publisher and spun its in-house development studios off into second-party companies. Microsoft had nothing to do with this, and you're giving the company credit where none is due.

"If you think Microsoft is lil ole Sega,you have another think coming."

I didn't say they are Sega, I said they are going to be in Sega's position: first to market with a highly-anticipated machine on the horizon. In some ways, that's worse than being last to market. Please stop inferring sinister anti-Microsoft comments in the rationale I'm posting.

"I like their chances better than Sony's."

That's fine. Personally, I think Sony's decade-long control of the console market will continue, with Microsoft making gains, but not to the detriment of Sony's overall market share. This is for a lot of reasons, but partially because the overall growth of the console market will allow both companies to gain sales without affecting the overall market share percentages.

"Lets not forget that Nintendo's profits were down a staggering 43% in their latest quarter, due in part to sluggish Gamecube sales brought on in part by the XBOX."

Sorry, but no. Last year, Nintendo continued to profit off the Gamecube thanks to their price cut to $99. This year, Nintendo's profit projections (not actual profit earned--profit PROJECIONS) were reduced because of the diminishing exchange rate between the yen and the dollar. Microsoft is #2 in the US, tied in Europe, and #3 in Japan. They haven't clobbered anything, only found a niche.

"For a console that "lacks quality games" the XBOX managed to do remarkably well in 2004 didn't it..."

Yes, Halo 2 sold a lot. Not many other games did. Microsoft profited so much off of Halo 2 because it is the game's publisher, and it owns Bungie. Would you care to list the other high-profile Xbox-only titles that have been released in 2004? I can name one: Ninja Gaiden. And Ninja Gaiden sure as heck did not contribute to Microsoft's profit margin, given that it didn't sell nearly as well as Halo 2.

Oh, can you list Microsoft's Halo 2-equivalent for 2005? It ain't Forza Motorsport, I can tell you that.

"All those "quality games" you keep going on about is software, and that is where the profits are, and that is exactly where Microsoft did very well last year."

Having one or two AAA-quality games (Halo 2, Ninja Gaiden) available 9 months apart does not constitute a year that's gone "very well." You're missing the point: besides Halo, what does Microsoft have? The answer is "not much." This is the same concern Take-Two's shareholders had: besides Grand Theft Auto, the company had nothing. Take-Two has since purchased Visual Concepts from Sega and Microsoft's sports games division. Let me repeat this: Microsoft sold their sports games division. This means there will be less Xbox games, not more.

"Where is the "burning" going on at?"

Their overall market share, the percentage of Xbox sales to Xbox Live subscribers, the amount of Xbox-exclusive games released (and desirability compared to PS2-exclusive games), and the amount of third party companies developing games for the Xbox. Like I said before, Tecmo and Bungie can't keep Microsoft afloat.

You can continue treating me with hostility, or you can realize Microsoft has an uphill battle ahead of them. Pick one. You'll hear no more about me on this topic: I've made my points.

"1.4 million subscribers after 4 years, two of them stagnant at 1 million, is not smoking"

THREE years.
XBOX was launched Nov 2001.
And for an online games system that was started from scratch and only uses broadband, with an installed console base of around 16 million, its smoking alright with 1.4 million users.
A very solid start, I call it.

"out of the 6.5 million Halo 2 copies sold, only 400,000 are being played online."

Halo 2 ADDED another 400,000 to XBOX Live.
That is not the same as saying the other 1 million XBOX live users did not buy and play Halo 2 as well.

"And the largest games publisher in the world allowing its games to be playable online on the Xbox ISN'T of relevance? Go look up some Madden sales"

EA is not relevant on XBOX Live as at today.
Overwhelming majority of games played on Live are for Microsoft's home grown titles.

"No, it didn't. "

Og yes it did.
I remember at the time quite a number of analysts out there made a reference to the upcoming Microsoft XBOX when talking about the possibility of Sega getting out of the console business.

"In some ways, that's worse than being last to market."

And in lots of ways its much better too ,like Sony benefited from being first out against the XBOX

"Sorry, but no"

Umm yes.
I repost Nintendo's LATEST results (Jan 26,just 2 days ago).
Hopefully you can still read.

"Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Nintendo Co., the world's biggest maker of hand-held game machines, had a 43 percent drop in third- quarter profit on slower-than-expected game sales and the yen's rise against the dollar. The company cut its full-year forecasts. "

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=auAoykaxHB00&refer=asia

"Slower than expected game sales". Get it?

"Yes, Halo 2 sold a lot. Not many other games did"

XBOX had THREE games in the top 10 2004.
How many did the Gamecube have again? ZERO.
That is what this discussion is about.

"Having one or two AAA-quality games (Halo 2, Ninja Gaiden) available 9 months apart does not constitute a year that's gone "very well."
"

Having THREE top 10 gmes in 2004 is.

"Oh, can you list Microsoft's Halo 2-equivalent for 2005? It ain't Forza Motorsport, I can tell you that."

Let me turn that around and ask you: can you list a GTA San Andreas for PS2 in 2005?
Nope.
But I can list that same GTA San Andreas very likely for XBOX in 2005.
Meanwhile Halo 2 will never be on PS2.

"Their overall market share, the percentage of Xbox sales to Xbox Live subscribers, the amount of Xbox-exclusive games released (and desirability compared to PS2-exclusive games),"

Didn't realize you can't read too.
XBOX console market share for 2004 went up every single month of 2004.
XBOX Live percentage to XBOX console sales went UP as well, and while XBOX has Halo 2 exclusive, San Adreas is likely going to appear on XBOX this year.
What is there not to like?