Nice read although I don't think they are correct with they're assessment.
http://ncroal.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=533168
http://ncroal.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=533168
Newsweek : Redmond We Have a Problem. What wrong with the X360
- Thread starter Ben-Nice
- Start date
- Status
Johnny Awesome
Veteran
Really dumb article.
It kinda read like the conclusion of the article was picked before writing or researching. Numbers and facts were fairly often cherry-picked to support the conclusion without really delving into the nature of the numbers and facts.
For instance, he made constant reference to the PS2, but the X360 has to beat the PS3, not attain the domination of the PS2.
Also, he shoved PS3 sales under the rug except where he said the X360 should be beating it by more units. Umm, okay? That's really reaching. The X360 should be outselling the PS3 by more than 100,000 units per month? According to what? Even the way it was expressed quietly hid the fact that PS3 sales were really low and that 100,000 more is about 2x more.
The comment about mainstream appeal is much more weighty, but it is also undecided. The X360 isn't priced in the mainstream range yet so they aren't going to get much traction there. Sony grabbing mainstream appeal is so far off that I'm not sure why he brought it up. The Wii is the real contender here. If the Wii can take much of the mainstream market before anyone else gets to it, it's all over. They might buy two consoles, but that's not terribly common.
IMO, the release of Halo 3 and GTA 4 combined with a much cheaper (sub-Wii) Core system should tell us what kind of ceiling MS has. We should get all that this year unless MS does some stupid crap.
For instance, he made constant reference to the PS2, but the X360 has to beat the PS3, not attain the domination of the PS2.
Also, he shoved PS3 sales under the rug except where he said the X360 should be beating it by more units. Umm, okay? That's really reaching. The X360 should be outselling the PS3 by more than 100,000 units per month? According to what? Even the way it was expressed quietly hid the fact that PS3 sales were really low and that 100,000 more is about 2x more.
The comment about mainstream appeal is much more weighty, but it is also undecided. The X360 isn't priced in the mainstream range yet so they aren't going to get much traction there. Sony grabbing mainstream appeal is so far off that I'm not sure why he brought it up. The Wii is the real contender here. If the Wii can take much of the mainstream market before anyone else gets to it, it's all over. They might buy two consoles, but that's not terribly common.
IMO, the release of Halo 3 and GTA 4 combined with a much cheaper (sub-Wii) Core system should tell us what kind of ceiling MS has. We should get all that this year unless MS does some stupid crap.
I don't agree with much in it especially:
I think a lot of Xbox loyalist bought the 360, they don't make games anymore and hardware doesn't sell. They hit the breaks on Xbox1 support and many switched in the last year.
What MS needs to capitalize on is the PS2 owners. Many have not bought the PS3 due to title interest (God of War 2, FFXII, etc are PS2 games) and price. This is a huge untapped market and Sony is hoping they will just replace their PS2 with a PS3, so MS needs to make converts. The 200k-300k/month PS2 sales are just more potential future PS3 sales unless MS convinces them. I think MS has put a lot of effort and money to do so (Blue Dragon, DMC4, maybe FFXIII, Guitar Hero 2, etc.).
I think a lot of Xbox loyalist bought the 360, they don't make games anymore and hardware doesn't sell. They hit the breaks on Xbox1 support and many switched in the last year.
What MS needs to capitalize on is the PS2 owners. Many have not bought the PS3 due to title interest (God of War 2, FFXII, etc are PS2 games) and price. This is a huge untapped market and Sony is hoping they will just replace their PS2 with a PS3, so MS needs to make converts. The 200k-300k/month PS2 sales are just more potential future PS3 sales unless MS convinces them. I think MS has put a lot of effort and money to do so (Blue Dragon, DMC4, maybe FFXIII, Guitar Hero 2, etc.).
thatdude90210
Regular
The day before, they had Loot: Tokyo, We Have a Problem, Or, What's Wrong With the Playstation 3.
Wonder if they'll have one for the Wii tomorrow... yeah, probably not.
Wonder if they'll have one for the Wii tomorrow... yeah, probably not.
if it stays at the current price....
I think the 360 is doing well, the clouds I see on the horizon is that ms is getting cocky and not aggresive enough on price.
Ms would have killed to have the kind of profitibilty outlook 360 has on Xbox1 imo, yet, they refuse to cut the price at this crucial time, and are even possibly bringing out new higher priced SKU's.
Ms would have killed to have the kind of profitibilty outlook 360 has on Xbox1 imo, yet, they refuse to cut the price at this crucial time, and are even possibly bringing out new higher priced SKU's.
I said titles aka franchises and price. People will and have overcome the price when they want to play the games. If FFXIII and MGS4 came out tomorrow you don't think you would see a 300% increase in PS3 sales despite the price?
The same goes for the 360, it's not much cheaper (if at all considering the "extras") and many have bought one, myself included. Games sell consoles, how well is that $130 Xbox1 selling now, it is cheap after all...
I agree, i recall that aggressive pricing was something that was discussed early on in the lifecycle and I just havent seen evidence of it as you point out. For their sake, I hope they dont REALLY see Sony's high price as an artificial lowering of theirs (as Peter Moore stated).
no I don't think those two games would cause a 300% increase at the current price level.
Xbox 360 IS cheaper. by quite a bit. the extras argument doesn't cut it imo if you just want to play games. Xbox 1 is a different story as its no longer supported. When it did drop in price the sales numbers increased which is the point I'm making.
The PS2 and Xbox1 are the same price (I think), which sells more? BTW "not supported" = no new games, which my point. When VF5 came out in Japan sales of PS3 went up 40%, did the price drop?
Xbox 1 production stopped a long time ago. Its not supported, if Microsoft could have its way it would not even be known to human kind. Its very different.
As for the article, umm, I've now read I think three articles by N'Gai Croal and none of them have made any real sense nor have any real factual basis. I think I'll just avoid his work from now on.
You are right, I thought they were still sold in stores though. The point remains, if they were on the shelves and no new games came out how many would it sell a month, 30k?
Rainbow Man
Veteran
I think you're righ.t
The xbox4360 is a very good console and it's got wind in its sauils. Hard to tell really if it's all down to MS's genius (ahem interpret as you wish heeh) or due to Sony's bumbling over the last year and 4-ish months but they're doing well there's no doubt about that.
Heck they're the current market leader this gen anyway. Not sure if PS2 is still outselling everything else or not. Talking stationary consoles of course not portables.
JHard to see any "houston we have a problem"-level concerns anywhere on MS's radar. Looks likke mostly clear skies to me. Price isn't that much of a concern as long as they're cheap er than PS3 and they'll stay that way for a long time.
Wii is MS's major threat and I think MS has realized that already. Not sure what they can do about oit though because they can't drop prices to Wii level and ohpe to ever make a profit (maybe even break even) with the 360. They'll continue to push their HD direction I bet and leave Wii to the segment it is in and they'll be successful in doing that I think.
Their marketplace is showing already that that stratevgy works.
Peace.
scooby_dooby
Legend
Weak arguments presented in that articles, specifically:
I didn't realize MS had cut their June target to 12mill though, lol, I guess they must've really shipped alot of extra systems to make the Dec target.
I find anythign this Croal guy writes is generally devoid of any real substance or insight. A very casual POV that's for sure.
They point to the score SKU are the biggest advantage, when sales figures show that 90%+ consoles being sold are premiums. Obviously the author hasn't really done his research, and is more just winging his opinion.
I didn't realize MS had cut their June target to 12mill though, lol, I guess they must've really shipped alot of extra systems to make the Dec target.
I find anythign this Croal guy writes is generally devoid of any real substance or insight. A very casual POV that's for sure.
- Status
