Microsoft launches "itunes" clone, HD-DVD add on for 360. Already.

I see this as further evidence that the 360 is rushed. Hell I love DOA4 and RR6, but there is not enough of a graphic leap for this to be next gen imho. It is like they have the wired pads and the wireless, the optional hdd, now this optional add on drive (which you could bung in the system instead of a price cut). There is no unified stance/product, it feels like a halfway house between generations that can't make up its mind.

I have no doubts that the 360's games will blow me away soon enough, I just think the 360 is shaky as a brand and product at the moment. It is rather unclear what the stance on hd dvd is. And frankly external add-ons, whatever they are - never a success.

 

You have to remember, the early adopters were the ones who sat out in line for 12 hours or bought theirs on ebay for $1200. They'll buy the addon just to justify what they've already spent.

This is pretty stupid tho. One of the original ideas was to make the DVD drive hot swapable, and the launch units could have their drives replaced. I'm not sure why that was shot down. The 360 is officially dead in Japan, long live the PS3! I really don't understand why microsoft didn't wait a year to announce the HD drive, it's only been a month since launch. Why on earth would they say there's an upgrade now? People are going to wait to see if the new drive comes integrated, they don't want to get burned. I really can't support microsoft on this one, they're on their own here.

 

The majority of early adopters bought the 360 to play games not HD DVD movies. Regardless if Microsoft had waited 6 - 12 more months to bring out the 360, these HDDVD drives would still be overly expensive to include as stock parts in the console.

Everyone was moaning about the Dreamcast not being able to play DVD movies when the thing launched, yet ultimately people forgot about this and it went on to become the ultimate fanboy console as a result of its games.

 

I still don't know why Microsoft bothered with the Xbox 360 in Japan, I mean, just look at those sales figures:

http://www.the-magicbox.com/topten.htm

The original Xbox has always struggled to sell over 100 a week. A vertiable rarity already it seems. Even worldwide, I suspect that it had been anyone but Microsoft with its limitless funds, the Xbox would have gone the way of the Dreamcast a long time ago.

All ray: to Sony

 

http://tauquil.com/archives/2006/01/06/re-introducing-the-real-windows-vista/

Apparantly iTunes is not the only thing Microsoft is cloning this year...

 

Microsoft was doomed in japan before they even got to the starting line. There launch titles didnt not apply to .jp market. To make matters worse M$ ace in the hole DOA4 didn't sell, granted it is the best selling game for the 360 in japan, it didnt even make the top 10 in selling charts.
With all that being said now they do something dumb and announce HD-rom drive, thats nice now your gaint power bar can have a friend to talk to.

Looking at the CES show, this isnt going to be cheep, stand alone system might be in the range of $400-500 dollars. Im pretty sure this add-on for movies isnt going to be cheap for 360.
M$ is claiming that it is just for movies, etc but as soon as Sony or even M$ see's signs of no one buying into there Sega CD add on, im sure they will convert to making games and will be a MUST OWN to use your 360.

Then again looking at bejelwed and now the hype of Street Fighter II for LIVE, i guess some people can justify paying $500 + dollars to play flash games and old retro games

 

I have seen this "Xbox 360 users pay $500 and all they get is Street Fighter II and they are cool with that!" argument a few times, and it is getting old.

Am I hyped about Street Fighter II on Xbox Live? Sure, it is a great classic game and the online play sounds quite nice.

Am I using it to justify purchasing a "$500+" (??? I paid $399 but suit yourself) console?
Of course not!

Call of Duty 2, Project Gotham Racing 3, and Dead or Alive 4, Quake 4, NBA2k6, Perfect Dark Zero, and Madden 2006 have already "justified" the purchase of the console for me, and I am quite excited about upcoming releases. Does everyone share my gaming tastes? Doubtfull, and I am sure I will be mocked for some of them, but I well and truely don't care.

That being said, the Xbox Live Arcade stuff *is* a lot of fun! But in no way do I or anyone else I know with the console consider it to be a reason to purchase one. It is however, excellent icing on the cake. Geometry Wars is especially great (think Asteroids meets Robotron) and does harken back to the old days where nothing was more important than a High Score, which Live keeps track of on 2 scales. A small list which compares your score to everyone on your friends list, and the global Xbox Live ranking. It is really nice stuff.

So yes, having these same abilities for Street Fighter II will be great, online play, tournaments etc. Now, am I going to play it in lieu of buying new games like Ghost Recon or Full Auto? No, but it will be nice in between games, or when a quick gaming fix is needed.

 

ermmm sorry I live in canada $500+ for a system, maybe im better off doing u.s pricing -_-

 

I read at joystiq that with the launch of Xbox 360 in japan, most stores are putting the original Xbox at ridiculous cheap prices.

If you want one Yakumo, this would be the best time to get it.

 

Never. Not in a million years.

 

well I just think it's funny that MS is playing both sides. They did say something like they "could" release a blu-ray add on drive if the format wins. They said the 360 can adapt better since the ps3 is stuck with blu ray movies....good or bad. No way will this thing sell well with the projected price of these things. Smart people would want to see which side wins beofre investing money into one or the other in the form of add ons or players.

That's what MS is doing...ship the 360 with DVD, wait to see which one wins the format war and then release an extrenal upgrade.

 

I love that! I almost fell out of my chair... :lol:

Just because sony is shipping with blueray, doesn't mean that they can't add support for hd-dvd too. Microsoft is making an external add on, why couldn't sony if blueray fails?

 

You've been able to do this for about 10 years with SNES 9x.

God, it is like watching Sega again. I wept for Sega, but not for MS. It's not because I'm an MS hater, but rather MS is making the same mistakes that have killed console makers over the years. You'd think if you're going to sink this much money into making a console, you'd at least take a look around and see what works and doesn't. I guess being buried under a mountain of cash makes it hard.

Expect a new Xbox next year.

 

it may be old news, but i heard that pr0n choosed HDDVD. HDDVD already won.

 

And pr0n leads the way of technology. ^_^

Honestly I don't think either technology is going to win in America. It's like how LD won over SelectaVision and other disc players of the time, but America never knew because VHS was good enough for 20+ years.

 

heh thanks

To be hounest I really never watch movies on my ps2 or my Xbox, I use my gaming systems for what they are, GAMING. I dont really want a machine where if iam watching a movie on, I can have some shelp on Live IM me.

Then again it is ture what you said, what can stop sony from following suit with MS and blueray fails?

I really think MS jumped on the on that, like ive said before people who have been sitting on the fence comparing the two systems, will now most likey wait for a ps3 due to the fact it comes from factory with all the toys. Not like M$ tard package. -_-

It just seems that M$ is really trying to force 360 down on the consumer, can not go on live with out a HD or mem pack. Thinks like that makes me question if MS even knows what they are doing.

 

Yet when Nintendo announces that the Revolution can download and play old NES/SNES/N64 games people hail it as the second coming of christ. lol

 

If Sony manages to sell +100 million PS3's again, Blu-Ray will have quite a bit of importance...

 

I couldn't have said it better.

By the way, i still use my crappy old VHS. :dance: DVD-Recorders for TV's are still expensive down here.