Topic: The 360 train wreck

[Spak-Spang]

I really think a few things are going on.  Bill Gates is making an exaggerated statement, and spinning/mixing it with some truth.  

1)Xbox 360s are probably going to be scarce because they are probably trying to find ways of getting better output and solving these initial problems which were probably not well investigated because they had a launch deadline.

2)He is 100% accurate the 2007 will be the year that Sony and Microsoft won't have supply problems.  It takes awhile to iron out all initial problems and to have factories making units that are not for the initial preorders and such.  This is a true statement, but it is still exagerated because I am sure the Xbox 360 problem will atleast be handled sometime mid-year 2006.

3)I love where this leaves Nintendo.  If Nintendo decides to be slow but steady then if they launch Revolution later, but have enough supplies they come out looking like geniuses to the public and are rewarded with huge PR.  If Nintendo can release earlier than others anticipate it means Nintendo can be in a huge benefit to gain large marketshare and look to the world that they know what they are doing.

[BlkPaladin]

The scratching thing. It seems that Microsoft is dabbling slightly in false advertising.

In its advertisments it shows the 360 standing vertically. My brother's friend bought on with the problem one the first things the customer rep asked if the 360 was being played vertically because it is not designed to play that way and may damage the discs.

[Nosferat2]

lol are you serious Paladin? I suspect that would be considered false advertising..Welp i guess there goes any hope of my buying my first ever secondary non nintendo console. MS seems to be a bunch of pukes. Ill stick with Nintendo.  
As for the PS3 as a secondary.. Nope. PS2 was horrible. I have yet to meet anyone not on their 2nd PS2. I know a dude on his 5th! An outrage if you ask me. I further suspect that the PS3 will have similar issue as it is much more complex, at least i think it might be(more complex). So i hope Nintendo does a great job on the REV as with the GC but with a lil more focus on the American market as opposed to the Japanese. Ill take a 50% 50% concentration between markets...well see i guess.

[BlkPaladin]

Well that is what I have heard from that person. There are some seriouly ticked people because of the way the 360 launch was (mis)handled.

[couchmonkey]

I've heard the same thing about the console not playing on it's side.  Nice work, MS.

Unfortunately, I don't think Nintendo having a problem-free launch equals instant positive PR.  Xbox 360s problems do equal bad PR, but nobody writing news really cares if someone has a problem-free launch, that's what should be expected!  A smooth launch isn't really newsworthy.  But it still makes Microsoft and Sony look bad, which is a-ok!

[Spak-Spang]

Problem free launches are important, when it means less returned products, no media reporting problems, more product on shelves to buy.

And don't forget, once all systems are out, the media will do a comparison about all three products and launch issues will be discussed.  The fact that Microsoft is potentially dealing with a full year lead being taken away from them is huge.

[Epitaph]

Quote
Originally posted by: Sir_Stabbalot
When the PS3 comes out, I'll be one of the people standing outside waiting for launch. And I'll be one of the people to E-Bay it for $2000!

So does that mean you will be selling them at a loss???


As for the xbox360 not playing on its side thats false. It was designed to be able to play like this, whether or not there is a problem playing on its side I have yet to hear. The only problem ive heard is when people move the consol from horrizontal to vertical vice versa while playing.

[Zach]

Epitaph, do you happen to have a link to where MS says the 360 was designed to play on its side?  Probably not.  Thats understandable because it isnt really something that comes up at press conferences very often (unless it becomes a problem).  The thing is, I would not put it past MS to decide to put the 360 on its side in all of the commercials, even though it may not be designed to be played as such.  This isnt the first time that I have heard of problems with the 360 on its side.

[Renny]

No, it is designed to play on its side. Poorly, but that's a problem that seems to affect most aspects of the console.

There's a Major Nelson video featuring him moving the console from vertical to horizontal... while it's powered on.

[Epitaph]

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/612/612999p2.html

Heres a link from the original design, last paragraph first page says that the consol can be placed horrizontal and vertically like the ps2. It is possible that the final design they decided to scrap vertical play but it was originally intended. Not only that but the only sign I have that its not designed to play that way is the experience of one person with a sales rep.

[Artimus]

The console does work on its side, and is meant to go either way. Moving it while on, however, causes scratching.

[Cap]

so i just read over at computerandvideogames.com that ms has only sold 600,000 360's since launch. that number seems low, but i remember reading that they only shipped about 300,000 at launch so it might be right. i havent seen these numbers posted anywhere else though. at that rate, the lead they have will be fairly minimal by the time ps3 and rev come out.

[Zach]

cool, Thanks for clearing that up.  I remember seeing that video of someone moving the 360 while it was playing, the machine made this really loud grating noise, then when they took the disk out, there was a ring of extremely DEEP scratches around the edge, enouph to turn any game into garbage.

[Cap]

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3147131&did=1

its an interview with peter moore that i found kind of funny. i dont think he was really prepared for some of the questions that they asked him. they talk about revolution and miyamoto a little too.

[couchmonkey]

*Agrees with Sir_stabbalot and Spak-Spang*.  I'll be taking the day off to buy PS3s.  I hope to get enough to keep one and still make a profit.  Otherwise, I'll just take the money and run.