Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

[HMcCoy]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

(1) EA has to make Madden good first, before that plan is effective. NCAA07 is a step in the right direction, I'd say.

(2) What adult is going to want a 360 decked out in Madden stuff? I guess this might be effective at targeting the college and HS crowd, however (although at this price point, you are going after the post-grads and the affluent parents with kids who are fiending for the 360).

(3) I agree - M$ hasn't had too great of a marketing push re: their games. I honestly think that neither console has a solid game lineup . . . as a matter of fact, there's probably only 1 non-sports game I'm looking forward to on either console, and that's it. The sheer number of games, though, is definitely in the 360's favor. They need to really hammer the PS3 and it's probable week holiday '06 support.

For some one like me, who is on the fence, it's the games that really matter, and that's where the message should be targeted.

(1) Since when did Maddens quality have anything to do with it's sales?

(2) This skin may be a little much, but the face plate and EA stick would be very popular, IMO. Never underestimate the Madden nation. EA's flagship is still a system-seller. I would expect a TON of new 360 owners will cite getting a next-gen Madden for cheap as possible as a motivating factor.

[Ice Cream Truck]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

They don't need to do anything this fall.

Sony will sell out their units no matter what, and they will have launch problems and trouble keeping stores in stock. That's a sure thing, it always happens at console launches.

MS can reap in a lot of sales just because of that. With the game line up planned, they will probally not drop price until the Spring when they get the new X360 chip out that is cheaper to produce. By that time Sony's production/shipping will have ramped up and MS can counter with a price drop, something Sony won't be able to do financially for alteast a year.

I think that's the most logical unbiased post here.

Although. I THINK that there is a chance it won't sell out. $600 is alot. I mean alot. The 499 system will sell out IMO but it'll take longer for the 600 to sell out (if it does).

Unless of course, Playstation fans bought the 360 and plan on sellin it at PS3 launch.

Ehh, I dunno what to think. I don't even care lol.

[pk500]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

Good post, Tim. Very interesting.

Microsoft can do two things to boost sales of the 360 once the Wii and PS3 are released:

1. Either spec more reliable parts or stress increased build quality of the machines. The number of defective 360 units, if you use this and other gaming forums as a cross-section, is quite alarming.

2. Either develop a few innovative titles or encourage third-party developers to do the same. It seems just about every 360 title is a sequel or borrows heavily from an established, successful game. This system hasn't had one game that's an across-the-board "system seller" like Halo. I'm sure there are many football fans who say NCAA 07 is a system-seller, and that's fine. But it's a football game. A damn good football game, from all accounts, but that's nothing new there. The 360 doesn't have a game that pushes the boundaries of what we expect from gaming, like Gran Turismo did for the PSX or GTA III for the PS2 or Halo for the Xbox. It takes existing games and adds much better graphics and sound, and enhanced online functionality. That's not enough for me. It just seems the 360 titles have focused more on bells and whistles than deep, innovative core gameplay, from all reports and from my admittedly limited hands-on gaming with the system.

The poor quality of the unit and the lack of innovative titles have prevented me from being that interested in buying a 360. If MS can build a better machine and I see few "must have," innovative games for the system, I might scrape together the still too-high purchase price to buy one.

Take care,
PK

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

I think that's the most logical unbiased post here.

Although. I THINK that there is a chance it won't sell out. $600 is alot. I mean alot. The 499 system will sell out IMO but it'll take longer for the 600 to sell out (if it does).

Unless of course, Playstation fans bought the 360 and plan on sellin it at PS3 launch.

Ehh, I dunno what to think. I don't even care lol.

PS3 will sell like hotcakes, and will be gone from every store within minutes if not seconds.

One thing to remember, the people who will buy this are of age. So either the parents will buy it, or the kids who are 18 with brand new shiney credit cards will. You don't even have to pay any money, just flash the plastic, PS3 is yours. That's our society, so with that, there's no chance of the PS3 not selling out everywhere.

[PdiddyPop]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

As for the online aspect. I'd rather pay to have a good online experience. Then to have everyone with half a brain online. Thus diluting the online experience. With their cheesing *although it happens on live*, and their immature behaviors. Kinda keeps a lot more of those tools on the sidelines...when they have to flash some dough for a year.

[Brian Gee]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

First off, I'm a HUGE NFL2k5 fanboy, but anybody who thinks making that game BC (which probably won't happen) will make an "impact" on 360 sails is wrong. Sure, four or five stubborn gamers who chant "Ea NO WAY" in their basements might finally go buy a 360 to show support for 2k5 but an "impact"? No freakin' way.

The gameplan has to be to iron out the bugs in the system and keep marching along. They're doing a great job so far. Live is amazing and more than any of us could've hoped for and the price is right for now. They COULD drop it 50 bucks, but I don't think that's going to be the difference between victory and defeat.

The warranty thing is validated, but it's awfully hard to put THAT sticker on the front of the box. "1 YEAR WARRANTY INCLUDED WITH PURCHASE! When YOUR console skitzes out, it won't cost a thing!...at least for a year..."

Halo 3 is going to be huge. They'll need it to be ready to launch.

[LIGHTNING]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

PS3 will sell like hotcakes, and will be gone from every store within minutes if not seconds.

One thing to remember, the people who will buy this are of age. So either the parents will buy it, or the kids who are 18 with brand new shiney credit cards will. You don't even have to pay any money, just flash the plastic, PS3 is yours. That's our society, so with that, there's no chance of the PS3 not selling out everywhere.

Even if it sells out and people are willing to spend $600.00 on the PS3 hardware that is two hundred dollars more compared to the XBOX 360 hardware cost there will be less money available to spend on the games. Assumng most consumers who buy at launch budget about $700.00 to spend on video game hardware and software. If the PS3 price is $600.00 that leaves only about $100.00 for games and this compares with a XBOX 360 price of $400.00 with $300.00 left over to buy the games. The higher the price of the hardware the lower the games sold per unit hardware sold. The high price of the PS3 hardware is very bad for the game publishers.

[pk500]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

First off, I'm a HUGE NFL2k5 fanboy, but anybody who thinks making that game BC (which probably won't happen) will make an "impact" on 360 sails is wrong. Sure, four or five stubborn gamers who chant "Ea NO WAY" in their basements might finally go buy a 360 to show support for 2k5 but an "impact"? No freakin' way.

Agreed, and I have LOVED the 2K series since the Dreamcast, and NFL 2K5 with roster updates is still my pro football game of choice.

Still, NFL 2K5 is a 2-year-old game. It's fading into the rear-view mirror except for the hardcore 2K crowd, which is very small compared to that for EA football.

Plus the 2K series never outsold Madden, so it's not the huge hit that some think. And why would MS want to piss off EA, for which it had to end its XSN line just to get EA on Live, and make a 2-year-old former rival game with a small fan base compatiable with the 360?

Not worth the grief or programming time for MS.

Take care,
PK

[LIGHTNING]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

Agreed, and I have LOVED the 2K series since the Dreamcast, and NFL 2K5 with roster updates is still my pro football game of choice.

Still, NFL 2K5 is a 2-year-old game. It's fading into the rear-view mirror except for the hardcore 2K crowd, which is very small compared to that for EA football.

Plus the 2K series never outsold Madden, so it's not the huge hit that some think. And why would MS want to piss off EA, for which it had to end its XSN line just to get EA on Live, and make a 2-year-old former rival game with a small fan base compatiable with the 360?

Not worth the grief or programming time for MS.

Take care,
PK

I do not think Microsoft is scared of EA because they could if they desire bid for the NFL license and out bid EA for exclusive use of the license. This would really hurt EA very badly even if they do get the license but force them to pay much more for it. NOTHING would scare the corporate blue suits at EA more than Microsoft entering a biding war with EA for the NFL license. It is not likely that this will happen but it is possible.

[pk500]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

I do not think Microsoft is scared of EA because they could if they desire bid for the NFL license and out bid EA for exclusive use of the license. This would really hurt EA very badly even if they do get the license but force them to pay much more for it. NOTHING would scare the corporate blue suits at EA more than Microsoft entering a biding war with EA for the NFL license. It is not likely that this will happen but it is possible.

Microsoft might not be scared of EA, but it sure as hell respects its position as the No. 1 entertainment software company in the world.

No way MS would outbid EA for the NFL rights. MS is more of a hardware company than a software company in gaming, funny because it's the opposite in personal computing. Plus MS would create a crap football game, much like the flop known as the NFL Fever series, and alienate a lot of customers. It simply could not create an NFL game from close to scratch in a year and build a product as polished as Madden or NFL 2K. And that would piss off a LOT of gamers.

MS has a lot more money than EA, but it doesn't have the brand equity built from creating successful videogame franchises for the last 15-plus years. To many sports gamers, EA is as synonymous with sports titles as Kleenex is with facial tissue, Dixie cup is to waxed paper cups and iPod is to MP3 players.

You can't buy that kind of equity. So MS will do whatever it takes to have EA in its camp. That's why it sadly killed the XSN service and game titles, all to get EA on Live.

Plus I don't think the NFL or NFLPA would extend bidding rights to MS. Microsoft would make the NFL games Xbox exclusives, and that hurts the NFL. It limits the number of gamers that the NFL can reach with its gaming properties by shutting out Sony and Nintendo machines.

Remember, videogames are an increasingly important part of any sporting entity's marketing strategy, so why would you deliberately close out the majority of your potential fan base -- PlayStation owners -- just for MS' big money? It's not like the NFL is hurting for cash, but you never can have too much exposure, and the NFL is guaranteed that by granting exclusive rights to a multi-platform developer and publisher.

Take care,
PK

[Rodster]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

I agree with PK. MS would be foolish to pi$$ off EA because it's just not about one type of Sports game. It creates more problems for MS because a Domino effect takes place.

Say good buy to all types of EA games including their Sports Titles. In todays console world if you want to be succesful you need EA making games for your system. The Dreamcast learned this the hard way. Sure Sega brought over their great games but if you didn't like NFL2K and wanted to play Madden you had to do it on somebody elses system.

[Seether4113]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

I think that's the most logical unbiased post here.

Although. I THINK that there is a chance it won't sell out. $600 is alot. I mean alot. The 499 system will sell out IMO but it'll take longer for the 600 to sell out (if it does).

Unless of course, Playstation fans bought the 360 and plan on sellin it at PS3 launch.

Ehh, I dunno what to think. I don't even care lol.

Not a chance it wont sell it at launch. Just because you wouldnt pay $600 for it (me neither), doesnt mean there arent many out there that will. Look at all the people who dropped over a g on the 360 on Ebay.

[LIGHTNING]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

Microsoft might not be scared of EA, but it sure as hell respects its position as the No. 1 entertainment software company in the world.

No way MS would outbid EA for the NFL rights. MS is more of a hardware company than a software company in gaming, funny because it's the opposite in personal computing. Plus MS would create a crap football game, much like the flop known as the NFL Fever series, and alienate a lot of customers. It simply could not create an NFL game from close to scratch in a year and build a product as polished as Madden or NFL 2K. And that would piss off a LOT of gamers.

MS has a lot more money than EA, but it doesn't have the brand equity built from creating successful videogame franchises for the last 15-plus years. To many sports gamers, EA is as synonymous with sports titles as Kleenex is with facial tissue, Dixie cup is to waxed paper cups and iPod is to MP3 players.

You can't buy that kind of equity. So MS will do whatever it takes to have EA in its camp. That's why it sadly killed the XSN service and game titles, all to get EA on Live.

Plus I don't think the NFL or NFLPA would extend bidding rights to MS. Microsoft would make the NFL games Xbox exclusives, and that hurts the NFL. It limits the number of gamers that the NFL can reach with its gaming properties by shutting out Sony and Nintendo machines.

Remember, videogames are an increasingly important part of any sporting entity's marketing strategy, so why would you deliberately close out the majority of your potential fan base -- PlayStation owners -- just for MS' big money? It's not like the NFL is hurting for cash, but you never can have too much exposure, and the NFL is guaranteed that by granting exclusive rights to a multi-platform developer and publisher.

Take care,
PK

The NFL would want to deal with the highest bidder and Microsoft has 38 billion dollars. IF EA loses the NFL license it would seriously cripple them and it would be a big blow to Sony. The NFL does not care about Sony or Nintendo and they already have a huge audience. They care only about money and they will sell to the highest bidder. EA would still have to put their games on the XBOX 360 so that they can meet sales expectations. If they pull their games from the XBOX 360 they lose a lot of sales. I think the NFL would welcome competitive bidding for the license from Microsoft and others. Microsoft does not have to bid enough to get the license, all they have to do is bid high enough to force EA to pay much more than they would like. Now this is very unlikely, but having the big licenses like the NFL license, NASCAR, PGA etc could allow Microsoft to really get big advantages over the PS brand.

[LIGHTNING]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

I agree with PK. MS would be foolish to pi$$ off EA because it's just not about one type of Sports game. It creates more problems for MS because a Domino effect takes place.

Say good buy to all types of EA games including their Sports Titles. In todays console world if you want to be succesful you need EA making games for your system. The Dreamcast learned this the hard way. Sure Sega brought over their great games but if you didn't like NFL2K and wanted to play Madden you had to do it on somebody elses system.

They are not forced to stop at the NFL license they could go after the NCAA license, the PGA license, FIFA, NASCAR. This is entirely different from the SEGA Dreamcast because EA had the NFL license then but if they lose it in the future they will not be as powerful. Forget about being pissed, this would seriously cripple the EA brand. The NFL would likely welcome competitive bidding for the license. IF EA were to lose the license, people must be willing to play Madden with fake players, team names, logos etc. So it is not really the same game. All of this is hypothetical of course and very unlikely.

[dkgojackets]

Re: Xbox 360 Gameplan???? What do you think?

They care only about money and they will sell to the highest bidder.

Im sure the NFL gets some money in the form of royalties based on the number of games sold. A multi-platform game by an established brand is going to sell many more copies than a first year title on Xbox. Not to mention the exposure and publicity the NFL gets with Madden.