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"Sold separately" redux

04:15 PM - August 17, 2005 by Splinters From The Pine

I'm stunned.

As I read the newly-released details regarding the Xbox 360's pricing and packages over and over again, I can't wrap my mind around what I'm reading.
For the first time since the original Xbox launched, I have no clue what...{br}{br}View the Entire Article{br}

Member Comments

# 21 sdrotar @ 08/18/05 06:39 PM

Well, it's less that the casual gamers need to have a hard drive - it's more that the hardcore gamers are better served by the casual gamers having one.

It's just the nature of software design.

# 22 Shamrock_11 @ 08/18/05 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdrotar


	Well, it's less that the casual gamers need to have a hard drive - it's more that the hardcore gamers are better served by the casual gamers having one.

Are you certain of that? I don't think anyone knows what these new consoles are fully capable of. The 512mb of Ram in the 360, not to mention the 10mb built into the gpu are astounding numbers for a console, and I think that is what developers can utilize the most. Having said that, IMHO, most installed Xbox 360's will still have the HDD in them. I just don't think it's an either/or equation here.

# 23 fossen @ 08/18/05 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrock_11


	Having said that, IMHO, most installed Xbox 360's will still have the HDD in them.

A) I think you'll end up wrong. Perhaps not among early adopters, but certainly in the long run.

B) It doesn't even matter. Developers will not code to take advantage of a piece of hardware that they don't know will be there.

# 24 Shamrock_11 @ 08/18/05 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fossen


	A) I think you'll end up wrong. Perhaps not among early adopters, but certainly in the long run. B) It doesn't even matter. Developers will not code to take advantage of a piece of hardware that they don't know will be there.

Time will tell. This is an entirely new generation of consoles, and developers have plans for where they want to take their games. Microsoft and Sony have talked extensively with developers and know what they want to do with their games. Can you honestly say that the approach Microsoft is taking will lead to less HDD's in their systems than more? I can't. I think Microsoft has listened to the game developers and given them what they want. When you see developer's come forward chastising this move, then we'll know there is a problem.

# 25 Dregur @ 08/18/05 10:09 PM

Lowest common denominator. Especially for consoles. Remember, consoles were supposed to be the "Buy it, and never have to buy an add-on to enjoy top of the line games" unlike a PC. By seperating the crowd, developers will spend LESS time on anything that will use the HD, because like a lot of people are saying, it's splintering the community.

If the X-Box HD is being underutilized now, it's gonna be completely dismissed by a majority of companies, or not used to it's full potential.

-The Grinman

# 26 Shamrock_11 @ 08/18/05 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dregur


	Lowest common denominator. Especially for consoles. Remember, consoles were supposed to be the "Buy it, and never have to buy an add-on to enjoy top of the line games" unlike a PC. By seperating the crowd, developers will spend LESS time on anything that will use the HD, because like a lot of people are saying, it's splintering the community. If the X-Box HD is being underutilized now, it's gonna be completely dismissed by a majority of companies, or not used to it's full potential. -The Grinman

That's conventional wisdom. My point is that the old rules don't necessarily apply anymore. I guess we'll all see soon enough.

# 27 DXZeke @ 08/19/05 03:59 PM

What do you really need the HD for?

Quicker Load times are a nice thing.
Not having to deal with Memory Cards is nice.

The PS2 - from a techinal standpoint look at what compaines have been doing on the PS2 with streaming tricks.

Look what Visual Concepts did with the PS2 versions of their sports games. They had replays during half time IF you had the HD.

They CAN and WILL program games to take advantage of the HD. Not in the frst generation of games, but into the 2nd and 3rd.

Morrowind: Oblviion. They are doing that right now. Most likely you'll have longer load times and less bodies lying around, where as the HD will give them support for caching techniqes, etc.

Things will be ok.

Sony is the one that needs worry. Having a $400 system, a $100 HD that does not support game saves.

Microsoft still has the advantage.

# 28 bigboy41 @ 08/19/05 09:07 PM

First of all I would like to say hello and I dig this site. I come to this site daily and I'm one never to post, but after the last couple of days of "shock and awe", I decided its about time I voice my opinion on this matter..........

After reading the blog I could not agree more!! I have read other sites and it seems there are two camps MS is aiming for....Camp #1 The so called "Hard-core gamers" and Camp #2 The so called "Casual gamers". And it seems thats exactly what MS wants and I cant for the life of me wonder why?

First of all I really dont know how you can call one group "Hard-core" and the other not. I for one have played video games since the Atari and played or purchased everything since then, I've waited in line for launch systems and played games until my thumbs bled. Now I don't know what camp I fall in, but from MS point of view I must be in camp #2, because I'm not "Hard-core" enough to get a HDD without either buying the premium package or shell out another $40-$100 just to save my games or to make the load time faster, or want to have the Xbox Live set and on top of that, even want the Hi-Def cables to make the games play to there real potential.

I'm really try to understand MS motive on this besides trying to make a quick dollar, because there really isn't a need for the "core" system for $299, I mean what is the point? With the original Xbox you knew that once you got the system and a game you where good to go, unless you wanted the extra stuff i.e. Hi Def cables, Xbox Live, DVD playback etc.... Now if you want to even save a game on the 360 they make you buy something that was STANDARD on the previous system, and to me that is the major problem that people are having. I could care less if the controller is wired or not, I don't have any use for the Xbox live stuff, and if I want to use the DVD playback I will buy the remote just like I done with the first Xbox, that my friends is what I call accessories! I just dont understand not having any kind of HDD or storage medium built-in when that one feature plus Live gave the Xbox a HUGE advantage over the PS2 and Gamecube and now that advantage is now gone.

You have people on this site and others telling ppl "quit crying and buy the HDD or memory card!" or "just buy the premium package, its a great deal!" and I can't argue that point, but.....What about people that just want to buy the system and enjoy it without knowing that you have the "mini 360"? Because I knew from day one when I purchased the first Xbox I knew there wasn't some other "premium" Xbox out there and if i had access to broadband I would have Live, but that isn't an option. But I guess my point is this....The "core" system is basically worthless and if you dont have access to broadband or dont play on Live the "premium" package gives you things you have know use for.

Now my question is why? With all the momentum MS got from the Xbox why would you want to split the consumers into two camps? There is no way you can take on Sony with such a move and hope to come out on top, unless Sony prices the PS3 out of this world because I can bet you they want come out with a "core" and "premium" system.

# 29 Angel_Fan @ 08/20/05 02:20 AM

Anyone know how to grow a money tree because I think Im gonna be broke after the first week this thing comes out.

# 30 DXZeke @ 08/20/05 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel_Fan


	Anyone know how to grow a money tree because I think Im gonna be broke after the first week this thing comes out.

Find a Sugar Momma who's loaded.

# 31 quietcool72 @ 08/22/05 04:40 PM

I think I may be risking an oversimplification- but I think there's a ton of people out there who are sick of current gen- which has been stretched about one to two years too long (and potentially 3 to 4 years too long, depending on when PS3 people get their machines.)

Sony has stretched 5 years out of the PS2 in a time when graphics horsepower and processing has seen its biggest jump ever. The XBOX is at four years. We're due.

At the five year mark, people are ready for something new. The Genesis came out at the five year mark of the NES, and did well (SNES, being the second guy in the water, didn't catch up.) Then PS1 came in at about the 5 year mark of the Genesis (N64, being the second guy in the race- never caught up)... then PS2 came in at about the 5 year mark of the PS1...

XBOX coming out a year later.. never caught up.

History has shown that the first hardware mfr with good support releasing around year five of a given generation often wins the overall numbers. Microsoft is doing just that. Meanwhile Sony is a "next year" product... and some are saying "perhaps 2007 if Sony is SMART".

Smart? Goes to show you how accounting firms don't know gamers.

I think Mr. Drotar makes a good point, but I also know that this industry is starved for something new... especially with graphics capabilities. Nothing has really "Dazzled us" lately.

I'll buy the Premium 360- not because of how they packaging the peripherals- but rather because I'm so stinking bored with the same ol' stuff on current gen. (Especially with sports- and that goes for 2k and EA alike).

This will only get worse we as drool over "PREY" "F.E.A.R." and "Quake 4"'s graphics over on the PC.

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