Neowin.net

First... record breaking? Haha... yeah right. 300k vs. 600k for first week? Maybe record for sucking the most in 2001.

umm it may not have sold more in the first week, but the facts are right there, 3games sold per console avg and 1.5million nov15-dec31, 2001. i dont think ps2 or any other console can do much better.

Duh, No wonder they sold 3 games per unit. MS forced this upon its buyers because all preorder bundles sold anywhere ONLY sold with at least three games in the bundles. Its easy for them to say they had the best game sell ratio especially when they force them on you.. We had no choice but to buy three games!

Thats true, but i got it at launch by itself at fry's

actually it was the stores themselves who set the bundles, not MS so get off Gates & Microsoft. Your gonna want more games later on anyway, so either way your gonna buy. its a business. they are out to make $ just like everything else in this world.. all i can say is MS put out a damn nice console ! XBOX iz da shiat !

1.5 million sold * $300=$450 million wasted. that must be a record

I just bought my XBox and I got three games anyway, not that I had to. I got the typical bundle, three games (Amped, DOA, Halo) and a controler and the system. I'm really proud of my purchase and I can't possibly stop playing Amped like a sad Addict. I think Xbox will go a long way, I hope it does, anyway, because, by god, it's good. As to a comment up there.... I think it proves the Xbox's power in the consumer market that to buy the system, you had to make a large investment of an extra $200 (Three games, and accesory), proving you REALLY cared about the xbox... That you were impressed. Where as fairweather parents instead pulled a cheap move and bought a Gamecube and two games for $300 because Xbox was good, but too much. The fact that people are willing to spend a whole $500 says a lot. It says that Xbox proved itself to them.

No, it just says that X-Box is expensive and some people will take a shot in the mouth from Bill himself to buy their Microsft crap. People who bought the Game Cube said to themselves "Will I go with trusted Nintendo who has a system that costs way less or will I go with some newcomer that is too cheap to give me DVD playability right out of the box?" They made the right decision. Also, the fact that the PS2 sold more systems without the games proves that people were willing to invest thier money on a system without any games that they wanted to buy when it first came out. That is faith my friend. PS2 all the way.

Indeed, PS2 all the way for me too I got my PS2 WITHOUT any games, and I was very happy with it. I just need some more games ... (I just bought my PS2 )

PC is the best. some one please make a x-box emulator

Actually, Microsoft was pretty much forcing stores to bundle the games with it... i.e. stores that bundled got more xboxes, stores that didn't only got a few...

i agree pc is the best ever... the xbox is just a cheaper way of getting a bite of that pie

I'd also like to say that I just bought a PS2 not but a week ago, my reasoning behind that was because the games were better and they had much more. I understand that XBOX doesn't have many because they just launched but the games they did have at launch really bit the big one in my humble opinion, I'm just not one for the type of games on the XBOX right this moment. I also chose the PS2 over the XBOX because I didnt want a damn generator sittin around, I mean really.. look at the thing.. it's huge! Another factor in my decision were the controllers between the two, the XBOX controllers remind me too much of the Cream Cast controllers, they're way too big and I never have found a liking to them. Also, I'd rather put my trust in Sony than Microsoft. So far I'm very satisfied in my decision between the XBOX and PS2. I didn't even give the Gamecube thought because of the fact that it doesn't have an integrated DVD player in it I still can't believe Nintendo thought they'd have any chance selling as many consoles as the PS2 or XBOX w/o having a DVD player but then again I supose they were just going for the low budget cunsumers that already have a DVD player. It'll be interesting to see the stats on who sold more consoles by the end of 2002, I still think many have gone with the PS2 just because of the name behind the system. Guess we'll see.

[quote]People who bought the Game Cube said to themselves "Will I go with trusted Nintendo who has a system that costs way less or will I go with some newcomer that is too cheap to give me DVD playability right out of the box?" [/quote] Well, at least they have the option of DVD at all. I believe GameCube uses 3" discs, which are smaller than DVD's the last time I checked. This means it can't play DVD's at all. Panasonic is actually making a GameCube in Japan that will play DVD's. It is only going to be released in Japan, and you will not see it in the United States. Guess what the Japanese price converts to in United States dollars. Yup, you guessed it $300 (just like the XBo. Not that you will ever see this DVD-playing GameCube on U.S. shores. For only $100 more than the GameCube, you get DVD playback (for an extra $30), an 8 GB harddrive for saving games and ripping your own music to it (this eliminates the need for memory cards), online Broadband support right out of the box, and the most sophisticated graphics chip of any console in existence. Now for you PS2 users. Yes, both consoles (PS2 and XBo play DVD's, which already beats GameCube. However, the XBox uses a DVD remote, while the PS2 has a clunky controller for everything. What's that you say? You say that you can get a remote for PS2 DVD playback? You'll have to go out to a store and spend at least $20 for it. Go to any good online or print publication that reviews the XBox's and the PS2's DVD playback, and every single one of them will say that the XBox's DVD player beats the PS2 DVD player. Remember, I didn't say it. It says it in the magazines and on their websites. Second of all, I'll introduce the same argument that I had for the GameCube. The XBox has a harddrive (doesn't need memory cards) and it has online Broadband support right out of the box. You might say that it can't be used yet, well already people are playing Halo and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2X online through their computers. The XBox's online network goes up this Spring. Finally, the XBox has 4 controller ports right out of the box, while you have to go out and buy a MultiTap to do this with a PS2. I know what you are going to say. You're gonna say that the PS2 also has a hard drive coming for it. You have to but it separately, and most developers aren't developing with the harddrive in mind because they know that most PS2 users won't go out and but a $100 harddrive. And now for the PC users. Yes, you have your super high-powered video and sound cards, and your hardware configurations that far exceed that of the XBox. Well, all I can say is, good for you. We should all go out and spend so much money on hardware. It's much more expensive than getting an XBox for $300. The best video cards alone would cost you more. Finally, even if you do have you super hardware configurations, developers don't have those super configurations in mind. They are still developing games to make sure they work well on the NVIDIA TNT2 on a 333 MHz processor and 32 MB of RAM, not just on the Geforce3 Ti 500 on a 1.5 GHz processor with 512 MB or more of RAM. It will take a long time before they make games with the Geforce3 in mind as the lowest common denominator. On the XBox, they are all identical. There is no lowest common denominator. All the developers know what the XBox's hardware configuration is, and all of them develop for it with that configuration in mind. Sorry for writing a novel. I'm just really adamant about this subject.

Hawkeye, You have made some real good points throughout your "Novel", I also feel that Sony does milk you on the broadband and hardrive. That right there is the largest downside of going the PS2 route I bought my PS2 about a week ago and dropped about $500 for everything I've gotten for it.. NBA Street, Bond, Sony DVD Remote Controller, 8MB Memory Card, an extra gaming controller and the console itself. That really blows, and then to think that if I'd like to purchase a hard drive with broadband support down the road that I'm going to be forced to shell out another $200-$300 that really blows my mind. Overall the biggest reason why I got the PS2 is because I feel more confident giving my money to Sony than Microsoft, I'm kind of afraid to see what happens when MS does decide to release there Network. We'll just have to see though.

Last edited by 1092 on 10 Jan 2002 - 00:42

X-Box Launch games are pretty much all sweet X-Box = win Fantavision. 'nuff said

Funny how Sony's network will be up in Spring as well in the US. It's already up in Japan and running nicely. So PS2 doesn't come with a hard drive...big deal. Developers ARE developing with the PS2 HDD in mind, FFX is compatible with it in Japan, and would be here if we had the hard drive yet. There are lots of other games with planned HDD compatibility. Why do you trust things from magazines? Read official press reports, not mediatized bullcrap.

Last edited by 2509 on 10 Jan 2002 - 06:35

[quote]Funny how Sony's network will be up in Spring as well in the US. It's already up in Japan and running nicely. So PS2 doesn't come with a hard drive...big deal. Developers ARE developing with the PS2 HDD in mind, FFX is compatible with it in Japan, and would be here if we had the hard drive yet. There are lots of other games with planned HDD compatibility. Why do you trust things from magazines? Read official press reports, not mediatized bullcrap.[/quote] Well, I guess you wouldn't mind spending the extra $100 to $200 on the harddrive then would you? And also, that extra $40 on the network adapter shouldn't be too much of a burden, huh? I mostly have not been reading magazines recently, actually. I get most of my gaming news from IGN. Guess where they get it. Yup, official press reports. You can find out information about the harddrive and the network adapter there. I hope you have a lot of money to spend. Let's see, $300 for the PS2, $150 on the harddrive, and $40 on the network adapter. That brings you to a nice $490 for what the XBox has right out of the box for $300. Yes, FFX is compatible with the harddrive in Japan. You got me there. Now can you name at least one XBox game that [b]isn't[/b] compatible with the harddrive? That's impossible, because they are all compatible. 100% of XBox games that have been released so far, and 100% of those that will be out in the future are completely compatible with the harddrive. There may be lots of other games that are planned for use with the harddrive, but does Sony really expect every person who wants to play one of these games to its fullest potential to go out and buy a $150 harddrive? Unless they plan to implement the harddrive for at least 50% of the games (not likely), it is incorrect to say that they are developing games knowing that they can use the harddrive. Sure, they know that there is that option, but unless every PS2 owner has it, it is not going to make sense developing games that use the harddrive. Every XBox owner has the XBox harddrive, so every developer knows that they can take advantage of the harddrive.

Saw on the news this morning, Sony are claiming that 5 million PS2's were sold at christmas alone ... worth a thought

Hawkeye, to let you know the Hard Drive will also come with the network adaptor.. both are one product that will be priced anywhere from 200-300 when and if launched in the America's.

[quote]to let you know the Hard Drive will also come with the network adaptor.. both are one product that will be priced anywhere from 200-300 when and if launched in the America's.[/quote] Thank you, Bain. I think this justifies my point that it will cost a lot to get the PS2 harddrive and network adpater, even if they do come together.

I do not like the X-Box at all. I do not care about flashy graphics, I do not care about DVD playback. I do not care about controller ports. I care about the games and gameplay, and I've played a large amount of X-Box games, and they are quite uninspiring and boring. I like the Gamecube because the games are well designed, and fun. I like the Playstation 2 because of the Final Fantasy games, I was also a big fan of Metal Gear Solid 1. It is all a matter of opinion though, and arguments on this subject are stupid, because people will always like something, and hate the other.

Anyone that thinks that a system with DVD playing capabilities beats any without should be shot. You buy consoles to play games... capabilities like DVDs makes no difference. Tell me ONE place that tells me an Xbox is better at playing DVDs than any 200 dollar DVD player. I'd rather get something that was specialized in what it was made for rather than some gimmicky thing they added in for people to hype over. I bet 90% atleast of all people that bought the Xbox already have a DVD player. The capability is almost useless. And the Xbox's DVD capabilities have to be unlocked for 30 dollars? Lame. The PS2's comes WITH it... and you get a controller that is a LOT better if you spend some for the official one. Don't tell me the Xbox controller is better than the Sony one. No way... that would be BS. You can't rule out the GC JUST because it doesn't play DVDs. That's just stupid. Atleast Nintendo nor Sony nor Sega needs to use Photoshop to show off games. Nor do they need to rig polls to promote their stuff.

Ok. Both #22 and #23 make very good, strong points. I will agree that a gaming console is primarily made for just that—gaming. So, it is true that DVD playback alone does not make or break a console. In high-quality games, at least in my opinion, the XBox does not go without. Halo, which is pretty much a system seller on its own, has been rated the best game of 2001. I do not know why anybody would not like Halo, but I guess it happens. DOA3 is considered one of the best fighting games around. Project Gotham Racing is a great racing game. There are currently three different football games to choose from for the XBox: NFL Fever 2002, Madden 2002, and NFL 2K2 (made by Sega Sports). The great PC game, Max Payne, got excellent reviews for the XBox, but lower reviews for the PS2 version. Since XBox is a fairly new console, there are not that many games out for it. In the coming months, XBox will be getting games such as WWF RAW, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 (coming for XBox a little later than the other consoles because it will have full XBox online support), Grand Theft Auto 3, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, a Serious Sam game, and a game that will be coming to all next generation consoles at the same time, by the name of Soul Calibur II.

Well, one of the Consols sold was not by me. They still need to bring out some ground breaking games. I wanted a Xbox so bad a while back, but soon calmed down. I still have my PS2 and GTA3, FFX, MGS2 are excellents games. GTA3 is incrediable. Hurry up Xbox and bring out some VERY good ones.

One word, two syllables: [b]Dreamcast[/b] This is for Hawkeye: ps2 HD 40gig, Xbox HD 10gig Microsoft had the luxury of releasing their console with the technology to make their games HD compatible, Sony by next year will be even steven with them in that regard. From a gaming sense, a common area of problem people have with the xbox is the damn gargantuan controllers. Because they both have great third party support, little nuisances like that will give the edge to ps2 along with its famialiarity and proven success in the gaming world.

Yes, I know the PS2 hard drive is going to be much larger than the XBox hard drive. I still do not see a reason to have such a huge hard drive. The hard drive on my XBox is going to take forever to fill up. I have about 10 different games saved to it (this includes preferences, stats, replays, unlocked characters, levels, cars, seasons, costumes, and franchise mode in NFL Fever), and I've ripped about 30 different CD's full of music to it. It still says 50000+ blocks available, just like it did the day I got it. So, the 10 GB harddrive suits me just fine, and it will for years to come. May I also tell you that since the PS2 harddrive will be external, it will take longer to read from it than the internal XBox harddrive, which uses a standard connection cable, much like the one you would find in a PC.