Microsoft confident it can take all comers

Microsoft Corp. admits it is facing stiff competition for consumers' entertainment dollars, but believes with its massive resources it should be able to win out over competitors such as Apple Inc. and Sony Corp.

[RememberThe357]

...How do they plan to do that?

[Anton Chigurh]

AAA titles coming this winter ?? checked
huge game library ??? checked
better online experience ?? checked

but, still PS brand is more popular than the xbox they need time to spread their wings in the game market

[Genesis5]

Reliable hardware?? - not checked

[HighDefinition]

1st party studios- Not Checked.

[Tmac]

Lmao, better online experience11!!! lol, and then one triple a game.

[AAACE5]

People (including myself) gave Nintendo a slim chance of surviving in this console gen, and shockingly, they are in the number 1 sopt! So I say...Anything can happen!

Also, for a MS post, it's ironic that there are so many anti-MS comments!

[cherrypie]

@1.2 Re: reliable hardware:

The heat issues were resolved last year. Existing users are taken care-of (contrast that with the HORRIBLE experience Sony dumped on its PS2 users last gen)

Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center Extenders
Digital Media Distribution (Movies and TV) via Zune and Xbox LIVE
Partnerships with industry leaders like Netflix (Mobile Sony, HTC, et al; Plays For Sure in the DAP market; GPS and Embedded etc etc etc)
Open Development and community gaming via XNA and XNA Community (which gives XNA devs a chance to *self-publish and earn income* by writing download-able game and market *directly* to the console owners)
First Class AAA Exclusives
First Class 3-rd Party Support from all industry leading Devs/Publishers
Xbox LIVE Arcade First Class Downloadable titles via
Solidly leading the PS3 in total world-wide hardware installs and software sales.
New Xbox Experience (NXE) Software Relaunch of the Xbox 360
Medals and Achievements
Avatars
Social Gaming Explosion (Scene It, Lips, Rock Band 2 First on Xbox 360, You're in the Movies, 1 vs. 100, Primetime, Avatars)
Windows Mobile
Xbox LIVE (on Windows Mobile, Windows, Xbox)

And on and on and on. MS is bringing all the pieces of the Connected, Digital Entertainment future together, like no other competitor.

MS has all the pieces. Does Apple have a Console? Does Sony have a Desktop OS? Does Apple have XNA? Does Sony have Windows Media Center?

No. That is why I buy MS products, now that they've moved into hardware (Xbox, Zune) they are (by far) delivering the best technology, features, value and overall experience of *any* other firm in the market.

I've bought a new Ford in order to have Sync (which, is fcuking awesome btw).

[DJ]

Dude, the online experience is identical on both systems. 360's cheaper upfront, but about $300 more over the long run. Maybe even a little extra if you want to recharge your controllers.

[potenquatro]

and what the hell are all those good 1st party studios good for if you still don't have the great games. what is all that reliable harware good for if you can't even run games properly. and what the hell is up with all the SONY fantards. go back to the sony threads, to the "5 reasons you should own a ps3" board, you all sound like your gonna have an orgy with the ps3. hey, if your's fits through the usb port, go for it, we won't judge. i'll like to see you guys cry about xbox trolls on ps3 news now.
on topic: they can take on all comers by constantly putting great games out there,they should focus on that.

[Ozzyb]

Had to approve this so everyone can see Microsoft say that they have "well-designed hardware". I don't think Bill Gates himself would buy that.

[Idonthatejustcreate]

Your name makes me doubt that your story is true...

[Le-mo]

Win over Sony? Possible, but unlikely.
Win over Apple? Keep dreaming Micro.

[clintos59]

Talk is cheap, dont talk crap unless u have proven yourself in the gaming industry. As great as a library MS has, they have improved in there games department but they still lack exclusives and they forget there hardware has the highest failure rate in history of gaming. I think they will come in last place in this next gen war but its good to know they wont be leaving anytime soon. And like they say competition is good because the better the competition, the better games we get.

[Ozzyb]

Agree with that for sure. Nintendo wouldn't keep Sony on its toes, they'd just shoot for different markets most of the time. Bubbles ~

[cherrypie]

"hardware has the highest failure rate in history of gaming."

You didnt have a PS2 did you.

I had *three* failed PS2s. I couldnt even get a Sony Rep to *return my calls*.

There was a cottage industry built around fixing PS2s. There were signs in windows of electronics shops "WE FIX PS2s". The Newspaper *always* had a bunch of "WE FIX PS2s" ads.

I have *two* Xbox 360s (pro upstairs, elite down) -- EACH LONGER THAN THE LIFE OF MY FIRST PS2 -- and NEITHER has had a single problem.

Please stop spreading FUD like you know it to be true. You just look foolish.

[Ozzyb]

I think you are the one who is misinformed. I have my ORIGINAL PS2, you know, from when it first came out. Nobody I know has had a broken Playstation, but quite a few people I know have had RROD. Please don't try to blow that crap out of proportion because you know damn well that "Disc-read Error" and RROD are not even the same ballpark. You may have had to return 20 PS2s, but you are a very rare case indeed. I have not heard of too many people never having to swap out their 360s.. and welcome to the fact that you sound like a HUGE Fanboy. I thought defending RROD was a lost cause? I guess you can pick up the torch and run it all by your lonesome.

Next time, reply to the correct post.

[outlawlife]

just to be fair everyone i know who had a 360 got the rrod

and all of the people i know who had a ps2 in the beginning had a failure of some sort, optical drive, power supply etc

people who say the ps2s problems didn't exist are fools because they did, and they were big

i got my ps2 on launch day and it didn't last 6 months, sony "repaired" it for $127 dollars...and then it was dead again within 5 months where they wanted to charge me again so i sold my games(had almost every ps2 game up to that point) and bought an original xbox and was on live when it launched and i haven't regretted it yet

hardware has problems, you get a RROD it gets fixed for free ratehr quickly, microsoft has already well surpassd the success of the first xbox so now they are just riding it out

they aren't going anywhere for a long time, sony has lost much more money this gen than MS has so i'd worry more about where sony is going to be next gen than MS

[JEDI WOLVERINE]

They need to step up their quality control for both hardware and software by all accounts.

[Tmac]

Stepping up is an understatement, rehaul their strategy.

[MaximusPrime]

M$ believes everything, including his mother.

no really, shut the hell up. you are like a bickering annoying crying nerd.

[Pain]

Only to get laughed at?

but yea Good luck M$ like a dying rat on a sicking ship the screams get lauder the closer the the end.

Fact Apple is getting Ever so sweet revenge on M$ with is stuff iphone /taking the Pc market and Sony's going to deliver the final blow with PS3.

spin away bots~ or open your beady little blind eyes and kill your self's in disbelief

[MaximusPrime]

my laptop recently did an "security update" (one of those yellow shield) and guess what? i had problems with the the following browser:
IE: cant open internet page
Firefox: problem with google
Safari: works fine
google Chrome: cant open internet page

Thank you very much MS. I cant even fix the flaming thing. No i dont want Vista.

[Fishy Fingers]

Have you tried deleting the hotfix (update)?

In case your unsure how....

start > control panel > add/remove programs > click the little box to display updates (if they're not visible already) > look for the hotfix that corresponds to the date of the update > delete it.

Now you'll probably get a warning but don't panic, even if you deleted the wrong one Windows will auto try and update that again.

[Denges]

"Bach said Microsoft's strength lies in its ability to design well-made hardware"

LOL

[juuken]

"strength lies in its ability to design well-made hardware and code "world-class" software."

...Lmfao.

I would say well made software (to a certain degree) but not well-made hardware.

Saying and doing are two different things. Microsoft needs to do less talking and more walking.

[Stryfeno2]

First article of the day I read and there you go on HATING.

Ok...We all know the 360 and the RROD situation. Now, I personally own..

1. Windows mobile phone
2. Zune
3. MS Mouse and PC controllers

None of those hardwares ever failed on me. Can you explain that, or do I need a little more time?

Nintendo said they Next Gen console (before it was released) that they were going to try something different, and look at them now.

[juuken]

"First article of the day I read and there you go on HATING."

...*blinks* I praised the software? How is that hating?

"Ok...We all know the 360 and the RROD situation. Now, I personally own..

1. Windows mobile phone
2. Zune
3. MS Mouse and PC controllers

None of those hardwares ever failed on me."

...This is referring to the 360, not the hardware you just mentioned to me.

"Can you explain that, or do I need a little more time?"

This is in the 360 section. This is about the 360. I was referring to the 360 so please calm down.

"Nintendo said they Next Gen console (before it was released) that they were going to try something different, and look at them now."

Look at them now? They're outselling both competitors. Uh...yeah.

And you hit the disagree button like a little baby.

[Stryfeno2]

Nintendo are outselling both competitors...But alot of you Sony fans were already building a coffin for Nintendo and declaring Sony the winner. When the Wii was first shown on E3 2006, who would of thought that little machine would be a success.

Give MS time...You have to learn to crawl first before you can walk.

Edit: that is because you always hit the disagree button on me...I know you are my disagree phantom, even though I'm right 99.9% of the time.

Watch how I prove my point.

[juuken]

I'm your disagree phantom? How cute but...no. I hit the disagree button because I disagreed with your comments, just you you hit it because you disagreed with me. :o)

"Nintendo are outselling both competitors...But alot of you Sony fans were already building a coffin for Nintendo and declaring Sony the winner."

I'm a Sony fan and I don't want to build a coffin for Nintendo because without Nintendo, Sony wouldn't have existed. I support Nintendo as much as I support Sony so...yeah. And you're wrong about *most* Sony fans. Most Sony fans believe that Sony probably won't catch up to Nintendo but it'll be real close.

"Give MS time...You have to learn to crawl first before you can walk."

I'm sorry but Microsoft has been in the industry long enough to learn something decent for once in their miserable lives as a corporation. Sure they'll probably give Sony trouble but in terms of Apple?

...No.

[Kleptic]

wrong thread...

[morganfell]

juuken,

I hate the fact that the first article of the day you and I, as well as the rest of the intelligent world have to read is a laughable claim by Microsoft such as this. Were we not more perceptive then it would certainly be insulting for anyone to be expected to swallow this mountain sized lie.

BLUES SCREEN OF DEATH. RED RING OF DEATH. See a pattern here? I piss on Apple for their commercials that claim only what Microsoft is not rather than what they are. But in a way it is justly deserved because that is the MS tactic in the console war they are losing. Another pattern. Both losers use that tactic.

Then there is that mini-brick called a Zune you mentioned. I bought the HALO edition and took it back a week later. I have never seen a device constructed to intentionally prevent you from using it. I swear the device and it's useless software were designed by a bunch of retarded apes. Considering the fact it is a no brainer, you would think they would have given the damn thing at least a decent ability to interface with the 360. But considering swapping files with the 360 is a one way street little would have come of it.

Microsoft runs out of innovation when their competitors haven't updated their products.

[Perjoss]

I dont like microsoft, but I really like my 360 (when its working) they might not be dominating the console market but they certainly have a firm foot in the door. It looks like Sony might begin to dominate sometime soon (some might say they already are) but microsoft did well to make them crap their pants there for a while. considering it only took them 1 and a half console generations to get where they are, I think thats pretty good.

[clintos59]

MS is doing a great job this time around and really if u look at it, MS has done a fabulous job especially grabbing alot of titles that were once big on the playstation brand and even getting a few to be exclusive or timed exclusive and exclusive DLC.

The problem is looking down the line, sony will begin bringing exclusive killer apps one after another and will be rolling with games begining this fall and heading into 2009 and MS hasnt done nothing to strengthen up on its first party studios. They need to start doing that now, that way atleast no matter the outcome of this next gen battle by the time the next xbox comes out, they will have tons of first and second party support and fire power to go on and maybe finally win that war in the console wars which I believe they can do if they aquire a few more first and second party support. If they can do that, they will be able to go toe to toe with nintendo and sony at a more even playground and will certainly give sony and nintendo a run for there money for the console king.

[cherrypie]

" games begining this fall and heading into 2009 and MS hasnt done nothing to strengthen up on its first party studios"

Wait just a second here. It thought *2008* was "the year of PS3"? This is starting to sound *a lot* like the "Linux on the Desktop" cheerleaders; "Oh Just wait until _next_ year!1!".

Youre statement misses a SUBSTANTIAL amount of information, like, ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT MICROSOFT HAS PLANNED FOR 2009. Why? BECAUSE they have INTENTIONALLY not talked about those games. Do you think they really have *nothing planned*?

MS is talking about the games that are coming *this year*! In 2009, they will talk about the games that they will ship in 2009!

Sony has a (bad) habit of talking about games that are way way away from shipping -- and this is simply confusing in the market.

When I look at the games *i am playing today*, and the ones *i will be playing shortly* I am very happy.

I have ZERO worry that MS will have MORE THAN ENOUGH exciting, AAA, genre-exploding, Top-Flight, Hit titles in 2009. Just like 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Im *really* tired of this "just wait until Next Year* cheerleading from zealots. I heard *all of this* last year from the same crowd. Its just embarrassing for yourselves. Please stop.

[clrlite]

Has been waiting for hardware manufacturing prices to go down before they crank up their marketing i think.

LOL @ 2.1 AND 2.2 BUBBLES+

[Kratos Spartan]

An Apple a day keeps Microsoft away...

yea that was lame i know

[DJ]

If your hardware has crappy reliability, if you lie to both consumers and shareholders, and if you're wasting all your money buying your competitors' software instead of developing your own.

[mgbass13]

I must say MS has proved it's worth with XBL. Otherwise, they have bought their way to victory over their competitors and released a defective POS console.

[aggh im on fire]

Sony did exactly the same thing with ps1 and ps2 buying up sega and nintendo's developers so to say microsoft are all bad because of it is just short sighted. There just doing exactly what Sony did only with more money.

[alakazzam]

its just not possible, firstly because a lot of people hate microsoft and think of it as unreliable. imo microsoft just seems to lack a certain touch of inspiration that apple, sony, nintendo etc have done so well. i do like the new zune 80, but i wouldn't swap it for my ipod EVER

[mcgrawgamer]

I get a kick out of the comments.

this site should be called New 4 playstation or News against microsoft.

The anti microsoft comments on this site are laughable. I've never seen this much anit msft hate, not even on the playstation blog.

MSFT has two things going against it.

1. it's not Sony.
2. it's a American company.

long as those two issues are around MSFT will always be 2nd at best.

[cheapndirty]

For those that do not think the Non Hardrive 360 can NOT play all games you are 100% wrong. Do you own both? Obviously not. I have no problem playing any game on my arcade model.I have 40 titles plus I use gamefly. If I want DLC and am willing to pay for it, I play the game on my 20gb 360.

And yes I have a launch 60gb ps3 that I bought at 599.00 not the 399.00 get people off the fence price.

R-E-A-D read. Say it with me. READ.