190°

Losing its byte

These are strange times in the world of video games. For the first time since the mid1990s, three rival consoles from different manufacturers are doing real battle for our leisure time. Back then, it was Sony, Nintendo and Sega. Now, Microsoft has taken Sega's place; worryingly, it seems also to have taken on Sega's habit of confusing potential customers with too much hardware.

The uncomfortable truth about the new 360 Elite is that it feels like a product from a company that is struggling to come to terms with the fact that it no longer has the next-generation playground to itself. The Elite may turn out to be a stop-gap on the road to the next version of the 360, but for now it feels like a Jack of all trades. And a master of absolutely none.

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technology.timesonline.co.uk
bung tickler6096d ago (Edited 6096d ago )

nothing is here to stay, everything gets outdated... that said.

if anything ms is taking sonys place and sony is taking segas... ok, ok, give me a second to explain.

nintendo been here for forever, then there was sega the second most established... along came sony, new guy, durring it's second system cycle it killed sega...

fast forward a few years...

nintendo been here for forever, then there's sony the second most established... along came ms, new guy, durring it's second system cycle it killed sony...

now you fanboys might not like it, but untill sony digs its way out of a distant third worldwide (if it even can) you can't help but to connect the dots. oh and here's another dot, sega had the most expensive system when it died...

ISay6096d ago

the US is only 24-30% of the market and while i agree all good things come to an end it wont be by microsofts hand

barom6095d ago (Edited 6095d ago )

First off Dreamcast was made to be easy to develop for. Same way as Xbox series.

Second Dreamcast came out a year earlier (or at least earlier).

Third Peter Moore worked for Sega and promoted the Dreamcast

Fourth Dreamcast had an established game library and PS2 had nothing when it came out

Five Microsoft is not gaining any third party support (anymore at least) and actually lost some (Haze). Is there any upcoming Xbox 360 exclusives that is NOT sponsored by Microsoft?

Sixth Dreamcast was a lot cheaper than the PS2 at PS2's launch.

On a sidenote I would like to say PS3 is doing great in both Europe and Japan. They increased sales in Japan when every other system decreased (DS,Wii,X360 included and probably PSP,PS2 too). I mean 2k a week and still decreasing, how low can X360 go? Haven't followed Europe's chart but I do know it's doing pretty good.

BenzMoney6096d ago

"It feels like a Jack of all trades. And a master of absolutely none."

lmao! Is he talking about the 360 or the PS3?

power of Green 6096d ago

The Elite is nothing more than a console with a bigger HDD and HDMI thats it!.

You don't look at the Silver set top box and pic it apart when all thats different from the Black one is that it enables HD content vs the black standard one; people will buy accordingly. Ridiculous...

Spike476096d ago

he's talking about the 360 elite.

I think that their might be a new rival in the horizon, hp fanboys rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bloodmask6096d ago (Edited 6096d ago )

and has a negative connotation bc of the lack of HD media, Wifi, etc. But these extra "options" are the very reason that the PS3 is failing miserably. Bc they have attributed to the $600 price point at launch.

Basicly the extra $100 dollars on the Elite price is for the larger HDD and HDMI.

HD media isn't needed for gaming and was solely put in the PS3 to win the format war. A very limited number of consumers watch HD movies on Consoles. By recent statistics less than 13% and half of consumers who buy PS3 don't even know what Bluray is.

Not to mention a hardwired connection will always be superior to WiFi. Even with the WiFi option I would never use it. Too many dropped signals.

So in conclusion I would think that Microsoft made the smart decision by not adding these extra features to the Elite, or the 360 for that matter. The sales would have been lackluster with the higher price tag. Very similar to PS3 sales most likely.

gEnKiE6095d ago

"HD media isn't needed for gaming and was solely put in the PS3 to win the format war. A very limited number of consumers watch HD movies on Consoles. By recent statistics less than 13% and half of consumers who buy PS3 don't even know what Bluray is."

Wasn't their an article just not too long ago about how PGR4 or whatever it is ran out of space on a DVD and is forced to cut corners to get the game to fit on a single dvd? You know, you say HD media isn't needed for gaming but i have to disagree with you their. Sure it isn't essential for todays games but down the road games are only going to get bigger and the more space is going to be needed. Even Epic said that their is going to be more content shipped on the ps3 version of unreal because they have the extra space to fool around with. Then again, the space isn't "needed" but it definitely is less space to be taken up on your hard drive for extra game content. I could really care less about the bluray as a hd movie format but i really love the fact that developers dont need to worry about how much space is left on a disk when they plan out a game, and like i said, games are only going to get bigger and i think microsoft really should of included a hd-dvd drive in the 360....

johnnywit6095d ago

I agree totally. Also, why would I want to spend so much money on wifi when I can get a 50 foot cable for 20 bucks. There would be no lag and it would be 80 dollars cheaper. I think the PS3 looks like a good system but I really believe they have added to much stuff to drive up the price.

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50°

Homeworld 3 Devs Discuss What Makes a Good Homeworld Game

Game Rant sits down with developers from Blackbird Interactive to talk about how Homeworld 3 looked to the franchise's main selling points.

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gamerant.com
60°

Killing Floor at 15 - When a Mod Launched a Critically Acclaimed Series

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220°

Price Reductions Available Now on the Digital Xbox 360 Store - Closing July 29, 2024

Xbox 360 launched 18 years ago and was a generation-defining console that invited many people to jump into gaming for the first time and connect with friends around the world. We’re thrilled people continue playing their favorite Xbox 360 games on Xbox 360, or on newer consoles via Backward Compatibility for supported titles.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
Einhander19721d 12h ago

"we believe in game preservation"

Remember the media reaction when PlayStation wanted to shut down the PS3 store (but then kept it open)... where is that reaction here?

CrimsonWing691d 11h ago

What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it.

You’re getting a chance to buy what you want before they close it. Moving forward digital stores should work like Steam. It’s just in this beginning they made it platform specific and closed off. A hindsight in their part and it sucks, but what is the percentage of people buying anything off these stores and what is the cost to keep the servers up?

I get it and yes making strives so this isn’t the case every gen we go into is absolutely a must. I mean PSN on PS3 is so convoluted to buy anything since you can’t use a credit card. Vita store is gone. It’s going to go away eventually.

Einhander19721d 11h ago

"What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it."

My point is when PlayStation did this every website under the sun was writing articles talking about how "anti-consumer" it was yet I haven't seen anything like that happening when it's xbox doing it, in fact mostly what I see is praise from media when xbox makes obviously false claims about game preservation while they close down their store and xblig and push for digital only consoles streaming and subscriptions.

What I am asking is for everyone to be criticized or praised equally.

I mean look at the way the PS5 Slim's detachable disk drive was reported, it was super critical. Even though in reality they made it easier for people who initially buy a digital only console to move to physical, it was actually a step away from digital only. But did it get reported like that at all... no.

And you can still buy stuff on PlayStation you just need to add money to your account on the website or a PS4/5.

Tacoboto1d 11h ago

That reaction isn't here because you can still play Xbox 360 discs of supported BC titles on Series and Xbox One, and you can still buy BC titles on the current Xbox Store.

It still sucks losing access to non-BC titles but don't act like it's the same situation. Let me know when PS5 actually supports my PS3 library.

Einhander19721d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

How are you going to play those discs on your Series S (which 75% of xbox owners have) or your adorably all digital Series X?

And keep in mind that BC on xbox is an extremely limited selection of games, it's less than 25% of retail releases, and way less than the entire catalogue.

It's not a solution for the future, this isn't how "game preservation" looks, it's the fake PR that makes it that much worse.

Tacoboto1d 10h ago

I'm not getting an all digital Series X so bark up someone else's tree, creep. I have my Series X for that disc support and functioning old hardware I still buy discs for (Bought Sudeki, Super Paper Mario, and 3D Dot Game Heroes a few months back - one for each old platform).

Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about.

Einhander19721d 9h ago

"Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about."

I understand that, I'm making commentary on the fact that xbox is moving to digital only (and that the vast majority of current gen xbox owners do not have a disc based option) and not towards preservation as they claim.

And obviously people can play games on the original hardware for as long as that lasts, I have hundreds of games from "retro" consoles, I own nearly 200 PS3 discs alone.

Is there some reason, you feel the need to make personal insults in every comment, I reply to what you say without insulting you. But you know whatever, it says more about you than me...

And for the record "you" was being used colloquially I wasn't speaking you directly.

shinoff21831d 7h ago

It won't as far as emulation. The os3 was built different.

I am in agreement though. I wish Sony would sell like an ultimate console. Have it where you have to order off their site and make it have real bc. Like the og ps3 had ps2 inside so to say.

Tacoboto1d 6h ago

@Ein You're a creep because of your obsessive comment history making everything revolve around Sony or how awful Xbox is to a point that you're now just throwing irrelevant things in any way you can.

And don't try to make "you" colloquially now just because you're wrong about me and your feelings got hurt.

Einhander19721d 3h ago

Whatever, keep insulting me, if you think that is going to make me change my opinions or what I say you couldn't be more far from the truth.

How you choose to treat other people only reflects poorly on you. (and this time it's not colloquially)

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1d 3h ago
darthv721d 10h ago

The PS3 situation may have something to do with no forward way to play those games on newer hardware. Not to mention the PS3 store has been around far less than the 360 store. 360 store closing was expected and they did a pretty good job making many of its digital games forward compatible with XBO and subsequently the Series as well. Ones they could not come to an agreement with are going to be left behind, but here is your chance for last minute deals for you to continue playing on your 360.

Just because the 360 store closes doesnt make all of those games you have (digital/physical) stop working on real 360 hardware. If people have physical 360 games, chances are they also have the means to play them. Just like People with PS3 games having a PS3. It would be nice if all older games worked on newer hardware... but that is not for us to decide, that is for MS, Sony and Nintendo.

Asplundh1d 9h ago

Difference being the 360 games will still be sold on series consoles, while the PS5 only preserved a selection of Ps3 games for premium subs. If the Xbox 360 store closes the games will still be available, if the Ps3 store closes then those games are gone.

How does this contradict what they said about game preservation?

Einhander19721d 9h ago

As far as what I have read that is not accurate, except for a small selection of games that are available through BC.

And even when the PS3 and Vita stores were going to be shut down they still were still going to be available to download if you purchased them already.

rlow11d 2h ago

So you’re asking for equal treatment? That’s not how the world works or don’t you know? Which I can can’t believe you’re that naive. Xbox gets attacked on this site all the time. You have to ask why that was a big deal amongst the PS3 fan base? Because it wasn’t Xbox fans that were throwing up a huge stink. It’s was PlayStation fans and look at the results, Sony gave in and kept it open. You should celebrate it, instead of worrying about who takes it on the chin more.

The one thing I’ve Learned, is these companies don’t need people to defend them. They have all done things worth criticizing, but it will never be equal.

darthv721d 2h ago

While the 360 store is closing and you will not be able to make any new purchases from a 360..... you can still download content you have previously purchased prior to the closure. The same can also be said about access to 360 games available on the XBO/Series. You will be able to make new purchases of titles that are available on the current store as well as download previously purchased content that is also compatible with the XBO/Series.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1d 2h ago
1Victor1d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h ago )

RIP Xbox 360 digital store and all its games.
It really grinds my gears that they are waiting till 10 days before closing to give the best discounts and the list as of now is 100 or less titles from the massive 360 library

Phoenix761d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

I should have enough points by the weekend to get £25 credit off MS, (hardly ever spend money on xb1), might look at a few of these.

DivineHand1251d 11h ago

The Xbox 360 store was one of the only advantages the Xbox Series consoles had over the PS5. When I got my series X, I spent more playing Xbox 360 games vs current-gen Xbox games since that was the golden era for Xbox and several titles had enhancements such as 4k resolution and fps boost.

Closing this store will now only benefit the competition.

VersusDMC1d 11h ago

The xbox360 store is closing on the xbox 360.

Xbox 360 games are unaffected on the xbox one and series consoles.

Einhander19721d 10h ago

"Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store on the console ->and the Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com).<-&q uot;

You will not be able to purchase any 360 games. You will only be able to play xbox discs if you have a console that support discs which doesn't look great for the future of xbox, if it has one.

VersusDMC1d 10h ago

@Ein

Why are you repeating what i said?

You will not be able to buy digital 360 games to play on your 360.

You will still be able to buy 360 games on Xbone and Series consoles. Go to marketplace.xbox.com, that's the old browser store and not the new one.

Knightofelemia1d 7h ago

Won't be long before Sony pulls the plug on the PS3.

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