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Re: Xbox 360 struggiling to push 1080p
Considering Xbox representatives actually said to their fans that the original Xbox was "an experiment and it didn't matter," I find no reason to believe that they won't toss out a revised model this early into the game and not care about it. Unfortunately it's not a matter of when the Zephyr is released, it's a matter of when you can go buy a Zephyr that won't crap out on you within 90 days.
As I said before, Microsoft builds their console hardware with the present in mind, not the future, which is a very unfortunate problem they have in the software department as well. If not being able to manage a proper online service is in Sony's "DNA" according to Peter Moore, then releasing unfinished product is certainly in Microsoft's genes.
I'll put in my 2 cents on the Wii since I own one as well: I'm disappointed but not regretful of my purchase. Fortunately I wasn't going in expecting a revolutionary new experience that would forever change the way games are played. It was obvious that anyone who bought into that idea had issues and didn't know the first thing about gaming. I bought my Wii thinking one thing, "I can play Zelda when I pick this thing up." Sadly I've beaten Zelda and it wasn't that great, and...well...what's next for the Wii other than minigame compilations and inferior ports?
The Wii is certainly a one-trick pony (nay-sayers, ask yourself this: Does the hardware itself really have any distinct advantage over its competitors other than its controller or price?), but it's just a matter of how far developers and Nintendo can take that one trick and go running with, or without it. Just like Nintendo claims that graphics don't matter, it can be said that the Wii's controller doesn't matter. If they want me to believe that it's the games that make a platform great (which I agree with wholeheartedly) then they wouldn't be trying to sell me on this Wii Remote so damn hard. What's the cause? There aren't enough good games coming out on the Wii that don't depend so much on the controller. The upside? We'll still see games like Metroid Prime 3 Corruption and Super Smash Bros. Brawl that have very little to do with the design of the controller; I've enjoyed Metroid Prime without any such device and I've enjoyed Smash Bros. in the same way I play Final Fantasy XII; with a standard controller. Thankfully like earlier Nintendo platforms of greatness, there look to be enough first-party titles in development to keep me interested. Otherwise, there's really not much announced so far from third parties for me to care much about the Wii; it's all about Metroid and Smash Bros. in 2007 which is a little bit depressing to me.
All this opinionated negativity I prefer to make known to my peers about the 360 may seem a little harsh, but I'd really just like to see the platform succeed, and the only defining factor of why it won't just yet is Microsoft's inexperience in the console market, which wasn't solved completely with the trashing of the Xbox. Despite its shortcomings it's a fantastic piece of hardware and while I've yet to see any one game out yet that alone justifies the $400 price tag, it'd be largely hypocritical for me to discount it forever being the satisfied owner of a PS3. It'd take an idiot to not see that the 360 has the greatly better software library at the moment. Thankfully the few games I really need to make that 360 purchase worth it will be out shortly (here's looking at you, Blue Dragon), but I'm a great opponent to the "console war" ideology that's surfaced lately among even the mainstream media, and I'd give anything to live in a world where it doesn't matter what consoles you own, but that you play and enjoy games.
Considering Xbox representatives actually said to their fans that the original Xbox was "an experiment and it didn't matter," I find no reason to believe that they won't toss out a revised model this early into the game and not care about it. Unfortunately it's not a matter of when the Zephyr is released, it's a matter of when you can go buy a Zephyr that won't crap out on you within 90 days.
As I said before, Microsoft builds their console hardware with the present in mind, not the future, which is a very unfortunate problem they have in the software department as well. If not being able to manage a proper online service is in Sony's "DNA" according to Peter Moore, then releasing unfinished product is certainly in Microsoft's genes.
I'll put in my 2 cents on the Wii since I own one as well: I'm disappointed but not regretful of my purchase. Fortunately I wasn't going in expecting a revolutionary new experience that would forever change the way games are played. It was obvious that anyone who bought into that idea had issues and didn't know the first thing about gaming. I bought my Wii thinking one thing, "I can play Zelda when I pick this thing up." Sadly I've beaten Zelda and it wasn't that great, and...well...what's next for the Wii other than minigame compilations and inferior ports?
The Wii is certainly a one-trick pony (nay-sayers, ask yourself this: Does the hardware itself really have any distinct advantage over its competitors other than its controller or price?), but it's just a matter of how far developers and Nintendo can take that one trick and go running with, or without it. Just like Nintendo claims that graphics don't matter, it can be said that the Wii's controller doesn't matter. If they want me to believe that it's the games that make a platform great (which I agree with wholeheartedly) then they wouldn't be trying to sell me on this Wii Remote so damn hard. What's the cause? There aren't enough good games coming out on the Wii that don't depend so much on the controller. The upside? We'll still see games like Metroid Prime 3 Corruption and Super Smash Bros. Brawl that have very little to do with the design of the controller; I've enjoyed Metroid Prime without any such device and I've enjoyed Smash Bros. in the same way I play Final Fantasy XII; with a standard controller. Thankfully like earlier Nintendo platforms of greatness, there look to be enough first-party titles in development to keep me interested. Otherwise, there's really not much announced so far from third parties for me to care much about the Wii; it's all about Metroid and Smash Bros. in 2007 which is a little bit depressing to me.
All this opinionated negativity I prefer to make known to my peers about the 360 may seem a little harsh, but I'd really just like to see the platform succeed, and the only defining factor of why it won't just yet is Microsoft's inexperience in the console market, which wasn't solved completely with the trashing of the Xbox. Despite its shortcomings it's a fantastic piece of hardware and while I've yet to see any one game out yet that alone justifies the $400 price tag, it'd be largely hypocritical for me to discount it forever being the satisfied owner of a PS3. It'd take an idiot to not see that the 360 has the greatly better software library at the moment. Thankfully the few games I really need to make that 360 purchase worth it will be out shortly (here's looking at you, Blue Dragon), but I'm a great opponent to the "console war" ideology that's surfaced lately among even the mainstream media, and I'd give anything to live in a world where it doesn't matter what consoles you own, but that you play and enjoy games.
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