Sony days at number 1 could be coming to an end

Sony has had the most successful console in video game history. And the ps2 was well worthy of being the second heir to the playstion thrown. But with tougher competiton and and advance hardware. Ps2 could very well loose it\'s crown.

Sony has attempted to change ps2 into a striped down pc. Offering real player and real network programs. Allowing email, instant messaging, and other internet capabilties to go along with a 40 gig hdd, and a stand-alone lcd display and ethernet connection.(In addition too  it\'s dvd and cd playabilities)

Maybe sony wants to appeal to a more diverse age group who knows. But time will tell how this new strategy will effect the way gamers see the ps2.

Now it seems like online gaming will be the next best thing to hit a video game console. But unlike one of sonys competitors. Ps2 gamers are plagued with having to buy add-ons to experience online playability.  While xbox comes with BB right out of the box which guarantee\'s that every xbox owner can experience online gaming. Video game companys already http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010516/sfw047.html have  started raving over microsoft choice to put those features right into Xbox. (And announced there games)

All I am saying is that it is something to think about. Xbox and gamecube offer technical advances over sonys ps2. And I am not saying just because xbox and gamecube are more powerful than ps2 that it means ps2 will fall. Xbox has the best specs out of all the next gen console to ship, but it is a new comer competing with house hold names.  And Ps2 has some of the best titles you will get on a console. So it is a force to be reckon. I guess time will tell.

Competition = better games.  It will all work out in the end.

Unfortunately MS\' strategy of including all the neccessary network adapters out of the box will not mean that all gamers that one an X-Box will be able to experience online gaming. Because of the fact that MS decided to stick to a broadband only solution and because broadband has been slower comming than many predicted odds are that there will be as many X-Box users able to play online with their boadband conection (read: not many) as there will be PS2 owners that went out and bought a network adapter (read: not many).

Not that I care since I have access to broadband and narrowband, albeit my cable modem is nowhere near tapping the potential of a cable conection.

Other than that point on which I disagree it\'s going to be a hell of a war and I\'m gona be playing triple agent.

Originally posted by kangu-G^Ltt^s
Unfortunately MS\' strategy of including all the neccessary network adapters out of the box will not mean that all gamers that one an X-Box will be able to experience online gaming. Because of the fact that MS decided to stick to a broadband only solution

It does mean all xbox owners will be able to experience online gaming if they sign up for bb access. Who wants to play games on 56k? Too much pausing and it takes too long to download levels. Ahh 56K is so crappy for online gaming.

WHo in there right mind would game with a 56k modem.
It\'s just insane, SEGA put so much work in the DC online gamming, yet it lags, and is very slow. I remeber SEGA saying that they didn\'t make VT online cause they needed cable to do it.

-XBOX

By that same logic ALL PS2 owners and NGC owners can experience online gaming by buying the network adapters.

The fact of the matter is that broadband is very expensive at the moment, and if Microsoft is really going to sell the 100 million consoles it so confidently claims it will sell odds are that less than 10 % of owners will be able to experience online gaming. It;s a shame that so many people will be paying for the adapter included in the console yet because they have no choice and are unable to obtain a broadband connection will have it rendered obsolete.

The fact is MS should have included narrowband in it\'s online plans. You can dissmiss it and say things like "who wants to play on a modem, modems suck for online gaming", but the people who have no access to broadband don\'t think so. I am very much sure that narrowbanders would rather play on their 56k modems than not play at all.

Originally posted by XBOX


It does mean all xbox owners will be able to experience online gaming if they sign up for bb access. Who wants to play games on 56k? Too much pausing and it takes too long to download levels. Ahh 56K is so crappy for online gaming.

Broadband isnt available in all areas, so all Xbox users wont be able to. And it is very expensive so not everyone can afford it yet, I imagine the price will come down.
But I dont really care. I can live without online gaming.

WHo in there right mind would game with a 56k modem.

Those who can\'t afford Cable/DSL or don\'t have Broadband in their area.

- dm
- the trick is to keep breathing.

ive said it time and time again

the XBOX will never match the PS\'s user base

two years later and it lacks certain features that appeal to the "adult" crowd, which tends to purchase most consoles.

i would be suprised even if the gamecube can match the PS\'s user base.  

*disclaimer*
"im not cutting down the XBOX.  im sure its a fine little console that would be yer best friend if u asked it nicely.  please save all threats and insults as to not end up like ethugg"

striped down pc

HAHHA!
Thats the funniest thing Ive ever heard..
LOL!

Originally posted by XBOX


It does mean all xbox owners will be able to experience online gaming if they sign up for bb access. Who wants to play games on 56k? Too much pausing and it takes too long to download levels. Ahh 56K is so crappy for online gaming.

yeah but there are areas that dont have bb ability, my city is 6th in the U.S. in bb access but my suburb doesnt have it

Yes Xbox might come with BB out of the box,but the DVD doesnt, you have to buy a remote,which will probably be something STUPID like $40,which in that case is the same as the ps2, because that is how much the modem/BB add-on is going to be for the ps2

Originally posted by fastson
striped down pc

HAHHA!
Thats the funniest thing Ive ever heard..
LOL!

The TRUTH has never been so funny...not to mention ironic.

Originally posted by mm
ive said it time and time again

the XBOX will never match the PS\'s user base

two years later and it lacks certain features that appeal to the "adult" crowd, which tends to purchase most consoles.

i would be suprised even if the gamecube can match the PS\'s user base.  

*disclaimer*
"im not cutting down the XBOX.  im sure its a fine little console that would be yer best friend if u asked it nicely.  please save all threats and insults as to not end up like ethugg"

You sure seem confident that PS2 will manage to outsell two more powerful consoles.  On top of that Sony has no intention of dropping the price of the PS2.  Consumers don\'t care about "franchise" titles, they care about graphics.  If they see an Xbox and GameCube kiosk inside their retailer and then compare them to the PS2 graphics and then look at the price tag, which non-biased casual consumer would pick a $299 PS2 over the more powerful Xbox for $299.  When they see the PS2 next to the $199 GC the only reservation they\'re going to have is this: "Something must be wrong with the Xbox and GCN because if they\'re more powerful why do they cost the same (or less than) the PS2?"  PS2 fans on this board seems to think that everyone who owns a PSX is a hardcore and loyal Sony fan.  The truth of the matter is that they\'ll jump ship in a heart beat.

MM, I wouldn\'t bet on PS2 winning.  60 million PSX owners have not committed to PS2 yet.  Plus the majority of the 10 million PS2 owners are hardcore gamers that will own all three systems.  Those are potential future Xbox and Game Cube owners.  I will guarantee that PS2 sales won\'t continue to be brisk...like all consoles PS2 will go through a sales drought.  If you noticed, it\'s no longer hard to find PS2\'s.  In fact, it\'s actually harder to get RID of them now.

Originally posted by DirectXbox


You sure seem confident that PS2 will manage to outsell two more powerful consoles.  On top of that Sony has no intention of dropping the price of the PS2.  Consumers don\'t care about "franchise" titles, they care about graphics.  If they see an Xbox and GameCube kiosk inside their retailer and then compare them to the PS2 graphics and then look at the price tag, which non-biased casual consumer would pick a $299 PS2 over the more powerful Xbox for $299.  When they see the PS2 next to the $199 GC the only reservation they\'re going to have is this: "Something must be wrong with the Xbox and GCN because if they\'re more powerful why do they cost the same (or less than) the PS2?"  PS2 fans on this board seems to think that everyone who owns a PSX is a hardcore and loyal Sony fan.  The truth of the matter is that they\'ll jump ship in a heart beat.

So much to say, so little space/time!  First, I agree with everyone stating something to the effect that the world isn\'t completely ready for online gaming.  Having the online capability come with the PS2 would have probably upped the price.  I, like many people, aren\'t that much in to online gaming.  Probably most people buying a PS2 don\'t plan on playing online just yet.  Why buy something with parts that you won\'t even use until you can afford it?  My neighborhood just got BB, and no one has yet to switch over to it.  Everyone is skeptical, give them time.

Now, DirectXbox, Consumers DO care about "franchise" titles more than graphics.  I sometimes have friends come over who would rather play my NES than PS2 because I currently have a kick-butt collection of titles.  The Whole reason I bought a PS2 (I never had a PSX) is that I wanted to play the new stuff, and the giant collection of old stuff.  Quality of gameplay preceeds quality of graphics.  Think about it, would you play a game just because it has good graphics?  Get a screen saver.   If and when I buy an xbox and/or gc, it\'ll be when they have a larger quantity of quality games that my PS2 can\'t provide.  Sony has the family name that has proven itself.  gc does also, that\'s why I feel that it will do well too.  But it\'s a journey upstream for xbox.  Even though it will probably do well.

My point in sumarry:

Not everyone is ready for online play.

People care more about the selection of games available.