Microsoft in GTA IV panic

[Icemage]

PC shared "exclusives" are a double edged sword for the 360. The existence of the majority of 360 exclusives on the PC platform is one of the prime reasons I don't own one. Why settle for a 360 version when the PC version is (typically) better and more feature-rich?

In any case, the point still stands - the 360 needs to do better than match the PS3 in sales on multiplats in North America. I think we can agree that Japan is a lost cause for Microsoft, and Europe is looking likely to turn into WiiS3 for this gen - PS3 sales have vaulted over the 360s in most countries in Europe, and that trend doesn't look like it's going to reverse itself.

That's why I am saying that Microsoft must win North American sales decisively over the next year or they're going to end up last this gen. They can't win Japan, and all signs are suggesting that they can't win Europe. A stalemate against the PS3 in North America makes them the loser by default even in the short term.

A 360 price cut would be a step in the right direction for them, but unless it brings them in line with the Wii, I don't know how much impact it will have. They're already lower than the PS3 at the baseline levels, and the Elite isn't the sort of unit that people care as much about price - it's a "high-end" unit that you expect to pay more for.

[rounds1]

The PC ports are a double-edged sword, but the more games a console has altogether, whether ports or not, the merrier. Nobody's buying a 360 just for Two Worlds 2, but maybe they will for TW2, plus w, x, y and z (afterall, we can't all afford high-end PC's).

Barring some sort of miracle, I think it's inevitable the 360 will end up in 3rd place this generation, but it won't necessarily be a bad thing. Even though the PS3 is beginning to beat it in worldwide monthly sales, it's not by a gigantic amount, and software sales are still largely in the 360's favor. And even in 3rd, it will still have probably managed to steal a HUGE chunk of marketshare from Sony. For this, they'll be in an even better position next gen to possibly even beat Sony altogether. World domination doesn't happen overnight.

They do have to outsell the PS3 in the US and do what they can to do the same in the UK. If they can maintain and possibly build leads in those 2 areas, they'll have made the dent I believe MS wanted to this time around, though, they still have to be disappointed in Japan. But the US andd UK are 2 regions they didn't win at all last gen., yet now they have a chance to do just that (a much slimmer chance in the UK).

I still believe Sony priced itself out of the same market the PS2 enjoyed. By the time the PS3 reaches mass-market prices, it's going to be pretty late in the game and it's likely we'll be talking about Wii 2's and XBOX 720's by then. I mean, a year and a half into the game and their entry point is still $400. That and the fact that it's so difficult and expensive to develop for, meaning many lesser-known titles will simply need to pass, makes me believe the library will never come close to the PS2's or 360's.

I know the PS3 is gaining steam and has a few huge titles scheduled to be released this year, but I'm still not seeing a lot of 3rd party support for them. When I check out news for the XBOX and PS3, like I do every day, there are always tons of articles talking about upcoming 360 games and hardly any for the PS3. Not all big names, mind you, but more notches on the headboard.

[PirateThom]

My God, I might as well just work for Sony, or Scott Steinberg reads this board.

Sony are more or less passing off 360 DLC as nothing:

"not only do you get Grand Theft Auto, but you'll get [Metal Gear Solid 4], you'll get Gran Turismo and these are also brands that have moved hardware units." Calling those three games "the elite of the elite products that actually enable hardware to be sold with software."

Xbox 360: Sony Shrugs Off 360 Exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV Episodic Content In PR Shocker

[chedabob]

Sony have a habit of doing that. And it usually backfires.

[PirateThom]

Originally Posted by chedabob

Sony have a habit of doing that. And it usually backfires.

Yeah, but the last time they did it was with Lair.

LAIR.

SERIOUSLY.

LAIR.

Fuck, I just broke my right Alt key in anger.

[PirateThom]

RUMOUR: Europe to see GTAIV PS3 Bundle

This is just a rumour at the moment, but with the EU unlikely to get the MGS4 bundle, it's a possibility.