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Tuesday, Microsoft's Xbox 360 Fires the Latest Round in the Console Wars

Posted on: Sunday, 20 November 2005, 21:00 CST

By Kyle Kennedy, The Ledger, Lakeland, Fla.

Nov. 20--All Cameron Cobb wants for Christmas is an Xbox 360, the new video game system from Microsoft that hits stores Tuesday.

But to find one, the 10-year-old Lakelander might need some inside help.

"I called my godmother who works for Microsoft. I thought maybe she could get me one on her discount," Cameron, a student at Wendell Watson Elementary, said in an e-mail. "She said I should wait until the prices go down. I told her I could not wait. I wanted one now."

Gamers young and old have a decision to make: Do you brave the crowds and shell out $299 (or $399 for a deluxe version) to be among the first to test the next big thing in video game technology? Or do you wait until next year, when Sony and Nintendo debut their own new consoles?

"I'm planning on getting a 360, whenever I get the money," said Robbie Gentry, 17, of Lakeland. "The (first) Xbox was awesome."

"I've got an Xbox but I'm not buying the next one," said Mike Mellon, 36, of Winter!

Haven. "Possibly when the price comes down. It's way too much money."

Microsoft's early launch could help it establish a foothold in the next round of what gamers call the Console Wars -- the competition between manufacturers to lure players with new technology and exclusive games.

Earlier this month, Microsoft officials said they expect to sell up to 3 million Xbox 360s within 90 days of the product's arrival in North America. The get-there-first approach worked well for Sony in 2000, when it launched its PlayStation2 a year ahead of the first Xbox and Nintendo's GameCube.

To date, Sony's PS2 has captured roughly 51 percent of the worldwide market for current consoles, compared to 34 percent for Xbox and 15 percent for the GameCube, according to technology research firm Gartner Inc.

Video games are big business: The PS2 alone has sold about 91 million units worldwide, and New York-based Jupiter Research estimates that 2005 U.S. sales for consoles, games and accessories will reach $8.5 billion, climbing to $14 billion in 2008.

Despite its hefty price tag, the Xbox 360 shouldn't have a hard time finding an audience. EB Games locations in Polk County will have a midnight sale Monday for customers who pre-ordered the system.

"It should be a pretty good crowd.

People are asking about it every day," said Scott Gafford, manager at EB Games in Mulberry. Local Wal-Mart stores will also have midnight sales.

But Matt McRoberts, managing partner of the marketing firm iris, said actually getting an Xbox 360 could prove difficult. McRoberts says that Microsoft is limiting production and initial shipments of the 360 to create a perception of high demand.

"It's a savvy move," he said. "If you're having a difficult time keeping them on the shelves then it must be a great product, or at least that's what they're trying to make you think."

A Microsoft spokesman did not return e-mails seeking comment.

Those who find an Xbox 360 on Tuesday can choose from a $299 "core system" that includes basic hardware, or a $399 package that comes with accessories like a wireless controller, hard drive and headset.

A total of 18 games will be available at launch time, with retail prices between $50 and $60. Roughly 200 games from the first Xbox also will be playable on the system.

Under its hood, the Xbox 360 boasts three separate processors, a custom ATI graphics card and 512 megabytes of RAM. It's essentially like having a brawny PC solely devoted to playing games.

Players can expect games with highly detailed graphics and gorgeous effects, but as with any new console, the first batch of titles won't be a true demonstration of the system's capabilities. The Xbox 360 supports high-definition and widescreen gaming, however, so a newer TV will improve the visual experience.

Additional features include decorative faceplates and the ability to play DVDs and connect with Microsoft Media Center PCs. Online gaming will still be handled through Xbox Live.

As for the alternatives, Sony's PlayStation3 is expected to arrive in spring 2006 with an estimated price of about $500. Many analysts say the PS3's technology will be superior to that of the Xbox 360.

"Although the Xbox 360 looks really trendy, I'm going to wait until the PS3 comes out," Hans Arndt, 19, of Lakeland, said in an e-mail. "That way I can make an educated decision about my purchase."

Nintendo's Revolution is rumored to launch sometime in 2006, with the system's most notable feature being a remote control-like gamepad that translates the user's movements onto the screen. Another whisper is the Revolution will be priced far lower than the Xbox 360 or PS3.

Whatever your choice, the next generation of consoles should be good news for gamers. If the past five years are any indication, the intense competition between manufacturers will yield a new era of games that reach new heights in graphics and imagination.

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To see more of The Ledger -- including its homes, jobs, cars and other classified listings -- or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.theledger.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, The Ledger, Lakeland, Fla.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

MSFT, NTDOF, NTDOY, 7974, SNE, 6758,

Source: The Ledger

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