EGM Rumor Mole (January)

[Bond]

Here are some of the highlights:

Xbox 2 Before Playstation 3
Not terribly surprising comes word that the Next Box (that's a play on word, ya see) will supposedly show up before Sony's Playstation 3 debut (still a few years away - 2005 or 6 at current estimates). This news came direct from the main man Ed Fries over at Microsoft. Just remember, folks, the earliest bird doesn't always get the worm (otherwise we'd still be Dreamcastin').

2003: Year of the MMORPG
MMORPG! No, it's not some word I pulled outta Webster's Zebulonese Dictionary. It's an acronym for Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, and if The Q's Magic 8-Ball is correct, "it is decidedly so" that you'll see loads of them for Xbox by Microsoft and others in the new year. You already know about True Fantasy and Star Was Galaxies, but there's a total of four or five of these babies in development for 2003 (some may slip to 2004). Even Rare is producing their own (I can already see it - create your character by sticking googly-eyes on everyday household items. Fun!).... Also on the MMORPG front (but not Xbox) is Final Fantasy XI. Good news: It's "outlook good" on a U.S. release. Bad News: It may still be a long wait before we see it....

That's it for what QuarterMann had to say about the Xbox, I'll add in this interesting GBA tid bit though:

The Hot Q: New GBA or Not?
Would Nintendo divide the handheld market and alienate gamers who bought a GBA just one year ago by introducing a new, more powerful version of the hardware, just to incorporate cell-phone technology? That's the question now, with buzz circulating that the Big N has such a device in development (which I mentioned during last month's visit), and some even reporting it will happen next month in Japan! Lemme just say this: Nintendo's not one to push the technology envelope so soon after a launch. Years separated previous versions of their handheld hardware...

I think they'll stick with the GBA for a few more years... anyone else have thoughts on the subject(s)?

[gekko]

Xbox 2 will be rushed. PS3 will be rushed. Both will suck. People might not want to wait for Nintendo 5. Sega jumps in, rules the world. Umm... no predictions right now. Just have to say this:

I was never impressed with PS2 from the start. Promised a lot, delivered little. Suffered hardware-wise. It would be smart of Sony to take things slow, and put out better hardware. If you ask me, they got lucky developers didn't ditch them from the start when they realized what a bitch it was to develop for. Don't make the same mistake twice.

Xbox 2, I can smell disapointment. Xbox's fan base are the ones always looking for the best graphics and sound. Sound they may get, but the sonner Xbox 2 comes out, the worse the graphics will be. They have the best hardware because they waited. Why rush things?

And GBA, Nintendo will wait. The cell-phone thing was shown early on. Planned to release one with built-in capabilities alongside an adapter for the current one. If they do go threw with this (I don't see the reasoning, at least not stateside), I'd bet they release an adapter plus a new unit like initially planned.

[Dyne]

Shouldn't this be in "Fight Club"? =P

I agree with Gekko on the first subject. 100%. If rumours are correct about Microsoft's Sony-thirsty sales, we'll definitely see a change in quality in both of them. And.... Aha.... a Rare MMORPG.... sounds enticing. Microsoft must have pushed the envelope on them as soon as they bought them for one of these. I wonder if they'll make a completely new series or exploit an older Rare franchise? That shouldn't be the case though, because we know their philosophies right now--and they could change for all we know.

GBA 2... yes, I've been hearing a lot about this lately, and I have not believed one. Nintendo knows the score when it comes to handhelds--they've been number one since the beginning and have the largest known fanbase known to the non-PC game market. Plus, they've been there since the beginning, and I honestly don't think they'll rush something like this at all what with the Gamecube Game Boy Player and the suggested "online" functions along with it. There's no way in hell that they'll do anything drastic like a completely different handheld for another year or so. What Nintendo said directly to everyone has been "All games all the time--no filler!" since the early years. Who knows, maybe they'll get hitched with Panasonic *starts to make funny noises* and start to get jiggy with the industry. That I'd like to see.

Oh... yes. Panasonic's blood thirsty revenge on Sony is great, and I think it's even with Nintendo's. Them combined... well.... and Microsoft ready to rumble with them with the new Sony console... well... I'd hate to work for SCEA in the coming years now that it's going to be a whole new ball game.

[Perfect Stu]

releasing XBox 2 before PS3 will be a big mistake for Microsoft, for 3 reasons IMO:

1) You're rushing the system...milk the XBox for everything its worth, and give your fans a good 5-6 year lifespan for the system...cutting off the life of the XBox will anger some fans, who may then decide not to buy Microsoft's next system

2) By releasing Xbox 2 before anything else, Microsoft will lose the biggest wild card they have this generation: superior hardware (graphics)

3) Although Microsoft really can't avoid this, the XBox 2 will lose an edge on the competition. Built in hard drive and ethernet ports will be standard with the PS3.

[Bond]

Originally posted by Dyne
Shouldn't this be in "Fight Club"? =P

I don't think so... I just typed up all the Xbox stuff I could find. Added in the GBA article because I was feeling generous.

Most consoles are 'rushed'. I mean, nothing is ever perfect, so everything is always rushed. Or at least you could look at it that way. I'm pretty sure Xbox 2 will come out before Playstation 3 though, maybe only a month gap or. I doubt it will be a year or more, Sony would never allow that. Also, I think the Xbox will again be the most technologically advanced system. Simply because Microsoft has the most money to spend on it and the most access to new technology in my opinion. It's also a great debating and advertising option. Early reports have indicated the Xbox 2 chip is more advanced than the Playstation 3 chip.

3) Although Microsoft really can't avoid this, the XBox 2 will lose an edge on the competition. Built in hard drive and ethernet ports will be standard with the PS3.

Sony is a generation behind Microsoft (hard drive, ethernet port, 4 controller ports)... by the time the PS3 has a hard drive and ethernet port standard Microsoft will have already moved on to something else on the Xbox 2. Xbox 2 will have everything standard that the Xbox has and more... you can quote me on that.

[gekko]

Originally posted by Bond
Also, I think the Xbox will again be the most technologically advanced system. Simply because Microsoft has the most money to spend on it and the most access to new technology in my opinion. It's also a great debating and advertising option. Early reports have indicated the Xbox 2 chip is more advanced than the Playstation 3 chip.

Well PS3 has been in development for ages. Hell, the upgrade chips announced before DCs release are part of the plan. But I personally don't believe any of the reports. Xbox 2 might be shooting for higher goals, but in reality, how would either company really know what will be advanced 4 years from now? nVidia is currently working on the nv30. If they release that with Xbox 2, they'll be laughed at.

I wouldn't say Microsoft has more access to technology. Microsoft will be going to their trusted PC companies again, likely nVidia. Not saying much. Not like Sony or Nintendo can't go to PC companies for the newest and the greatest stuff. If Nintendo goes with ATI again, they got the same technology as nVidia. Don't know what Sony is doing, but I wouldn't say they have less access to the technology than MS.

But if Xbox 2 and PS3 come out in 2005. Guess who will be at E3 2005 showing off the best hardware? Nintendo. The one who comes out last will be the one advertising their graphics and amazing capability. If Xbox 2 comes out first, they can only brag until the next system is unveiled. Kind of like Sony no longer brags about looking too hot, but back at E3 with the Gran Turismo demo, boy did they think they were hot ****.

Sony is a generation behind Microsoft (hard drive, ethernet port, 4 controller ports)... by the time the PS3 has a hard drive and ethernet port standard Microsoft will have already moved on to something else on the Xbox 2. Xbox 2 will have everything standard that the Xbox has and more... you can quote me on that.

We can quote you on that because it's obvious. Sony isn't a generation behind. They won't add a HD and built-in ethernet, and release PS3. That's not how things work. The only reason ethernet isn't standard on other consoles is because less than half the people have it. Next generation you don't have that problem, it'll be standard. Hard drive will likely be standard, perhaps not one taken from your local CompUSA, but some form of mass-storage will be standard. From there each company will try to innovate. No one will be behind Microsoft here. Nintendo will add ethernet and a HD, then try to innovate. Sony will (hopefully) add 4 controller ports, ethernet, HD, and then try to innovate. Microsoft just tries to innovate.

[Null]

if xbox2 comes out first. when all the consoles are out, and its all said and done, Xbox 2 will not be the most technology advanced one of them. You can quote me on that one.
(a few month period tho i do not considere one comeont out fist. that would be relitively the same time)

And PS2 already has an eithernet port, so does GC, just cuz they didnt come with it, doesnt mean they're a generation behind. i say they're step above, they both have dialup connections.

just because people have old crappy connections doesnt mean they shouldnt be able to go online with em.

and as for the hard drive. i dont want one, i dont see how thats a generation behind either. my PC has a hard drive. i dont want to buy another computer. i want a console.

[Joeiss]

Just as long as the next consoles use like the 256 MB memory sticks, I'll be happy. DVD Playback, 4 controller ports, HD, ethernet.... blah blah blah. Everybody will have everything from this generation... PLus more.

[Shiz]

well i guess it depends on how u look at it

sony will have learned more and the graphics will probably be better than xbx 2's, but they wont have that hype of it being released early

ps2 sold alot at the start cause everyone was like "i dont wanna wait a long time to get a next gen console, so lets get ps2!"

now thats how xbox 2 will be. and if sony gets it right the graphics will be a bit better than xbox 2's

on the other hand, everyone will still remember ps and ps2 and wait and not buy xbox 2 and get ps3. theres a few more but i dont feel like typing :\

[Null]

Originally posted by Shiz
well i guess it depends on how u look at it

sony will have learned more and the graphics will probably be better than xbx 2's, but they wont have that hype of it being released early

ps2 sold alot at the start cause everyone was like "i dont wanna wait a long time to get a next gen console, so lets get ps2!"

now thats how xbox 2 will be. and if sony gets it right the graphics will be a bit better than xbox 2's

on the other hand, everyone will still remember ps and ps2 and wait and not buy xbox 2 and get ps3. theres a few more but i dont feel like typing :\

Dreamcast was the first nex gen console. Being released early has nothing to do with it. I believe its more on reputation.

Sega developed a bad rep of releasing consoles.

Nintendo developed a rep of being targeted more towards children.

Sony had a good PSX generation, and deveoped a rep as the #1 runner.

MS Had no rep going into it.

i think sales reflect such issues. and turning a rep around is hard to do.

[Shiz]

i totally forgot about that null, thanks for reminding me. that makes a huuuuge difference

[Angrist]

Originally posted by Shiz
ps2 sold alot at the start cause everyone was like "i dont wanna wait a long time to get a next gen console, so lets get ps2!"

I thought everybody got it for the DVD-player. There were barely any good games for it. Tekken Tag was , it took a few months before GT3 was released...

This time around everybody will have a DVD-player so ppl will look at the games.

HD, internet, 4 ports, DVD-playback... add a microphone to that.

And Bond, you really should move it to fight club now...

[gekko]

In Japan, the DVD player sold it. Not here.

[Joeiss]

Yeah... DVD players were, and are, so expensive in Japan. I don't know why, though.

[TheGame]

Ok, here's my allmightly analyst

Xbox 2 coming out before Ps3 is a risk, but it may be worth taking. This generation Sony has proved that the past has nothing to do with the industry today... or does it.

Sony had:
1) Hard development
2) No 1st/2nd party support for the launch
3) The worst graphics/loading times
4) Competition who had don'e most things on the hardware side better.

Guess what? With all it's flaws it still came out on top. Here's Justin's explination of why:

The most obvious reason it is coming out on top is the introduction of DVD players within the system. Gekko, you may think it had no effect on US, but it had a HUGE effect. The DVD player alone justified the purchase of a Ps2 for parents, and the games justified it for kids. Dreamcast missed it's oppritunity with this feature, and that's why it failed to beat Ps2.

Even Xbox and GCN can't compete with the built in DVD player. with Xbox you have to spend $30 to get the remote to activate it, and with the cube you have to go out and spend $100 on a new full feature DVD player. Not enough people had DVD players in late 2000-early 2002 to call this feature a negitive. Now it's extremely popular, and Sony just dropped the price.

Then there's that little thing called trust for the company. Psx's greatness rubbed off a lot on this console... almost too much, but people seem to trust sequals more than new games.

The thing about Next generation is... the DVD player will be a non-factor. It will be back where it was in the Psx N64 generation, all about the games.

Now that this fact is clear we go back to the question again: Should Microsoft release it's console first?

(Note: I'm concentrating on the US Market, because that's where Xbox 2 will be released first most likely.)

Sony and Sega in the past took the same risks (releasing before the last gen champion). Sega took the risk 3 times. The first time they tried (in direct competition) against SNES, and ended up winning over US. The second time they weren't so lucky. Sporting a $399 price tag and harder development, and no new innovative features to show for it they fell victim to Psx's $299 tag extremely easy development and mass appeal through the name "Sony"... the third time, they release DC early in one of the most obvious attempts to make some quick $$$ before the "real" generation began. Of course once again, they get squished by Sony because of a serious lack of developer support (hell they didn't even have a single EA game, not many consoles can say that) and a lack of fan support because of the let down of saturn the generation before.

Now the question stands, will Microsoft be a Sega or a Sony... Maybe a little of both. Has there ever been a console to come out last and take the US in sales? Nope, never. SNES couldn't do it, N64 didn't do it, and GCN won't do it. So that tells you the security in coming out last for a generation. Coming out first hasn't been to sweet either, as Saturn and Dreamcast sufferd a horrible failure.

Here are a mixed bag of reasons why Dreamcast and Sega Saturn failed and if or if not Xbox can solve this problem:

[b]1) The console creator didn't have enough money to push the console more than 2 years.[b] (this is true for both DC and Saturn)

Can it be solved? Yes:

*looks around* Where is Microsoft's profit for this generation? Nowhere. Microsoft isn't out there to make a profit very fast, they are out to spend as much money as it takes to get thier foot in the door of the industry. If a company like Microsoft made Dreamcast (assumin they developed as well as Sega) it would still be alive today, AND in most of our homes. Good games are good games, nothing can change that. Microsoft would have been able to weather the late 2000 storm, get some quality titles out, and forced hardcore gamers to buy a DC at a $100 (or less) price tag. They will be able to do this with thier own console, no doubt.

2) Hard development prevented developers from supporting the console in full ( This is true for Saturn)

Can it be solved? Yes:

Now-a-days, it isn't hard to make a development kit that is easy to develop on. It just takes that little extra effort. Are they willing to give this extra effort? Hell yeah, well, if they want a chance in hell at winning next generation.

3) Small userbase stopped many developers from supporting the console (This is true for Dreamcast, and Saturn after one year mixed with the expensive development)

Can it be solved? Most likely

You have to remember, this generation isn't over... if Xbox completly flops (which I can't see happening anymore) Developers won't be running with open arms. But then again, Developers weren't running to Xbox either. But money can pursuade a lot of developers to change thier minds.

4)The console started off stuck with a equal higher price than the immediate (same generation) competition (True for Saturn)

Can it be solved? Depends on the competition

If Microsoft releases thier console first, I'm sure they would make enough bones at thier starting price to lower it in time for Ps3's US launch. If they don't, they just didn't learn anything from the past. If Sony keeps ducking thier price, or acctually releases a price efficent system like Psx (doubtful, but possible), M$ may have to stick with the higher price.

5) Last but not least, the console had to be the weakest of the contending consoles in it's generation (true for Saturn and Dreamcast)

Can it be solved? You tell me

Ok, here's a scenario. MS is US based, right? So they release thier consoles in US first. While Sony is Japan based, meaning they kick off in Japan first. If The Japan Ps2 and the US Xbox are released the same day, it IS possible that M$ can get away with releasing a console earlier with better visuals. It sounds crazy, but it's true. All in all, they could possibly release an easier to develop for console, with better graphics, games, and a completed online gaming service before Sony even comes to North America!

Am I saying they will do this? No, but it is most definently a possibility.

Kinda sounds like Dremcast right? But it's not, for one it would have much better third party support. Also, the graphics would really be better, just not a bunch of Sega fanboys lying to themselves in the DC Era.

So all this I wrote leaves one question to be desired: Should they release thier console first?

In my opinion, if they do everything right, and release it first, and have M$ backing it for at least 5 years financially, we could be looking at probably the best console of all time. But remember, they have to do everything right... if they are going to make some mistakes, being the first out the gate isn't a smart move at all. Just take the delay and fix the mistakes.

I seriously could never imagine Sony ever falling victim to another console ever again if Sony keeps getting thier foot out the gate first. The generation champion is allowed to make mistakes while being the first out the gate... Sony could announce Ps3 for next year and make it horrible and chances are it will still have a domination run.

I honestly believe Dreamcast had the best chance of taking down Sony this generation, but we all saw how well that went. Dreamcast was near perfect, but it just wasn't. It had a couple of flaws that premitted Sony to slice thier throats.