THIRD CONSOLE CURSE: Why the next Xbox will fail for sure!!!

READ THE OP BEFORE RESPONDING!!!

Seriously, every single hardware manufacturer in the video games industry so far has been hit by the third console curse.

Atari had it going good with the Atari 2600 (they were the market leaders). Whereas the Atari 5200 failed to even achieve a modicum of success, it was the Atari Jaguar that absolutely pulled Atari down under, also becoming one of the worst consoles of all time in the process.

Sega failed to make any kind of impact in the video game market with the Master System. With the Genesis, though, they came in all guns blazing, and had a virtual monopoly on the market for many, many years. Then they threw that all away with the Sega Saturn- although the Saturn has quite a few gems that should be played by all, the system was largely responsible for Sega's ultimate demise.

Nintendo started good with the NES, achieving total market monopoly, the kinds of which would never be seen in the video game industry, ever again. They followed it up with the SNES, which had some trouble competing with the Genesis, but ultimately came out on the top. Then they came out with the N64, a system which lost them their market leading position, most of the third party support that they held (something that is still a problem with Nintendo systems to this day), and basically it took them two console generations to recover. In the process, tough, the N64 ended up being one of the greatest and most influential systems of all time.

Sony started off with the Playstation, a system which totally took the gaming industry by storm, expanding the scope and reach of games and gaming, and helping the medium mature. Following up the monstrous success of the Playstation with the PS2, Sony unleashed a beast of the system that is almost inarguably the greatest game system ever released. However, that was followed up with the Playstation 3, a system that lost Sony their market leading position, reduing them to the third place, lost them billions of dollars in investment, tarnished the Playstation brand, and lost most of the third party exclusives that Sony had once held. Of course, the PS3 is a great success, but for Sony, it is nothing short of a dismal failure.

So far, Microsoft failed to make much of an impact with their first system, the Xbox. With their second system, the Xbox 360, however, they have been in a market leading position for five full years now, also stealing away all of the Playstation's exclusives and overall consolidating their market position. As for the third Xbox? Well...

My question: will Microsoft fall to the third console curse too? Every hardware manufacturer has fallen to it so far. And if they do, what can we expect? So far, they seem to be following Sega's trajectory (whereas Sony seems to be following Nintendo's), so can we expect a puzzling, baffling, rushed, frankenstein of a system like the Saturn was? Or will it be something else entirely? Discuss!

How can something be both a success and a dismal failure? That makes no goddamned sense whatsoever.

How can something be both a success and a dismal failure? That makes no goddamned sense whatsoever.

worlock77

Microsoft already had their's in advance wth their first console :P.

Technically, the 360 is Microsoft's third console as th Windows PC can be counted as a console.

danjones2k9

Sega didn't have the money to change their fate. MS on the other hand will be able to make enough ads to reach good sales numbers. Just look at the Kinect xD

Part of me thinks Microsoft will be very reluctant to move on, thanks to the runaway success of Kinect.

Microsoft is making a mint on the thing right now. And as such, I think Microsoft will employ delay tactics in order to stall this gen as long as possible.

Since the Xbox brand has become ubiquitous with online shooters, I think they'll be moderately successful in that.

But Nintendo's trying to jump-start the 8th gen with Cafe and 3DS announcements.

If Microsoft were forced into releasing a new console by Nintendo, they'd be woefully under-prepared to release anything in the next two years.

If the 360 was the Genesis, I highly suspect the 720 to be the Saturn if Nintendo really gets the ball rolling on the 8th gen.

I doubt M$ will go the same way Sony did with the PS3, I think they can manage to retain at least their FPS fan base, but probably a lot more.

Sega didn't have the money to change their fate. MS on the other hand will be able to make enough ads to reach good sales numbers. Just look at the Kinect xD

ArchoNils2

Dont really know where to start with the plethora of errors in the first post. I doubt any of the next lineup of console will be a failure like the biggest ones from history.

the Xbox 360, however, they have been in a market leading position for five full years now, charizard1605

what's this now? are we forgetting something?

Errr how is the 360 in a "market leading position for five full years now"blue_hazy_basic

Part of me thinks Microsoft will be very reluctant to move on, thanks to the runaway success of Kinect.

Microsoft is making a mint on the thing right now. And as such, I think Microsoft will employ delay tactics in order to stall this gen as long as possible.

Since the Xbox brand has become ubiquitous with online shooters, I think they'll be moderately successful in that.

But Nintendo's trying to jump-start the 8th gen with Cafe and 3DS announcements.

If Microsoft were forced into releasing a new console by Nintendo, they'd be woefully under-prepared to release anything in the next two years.

If the 360 was the Genesis, I highly suspect the 720 to be the Saturn if Nintendo really gets the ball rolling on the 8th gen.

peterw007

I don't think they are under-prepared. They probably just give the possibility to use Kinect on their next system. Just like I expect the Move will be compatible to the PS4 :/

Well, Sony has come out the big winner this gen, so perhaps they broke the curse?TheMoreYouOwn

[QUOTE="ArchoNils2"]

Sega didn't have the money to change their fate. MS on the other hand will be able to make enough ads to reach good sales numbers. Just look at the Kinect xD

charizard1605

[QUOTE="TheMoreYouOwn"]Well, Sony has come out the big winner this gen, so perhaps they broke the curse?charizard1605

Exactly. Sony is soo far from winners.

[QUOTE="TheMoreYouOwn"]Well, Sony has come out the big winner this gen, so perhaps they broke the curse?charizard1605

He was kidding. I think...

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="ArchoNils2"]

Sega didn't have the money to change their fate. MS on the other hand will be able to make enough ads to reach good sales numbers. Just look at the Kinect xD

the1stmoonfly

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="TheMoreYouOwn"]Well, Sony has come out the big winner this gen, so perhaps they broke the curse?daledoback

He was kidding. I think...

I don't think they are under-prepared. They probably just give the possibility to use Kinect on their next system. Just like I expect the Move will be compatible to the PS4 :/

ArchoNils2

Yeah there'll definitely be some kind of "next-gen" Kinect associated with the next iteration of Microsoft's hardware.

But I still think Microsoft's success is definitely contingent on how successful Nintendo is.

Project Cafe is obviously going to be the console with the year head-start this time.

If it captures the interest of gamers and becomes *the* definitive console next-gen, Microsoft is going to have a very difficult time competing with that.

But if Cafe becomes another iteration of the Wii, I could see Microsoft bouncing back in 2013 with the 720.

First off Sega launched the Genesis, then the Sega CD, then the 32X, Saturn then Dreamcast. All the "3rds" in this list are wrong. And second why do Sony and Microsoft fanboys discount the Wii. People claim Sony or Microsoft won this generation when clearly Nintendo has. By a large margin. Come on system wars!GoldenElementXL

Not really.

M$ has more than enough fuel to keep in going.

1. XBL = practically become the "standard" for console online gaming.
2. 3rd party support is titanium strong on the platform.
3. Key franchises and exclusives are locked on the platform
4. M$ is still a powerful brand as Nintendo and Sony.
5. MS consoles and PC architecture have been typically similar (Direct X), making transitions easier. Next MS platform will NOT be any different. This makes it easier for 3rd party developers.

'tis true, just having a 3 in its title is what's going to make the 3DS fail miserably.

[QUOTE="GoldenElementXL"]First off Sega launched the Genesis, then the Sega CD, then the 32X, Saturn then Dreamcast. All the "3rds" in this list are wrong. And second why do Sony and Microsoft fanboys discount the Wii. People claim Sony or Microsoft won this generation when clearly Nintendo has. By a large margin. Come on system wars!charizard1605

'tis true, just having a 3 in its title is what's going to make the 3DS fail miserably.

felipebo

Nice read. I never noticed the third console curse before but this makes me wonder whether or not Microsoft can survive in this industry and for how much longer.

If they go I'd like to see Sega return.

[QUOTE="GoldenElementXL"]First off Sega launched the Genesis, then the Sega CD, then the 32X, Saturn then Dreamcast. All the "3rds" in this list are wrong. And second why do Sony and Microsoft fanboys discount the Wii. People claim Sony or Microsoft won this generation when clearly Nintendo has. By a large margin. Come on system wars!charizard1605

Technically you're both wrong.

Sega released five main consoles:

• 1. Sega SG-1000
• 2. Sega Master System
• 3. Sega Mega Drive / Genesis
  • Sega Mega-CD
  • Sega 32X
• 4. Sega Saturn
• 5. Sega Dreamcast

Sega Mega-CD and Sega 32X were hardware addons to the Genesis.

READ THE OP BEFORE RESPONDING!!!

Seriously, every single hardware manufacturer in the video games industry so far has been hit by the third console curse.

Atari had it going good with the Atari 2600 (they were the market leaders). Whereas the Atari 5200 failed to even achieve a modicum of success, it was the Atari Jaguar that absolutely pulled Atari down under, also becoming one of the worst consoles of all time in the process.

Sega failed to make any kind of impact in the video game market with the Master System. With the Genesis, though, they came in all guns blazing, and had a virtual monopoly on the market for many, many years. Then they threw that all away with the Sega Saturn- although the Saturn has quite a few gems that should be played by all, the system was largely responsible for Sega's ultimate demise.

Nintendo started good with the NES, achieving total market monopoly, the kinds of which would never be seen in the video game industry, ever again. They followed it up with the SNES, which had some trouble competing with the Genesis, but ultimately came out on the top. Then they came out with the N64, a system which lost them their market leading position, most of the third party support that they held (something that is still a problem with Nintendo systems to this day), and basically it took them two console generations to recover. In the process, tough, the N64 ended up being one of the greatest and most influential systems of all time.

Sony started off with the Playstation, a system which totally took the gaming industry by storm, expanding the scope and reach of games and gaming, and helping the medium mature. Following up the monstrous success of the Playstation with the PS2, Sony unleashed a beast of the system that is almost inarguably the greatest game system ever released. However, that was followed up with the Playstation 3, a system that lost Sony their market leading position, reduing them to the third place, lost them billions of dollars in investment, tarnished the Playstation brand, and lost most of the third party exclusives that Sony had once held. Of course, the PS3 is a great success, but for Sony, it is nothing short of a dismal failure.

So far, Microsoft failed to make much of an impact with their first system, the Xbox. With their second system, the Xbox 360, however, they have been in a market leading position for five full years now, also stealing away all of the Playstation's exclusives and overall consolidating their market position. As for the third Xbox? Well...

My question: will Microsoft fall to the third console curse too? Every hardware manufacturer has fallen to it so far. And if they do, what can we expect? So far, they seem to be following Sega's trajectory (whereas Sony seems to be following Nintendo's), so can we expect a puzzling, baffling, rushed, frankenstein of a system like the Saturn was? Or will it be something else entirely? Discuss!

charizard1605

[QUOTE="daledoback"]

[QUOTE="charizard1605"] They went from an install base of 150 million plus to 50 million. They went from being market leaders to distant third place trailers. They lost all their third party exclusives. Their system isn't the lead platform for console development any more. The Playstation brand lost a lot of equity. How did they emerge winner? How could anyone possibly argue that they were the winners at all?charizard1605

He was kidding. I think...

Well...150mil over a span of a decade. Different console and different times. If you look at all the consoles, none of them have broken a 100mil. Distant 3rd? Please. It's right on 360's tail. Not sure where you got the "lost all third party exclusives" from. Plus, PS3 has the best first party developers, and as much as some would like to deny, exclusives have always mattered in the gaming industry. System isn't the lead platform? Don't be so sure. There are many that are developed on the ps3 first then ported. Dead Space 2, Vanquish, LA Noire, just as examples. And there have been articles discussing the shift to ps3 as lead platform development:

Developers Shift to Leading on PS3

Ubisoft

PS3 ousting Xbox as lead platform

EA focus on PS3 as lead platform

PS3 is taking it's lumps right now, what with hacking, but distant 3rd? C'mon now.

[QUOTE="charizard1605"]

READ THE OP BEFORE RESPONDING!!!

Seriously, every single hardware manufacturer in the video games industry so far has been hit by the third console curse.

Atari had it going good with the Atari 2600 (they were the market leaders). Whereas the Atari 5200 failed to even achieve a modicum of success, it was the Atari Jaguar that absolutely pulled Atari down under, also becoming one of the worst consoles of all time in the process.

Sega failed to make any kind of impact in the video game market with the Master System. With the Genesis, though, they came in all guns blazing, and had a virtual monopoly on the market for many, many years. Then they threw that all away with the Sega Saturn- although the Saturn has quite a few gems that should be played by all, the system was largely responsible for Sega's ultimate demise.

Nintendo started good with the NES, achieving total market monopoly, the kinds of which would never be seen in the video game industry, ever again. They followed it up with the SNES, which had some trouble competing with the Genesis, but ultimately came out on the top. Then they came out with the N64, a system which lost them their market leading position, most of the third party support that they held (something that is still a problem with Nintendo systems to this day), and basically it took them two console generations to recover. In the process, tough, the N64 ended up being one of the greatest and most influential systems of all time.

Sony started off with the Playstation, a system which totally took the gaming industry by storm, expanding the scope and reach of games and gaming, and helping the medium mature. Following up the monstrous success of the Playstation with the PS2, Sony unleashed a beast of the system that is almost inarguably the greatest game system ever released. However, that was followed up with the Playstation 3, a system that lost Sony their market leading position, reduing them to the third place, lost them billions of dollars in investment, tarnished the Playstation brand, and lost most of the third party exclusives that Sony had once held. Of course, the PS3 is a great success, but for Sony, it is nothing short of a dismal failure.

So far, Microsoft failed to make much of an impact with their first system, the Xbox. With their second system, the Xbox 360, however, they have been in a market leading position for five full years now, also stealing away all of the Playstation's exclusives and overall consolidating their market position. As for the third Xbox? Well...

My question: will Microsoft fall to the third console curse too? Every hardware manufacturer has fallen to it so far. And if they do, what can we expect? So far, they seem to be following Sega's trajectory (whereas Sony seems to be following Nintendo's), so can we expect a puzzling, baffling, rushed, frankenstein of a system like the Saturn was? Or will it be something else entirely? Discuss!

AugustusGraham

I think he meant a success in terms of quality of games.

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="daledoback"]

He was kidding. I think...

TheMoreYouOwn

Well...150mil over a span of a decade. Different console and different times. If you look at all the consoles, none of them have broken a 100mil. Distant 3rd? Please. It's right on 360's tail. Not sure where you got the "lost all third party exclusives" from. Plus, PS3 has the best first party developers, and as much as some would like to deny, exclusives have always mattered in the gaming industry. System isn't the lead platform? Don't be so sure. There are many that are developed on the ps3 first then ported. Dead Space 2, Vanquish, LA Noire, just as examples. And there have been articles discussing the shift to ps3 as lead platform development:

Developers Shift to Leading on PS3

Ubisoft

PS3 ousting Xbox as lead platform

EA focus on PS3 as lead platform

PS3 is taking it's lumps right now, what with hacking, but distant 3rd? C'mon now.

Char, don't make me mad. :PThough you make an interesting point, it's not really so black and white. The Jaguar and Saturn were failures, but the PS3 and N64 are very popular to this day, though the former is more *commercially* successful than the other. The PS3 has done quite well in the later years, I don't see how it's a failure. However, here's my counter-argument: the DS or the GBA. I sayor because the Virtual Boy may be taken into the equation. Both were massively successful and either the second/third or third/fourth of their kind. The DS has broken entire records even. At this point in the video game medium, I don't think failures will be even remotely possible. The competition is too hard for anything like that to occur. So even though I'm no MS fan, I predict only good tidings for their next console.

[QUOTE="felipebo"]

'tis true, just having a 3 in its title is what's going to make the 3DS fail miserably.

nintendoboy16

But it's in the third dimension :o

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"][QUOTE="felipebo"]

'tis true, just having a 3 in its title is what's going to make the 3DS fail miserably.

felipebo

But it's in the third dimension :o

Reality is in the third dimension as well. Does that mean reality is destined to fail as well? :o

I wouldn't consider the PS3 a failure. :?Heil68

They're referring to it as a financial failure. Even though the PS3 has many great games on it, it isn't selling very well.

[QUOTE="TheMoreYouOwn"]Well, Sony has come out the big winner this gen, so perhaps they broke the curse?charizard1605

ms could always make the least powerful system, that seems to get you a lock on winning the gen.

I wouldn't consider the PS3 a failure. :?

Heil68