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I am not-so-shyly dubious about all XBOX figures, not just because of Microsofts previous records, but because only two days after the official launch the units price had been slashed by $50.00 at some major retail outlets. However, to my surprise I visited that same store a week later and the price had risen back to the official $649.00. This led me to believe that somebody saw the less than expected interest by consumers, and took this action in the hope of maintaining a half respectable launch.
These are only the theories of a madman mind you…

Not sure of launch week figures, but in the period from the PS2 launch to Marck 2001, there were 80,000 PS2’s sold in Australia & NZ combined. anyone wiling to go out on a limb and predict Xboxs will be sitting in 80,000 homes across these two countries by the end of July?

…

Christmas?

Personally I couldn’t care how many Xbox consoles have been sold, as long as people keep developing games for it I’m a happy camper.

Can’t wait for Project Ego, BC, Toe Jam and Earl 3 and perhaps even the Lord of the Rings game.

Seriously, devo, I hope you aren’t serious. 9124 is absolutely pathetic for a launch, especially for one as hyped as the Xbox. I’m considering getting a new console this year, and right now, the Gamecube is leading the way for me. I can’t stand PlayStation, and the Xbox controller is too large for my liking - and I’m NOT going to fork out another $60 per controller, just so I can play the machine comfortably. Also, the Xbox hasn’t got any games that make me want to get one - Halo will be coming out on PC, Max Payne already is, so, for me, what else is there really? Definitely not enough to make me choose the most expensive console with the least going for it.

The Gamecube however, is the cheapest of the lot. It also has, or will, games that I’ll enjoy - Rogue Squadron 2, Fifa 2002, Mario Sunshine, SSX Tricky (I’m pretty sure) and Agent Under Fire. That’s more than enough for me.

Personally I think all 3 consoles have someting worth buying them for.

The GCN has all the titles you mentioned as well as, Animal Crossing (previously titled Animal Forest +), Eternal Darkness, The Resident Evil Series, Star Fox Adventures etc etc.

The PS2 has all the great games that are out now - GTA3, MGS2 and Devil May cry etc. As well as the soon to be released Virta Fighter 4, FFX oooh and Gungrave :)

And last but not least we have the Xbox with Halo, Jet Set Radio Future, Amped and Rallisport Challenge. In the future I’m looking forward to, BC, Project Ego, Fellowship of the Ring and Toe Jam and Earl 3!

All 3 systems are going to have games that are “system buyers”. If you have the money you should buy all 3, but if you dont’ want to spend over $1500 on console hardware alone then I recommend you fork out enough for 2.

Personally I think the PS2 and GCN is the best combination if you haven’t got a money tree growing in your back yard. You will get the the very best Nintendo second and first party titles and with the PS2 you’ll get 99% of 3rd party games and some fantastic exclusive titles.

Ok - Tricky, Fifa and Agent are all on everything, so we can’t really use them as ammunition for the my console’s dick is bigger than your console’s dick debate. We’re also looking at launch titles for the Xbox, and in that regard it veritably shats all over the PS2 (which had what, an ugly Tekken tag Tournament, a boring Ridge Racer, the only highlight being SSX).

Contrast this with Halo, Amped, Project Gotham and an OK GC launch looming in the form of Rogue Squadron 2 and Super Monkey Ball - arguably the only real highlight. The GC will have solid titles on May 14, certainly outclassing the PS2 launch software.

In the end, I’ll own all three, because I play games not companies ™. I think the GameCube has the most hidden potential with support from Capcom, Hideo Kojima, Sega and of course their first-party powerhouse EAD. But it, like the Xbox, still has to prove itself. Super Mario 64 is my #1 all-time game and I don’t know how it could be topped…

…but I’d bet the farm that they’ll do it anyway.

I just love how people can be misguided.
How anybody can call Amped a highlight of the launch is a barrel of laughs.
Maybe if you are a fan of uphill snowboarding…

Even Microsoft would have trouble saying that selling only 3000 more consoles than a 18+ month old system is a good launch.

Horses for courses my friend. You don’t like it, that’s fine. Suggesting I’m mis-guided tho, them’s fightin’ words round these parts =P

I agree with Splash, to be fair we have to compare the LAUNCH of all three systems in terms of quality titles. The PS2 launch was pathetic. It’s that simple. The only reason why it went reasonably well is because it was riding on the success of the PSX, and it was the “first next generation console” since Sega went “belly up”. With the Xbox Microsoft didn’t have that luxury.

The first month for the GCN easily surpasses the “quality” titles for the PS2 that were available. It took a lot of people (myself included) a year to buy a PS2. Perhaps when the Xbox has established itself with more quality titles as mentioned in my previous post then people will rush out and buy one. 3000 isn’t brilliant, but it’s a start.

Microsoft screwed up the launch big time. In order to make a launch a real sucess it needs to be done at Christmas. Thats when people go out and buy these sort of things, not in the middle of March.

Hey, anyone else remember Microsoft saying that it would have a worldwide launch, that they wouldn’t have to resort to having multiple launches like Sony did for the PS2… HAHAHAHAHA - another MS prediction falls by the wayside

Notice how console gamers fall into platform wars and fierce inter-company pride, and have to go so far as owning three different consoles in order to experience the best games? I just own a PC, and can concentrate on actually playing :)

(At ease gentlemen, I actually own a PS2 too. Mind you, so far it has only been getting DVD duty…)

signed The Troll

How could you go without playing some of the greatest games though? Consoles have their fair share of lower than average titles, but then again so does the PC. But for every 10 dodgy titles there is one outstanding one.

I couldn’t limit myself to only PC gaming, but then again I couldn’t limit myself to console only gaming either.

This conversation has almost turned out into a fully fledged flame war. Thankfully it hasn’t just yet.

I used to be a committed PC gamer, but then the advent of a ton of great console games made me start using both. And you can still own all 3 consoles (and a GBA for the essential Olde Skool games) for less than a PC that can cope with today’s games.

Personally, I play games, not consoles… but still, I’ve currently got a PC and PS2 and will most likely get Game Cube when it comes out and maybe a X-Box next year (when Black & White comes out)

Having said that, each seems to have slightly different targets. i.e. PC is aimed at the older broader market, GameCube more children orientated, X-Box the “hip techno savy” people (as MS marketing would say - teenagers to the rest of us), and the PS2 is aimed at the original Playstation owners (i originally meant it as a joke - but i think its a fairly accurate description)

Hopefully, Sun’s Java game development platform takes off so you can run the game on any of the major consoles (with the same disc even)

Ken

I’m with you Bob. If people want to stick to just PC’s or just one console, then fine, let them. You and I have the advantage of not having to go through huge periods of nothing to play, because there’s always bound to be something worth looking at on one of them. Mind you, who would have thought that the PC could be a must-have system in 2002? The line-up of games for it is just rediculous this year!

Still, those of you who’ve yet to pony up for a console…and you call yourselves gamers! As Mr. T once said “I pity da fool!”