Has Microsoft's living room strategy panned out?

[desura]

And, as you fail to understand, the shipped numbers from Sony and MS are mostly all in the actual end-users hands. There is a reason you can't buy an Xbox One or PS4 on Amazon. They don't have any of that 2 million units MS "sold". (They are expecting a new shipment on Dec 28th according to their site though).

So, the record breaking sales are actual sales. If they weren't, you'd have BestBuys and WalMarts filled with stock, yet their shelves are bare.

I just checked amazon and the ps4 is in stock.

Xbox One will be back in stock on the 28th.

I still remember the Wii launch and how consoles were being sold for like twice the retail price. We're not seeing that here, unless you live in Brazil.

 

[smackababy]

And when I posted that, the PS4 was not in stock (I checked). They are receiving small shipments and those sell out. Just like the Wii.

So, you're trying to claim that the PS4 and Xbox One sales numbers are incorrect, because they Wii sold for more on craigslist and ebay at launch?

 

[BikeJunkie]

So, as long as something is your hobby, regardless if you share it with your kids or not, it is a waste of time? That is what you're saying?

If my hobby is building model railroad and if include my (fictional) child, it is a waste of time. However, if I spend that time playing Monopoly, it is not a waste of time?

Sounds like someone is wasting far too much time trying to justify them calling specific instances of video game playing a waste of time.

Why are your panties in such a twist over this? You and purebeast seem to have really taken this personally. I made a very SUBJECTIVE statement that videogames just don't "do it" for me anymore, and the reasons are many. Who the hell are you to question that? Do you presume to know me better than I do? To know what gives me fulfillment and entertainment? Are you really THAT arrogant?

I need something to show for my time. Videogames produce nothing after a session. If I go running, biking, or weightlifting, I have a higher level of fitness to show for my investment of time. If I play a boardgame with my kids, I have a memory with them to show for my time. If I (hypothetically) was into woodworking, I would have tangible products to show for that hobby, as well.

You and purebeast need to accept that not everyone is like you and, even though you might not understand someone's motivations, doesn't make their decisions and/or pursuits illegitimate.

YOU are the one who chose to read into my statements and take it personally, so it sounds to me like someone (YOU) might have his own issues to deal with. May you're not entirely content - subconsciously or otherwise - with the time you spend playing these games, which is why you get your panties all in a knot when someone else plainly states "you know what, this just doesn't do it for me anymore."

 

[smackababy]

<snip out the novel>

It would seem you are the one upset. You stated you felt "shameful" after playing games and that it was a waste of time, and included examples of things that weren't, one of which was playing Monopoly with the kid. purbeast responded by questioning your "gaming" statement, to which you later responded that gaming with your kid is not gaming and that only you playing solo is. So, Charles Dickens, you are upset at me because I merely remarked on how your epiphany that gaming is useless happened and it didn't dawn on you spreading your opinion on this forum is juts as useless.

Perhaps maybe you only wish we took this personally, so you taking it personally wasn't as bad.

I don't care what you do with your free time, as it doesn't effect me at all. Game, don't game, spend time with your family, respond to this post, whatever.

 

[Arkaign]

This question is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

too early to ask.

The only answer will come over the next 5 or so years. With the first real concrete info starting to meaningfully emerge in about 2 years. What do I mean? Well, we need to look at the XB1 once it's got a firm install base of 10M+ (which is almost a certainty by 2015), and once there is enough data to analyze whether it's resulting in a real shift in how people spend their money and time with living room entertainment.

There are all kinds of possible outcomes and unforeseen pluses and minuses. Hell, look at the PS3. People buying them as de-facto Bluray players actually HURT them in many ways, because they don't make nearly as much money when you never buy games on a loss-leader or low-margin product than when you buy a few games each month and subscribe to their online service. If people spend more hours with the PS4 playing cheap indie games, or more hours with the XB1 using it as a TV tuner, that's less hours spent playing the big $60 cash-cow games, and less of them to be sold. Offer too many alternatives to NOT play big money games on the consoles, and Sony/MS might begin to bemoan people's entertainment choices.

I swear, if I see another "X is a failure or a massive success" based on extraordinarily limited information, my last vestiges of hope in humanity will evaporate completely.

Even the fact that the new consoles are currently selling out isn't a guarantee of ANYTHING. The economy could swing down in 2014, causing some major slips in adoption. Once the dedicated fanboys and die-hard gamers buy theirs this holiday season and early next year, the more casual buyers might put the PS4/XB1/WiiU off due to price/library (after all, 360/PS3 sales were mediocre after their initial launch timeframe until the price drops and library really built up). Who the hell knows. We'll just have to watch how things unfold.

 

[ImpulsE69]

psst. smackababy and purbeast take everything personally. The thing is, while some people can disagree and that's that, they always try to personalize their responses as if you just took a dump on their chest. Every thread that anyone says something remotely negative in their eyes ends up in the same back and forth.

 

[jpiniero]

Not reading the whole thread, but the reality is the extra $100+ for Kinect cost them 20% share easily. There's still time for MS to fix things but it looks like it's a failure at this point.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Not reading the whole thread, but the reality is the extra $100+ for Kinect cost them 20% share easily. There's still time for MS to fix things but it looks like it's a failure at this point.

Incorrect... They sold 2million...that's 2,000,000 units. It is the furthest from a failure as can be and they are still selling out.

There is nothing to fix. What is so hard about this concept for you guys to comprehend??


How can a failure sell out? How can a failure sell 2 million units? It can't...by definition a failure does none of these things. A failure is the wiiu by comparison.

 

[jpiniero]

How can a failure sell out? How can a failure sell 2 million units? It can't...by definition a failure does none of these things. A failure is the wiiu by comparison.

It is considering the position they were in the last generation. They basically threw the lead away.

It does seem counter productive, but it is easily done to keep supply just short of demand to generate hype / excite scalpers to inflate holiday sales. In other words, if MS had done things correctly they would have made available and sold the 3M+ that Sony is going to do.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Incorrect... They sold 2million...that's 2,000,000 units. It is the furthest from a failure as can be and they are still selling out.

There is nothing to fix. What is so hard about this concept for you guys to comprehend??


How can a failure sell out? How can a failure sell 2 million units? It can't...by definition a failure does none of these things. A failure is the wiiu by comparison.

I don't disagree however..2mil is a drop in the bucket. I'm sure it will go way beyond that when the availability is there, however the actual game sales will be the big story. Wouldn't it be ironic if everyone buys it to use as an entertainment controller, and not a game machine?

 

[purbeast0]

It is considering the position they were in the last generation. They basically threw the lead away.

It does seem counter productive, but it is easily done to keep supply just short of demand to generate hype / excite scalpers to inflate holiday sales. In other words, if MS had done things correctly they would have made available and sold the 3M+ that Sony is going to do.

so much fail in this post i won't even bother to really pick it apart.

and just fyi, ps4 has been in stock at amazon all day and still is.

http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-4/dp/B00BGA9WK2/

this whole one or the other thing is laughable though. both ps4 and xbox1 are huge successes thus far in their short life span, and they will do just fine. and i will enjoy both my ps4 and xbox 1.

glad i don't have to pick sides like 99.9% of the internet and can enjoy games/consoles regardless of who puts them out.

 

[Skel]

It's interesting how this post highlights all one needs to do to troll this place. It's going right down the list of crap to get a rise out of people.

X1 is a failure... check
PS4 is better yet is also a failure.. check
X1 would be awesome if only they'd drop the kinect.. check
Apple is somewhere in this tread.... check

Think we're just missing paying for Live and we'd be all set.

I get how some members have been dogged down with this crap so when they see it they blast all barrels. I'm not saying it's right but I understand it. Oddly enough I don't normally see other people attempting to pick up the troll baton like I do in this thread, that I admit is a new twist.

 

[Wingznut]

Think we're just missing paying for Live and we'd be all set.

Paying for Live is ridiculous. I hear that they are going to sell off the Live service, because it's such a failure. Nobody wants to play their console online anyway, which is why nobody is buying the Xbox One. Apple doesn't make you pay to use their online store, so they are stealing consumers from MS.

Happy now?

 

[Arkaign]

LOL perfect. Now we just have to wait for someone to take your post seriously

 

[Skel]

Paying for Live is ridiculous. I hear that they are going to sell off the Live service, because it's such a failure. Nobody wants to play their console online anyway, which is why nobody is buying the Xbox One. Apple doesn't make you pay to use their online store, so they are stealing consumers from MS.

Happy now?

Well done sir!

 

[Wingznut]

Now we just have to wait for someone to take your post seriously

Heh, it is inevitable, isn't it?

 

[desura]

A quick google...

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtrader...s-loss-makes-it-a-sale-candidate-says-nomura/

 

[cmdrdredd]

A quick google...

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtrader...s-loss-makes-it-a-sale-candidate-says-nomura/

That would matter if people weren't flocking AWAY from windows 8. Their software division is terrible at the moment. They drop windows media center, people are no longer tied to their office suite, and I repeat what I said above about windows 8. People are moving away from using windows exclusively in many areas. They have the Xbox ecosystem tied to windows now and basically the future of the company rests in the ecosystem of windows 8 and Xbox.

A blog means shit anyway. That $1B loss sounds like someone made it up on the spot. It is the same BS that bloggers have said for over a year "people don't want game consoles, they are using tablets etc" yet the ps4 and Xbox one shattered every sales record out there for a console launch.

 

[Dumac]

A quick google...

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtrader...s-loss-makes-it-a-sale-candidate-says-nomura/

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/11/microsoft-shouldnt-hire-any-ceo-who-wants-to-kill-bing-and-xbox/

 

[ImpulsE69]

Paying for Live is ridiculous. I hear that they are going to sell off the Live service, because it's such a failure. Nobody wants to play their console online anyway, which is why nobody is buying the Xbox One. Apple doesn't make you pay to use their online store, so they are stealing consumers from MS.

Happy now?

But why would anyone PAY to get their asses and ears handed to them by 10 year olds? It must be for the 3rd party vocabulary schooling provided by those same 10 year olds and up to date info on how their moms like their penis.

 

[Wingznut]

A quick google...

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtrader...s-loss-makes-it-a-sale-candidate-says-nomura/

Ohhhh... I see the issue.

Analyst's blogs are one person's opinion, not an outright fact. If you follow them enough, you will see that many of these predictions never come to fruition.

I'm sure if you look back through history, you can find an analyst who said that investing in Apple (or Google, or FB, or any other company) would be a bad idea.

Unfortunately, the only people who pay attention to such things, are those looking for ammunition to backup whatever agenda they have.

 

[smackababy]

Ohhhh... I see the issue.

Analyst's blogs are one person's opinion, not an outright fact. If you follow them enough, you will see that many of these predictions never come to fruition.

I'm sure if you look back through history, you can find an analyst who said that investing in Apple (or Google, or FB, or any other company) would be a bad idea.

Unfortunately, the only people who pay attention to such things, are those looking for ammunition to backup whatever agenda they have.

To be fair, at Google's inception it seemed counter intuitive to making money on the web. A site whose purpose was to direct your traffic to another site? That was unheard of in the early world wide web days. It's too bad Yahoo still hasn't realized cluttering your homepage with a ton of junk is still the wrong way to go about it.

I remember analysts clamoring about how the iPhone was going to fail and how the iPad was just as bad. I wonder if they still have a job.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

The majority of X1 criticism comes from those who don't actually own one.

As someone who is a HT enthusiast, I was skeptical that their all-in-one integration would work. But after hooking it all up and giving it an honest try I have to say they are very close to something truly amazing. The system is a little rough right now, but you can see the direction where they are heading and it's very exciting indeed.

The fact that I get all this media integration AND I can play the same games as a PS4 makes this the system to get IMHO. I have a PS4 and frankly it is a worthless buy right now as it has no meaningful games. Maybe in a year or two when the exclusives come out it'll be worth it, but for now it's not doing much but collecting dust.

 

[Doppel]

The fact that I get all this media integration AND I can play the same games as a PS4 makes this the system to get IMHO. I have a PS4 and frankly it is a worthless buy right now as it has no meaningful games. Maybe in a year or two when the exclusives come out it'll be worth it, but for now it's not doing much but collecting dust.

It is a semi-worthless buy because of lack of games, but so is the X1, unless you like its "integration". Personally, I have no cable/sat subscription anyway, and I've been HDMI switching with amy Sony receiver for a while; the X1 really offers me nothing.

As far as bikejunkie's earlier posts in this thread I really am sympathetic to what he's saying. There isn't a person here who hasn't from time to time felt "guilt" over wasting huge amounts of time gaming. Apparently he's at the point where he feels this over all of it, so he's purged it. Most people do waste parts of their life with entertainment and I see nothing worse about vid games than other forms, so it just comes down to a personal thing on how much is too much. When I was younger I was always playing something, moving from game to game. Now I tend toward the best ones only, which leaves me weeks between games, and helps bring some balance.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

It is a semi-worthless buy because of lack of games, but so is the X1, unless you like its "integration". Personally, I have no cable/sat subscription anyway, and I've been HDMI switching with amy Sony receiver for a while; the X1 really offers me nothing.

As far as bikejunkie's earlier posts in this thread I really am sympathetic to what he's saying. There isn't a person here who hasn't from time to time felt "guilt" over wasting huge amounts of time gaming. Apparently he's at the point where he feels this over all of it, so he's purged it. Most people do waste parts of their life with entertainment and I see nothing worse about vid games than other forms, so it just comes down to a personal thing on how much is too much. When I was younger I was always playing something, moving from game to game. Now I tend toward the best ones only, which leaves me weeks between games, and helps bring some balance.

I'm assuming you don't have an X1.

You sort of hit the nail on the head about the integration without even realizing it. Even with your fancy receiver you still need to find the remote to change that input to get to your Roku, AppleTV, etc. Since the X1 supports all of the major online streaming services from the getgo, I can do all of this from my couch with my voice without having to interrupt what I'm doing. If I get tired of Netflix I can pause it, jump into Dead Rising 3, and then pop back in when I'm ready and pick up where I left off. This is the level of integration I'm talking about.

You have to experience it for yourself to actually understand. I was skeptical in the exact same way as you until I tried it for myself. It's a game changer and everyone who has the X1 gets it.