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Analyst warns Xbox 360 Elite wont boost market share

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Dela @ Mar 31, 2007 17:46 | 13 comments

IDC analyst Billy Pidgeon has warned that the forth coming release of the Xbox 360 Elite will not boost Microsoft's market share this year. Instead, he believes that it is software titles that will make a difference for the company. "The Xbox 360 Elite may sway some gamers waiting to decide on a new system, but I don't expect the Elite to have much an effect on the 360's market share this year," he told GamesIndustry.biz.

He added: "The higher price and the 120GB hard-drive upgrade should increase revenue for Microsoft and for retailers, but system-selling games such as Halo 3 will increase the 360's position more significantly." He did say however that the release of the console and Microsoft's further expansions to online gaming shows that the company is working hard to dominate the area.

"With the 360, Microsoft is extending the online capabilities of Xbox Live including downloads of long form video as well as games and game add-ons, and the point of increasing the hard-drive to 120GB is to enable 360 Xbox Live gamers to download more items more often," he said. "Extending Live to Vista systems will also increase Microsoft's online audience, which is an important metric now and going forward."

Source:

GamesIndustry.biz

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Comments

Comment by: dapmedia (Mar 31, 2007 22:40)

I believe that Microsoft made a fatal mistake in not supporting the original console, including or making the HDMI cable for the system. Microsoft stated that all the inner workings are the same. If that is so, why not make a HDMI cable for the other two consoles. I strongly believe that this can be achieved using the power of the ANNA upscaling chip. 1080p was achieved after an upgrade in October of last year using the VGA cable. Why not create a HDMI cable.

Comment by: Raginbird (Mar 31, 2007 22:57)

In my opinion, the release of the Elite is a brilliant move. I'd have to disagree with the analyst that says this will not be a boost to the MS market share. I know I'm NOT going to replace my old 360 with the Elite, but I'm sure MANY people will for one reason or another (the sleek look, HDMI, Large hard drive....etc). Then they will either have two 360s, give the original one away to family/friends, or maybe sell their original 360s to people that may not have normally purchased one. Sooner or later, more people own a 360 and the MS market share increases. Of course Halo 3 is going to help sell consoles, but I believe the Elite will be a contributing factor as well.

Comment by: 26r0cK (Mar 31, 2007 23:55)

I think that xbox360 is doing very well rite now so I question MS motive towards this move. However, its not like this will be the only model of the 360 so to those that still want to play xbox360 they can always just get the lower models. I do feel that these upgrades are nothing spectacular which I wish they added that to the premium without highering the price. Having the black look for any xbox360 model would definately be a positive instead of only just the elite. But I think this elite model wouldnt help boost sales because if ppl just want to play, then they have 2 lower and cheaper models to choose then this. This just might make ppl think more between the Elite360 and the PS3. But we'll see what happens months from now.

Comment by: Richie_JB (Apr 01, 2007 01:26)

i think this is a complete sellout, MS are now playing catchup with Sony after the release of the PS3.

so what they give it a lick of paint a bigger hdd and a HDMI port, things it should have had from the get go.

why add those things and not a HD-DVD drive.

its pathetic that this console is only a year or so old, and there already having to make new additions.

and for close to $500, no1 is going to buy this thing.

why?, well for starters its near $500, most consoles are bought by parents for there children. why would they buy a $500 version when the $300 version does the same only with a smaller hdd

If MS where serious about this, it would have had a HD-DVD drive.

MS are setting themselves up for a fall.

Comment by: trainmstr (Apr 01, 2007 07:29)

when xbox360 was released ..HDMI was not quite the standard it is today ..and many of the HDTV's in homes lacked it. But im guessing you are a 360 hater anyway.

In case you didn't know .. microsoft is shooting high with IP tv ... and now since bandwidth is becoming ever so cheaper ... IP tv is going to be a reality very soon.

Personally ... few games take advantage of 1080p ..and the ones that do ... there is almost no difference to a human eye. I think they should offer teh 120gig hard drive as an add on as well ..like they did with the previous generation.

Comment by: ZippyDSM (Apr 01, 2007 13:21)

this is more a save arse gain money move than making headway,becuse the 360 is neihter cheap or godly they wont make headway,if they bucked down sold it with the 65nm CPU for 400 or 350 they would make some real headway.

The PS3 is not cheap but its simi godly(solid hardware) so it will gain ground on power alone

the WII is cheap and simi godly(the controls are fun) so its everywhere by default almost.

I wish MS would get off their arse and just fix it already....but no....they just have to play games.....

Comment by: TyMan4325 (Apr 01, 2007 14:25)

The way a couple of these last posts sounded it's like MS is behind the PS3. But it's so far ahead (In North America anyway). Besides FF, which isn't really a system mover, there are no killer apps lined up for the PS3 and MS still has Halo. Plus Sony is losing a bunch of exclusives because publishers are worried they won't sell on the PS3 alone (Resident Evl 4 on GC all over again). So they aren't playing catch up at all. I agree with the analyst that it will do little for their market share, hardware alone doesn't sell systems (see PS3 sales). Halo is what will increase market shares. The original XBOX is the perfect example of that.

Comment by: ZippyDSM (Apr 01, 2007 14:57)

TyMan4325
*L*
the PS3 is the new power system plus its based in japan that right their will will gain it allot of ground,if you didnt know about the 360s issues its ok for its price,the WII dose well what what it has and it a system everyone needs tog et anyway :P

Comment by: TyMan4325 (Apr 01, 2007 16:04)

I totally agree that when it comes to the Japanese market you can't compare the 360 to the PS3 but I think the wii proves that horsepower is meaningless when it comes to sales. I think MS is on the right track here by improving the 360. It's still cheaper than the PS3 and the library is also much better. Overall as much as I love my PS2 I think the PS3 has been a disaster for Sony. Even if graphically it can in theory marginally outperform the 360 no one but hard cores like myself care. I think it will only be a matter of time before MS takes a dent out of Sony's market in Japan as well. Especially if they start to take away some of Sony's exclusive titles.

Comment by: KiNtArO01 (Apr 01, 2007 16:07)

its a shame microsoft you should be more worried about the junky systems you guys have out now and fix the overheating/3 red light error not on making a all together different system. you see put it this way get better cheaper parts sell systems for less = make more money but ur all to stupid to realize that oooo and for the elite it will prob be a failure 500$ system like the others u make its a shame

Comment by: ZippyDSM (Apr 01, 2007 16:16)

Originally posted by KiNtArO01:
its a shame microsoft you should be more worried about the junky systems you guys have out now and fix the overheating/3 red light error not on making a all together different system. you see put it this way get better cheaper parts sell systems for less = make more money but ur all to stupid to realize that oooo and for the elite it will prob be a failure 500$ system like the others u make its a shame

the Elite is nto a diffrent system its a 360 with bandaide on the chipset and a ductaped old CPU and a HDD slapped on it wif rope :P

Comment by: TyMan4325 (Apr 01, 2007 17:02)

Meh the PS2 had more problems. PS3 hasn't seen as many because no one bought any so there are no complaints :) All joking aside overall I think its a meaningless release that will do little for previous owners and its new features aren't going to make anyone knew run out there and get one, Halo will this won't.

Comment by: ZippyDSM (Apr 01, 2007 17:22)

Originally posted by TyMan4325:
Meh the PS2 had more problems. PS3 hasn't seen as many because no one bought any so there are no complaints :) All joking aside overall I think its a meaningless release that will do little for previous owners and its new features aren't going to make anyone knew run out there and get one, Halo will this won't.

well this is not to "help" they will get some moeny off selling the half fixed black system to fanboys as they get the real fix going for all new systems later in the year.