Hirai: We’re not in competition with Nintendo, 360 “lacks longevity”

“And unless things go really bad there’s no way that at the end of a life cycle our competition is going to have a higher install base,” he concluded.”

He has seen recent sales figures, yes?

Can’t wait to see what plan they’ve got in the works, to turn things so drastically around. Although I do like the way he specifically says Wii isn’t their competition, and then talks about beating out the competition in sales. So 360 then.

Strange logic because MS only have had one other console before the 360 and the reason they ditched it quick was to get a foothold against Sony this gen; and it seems to have worked.

“I’d like to think that we continue official leadership in this industry,” said Hirai

That really is the funniest thing you’ve ever said, Kaz!

“Sure, we’re last – but I like to think that we’re still officially first!”

I reckon their best bet on beating MS is to start competing with the Wii. Aim for the moon and all that. Still, don’t suppose it hurts to be realistic.

I’ve always thought right from the start that Microsoft will release a new console well before the PS3 has run its course.

I reckon just as the PS3 will start to pick up good momentum Microsoft will drop a bomb on them and announce the next XBox.

“Last time I checked, they’ve never had a console that’s been on the market for more than four or five years and we’ve committed to a ten year life cycle, so you do the math.”

While this is true, do they expect Microsoft to abandon a profitable console after four or five years? I guess it’s just PR, but given where they currently are, it seems like they’re grasping at straws.

10 year life cycle indeed…

jnms: I think that’s a bit of a flight of fancy.

Microsoft’s tactic currently relies on making hardware cheap (the reason for the RROD) and then having a way to nickle-and-dime people successfully. They do this via rented online services, and selling bits of the console to the consumer, instead of the whole thing. And those bits are often seriously overpriced (such as the wi-fi).

For Microsoft to succeed, they would need to create a console that is at least on par with the PS3 and have the hardware so cheap that they make a profit on it. That probably won’t be viable until at least late 2010 to mid 2011 (probably a 2010 Christmas rush), at which point Sony will have obtained a foothold because they’ll have found ways to introduce price cuts too and they will have an established base of games by then.

That’s my prediction, anyway. It’ll be interesting to see whether I’m right or wrong.

Sony’s losing at the moment, but I’m not going to count them out yet. I really can’t stand consoles at the moment, tbh, I’ve gotten more into PC gaming again… but I will be watching Sony with interest.

“RIIIIIIIIIIDGE RACER!!!!!”

I like Kaz. He say funny things. Even if he not know they funny.

@Esha: Didn’t Microsoft already do all that? Blu-Ray aside?

He really should add an HDMI cable. You need one to get the most out of the PS3.

Sony are second if you include all their consoles that are still selling.

“Last time I checked, they’ve never had a console that’s been on the market for more than four or five years and we’ve committed to a ten year life cycle, so you do the math.”

/Facehand

That’s wonderful, wonderful logic. “Never” = “only one, which they were selling at a loss”, then.

What on earth is “official leadership”?

“For Microsoft to succeed, they would need to create a console that is at least on par with the PS3 and have the hardware so cheap that they make a profit on it.”

Like Blerk says, the x360 *is* that console, isn’t it? Aside from Blu-Ray, what exactly does the x360 lack that the PS3 offers?

The tears of frustrated fanboys, for one.

What on earth is “official leadership”?

I think it’s something along the lines of “desperately trying to delude yourself that you’re still relevant to and in control of an industry which has somehow slipped out of what you thought was an air-tight grasp”.

omg – I am teh Xbot!

@Retroid:
LOL So true!

@Blerk:
All Your Base Are Belong To Us!
Resistance is futile – We are the XBorg

My prediction based solely on headlines is that Sony will be last because it is shit, MS will be second because they are awesome and stuff and America and the UK fucking loves them some Xbox. Nintendo wins by doing next to nothing and raking in cash, helped along by an endless stream of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest remakes on the DS. Retards always love remakes that have been endlessly remade before.

I think its quite accurate.

XBorg… lol

Sounds Swedish.

Even if it does lack longevity the next Xbox will piss all over the PS3 that’s still running through its 10 year cycle and cost about the same.

The only reason the PS2 went on for so long was that it was heavily supported and didn’t have strong enough competition. The PS3 isn’t currently enjoying those benefits now is it.

The Xbox did its job for Microsoft, establishing a foothold on the market and introducing a console-wide platform to support online gaming. This helped the 360 to hit the ground running and even though it has tripped on a few hurdles it has gained enough momentum to secure a strong race position.

The 360 could last 10 years, but it wont. You can guarantee that while Sony sits resting on its laurels, Microsoft will keep pushing and if that means a new console, then so be it.

Surely theres a stage where you won’t buy a new console so soon after the one before?

The Xbox pissed all over the old PS2 in what it could do. Never made a difference, both current consoles piss all over the Wii (wiipisslol) and dun dun dunnnnn shock horror.

It does’nt work like that anymore.

“The 360 could last 10 years, but it wont. You can guarantee that while Sony sits resting on its laurels, Microsoft will keep pushing and if that means a new console, then so be it.”

They have to convince their shareholders to keep throwing money at this race, which they’ll have to do in big numbers to get a new piece of hardware out. I wouldn’t be surprised if MS decide to keep with the 360 and just go the incremental upgrade/SKU for a while longer. It’s probably making them decent money now and, as the growth areas are probably going to be in downloadable media and the like, then they can just throw more disk space at it.

Given the rumbles from within MS on ‘forward compatibility’ (nnnngh) I’m guessing the next Xbox will have compatible architecture so it’ll be quite possible for them to still flog the 360 for years to come, ala the PSOne & PSTwo, except the games will be guaranteed to still work.

After all, 360 owners have gamercards, achievements, XBLA stuff & DLC tied to their accounts now, and what better way to keep people loyal than offering to continue with all that working, but with a ‘bigger brother’ machine to upgrade to?

“Aside from Blu-Ray, what exactly does the x360 lack that the PS3 offers?”

MGS4
LBP
KZ2
A 2009 release schedule
Reliability

But at least the X360 has endless Halo spin-offs

Reliability? Late 2007 wants its Falcon model back, DS1086!

Way to miss the point, DS1086

If you think *anybody’s* releasing a new console before 2012, you’re sorely mistaken. The maths for anything else just don’t add up.

Games already cost too much to make and that figure would greatly increase (again) if superior hardware were introduced. You’d have to be either a) insanely profitable from the get-go or b) have large cash reserves in order to finance a graphically superior next gen. As such, no-one can do so before the year I stated, c’est le blatant.

Also, the next gen will be the last gen of consoles as we know them in the traditional sense.

…i just hope this site is still going in 2019 when I’ll get to say I told you so.

Wasn’t the PS3′s 2009 release schedule originally half of its 2008 release schedule, though?

Or even earlier.

I don’t know… I still see the next xbox coming some time in 2011.

2011/2012, I think.

Anyone who says they think the 360 will only have a four-year lifespan because of the lifespan of the original Xbox is missing several points about that machine, the costs, the market etc. all at once.

I can’t stand Kaz, His mouth along with Kuturagi’s made me hate Sony. I wish they would shutup so I can like them again.
@DS1086 -That same list is always bandied about when ever pS3 is mentioned, 3 games…whoo hooo yippie.
What if your not a FPS fan, or a MGS fan?
That leaves one game?
As a RPG fan, there is just more to offer on the 360 currently.

This guy practices the Michael Jackson – Howard Stern ideal, that if you say it with conviction, people will accept it as truth (King of Pop – King of all media). So if we say we are the Leaders, we will make it true.

” regardless of install base, or who sold more and when, I’d like to think that we continue official leadership in this industry. ”

that’s an insta-classic!

MS has repeatedly said 360 is a long term effort. They are going to milk it for as long as they can, kinda like Sony is doing with the PS2. In any case, I do not see a new XBOX until fall 2011 at the earliest, the technologies intended for the platform (DX11+, etc..) are just coming together now. But I do know that Sony will remain in the third slot this gen, no doubt about it.

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Psychotext said:

January 20th, 2009 at 11:14 am

What on earth is “official leadership”?

something beyond your understanding troll

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mortiferus said:

January 20th, 2009 at 10:49 pm

MS has repeatedly said 360 is a long term effort. They are going to milk it for as long as they can, kinda like Sony is doing with the PS2. In any case, I do not see a new XBOX until fall 2011 at the earliest, the technologies intended for the platform (DX11+, etc..) are just coming together now. But I do know that Sony will remain in the third slot this gen, no doubt about it.

somebody just got out of the bed with M$. and feeling a little bitter too

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Psychotext said:

January 20th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

I don’t know… I still see the next xbox coming some time in 2011.

then you must be blind MS can’t afford it because they’re biggest market the usa can’t.

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Blerk said:

January 20th, 2009 at 11:21 am

omg – I am teh Xbot!

admitting is the first stage to recovery and a long struggle from the rrod. good you came out the closet