Ok, So Maybe I Don't HATE Microsoft....

[tjwett]

For the longest time I've been pretty much Anti-Micosoft for lots of reasons, but mainly because their products suck and their licensing policies suck even more.

The other day, out of nowhere, my sisters bought me an XBOX and XBOX Live for my birthday. I didn't even ask for it. I was really surprised. Anyway, the point of this story is that I want to say how much this thing ROOOOOOLZ!!!!!

Did Microsoft actually get this thing right? This is my first gaming console since my Dreamcast and I have to say that I'm nothing but impressed with the whole thing.

A Microsoft product that's easy to configure? No outrageous licensing or pricing rules? No popups? I'm truly blown away. I'm sure this has been discussed b4 but I just had to say it. Never thought I'd utter these words but,

"GOOD JOB MICROSOFT!!!".

[Independence]

my older brother owned an xbox for about a week or so. his house recently got broken in to, though. the xbox was one of the items stolen.

just a few days ago, i tried out an xbox at k mart and thought it was a great system. i might get one someday.

[LethalWolfe]

I'm thinking of buying an Xbox just for Soul Calibur 2. SC1 on my Dreamcast still gets played on a regular basis.


Lethal

[MacsRgr8]

Sure the XBox is the best gaming console now, at this moment.
But when the PS3 comes out, that will be even better.... then the XBox 2 and so on.
What's bothering me is their marketing strategy. M$ really want to own the gaming industry. They are using HUGE resources, making enormous losses, funded by the profits of other departments of M$. They are (mis)using the fact that they are so BIG a company (on the whole, which should have been split into 3), that they can afford such losses over a great amount of time. They are trying to drain all the others their resouces.....
Even then, they are not capable of getting the F1 licenses.... a big deal in Europe.

Still, have fun with it!
You'll never catch me buy one, ha ha!
:D

[Independence]

the past belongs to nintendo.
the present belongs to sony.
the future belongs to microsoft.

you can probably tell i'm not a big fan of the gamecube.

[patrick0brien]

-All

If these three manufacturers could agree to one thing, I wish they could strike up box footprint standards like stereo components have, so that I can have all three in a single cabinet [easily].

[idea_hamster]

I have to say that the X-Box is a pretty good piece of equipment -- I would never have known but for the third Oddworld game being for X-Box only (a big coup over Play Station, I think).

Some points about X-Box that I thought were interesting:
* MS sells it at a loss, so the MS employees who can buy a certain dollar amount of MS products at cost every year just buy it in stores -- it's cheaper there.
* Someone a few months back (don't recall a thread about it) figured out how to boot an unaltered X-Box with a regular OS (linux?).

If the boot in linux thing were easier, I'd consider getting one to use as a PC...

...and play Oddworld!

[XnavxeMiyyep]

The Playstation Oddworlds were superior to the X-Box version. Oddworld just isn't Oddworld unless you are a completely helpless alien trying to escape bizzare, angry aliens in a 2D environment.:D

I'd go for a PS2 over an X-Box, but X-Box does have some good games.

[Horrortaxi]

Originally posted by tjwett
A Microsoft product that's easy to configure? No outrageous licensing or pricing rules?

It plays well--no doubt. But if you don't see outrageous licensing or pricing rules you're just not looking hard enough. It's definitely a Microsoft product.

[SLJ]

X-Box = pure American Toy, PS2 still rules the WORLD, I must admit, some nice games from SEGA for the X-Box but, for varities of games... you can't go past PS2... beside, the real fact is X-Box is not doing well anywhere beside USA

[iJon]

Originally posted by Horrortaxi
It plays well--no doubt. But if you don't see outrageous licensing or pricing rules you're just not looking hard enough. It's definitely a Microsoft product.
umm, its still a a console, and you buy typical games for 50 dollars. microsoft charges for xbox live and its fine, because it isnt a lot of money and its by far the best option out there. xbox live has performed the best, especially over ps2's.just my opinion though.

iJon

[RichP]

found it funny that you mentioned dreamcast was your last system, which ran Windows CE as its OS.:D

[idea_hamster]

Originally posted by XnavxeMiyyep
The Playstation Oddworlds were superior to the X-Box version.
I agree but this was a present for my ex-, so you know, you buy what the person wants. (...then they conveniently break up with you before your b'day rolls around :rolleyes: )

Originally posted by SLJ
...the real fact is X-Box is not doing well anywhere beside USA
I know what your point is, but can we really say it's doing well in the US when it's being sold at a loss?

[King Cobra]

Originally posted by RichP
found it funny that you mentioned dreamcast was your last system, which ran Windows CE as its OS.:D

tjwett = http://www.rx7club.com/forum/images/smilies/owned.gif


The xBox isn't a bad console. Just watch out for mini-scratches on some of your DVD games. If you can't see it on the disk, and it's there, the xBox will go into freeze frame mode. :eek:

I've found that out from playing Tony Hawk 4 too much. :D

[vollspacken]

most of my friends have a X-Box with the infamous "linux-hack"... this actually means that they got a nice full-size Pee-Cee that is heavily subsidized by Microsoft!

if used that way, it actually is a really nice machine...

vSpacken

[tjwett]

Originally posted by RichP
found it funny that you mentioned dreamcast was your last system, which ran Windows CE as its OS.:D

had no idea but thatnks for that little piece of info. very interesting indeed:)

[tjwett]

Originally posted by King Cobra
tjwett = http://www.rx7club.com/forum/images/smilies/owned.gif


that's funny:D. i'm just now hearing all these gaming terms, it's a whole new world for me. and for the record, i am definitely getting "pwned" out there in Unreal Championship. i keep waiting for my QuakeWorld 1 skills to come in handy:(

[Nermal]

One of my friends has a PS2 and an Xbox. He says that the PS2 has crashed twice since he got it (he bought one of the first ones out), and his Xbox crashes about twice a day :eek:

You'll never see me buy a console though, I don't play too many games, and I don't like the concept of console-exclusive games. I see a console as an alternative for people who can't justify/don't want a full-featured computer. But console-exclusive games contradict that idea :(

[Horrortaxi]

Originally posted by iJon
umm, its still a a console, and you buy typical games for 50 dollars. microsoft charges for xbox live and its fine, because it isnt a lot of money and its by far the best option out there. xbox live has performed the best, especially over ps2's.just my opinion though.

iJon
$50 a year for something you can do for free on PS2 or a PC. Okay, you pay your $50 and it still wants a credit card when you sign up so that it can charge you automatically next year when your subscription runs out. No option about this, it's what you have to do. Want to play a DVD? Pay $30 more for that. They're selling you functions that you already own! Then there's the EULA, which is a really interesting read--but nobody ever reads those. In spite of owning this piece of hardware, you can't legally alter it in any way. So you "own" it but you don't own it.

[solvs]

Well I do like their mice. Using one right now.

Maybe they should stick to hardware. :D

[Xero]

i couldnt imagine playing unreal or any FPS against other people on a console. keyboard and mouse is way superior in that genre of games. man i PC people could join servers with Xbox people in the same game, the PC ppl would totally trash everyone else

[Rezet]

Originally posted by MacsRgr8
Sure the XBox is the best gaming console now, at this moment.
But when the PS3 comes out, that will be even better.... then the XBox 2 and so on.
What's bothering me is their marketing strategy. M$ really want to own the gaming industry. They are using HUGE resources, making enormous losses, funded by the profits of other departments of M$. They are (mis)using the fact that they are so BIG a company (on the whole, which should have been split into 3), that they can afford such losses over a great amount of time. They are trying to drain all the others their resouces.....
Even then, they are not capable of getting the F1 licenses.... a big deal in Europe.

Still, have fun with it!
You'll never catch me buy one, ha ha!
:D

Blah blah blah... sure when xbox 2 comes out...
PS3 will be an add-on to ps2. And it wouldn't come out till 2005.
Don't hold your breath...

And lethalwolfe, if you want, i have a soul calibur 2 on sale right now at amazon for 42 bucks. Username : Rezet

[macphoria]

I'm a PlayStation 2 fan and never took Xbox seriously. But I've been going to local store once in a while to check out games and play little bit of Xbox games. I have to say I'm very impressed by it. The more I play Xbox games I get tempted to get one.

If Xbox keeps up current efforts, I think it might actually go head to head with PlayStation 2 in terms of market share in near future.

[tjwett]

Originally posted by Xero
i couldnt imagine playing unreal or any FPS against other people on a console. keyboard and mouse is way superior in that genre of games...

i second that! i'm really struggling over here. i've played UT, Quake, etc. on my Mac with my Wacom 3 button mouse and i used to fare pretty well. now i'm trying to play Unreal and Wolfenstein with a game pad/controller and i'm getting my ass handed to me. i simply cannot aim the freakin thing with my thumbs! i'd love to see them release a nice multibutton mouse and a small, maybe 6 key, mini keyboard for directional purposes. it could probably easily be switched between righty and lefty within the game. no question, FPS with a gamepad is definitely a no-no.

[MetallicPenguin]

I think I'm going to buy another xbox (my other one broke down) just for Halo 2! Is no one excited about this game?

[FriarTuck]

We have a GameCube, and the kids play the heck out of Mario and Co.

I'm trying to talk my wife into getting an X-box "since we need a DVD player in the family room anyway." The Cube is fine and all, but Deus Ex 2 will be available only on X-box (and PeeCee, and I would have to buy a new PeeCee to play it). Deus Ex rocks.

[Independence]

Originally posted by solvs
Well I do like their mice. Using one right now.

Maybe they should stick to hardware. :D
agreed. microsoft makes some nice mice. i need to get a new one though. my current optical imtellimouse has taken quite a beating from use.

[buseman]

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
I'm thinking of buying an Xbox just for Soul Calibur 2. SC1 on my Dreamcast still gets played on a regular basis.


Lethal

Soul Calibur 2 is best on GameCube. The Xbox controller dont cut it for fighting games.

[Powerbook G5]

The Xbox is pretty cool, there are some issues I have with it, but it's been a pretty awesome gaming system. Halo is just incredible, and so is MechAssult, NFL Fever 2003, Wreckless, Splinter Cell, etc. The one thing I cannot wait for is Halo 2. I've already beaten Halo on Legendary twice now, along with every other mode more times than I can count. It will be nice to see the"harder difficulty modes", improved levels, and online mutliplayer. My biggest problem is that no one will play me in multiplayer anymore since I spank them into next week so I am stuck with the same played out game. Once I get Halo 2, I am sure I will be quite scarce both on here and in my classes. ;)

[XnavxeMiyyep]

Originally posted by buseman
Soul Calibur 2 is best on GameCube. The Xbox controller dont cut it for fighting games. Soul Calibur 2 is not best on GameCube, but on PS2. Heihachi could beat Link any day.

[AppleMatt]

Originally posted by patrick0brien
-All

If these three manufacturers could agree to one thing, I wish they could strike up box footprint standards like stereo components have, so that I can have all three in a single cabinet [easily].

Here here. My consoles are behind the cabinet, it's a pain to change games. and while they're at it they can make my cable TV box the correct size.

AppleMatt

[themadchemist]

If there's anything good about the XBox, it came at the sacrifice of Bungie. I will always hold the death of Bungie as one of the Mac's best game developer against the scourge that is the XBox.

The PS 2 and GameCube are both great systems. I hardly think that either Sony or Nintendo will not be competitive in the future. Sony will keep most of the marketshare, though, for a long, long time. Microsoft doesn't have much of a chance because it wasn't able to emerge with even a small lead against Sony in the console wars.

We've got both the PS 2 and the GameCube. The PS 2, I feel, is better for games for teens & adults, RPGs, hardcore action, and the like. The GameCube is more oriented toward the younger kids and the older people who like the Mario games and stuff like that.

My little brother plays Smash Brothers a lot on his GameCube with his friends, and I'm not ashamed to say that I join in. It's a fun game.

I myself indulge in a good bit of Final Fantasy on my PS 2.

As far as Soul Calibur 2 arguments, the original was great, and the sequel will probably be great on any system. I'm still debating between getting it for the PS 2 or the GameCube.

But not the XBox, not the ones who took away Bungie, who kept us from Halo for so long...

[Independence]

Originally posted by themadchemist
My little brother plays Smash Brothers a lot on his GameCube with his friends, and I'm not ashamed to say that I join in. It's a fun game.
Smash Brothers was an extremely fun game. i had it for my N64. sadly, i sold the N64 and all the games just recently. i just didn't play the N64 very often anymore. my original Playstation gets more use nowadays.

[Xero]

Originally posted by tjwett
i second that! i'm really struggling over here. i've played UT, Quake, etc. on my Mac with my Wacom 3 button mouse and i used to fare pretty well. now i'm trying to play Unreal and Wolfenstein with a game pad/controller and i'm getting my ass handed to me. i simply cannot aim the freakin thing with my thumbs! i'd love to see them release a nice multibutton mouse and a small, maybe 6 key, mini keyboard for directional purposes. it could probably easily be switched between righty and lefty within the game. no question, FPS with a gamepad is definitely a no-no.

i think youll get used to it though, as much as one could get used to FPS with a gamepad. i mean i was like a blind man on acid the first few times i played halo, but after a few levels and plenty of deaths, i got pretty good at it. but yeah itll never be like the good old mouse/keyboard combo. :)

i think you actually can get a keyboard for the xbox, but im not sure about a mouse.

[Deunan]

Originally posted by themadchemist
If there's anything good about the XBox, it came at the sacrifice of Bungie. I will always hold the death of Bungie as one of the Mac's best game developer against the scourge that is the XBox.

The PS 2 and GameCube are both great systems. I hardly think that either Sony or Nintendo will not be competitive in the future. Sony will keep most of the marketshare, though, for a long, long time. Microsoft doesn't have much of a chance because it wasn't able to emerge with even a small lead against Sony in the console wars.

We've got both the PS 2 and the GameCube. The PS 2, I feel, is better for games for teens & adults, RPGs, hardcore action, and the like. The GameCube is more oriented toward the younger kids and the older people who like the Mario games and stuff like that.

My little brother plays Smash Brothers a lot on his GameCube with his friends, and I'm not ashamed to say that I join in. It's a fun game.

I myself indulge in a good bit of Final Fantasy on my PS 2.

As far as Soul Calibur 2 arguments, the original was great, and the sequel will probably be great on any system. I'm still debating between getting it for the PS 2 or the GameCube.

But not the XBox, not the ones who took away Bungie, who kept us from Halo for so long...


I second that.

It' still upsets me that Microsoft bought Bungie and "stole" Halo from the Mac. And unfortunately, Halo is still a ghost of it's former self -- stuff that Bungie built into Halo 5 years ago is just coming into current games now, like Battlefield 1942.

For me, XBox games look good and in some cases better than PS2 but sometimes they look *too* polished and CG. But my biggest beefs are: uncomfortable controllers (the big one especially and the small one is an improvement but still...) and the handling. I have yet to demo an XBox game that is NOT sluggish in response.

That, and the last time I checked, DreamCast (now out of production for 4 years) still outsells XBox in Japan! :eek:

If I got another system (I have a PS2) it'd be a GameCube because of the licensing and overall quality of the games.

XBox really is good for the US market where Sports/FPS games rule. RPGs/everything else is the Japanese forte - hence the better games on PS2/GameCube.

[Deunan]

Originally posted by Xero
i think youll get used to it though, as much as one could get used to FPS with a gamepad. i mean i was like a blind man on acid the first few times i played halo, but after a few levels and plenty of deaths, i got pretty good at it. but yeah itll never be like the good old mouse/keyboard combo. :)

i think you actually can get a keyboard for the xbox, but im not sure about a mouse.

I don't think you can get a mouse for XBox.

Reason: Microsoft doesn't/won't allow people to use it as a PC.

It IS a PIII733 w/nVidia + 8GB hard drive and modified PS2 ports.

[OutThere]

Here's a reason to hate microsoft that applies to the xbox- they're selling them for less than they cost to build in a mad effort to take over the entire gaming industry....

[buseman]

Originally posted by OutThere761
Here's a reason to hate microsoft that applies to the xbox- they're selling them for less than they cost to build in a mad effort to take over the entire gaming industry....

Heh, every console manufacturer does that. It's the games that drive in the $$

[Horrortaxi]

Originally posted by OutThere761
Here's a reason to hate microsoft that applies to the xbox- they're selling them for less than they cost to build in a mad effort to take over the entire gaming industry....

Yes! They win no matter what here. What they don't want is for you to buy a PS2 or other console. So you either play games on a PC (using Windows) or with their console. They're not really selling xbox at a loss--it's an investment in their future. Unfortunately I own an xbox. I also own a PS1 and PS2. I will probably also buy PS3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. I will not buy an xbox 2.

[AppleMatt]

So if you bought an XBox but no games, would you be helping or hindering Microsoft?!

AppleMatt

[XnavxeMiyyep]

Originally posted by AppleMatt
So if you bought an XBox but no games, would you be helping or hindering Microsoft?!

AppleMatt Since they already made all of them, and (probably) paid for them, then you'd just be giving them money back.

[Horrortaxi]

Originally posted by AppleMatt
So if you bought an XBox but no games, would you be helping or hindering Microsoft?!

AppleMatt
Helping.

edit: But it doesn't matter because they'll eventually take over the world. You'll buy their console sooner or later. They'll get Playstation outlawed eventually.

[amin]

If any of you use PDAs for school and would like a chance to win an Xbox, check out this contest:
http://www.pdaavenue.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3027

[OutThere]

Originally posted by Horrortaxi
Helping.

edit: But it doesn't matter because they'll eventually take over the world. You'll buy their console sooner or later. They'll get Playstation outlawed eventually.


Playstations are now illegal because....uhhh......we, the M$ corporation....uhhhh....dislike them and they are .......uhhhh....infringing on our monopoly.

[bobindashadows]

Yeah, since Microsoft has already manufactured the xBoxes, by buying you are helping pay off a bit of that investment. Don't do it.

Maybe they won't get the niche market (GCN) banned, then I win anyway :p

[Powerbook G5]

One thing that sucks about the Xbox is that when I bought it the first day it came out, the thing was $300, plus $150 for the HDtv box, $100 for the optical audio out, $48 *each* for another controller, then $60 *each* for games. They may have took a hit for the system, but they sure raped you over the price of everything else. How the heck do they justify nearly $50 for a controller when everyone else sells them for ~$15-20? Not to mention it kept freezing and then wouldn't load anything after 3 days, so I had to send it in twice for 2 weeks to get fixed. It still has problems, but I don't want them to replace it since all my game saves are on the HD and I'd hate to lose 2 years of game data. If it weren't for the price/quality of the xbox, it would be killer. I still enjoy it, though, since the games on it are awesome. I hope Xbox2 will be better, though. I hear Nintendo isn't making hardware (like Sega) after the Gamecube and I won't buy Sony PSx anymore since I had my original PS replaced 7 times and it kept overheating or I had to sit it up sideways just to work right and the PS2 was recalled when I bought it so I just got fed up with them. I wish Dreamcast was still alive, that was one sweet system that worked amazingly well. I swear, the best systems *ever* were NES/SNES and Dreamcast.

[rhpenguin]

I have an xbox and i modded it. Best thing ive ever done. I dont have a remote, but i still watch dvds. I dont have much load time because my games are on my xboxes 120gb maxtor hdd. It is my entertainment center. Well, sort of... My iBook does a damn good job of running iTunes.

[Xero]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
I hear Nintendo isn't making hardware (like Sega) after the Gamecube

this is wrong and was corrected by nintendo themselves saying they had every intention of continuing to make a next gen console, and making sure it is damn good too. :D

[Powerbook G5]

That's good, I was pretty upset about that. First, Sony takes out Sega, then Microsoft takes out Nintendo. If it weren't for Sega and Nintendo, who knows what would have happened with with video game industry. They have some of the best games out there. If they make a new Nintendo system anything like the Gamecube, it will be sweet. They already have an IBM PPC processor with an ATi video processor...just imagine the next gen if they stick to that same formula. I just wish they made more mature games because most of them are a little too Candylandish for my taste. I love Perfect Dark, Eternal Darkness, and Meteroid, but those games seem more the exception with Nintendo than the norm like they are with the PS2 and Xbox. At least with having each of the systems, you can have the best mix of all worlds.

[OutThere]

I can't wait until some little startup company comes along with something so beyond awesome that it just slams microsoft out of the water. I can just imagine Bill. G. getting a call while watching his 900" HDtv

"Hi, Bill?"
"Yeah?"
"Well...we have a situation..."
"Oh, I know about the new virus."
"Its not that"
"Well what is it then?"
"BlahBlah Inc. Just stole 96% of our market share overnight."
"Expletive(s) Deleted"
"They're coming to reposes your house now..."
:Knock Knock:

[Mike Teezie]

Originally posted by MetallicPenguin
I think I'm going to buy another xbox (my other one broke down) just for Halo 2! Is no one excited about this game?

I am anxiously awaiting the release of this game. I am massive Halo player - my friends and I usually lan 4 to 5 nights a week.

I would challenge anyone with their mouse and keyboard verus my controller.

Computers are for work, not games!!!

:D

I'm just kidding with all you computer gamers........

[Mike Teezie]

BTW - I much prefer my Xbox to my PS2. The only games I have for my PS2 are:

Gran Turismo 3
Vice City
GTA3
Madden 2003 (never gets played)
Final Fantasy X (I was obsessed for a good while)

I just enjoy my Xbox so much more. The fact you can mod it is really cool, too.

[Powerbook G5]

I'd play you, just give me a shotgun and a pistol and I can wipe the floor with anyone. I've beaten the game twice on Legendary and cream everyone at my college who challenges me. It sucks, since no one will play against me anymore and I can only wait until Halo 2 comes out so I can play online for some fresh competition.

[Mike Teezie]

I warm up with legendary, specifically "The Library".

It's a challenge around here to find anyone to play with as well. We host games on a regular basis, and a bunch of the people have stopped showing up because they say its no fun.

That said - sometimes you think you are getting pretty awesome, then you play someone on the internet and they totally wipe the floor with you. It happens - some people's skill is literally unbelievable.

What do you like to play? We usually play a custom CTF Pro - only Warthogs, and you start with a Pistol and an AR. We play the occasional game of Team Slayer or Oddball as well.

[AppleMatt]

Originally posted by Mike Teezie
That said - sometimes you think you are getting pretty awesome, then you play someone on the internet and they totally wipe the floor with you. It happens - some people's skill is literally unbelievable.

Yeah that happened to me with Unreal Tournament. I bet he was like 13 aswell.

sigh.

AppleMatt

[OutThere]

Originally posted by Mike Teezie
That said - sometimes you think you are getting pretty awesome, then you play someone on the internet and they totally wipe the floor with you. It happens - some people's skill is literally unbelievable.


Happened to me with Counter Strike. I used to play it on my friends computers against people over our LAN, and I was getting pretty good but then this one guy who had won $2000 the previous summer playing C-Strike came into the game.....ouch.

[tjwett]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
I'd play you, just give me a shotgun and a pistol and I can wipe the floor with anyone. I've beaten the game twice on Legendary and cream everyone at my college who challenges me. It sucks, since no one will play against me anymore and I can only wait until Halo 2 comes out so I can play online for some fresh competition.

wow, and you're modest too! get over yourself kid.