Gears of war Down? (Update #1) December 28, 2006
Posted by piro in Microsoft, Random Inno, Xbox.add a comment
Haven’t been able to log onto Gears of War online (versus), I think it’s down too along with the Taiwan internet connection.
Update #1: seems this down time is not limited to GoW, apart from voice and video chat all Xbox live games are inaccessable.
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wii360 / wii60 November 27, 2006
Posted by piro in Microsoft, Nintendo, PS3, Sony, Wii, Xbox.2 comments
This is the gaming combination of the future, which simply means I have a Nintendo Wii and an XBOX 360.
A new trend emerging from this whole next gen console wars is emerging. having two consoles is going to become the norm. for example people with a Wii and a PS3 would have a wiis3 /wiips3 / wii3, although wii3 kinda sounds cool.
The console wars – part 2 November 27, 2006
Posted by piro in Microsoft, Nintendo, PS3, Random Inno, Sony, Wii, Xbox.add a comment
James Surowiecki an editor/contributor of the New Yorker belives that the console war has claimed it’s forst victim (in a good way) and that Nintendo would be content with third place. my comments to follow shortly.
Why Nintendo needs games with more depth November 26, 2006
Posted by piro in Microsoft, Nintendo, PS3, Random Inno, Sony, Wii, Xbox.add a comment
Judging by my recent posts you can tell that I have some Nintendo Fanboy genes. Anyway I read an article on the BBC about the Wii, which got me thinking about what Nintendo needs in other to maintain momentum. Physics 101- Newtons law of motion states that a body would continue in its state of motion unless an external unbalanced force acts on it – keep that in mind for now. Nintendo makes games that everyone from all works of life can immediately pick up and start playing – Nintendo makes the best games period.
But this is the reason why most games can lack depth.
Going back to what I said earlier about momentum, Nintendo has momentum for three main reasons:
- Recent sales figures and tests show that Nintendo has successfully tapped the non gaming demographic and bringing them in by the trolley loads.
- The Wii controls bring a new angle to gaming even hard core non Nintendo gamers have shown interest in the console.
- At £179 for console and a game – the price is right.
We’ve all heard about the wonderful launch the Wii had compared to the PS3, plus the 30 launch titles including the best game ever made – Zelda twilight princess. It’s like Nintendo have been dealt an upper hand, the gamecube was a good system but lack of third party support killed the system, in fact I cannot remember any third party game that I liked on the gamecube apart from resident evil. Nintendo need more exclusives from other third party studio’s especially the likes of Capcom and Ubisoft.
Nintendo scares me when the say things like we are going in a different direction by not trying to compete with Sony and Microsoft, there is no such thing because a competitor is a competitor. This is the gaming industry were games determine which console gets more playing time. I agree with the philosophy of not relying on graphics alone to determine the enjoyability of a console, in the long run this benchmarking criteria is flawed (it’s like using the core speed of a cpu to judge it’s performance). However pretending that you are in a league of your own is like lying to yourself (Iraqi minister of info) about the inevitable.
Nintendo also need a solid online platform. Wii sports would be a major major blast if I could play with other people online. Who knows where my golf skills might take me, be scared Tiger.
Bottom line is to maintain this momentum:
- Nintendo needs more third party support (not ports) and exclusives.
- Nintendo needs a solid online gaming system like and even better than XBOX live.
- Keep the good games coming.
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Next generation video game console battle begins: November 18, 2006
Posted by piro in Microsoft, Nintendo, PS3, Random Inno, Sony, Wii, Xbox.2 comments
Why Apple, and not Microsoft for Nintendo November 12, 2006
Posted by piro in Business, Microsoft, Nintendo, PC, Random Inno, Wii, Xbox, apple.1 comment so far
Following my last post here. One comment I received moved me to post this response:
Comment:
I think Microsoft will attempt the purchase…. not Apple. It will be a very smart move for chairman Bill and Co. they will take the market lead in the video games market (especially in Japan) and crush Sony in the process….. just imagine Mario, Link and the Masterchief getting drunk together….
Least we forget that microsoft have invested too much money into the xbox. Also buying Nintendo would be too expensive for them (not that the don’t have the cash), because the two companies have different agenda’s, (no synergy). Nintendo makes games and have voiced that all along while Microsoft is a software company that was forced into console gaming due to market conditions, (basicallybrb,cramps
Microsoft would defend anything they think is a threat to their business). I believe Microsofts long term aim is to use Xbox Live like an itunes platform, basically hitting Apple where they defend.
Apple like Microsoft make computers but differ since: one – they don’t have a gaming unit yet! Two – have not been forced by the market to make games yet, this is why even apple have not really bothered pitching their products to gamers like Microsoft have. Three – Apple have been able to carve out the Music business for themselves and can use this to leverage their other non ipod products. This is really the way business might be done in the future.
On buying Nintendo, my belief is Nintendo’s products look like Apple’s, their ideology match Apple’s. Apple needs to be able to defend Microsoft on the gaming front. because XBOX live is a threat to there itunes service.
Google Acquires YouTube October 15, 2006
Posted by piro in Business, Google, Microsoft, Random Inno.add a comment
Google is annoucing that it has offically acquired YouTube, more here.
in my last post I talked about the copyright infringiing issues that may follow the acquisition. While I am officailly on the fence on this one I have spent the last week pondering the ramifications and realised that contrary thinking may prevail. What I’m saying here is that while majority of the crowd focuses on the negatives plus the fact that these are desperate times (as Charlie Robinson says) especially those trying to get into
M & A number 100… October 7, 2006
Posted by piro in Google, Microsoft, PC, Random Inno, dell, hp, ibm.add a comment
And so it happens. The Inquirer is reporting that Google is about to acquire YouTube. If this should happen, surely this would be the year of the merger. Google is rumoured to have offered $1.6 Billion which is a solid figure given the impending copyright issues that could arise in the near future. MySpace has a better business model and could easily kill YouTube.
Would Microsoft throw in the towel(s) and realise that they are now just another firm that cannot seem lead through innovation, in-fact the only trend they have spotted is on-line collaboration using sharepoint and office live (really a possible alternative revenue model).
A Gartner report suggests that the number of desktops being sold is in decline while the number of laptops sold is increasing, thus profit from software (mainly Operating System, OS) should remain fairly stable (also assuming that the desktop decline is due to people abandoning them in favour of laptops). One can also argue that the emerging world market would help buck this trend and help increase revenue. However we should not forget that most emerging world PC’s are sold for less than they do in the developed countries.
Yahoo has done well with yahoo mail, news and even inked deals with eBay but has failed to capitalise on the earlier success of launch. Yahoo could have easily turned this site into YouTube a couple of years ago. This year is a lesson that has innovation written all over.
Microsoft Zune September 30, 2006
Posted by piro in Microsoft, Random Inno, apple.1 comment so far
This is the almighty Zune from Microsoft. The only thing left for Microsoft is to be a content provider. Microsoft went back to the drawing board and came back with this device that matched Apple’s Ipod price for price but has more features like Wireless and a bigger screen size. Appart form those two striking features it also betters the Ipod as it can play music and video in more than one format (not just the WMA but also AAC).
Microsoft has decided to step over it’traditional partners and ditch the traditional way of doing business. I suspect frustration and fear has pushed them this far. Apple is currently re-surging and is becoming a runaway success (Almost 1 in 5 people I know have an Ipod). However I suspect Apple would not lie down and be owned by Microsoft again.
When has bashing crossed the line … September 4, 2006
Posted by piro in Life 2.0, Microsoft, Random Inno.add a comment
… here obviously. Apple which I’m beginning to love like Google took pot shots at Microsoft. I personally don’t think Microsoft deserved it, mainly because it’s like kicking them while they are down. But many would argue otherwise.
Anyhow I think my next laptop might be a mac especially since think secret reports that apple plans to release the Core 2 Duo versions come mid September. The new Intel chips are blazing fast + they are dual core.
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