Stupid Article: Why Microsoft won next-gen by losing this gen.

[Squilliam]

DanneSandin said:

Squilliam said:
Microsoft will be pretty strong in the next generation and I suspect that the way things will go down will play in their favour more than the current generation. The thing which matters most nowadays in these types of connected devices are networks and as the software company of the three Microsoft wghas already got the best console network with likely the most loyal online fans as well as significant momentum from Windows which is slowly being leveraged in their console as they move closer together.

Whilst Microsoft doesn't have a great first party this isn't a huge handicap, just as with the Sony PS1/PS2 third parties love to fill in a vacuum simply because it is human nature to take the easy route. In addition to this Sony's first party mantra of outspending and out creating the competition won't hold water with third parties able to sustain much higher production budgets which will in the end outshine any advantage their first parties have by their exclusive focus on the one system.

Whether or not you like the article, I still feel this is a conversation worth having.

I feel the same way, and that's why I posted this article. He might be biased, but I happen to agree that MS might win next gen. I just think that he should have spelled it out HOW MS is gonna win all us over. This article is a hunch, and no prediction. It suffers from a lack of evidence, statistics and facts that leads to a "x3ox >> WiiStation" prediction. It's all a hunch and therefore quite irrelevant.

Yuppers. D21lewis made me pregnant before so before I go raid the fridge for some chocolate covered asparagus I may as well point out that Microsoft has made some pretty bold moves with Windows 8 and some pretty good hardware with the Surface. I don't think there ought to be any doubts now that they can put out some excellent hardware and software.

I have always felt they know the market quite well and they have used their first party and publishing arm quite well this generation, as well as Sony has even inspite the obvious talent advantage as well as the few big carry over exclusives Sony got from the PS2. If they can continue to deliver on these fronts then they ought perform at least adequately next generation though I suspect next generation will be a winner takes all affair like a couple of gens back with the PS2 simply because the online network that gathers most of the players will have an insurmountable advantage in momentum.