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Landguy on 16 January 2014
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This is not a bash XB1 or Microsoft thread...

But, Can the XB1 be saved?  I would guess Nintendo didn't think they had a problem this time last year either...

Looks like the XB1's are stacking up at a number of US retailers.  As many of the reports show, it is not hard to get an XB1 anymore at all.

I am a proud owner of an XB1.  What few games are available on a launch system doesn't indicate the future, so I am not going to focus on the games (YET).  I think that most people that frequent the VGchartz site know that the PS4 is having a tremendous launch/holiday period.  Most will agree that the XB1 had a good or really good launch period.

So why do I think the XB1 needs saving?

1. I think that the XBOX fanboys have done their job and ran out and got the XB1 during the first 60 days or so.  But, it is quite obvious that the XB1 is readily available at most retailers throughout the US and presumably Europe (based on comments on many websites).  It is only the second week in January and a launch console's demand has waned enough to purchase it at a moment’s notice.  This is clearly a bad sign.

2.  I also think that it is clear that the media has also not been overwhelmed with excitement over some of the XB1's most important features outside of gaming.  The Kinect and multimedia functionality (missing 3d???) are great features, but you have to have the XB1 in your home to really appreciate their use. Most of the other multimedia features (Netflix or the like) are available in most common $50 bluray players.

3.  Perception is a bitch!  The generic perception that I have heard from talking with people who are not avid gamers is that the PS4 is WAY more powerful than the XB1.  Few can truly argue at this point that the 2 systems are similar in power.  But, the power difference at this point does seem to have made a huge impact in how people view the 2 systems.

4. $$$ does matter…  Even if people don’t really understand or care about the power difference, they do care about money.  The biggest obstacle for the XB1 is its cost.  Because Microsoft did not find a way to provide backwards compatibility, there is no reason to “show loyalty” to their brand.  Why pay another $100 for a system that plays the same multi plat games as the PS4 and has less power?  The answer for people who have an XB1 is that they like the interface and the features of the Kinect.  For people who don’t have one, they just can’t see the benefits.

5.  The winds of change!!!!!!  Things are up in the air over at Microsoft.  With a new head guy coming in soon, the focus of the company can start to make a change.  Even though I think they are headed in the right direction of a unified phone/computer/gaming system OS’s, many outside the company don’t think so.  If Microsoft would spin off or change the core philosophy, the XBOX world could really change very quickly.

So do I have a few suggestions to fix it?

  1. Slow down of sales.  Too late to do anything about the slowdown itself other than to fix the other four problems.

  2. To change the Media group think, they should be GIVING away the XB1 to a crapload of celebrities and Media types and personally setting them up in their homes.  Give them a bunch of the games and show them the functionality of the Kinect.  Get them talking about it for you.

  3. Perception is tough to change.  But, the truth is that the PS4 is more powerful than the XB1(except for the powa of da cloud).  So, they need to do some type of advertising that makes fun of the power difference or some other form.  This won’t change the hard core gamer’s mentality, but could change the general perception.

  4. $$$ ?   Drop the system price by $50 NOW.  Also, with a price drop, bundle 6 months or 1 year of gold with the system (get them hooked!).  They need to change the perceived price disparity of the system in comparison to the PS4.  They need to have people believe that they need to get the XB1 sooner rather than later.

  5. The reality is, if the XB1 sells well, the changes won’t come to affect the XBOX group at all.  Microsoft needs to get the cross platform part of the equation on the minds of every Windows phone or Windows user.  Just like the ads for Direct TV, that show a guy pausing a show in one room and hitting play in the next to continue it.  Microsoft needs to show that you can play your music/movies and eventually some games on your Windows phone/Tablet or XB1.  Demo it in commercials!!

Just my thoughts, what are yours?



It is near the end of the end....