Alright, so most of us read the debate between Siren and TheSource, and if you haven't, do so. It's on the front page. While the forums are down, I'd like to give a more in depth opinion on why I think the X-mote isn't a great idea...in list form. Note, this is all my speculation and opinion. Feel free to add your own, when you post. I thank you in advance for reading.
Cons
1. Pherepheral userbase. We've seen the balance board pherepheral spawn software in Japan. However, that software is still sparse, and it's also being created off future expectations of the balance board's success. In other words, to create a valid software market for the X-mote, you will have to be a smash success out of the gate, otherwise, developers will be cautious of your new item, simply because its future userbase is uncertain. Afterall, the userbase for the X-mote will likely never catch up to the current userbase of the Wii.
2. Price. Will current 360 owners buy and use the X-mote? Some will surely, so what is the price of this device. I honestly can't see it going for under 60 dollars US, with a packaged game included. Assuming your hardcore userbase isn't a main backer for the new controls, the 360 will basically be starting over, vs the Wii, who now has a 23 million headstart, and is significantly cheaper. Will new 360's have packed-in X-motes? If not, the experiement I'm afraid, is over before it starts. Packing in an item like this is what is required to maintain a userbase stable enough to support software. I honestly can't see the price of this item under 59.99, as an independant pherepheral, however, I can see the price of this item, packaged with Banjo Thereeie being priced at 99.99 usd.
3. Mindshare. In the debate, Siren mentiones mindshare, and that the X-mote will have a positive effect on the mindshare of future 360 owners, and more specifically casuals. True. However, how will this affect the mindshare of fence setters, or, hardcore internet gamers who haven't decided between the PS3 and 360. Well, considering most of these people have spent the last 2 years of their life arguing how terrible motion controls are, and how inferior the Wii is as a gaming system, I doubt we'll see a huge positive response. I mean, can you imagine Bashcraft's response over at Kotaku when he learns that the X-mote costs 70 bucks, or even when he learns that the X-mote is confirmed at all.
4. Public Image. PR, Marketing, Competition perception. Ok, The Source said this best when he said that the X-mote would cement Nintendo philosophy. It's certain to cause quite a public ruckus. Imagine if a news channel picks this up for even a snippet. I think a comparison to Nintendo would definately come up, and likely be the focus fo the article, not to mention the numerious blogs already being written on the subject(like this one, lol). Imitation is the best form of flattery, and I imagine that the introduction of the X-mote would sell more Wii's than it would 360, when the word got out that it's a knockoff, even if it was a more refined product.
5. Target Market. Know what a profiler is? Welp, just like a seriel killer, market segments have profiles. The Wii's market is actually quite diverse, however the majority of folks who buy a Wii just for its motion sensiving remote, and not for its actual games, fall into the target market for the X-mote as well. However, some factors of the 360 work to exclude this target market. Price, Game selection, difficulty of entry(SKU knowledge, in game menus, nonsimplicity inherant to the system, RRoD). In other words, on a scale of 1 to 10, the userfriendliness of the Wii is about a 9. The user friendliness of the 360 is about a 6 or 7. Acceptable for most adults, but old people or small children will have trouble purchasing and operating the device. Either way, price is the main focul point that this point focuses on, because the target market, casuals, will have a more difficult time paying over 300 dollars for a 360, particularly when the Gamestop guy is begging them not to buy the "lolArcade unit" as it's affectionately know over on Gamespot.
6. Competition. As trends go, and not static numbers, the 360 is third place in a three man race, atm. The Xbox 360 proposes to decend from the high ground its created everytime MS officials state, we're competing with the PS3, the Wii is just a totally different market. Well, now MS want's a piece of the market it has seemingly ignored for so long. The problem? It's going against the Wii. One of the most successful game consoles of all time, and along with the DS and PC, the first and last word in the casual gaming market. If this were the console market in general we were discussing, what chances would you give for a new entry into the console war to take first place its first time around the block? Certainly besting the Wii in the casual market isn't a goal this goround, but instead gaining significant market share. Still, competition in this market is as fierce as they come, with the Nintendo name brand on the tips of every tounge, especially when word of your new Nintendo knockoff remote comes to the forefront. Will that device be met with excitement or criticism when its discussed around the watercooler?
Pros
1. Quality. With the 360's hardware as well as the possibility to add 4 IR points(and therefore allowing for the determination of yaw to go along with roll and pitch), this remote would be perfect for adding 1 to 1 sword fighting, more precise movements, or head tracking to some games, which could be great for gamers. In other words, MS has the opportunity to 1 up the Wii remote if they learn from its mistakes and invest heavily in production of this device, if the device even uses IR, but who knows, this is all speculation at this point.
2. Broadening of Opportunities for Publishers. Games like Zack and Wiki could be produced on the 360, giving that great game a second chance at software sales and reaching a broader audience.
3. Functionality. Many current 360 games could be made better with motion controls.
What MS should prey for:
If Sony also came out with a Wii-Mote knockoff, the depsperation argument would go down the drain, as MS could just say, hey look Sony is doing it too, it's just a smart move with the success of the Wii. So MS should hope and prey that there is a PS3-mote in the future that is announced before the release of the X-mote, because that takes away at least one large negative point about the product which is the PR debacle it would inevitably cause.
Sorry it was so long. Thoughts?
I don't need your console war.
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor.
You're power hungry, spinnin' stories, and bein' graphics whores.
I don't need your console war.
NO NO, NO NO NO.
