The Xbox 360 launch in 2005 was a tale of success and failure, which hopefully will have left Microsoft with some valuable lessons learned. With a new console to launch in the coming year or so, it's hoped the problems which plagued the Xbox 360 won't rear their ugly heads again. Here are five things Microsoft will hopefully avoid this time.
Manufacturing using cheap components
The costly remnants of using cheap parts meant that Microsoft had to put millions of dollars into its extended warranty program after huge numbers of the initial stock were deemed faulty. Whilst Microsoft's handling of the incident was commendable, for many, the RRoD and all its trimmings left way too much of a sour taste in a number of consumers mouths. It's likely that those on the receiving end will think twice before rushing out to buy the next Xbox out of the gate.
Microsoft, simply has to prove - via positive reception - that its new console is ready for its intended use and won't leave the consumers worrying about the longevity of their purchase.
Divide the market with add-ons products
Whilst the practice is more commonplace now, Microsoft's approach back in 2005 was either deemed pure genius or a catalyst to fragmenting the market. The 20 GB HD Premium edition versus the basic Core, simply bolstered a market for overpriced add-ons, but did allow consumers on the lowest of budgets a chance to jump in. There's a lot more at stake now, and with all of the expected multi-media functions of the new Xbox, it's likely Microsoft will stick with less bespoke editions and more grounded iterations that serve to capture all aspects of its features.
The add-on hard drive for core owners meant that early games could not utilize the benefits of the storage medium, making for a much lower standard which is not something Microsoft will want to repeat. Forget media remotes memory cards and such like, and welcome and all inclusive box.
Gimmicky external features
Microsoft aimed to add a bit of personality to the Xbox console by offering users the chance to buy changeable face plates, a first and something of a gimmick. Whilst some faceplates looked good, they added nothing to the core experience and served only to provide self gratification. The customization of the fascia of the console, did nothing for its appearance, and only served as a gimmick which soon petered out into nothing especially once the newer S models were introduced. As proven by the Xbox 360 in its recent year, the key to customization is on the inside rather than out, and so the next Xbox is likely to have one identity free from consumer interaction.
Gamble on a poor format
Microsoft's decision to ignore Blu-Ray and opt for the HDD format ended in misery and was an utter failure, to the extent where - much like the face plates - the optional HDD add-on became obsolete. Without proper backing from the movie industry and no uniformity with the Xbox 360 hardware in terms of games, it was never going to end well and so became another white elephant on the console's early history. The next Xbox is likely to use a format that is future proof and won't need to be centered around a gamble in other markets.
The external brick
Microsoft did well with introducing wireless controllers as standard, which moved gamers away from the console age of tripping over cables and making a mess of play spaces. However, behind the scenes, the ugly and cumbersome power brick made for an awkward component to position, making the entire console not very portable. Whilst this might seem like a minor issue, from a design perspective, having an external power source might make the console itself appear smaller, the fact the brick needed to be placed somewhere negated the benefits. Gamers will want to plug in and play rather than fiddle with leads and cables and so the next Xbox is likely to be the one unit that is easy to package for distribution and simple set up once in the home.
