I'd say the current lead Microsoft has over PS3 at the moment is enough. The PS3 is outselling the 360 but not by a big margin, something like a few thousand which is to be expected. So i don't think Microsoft needs to do anything untill it is being outsold by about 20 000 consoles week in-week out. A price drop just before MGS4 is released would be a good idea but i don't think it would have a big effect. Ninja Gaiden 2 should be a decent game but Microsoft will get there turn to push there big system sellers like Gears 2 and Fable 2. So should be a good year for both consoles!

Qly said: Read my last post, Consumers never win from monopolys, never, if microsoft was to win all the gaming comunity by stealing an idea, you know who'd be screwed? you, me and everyone else but MS Sorry, They have the buck and the people to become an original and groundbreaking company, instead they focus on : what does anyone else does, how can we do the same and pass it as our own? It's my opinion youre free to disagree, but, for inovation's sake I hope that the newton flops..

Replace the highlighted part with Nintendo or Sony and you get the same results. 

Darc Requiem said: CaptainPrefrences said: actually they need to take a break relax, and eat a couple of big macs. Is that sarcasm? I mean if you are going eat a burger at least pick on that has meat on it. I don't want a salad with three pieces of bread and two Jimmy Dean Sausage sized burgers.

 I need to make a thread (Whopper or Big Mac)

MS doesn't 'need' to do anything in the US, the console war is already over in the US.

Wii will surpass it soon and Sony lacks the momentum to catch up, 360 is a guarenteed 2nd place as long as 360 production doesn't cease for any protracted length of time.

Worldwide is another matter, I'm sure the gap will close by January 2010, but it depends on how much. If MS is 5 million ahead by 2009, 2 million ahead by 2010 all they need do is release Xbox 3 for Holiday 2010 and effectively they held back Playstation 3 for a whole generation.

Userbase would be about the same, but MS will have made loads of gains in 'others' (5 million sales this year according to analysts) former PS3 exclusives (MGS4, Final Fantasy XIII) and have made a ****-ton of money on XBL subscriptions. Get another year head start and Sony won't be catching up again.

I think they need to make XLive free then it can match PSN and then maybe it can get more sales, covering XLive with more sales? :)

What Microsoft needs to do is come clean about hardware failures and convince people they've got their shit together and are now truly dependable (not that they are, but could reach that goal). Spend less money on securing third-party exclusives and content and spend more on actually growing a stronger first-party studio, developing strong IPs of their own and welcoming genre variation and working their ass off to earn respect among the gaming community. They need to stop nickle-and-diming everyone for virtually everything and eventually provide their online service for free. Also, a price-cut would help, but not as much as everything else I described. Correct their DRM issues as well and that should pull Microsoft through this and generate more interest. In my opinion, Microsoft just seems to be a "me too!" kind of company, adopting what works for the competition and not bringing innovation to the industry, and a company that lacks an identity of its own, other than being a milker and a bruiser.

ItalianBoyPhil said: I think they need to make XLive free then it can match PSN and then maybe it can get more sales, covering XLive with more sales? :)

 Live doesn' need to be free, more people pay for XBL than get it for free on PSN. Live is huge and MS can sell it and they will, because they can. If MS want's to improve it's standing it needs to do the following 1) Drop US price to $199, $279, $3992) Ditch the 20GB unit, upgrade it to 60GB (rumoured)3) Give the Elite WI-FI, eventually filter it into the 60GB unit so the only feature parity between it and PS3 is Blu-ray4) Sell blu-ray add on at a loss for $1005) Unveil the rest of the 2008 lineup6) Bundle the Wiimote knock-off with the arcade for $230 this holiday, as long as third parties port their Wii games to 360 it'll do well7) Spend as much money on Forza 3 advertising in Europe as they will with Halo 38) Release Xbox 3 for holiday 2010  

 

RAZurrection said: ItalianBoyPhil said: I think they need to make XLive free then it can match PSN and then maybe it can get more sales, covering XLive with more sales? :)  Live doesn' need to be free, more people pay for XBL than get it for free on PSN. Live is huge and MS can sell it and they will, because they can. If MS want's to improve it's standing it needs to do the following 1) Drop US price to $199, $279, $3992) Ditch the 20GB unit, upgrade it to 60GB (rumoured)3) Give the Elite WI-FI, eventually filter it into the 60GB unit so the only feature parity between it and PS3 is Blu-ray4) Sell blu-ray add on at a loss for $1005) Unveil the rest of the 2008 lineup6) Bundle the Wiimote knock-off with the arcade for $230 this holiday, as long as third parties port their Wii games to 360 it'll do well7) Spend as much money on Forza 3 advertising in Europe as they will with Halo 38) Release Xbox 3 for holiday 2010

Yeah but remember, there are more 360 Sales than PS3. If PS3 does catch up then there will be more people on PSN, you see?

I see your point, it'll take awhile for PS3 to catch up with 360.

So maybe making XLive free isn't the best option

Words Of Wisdom said: Qly said: Read my last post, Consumers never win from monopolys, never, if microsoft was to win all the gaming comunity by stealing an idea, you know who'd be screwed? you, me and everyone else but MS Sorry, They have the buck and the people to become an original and groundbreaking company, instead they focus on : what does anyone else does, how can we do the same and pass it as our own? It's my opinion youre free to disagree, but, for inovation's sake I hope that the newton flops.. Replace the highlighted part with Nintendo or Sony and you get the same results.

 True, BUT, at least they try to innovate, wiimote, eyetoy, wii fit, etc

  Ok, rob and Virtual boy flopped, but, they are trying, they are not just waiting for someone to come up with an idea to steal it

Drop out and just make software Its what they do best. At least theyd have some green to show for rather than a deep red hole.