CORBIE'S GAME BLOG

Microsoft decided a long time ago that they wanted to get their Xbox 360 system out ahead of both Sony and Nintendo's new console offerings. And while they were able to accomplish this, it's difficult to tell if this strategy will prove to work more for or against them in the upcoming console race. We already know the chaos surrounding the Xbox 360 launch this past holiday season. The countless people standing in line only to be turned away as stores quickly ran through all of their available stock. In fact, many turned up at Walmart stores across the country for their midnight Xbox 360 sale on New Years Eve. So we know the system has enjoyed a solid launch, although sales as of late have dipped off, but what can Microsoft do to insure that their Xbox 360 system will remain competetive against the upcoming Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii systems?

Microsoft's main strategy seems to be built off of their efforts with the original Xbox system. Xbox Live has become a staple among Xbox owners looking to enjoy the benefits of a dedicated online gaming service. With the Xbox 360, Microsoft has stepped up the online content, which now includes not only the successful online gaming service, but also the ability to download game demos, use Xbox Live Arcade featuring many classic arcade titles like Street Fighter 2 and Contra, not to mention the ability for Xbox 360 owners to download new themes and icons for their Xbox 360 menus. Microsoft is also continuing to create more mature games that directly appeal to their core audience's age group. Microsoft knows that in order for them to continue to compete in the console market, they've got to get some outstanding exclusive content out and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a good example of them doing just that. Microsoft knows what their stengths are and they seem to be playing up to them so far.

There's no way to mention the Xbox 360 strategy and not mention the king of Xbox games and the one that is probably more anticipated than any other title. I'll give you three guesses but you should only need one. It's Halo 3. Microsoft knows this is their ace-in-the-hole and you can bet that they aren't going to let game fans forget that it's coming next year to only one console, and that's their Xbox 360. This title alone could single-handedly spark sales of the Xbox 360 system no matter when Microsoft is able to get it released. If ever there were a game that might possibly be worth the price of owning an Xbox 360 system by itself, it's Halo 3. That being said, Halo 3 is still at least a year away, so in the meantime Microsoft is going to have to keep pushing exclusive content and keep a steady stream of downloadable games coming to Xbox Live Arcade to keep the excitement level high for the Xbox 360.

Microsoft's early console launch of their Xbox 360 seems to have both good and bad points. On the good side, they've gotten their next-generation console into the hands of consumers almost a full year before Sony or Nintendo are going to be able to launch their systems. This means that many gamers who might have gone with a Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii system, but just couldn't see waiting an entire year for them to be released, went ahead and purchased an Xbox 360. The bad side of all of this is that Microsoft was forced to show their cards quite a bit earlier than either Nintendo or Sony, and that's allowed Sony and Nintendo to already know what they're going to be up against and make any adjustments that might be needed to counter what Microsoft is already doing. We've already seen both Sony and Nintendo create their own online gaming services, not to mention Nintendo's Virtual Console which mimics Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade in the way it will allow gamers to download many classic games, although we can pretty much assume that with Nintendo's mammoth back catalog of games that the Wii will likely have a much larger game selection, even from the start.

I personally think Microsoft is in a good spot because they're doing what they do best. They're giving their userbase what they want, and pushing their online gaming service which has helped make them so successful in the past. It's easy to put Microsoft at the back of the line right now simply because their thunder has come and gone and now the two new consoles are stealing a lot of the spotlight. Microsoft has been duking it out with Nintendo this past generation competing for second place behind Sony's hugely popular Playstation 2 system, and this is why I think they might have a little more trouble this generation with Nintendo's Wii system grabbing so much hype and anticipation this year. I could see Nintendo giving Sony a run for their money this generation, but I just don't have that same type of feeling about Microsoft and their Xbox 360 system and see them spending a lot of time in third place. It's going to be a great console race, and there's still a lot of twists and turns still coming before we begin to get an idea of how each system will fare against each other, but there's one thing I can say for certain. If you're a video game fan, you've got a lot to be excited about over the coming years.