# Just bought an XBox...good choice??? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789 "2002-12-01T17:27:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![super\_head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@super\_head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/super_head)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/21 "2002-12-02T06:18:55Z")
I like the XBox from what I’ve seen - and that consisted of playing 3 games of NCAA Football 2003 one night with a friend, in which the Alabama Crimson Tide soundly defeated the Auburn Tigers repeatedly. Which, unfortunately, turned out to be nothing like reality. But the XBox seemed pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/22 "2002-12-02T14:47:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kwyjibo \* > \*\*Has any one here who has an XBox ever had any probs with them? \*\* Not yet. As to the “not enough games” bit - I’ve never understood this. By my estimation, in order to buy all the games out for the XBox, you would need to spend approximately twelve thousand dollars. Maybe you folks are richer than I am, but the title selection for the Xbox exceeds any possibility I would ever exhaust it. The number of titles available for the XBox is WAY past the point where you need to worry about it, and more titles are coming out; the platform is well supported and Microsoft is putting more money into it. What really matters is what key, critical games you want to play on it. If you just can’t live without GTA: Vice City, get a PS2. If you can’t imagine living without Halo, get an XBox. The best sports titles are available for both. Most really good games are available for both, actually. IMHO, basing your decision on the XBox’s alleged impending doom is nuts. It’s not dying anytime soon, and by the time it does the decision will be between a PS3 and an XBox2 and a Nintendo GameDodecahedron. The other critical factor, however, is whether you want to play the thing online. If you do, get an XBox. If not, make your decision based on what 2-3 key games you think the kids will want to play. Yes, the XBox is a better piece of equipment technically, but it’s not a PC; buy based on the games they’ll want to play for months. (Note: A good idea is to rent both and make your decision based on that. That’s what I did.) ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/23 "2002-12-02T14:56:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ranma \* > \*\*Personally, I haven’t had any with mine, but problems have been reported. Search the [www.teamxbox.com](http://www.teamxbox.com) forums for more specific information. \*\* Thanks Ranma! That’s the the sort of thing I was looking for!!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/24 "2002-12-02T14:59:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\*You’re not looking very hard, then. \*\* I’m not gonna travel far and wide to do so. :rolleyes: But the WalMart and ToysRUs here had mostly sports games. ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/25 "2002-12-02T15:01:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElwoodCuse \* > \*\*How old are the kids? If they are old enough to enjoy Grand Theft Auto, they’ll be annoyed. Heck, if GTA is too mature for them, they might even prefer a GameCube. \*\* My kids are young, so no GTA for them, but my son is 10 and he plays UT with me, so Unreal Championship is looking good. 🙂 (Some father and son bonding time. :D) ---
**Author:** ![PolishSausage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@PolishSausage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PolishSausage)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/26 "2002-12-02T15:04:09Z")
Ugh, I’ve mentioned this before in other Xbox threads but I’ll go again. In regards to the controller complaints, my eight year old daughter has been playing our standard Xbox controller for the last year and is having no problems. This includes playing Halo, which uses every button and trigger on the controller. The PS2 controller is designed to be held with your fingertips whereas the Xbox’s sits in your palms. I really don’t see the big deal. Since there are now smaller alternatives to the standard controller, the size issue is a dead issue. Xbox will not be gone in a year. With exclusives like Splinter Cell, MechAssault, and (soon to be released - played an excellent demo) Panzer Dragoon Orta makes it a viable and growing system. The great online play and downloadable new content for games, Xbox Live is yet another reason it would be a mistake to dismiss the Xbox. Have fun playing and make mine Master Chief! ~t ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/27 "2002-12-02T15:06:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*The number of titles available for the XBox is WAY past the point where you need to worry about it, and more titles are coming out; the platform is well supported and Microsoft is putting more money into it. What really matters is what key, critical games you want to play on it. If you just can’t live without GTA: Vice City, get a PS2. If you can’t imagine living without Halo, get an XBox. The best sports titles are available for both. Most really good games are available for both, actually. \*\* I’m not into sports games at all, so Halo and Unreal Champ. is what caught my eye. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*\Nintendo GameDodecahedron. \*\* 😃 ROFL 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/28 "2002-12-02T15:34:59Z")
Whatever happened to XBox’s huge advertising budget? I would think that if I’m not in their target market then I should be. Why don’t they have commercials about the XBOX rather than just the games (which often come out on ps2 as well)? Why don’t they have commercials in prime time showing off xbox’s live feature and communicator. It just blows my mind that you don’t see commercials, say, in a “Friends” slot or other mainstream show. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/29 "2002-12-02T17:11:17Z")
> [@](#): > > As to the “not enough games” bit - I’ve never understood this. By my estimation, in order to buy all the games out for the XBox, you would need to spend approximately twelve thousand dollars. Maybe you folks are richer than I am, but the title selection for the Xbox exceeds any possibility I would ever exhaust it. In my experience, most games are pretty damn mediocre. A few are good, and fewer still are great. Having more games overall makes for a better chance of more great games. Also, if more games are available for a system, that means that more companies are developing for it, hence more variety in gameplay and subject matter. More games also means that more people are _buying_ games for the system, meaning that the system is less likely to fizzle out in a year like the Dreamcast (a perfect example of lack of variety - the vast majority of the games were Sports 'n Ports\*) \*Arcade games ported to the Dreamcast ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/30 "2002-12-02T17:29:19Z")
We’ve got an x-box and we use it as our DVD player as well as for games. No problems thus far. My one complaint is that the other systems seem to have at least one or two titles that are tot-friendly–that is, they’re cute and have some educational value and aren’t violent. All of the x-box games are either sports-themed or have violence. Even Shrek. So it will be awhile before my son can enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/31 "2002-12-02T18:25:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sleestak \* > \*\*Post snipped. > > ::DING DING DING:: > > “Thanks for playing Sir but you answered the question incorrectly. The correct answer is ‘Microsoft lost 177 million on the XBox in the three months ending on September 30th’. As a parting prize you have your choice of a set of stainless steel cookware or the ‘Michael Jackson Being an ASS’ DVD set.” > > While the XBox is technically a great system MS is losing money on it in a big way. MS has stated that they are willing to throw 2 BILLION behind the XBox which is a large amount of money. It is still questionable if MS is going to follow through if the losses keep piling up. \*\* Well, Microsoft has stated that they are losing 100 - 150 dollars per console manufactured and sold… so divide 177 million by 100 or 150 and you get a lot of consoles sold in three months… Dying out? I think not. I bought an XBox 3-4 weeks ago, and I love it, the controls fit my hands nicely, I got fairly big hands and the other consoles controllers felt very constrictive. I wanted Munch’s Oddessy and Halo, beyond all other games and they can only be played on the XBox. And even if xbox dies in 2 years, POOMA, who cares? By then you will own the games you will own, and be itching for PS3, or Nintendo GameContinuum, or whatever else is out then. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/32 "2002-12-02T18:28:22Z")
[150 it is](http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2084861,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Synthesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@Synthesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Synthesis)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/33 "2002-12-02T18:32:42Z")
“The correct answer is ‘Microsoft lost 177 million on the XBox in the three months ending on September 30th’” You are correct. Now, what was Microsoft’s total profit from that same quarter? Yes…Microsoft is still making BILLIONS of dollars in profit. The Xbox is not only a gaming system. It is the start of a long term strategy to position Microsoft in the center of a consumer’s video/entertainment/information lifestyle. Imagine the next Xbox with built a built in web browser, TIVO-like recording capability, and email client and/or keyboard + mouse. None of this is new technology. The Xbox is easy to upgrade and MS will start trying to become the consumer “PC/video game system” of choice. Best of all, with dedicated hardware their system will work like an appliance. You are missing the boat if you think that MS wants to make a “better Playstation”. They want to create the dominant PC based platform and stick it right in the middle of your livingroom. It a long term strategy and a 177 million dollar loss on this is chump change to Microsoft. Hell, Bill Gates could cover that out of his own pocket every quarter for the rest of his life… …Just my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/34 "2002-12-02T18:38:23Z")
I’ve had one for about a year. On the “pro” side, the graphics and animation on XBox games kick major ass. Wire it into a surround sound system, and you’re cooking with gas. I’m not a huge fan of the controller that they provide. My main gripe is with the directional pad. I can never seem to get it to register diagonal movements properly, which can be a problem with games like Dead or Alive 3. I would have preferred another thumbstick. The size isn’t a big problem (pun not intended), but I can see how other people might not like it. I know that FPS players like the control system where you have one controller that controls your movement and another that controls your visual orientation. For me, it’s kind of like trying to react to machine gun fire while playing a Brahms concerto. Although FPS purists will undoubtedly revile me, I’d like it if there were a decent joystick controller for playing Halo. I ordered the Thrustmaster joystick, but haven’t had the time to dedicate to figuring out how to program it for Halo. My initial impression is that I can’t set up a “Halo preset” on the joystick and instead have to reprogram it each time I play in order to get the settings I’d like. That’s fairly annoying. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/35 "2002-12-02T23:59:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Synthesis \* > \*\*“The correct answer is ‘Microsoft lost 177 million on the XBox in the three months ending on September 30th’” > > You are correct. Now, what was Microsoft’s total profit from that same quarter? > > Yes…Microsoft is still making BILLIONS of dollars in profit. The Xbox is not only a gaming system. It is the start of a long term strategy to position Microsoft in the center of a consumer’s video/entertainment/information lifestyle. Imagine the next Xbox with built a built in web browser, TIVO-like recording capability, and email client and/or keyboard + mouse. None of this is new technology. The Xbox is easy to upgrade and MS will start trying to become the consumer “PC/video game system” of choice. Best of all, with dedicated hardware their system will work like an appliance. > > You are missing the boat if you think that MS wants to make a “better Playstation”. They want to create the dominant PC based platform and stick it right in the middle of your livingroom. It a long term strategy and a 177 million dollar loss on this is chump change to Microsoft. Hell, Bill Gates could cover that out of his own pocket every quarter for the rest of his life… > …Just my thoughts. \*\* True but I didn’t go into MicroSoft’s plans for the future except to meantion that MS was willing to spend 2 Billion on the XBox. I know what MS plans for the XBox, a central do it all entertainment box that MS will own. What I was pointing out is that MS is not making money on the XBox. **Ranma** claimed that the XBox is profitible and that was incorrect. Also the total loss MS has on the XBox, IIRC, is about 800 million at this point. (4 quarters with a loss of about 200 million per quarter)That is close to half of the 2 Billion MS is willing to throw behind the XBox. At the same time for MS to win they need to gain amore market share than the PS2. The way things are going now I don’t see that happening anytime soon. But I will never count MS out. MS has a record of missing on the first 2 tries and then killing everyone else on the third try. I don’t think the XBox is going to die next year. In three or four years, maybe. If I knew I’d be rich right now, sipping wine in Italy and watching supermodels swim in my pool. Slee ::Really wishing I was rich, sipping wine in Italy watching supermodels swim in my pool:: ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/36 "2002-12-03T06:30:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kwyjibo \* > \*\*My kids are young, so no GTA for them, but my son is 10 and he plays UT with me, so Unreal Championship is looking good. 🙂 (Some father and son bonding time. :D) \*\* Sounds about right, then. You guys might also enjoy Doom 3 when it comes out and Splinter Cell (I’m pretty sure that has multiplayer). ---
**Author:** ![Ranma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Ranma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranma)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/37 "2002-12-03T06:57:01Z")
My ‘‘claim’’ still stands. The Xbox is a profitable venture for game companies. That’s what really counts. If Microsoft is losing money on it right now (and I’m well aware of that), in the long run it’s going to get better. > [@](#): > > All of the x-box games are either sports-themed or have violence. Even Shrek. So it will be awhile before my son can enjoy it. Have a look at Blinx: The Time Sweeper. Cutesy, non-violent, and lots of puzzles, forces players to think. ---
**Author:** ![Synthesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@Synthesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Synthesis)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/38 "2002-12-03T13:40:04Z")
Nice points sleestak. I think we are in general agreement. ---
**Author:** ![PolishSausage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@PolishSausage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PolishSausage)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/39 "2002-12-03T13:53:06Z")
**ElwoodCuse** > [@](#): > > You guys might also enjoy Doom 3 when it comes out and Splinter Cell (I’m pretty sure that has multiplayer). I’m 99% sure Doom 3 is multiplayer but I can tell you 100% that Splinter Cell isn’t. I love multiplayer games but Splinter Cell isn’t hurt by the lack of it. The game revolves around sneaking and can’t see how that would be improved with having extra people around. …hmmmm, unless one group played as the guards and another group played as the covert ops… As a side note the game is Xbox Live ready in that it supposedly will have downloadable content. Anyway, Splinter Cell is a gorgeous game that needs you to play it. IT NEEEEEEDS YOU!!! ~t ---
**Author:** ![swingchick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@swingchick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swingchick)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789/40 "2002-12-03T18:31:27Z")
I have both an X-Box and a Game cube. There are a few good games I have encountered in the X-box library, but I must say I much prefer the Game Cube. Also I definatly recommend getting the s-controller. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-an-xbox-good-choice/139789.md?page=3)