# WIll the X-Box live up to the hype? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2001, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667 "2001-10-31T05:18:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HomeSlice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9d8465/32.png) [@HomeSlice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeSlice)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/21 "2001-11-01T03:28:04Z")
Its not a bad price considering your are getting the $300 GeForce 3 in that thing. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/22 "2001-11-01T05:14:15Z")
It’s probably not a good idea to get your console buying advice from the guy who wrote the Atari Jaguar FAQ. 🙂 ::d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/23 "2001-11-01T08:22:31Z")
\ Uh-oh. It’s that time again. If I could just afford to get PS2, Gamecube, **and** XBOX, that’d be nice. Even if I could afford them, I just don’t have the time to play all The good games coming out for them. Hell, I play 5 hours a day and I’ve just barely scratched the surface. I don’t have PS2, Gamecube, or XBOX yet, and I still have way too many games on my wishlist. I own many games that I havn’t even got around to playing yet. It’s going to be one of those years. Guess I’ll be getting a Gamecube first. Anyone up for a game of Super Smash Brothers: Meelee? 🙂 * * * If anyone cares (which I somehow doubt) you can see my wishlist, owned games, etc. [here.](http://members.home.net/woodward3046) ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/24 "2001-11-01T17:23:09Z")
What, you’re not even going to bother with me, **SPOOFE**? I will be glad to be wrong about this, but come on now, of whom do we speak, here? I’ll make a long-term bet with you: _I predict that Microsoft will announce its intention to release some sort of major revision to the X-Box before March 1st, 2002. That could be in the form of a downloadable service pack, a corrective disc, a change in hardware, a recall, or some other change to the platform which we both agree is a “major revision” in at least partial response to poor product performance._ And we know MS will try not to admit it if they do, so we’ll have to agree with each other. Notice I’m only giving them three-and-a-half months from the projected release date of November 15. If I’m wrong, you get to re-write my sig line for a month. If you’re wrong, I get to do the same. Deal? ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/25 "2001-11-01T19:34:20Z")
I love gambling even more than video games . . . ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/26 "2001-11-01T19:52:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > Wow… say “X-Box” and all the MS-haters come out of the woodwork. You can also try “Windows XP” or “Microsoft .NET” if you want variety. 🙂 > [@](#): > > Rjung… > > > [@](#): > > > > You haven’t been following the XBox criticism, then. The controllers, the games, the big-ass ugly case… > > If those are the only criticisms the X-Box has, people should be hailing it as the Console of the Gods. You definitely haven’t been following the XBox criticism. 🙂 I’ll just let Microsoft’s dismal showing at E3 speak for itself – all of the gaming magazines I read said that the XBox titles all featured murky graphics and unimpressive gameplay. > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > What’s Microsoft got, other than an ability to repackage HP optical mice with their own brand name? > > A long history of making games You mean “buying game development companies,” don’t you? [sub](I continue to find it rather ironic that **Halo,** the XBox’s big-name rollout title, was originally a Macintosh game from a Macintosh game developer. Guess those Microsoft game developers weren’t good enough…)[/sub] > [@](#): > > And how many demo units of the PS2 were available for playing prior to its release? Not a whole helluva lot. Really? I couldn’t get away from them. And at least those kiosks had _playable_ games. > [@](#): > > The reason I’ve never been jazzed about the PS2 is, to me, the game lineup has been “Eh”. I hear everyone screaming “Gran Tourismo 3!” at the top of their lungs, to which my reply is, “I don’t care much for GT3.” I could never quite get into the **Gran Turismo** titles myself – I give them lots of props for the attention to realism and detail, but it doesn’t have the shut-up-and-drive adrenaline rush that I prefer from a racer. Give me **Ridge Racer,** **Crazy Taxi,** or (drool) **WipeOut: Fusion** instead. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Chief Crunch_ > It’s probably not a good idea to get your console buying advice from the guy who wrote the Atari Jaguar FAQ. 🙂 Ouchie. 😉 Technically speaking, the Jaguar was a decent console for the time – compare it to the then-popular Super NES and Sega Genesis, and the Jaguar could easily run rings around them. It ultimately failed due to two reasons: the tightwad nature of then-Atari owner Jack Tramiel (and his sons), and the clueless nature of then-Atari owner Jack Tramiel (and his sons). But hey, we Jaguar owners were playing [**Alien vs. Predator**](http://www.digiserve.com/eescape/atari/jaguar/Alien-vs-Predator.html) _years_ before it arrived on the PC. Nice to see Rebellion software finally got their game to a wider audience… ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/27 "2001-11-02T01:16:55Z")
I was just kidding, Rob. I actually really got into T2K, probably the best remake of a classic ever made and that little ditty that plays when you boot up the Jag tugs at my heartstrings every time. Now if only T3K had been released for the PS2, rather than the ill-fated Nuon… ---
**Author:** ![HoldenCaulfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@HoldenCaulfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoldenCaulfield)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/28 "2001-11-02T05:15:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PolishSausage \* > \*\*DOA3 & Soul Calibur II > ~WOOHOO!!! > > I have a Dreamcast(that i still love) but will be getting the Xbox for Christmas. My three daughters & I are huge fans of 3D fighting games. So we’re looking forward the two games I mentioned. > > Oh, and I’m getting Halo & Unreal asap. \*\* When I grow up I hope I have a family like yours. I am lucky enough to have a girlfriend that plays video games, so maybe. 🙂 The games you mentioned plus the new Jet Grind Radio and Shenmue 2 have me sold on the X-Box. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/29 "2001-11-02T05:24:33Z")
I’m getting gamecube, I don’t have the $ for X-Box, I already have a DVD player, and LOVE Nintendo games ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/30 "2001-11-02T05:30:24Z")
Oh, and I hear many times over that Nintendo is MUCH easier to program for ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/31 "2001-11-02T16:16:54Z")
_nosebleed_ [http://gamespot.com/gamespot/filters/products/media/0,11100,475755,00.html](http://gamespot.com/gamespot/filters/products/media/0,11100,475755,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/32 "2001-11-02T20:14:09Z")
SolomonGrundy I heard it a LOT of places. I’m not kidding, 3 places I know off hand is [IGN.COM](http://IGN.COM), Next Gen. Mag and Game Informer mag. I also saw video feed of E3 and developers from Capcom, Namco (I think that’s how you spell it) and Sega say that Game Cube is the easiest of the 3 to develop for. Also one told Next Gen (who remains announces) that Game Cube is a developers dream. Look man, insult me all you want, but I’m being honest! Geeze, don’t critisize before YOU know all the facts dude. Try taking a pill too ---
**Author:** ![HideoHo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@HideoHo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HideoHo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/33 "2001-11-02T21:04:51Z")
You know, I own a gaming review website. I try my best to counter some of the arguments that come about between the different consoles, but it’s just like a Republican vs. Democrat debate. No matter the evidence, some people just refuse to look at any of the facts and just blindly feel certain things. **BSOD:** The main reason for the BSOD is because something is up with the hardware of the machine. A glitch in the ram, a trace in the mobo, what have you. Of course, if it’s something repeatable, it’d be in the software, but the games are tested and are not allowed to be released unless they do not crash. Of course, other systems have crash problems too. Ever played driver and been launched into the stratusphere and had the graphics glitch on you and the game stop? How about Tony Hawk 3, Skaters Island - there’s a ramp that you can fall through every time. There’s no reason to think that the XBOX will have more software failures than the PS2 or Gamecube. **Hard Drive:** Repeat after me; “Caching on the hard drive is not installing a game.” Putting data on the hard drive so it is accessed faster is not installing a game. Game load times are not any longer on average than PS2 or Gamecube, so the fear of having to install the games is irrational. However, normally there is an unstate addition to the argument. “You’ll have to install games on the XBOX hard drive _unlike the PS2, which you won’t_.” Well, the only PS2 game that uses the HD is FFX, and it installs, doesn’t just cache. **Controller:** This is a matter of preference. I think the PS2 controller is the best for fighting games, but I have to use the Dreamcast controller to play Tony Hawk properly. Dunno why. **Ease of Programming:** Ok, Nintendo did make great strides in this area after the N64. However, the XBox has an advantage that no other game console can come close to. Any PC with the proper video card can be used to start making XBox games. Also, having used both systems (Vis Studio using DX for XBox and Code Warrior for GCN), I think the XBox is easier to work with, but that could be due to me being more familliar with DX from other projects. **Games: Lack of Original** Well, DOA3, Oddworld and Halo are three that jump to mind as console exclusives, along with NFL Fever, Project Gotham Racing, Morrowind (well, pc too). Also, microsoft has been getting developers to add special features into XBox versions of games, such as THPS2x, Silent Hill 2 and Metal Gear Solid X. While they might not be games you like, they are only on the Xbox. Might I suggest “XBox doesn’t have games I like.” or “The XBox versions of these games aren’t differnet enough for me to buy again”. **Overall** Really, it’s a toss up between PS2, XBox and Gamecube at the moment. PS2 has the current install base, which companies look at to see where they want to go. XBox has the ease of programming and money of Billy G behind it. Gamecube has Metroid, Mario and Zelda. OH yeah, and Pokemon. I like discussing the merits of each system, but can we at least keep it to a factual debate. It’s like listening to those people tell you the secret nude codes for Mortal Kombat II. John ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/34 "2001-11-02T21:23:56Z")
I got an e-mail from one of the contributors to this thread, asking that I take an axe to his post. A couple of folks responded to his post by quoting big chunks of it…in for a penny, in for a pound, says I, so I deleted those too. I apologize to all interested parties if this makes the continuity of the thread a bit difficult to understand. _Actually, I don’t give a shit. I don’t even know what an “X-box” is. Why aren’t these bastards discussing ballet or Webern’s variants on the 12-tone system or something?_ Oh, my! Did I say that out loud? ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/35 "2001-11-02T22:48:38Z")
Eh, that’s okay with me, **Uke**. You left my gauntlet where it was thrown… …And where it still lies. Well, **SPOOFE** , are you in or not? This is your chance to prove that I’m a Microsoft-hater, bloated to the point of bursting with my own septic feces. Come to think of it, that would make a great sig line… ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/36 "2001-11-03T00:10:43Z")
Just because people have the means to develop for X-Box, doesn’t mean it’s easy. That being said, X-Box DOES have that advantage you brought up. I DID hear many people say Game Cube is easiest to program for. Then again… I didn’t read everything about ever system. So I can’t say 100% anything All I know is I love Nintendo, their software has brought me a lot of joy. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/37 "2001-11-03T00:25:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MyFootsZZZ \* > **Just because people have the means to develop for X-Box, doesn’t mean it’s easy. That being said, X-Box DOES have that advantage you brought up.** I just wonder how many of the XBox’s games are – in the long run – going to be quickie ports of PC titles from folks out to make a quick buck. “Oh, wow! It’s _Deer Avenger 4_ for the XBox! Golly gee willikers!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SolomonGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SolomonGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolomonGrundy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/38 "2001-11-03T04:51:57Z")
Yeah, that was me being a total bonehead. I shouldn’t have been posting from work; it’s not as if I were making any shocking revelations or anything, but I don’t want to take any chances at all of being misinterpreted that I’m speaking for my company. Or of violating an NDA, since Microsoft’s lawyers have been getting a lot of practice lately. I apologize to anybody who got cut off in mid-argument. And FootsZZZ, I wasn’t insulting you (unless accusing anyone of reading [fatbabies.com](http://fatbabies.com) is an automatic insult, which I guess it may be), I was just getting all up in the console fanboy fervor. Come on, everybody’s doing it! HideoHo already made the points that I’d make, countering a couple of the biggest misconceptions about the Xbox. The fact that the Xbox lets you cache files to a hard drive for faster access is _not_ the same thing as saying “you have to install games to the hard drive.” The last game I installed on a PC took up 1.5 GB on my hard drive, and the install took at least 15 minutes. On the Xbox, you’re not allocated anywhere near that amount of space on the HD, and your game has to boot up in seconds. And patches are not allowed at all. Downloadable content (like unlocked levels, multiplayer characters, etc.) are allowed and even encouraged, but no core game data. Your game has to be able to start up and run exactly the same way with or without the persistent data; the player can delete the data from his hard drive at any time. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/39 "2001-11-03T06:30:08Z")
OK, it is definately not true that Microsoft doesn’t test their software. And how do I know? Cause I just got a short-term contract to TEST X-BOX GAMES at Redmond! Worship me, miserable worms! Ah, too bad the game I’m testing isn’t going to be one of the hottest. It’s pretty good…imagine Diablo crossed with Gauntlet…but not exactly my taste. But the graphics and lighting effects are amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Solomon7t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Solomon7t](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solomon7t)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667/40 "2001-11-03T08:53:27Z")
Im gonna skip all the whining and moaning about Microsoft and just make **two** points about this thing called the X-Box. 1. This thing is **freakin’** huge! Its like statue of libertyXMir Spacestation^99999. Hell, with the mass production planned for these things I bet their gonna make an imbalance in the planet and destroy civilization. Hell, Microsoft could use all the plastic involved in making **one** X-Box to build housing for the entire third world. 2. They **STOLE** HALO!!! Halo was supposed to be for PC and Mac. And know dumb Microsoft pushes Bungie into making it for X-Massive-Box. That would be fine, BUT its being released first for X-Massive-Box!!!BS. Now Halo, a game I have been looking forward to for a very long time, is gonna suffer consolitise (sp?) and have a c##p PC port. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Thats all I wanted to say. Please continue with all your rants about buggy this and buggy that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-x-box-live-up-to-the-hype/90667.md?page=3)