Xbox Video Game Consoles:

Microsoft Xbox vs Sony Playstation II

Are you dreaming of a time when you can play a rich, full multimedia version of your favorite casino game online? You may be able to with the new xbox game consoles.

How would you ike a full 3D view of a roulette table where you can adjust your viewing position and talk to the other players? How about dolby digital sound quality, DVD drive, HDTV quality screen along with a hard drive to store game results? We're on the brink of high resolution, multimedia, online gaming marketplace that will grow to include casino gambling.

Microsoft's Xbox Game Console

Note: Image used with permission from Microsoft Corporation as made available through XBOX.com

You may be familiar with video game consoles like Nintendo Game Cube, Sega Dreamcast and Sony Playstation II? Gaming consoles are in a strong growth phase at a time when PC sales are lagging. Software development for the gaming consoles is also growing fast so the future looks bright for this type of game hardware.

Two consumer demands are driving this growth; first, the desire for fast changing, high resolution graphics and secondly, online connectivity for multiplayer challenges. The trend to watch for in the next few years is live, online multiplayer games. With the improvements in bandwidth we've seen in the last two years, even online casinos are going to present a much richer and varied interfaces and try to open up live, multiplayer games for their patrons. We're talking about more than just Flash intros and games, we're talking television quality animation.

The Newest Gamers - Adults

Gaming consoles aren't just the territory of kids anymore. Adults are becoming much more interested in using them, especially with built in features such as Web browsers, DVD movie players and high definition television support. Adults are increasingly discovering the realistic simulation of adventure and flight/racing/sports games are a pleasant distraction. With new large screen HDTV capable televisions portable to the gaming consoles, adult buyers are finally getting interested in what has always been a kids medium.

Even with its new GameCube console, Nintendo is finding their former child players are growing up to new technologies. Dreamcast which held some promise is popular only in Japan now, and as we know, the consumer market there is drying up faster than a puddle in the Sahara. Another popular product is Nintendo's Gameboy Advance, which is going after the portable market with a low cost offering. The home based market however seems to be left to Sony, but maybe Sony is in for a surprise.

Microsoft's Powerful New Xbox Game Consoles

Microsoft knows about the market trend and is entering the game console marketplace with a huge splash just as Sony did with the Playstation II. On November 1, 2001, Microsoft finally launched their new gaming console product is called Xbox and strong sales are predicted, about 1.5 million units to be shipped. This is significant because it means Microsoft will put its huge marketing dollars (estimated at 500 Million dollars) and Internet distribution strengths to the task of promoting its new Xbox console and the software used on the machine.

Sony and Nintendo have current marketing strengths. Sony has the largest market share and Nintendo has a creative edge in its software. Sony is the first to utilize internet connectivity and its new Playstation II is enjoying strong sales.

Aside from technical and electronic issues, Nintendo and Sega are unfortunately tied to their market reputation of "kids games" and are finding that difficult to escape. Sony and Microsoft are now the real title contenders. The Microsoft juggernaut includes Microsoft's brand presence in adult technology user's minds. The market has a faith in Microsoft's ability to make their products useful and an enduring investment. Xbox will retail at the same price as Sony Playstation, so with price out of the decision making process, adult buyers will be considering the product's overall value and capabilities. Xbox is very capable and excedes Playstation by 2:1 in performance capacity.

A recent quick poll by Gamespot.com showed that consumers are very impressed with the overall quality and capability of the Xbox - and that means they see Xbox as a safe purchase.

Here's a comparison of the two leading Video Game Consoles:

Console Technical Features

Microsoft Xbox

Sony Playstation II

Xbox Game Console Features

Take a look at the electronic components alone in the game console. Xbox is going to include a Pentium III processor of 733 Mhz along with 64 MB of memory and memory bandwidth of 6.4 GB per second, twice that of Playstation II. It has a polygon (a basic graphic element) rendering capacity of 300 Million per second which is almost 5 times better than Playstation's. It can render incredibly detailed textures. The unit is broadband enabled for DSL and Cable, and DVD movie playback is built in with the included DVD player. An 8 GB hard drive is included.

Kids will love it too, because a portable memory module can carry games results so they can store the results and go over to play on their friend's consoles and pick up where they left off on their last game. That may seem unimportant to us, but kids take their games seriously and they really like having continuity in their experiences with their friends.

Good News for Microsoft

Microsoft received good news from the US federal courts recently too. The company won't be broken up into pieces. That means Bill Gates can now throw billions of dollars behind Xbox development and marketing if he desires. Game developers are certainly taking note of the new and growing adult market of gaming consoles with online capability. They'll be scrambling to get the new development kits and get in this great new opportunity. Microsoft has the distinction of publishing many of the top PC games of the last 6 years. PC consumers considering the switch to the new gaming consoles will prefer the continuity and security of the Microsoft products they're used to. Microsoft knows, and has better access to the online market and can support it much better.

Gaming Consoles for Online Gambling

For online casino enthusiasts, these new gaming consoles may usher in a new era of completely live, online casino game play. Online Casino players will be breathing a sigh of relief that they don't have to download another casino's software onto their hard drive. No more playing from stored software programs on your computer since you'll be able to enjoy an incredible high-resolution, live, multiplayer gaming experience that'll be the best casinos have to offer right into your living rooms. Maybe Wayne Newton will be your host and the Cirque du Soleil will provide entertainment when you want a breather. Poker and slots tournaments will be more fun and realistic than ever. The creative potential for tournament organizers is boundless.

The online video game market will increase demand for high bandwidth connectivity and thus fuel its continued development. Online casinos will benefit from this added demand and a wide variety of possible gaming products will become possible.

Yes, the PC market will still be with us for years to come where Microsoft will have its leadership role. The new console platform though will allow developers and designers and even marketers, to exercise the full spectrum of their imagination. Those software developers that produce solid, user friendly and experience maximizing programs will become solid winners in this new gaming medium.

Xbox Game Consoles - Well Planned and Supported

There are some concerns with Xbox game consoles. Some suggest the launch date won't be met and that there aren't enough games ready to be used on it. Over the long term however, these issues are trivial. Xbox technology is well thought out, therefore the console and the technology is bound to keep delivering value to users beyond the coming Christmas season. The full array of games will come soon enough so when you tire of Microsoft's standard fare of software, other offerings will be ready to go.

The facts supporting Microsoft's new game console are very compelling. Advanced hardware superiority, high bandwidth connectivity and the full backing of the Microsoft marketing machine means Xbox is going to rock.

If you're looking for something with strong overall and lasting value for your kids or yourself, Xbox is going to be a great investment for any kind of gaming pleasure.

Contributing Writer: Gord Collins

Note: XBox™ Microsoft Corporation