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X-6: Xbox 2002: What's
ahead
It's March now,
almost four months since the Xbox rather successfully hit the North
American market. By now, the almost-inebriating state of euphoria that
comes along with the launch and receiving of a brand spanking new home
video game console has turned into the inevitable post-Christmas
downtime hangover typical to the video game industry. All the fun and
adrenaline-inducing gaming goodness that came along with playing some
killer games (like Halo, Dead or Alive 3 and Project Gotham Racing to
name a few) through the holiday season on an impressive system has now
turned into an agonizing and impatient wait for the next genesis in the
Xbox's evolutionary steps. Microsoft has some great things in store for Xbox gamers in 2002.
Let's look at some of the games, system upgrades and extensions, and
events that promise to restore some of the euphoria to the Xbox Army of
game players this year.
WORLDWIDE XBOX REACH
The Xbox has finally reached the important Japanese market, a subject
that I'll cover with more detail in next month's column. In the next few
weeks, Microsoft will have Xboxes in the land down under and across the
Atlantic divide into Europe. Despite a somewhat surprisingly
disappointing initial showing in Japan, the Xbox's scope is now global,
reaching the same home console audience that the PlayStation has up to
now had almost-wholly in their firm grasp. Gamers around the world will
now start to have a choice for their current-generation gaming desires,
not just being relegated to the Sony consoles as their only option.
There's nothing wrong with Sony as an option. But having more than one alternative is always better. Microsoft
is hoping with the Xbox now ready for worldwide deployment, more and
more gamers will choose their system over the PS2 and GameCube.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GAMES
There are a whole lot of reasons why the Xbox will be a formidable
opponent of both Sony and Nintendo in the next year's video game battle
for console domination, but it usually always comes down to one factor
in determining console survivability and supremacy: It's all about the
games. And more importantly nowadays it's all about who has the best
totally exclusive titles or at least the most limited-exclusivity
titles. Microsoft and its stable of developers (both under Microsoft's
control and independent) have a large amount of gaming greatness
scheduled for 2002, including the first official batch of Xbox online
gaming titles.
Microsoft has a full complement of promising titles due for 2002 that
cover all genres of video gaming, whether they are Xbox exclusive or
multi-consoled new or ported titles. Some of the more intriguing entries
on their release schedule include the tactical squad third-person
shooter Brute Force and the finally-here sequel to the world's greatest
fighting game, Soul Calibur II. The biggest online title going gold in
the coming months is Unreal Championship, which Microsoft is banking on
becoming a Halo-quality title everyone MUST have and play that will
tremendously drive up both interest in and membership on its broadband gaming network. Regardless
what you think of its controversial gameplay, the port of Grand Theft
Auto III is a sure bet to be a platinum-selling hit for the Xbox. Two
RPG titles that Microsoft is counting on to establish the Xbox as THE
system to own are The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and the ambitious and
unique Project Ego. Add Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, the Wreckless-inspired
driving shooter Maximum Chase, and the next Dino Crisis as titles that
have a great shot of being top-sellers.
There's also the Sega connection. Ever since Sega exited the hardware
business to focus their energies on software, the Xbox benefited the
most out of the next-generation consoles with the exclusive Sega titles
headed its way. All of these are Xbox exclusive Sega games: The
eagerly-awaited next Panzer Dragoon game, the radically revised (it's
now cel shaded similar to the Jet Grind Radio games) House of the Dead
3, Sega GT 2002 racing, and the newest World Series Baseball under the
development of Visual Concepts, who are responsible for both the
outstanding NBA and NFL 2K series. And even Sega titles that were
previously announced as exclusive to other systems are now rumored to be
on their way to the Xbox. Virtua Fighter 4 was due to be a PS2-only
title. Now, if rumors are correct, it will also be coming to the Xbox.
Television and movies will also provide some inspiration for Xbox games,
especially Xbox-only titles The Fellowship of the Ring and Superman: the
Man of Steel. Also slated for the Xbox are Buffy the Vampire Slayer and
Spider-Man: The Movie. Factor in the tons of sports games that will
grace the Xbox in 2002, and you have a very formidable lineup to look
forward to if you own an Xbox that stacks up more than favorably against
anything Sony or Nintendo have on their respective release calendars,
particularly if both the Microsoft broadband gaming network and online
games are on-target for a summer unleashing.
BROADBAND GAMING NETWORK
If the "unofficial" online gaming of Halo provided by GameSpy
is any indication, there will be a HUGE interest and demand by gamers
for the Microsoft broadband network. Which is good news for gamers,
because a big interest in online gaming will mean a big influx of
online-capable games headed our way in the extremely near future of
summer 2002. Broadband online connections accounted for 51% of the
internet usage time during January, showing that the reality of
mainstream fast-speed gaming is nearer than ever as more and more
households throughout North America are wired for broadband.
Which is exciting to hear for Microsoft, who has three clear advantages
over Sony and Nintendo when it comes to online gaming. First off, the
Xbox has an Ethernet connection built in. It's able to unite to a
broadband-ready connection right out of the box. Secondly, the system
has an installed hard drive, a necessity for smooth online gaming.
Microsoft plans on providing new downloads for online games once the new
gaming network is up and running. Want updated rosters for online sports
games over the 'net downloaded straight into your Xbox? It will be
possible on the new gaming network.
And finally, with the Microsoft Network already in place and its own
Internet Explorer and Instant Messenger technology, the Xbox is set up
quantum leaps ahead of anything either Sony or Nintendo has established
to make broadband gaming a reality. There are also plans for true
real-time voice communication during gameplay with their communication
headset, which could make for some really wild and entertaining gaming.
Imagine games like Halo or Madden with voice communication possible.
Microsoft must make sure it does online gaming right, however. They have
little margin for error if they want the Xbox to be a success. It must
be confident that the network, games, and most importantly the price it
sets for online gaming meet the demands and expectations of the gaming
community. Microsoft is poised to
take a large chunk out of the video game industry that Sony dominates
right now if it does these things as well as it has anticipated for. If
you're worried about Microsoft listening to what gamers want in a gaming
broadband network, don't. Look at the new, smaller Xbox controller
available next month as an example. Many gamers told Microsoft that they
would prefer a smaller Xbox controller. Microsoft listened. That is a
good sign that the company will be receptive to the gaming public it
serves.
That should be enough to whet the insatiable palate of even the most
extreme Xbox-playing fanatics out there. The early months of the year
are always slow release periods. But if Xbox gamers can wait just a
precious few months as spring and summer roll around, 2002 looks to be
an incredible gaming journey if Microsoft can get their gaming network
into operation full force and the highly-anticipated titles live up to
expectations.
By Lee Cieniawa
lcieniawa@armchairempire.com
Next month: Japanese Xbox invasion
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