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Xbox360 Collides With PS3
The Xbox360 (pronounced as ‘three-sixty’) is Microsoft’s replacement for its original video game console. The video game was formally launched on the MTV Channel on May 12, 2005. A more detailed launch, including the presentation of the Xbox’s key features, was made later that month at the famous Electronic Entertainment Expo.
The formal release of the Xbox360 occurred almost six months later, on November 22, in North America and Puerto Rico. Other launches followed in Europe on December 2 and in Japan on December 10. With nearly simultaneous launches across the three major regions of the world, the Xbox360 became the first video game console to achieve this feat. It also marked the beginning of a new generation of game consoles expected to provide stiff competition to Sony’s PlayStation and Nintendo’s Wii.
Configurations and Pricing
There are two different configurations of the Xbox360 in most countries: the Premium Package, priced at USD $299, and the Core System, with a market value of USD $399. The Core System is not available in Japan, but Microsoft offers an identical package for Y37,900. This pricing has drawn criticism from Japanese customers, who noted that they can purchase the smaller package at a lower price in other countries, although this version is typically region-coded for Japan.
Development and Release
During its development stage, the Xbox was commonly referred to as the Xenon, Xbox2, XboxNext, or the Nextbox. It is now considered a seventh generation console, initially developed within Microsoft by a small team led by Seamus Blackley, a game developer and high-energy physicist. Rumors about the development of the Xbox first surfaced in late 1999 when Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates mentioned in an interview that a gaming/multimedia device was essential for multimedia convergence in the new age of digital entertainment. The core concept of the Xbox was officially announced in a press release the following year.
Market Strategy
Analysts believe that the Xbox 360 is Microsoft’s way of capitalizing on the burgeoning video game market, especially as the PC market experienced stagnant growth after the dot-com bust. The video game industry presented Microsoft with an opportunity to diversify its product line, which, up to the 1990s, was heavily focused on software manufacturing.
Impact of Sony’s PlayStation
Moreover, the Xbox360 idea emerged partly due to the remarkable success of Sony’s PlayStation gaming consoles in the 1990s, which sent a worrying message to Microsoft. The growing success of the video game industry, with Sony as a pioneer, posed a threat to the PC market—an industry long dominated by Microsoft and critical to the company’s revenue. A venture into the video game business through the Xbox was seen as the next logical step for Microsoft.
As the gaming landscape evolves, the competition between the Xbox360 and the PS3 continues to shape the future of video gaming. Both consoles offer unique features and game libraries that cater to diverse audiences, making this battle an exciting chapter in gaming history.
