Video Games Go Boom Part 4

Video Games Go Boom is a series of opinion articles focused on various aspects of video game culture and the future of video games as entertainment. If you came here from a search engine, be sure to read the previous installments before continuing.

• Part 0 - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6

If you've touched a computer in your lifetime, you know about Microsoft. It's the most recognizable name in computer software. Microsoft's entry into the video game world came with the Xbox and continues into the next-generation of systems with the Xbox 360. In its short time in video game hardware, Microsoft has made a snug place for its system and successfully muscled around developers to create exclusive games for its console. Their audience is only mid-sized, the company has yet to conquer Japan, but Microsoft isn't about to give up.

Microsoft's Plan

Microsoft had one goal in mind when releasing the Xbox: beat the competition no matter how much money it takes. Backed by one of the largest budgets of any company in the world, Microsoft pushed the Xbox long and hard and won respectable sales.

But money alone won't cut it. Microsoft suffered heavy losses from Xbox. The launch of the Xbox 360 shows some promise, but not enough to break even. The company just grins and takes it, saying some losses are acceptable and that in the end it'll all pay off. You have to admire their persistence, if nothing else.

Microsoft wants to give users customizability along with superior technology. They use their extensive knowledge of the PC to develop the Xbox. It's a slightly different approach, scaling down a do-it-all machine to become a dedicated gaming device. But in essence they'll capture the same budding technologites that stare at a computer screen all day long.

The Xbox Systems

The Xbox series also offers remarkably PC-like functionality, making gamers and computer geeks feel quite at home. The controller is a huge clunky device with loads of buttons -- a forboding sight to many non-gamers. The system itself offers a load of options and customization. Good if you know what you're doing, bad if you just want to play a game. User friendliness -- or, non-gamer friendliness -- seems to have been less important in Microsoft's drive to appeal to the hardcore gamer.

Microsoft's Future

Microsoft has jumped the gun and released its next-gen system, the Xbox 360, before Sony and Nintendo pushed theirs out the door. The headstart could be a mistake, or it could be a great advantage. The Xbox 360 is reportedly quite powerful and has a relatively strong support from third-party developers, including more Japanese companies than before. Still, the Xbox 360 has a long way to go to catch up with the giant Sony and the veteran Nintendo.

In the years to come, Microsoft will likely have one of two extreme fates: king of the hill, or deflated and dead. If they push more of their money and keep pressing the Xbox onto consumers, Microsoft will definitely oust Sony. Without their constant efforts, though, the Xbox will probably go the way of the Dreamcast -- a financial flop but a fan-favorite for years to come.

With a little strategic tinkering, Microsoft could be in a prime position to capture the emerging power of casual gamers. These are the people who pay to play Bejeweled on the internet and are moderately comfortable with PC gaming. An Xbox system with scaled down features, a simplified interface and loads of simple flash-type games could be a huge draw for this group. Microsoft is perhaps in the best position to pull this off. But will they even think about the casual gamer? Are they too focused on nabbing the holy grail to notice?

The new Arcade feature on the Xbox 360 could be the key to capturing the casual gamers' market, but the initial high pice and low availability of the new console is a formidable roadblock to this type of consumer.

Next Article

The final piece of Video Games Go Boom focuses on the video games veteran Nintendo. In recent years, Nintendo has come under scrutiny from gamers. Is their strategy the one to have? Will it carry them on the long road?

Article Navigation

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• Part 0: Introduction
• Part 1: Gamers and Non-Gamers
• Part 2: The Video Games Industry
• Part 3: Sony
• Part 4: Microsoft
• Part 5: Nintendo
• Part 6: Outroduction