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What Makes A Great Launch?

Posted May 20, 2006 at 3:20AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Wii, PS3, Xbox 360 Tags:

We're not talking about a good launch for the console manufacturers here, we're talking about what constitutes a good launch for you, for me, and for John Q Gamer. Hardware availability and pricing, number of launch titles, launch title variety and software quality are all important, but what's the most important and why?

Hardware Availability:
It's simple, if people can't find the console to buy, then they'll do one of two things, either forget about it and head for the Master Chief

nearest competitor, or if they're "hardcore" their inability to procure the machine of their choice will drive them to extreme measures (eBay+$$$ = happy hardcore gamer).

Sony's PlayStation 2 launched with a horrendously low number of units, spurring those eager to get their hands on the big black box that could to go to unheard of lengths just to lay claim to one. Microsoft's Xbox 360 console also launched with fewer units than were required to sate the rabid mob and crippling shortages (artificial or not) propelled the console to the top of many Christmas wish lists. Unfortunately the fact that the shortages were only alleviated within the last month meant that many an eager gamer was left with a slimline PS2 under their christmas tree come Jesus' birthday.

So yeah, give us the right numbers because starving the population to increase demand is great for the manufacturers (apparently), but gamers hate getting the shaft like that. *Crosses fingers and prays that Sony and Nintendo don't hump us all this November*

Hardware Pricing:
I wonder what's going to happen when November rolls around and the PlayStation 3 and Wii launch within a few weeks of each other, especially if the PS3 is in short supply as it most assuredly will be. Will gamers take one look at the $600 PS3 price tag and turn to the sub $250 Wii, or perhaps the easily available Xbox 360 with Gears of War, Oblivion and PGR3? Will you? Gamers have to weigh their initial investment not only against the immediate gain from the purchased console, but also against its future prospects, so while the PS3's price might seem pricey at first glance, its huuuge back catalog and possible future catalog might just prove the investment wise. Speaking of initial investments...

When you buy a console more often than not you'll want to get a second controller, one or two games, perhaps some cables as jak

well, getting all these with a Wii would still keep you under $400, but with a PS3 we're talking close to $750. To spend that much moolah on a piece of kit (no matter how sexy) any consumer should be able to feel reasonably confident that it'll be worth the splurge. Hardware pricing's a difficult thing for the manufacturer, they rarely make money off their consoles, and they want to get them out there as cheap as possible to encourage gamers to pick up peripheral devices and games especially (that's why attach rates are so important) . The real money comes from software sales and those of the aforementioned peripherals, and not the hardware.

Personally, I think Microsoft pretty much hit the nail on the head as far as pricing the 360 goes, $400 (we're not counting the 'tard pack here, that was sneaky). The price is definitely an increase over what was considered the norm last generation, but not so much that it seems unreasonable. Older gamers can afford it and younger ones don't have to feel bad asking mom and dad to shell out for one. With a price tag of $600, Sony have ensured that younger gamers will have a hard time picking up their console, asking mom and dad for a $750 pre-Christmas gift pretty much guarantees you get nothing else. If Nintendo do launch for under $250 as they've continually hinted, they enter the fray at a price that kids and teens can afford on their own, and adults and older gamers won't even blink at, smart move for them, but great for us all! What Sony need to do between now and launch, is start showing us why we're going to want to break the bank to get their system, they've got the hardware pretty much right, now let's see the software.

Launch Titiles: Quantity, Quality and Variety:
Would a small number of launch titles even matter if they were all AAA "killer apps"? Would you rather have two really tasty oven fresh Krispy Kreme glazed donuts, or a dozen stale day old donuts? Sure the twelve donuts would last longer, but the enjoyment derived from devouring and savoring every tasty morsel would be limited.

In case I'm losing you with the donut analogy, let me put it this way, I'd rather have Metal Gear Solid 4, Gran Turismo 5 and Mario

Ratchet And Clank at launch than thirty three different variations on Genji 2 (sorry, but that game looks like pap). The current trend in gaming is to put emphasis on the number of titles a console launches with rather than the quality of these titles, choice doesn't necessarily equate to quality. Don't get me wrong if we can get a launch with 20-30 top tier games I'm all for it, but when was the last time you remember that happening?

The Worst Parts Of A Console Launch:
The lines, the pushing, the shoving, the waiting, "launch windows", and worst of all, the defective units. As hardware gets more and more complex it's likely the sort of problems that plagued the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 launches will become more and more common... shucks! It remains to be seen how smoothly Sony and Nintendo's launches will prove come Thanksgiving, but there will be defective units on both sides, count on it.

What Makes It All Worth It:
Maniacally ripping open the packaging and cradling your prize in your arms, then tossing aside the styrofoam padding, plugging her in and booting that baby up for the first time. In those short, sweet moments before you actually put any software in the machine everything just seems right with the world.

If you haven't figured it out yet despite the article banner, a great launch is made by great games, it always comes down to the games because at the end of the day that's what we play and why we play ;)

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Comments

# the Lanuch — CSFFlame 2006-05-20 04:37

Traditionally, the games.

Now adays? games and the online content, plus features.

Me? the games.

# Fantastic — Guest 2006-05-20 04:48

Article, this was a good read and it was not biased, great Job Christoper C.

# #1? — hush404 2006-05-20 04:49

Nah it's all games! A console could have amazing online content and features... hell It could wash my car and print money but if it's games suck it'll die.

# Nicely written article! — Guest 2006-05-20 04:52

I agee with ya CSFFlame. Today, Online features and contents, and non gameing features, make me wonder if they are becoming more imortant than game features. Now instead of being called gameing machines, they are called entertainment machines. I just hope gameing is still more important thats why we buy the sytems! For me the same as you, most important are the games. Let me go back my dream about Metal Gear Solid 4.......

# . — Ragarnok 2006-05-20 04:59

"so while the PS3's price might seem pricey at first glance, its huuuge back catalog and possible future catalog might just prove the investment wise. Speaking of initial investments..." what?? I'm sorry are you implying it's worth paying 600$ to play Ps2 games?!

"With a price tag of $600, Sony have ensured that younger gamers will have a hard time picking up their console, asking mom and dad for a $750 pre-Christmas gift pretty much guarantees you get nothing else. " 750$ is already alot, a BIG lot of money for a christmas gift

please make this the last entry to justify the arrival of the PS3, we've about heard everything we need to know until november!

-PLEASE LAST COMMENT ON PS3 LAUNCH PLEASE!-

# agree with #5 — Guest 2006-05-20 05:43

sorry chris c. i have to agree with #5. the bulk of holiday shoppers are parents and grandparents. now way the majority of them are dishing out 600 for a unit plus games for one kid. they'll divi up the dough and purchase a wii and a 360 for two kids and call it a day. dont get me wrong, people like u and me that have the cash will pick one of those suckers up if we can get our hands on it, but will the average holiday shopper?

# >>>>>>> — Guest 2006-05-20 05:50

how much were the 360s selling on ebay for?? wasnt it around $1000? Bet u microsoft wishes they would have put a bigger price tag. Its not like they wouldnt have sold. Any hardcore gamer out there will pay just about anything. And im sure just about every little spoiled kid out there will get one too.

Hopefully Sony doesnt pulloff what 360 did last year. Shortages of systems sucks for the gamers and the company... cant make money if u cant supply the demand...

And demand will definaltly be BIG for PS3.

# Disagree with the Microsoft pricing theory on #7 — Guest 2006-05-20 06:02

The reason why so many 360s sold at those high pricepoints was because of the fact that they had bundles that weren't priced at that $1000+ pricepoint. They still would've sold some, but they wouldn't have gotten the same level of interest in the first place by those who rushed to pre-order early.

PS3 - will sell, probably do well too. But if the folks at SONY don't do something soon on the PR front (and they've got a few more monhts), then they will lose some sales. The press right now is relatively scathing. Being a Nintendo fan, I hope that Sony does well...Gamecube was a result of Nintendo still being *****y. Having their asses handed to them for a two generations now has made them innovate once again.

That and I want MS and Sony to push each other as well. With gameplay and not just tech. (I will buy one of those two boxes this generation!).

# Wii price and release — Guest 2006-05-20 06:42

I liked the article, but I disagree with it in one part. The Wii will sell for $200 and sell in late October not November. Just predictions, but I have a hunch.

I have one more prediction on the Wii. Vertual Console games can be obtained free or at discounts with the registration of Wii and NDS games on your "My Nintendo" account. Just another hunch.

# 360 Sales — Guest 2006-05-20 06:58

I wonder if their launches will boost up the Xbox 360 sales.

# Free advertising — Guest 2006-05-20 07:17

Good point, Ruben. The focus on video gaming that 2 console launches in the same quarter will provide will absolutely drive 360 sales. That's why I think all this fanboy-ism is so ridiculous. The 3 consoles play off of each other to create a more vibrant market for gamers, and as they cater to different tastes, can focus on what they each do best, thereby pulling in more outsiders into the "gamer" crowd. This is good for gaming all around, as this will increase awareness as well, which goes a long way toward getting rid of these abortive attempts to legislate what we play. The quicker we normalize gaming, the less likely it will be that there will be restrictive legislation. So don't boo and hiss at Sony, MS, or Nintendo. They're all part of the ecosystem here, and it's a good thing to have all three of them around.

# um — Guest 2006-05-20 07:19

@ #7: hardcore gamers and rich spoiled kids are probably about 10% of how many PS3's sony hopes to sell. Almost everyone I know, rich or poor, has a PS2...it doesn't seem like that will be the case this time around. It may be a good deal for all you get, but I know I just can't afford it. I'm not poor by any means, but it's just too much, as much as I want one. I mean, you could offer me a brand new Ferrarri for 50,000 dollars, but that doesnt mean I could afford it. And 360's were selling for 1000 dollars because the supply was low, so the demand went up, and people would pay a lot to get their hands on one. If youre trying to say that microsoft could charge 1000 dollars for the 360... well, enough said.

Also, as a side note, I could buy a 360 for 400 and a used PS2 for 100 and have full access to their "back catalog" for a 100 dollars less than PS3

# doushe — Guest 2006-05-20 08:06

#12 yeah you save a hundred dollas but you dont get to play mgs4 or any of the other ps3 games... i hear a lot of talk about how developers are not gonna make games for tha ps3 well thats what people said about ps2 its hard to develop for but there were twice as many ps2 games as there were xbox or gamecube games combined 600...i dont think so maybe next year when its 500 for the anti ***** system

# games are for kids... — Guest 2006-05-20 08:07

the problem with a lot of the statements that i've been reading from all over the net, is that people seem to still cling to the notion that games are for children. that the holiday season is the boon of the gaming industry. the average gamer is between the ages of 18 and 30. they have jobs, they work year round, and they purchase games year round. back when i was a boy in the 80's, yeah, birthdays and Christmas were the two times a year i could expect to get something for my shiny Nintendo. nowadays, i buy video games in nearly every month of the year.

this holiday season, yes, a few spoiled 10 and 11 year olds won't be convincing mom and pop into shelling out $1000 for a PS3 and some games, but that just means us hardworking 20 somethings with bills and a car note won't have to worry about our PS3 being bought and, probably broken, by some kid who wasn't even born with the first Playstation came out. we work our asses off, and i think we deserve to splurge at least once a year (ideally more than that, but, hey, take what you can get, right?). every month, i bust my butt working 50-60 hour weeks, and my checks go for rent, phone, utilites, gas (*rolls eyes*), groceries, and car note. come this November 17, i'm treating myself to a PS3 dammit (probably a Wii too), because i friggin deserve it.

anyway, my point was that it's not just soccer moms and dads that are looking into getting a gaming system for their kids for the holidays. as evidenced by the 90 million PS2 owners out there, not all of them are under 18, jobless, and living with their parents. gamers have grown up, and support themselves and their habit nowadays.

# Price — The Unbiased One 2006-05-20 08:19

Until you are around 13, your parents primarily bought/buys video game stuff for you. In my experience, parents don't know much about video game (I know many of you out there play games and are parents). If your parent had to decide between the PS3 priced at 500-600 dollars or the Wii at 250 dollars, i think 99/100 times they would go for the Wii. Right now, I have around 300 bucks, your damn right i'm goin to get a Wii, I would have to double the amount of money (that i've set aside for video games and video games only) in order to pay for a PS3, I want the PS3 that has everthing. Well, those are my two cents.

# Comparing my PS3 to Wii is like comparing 360 to DS — Guest 2006-05-20 14:18

Your comeback: But they both offer different experiences and target different markets

My point exactly!

Don’t my PS3 baby to a last Gen system called Wii. If you’re given me a last gen machine you better damn make sure it’s cheap but unfortunately for Nintendo I think it's Wii will be competing with my PS2 + EyeToy and not PS3.

# i could imagine some suprises — Guest 2006-05-20 16:39

now spny has had a habit of suprising and dissapointing. but i think they are doing something right. say you save up the $500+ for the ps3, then a while later something comes up, like a suprise from sony, say a price drop before launch, now a price drop would craze the most sane of people which would cause a panic and outsell the ps3's im not saying that they will lower the price before launch but if they do dont be suprised cause they have already suprised us before, i would give a little more credit to the higher ups at sony,

# Great read... — Laetty 2006-05-20 18:31

Well written article, enjoyed it very very much and I feel the same way when i open up a new console .... *sign*

# Features should be first, what can it do besides games! — Guest 2006-05-20 18:56

Does it play movies? Can I go online with it? Run homebrew(which pretty much means it can do everything!)? And most importantly can I transfer my porn library to it?

Since Launches usually dont have many titles, it's great to have a system that does something besides play games. Come christmas I'm buying a PS3 along with BR movie and Resistance fall of man (Multiplayer will kick ass with that game).

I will also probably browse through QJ blogs with my wireless keyboard (USB Rulez!) which I will connect to my PS3 and see your pages at 1080P (yes I own an 42" DLP HDTV with 1080P-paid around 2 grand for it) and post about how great the PS3 is and that MS should consider going to way of sega (They already hired many of sega's former employees)

# @19 — Guest 2006-05-21 03:27

its official, sony fanboys have gone into complete and utter denial

# All about the games — Guest 2006-05-21 04:02

If the Wii comes out with a new Metroid Prime and Mario game then it will sell really well. If the PS3 comes out with MGS4 and Ratchet and Clank then I think it could sell really well. I myself will own all 3 systems for the fact that some systems have exclusive titles.

# releases — Guest 2006-05-21 05:15

as for mgs4, this game wont be available on launch as stated many many times before, nor will heavenly sword or motorstorm.

the next big expo is the GC in germany followed by the Tokyo Game Show in september, and maybe there will be a spaceworld for Wii.

so, i guess the latest is september where we will here about the official launch lineup for ps3

# Everyone is right — Guest 2006-05-21 09:08

What everyone is saying has a lil bit of truth to it...ps3 will sell extremly well no matter what the price is( and yes i will be gettin one for sure), i think the wii will outsell the xbox360 cuz the wii will be the second system bought by everyone(im also getting one)...

C'mon people, the standard of living has and is still going up...people will have enough money to buy a ps3 come christmas no matter how old you are (unless if gas prices keeps going up GEEZ! :/ )...

the xbox360 i think is a great and equal system( game-wise, except for the exclusive titles) but the way things are going the exclusivity(i think i spelled it wrong) will be a thing of the past...

conclusions:

the ps3 is worth the money and will sell very well

the wii is something new and different and it will also sell very well

the xbox360 has potential and we will have to wait and see what the boys at microsoft can do with this great new system...

i will be getting the ps3 and wii...i have alot of friends who already own a 360 and i can play at thier places ( assuming i can pull myself away from my ps3 or wii)...and im out

# Guest 2006-05-21 09:54

Fanboy A: There is a (console) war coming, are you sure your on the right side?

Fanboy B: At... least... I've... chosen... a... side...

(To be concluded...)

# Work hard and you deserve to spend money for yourself. — Guest 2006-05-21 23:35

HAHA. I like #14's point.

My take:

Work Hard --> Earn Money --> Play Hard !! For grownups: You may call me arrogant, but lazy bums and junkies who couldn't afford a $600 dollar price tag every 4 years don't deserve a Playstation!

Treating myself real good every year (this year: PS3 and a vacation!) is what I strive for in life! If I only aimed for an average, I would be wasting my life. Agree?

# price is not that high imo — Guest 2006-05-21 23:44

i would feel damn useless if I want a ps3, but only could afford a wii or 360 because of the few hundred dollar lower pricetag.

Its only 1000 dollars max, we're not talking about cars and houses. Who couldn't really afford it if they want it?

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