The Joystiq Podcast http://www.joystiq.com This is the Joystiq podcast http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/Joystiq_podcast_cover.png Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Joystiq FancastJoystiqAnd it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from the Internet that all the ears should be rocked with video game podcasts. And all went to be rocked, every one into his own iTunes account. And Chris Grant also went up unto the city to be taxed with Ludwig Kietzmann, his espoused co-host, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there he should be delivered. And he brought forth their firstborn podcast, and wrapped it in swaddling jokes, and laid it in a Zune; because there was no room for them in the iPod. And there were in the same country gamers abiding in the field, keeping watch over their ... games by night. And, lo, the angel who was named Justin McElroy came upon them, and the glory of video games shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day a savior, which is the Joystiq Podcast."<![CDATA[Dead Space started life on the original Xbox]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/dead-space-started-life-on-the-original-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/dead-space-started-life-on-the-original-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/dead-space-started-life-on-the-original-xbox/#commentsFiled under:

It seems that Dead Space has been around a lot longer than we'd have thought, originally taking form on the original Xbox. You can check out some early footage from the game in a video found after the break. There's not a whole lot to see really; it's very dark footage. What you can see looks very much like the Dead Space we know and love. Still, it's always interesting to see a game concept's humble beginnings. Plus, it might give us an indication as to what to expect from the Wii version.

[Via VG247]

Continue reading Dead Space started life on the original Xbox

JoystiqDead Space started life on the original Xbox originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-spaceEAEA-redwood-shoresThu, 12 Feb 2009 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Soldier became ace drone pilot by training on video games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/07/soldier-became-ace-drone-pilot-by-training-on-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/07/soldier-became-ace-drone-pilot-by-training-on-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/07/soldier-became-ace-drone-pilot-by-training-on-video-games/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's a convention sometimes used in action films -- the unlikely protagonist saves the day by applying combative skills he gleaned during his long sessions with teh Haloz -- but it's a convention apparently rooted in reality. In his latest book, Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century, author and modern warfare buff P.W. Singer relates the story of a young man who became an expert drone pilot within a short period of time -- all thanks to the hours he'd logged on his trusty Xbox.

The eighteen-year-old soldier was a high school dropout who failed to qualify for the original position in the armed forces he'd applied for. It was suggested he try his hand at drone piloting, and according to Singer, "because of playing on video games, he was already good at it." So good, in fact, that he was brought back from Iraq to become an instructor at a training academy. Jeez, the only game-related useful skill we've ever picked up is our uncanny ability to name all 493 pokémon, and that impresses far fewer people than you might imagine.

JoystiqSoldier became ace drone pilot by training on video games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armydronepw-singersoldierSat, 07 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Your guess as good as ours: BlowOut coming to Xbox Originals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/your-guess-as-good-as-ours-blowout-coming-to-xbox-originals/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/your-guess-as-good-as-ours-blowout-coming-to-xbox-originals/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/your-guess-as-good-as-ours-blowout-coming-to-xbox-originals/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Word comes by way of Gamerscore Blog that BlowOut will join the ranks of Xbox Originals, as of January 19th, for 1200 ($15). Reaction to the news was swift and sure in the site's comments section, with gems like:
  • "F*ck off with the sh*t we've never heard of. Get some half decent games on there already."
  • "When the f*ck did this come out. How about KOTOR either of them, or any other of the top selling title from the original Xbox. What is Microsoft paying you people for."
  • "Ugh, I wish I could remember the right command. > kill proc PR_Bot."
Uh-huh, that just about sums it up. Seriously, how many people actually remember this game, or would pay $15 for it? If there was ever any question about the Xbox Originals system being misguided over the last few updates, we fear the answer is quite clear now.

JoystiqYour guess as good as ours: BlowOut coming to Xbox Originals originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blowoutmajescoterminal-realityxbox-originalsWed, 14 Jan 2009 15:26:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2009: Best. Controller. Ever.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/ces-2009-best-controller-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/ces-2009-best-controller-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/ces-2009-best-controller-ever/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

"Before the age of man, there was the dragon,fire breathing, fierce and ruthless. Long since dormant, the dragon arose hungry for modern dap knights to re-establish dragon superiority over all mankind.

"More than a control pad,,,a legend!"

<disclaimer> The previous and following (after the break!) text was copied verbatim -- odd spacing and all -- from the back description and product manual of the Dragon Fire Breather game controller, which we and our friends at Engadget found and bought for $1 at the CES international hall. We are not transcribing this to try to offend anyone and, yeah, we know this is probably not the manufacturers' first language -- probably not its language at all -- but we are in fact very fascinated with how the translation process works.

Every chosen word does make sense, just not in the context we are used to. Plus, "mucilanginous" is a very funny word, and if you look carefully, you'll notice World of Warcraft's title screen art.

The official US name is "USB Dragon Dual Shock Scary Gamepad" (with 12-button and 2 analog sticks) and is available from DealExtreme for $27.37. It also comes in ninja and pirate variants. </end disclaimer>

Continue reading CES 2009: Best. Controller. Ever.

JoystiqCES 2009: Best. Controller. Ever. originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awesomeces-2009dragonmosnterMon, 12 Jan 2009 20:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft says current gen will be 'little longer' than previous]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/microsoft-says-current-gen-will-be-little-longer-than-previous/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/microsoft-says-current-gen-will-be-little-longer-than-previous/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/microsoft-says-current-gen-will-be-little-longer-than-previous/#commentsFiled under: , ,


In order to release Xbox 360 before its competitors, Microsoft killed the original Xbox at just four years old. November 2009 marks the four year anniversary of Xbox 360, but don't expect the system to become obsolete just yet. Microsoft's Robbie Bach told the San Jose Mercury News that the current generation will last longer than before. "The life cycle for this generation of consoles -- and I'm not just talking about Xbox, I'd include Wii and PS3 as well -- is probably going to be a little longer than previous generations."

The weakening economy will most likely delay the arrival of a new generation even further. "When you look at consumers, they are going to be more value-conscious," Bach said. A next-generation console released any time soon would be prohibitively expensive and no company wants to repeat the same mistake Sony made.Perhaps the "ten year" mantra won't necessarily be a PlayStation-exclusive PR bullet point.

The surprising success of Wii will undoubtedly make Microsoft refocus their next-gen efforts. Nintendo managed to claim the top spot of the console wars, in spite of having significantly less powerful tech. "Just coming up with something that's faster and prettier isn't going to be sufficient," Bach adds.

[Via Edge]

JoystiqMicrosoft says current gen will be 'little longer' than previous originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftrobbie-bachxboxxbox-360Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:48:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop suspending Xbox trade-ins starting Feb. 9]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/gamestop-suspending-xbox-trade-ins-starting-feb-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/gamestop-suspending-xbox-trade-ins-starting-feb-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/gamestop-suspending-xbox-trade-ins-starting-feb-9/#commentsFiled under: ,


GameStop will no longer accept trade-ins on original Xbox games, systems, or accessories beginning Febuary 9, 2009. Although GameStop corporate wouldn't verify this information during its "quiet period" leading to Thursday's holiday sales report, several local shops confirmed the policy when we called. Employees were unaware if something similar would be implemented for PS2 or GameCube in the near future.

Those looking to unload their original Xbox and dozens of games for the whopping sum of $12.87 (that's just a guess), should head on down to GameStop before the deadline.

[Thanks, Jake]

JoystiqGameStop suspending Xbox trade-ins starting Feb. 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamestopxboxMon, 05 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Major Nelson reveals top 20 Xbox Live games and arcade downloads]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/04/major-nelson-reveals-top-20-xbox-live-games-and-arcade-downloads/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/04/major-nelson-reveals-top-20-xbox-live-games-and-arcade-downloads/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/04/major-nelson-reveals-top-20-xbox-live-games-and-arcade-downloads/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Well, that was entirely unexpected. How, in a year chock-full of incredible Xbox Live-enabled releases, did Yaris manage to not only be the most downloaded XBLA title of 2008, but also place first on the annual Xbox Live activity charts? We could have sworn that those accomplishments would have gone to Castle Crashers and Halo 3, respectively! What's that? They did, but we thought we'd distort the truth because we haven't made a Yaris joke in a while? Oh, thank God.

Yes, Major Nelson recently released the final Xbox Live statistics for 2008 -- Halo 3 dominated the overall Xbox Live activity chart (followed by CoD 4 and GTA IV), and Castle Crashers was the top downloaded XBLA title of the year (in front of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 and Braid). We've got both of the totally unsurprising lists posted after the jump, as well as the top Live titles from the original Xbox, the winner of which will straight-up blow your mind.

Continue reading Major Nelson reveals top 20 Xbox Live games and arcade downloads

JoystiqMajor Nelson reveals top 20 Xbox Live games and arcade downloads originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castle-crashershalo-3major-nelsonxblaxbox-livexbox-live-activitySun, 04 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: 2008's most played console was ... PS2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/nielsen-2008s-most-played-console-was-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/nielsen-2008s-most-played-console-was-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/nielsen-2008s-most-played-console-was-ps2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The Nielsen Company is best known for tracking television viewership, but its quantifying of what people spend their time doing doesn't end there. It also tracks console usage among its selected households, and, for 2008 (January through October, at least), the PlayStation 2 was played more than any other.

According to Nielsen's findings, PS2 accounted for 31.2% of all console usage minutes measured. Xbox 360 was a distant second with 17.2%, followed by Wii (13.4%), the original Xbox (9.7%), PS3 (7.3%), GameCube (4.6%), and "other" (16.2%). The fact that more hours were spent playing the original Xbox than PS3 is, well, surprising. PS2's dominance isn't; last we checked, there were 87.6 bazillion of them in the world (give or take a few trillion).

JoystiqNielsen: 2008's most played console was ... PS2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nielsenstatisticsFri, 02 Jan 2009 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Psychonauts encyclopedia wants your brain]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/psychonauts-encyclopedia-wants-your-brain/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/psychonauts-encyclopedia-wants-your-brain/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/psychonauts-encyclopedia-wants-your-brain/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Double Fine has (thankfully) not forgotten its beloved platformer, Psychonauts -- and neither has its legion of fans. The developer recently launched a wiki-style "Psycho-pedia" to flesh out the game's 'verse, offering up articles on all of its important people, places, and things. Oh, so many things.

What's more, Tim Schafer and crew have opened the tome of knowledge to ... your knowledge. By creating an account at the site, you can update the articles with info that (gasp!) even the developer might have overlooked. Double Fine is also soliciting fan art, fan music, cosplay photos, and "any other art you may have created while under the influence of Psychonauts." We can see this getting fittingly weird.

JoystiqPsychonauts encyclopedia wants your brain originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>double-fineencyclopediapsychonautstim-schaferwikiWed, 31 Dec 2008 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft: 360 has outsold original Xbox worldwide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/microsoft-360-has-outsold-original-xbox-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/microsoft-360-has-outsold-original-xbox-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/microsoft-360-has-outsold-original-xbox-worldwide/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Two days after the third anniversary of its launch, Microsoft has confirmed with MCV that Xbox 360 has sold more units to date worldwide than the original Xbox did during its entire lifecycle. Although MS did not disclose exact numbers, the 360's predecessor sold through 25 million units from its launch on Nov. 15, 2001, through May of 2005. Rival Sony recently revealed that global sales of PlayStation 3 have reached 17 million units since the console went on sale Nov. 11, 2006.

MCV also reports that MS had not expected to reach this milestone for one to two more weeks, implying that sales of the 360 could push further beyond that of the first-generation Xbox by the end of the holiday shopping season. 360 heads into the holidays in the wake of a major interface revamp, the New Xbox Experience, and a year which saw substantial price cuts, placing its core Arcade SKU at $199.

JoystiqMicrosoft: 360 has outsold original Xbox worldwide originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardware-salesmicrosoftMon, 24 Nov 2008 21:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 to surpass original Xbox in units sold]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/xbox-360-to-surpass-original-xbox-in-units-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/xbox-360-to-surpass-original-xbox-in-units-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/xbox-360-to-surpass-original-xbox-in-units-sold/#commentsFiled under: , ,

a new hope
Following October's sales boost, Xbox 360 is now poised to do in three years what its predecessor, Xbox, failed to do in its four short years in production. "By the end of this month, we expect our global installed base to reach 25 million units, surpassing that of the first Xbox," declared Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division CFO Mindy Mount at yesterday's BMO Capital Market conference in New York. Mount was confident that this milestone was "only the start," though, since historically, more than 75 percent of a console's total sales come after its price has dropped to $199 or below.

And here's the part where we all say: Great, kid. Don't get cocky.

JoystiqXbox 360 to surpass original Xbox in units sold originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>install-basemicrosoftxboxFri, 14 Nov 2008 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Zapper coming to Xbox Originals, why are you laughing?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/zapper-coming-to-xbox-originals-why-are-you-laughing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/zapper-coming-to-xbox-originals-why-are-you-laughing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/zapper-coming-to-xbox-originals-why-are-you-laughing/#commentsFiled under: , ,


You know that song, "Live Like You Were Dying?" You know what near-death activity you won't find in there between "Rocky Mountain climbin'" and going "2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu?" "Turning forgettable Frogger 2 rip-off Zapper into an Xbox Original." Likewise, "playing Zapper" or "ever thinking about Zapper" are also conspicuously absent. In fact, we'd wager that you could gather the bucket lists of every member of humanity and never see Zapper mentioned once.

This is why we should have been consulted before a single member of humanity was tasked with spending one nanosecond of their time turning Zapper into a 1200-point Xbox Original. Then we could have advised them that they'd be better off wadding all that time into a big chrono-ball, putting it in a rocket and shooting it into the sun.

JoystiqZapper coming to Xbox Originals, why are you laughing? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atarixbox-originalszapperFri, 14 Nov 2008 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Phat makes Time's 'Microsoft Moments']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/xbox-phat-makes-times-microsoft-moments/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/xbox-phat-makes-times-microsoft-moments/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/xbox-phat-makes-times-microsoft-moments/#commentsFiled under: , ,

the duke
The original Xbox was no toy. It weighed more than your kid. The controller brought new meaning to "man hands" -- the darn thing was known as the "Duke," after all. In short, this was a man's console. And what could be manlier than a "mankind-vs-aliens space opera," its featured launch title?

Time has honored the big rig as one of its "Top 10 Microsoft Moments," barely nudging out the disastrous Vista launch for the #8 spot (er, chronologically, at least). To make this moment more meta, let's all share our top Xbox moments in the comments below. Was it when your house burned down? Or the time dad nailed it to a tree? Or how about installing that really groovy mod chip?

Continue reading Xbox Phat makes Time's 'Microsoft Moments'

JoystiqXbox Phat makes Time's 'Microsoft Moments' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsofttimetop-10-microsoft-momentsxboxWed, 12 Nov 2008 16:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 3: Recon, the trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/tgs-08-halo-3-recon-the-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/tgs-08-halo-3-recon-the-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/tgs-08-halo-3-recon-the-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , ,


You want details? We don't got 'em. But, there might be something hidden in the video. Watch the new video above, or head over to Bungie's "Meet Our New Game" page to download the goodness of the Halo 3: Recon trailer, available in both Quicktime and Windows Media flavors.

Bungie / Microsoft really didn't agonize over choosing a name for Halo 3: Recon, did they? Maybe this hints at a slew of Halo 3 Fill-In-The-Blank titles that'll stretch your H3 experince from now until the year 2041, when your brain just gets dropped right into the game. Who knows, by then you might actually be able to just get an injection that'll make you Master Chief.

By the way, this Halo 3: Recon video footage is also available in sparkling high-definition on the Xbox Live Marketplace, so if you're really jonesing for something to pick apart and agonize over for the next umpteen months, then get to downloading. It's free and waiting for you.

Gallery: Halo 3: ODST controller/pack shots

JoystiqHalo 3: Recon, the trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewsbungieHaloHalo-3Halo-3-ODSTHalo-3-ReconTGS-2008Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:38:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA IV Live Weekend: Shoot people, win swag Sept. 26-28]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/gta-iv-live-weekend-shoot-people-win-swag-sept-26-28/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/gta-iv-live-weekend-shoot-people-win-swag-sept-26-28/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/gta-iv-live-weekend-shoot-people-win-swag-sept-26-28/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In an effort to promote more heinous killing sprees*, Rockstar is hosting a Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox Live weekend September 26-28. Instead of going the Call of Duty 4 route and offering extra experience points, the developer is running a Play & Win contest for various GTA IV gear.

There are 24 prizes each day for those who sign on and play multiplayer, and each of those winners will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize that includes the Xbox 360 Elite, a 12-month XBL Gold card and 4,000. To be eligible, register your gamertag either online or by downloading the GTA IV Live Weekend gamer pictures.

* Note: Not really

JoystiqGTA IV Live Weekend: Shoot people, win swag Sept. 26-28 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestgrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgtaivplay--winxbox-liveFri, 19 Sep 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Moore: Microsoft considered acquiring Nintendo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/moore-microsoft-considered-acquiring-nintendo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/moore-microsoft-considered-acquiring-nintendo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/moore-microsoft-considered-acquiring-nintendo/#commentsFiled under: ,


The Guardian's excellent interview with Peter Moore continued yesterday with a frank discussion of his final days at Sega after the Dreamcast's death, as well as his arrival at Microsoft. Moore talks about some of his early discussions with Microsoft's Steve Ballmer and admits that while the company always planned on warring with Sony, Nintendo wasn't necessarily seen as a threat.

Moore said, "[Ballmer] wanted to know how I was going to win for Microsoft, how we were going to take on Sony, how would we compete with - or acquire - Nintendo. Those were the conversations in those days. It was a classic build or buy conversation. ... Interestingly, we were just completely fixated on Sony - Nintendo didn't even come into the conversation."

Would "buy" have been the right move? That consolidation probably wouldn't have been good for us consumers but, if MS had kept a hands-off approach, Bill Gates might have finally had the cash to buy that moon he's always wanted.

JoystiqMoore: Microsoft considered acquiring Nintendo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftnintendosegasonyWed, 17 Sep 2008 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft settling in for second place?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/microsoft-settling-in-for-second-place/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/microsoft-settling-in-for-second-place/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/microsoft-settling-in-for-second-place/#commentsFiled under: , ,

OK, fanboys, before you hit that spittle-flecked "post comment" button after just reading that inflammatory headline question, hear us out. We're not just idly speculating here -- we're basing our query on an unusually frank quote from Microsoft Senior Vice President of Interactive Entertainment Business Don Mattrick. In an interview with BusinessWeek, Mattrick said that he's "not at a point where I can say we're going to beat Nintendo." Coming from a guy whose job it is to promote Microsoft's position in the market, that's a pretty big admission of doubt. It's not just Mattrick that's doubtful-- analyst Billy Pidgeon told the magazine, "I expect the 360 to remain in second place this generation. But it's going to be close."

The question, then, becomes how much this sales position really matters. Microsoft's sales might fall just shy of Nintendo's, but that doesn't seem to be hurting the company's ability to attract big-name games or roll out new features for the system. In fact, with Nintendo's decidedly less powerful system catering to a decidedly different audience, Microsoft's position relative to Nintendo might not matter nearly as much as their position relative to Sony. And on that score Mattrick has no doubt: "We will sell more consoles this generation than Sony," he told BusinessWeek.

JoystiqMicrosoft settling in for second place? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billy-pidgeonconsole-warsDon MattrickDon-mattrickDonMattrickinstalled-basenumber-2salessystemunit-salesFri, 05 Sep 2008 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[How important is the $199 Xbox 360?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/how-important-is-the-199-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/how-important-is-the-199-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/how-important-is-the-199-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Microsoft has long acknowledged that it considers $200 the "sweet spot" of console price points. Now that the manufacturer has finally hit that sweet spot with the new $199 Xbox 360 Arcade, we've been wondering exactly what kind of impact Microsoft can expect, historically, in its bottom line. Luckily, Matt Matthews over at Edge Online did all the heavy lifting for us over a year ago, looking at the effect of system pricing on sales numbers in the last generation of the console wars.

The results, as you can see above, are pretty clear. Only 13% of original Xbox systems sold at the $300 price point, and a plurality of sales came at an eventual floor of $150. Sony's PS2 similarly only sold a quarter of its eventual installed base at a price greater than $200 (Nintendo's Gamecube never sold for greater than $200).

Of course, history is an imprecise guide here. The original Xbox dropped under $200 within six months of its initial release, while the Xbox 360 went nearly three years (exactly 1018 days) before hitting the sweet spot. And while the original Xbox also had competition from Sony and Nintendo, it didn't have to compete with "premium" configurations offered by Microsoft itself. Still, we can't imagine being the first current-gen system to be available for under two Benjamins will hurt sales of the system. For now, the unanswerable question remains: Exactly how much will it not hurt?

JoystiqHow important is the $199 Xbox 360? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>200historymicrosoftMSRPprice-pointpricingtrendsThu, 04 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[VenJuvo's Trade4Cause sends old console's value to charity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/venjuvos-trade4cause-sends-old-consoles-value-to-charity/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/venjuvos-trade4cause-sends-old-consoles-value-to-charity/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/venjuvos-trade4cause-sends-old-consoles-value-to-charity/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


We're starting to head into the holiday season, which means our collective capitalist guilt tells us it's time to start thinking about the less fortunate for five seconds as we spend $4 on a Frappuccino. Electronics trade-in site VenJuvo.com is now offering its Trade4Cause program. The program appears to be fairly painless: Pick your console from the list (we did the PS2), get a quote on its value ($35), choose the charity from the dropdown menu to receive the donation, print the shipping label, pack and send. The company tests the product once it's received and donates the payment on your behalf to the charity.

Another nice touch is that if the charity you're looking for isn't on the company's list, there's also the option of filling in the organization's information. Obviously, we're big fans of Child's Play, but there are plenty of other worthwhile gamer-centric causes out there. VenJuvo also has a no-cost recycling program for products that qualify, just in case you're looking to be charitable to our little planet this holiday.

JoystiqVenJuvo's Trade4Cause sends old console's value to charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charityrecycletrade4causevenjuvoThu, 04 Sep 2008 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Rooster Teeth show off Red v. Blue anime]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-rooster-teeth-show-off-red-v-blue-anime/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-rooster-teeth-show-off-red-v-blue-anime/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-rooster-teeth-show-off-red-v-blue-anime/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Rooster Teeth gang had a rather interesting reveal at this year's PAX 2008 ... an anime of Red v. Blue. Yes, the known machinima has crossed the threshold into Japanese animation. Of course, the voicing and ad lib comedy that's made them famous is still intact. Check out the shaky came footage after the break.

Continue reading PAX 2008: Rooster Teeth show off Red v. Blue anime

JoystiqPAX 2008: Rooster Teeth show off Red v. Blue anime originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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