Microsoft wants longer shelf life for 360

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 7th November 2007
Comments (14) Stumble
Microsoft wants longer shelf life for 360

The original Xbox only survived four years, but Microsoft is keen to see the Xbox 360 do better.

Microsoft has declared that, unlike the original Xbox, it is eager to see the Xbox 360 supported and sold long after it goes out of date. The mega-company is now aiming for a lifespan longer than the usual five years shelf life of a console system according to Reuters.

The original Xbox system was the subject of an enormous amount of scorn when the Xbox 360 launched in late 2005 and the original was promptly dropped by Microsoft. The original Xbox system only had a lifespan of four years.

Speaking at a BMO Capital Markets conference though, Mindy Mount said that Microsoft now wanted to emulate the success and long-term appeal of the PlayStation 2 - which is still selling very well and getting new games even though it is now eight years old.

"Look at the PS2; they've gone long-time and seem to have pretty good legs on what they are doing," said Mindy Mount, Chief Financial Officer for the Microsoft Games Division (and possible future Bond-girl judging by the name).

"If we were able to do that, as a CFO I think that's great, because every year you draw it out you increase profitability."

Speaking as one of those original Xbox owners who got incredibly annoyed with how Microsoft handled the older console when the 360 launched, I can only say that I'll believe it when I see it. Maybe I'm just being grumpy though - what do you think? Let us know in the forums.
Quote DougEdey 7th November 2007, 13:08
It needs to have a longer life at home first, Microsoft have made significant mistakes and need to get them sorted.


Also, the PS2 is still in production and new models are still being produced (one has just come out in Japan with an integrated AC-DC adaptor)
Quote Tim S 7th November 2007, 13:12
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
It needs to have a longer life at home first

That made me laugh :)
Quote <A88> 7th November 2007, 14:09
Good. I can't say I felt particularly shafted when the 360 came out as I never bought brand new games for my Xbox anyway, so it didn't affect me much. What Sony's done with the PS2 seems to have kept demand at a pretty steady rate- the new ones with the integrated PSU look especially tempting, although I'm going to get an Elite before I splash out on anything else. I think the capabilities of the 360, such as the Media Center extender and Marketplace, mean that it will still have a lot of purpose even when the next-gen Xbox arrives.

<A88>
Quote DarkReaper 7th November 2007, 14:41
I can see the 360 going for quite some time - the Marketplace and DLC are two advantages that the PS2 doesn't have, and developers certainly seem to be getting the hang of the architecture by now.
Quote inflatable 7th November 2007, 15:04
MS probably dropped the original Xbox so quick because they didn't completly own the hardware, so never could really make a profit on it.. Now with the Xbox 360 they do own all the rights of the chips etc, so eventually the hardware will make a profit for them.. Knowing this it makes sense they will probably keep supporting the Xbox 360 longer..

Personally I don't care if a console I buy doesn't last more then 4-5 years.. Because after 3 orso years the hardware starts to become to obsolete compared to PC tech anyway.. I'm willing to buy a new gameconsole every 4-5 years if that means it's uptodate with what high-end gaming PC's can do.. I'm a early adopter, graphicswhore, and just always want the best of the best.. I understand there are people who cannot or simply don't want to afford that, but for those people they can keep the old last-gen consoles arround a bit longer (like they do now with the PS2).. Everybody happy..
Quote zero0ne 7th November 2007, 19:24
How can you complain about a console lasting 4 years?

thats a hell of a long time if you look at it as a PC game enthusiast.

it equates to less than 100US dollars a year for the hardware for the consumer, much much cheaper than keeping your computer top of the line every year. (or even every 4 years, or 8 years)
Quote Anakha 8th November 2007, 03:43
Original XBox obsolete? I think not. Mine runs XBMC and is a very capable SD frontend to my MythTV box.
Quote mrplow 8th November 2007, 03:57
give it silly motion sensitive remote-controls, and put a blue glow around the drive.

done.
Quote Morphine-Kitty 8th November 2007, 06:55
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrplow
give it silly motion sensitive remote-controls, and put a blue glow around the drive.

done.

This is the ONE thing that pisses me off about consoles. EVERYBODY seems to hate anything they don't own. I'm getting so irritated at the massively rampant fanboyism present in recent times. I always ask people who think any console they don't own is gay "Why is that other console so stupid?". Their answer? Always something like "It just is." or "The [insert name here] is better.". I'm getting seriously tired of this behavior. Can't we all just accept one another's consoles?
Quote DougEdey 8th November 2007, 07:59
Quote:
Originally Posted by Morphine-Kitty
This is the ONE thing that pisses me off about consoles. EVERYBODY seems to hate anything they don't own. I'm getting so irritated at the massively rampant fanboyism present in recent times. I always ask people who think any console they don't own is gay "Why is that other console so stupid?". Their answer? Always something like "It just is." or "The [insert name here] is better.". I'm getting seriously tired of this behavior. Can't we all just accept one another's consoles?

No, Nexxo will probably say it's down to the Human psychology trying to make something which they don't own sound worse then it is to make the brain not want it, not feel left out or jealous.
Quote mrplow 8th November 2007, 09:52
Quote:
Originally Posted by Morphine-Kitty
This is the ONE thing that pisses me off about consoles. EVERYBODY seems to hate anything they don't own. I'm getting so irritated at the massively rampant fanboyism present in recent times. I always ask people who think any console they don't own is gay "Why is that other console so stupid?". Their answer? Always something like "It just is." or "The [insert name here] is better.". I'm getting seriously tired of this behavior. Can't we all just accept one another's consoles?

I don't get it... I think the 360 is really good, and I love my Wii...

Don't get me started on ps3 though... ;)
Quote mikeuk2004 8th November 2007, 11:37
Wanting it to last longer is different to making it last longer. They aint going to last 10 years when they red ring within 12 months lol touch wood mine doesnt as its in its 11 month now.

I hope my 360 lasts another 5-6 years and that they continue to make great games I want to play. I already have more 360 games than I ever had on my xbox, PS2 and Game cube combined. And this is in my first 11 months and there are at least another 12 games I want. :)
Quote LeMaltor 8th November 2007, 13:07
They just have to release the next one for more money than most people will pay and the 360 will continue to do well :p
Quote Morphine-Kitty 9th November 2007, 01:42
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrplow
I don't get it... I think the 360 is really good, and I love my Wii...

Don't get me started on ps3 though... ;)

Sorry, but its just most people seem to get all fanboy-ey now, and its starting to irritate me. No offense meant if you took any.
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