Poll: Is brand loyalty keeping the 360 alive?

[Sightless Wisdom]

Well I like maybe 5 games that are PS3 exclusive, I already bought a wii(regret that one now) and your assumption that it's a bad peice of hardware means nothing to me. This is because in the two years that I've owned my xbox 360, it has had zero problems, no red rings, nothing. It had a few minor freezes, but I'm fairly sure that was caused by the game, not the console. So really I don't see why it wouldn't be popular. To be fair I do know of many people who have had problems with their consoles, RRoD,etc.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

Wikipedia on failure rates. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failure_rate#See_also] Check what is on the bottom of the 'See also' list. I think its hilarious.

At any rate, I agree with the op that the 360's hardware is of shoddy quality. The 360's failure rates are abyssmal. I've seen numbers ranging from a mindnumbing 68% for the earliest models to one in six by 2008. That is well above the industry's usual 3% to 5%.

Not too long ago my third 360 broke down. I didn't replace it anymore and don't intend to until the more grievous technical problems have been adressed, if ever. It's also been quite a hassle to get my broken consoles replaced from where I live and I can't say I'm too impressed with Microsoft's customer service in general either.

Why are people sticking to the 360? I don't know. Perhaps I should use my usual safety blanket and blame it all on Microsoft. Remember the world's greatest oxymoron: Microsoft Works.

EDIT

 

[Kiutu]

You can make games on it without being a rocket scientist. The idea of making the PS3 complicated to make games for is just 100 percent retarted, no way else to put it. Why should games suffer and be worse than they could be just so not to 'keep developers from fully using the PS3's power too soon"
Brand loyalty is a PS3 thing.
Microsoft have been good with the warrenty too, it breaks, but they fix it or get you a new one without costing you loads of money. And its flat. That curved top on the PS3 bothers the shit out of me. (Dunno if its a sell breaker/maker though, but still)

Did Sony really plan that? "Using the PS3's power too soon," did they really say that?

it was in an Escapist Newsroom article. Dont remember exactly which, but its on this very site.

 

[Xaositect]

Speaking as a "360 owner", as if that means Ive somehow picked a "side", I voted I couldnt give a shit. There are only two motivations when it comes to what I play my games on. Cost, and how many games there are that I actually WANT. Since 360 has many games I want or wanted and am now enjoying, Id have to say that its "lots of good games" that are keeping the 360 "alive". Consumer loyalty doesnt have much to do with it if you ask me.

 

[TheCameraman]

I don't even own a Xbox, but that poll is pretty damn biased.
For one, there isn't even a pure "no" option. >_>

Also, why is the XboX the only one to be accused for this? I'd say it goes for either all, or none of the consoles. The PS3 might have better technology inside, but it's expensive as hell and got a rather poor amount of games. If I had to choose one I'd probably choose the XboX.

Also, from what I've heard from a friend (that owns all three consoles for some bizarre reason),
the RRoD myth is highly exaggerated.

 

[squid5580]

Well the library of games keeps me going. Online is great. I haven't had any major break-downs of my 360. I could care less if it was made by Fisher Price and called "My First Console" with the library of games, a comfortable controller and XBL it is a fine fit for me. Now if only they could do something about the damn D-Pad I would be in heaven.

 

[Rathy]

You can make games on it without being a rocket scientist. The idea of making the PS3 complicated to make games for is just 100 percent retarted, no way else to put it. Why should games suffer and be worse than they could be just so not to 'keep developers from fully using the PS3's power too soon"
Brand loyalty is a PS3 thing.
Microsoft have been good with the warrenty too, it breaks, but they fix it or get you a new one without costing you loads of money. And its flat. That curved top on the PS3 bothers the shit out of me. (Dunno if its a sell breaker/maker though, but still)

Did Sony really plan that? "Using the PS3's power too soon," did they really say that?

Yes, they actually said they want a learning curve to use their tools to make games. I can't remember the exact source, but I got it from an article here.

And as for Xbox, I don't own one, but I'd call it the best of the generation thus far. Sure, it may break down, but I'd take an affordable system that has a good line-up, even if it breaks more than it should, to a system(s) with less games I would care about, and potentially costs twice as much. If Sony or Wii could catch up in the quality games area, I might see this differently though.

 

[LordSphinx]

Although your starting comment, I feel like the original post is NOTHING but flamebait. As it has been noted already, there is no option to say that being satisfied by the console is possible.

However, I can argue more than that. According to recent studies (Here is a sample among other I've seen http://kotaku.com/5334947/xbox-360-triumphs-over-ps2-in-nielsen-ratings), out of all consoles, the Xbox360 owners use it more than owners of every other consoles.

There are also a lot of exclusives, especially for shooter and RPG fans, and these people tend to appreciate to the extreme their favorite games (see Halo, KillZone, Gears of War and such, or Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest and such).

Also, although the hardware did fail a lot in the early stage of the console, the problem was mostly fixed by the end of february 2006, when they shipped new models with a lesser chance to break (although still present). Last year's models and after almost don't RROD at all. And the Xbox360 is as powerful as the PS3, per say of the chief engineer of both. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3904/processing_the_truth_an_interview_.php

People don't remember it as well, but the PS2, and the PS1 before it, failed as much as the Xbox360 did. However, these consoles were launched in Japan first, so we were not as aware. Even so, I had to repair or replace my original PlayStation twice, and have seen friends having similar troubles with their PS2 (mine is still working today!). The PS2 alone had over 15 makeovers after all!

There is also the fact that if a giant like Microsoft does something wrong (and RROD was indeed one heck of a mistake!), it will be talked about much more, as its image as an evil corporate business is still strong. I am not debating over Microsoft and they're business handling, as I am a satisfied customer myself and in an egoist way, that's all I require.

So all in all, I am a PS1, PS2, Xbox, Xbox360, DS owner, and the consoles from which I am the most satisfied are the Xbox360 and the PlayStation 1. And my Xbox360 never had the RROD.

 

[Cheesebob]

Once again, apathy wins

 

[Apathetic Flamingo]

That's keeping the PS3 alive. Not 360.

 

[Numbert]

I've had my 360 for over a year now, and I've never had a problem with it. My Wii on the other hand doesn't play games correctly anymore, and I frequently have to restart it. I think the problem was simply with the old chips. If you have a Pheonix chip or newer in your Xbox 360 it shouldn't red ring. The reason it's successful is because it plays games that young adult gamer's like which the Wii struggles to do, and it's not nearly as expensive as the PS3. Also the fact it's an American company helps it gain a more American audience while the PS3 does better in Japan than here.

 

[MortisLegio]

No, I bought a 360 to play with my friends and thats whats keeping it alive

 

[xx Mini Mat xx]

nope, i'm staying out of this one. I own both a 360 and a wii. They were gifts and i'll be damned if i don't play them.
OT:Is there really anything that help to keep a concol viable other than loyalty. yes, i would say tha things like the softwere lineup, the online play ect.

ok, i guess i got involved after all...

 

[MK Tha Rebel]

You can make games on it without being a rocket scientist. The idea of making the PS3 complicated to make games for is just 100 percent retarted, no way else to put it. Why should games suffer and be worse than they could be just so not to 'keep developers from fully using the PS3's power too soon"
Brand loyalty is a PS3 thing.
Microsoft have been good with the warrenty too, it breaks, but they fix it or get you a new one without costing you loads of money. And its flat. That curved top on the PS3 bothers the shit out of me. (Dunno if its a sell breaker/maker though, but still)

Did Sony really plan that? "Using the PS3's power too soon," did they really say that?

Yes, they actually said they want a learning curve to use their tools to make games. I can't remember the exact source, but I got it from an article here.

Interesting. This should make the PS3 thread I'm making later on a lot more interesting.

Although your starting comment, I feel like the original post is NOTHING but flamebait. As it has been noted already, there is no option to say that being satisfied by the console is possible.

Because that has nothing to do with the question. The question is about what you think of their loyalty, not why they're loyal.

 

[geon106]

The reason I bought a 360 in the first place was because most of my friends had one, so we could play online.

That's the reason most of my friends brought one. I brought playstation 3 mostly because i beleive you get more for your money(PSN Network is free, built in Wi-fi, SIXAXIS controller, Bluetooth, Blu-Ray, Re-chargable controllers(i beleive you need charge and play for 360). Furthermore owning a PC means i have most of the same games as the 360 anyways and none of the remaining 360 exclusives appeal to me.

However, one thing I dislike is the fact theres less of my friends on the PSN. One of my friends got bored of the 360 dying and he has moved to the PS3 and he loves it. My other friend owns a Wii, 360, PS3, Gamecube, Xbox, PSP, PS2, Dreamcast, N64 and he says out of all the consoles he has owned the PS3 is his favorite.

So idk, i wish more people had a PS3 so i could play online with them but at the same time i feel i made the right choice

 

[wasted space]

Simple, it's the cheepest console that has "real" games, I know loads of people that have live and 3 that have psn, and 360 and ps3 are almost the exact same thing. Their exclusives balance eachother out and I can either get a £300 ps3 or 15 games.

 

[Jsnoopy]

I've never had a breakdown, but I also own a refurbished model with a loud ass fan in it, so I assume it will never overheat. The only friend of mine who has had the RROD actually got his fixed for free and back in a week and a day, but this might be because he payed for fast shipping or because he owns the halo 3 edition of the xbox. I've heard tons of RROD stories, but to me, that's all they are, stories, because none of it has happened to me yet.

 

[Zani]

Well fanboys will be fanboys but almost all consoles are bought based on brand loyality, just look at the PS3, very expensive but it still has "high" sales, only due to brand loyality from people who had the PS1/PS2, and possibly the exclusives.

 

[DarkRyter]

Maybe it's because

IT HAS GAMES THEY LIKE.

Every console has fans, because they have the games they want to play.
All fanboyism, and fangirlism, originates from real, genuine, enjoyment.