Poll: Is brand loyalty keeping the 360 alive?

[FallenRainbows]

we've become so caught up in the console war, everyone has become a participant.

I'm not taking part, I'm a PC gamer. PC gamers are officially the console war version of Switzerland, sitting out all the big conflicts being smug.

you know the worst fanboys are PC ones right? Being all self-righteous? Can people not just let everyone play what they want to?

 

[nathan-dts]

Don't own a 360, but I know I wouldn't buy something that had a proven track record for failing.

 

[Nuke_em_05]

Here's what really confuses me. I can see why the Wii is so popular. I can see why the PS3 is so popular. I cannot, for the life of my, figure out why the 360 is so popular, let alone has this cult-like following.

As for this bit, here's my theory; the Wii is marketed more towards new gamers and families, as well as those who really really like ninteno brand games. That's its niche. 360 and PS3, as far as types of games offered have the same variety. So, unless you really really like PS3-Only games, want a Blu-ray player, or just want the best of the best, the price tag sends you to the 360.

I didn't know the 360 had a cult-following. Most people who defend it are people who hear things like "it breaks all the time", "it takes too long to repair", "it costs too much to repair", and go "WTF?" because it never broke on them, if it did break it took a week or two to fix, and was free to fix. That's not loyalist behavior, that's testimonies in conflict with the hype.

 

[El Poncho]

Probably it's staying alive because for alot of people the PS3 costs too much and the Wii caters to casual gamers and people don't like there motion control.

 

[Ph33nix]

the 360 has a pretty good library of games and new ones are still coming out. it has Mass Effect 1 and 2, Assassin's Creed 1 and 2, Halo, Gears of war 1 and 2, ODST, Halo wars, Battlefield: Bad Company 1 and 2, BF:2, Left 4 Dead, Dead rising, NF:1943, Rainbow 6 Vegas 1 and 2, GRAW 1 and 2 and this is just off the top of my head. Plus Xbox live> PSN in my experience (that could have changed in the past month or so but...)

 

[loremazd]

Whats the deal with all this hubub about the console failures? You guys realise you dont buy another console after it red rings right? You get a new one for free. My original one redringed afet about 2 years, this one's lasted me since then. At the time it had more games, was cheaper, was backwards compatable, and had a easier to use online service. Admittadly now making a decision between the two would be harder, but it was a really easy decision back then.

 

[Croaker42]

we've become so caught up in the console war, everyone has become a participant.

I'm not taking part, I'm a PC gamer. PC gamers are officialy the console war version of Switzerland, sitting out all the big conflicts being smug.

Hmmmm ok I can be Swiss

 

[jboking]

That's keeping the PS3 alive. Not 360.

Says the man with Master Chief as his avatar...

Brand loyalty isn't bad and it's what keeps all of the current systems going. Period.

 

[Conveant0]

No, this isn't a hate-filled rant. No, I don't hate 360 fans. Yes, I plan on doing other threads about PS3 and Wii followers, because I'm fair and have things to say about them, too.

Here's what really confuses me. I can see why the Wii is so popular. I can see why the PS3 is so popular. I cannot, for the life of my, figure out why the 360 is so popular, let alone has this cult-like following. It has nothing to do with games or services, those are fine and the popularity of the games and Xbox live is well-earned. What gets me is that the 360 itself is a bad piece of hardware. The thing breaks often, costs lots of money to fix, takes too long for you to get it back, and the whole process is just way too aggravating. It's a well known fact and is proven that 360s have this tendency to die...a lot.

Yeah, the original Xbox was pretty good, but still, why has such a bad piece of equipment done so well? I know brand loyalty is a factor, but come on, after the 4th time, do you really want to keep aggravating yourself with this? The system not working properly should have been the death sentence for the 360, or anything else. If the PS3 didn't work right and had this proven history of dying a lot, I wouldn't buy it. If the Wii had a tendency to fry it's inner workings and cost $100 and 3-6 weeks to fix, I doubt it would be as popular as it is. Other things in the market that don't work tend to not sell well, but the 360, hardware problems and all, has done very well, somehow.

With that said, I have this respect for 360 owners for being able to put up with all this shit and yet still stay loyal to Microsoft and promote the 360 as a great system with the passion that they do. Trust me, I don't have the patience to own a 360. If I bought one, and it dies twice on me, I'd just say "Fuck it." and return everything for a refund. I'm not paying money for bad equipment.

I ask you, 360 owners, why do you stay with the 360? Brand loyalty? Patience and faith? Are the games THAT amazing? And non-360 owners, would you be as loyal with your system, or would you say, "Fuck it," and move on?

Because you have obviously decided to also not list any positive features from the Xbox, you have, nor have you pointed out any features from any seperate consoles (I'm sorry, saying you will isn't anything..), then you are simply flamebaiting at the very least. If you're going to attempt a thread on a single console and listing negativity about it then please expect MOD intervention.

As for something to your 'probe', please remember you play the game, not the console. People would not stick with any single console even if it boasted full reliability, they only stick with a single console for the games themselves. The online system itself is also a plus, would you prefer to furish your house with things you find in the street, or those bought from a shop? In this case, you get what you pay for, and for the features offered through LIVE and the promptness of Updates when necessary, sell me on choosing a prefered Online-based console.

If you're only complaint is that of console reliability, you are digging up a grave that has been exhumed so many times it has an autonomous rail track leading to the Internet. Yes, simply put Microsoft did fuck it up and I mean it, seriously leaving plastic in the console? Not exactly the first point in '101 Steps to a Next Gen Console' is it? The console has been out for just under 4 years, there are now improvements in consoles which drastically reduce the chance of RROD, and there is also the 3 year gap of buying the console and sending it off to get it fixed for free.

And simply put, if you can't wait the 2 weeks to get a console repaired, then you can take what little patience you possess and good luck elsewhere... Have they gone?.. Good, less jittery 12 year olds.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

I would say it has more to do with a mix of that fratboy bravado and the idea along the lines of "I bought a game console, and it's gonna play games no matter what!" kind of thing. Though, the wii has it's share of problems too, though those are software related usually, like the old patches that had the unfortunate side effect of killing online capabilities, or how sometimes the USB and SD slots don't register. Though, most of all, I'd say because bricking your xbox is usually only a nuisance, not a burden, so people are more willing to cope with it.

 

[kingdelete]

first (to the last comment) you dont have to spend hunderds each year to upgrade your pc to play L4D, i upgraded mine 4 years ago, and it can still play anygame i want on top spec and it didnt even cost that much (IMO anyway).

ontopic:
i dont own a 360,(have played on one tho) IMO i prefer the ps3 controller, and i think the ppl that bought there 1st gotta better deal (because for some stupid reason they stopped the ps2 backward compatablility which i think was just software in europe anyway so they could releases it as a download now, BUT BC isnt perfect for ps2 which is anoying i cant play shadow hearts 2 anymore)

hearing all the RRoD stories etc put me off getting a xbox (the reason some of you wont have had problems was because some of you got later models as stated in your posts which is when they were sending out fixed versions) (was thinking bout getting one cause of some games i wanted, but i heard some of them are poss coming multi platform now anyway) but i do have enought on my ps3 to keep me busy, i will admit the xbox had a better start, but at least now ps3 is gettin more games, i just wish they had more ps1 classics to download

last note aswell, the reason microsoft gave out that warrently was because they had to, if they didnt they could have been severly screwed over, i mean come on if they failure rate was that high and they didnt offer anything what do you think would have happened, law suit maybe? because no one can get away with selling a faulty product (as far as am aware at least)

 

[Diddy_King]

I own a PS3, a Wii and I have owned 2 Xbox 360s and never had a problem with either one. The reason I had 2 is because I upgraded and sold my old one to a friend of mine. I have had my elite system for about a year and a half now with no problems whatsoever, my friends still have my old system and use it all the time with no known problems.
The PS3 has little to no exclusive titles, and most of those are a cavalcade of mediocrity. Sure we got a few gems, Ratchet and Clank: Future, inFamous, but overall not too much that is really worth the investment. Truth is I use my PS3 for DVDs and PS2 games more often than I do for PS3 titles.
The Wii on the other hand has tons of exclusive games, but the problem is they are a river of poop. Truthfully I use my Wii for even less than my PS3 (that being Super Smash Brothers Brawl).
In my opinion the Xbox 360 is the best system to own out of all 3. The online is easily the best, there are tons of exclusives (some of them are great games too). And while the xbox 360's hardware isn't as powerful as PS3s the games still look great.)
I am not an xbox 360 fanboy, but the facts point to 360 being the better system to own (even if it's not the BEST system hardware wise).

 

[MikeOfThunder]

Yes, i've been a sufferer of RROD... but i would list it more as the only thing bad about the 360. Plus they got it back to me fast and was free so i was alright with it!

I love xbox 360! Simple reason... the GAMES!! I love Fable; Fable 2 and the Halo trilogy. I just find there are more games that i like on the 360.

Plus i prefer the online.

Although, the only game i want that isn't on 360 would be Ratchet and Clank. Gutting lol. The Wii can sod right off though.

 

[Get Jiggy]

My friend's PS3 broke out of warranty and he had to fork over roughly £400 for a new one, two of my PS3 owning friends have said if theirs broke they would buy an xbox.

Brand loyalty has nothing to do with it, it's common sense.

 

[Icehearted]

I own the Xbox 360, I hate the hardware, the D-pad is a joke, and it sounds like a jet engine every time I stat it up. However, motion control doesn't interest me much, at least, I have not seen anything that really makes it a bigger deal than being merely a novelty.

I'd considered the PS3 originally, but at $600 Ken Kutaragi said that the system was too cheap, and another Sony Exec said that it didn't matter what, if ANY, games came out for it as long as it had Sony branded on it, people would buy it. The game library of the three favors Xbox 360 by miles, and Sony, again once a contender in my mind, said Rumble was "last gen" and motion sensing was the next big thing, only to fail miserably with motion and release an expensive "last gen" style controller with rumble once they realized that their motion sensing games (I'm glaring at you, Lair) were craptastic.

As I see it, unless you like unoriginal shovelware, the Xbox 360 is clearly the better choice. I only wish MS weren't such assbutts to their customers by releasing the most poorly constructed hunk of junk in gaming history. Yeah, the Virtual Boy was bad and could cause eyes damage, but at least the bloody thing wasn't trying to destroy itself every time you turned it on.

I want to note to that it's practicality, and not brand loyalty, in my choice. I still own and play a PSP and PS2, but of the three big systems out now, (DS notwithstanding) the Xbox 360 just wins with content.

 

[Crimsane]

360 has the most games that I like. It's pretty much that simple for me (and I'd imagine many others.) Brand loyalty is probably helping, but the biggest game library, lower price point and fact that pretty much everyone in the neighborhood has one are much larger factors for myself and most people I know.

 

[WhiteTiger225]

this is the excact reason why i dont have a 360 anymore, i have a PS3 and it is miles better, although i do miss the everyone having a mic thing.

I think 360 fans really are overly loyal they go on about how their console s so great when the only problem I encountered with the Ps3 once I obtained it was that it once had to recover it's hard drive and that was all. while the 360 you need to pay for live, it breaks ofte etc like you mentioned in the opening post. Fankly this war is stupid :l

1. It's your opinion which is better, your fanboy lines like "This console beats that console!" are what make ANY console maker money. It fuels fan fighting which increases product purchases.
2. 360 first models were the only one with actual issues, and the ONLY reason they had actual issues was because microsoft didn't have time to fine tune them due to whiney fans demanding the system NOW. I have had a model line 2 for nearly 3 years, never once red lighted.
3. "I" own a 360 because I prefer microsoft's exclusive titles over the overly Japanophile JRPG exclusives PS3 gets. Doesn't make it crap, just makes the PS3 not my preference ( I own all 3 systems FYI, PS3 was given to me by a friend)
4. How can the console war be stupid to you when you JUST TOOK PART IN FUELING IT XD

 

[Bored Tomatoe]

Because I own a buch of games for the 360, all of my friends have xbox live, and I've only had my 360 red ring once in the 3 years I've had it.