game_features

Michael Harris
Schlatter
ENG. 101
Nov. 29, 2001
M.W.F. 1:00- 1:45 p.m.
Due Date: Nov. 30, 2001

                                          It's Good to Think Small

     November 2001 will go down in history as one of the most succesful months

ever for video games. The releases of the XBox by Microsoft, and the Gamecube by

Nintendo, mark the first time in over 16 years in which two video game consoles

were launched within just a few days of each other. If you want to make a good

investment in the video game console market, think small and purchase Nintendo's

GameCube.

     Smaller than a lunch box, and presently more popular in Japan than in the United

States, the compact Nintendo Gamecube, plays the most well-known video games on
mini-discs with a greater home-storage capacity than Microsoft's bulkier and heavier

XBox.

     GameCube's creators, having spent more time on the design of a lighter, smaller

console equipped with a carrier handle and easier controls that have produced a more

maneuverable and portable product than its Microsoft rival.

     In comparison to the bulky heavy Microsoft Xbox with its undisirable layout and

too closely aligned, clunky, control button, the more sophisticated and durable

GameCube buttons are placed nicely, and, therfore, are more comfortable to hold.

After playing hours on the GameCube, one can see that the controllers fit into your

hands perfectly, and all of the buttons are situated around the controller perfeclty.

One will quickly realize that Nintendo has obviously put a lot of time and effort into

developing this controller.

     When it comes to the video games themselves, both systems can pust some

major graphic power. XBox runs on 733 Mega Hertz compared to GameCube's 405

Mega Hertz, but a more powerful console doesn't mean that it will have the upper

hand in the video game industry. What does give a console the upper hand in the

video game industry is how much easier it is to develop on, and how little stress it

puts on the developers.

     the XBox's hardware seems to be all about performance and graphics, while the

company does not see that the quality and gameplay is the biggest aspect in video

games of today. Nintendo's GameCube is easy on its developers, they can produce

second or third looking generation games in the first generation of games, and they

can do all this at a monthy period.

     Harnessing power is much easier to achieve with this new Nintendo system. As a

result, Gamecube's development time to point of purchase is short. In comparison to

the XBox, it takes months to achieve results. The GameCube's more popular video

games possess superior graphics and reveal an overall, smoother visual texture that

appealed immediately to the Japanese market.

     Speaking of markets, Nintendo has been in the video game market for twenty

years and knows the buisness. After making some serious mistakes with their

Nintendo 64 system, they have really come back strong this time around. On the

other hand, one has to worry about Microsoft's way of doing buisness. One gets the

feeling that Nintendo plans to give Sony a serious run for its money. They are

entering this race quickly and do not know everthing there is in console gaming.

They have not taken the important steps in building up a sophisticated machine that

performs as great it looks, instead, it's complicated on the developers who have a

tug-of-war developing titles on the console.

     It doesn't help to hear rumors that Bill Gates said he wasn't too interested in the

Xbox, that it is the XBox2 that he's anticipating the most! From his past history as a

corporate bully, is it possible for Gates to intimidate the video game industry? Yes,

Microsoft has a lot of money to back up the XBox, but all the money in the world

cannot buy the loyalty and trust of millions of video game fans.

                                                  Works Cited

     Dillard, Corbie. Nintendo GameCube Vs. XBox. Geocities 21Nov 2001. 28 Nov.             2001.
          <wysiwyg://13/http://www.geocities.com/corbie_d/gevsxv.htm>.

     Eaton, Antony. Special: GameCube Vs. XBox. Rareshooters 6 July 2001. 28 Nov.           2001.
          <wysiwyg://16/http://www.rareshooters.com/specials/special9.shtm>.

     GameCube or XBox? GameCube Weekly. Tripod. 27 Nov. 2001
          <http://gameboy_weekly.tripod.com/gamecube_weekly/id1.html>.

     Gamecube Vs. XBox: We all know Nintendo will win. Gamecube Weekly. Tripod.           28 Nov. 2001.
          <wysiwyg://8/http://patriot474.tripod.com/animeorama/id21.htm>.

     Sidener, Johnathan. Let The Games Begin: Holiday season brings Microsoft,                   Nintendo Battle. The Arizona Republic 20 Nov. 2001: D3.

     V.,Brian. game Consoles Review. Instantweb 28 Nov. 2001.
          <http://www.instantweb.com/a/aesmiddleschool/Bestof01/Games/Gmes%Revi
          ew.html>.