Did Microsoft miss a big opportunity with HALO 3?
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Microsoft set new records with the launch of Halo 3 for the XBOX360, and the XBOX 360 has had some "halo" effects such as increased sales. So the question is, did Microsoft screw up? Sure, sales of Halo have pretty much broken all previous game sales, but it didn't help Vista sales.
Why do I mention Vista, well anybody that tries it (unless they work for Microsoft) pretty much wants to get away from it as fast as they can, and no matter what Microsoft press releases say about Vista sales, we all know Vista usage is no where near where they want/need it to be. Vista needs something that makes people need/want Vista, right now there is nothing, no reason to get it, no real benefit, nothing that gives someone a hunger to own and use Vista. Remember when the iPod and iTunes first came out? People purchased Macs just so they could use the shiny new iPod, it was called the iPod halo effect. When those people got their new Macs, individuals who had often never used one before found they loved it.
Microsoft could have done something similar with Halo 3, make it available for 6-12 months only on a PC running Vista, the people that were thirsting for Halo, would have to upgrade their PCs to Vista, and they'd be using it, who knows maybe they'd love it like those iPod users loved the Mac, ok maybe not. Can Vista be made into a success, or is it Windows ME version 2?
Microsoft set new records with the launch of Halo 3 for the XBOX360, and the XBOX 360 has had some "halo" effects such as increased sales. So the question is, did Microsoft screw up? Sure, sales of Halo have pretty much broken all previous game sales, but it didn't help Vista sales.
Why do I mention Vista, well anybody that tries it (unless they work for Microsoft) pretty much wants to get away from it as fast as they can, and no matter what Microsoft press releases say about Vista sales, we all know Vista usage is no where near where they want/need it to be. Vista needs something that makes people need/want Vista, right now there is nothing, no reason to get it, no real benefit, nothing that gives someone a hunger to own and use Vista. Remember when the iPod and iTunes first came out? People purchased Macs just so they could use the shiny new iPod, it was called the iPod halo effect. When those people got their new Macs, individuals who had often never used one before found they loved it.
Microsoft could have done something similar with Halo 3, make it available for 6-12 months only on a PC running Vista, the people that were thirsting for Halo, would have to upgrade their PCs to Vista, and they'd be using it, who knows maybe they'd love it like those iPod users loved the Mac, ok maybe not. Can Vista be made into a success, or is it Windows ME version 2?
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Comments
As for HALO3 - I hope they read your post and agree. Not only did they miss the boat in terms of the halo effect for Vista, but they coudl make boatloads of money if they'd release the PC version before Christmas. I know we'll eventually buy 3 copies of the PC version for our family alone.
But, I don't care how cool the games are, I am not buying a special "game system" just to play them. We already have more "game systems" than humans in our house. (2pc, 1 laptop, 1 palm, 3 cellphones, 1 gba, 2 gbds).
Why buy a cut-down computer that ONLY runs games and doesn't come with it's own screen?
Posted by Maria Helm At 02:59:37 PM On 10/29/2007 | - Website - |