Is the Socratic method a method of genius?

HolyOrangeCows

Contributor
CRank: 6Score: 72710

Xbox 360: Elephants Filling up the Room

Ever heard the term "The elephant in the room"?

It may be defined as:
An obvious and or large problem that is impossible to overlook.


The Xbox 360, despite being quite successful, has several elephants in the room.  It's starting to become quite crowded.  Microsoft is mostly only picking up the dung piles of one of these "Elephants", being the one that represents the faulty hardware.  Why?  Because it's the most noticeable to their customers.

Let us take a look at these "Elephants"

  1. Faulty Hardware (RROD/E74) - The Xbox 360 is well known for a major issue, the RROD.  Though not the only issue faced by Xbox gamers, it is the most recognized and most common.  Solid research suggests that over 30% of all 360 consoles have faced a fatal error in their lifetime.  This is including the young, freshly-purchased Xbox 360s as well, mind you.  Whatever the official numbers, I can safely state: THEY ARE TOO HIGH, DARN IT!
  2. Lack of First Party Developers/Games - In 2007, the Xbox 360 had exclusive titles popping off the shelf.  Halo 3, Crackdown, Dead Rising.....such a great year.  Dead Rising being a personal favorite.  However, 2008 wasn't nearly so great.  And 2009 was poor.  Sure, it had ODST, GTA4 episodes, Halo Wars, and Left 4 Dead 2.  But ODST was short.  Halo Wars was too simple for fans of any PC rts.  And valve games are a completely different story on PC.  What went wrong?  Microsoft doesn't have enough first party studios.  Some of their best titles this year were third party because Microsoft is too dependent on them.
  3. Accessories/Peripherals - The Xbox 360 greatly lacks the options of third party accessories and the lack of competition allows them to price things like a 60GB HDD at $100.  A simple wireless accessory (I'm not talking about the new one) at $100.  A half GB memory card at $50.  And it's mostly Microsoft's bidding.  For example, they recently used an update on LIVE to render third party HDDs and memory cards useless.  Dirty move, Microsoft.
  4. Wasted Power - In raw factual power, the Xbox is known to have the better GPU to the PS3 (Though the total amount of potential graphical power with the Cell processor taking part of the load, is often debated).  So, why are second party exclusive titles like Halo ODST still running in sub-HD, no AA, in only 30fps, being the studio's second 360 exclusive, when the PS3 is getting games running in 720p HD, with 2xAA, running up to an average far above 30fps, rendering such large, attractive worlds and character models like in Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time?
How long can "Zoo keepers" like Aaron Greenberg pick up the dung and dispose of the elephant evidence?  I suppose that's a question for history to answer.

Leave a comment if you wish.

soxfan20055983d ago

Funny how you conveniently forgot to mention Forza 3 in your list of 2009 exclusives. Completely ignoring the 360's highest rated exclusive of the year in an attempt to make the lineup look worse makes YOUR arguement look like a pretty big pile of elephant dung.

Plus, calling ODST, L4D2, and GTA Episodes "poor" is quite a stretch. Exactly what are you basing this OPINION on? I always love how you guys make fun of the GTA4 DLC. I guess paying $20 for a game that has more content than a lot of $60 games offer is somehow a bad thing. After all, aren't you complaining that MS charges too much for other accessories and services? Yet, when they offer a GREAT value by selling TWO great games at discount prices, you consider them "poor".

HolyOrangeCows5983d ago

I didn't call the GTA episodes poor. That's one the games I am GIVING the 360 props for having. I didn't call L4D2 poor, either. I said it's a different experience on the PC, because of Valve's constant updates and 0% risk of the DLC costing you anything (Unless they decide/announce that they are going to, and they CAN since they don't have to go through Microsoft). Did I call ODST "Poor"? No, I said it was short. Did I say the 360's overall lineup this year was poor? Yes. Work on your reading skills.

Yes, I "conveniently" forgot ONE....oh boy!
"makes YOUR arguement look like a pretty big pile of elephant dung"
Yep, you're right. If I had included Forza 3, THEN my points on the 360's wasted power, faulty hardware, and accessories and peripherals, and lack of games would have been valid....but I forgot to list ONE game, thus they are not.

5983d ago
soxfan20055982d ago

You didn't just forget to list one game, you forgot to list the BEST game. Every Forza article that springs up on N4G is flooded with PS3 fanboys - I find it hard to believe that you suddenly forgot that Forza 3 exists.

If I wrote a blog that was critical of the PS3's 2009 exclusive lineup, and I "forgot" to mention Uncharted 2, would you just shrug it off like you're trying to do here?

Some of your other points are actually valid. If you just stuck to the facts - and didn't have any major omissions like Forza 3 - I would have no problem with what you wrote.

thisguywithhair5982d ago

Are you getting paid by the FORZA people or something?

HolyOrangeCows5982d ago

"Sony fanboy"
"How in the hell did you get one of your postings deleted on your own blog!?! You my kind sir are PATHETIC!"
"hatemongering"
"obsess"
"this is pathetic"
"calling ODST, L4D2, and GTA Episodes 'poor'"

This is ridiculous. None of you have actual valid criticisms other than me forgetting ONE game and making stuff up about my blog (See the lies about what I said about GTA episodes, L4D2, and ODST).
Instead you just throw around hateful remarks.

Don't sit there pretending like this blog is unreasonable. It points out real problems the 360 is having and that's it. Don't become so upset over it.

soxfan20055982d ago (Edited 5982d ago )

You made a blanket generalization that 2009 was a "poor" year for 360 games, then you proceeded to list your reasons why you disliked ODST, L4D2, & Halo Wars - seemingly confirming that you feel those games are poor. Maybe you don't actually feel that way, but that is the way you wrote it.

If you had said "2009 was a poor year overall, however ODST, L4D2, & Halo Wars were good, well received games", that would have been more accurate.

I was wrong to criticize you over the GTA episodes - you didn't actually say anything negative about them other than listing them after the "poor" remark.

Anon19745981d ago

How frustrating this must be. You write a blog, a good blog. It brings up some well thought out and valid points. And then come the 360 defense with their personal attacks and nonsense, not one of them actually addressing the actual issues you raised.

And that's the thing. I'm a 360 owner, yet I refuse to be blinded by console loyalty. It's ridiculous. How so many can ignore valid points are beyond me. RROD is a huge issue, still! 2007 was a great year and since then great exclusives have been few and far between in comparison. Accessories are ridiculously priced and the 360's top game was Gears, released back in 2006, then nothing topped it until Gears 2, two years later and only then by a slight lead. Why haven't we seen steady improvement in 360 games if the console has so much juice.

These are valid points, and real issues for 360 owners. By attacking this blog, going after the author personally and by focusing, not on the issues raised but instead on the author's forgetting to mention one game, you are all effectively doing exactly what the author was talking about.

Ignoring the elephants in the room.

But what do you expect. You have 3 of the 360's staunchest and most blinded faithful all over this, soxfan2005, Soda Popinsky and Halo3 MLG Pro. These 3 couldn't recognize the 360's elephants in the room if they sat on them.

soxfan20055981d ago

Speaking of being blind, you obviously didn't read my second comment. I admitted that he made valid points well before you did. However, his omission of the 360's best game of 2009 - whether intentional or not - greatly reduces the integrity of the whole blog.

Then, you have the nerve to complain about personal attacks? Read the blog again. He calls Aaron Greenburg a "Zoo Keeper". Is that not a personal attack? Or, is it OK as long as Greenburg and Dan Greenwalt are the targets (as they are frequently on N4G)?

Read some of his comments in other threads on N4G. He is clearly trying to attack the 360 from a PS3 fan point of view, not write an objective analysis. The same can be said of many of your comments.

I could make a list of all the things that I felt the Yankees did wrong in 2009 if it made me feel better. In the end though, what really matters?

Anon19745981d ago

Way to ignore every single point he makes on your first post and then after him calling you out on it admitting he had valid points.

And then you go off again, distracting from the points made and instead focusing on everything but his points. Since when is being a zookeeper a derogatory term? It perfectly fits with his theme of "the elephant in the room".

Again, how about you address the points he raises rather then attacking the person. So what if his posting history shows an anti 360 bias? Does that make any of his points any less relevant?

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5981d ago
Halo3 MLG Pro5983d ago

LMAO! Sony fanboys more interested in 360 games. Forgetting Forza 3 just proves that you know nothing about the 360. So please stop worrying about it so much.

5983d ago
HolyOrangeCows5983d ago (Edited 5983d ago )

Go ahead and list EVERY Ps3 exclusive from this year, then.
If you miss a SINGLE one, then you "know nothing about the" PS3.

Pffft.

ChrisW5982d ago

How in the hell did you get one of your postings deleted on your own blog!?! You my kind sir are PATHETIC!

DelbertGrady5982d ago

All this hatemongering towards the 360 makes you look very desperate.

How come you'd rather obsess about a console you apparently hate instead of writing about the one you adore?

madpuppy5982d ago (Edited 5982d ago )

Personally, I will openly admit that I HATE the 360 and the lousy, dirty barely useful company that makes it.

I was a 360 owner, I never owned a PS 1,2 or 3. I was happy with the original Xbox and when the 360 was announced I gladly pre-ordered it from EB. I spent 700.00+ the night I picked it up (extra gamepad, couple of games, ect.)

I was happy with it until it red ringed, then the rubber on the gamepad analog stick started coming off in chunks...then the second one RROD!!! then the replacement (rechargable)batteries needed to be replaced
again! then the replacement to that one E74'd!!!

after I got it back from Texas, I threw everything 360 related into a big box, and I traded it for store credit at gamestop, I was so incensed by this piece of GARBAGE, I didn't even want to wait to get a better price selling it on e-bay or a classified ad. I just wanted the trash out of my home!

And you know what I did...I used the money I sold it for to get a PS3 slim.

There is nothing that the 360 can do that would convince me that it is better...and I gladly tell everyone I can my experience.

the games can look better on the 360, who cares? If you cannot make through a game without the fear of the hardware killing itself.

Live could be 10000 times better than PSN,
not if your 360 cannot connect because it is "on vacation" in Texas or smoldering!

I sorry, I am a critical consumer AND a gamer.

DelbertGrady5982d ago (Edited 5982d ago )

I get where you're coming from and if I had the same experience I would probably be pissed off as well.

I think both the 360, PS3 and the Wii have their pros and cons and I wish I could afford to own all three of them. All of them house must-have games and standout features. At the same time I think the 360 has the best games (for me), and I also prefer its controller in front of the others. I think XBL is more streamlined and user friendly than PSN, with the downside of not being free. Since most of my friends own 360's and I love playing online, switching to PSN doesn't feel that tempting. Even if it's free.

I hope people can accept me for preferring the 360. What is sad about this place is that I feel that you almost have to excuse yourself if you write something positive about the 360. And if you don't add in something positive about the PS3 in your comment you will get bashed no matter how levelheaded your arguments are.

Just play the games you prefer, on the console you prefer. And be happy :)

madpuppy5982d ago

Everyone needs to do what they are comfortable with. If you have a bunch of friends on XBL I can see why that would influence your decision greatly. All I hope is that people go into a relationship with a product (and it is a relationship) based on Facts. I agree that XBL is a pretty good service, the crowning achievment is voice chat, it works so much better than the PS3 voice chat. I personally never really dug the blade interface and I really do not like the NXE at all but, the XMB I really like, it is a clean interface in my opinion and works really well. the 360 mainly being a gaming machine first I would venture a guess that the interface is more appealing to the younger gamer set.

Hey, I hope for the sake of the 360 gamers that MS resolves the issues and the system can stand on it's merits rather than it's faults.

As for me, I will just have to wait and see what happens during the next generation of systems. I just cannot forgive MS for what they did to me this one.

chrisulloa5982d ago

Oh man, this is pathetic. Good article, gave me a good laugh.

n to the b5982d ago

"...when the PS3 is getting games running in 720p HD..."

so what do u know, 720p is HD after all (I already knew this). so many sonyfans here try and convince me otherwise. OrangeCows I better not catch u making any sub1080p comments around n4g!

Show all comments (23)
190°

We Are Xbox

Dear team,

Xbox has always been different.

We started with a simple idea. Games should bring people together through shared experiences. That led to the first Xbox in 2001, Xbox Live in 2002, and new ways to connect, from friends lists and achievements to parties and play across devices. Today, Xbox reaches over 500 million players around the world, with some of the most important franchises in entertainment.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
Itveds4h ago

re-evaluating exclusivity 💀

PS players will need to go back to pretending to dislike Xbox games

pwnmaster30004h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Or meaning since it’s doing so good they might just do everything day 1.

They didnt say re-evaluating their multiplatform approach.
🤣🤣🤣 Xbox is so dead. I know you scared🤣🫵ӿ 97;

Itveds3h ago

Aww you’re hurt that they’re going back to exclusives!

The mask has slipped… we know you PS gamers LOVE Xbox games

Eonjay30m ago

Even when the topic is strictly Xbox he can't stop talking about PlayStation. Xbox has basically become the hate of PlayStation... and not much else.

pwnmaster30003h ago

Hurt over video games 🤣🤣

Lmao we all grew and got jobs but apparently you stayed home broke 🤣🤣.
Man I love loyal dogs like you. MS kicked Spit and slapped you around but you still come back on all 4s.

Good little boy 🤣🤣

Itveds3h ago

You’re going to have to go back to pretending you don’t like Xbox games 😂😂

Awkward

GhostScholar1h ago

My only question is what games are PlayStation gamers gonna play now? They don’t really come out with new games anymore. I’m looking forward to wolverine, but after that then what?

-Foxtrot3h ago

Lmao

There’s no way after everything it’s going back, the damage is done

What you are seeing now is the new management telling what the core fanbase (aka…you) want to hear so they are pumped full of hope and are more likely to invest in the next Xbox console

When Phil took over after the awful Xbox One reveal he did the same thing, he told people what they wanted to hear for damage control.

It’s crazy people are getting suckered into this again.

GhostScholar1h ago

I mean I always buy both systems, so none of this affects me.

CrashMania3h ago

And you'll now go back to again thinking exclusives suddenly matter, that multiplatform is no longer the future, or that revenue from multiplatforms doesn't matter, like all you flop flopping xbox grifters lol.

The whole post just sounds like the previous phil corpo slop talk to me, whole thing reads like a nothing burger lol.

Jin_Sakai1h ago

“re-evaluating exclusivity”

She also said this.

“The model that got us here won’t be the one that takes us forward.”

TriniOutsider1h ago

It must be miserable being someone like you.

Aloymetal1h ago

There's a bunch just like him but that's what happens when some rely on dreams, hope and wishful thinking. lol

isarai_lee1h ago

"pretending"? Bro gears hasnt broke 1mil on ps5, and starfield hasn't passed 200k, Hellblade 2 was even stated to be a financial disappointment in sales on its own console, let alone ps5. Im not saying people don't like them, but they certainly aren't setting the community on fire, Forza may be different tho

Neonridr11m ago

Forza broke 5 million on PlayStation. So yes. And there's a new one coming soon.

Aloymetal1h ago

Xbawx is ''re-evaluating exclusivity''... Translation: After throwing all sort of crap to the wall to see if something sticks but clearly nothing worked, we, including our lord ''in charge'' Phil came to the conclusion that exclusives indeed do matter so please forget if we ever said otherwise.
Yup, I feel it in my gut, next gen belongs to xbox, PS6 is cooked...

Itveds1h ago

Could be worse… they could be Sony pumping out flops like Marathon and concord 😂😂🤣

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 11m ago
Outside_ofthe_Box3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

If they go back to exclusive games it at least shows that they are finally getting it. They would be turning down immediate money for something that will potentially workout in the long term.

Only issue is they've already opened Pandora's box. A lot of their base has moved to PC or jumped to PS. So will be a long road to get back on track.

We have been saying this from day one exclusives are a must if you are going to be selling hardware look at Nintendo and Sony before Jim Ryan. That's the proven formula. You had some that were deluded and blinded by loyalty accepting that multiplat was the future and that MS was merely getting ahead of where the industry was headed, but at least they can finally see the light and agree with what everyone has been saying for a decade+

pwnmaster30003h ago

True, blame it on the rabid fanboys. MS can do no wrong and spinner this multiplatform move. While the actual fans moved on.

I feel like with the new Xbox coming they are hoping to bring back those old fans and then if it goes well. Bring back exclusives.

If the new console is performing like series x and one. Naw they staying multiplatform.

Itveds3h ago

Gonna be a funny world where Xbox games are exclusive and Sony games are not lol

Outside_ofthe_Box1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

Funny world where Sony is pro consumer and Xbox is not? At least according to what you loyalists have been saying all this time 🤭

VenomUK1h ago

@itveds For how many years have you been doing this sad stuff? For how many years have you been creating fake accounts to troll? For how many years have you always been cl vnn

CrashMania3h ago

I think it's too late, xbox sales were diving even before ABK, they got even worse since then even long before the full multiplatform push. I'd be surprised if they even went back to timed exclusivity at this point, Helix is basically a PC and is going to be expensive, they already struggle to sell cheaper xbox consoles, it will be low volume and they'll have a very small 'console' base to sell to, which has already been conditioned to just play via gamepass anyway.

Neonridr10m ago

I don't see them removing PC from the equation. Considering MS has a heavy enough investment in the PC market, it would be foolish to abandon them. I could see them taking away games from PlayStation or ensuring they are timed exclusives at the very least. Say what you will but if Call of Duty ends up becoming a timed exclusive to Xbox machines, that would hurt PlayStation, don't pretend like those games don't sell millions.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 10m ago
maximusprime_3h ago

Despite all of that, it's clear that Microsoft's Xbox division is broken beyond repair.

BeHunted1h ago

PlayStation is currently draining money on flop after flop. It's Sony that needs to re-evaluate their strategy

Itveds1h ago

They don’t like talking about that

Concord… concord 2… concord 3

shadowT3h ago

"Our presence on PC isn’t strong enough."

Fishy Fingers2h ago

It isnt. But I dont think they mean in 'games', rather, footprint.

They own the OS but as far as gaming is concerned, Steam dominate. I imagine the VAST majority of people who use the Xbox app/launcher are PC gamepass subs. No ones buying their 3rd party PC games through Xbox PC.

Show all comments (35)
70°

Marathon Was One Of The Best-Selling Games In March 2026

Insider Gaming writes: "Marathon was one of the best-selling video games in March 2026 in the United States. On Wednesday, Circna released the best-selling games of the month, and it featured six new releases along with two games returning to the top 20 after previously falling out."

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
92nar1d 7h ago (Edited 1d 7h ago )

Is it April fools day again?

The game is dead.

EDIT: the numbers are fudged. “digital sales on Nintendo and Xbox weren’t included in the data”

92nar1d 3h ago

How’s concord 2, sorry I mean marathon doing? 🤣🤣

Neonridr9h ago

well it's not on Switch / Switch 2.. so their number would be zero.

The game had a decent launch however the userbase numbers are dwindling on Steam.

1Victor9h ago(Edited 9h ago)

“ Is it April fools day again?

The game is dead.

EDIT: the numbers are fudged. “digital sales on Nintendo and Xbox weren’t included in the data”

Does it hurt you to hear a SONY game was BEST selling ?
You gotta let go of those OBCURED feelings 🤷🏿

Neonridr9h ago

I mean the only reason MLB was the best selling title was because it was multi-platform. Likewise with Marathon. Will ring true for MS games. Only Nintendo titles are truly flexing their muscles when they chart as they are only to be found there.

Outside_ofthe_Box8h ago

Can't wait to see how this is spun negatively. 😜

-Foxtrot3h ago

Yeah sure, yet the player count is no where near what they want for a AAA game with so much money behind it

Why people are trying to spin this game like it’s done overly amazing is baffling to me.

It won’t even be a blip on peoples radars by the end of the year .

Soy30m ago

So........doing better than most expected, but not enough to make back what it cost.

30°

Webzen Is Trying to Block DragonSword: Awakening's Gacha-Less Steam Release; Developer Responds

The release on Steam of the anime-style gacha-less open-world RPG DragonSword: Awakening is facing a legal challenge from its gacha publisher.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com