Xbox 360 - Where's the killer app?

[Camp]

I'm excited as all hell about the release of a new Xbox. I cannot wait until November so I can get my hands on the 360.

I'll likely buy Project Gotham and might get Ghost Recon -but only if it plays significantly better than the flawed GR2. I'll take a look at Kameo and Quake and I might even consider The Godfather and Condemned if they turn out OK.

 

That's some potentially good quality stuff. They will likely be solid games that do a good job showing off the 360. These are great titles to have in support of a stong library...fantastic depth titles that stand behind that one must-have game that acts as the system seller. The problem is, there is no must-have killer app.

 

Coming in to E3 I was confident Perfect Dark would be the game to fill the killer app role. This would surely be the game that sold systems to the masses. Joanna Dark would be the Mario of a new generation.

 

The fact that Microsoft totally removed the spotlight from Perfect Dark has me searching for content that will drive sales of the Xbox 360. Judging by Microsoft's E3 showing it appears they are going to push Xbox 360's services and multimedia functionality as it's killer app -instead of a game.

 

That's the message I got from their keynote: "Xbox Live and music streaming are the reasons to upgrade to our state-of-the-art console. Oh yea, and it plays games too."

 

The PS2 and Gamecube both launched without a true killer app. I guess it's not necessary but it concerns me that Microsoft is praising their machine's non-gaming features more than the games. I don't think people will drop $300 for an upgraded Xbox Live and media features. People need to see games they can get passionate about.

[JFo]

People need to see games they can get passionate about.

 

Agreed, but I think having a strong line up of quality games is more important than pushing a single killer app. If you have just one game like Halo selling a system with little else to offer in other genres, you run the risk of attracting only one group of players and limiting your userbase. Release a number of really good games of varying styles, and you get more people excited in the system.

 

I do understand what you are saying though. I think about the Xbox 360's showing at this year's E3, and I walk away with perhaps a handful of games that interest me: Kameo, Condemned, Dead or Alive 4, Gears of War, and Perfect Dark Zero. (I include that last game because of the reports of what's been shown of it behind closed doors at E3.) Of course, there are a few other titles that I may not be mentioning, but the point is that none of those games listed could really be considered the killer app. I can tell you about all the features of the system, but I can't say that I desperately need the system for any one of those games the way I would need a Nintendo system for a Zelda title.

[JoeyN]

Perfect Dark was only shown behind closed doors as were alot of other games for some odd reason. The guys on G4 talked about how the one thing they were dissapointed in were how Gears of War, Black, PD0 and a few others were not on the show floor even though they looked great even at there current stage of development.

 

As for all this killer app stuff. PD0 may still be it, we will just have to see. Gears of War should be a huge title as well as it got a lot of E3 buzz. Microsoft looks to have a pretty strong launch lineup , and they have from Oct/Nov to PS3 launch to get one. Gears of War should be out by then. Then Halo 3 of course . Just remember no one thought xbox would havea killer app in Halo. E3 that year it got bashed to all hell, and look how it turned out

 

capt

[Camp]

As for all this killer app stuff. PD0 may still be it, we will just have to see.

 

I'm hoping that Microsoft didn't like the way Perfect Dark ran on the development systems and are waiting for complete 360 hardware before showing it to the public.

 

I agree that the core line-up is solid it's just that there isn't one game that appears to capture the imagination. Pushing the media functions will be a mistake, IMO.

[Dan B.]

Shit! I just had a long reply & bumped the back button on the mouse.

 

I was just going to say that there are some good apps in certain areas, but not one big app that will draw everyone in, you're right.

 

What worries me the most, though, is that MS had three 1st party games for launch: PDZ, PGR 3, & Kameo. They only showed Kameo at E3. I personally think that game is going to be great, but the art style & that type of gameplay will limit it's appeal to a certain extent. (of course, you might on the surface compare Kameo to Zelda, but that game has a wide appeal - I am not trying to compare the quality of the two games as I haven't played Kameo, so don't hate on me )

 

Agreed, but I think having a strong line up of quality games is more important than pushing a single killer app. If you have just one game like Halo selling a system with little else to offer in other genres, you run the risk of attracting only one group of players and limiting your userbase. Release a number of really good games of varying styles, and you get more people excited in the system.

That's right. Can the next Xbox expand it's audience beyond the core realistic military shooter & racing game enthusiasts? If you build it, will they come? I honestly don't know the answer, but the sales figures spoke pretty clearly in opposition to some of these games for Xbox this generation.

[Tranquility]

I do think the X360 is cool as well, unlike the perpetrator of this gif:

 

http://sparkdust.com/img/xbox360av.gif

 

Too bad those Perfect Dark Zero shots looked like crap so far.

[Robot Monkey]

I'm excited as all hell about the release of a new Xbox. I cannot wait until November so I can get my hands on the 360.

I'll likely buy Project Gotham and might get Ghost Recon -but only if it plays significantly better than the flawed GR2.

 

I feel the same way about GR3. I'm really, really excited, maybe. Aside from that, Oblivion looks great.

 

I think, overall, there's no specific killer app for me -- it's the little things that I'm excited about, like easier custom soundtracks, improved Live experience, wireless controllers and so on.

 

-j

[AnthonyVolpe]

From what I gather, the games being hyped up as the killer apps for the system are Gears of War and Perfect Dark Zero. But quite frankly there are a lot of reasons to buy the 360 other than those two games - there seems to be a lot of games in development for it and the unit itself has a lot of marketing points including media streaming and support for different types of discs.

[General Zot]

Halo 3

 

Who says you need to release your killer app at launch? Or need I point out how expertly Sony didn't have a killer PS2 app for a good 6-9 months after launch?

 

Microsoft seems to be focusing on having a nice deep stable of good-great games by the time PS3 is ready to launch, then trying to 86 the PS3 with Halo 3.

 

It worked for the xbox, Halo wasn't Halo until we all went crazy playing it on launch day. Maybe PD0 is the next Halo? How can we know? For me the promise of all 1080i gaming is enough to get the next gen systems, the games will inevitably flow in time.

[Romier S]

Or need I point out how expertly Sony didn't have a killer PS2 app for a good 6-9 months after launch?

Of course Sony was just coming off of one of the most successful console releases in history, and with one competitor on the market that had no hope of catching up to the Sony hype machine. (MS is hardly coming into the next generation in that position)

 

I think we can all agree that Halo is the reason the Xbox became the console that it is today (and having sustained the console it allowed for the library to grow into what we see on store shelves and play). It's certainly why I feel Camp's question has merit and why having a killer app at launch is extremely important for Microsoft IMHO. If there is a lack of a true killer app at launch, the question then becomes; Can Microsoft succeed on the Xbox/Xbox Live name, and few good/great games alone? Sony proved they don't even need the great games, they can simply autopilot thier way in on the Playstation name.

 

I think it's also only fair to say we are still in the dark about which games are a lock for launch and which ones will be part of the "launch window" as Microsoft calls it (90 days post launch). It goes without saying (but I'm going to say it anyway), but until we get a more finalized look at the launch lineup it's very difficult to say what will stand out and whether there is a real lack of a killer app for the X360.

[merlot]

I bought the original Xbox because of 2 games: Halo and Rallisport Challenge. I didn't buy the Xbox till months after it's launch date.

 

I'm buying 360 because of LIVE, on the launch date. The games will come in time. So you can chalk me up as someone that is buying the 360 because of the features and not so much because of a killer app. I'll bet there are many more like me.

[General Zot]

I think it's also only fair to say we are still in the dark about which games are a lock for launch and which ones will be part of the "launch window" as Microsoft calls it (90 days post launch). It goes without saying (but I'm going to say it anyway), but until we get a more finalized look at the launch lineup it's very difficult to say what will stand out and whether there is a real lack of a killer app for the X360.

 

Totally agree there, we really have no idea what is launching, what is coming a month (or 3) later, or even if there is an ace or two up the MS sleeve. What have they quoted, 40 games within 3 months? Did they name 40 games at E3? Plus they have been so secretive with showing what is coming, I wouldn't be surprised at a few extra 'announcements' in the late summer / early fall to drum up enthusiasm. And if PD0 plays anything close to Goldeneye or N64 PD, man that is going to be an A+ title.

 

Like there is any way I'm not buying a 360 at launch. I'm with merlot, I'm already in for all the cool features, with pockets as deep as MS the games will inevitably arrive. Same thing with the PS3 (unless it is $500+ at launch.)

[rustyjaw]

I bought the original Xbox because of 2 games: Halo and Rallisport Challenge. I didn't buy the Xbox till months after it's launch date.

 

Similar story here. It was Rallisport that got me to buy an Xbox, but it was probably 6 months after launch.

[Solitice]

Gear of War is going to become the killer app your looking for. My friends that attended noted that what was shown behind the closed doors was quite a bit different than what we saw. Keep an eye on it, its going to :rock

[JoeyN]

The behind closed doors video was leaked onto the net. Wish i still had the link too it. The video showed the charectors going down a street. They get to a building and have to take cover while under fire. The main guy shoots a car to make it flip and then runs and takes cover behind it, and continues to move and kill the baddies. Looked really good

 

capt

[Romier S]

Gear of War is going to become the killer app your looking for.

Keep in mind that Gears of War is a 2006 title at the earliest and will not be ready for the X360 launch (nor the launch window for that matter). It does however look to be quite fantastic and I'm sure Microsoft did everything they possibly could to secure it as an X360 exclusive (and well they should have!).

[dogbert]

Gear of War is going to become the killer app your looking for.

 

It's also not a launch title. "Summer 2006" at the earliest.

[Josh]

It's also not a launch title. "Summer 2006" at the earliest.

 

Yeah, I look at it almost the same way as I do Killzone 2 - E3 fodder that could turn into potential vaporware. I sure hope it turns out that way, but one never knows.

 

We should start a thread about forgotten E3 games of the past that were supposed to be killer apps. That would be interesting.

[Robot Monkey]

We should start a thread about forgotten E3 games of the past that were supposed to be killer apps. That would be interesting.

 

Is it time for the obligatory Duke Nukem Forever reference? Or what "DNF" means to race fans?

 

Seriously, the thread is a good idea. Wish I could think of some games that might fit.

 

-j

[dogbert]

From Allard's interview on Eurogamer:

 

We're not positioning a killer app for launch.

[kelley]

From Allard's interview on Eurogamer:

To finish up that quote:

 

Because we don't have one

[foogledricks]

To finish up that quote more completely:

Because we don't have one...because it won't be finished until about six months later and rhymes with J.lo Pee

There killer application is Xblive. Their killer game is Perfect Dark. Their reason for obsessively buying 360, until proven otherwise, is Halo 3. I suspect however we're all going to be pleasantly surprises by the launch line up. I'm excited.

[JoeyN]

:rotflmao