10 reasons why the Xbox 360 will succeed where the Dreamcast failed.

by: Sam Kennedy from: 1Up 11.04.2005

Sure, it's easy to come up with some parallels between the two platforms, but will the Xbox 360 go the way of the Dreamcast and have Microsoft abandon it a few years into its life cycle? Extremely unlikely. Microsoft is in a much different position than Sega was a few years ago. Here are some of the top reasons why the Xbox 360 will succeed where the Dreamcast failed.

D: Its predecessor was a complete failure.

X: Following on the heels of the very popular Xbox.


D: Square, the most important publisher in Japan, never supported the console.

X: Has the support of Square Enix starting with Final Fantasy XI.


D: EA, the most important publisher in the U.S., never supported the console.

X: Has the full support of EA, with a whole lineup of titles at launch.


D: Dreamcast was too early for broadband gaming; 56K didn't really cut it.

X: Broadband penetration is getting higher and Xbox Live is unparalleled.


D: Wasn't backwards compatible.

X: Backwards compatible (mostly).


D: Sorry Dreamcast fans, but the system's controller really wasn't that great.

X: Has a wireless pad that many claim may be the best controller ever made.


D: Had tons of amazing games...but no Halo 3.

X: Will have Halo 3. And it will be huge.


D: FFVIII released the same day as the Dreamcast.

X: Next to no competition at launch.


D: Former president Bernie Stolar quit right before the system launched, sending a bad sign.

X: Solid executive team in J Allard, Robbie Bach, and Peter Moore.


D: Had a limited budget of only $100 million to market the console.

X: Can, and will, spend whatever it takes to make the Xbox 360 a success.



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