PS5 vs. Switch vs. XBOXSX - THUNDERDOME Version 2.0

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Obviously a lot of people care, its an actual issue when people are buying the wrong thing. I like Xbox too but maybe there is a reason they are outsold 2:1

The reason they are outsold 2:1 has nothing to do with naming and everything to do with quality exclusives. Being unable to adequately penetrate the Japanese and Asian markets as well as Sony has, is another big contributor.

[kcin]

If anyone is still looking for an XBOX Series X for Christmas or personal use PM me and I can help you out at cost (including receipt). I bought one the other day on impulse and have decided I don't really need another system to collect dust.

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by kcin

If anyone is still looking for an XBOX Series X for Christmas or personal use PM me and I can help you out at cost (including receipt). I bought one the other day on impulse and have decided I don't really need another system to collect dust.

I know 1_Flames_Fan was looking trying to get one as a gift for their nephew for Christmas.

[1_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Since1984

I know 1_Flames_Fan was looking trying to get one as a gift for their nephew for Christmas.

Thanks very much, I messaged the OP 🙂

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Since1984

Imagine the confusion???? Scorpio, Scarlett, Lockhart.....which ones which!!!!

Yeah, tons of people out there buying Gamecubes when they mean to buy a Switch.

Happens all the time, just like the One X/Series X issue which, you know, is an actual issue.

I know you fanboy a little hard for the XB, but from a marketing perspective there is good scientific reason why certain naming conventions work and others are confusing. As others have said, this is a weird hill to die on.

TL;DR for the following: Sony and Nintendo are smart, Microsoft is dumb, and unclear marketing negatively impacts the average consumer.

Sony goes with the standard numerical system, like Apple, with certain logical conditional attachments. Playstation 2, 3, 4, 5, Pro for more powerful models, slim for smaller models, etc. Apple does this too, with the numbers and Pro, or Max, or Mini, or Plus. Words that mean something, with the only outlier being "SE." They're consistent, so it works. And in Apple's case, when they make a change (swapping out Plus and introducing both Max and Pro) they do it for good reason.

Nintendo tends towards the unique identifiers for consoles. Switch, Wii, Gamecube, N64, DS, etc. They also play around with iterations and logical conditional attachments that mean something, like 3DS (if you guessed it was 3D, you were right!), Gameboy Color (it's Gameboy, but in color!) etc. Their biggest mistake for a completely new console was Wii U. I'm sure by now you're figuring out why.

Microsoft's issue is that they do neither of these things, and they aren't consistent. You have the Xbox, which they decided was the brand name, and then the Xbox 360. So, naturally, people are going to assume some bigger number comes next. But next was the Xbox One. Again, there's opportunity there to go to "Two" right after and start using a numerical system OR continue using unique identifiers and change the name completely, so why is it an issue? Because of the conditional attachments. With X and S, they established two conditional attachments to the name, neither actually easily understood, but explainable. X is "pro" and S is "lite upgrade." Great. Then the next console comes along, so it's either the Two, or it's a fully new name, and that's what they did. But instead of calling it the "Series," it's the "Series X." So, they established X as a conditional attachment to the name, and in the very next release, included it instead as part of the name. And S stayed as a conditional attachment, but instead of meaning "lite upgrade" now means "lite powered and digital-only." Instead of being a lite upgrade over the "Series" which doesn't exist, it's basically a lite upgrade over the One X, but it's a new system, so it's actually a lite downgrade over the Series X, which is not an upgrade over the Series, it's actually what you would consider the Series, and no upgraded/"Pro" model exists.

So, why is it an issue and why does it confuse people (outside of the completely obvious above) when Sony and Nintendo rarely have the same issue? They don't consistently follow the unique naming structure, they don't consistently follow a numerical naming structure, and they don't consistently use the conditional attachments to the name. None of it means anything, from the numbers to the names to the Xs and Ss. They aren't giving people any indication of the difference, and the releases of the One X and Series X are close enough together and the names are close enough to each other that both are reasonable choices to make, and people see "Xbox" and "X" and go "right, that's the one I'm supposed to get?" because "One" and "Series" don't provide any indication of a difference.

People ask for a Playstation, so 4 and 5 are significant identifiers and the numerical system works. People don't ask for a Nintendo, they ask for a Switch, so the unique naming works. People ask for an Xbox, so their completely asinine naming conventions confuse more of the average consumer than they should. Drop the Xbox name and go fully unique (Scorpio, whatever), or move to a logical and consistent naming structure to attach to the Xbox. Microsoft wants both. It's dumb and confuses people. That's just reality, and anyone with a marketing degree which I would hope at least one person at Microsoft has, should know better.

[shane_c]

Is it still possible to buy a new XBox One? I bought Forza Horizon 4 at Best Buy but can't find anywhere to buy a console. I've seen some used ones on Kijiji, some for more than I thought they were when new.

I realize I could play it on the Xbox Series X but that's even more expensive and from what I can tell won't be on shelves until the new year.

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Yeah, tons of people out there buying Gamecubes when they mean to buy a Switch.

Terrible example, Gamecube was never available at the same time as the Switch. Should have went with the Nintendo 3DS to the New 3DS stuff.

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Happens all the time, just like the One X/Series X issue which, you know, is an actual issue.

I know you fanboy a little hard for the XB, but from a marketing perspective there is good scientific reason why certain naming conventions work and others are confusing. As others have said, this is a weird hill to die on.

TL;DR for the following: Sony and Nintendo are smart, Microsoft is dumb, and unclear marketing negatively impacts the average consumer.

Sony goes with the standard numerical system, like Apple, with certain logical conditional attachments. Playstation 2, 3, 4, 5, Pro for more powerful models, slim for smaller models, etc. Apple does this too, with the numbers and Pro, or Max, or Mini, or Plus. Words that mean something, with the only outlier being "SE." They're consistent, so it works. And in Apple's case, when they make a change (swapping out Plus and introducing both Max and Pro) they do it for good reason.

Nintendo tends towards the unique identifiers for consoles. Switch, Wii, Gamecube, N64, DS, etc. They also play around with iterations and logical conditional attachments that mean something, like 3DS (if you guessed it was 3D, you were right!), Gameboy Color (it's Gameboy, but in color!) etc. Their biggest mistake for a completely new console was Wii U. I'm sure by now you're figuring out why.

Microsoft's issue is that they do neither of these things, and they aren't consistent. You have the Xbox, which they decided was the brand name, and then the Xbox 360. So, naturally, people are going to assume some bigger number comes next. But next was the Xbox One. Again, there's opportunity there to go to "Two" right after and start using a numerical system OR continue using unique identifiers and change the name completely, so why is it an issue? Because of the conditional attachments. With X and S, they established two conditional attachments to the name, neither actually easily understood, but explainable. X is "pro" and S is "lite upgrade." Great. Then the next console comes along, so it's either the Two, or it's a fully new name, and that's what they did. But instead of calling it the "Series," it's the "Series X." So, they established X as a conditional attachment to the name, and in the very next release, included it instead as part of the name. And S stayed as a conditional attachment, but instead of meaning "lite upgrade" now means "lite powered and digital-only." Instead of being a lite upgrade over the "Series" which doesn't exist, it's basically a lite upgrade over the One X, but it's a new system, so it's actually a lite downgrade over the Series X, which is not an upgrade over the Series, it's actually what you would consider the Series, and no upgraded/"Pro" model exists.

So, why is it an issue and why does it confuse people (outside of the completely obvious above) when Sony and Nintendo rarely have the same issue? They don't consistently follow the unique naming structure, they don't consistently follow a numerical naming structure, and they don't consistently use the conditional attachments to the name. None of it means anything, from the numbers to the names to the Xs and Ss. They aren't giving people any indication of the difference, and the releases of the One X and Series X are close enough together and the names are close enough to each other that both are reasonable choices to make, and people see "Xbox" and "X" and go "right, that's the one I'm supposed to get?" because "One" and "Series" don't provide any indication of a difference.

People ask for a Playstation, so 4 and 5 are significant identifiers and the numerical system works. People don't ask for a Nintendo, they ask for a Switch, so the unique naming works. People ask for an Xbox, so their completely asinine naming conventions confuse more of the average consumer than they should. Drop the Xbox name and go fully unique (Scorpio, whatever), or move to a logical and consistent naming structure to attach to the Xbox. Microsoft wants both. It's dumb and confuses people. That's just reality, and anyone with a marketing degree which I would hope at least one person at Microsoft has, should know better.

I understand exactly what you are all saying. I am sure it hinders Microsoft's sales sightly when a parent goes online, googles "New Xbox" and sees Xbox Series S/X, when that very same parent can google "New Playstation" and see Playstation 5.

When they go to order or buy the Series X and see a One X and think....hmm this has got to be the same thing but cheaper, even though they are different by name. I better get the One X as this is definitely the info I found when I googled "New Xbox" and google told me "Xbox Series S/X".

It must be confusing for the average consumer, that literally does zero research and goes in blindly buying products. I am also sure the whole online only ordering system has really hindered the average consumer. They can't walk in to a store and be like. I want the new "insert console here" and have a salesperson take them directly to said console for purchase or answer any and all questions they have.

When my sisters, Mom, Dad asks for a specific coat, tool, make up or some random #### I have no idea what it is. I research and make sure I am purchasing the correct, expected gift.

Yes, MS is not doing the regular lazy ass consumer any help while Playstation does, as it is very important to Sony. Much more important to Sony than Xbox is to MS.

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by shane_c

Is it still possible to buy a new XBox One? I bought Forza Horizon 4 at Best Buy but can't find anywhere to buy a console. I've seen some used ones on Kijiji, some for more than I thought they were when new.

I realize I could play it on the Xbox Series X but that's even more expensive and from what I can tell won't be on shelves until the new year.

The Xbox One S/X are both discontinued but still available at some retailers.

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by Since1984

The Xbox One S/X are both discontinued but still available at some retailers.

Seems like London Drugs and EB Games have the XBOX One but only for in store pickup (no shipping). I don't have a London Drugs and the EB Games here doesn't have any. No stock at BB or Walmart. Anywhere else I should look?

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by shane_c

Seems like London Drugs and EB Games have the XBOX One but only for in store pickup (no shipping). I don't have a London Drugs and the EB Games here doesn't have any. No stock at BB or Walmart. Anywhere else I should look?

Where are you located?

[chemgear]

XXX up once again!

https://www.xbox.com/en-ca/configure...so3cg96w1xjl00

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by Since1984

Where are you located?

Halifax

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Since1984

Imagine the confusion???? Scorpio, Scarlett, Lockhart.....which ones which!!!!

Except there wouldn't be confusion over those names compared to Xbox's naming scheme, unless I'm missing something as a non gamer?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Except there wouldn't be confusion over those names compared to Xbox's naming scheme, unless I'm missing something as a non gamer?

You’re not missing anything. No one would be confused and the current Xbox names are universally panned as terrible and confusing.

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Except there wouldn't be confusion over those names compared to Xbox's naming scheme, unless I'm missing something as a non gamer?

I was being facetious, because the words Scorpio and Scarlett are so similar.

Much closer than One and Series

[Max Cow Disease]

It could speak to Microsoft’s closing of the public relations gap to an extent, that the Thunderdome thread has largely become dominated by where to buy the consoles and what they’re called (in contrast to the beginning of last generation, which was marred by Microsoft’s series of handicapping initial decisions with regards to the direction of Xbox One).

[CASe333]

Originally Posted by shane_c

Seems like London Drugs and EB Games have the XBOX One but only for in store pickup (no shipping). I don't have a London Drugs and the EB Games here doesn't have any. No stock at BB or Walmart. Anywhere else I should look?

It doesn't seem worth it to buy a xbox one new right now when they will be dirt cheap after Christmas albeit used. Be patient, the used market is going to be flooded by the end of the month.

[ripTDR]

Just picked up a series X. TV does 4K @ 60hz. Can see a noticeable difference over the One. Everything is nice and buttery smooth, really enjoying some of the older titles. SSX 3 was one of my favourites and looks great on the Series X. Will be getting quite a bit of time off for Xmas plus a operation in the new year that will put me out. All this plus covid is giving me a good reason to get my game on!


Question...is it worth it to upgrade my tv to 120hz? I guess it will only take advantage of the games that will support it, but can anyone confirm it's worth it?

[CASe333]

Originally Posted by ripTDR

Question...is it worth it to upgrade my tv to 120hz? I guess it will only take advantage of the games that will support it, but can anyone confirm it's worth it?

I bet you will notice an improvement with a true native 120 hz tv/monitor with new games that take advantage of the series x but whether the subtle difference is worth it is subjective. If your looking to upgrade your TV then I would definitely suggest looking at spending the extra money especially if you get a good deal but xbox one games for the most part won't be noticeable.

[Meelapo]

Anyone in need of 3D Pulse Headphones for the PS5? After a month of waiting, and not being able to cancel, The Source just delivered a pair. Only problem is I found some on Amazon that shipped a lot quicker.

Just the cost of the headphones + tax. If no one needs them I'll return it to the Source.