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Waging a Standards War. Wonsoo Chang Petur Gislason Patrick Léger Joe Stamps. Overview. Game console industry Launch of Xbox Managing expectations Market opportunities Competitive outlook Microsoft’s weaknesses Discussion. Game Console Industry. $6.5B industry Mature market
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Waging a Standards War Wonsoo Chang Petur Gislason Patrick Léger Joe Stamps
Overview • Game console industry • Launch of Xbox • Managing expectations • Market opportunities • Competitive outlook • Microsoft’s weaknesses • Discussion
Game Console Industry • $6.5B industry • Mature market • Increasingly competitive • Generally not reverse-compatible • Lack of interchangeability
Microsoft’s Xbox • Scheduled launch: Fall 2001 • Pentium III processor • Compatible with PC games • Evolutionary system • Proliferation of Windows platform in low-end devices
Managing Expectations • Vaporware strategy • Entice potential PlayStation 2 users to wait for Xbox • Solid track record in creating positive feedback • Windows 95
Market Opportunities • Sony’s failures create an opportunity for Microsoft: • Poor architecture hinders game development • Underestimation of demand weakened potential for positive feedback • Lack of uniform platform for game development (need for Pentium III)
Competitive Outlook • Lack of installed console user base • Existing base of game developers for PC market • Lower costs for game developers • Game availability increases value of game console
Weaknesses • PC games may not appeal to console users • Threat of low quality PC games • Lack of dominant console game developers • Answers/outcomes: • Market efficiency • Partnerships with key developers
Discussion • Will vaporware strategy work? • How should Sony respond? • What is the long-term outlook for Microsoft? • How will increased piracy affect game development?