Zeebo (new console)

[The Halloween Captain]

Zeebo is a new home console with about the power of the DS being launched in 3rd world countries, where tariffs and price manipulation combine to create a market in which video games cost double what they do in America. It mirrors the duel-shock controller design (which disappoints me a little), and relies strongly on downloadable content. It is a "value console", which relies on it's cheap price to succeed in a market where price usually dooms markets to failure.

http://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=3236

Any thoughts on this?

Personally, I think it is the only console that can compete with the wii 7th gen. at this time in any market. I also think that any "Zeebo 2" has the potential to dominate all videogame markets.

In every console generation, the console with the least capabilities always wins.

P.S. I just read rule #9. No console debates in the lighthouse. Discussion's fine, but try to avoid any direct comparisons except for the sake of an anology. (ex. PS1 to N64)

 

[Spire]

Well it certainly looks nice. It does sound promising -- much more than OnLive. Unlike the aforementioned, I'm actually curious to see where this goes.

EDIT: For the record, it has a terribly lame name. Using such a generically kooky name as "Zeebo" to counter Nintendo's cutesy little "Wii" may work for their targeted audience, but not for those already accustomed to the Wii. This console, if given DS-like capabilities, seems like a next gen N64, which is awesome.

 

[SkylerOcon]

This is very interesting. With games like RE4 and Sonic Adventure already being promised for the system, I don't see much that could actually go wrong with this. It says that it will have wifi capabilities, a download shop, and games coming in at only 10 dollars (if I read the article correctly).

Awesome.

As long as I hear about games that I'm interested in that aren't re-releases (And with publishers such as Blizzard behind this...) I will probably pick this up.

 

[Red Exodus]

So it's a poor man's console? I'll pass.

 

[The Halloween Captain]

This is very interesting. With games like RE4 and Sonic Adventure already being promised for the system, I don't see much that could actually go wrong with this. It says that it will have wifi capabilities, a download shop, and games coming in at only 10 dollars (if I read the article correctly).

Awesome.

As long as I hear about games that I'm interested in that aren't re-releases (And with publishers such as Blizzard behind this...) I will probably pick this up.

I'm not sure that's possible.

It wasn't built for America. It was built for markets in which the Wii is $400 and unaffordable, while a $200 product is affordable, with $10 games in countries used to buying them for $100. The genious of Zeebo is that it sells itself to markets that cannot afford the current gen of consoles. It might not expand itself into the American market for a while (it might also be immediately available in America, but the articles I've read make no stipulation about an american release).

Personally, I think Zeebo will introduce new markets, and Zeebo 2 (if it comes out) will compete directly with the old markets. But that's just a guess.

 

[SkylerOcon]

I dunno. I don't see the Zeebo being immediately released in places like America, but I do see it happening eventually. It will hopefully do well in the countries it's trying to sell itself in, so I think a release in the current major gaming markets isn't unlikely.

 

[The Halloween Captain]

I dunno. I don't see the Zeebo being immediately released in places like America, but I do see it happening eventually. It will hopefully do well in the countries it's trying to sell itself in, so I think a release in the current major gaming markets isn't unlikely.

I suppose I agree if it sells well. It will have to be priced down until it's significantly cheaper than the wii to succeed in america though, as the wii does have many of the same features and then some.

 

[Red Exodus]

I doubt it'd sell well in North America seeing as the games they're offering are several years old, and without any exclusives there wouldn't be much point in buying it when you could just buy the game you want instead. Sure the idea of downloading games is nice but other than it's not bringing much to the table and in this generation of consoles if you don't have something the others don't have or have everything they have you don't have much to offer. Case in point, 360 and PS3, exclusives are getting shifted like crazy between those two consoles but there's still competition there. The Zeebo would not stand a chance if it tried to compete with them because there's just not enough room.

 

[SpongeBathBill]

I'm a little confused. Is it a home console?

If it's a home console with the power of the DS...then it gets a great big >_> from me.

Also, is it ONLY being released in third-world countries? If so, it can't possibly compete on the worldwide market?

For the record, it has a terribly lame name. Using such a generically kooky name as "Zeebo" to counter Nintendo's cutesy little "Wii" may work for their targeted audience, but not for those already accustomed to the Wii.

This.

 

[POKE40]

Zeebo sounds like some vitamin enriched drink...

lol, their controllers remind me of the nintendo classic controller

 

[Overload]

Pretty smart to market it over there. Everyone should be able to play games at affordable prices.
Here's a video of the Zeebo in action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6pJbKlQSls

 

[rinoH]

lol this looks like a joke

 

[Deleted member]

It's a poor man's console for 3rd world countries. I don't honestly care about it.

 

[Omis]

I hate comments that say it is a poor mans console. I have been in Brazil before Consoles sell for 1500+ often times with games around 150. This isnt a poor man console but a middle class man's console.

 

[Deleted member]

Maybe middle class Brazilians. If that was released here it'd be considered a cheapo console.

 

[Overload]

It's annoying to see a bunch of comments from people who think it sucks because the hardware isn't up to date. Since when does hardware make the console. It's the games people.

 

[ExCeL 52]

It's annoying to see a bunch of comments from people who think it sucks because the hardware isn't up to date. Since when does hardware make the console. It's the games people.

Exactly.. Its the games..
Wii has Brawl. Therefore I play Wii. I don't need some cheap-o console that doesn't even have up to date hardware.

At least I don't need it as long as Brawl is on Earth.

 

[Jimnymebob]

It doesn't look to bad.

It's running a game for phones in full screen, and is running it at a smooth rate as well, which is surprising.

It's a shame it'll get shunned by the rest of the world.

 

[GreenKirby]

It's annoying to see a bunch of comments from people who think it sucks because the hardware isn't up to date. Since when does hardware make the console. It's the games people.

Since the idiotic generation of gamers who came into existence during the PS1 era?

 

[Firus]

Since the idiotic generation of gamers who came into existence during the PS1 era?

Yes. This is true (unfortunately).

 

[The Halloween Captain]

Wasn't the PS1 the weakest console of that generation?

 

[Deleted member]

Agreed, it doesn't matter how powerful a console is, it relies on games.
The Gizmondo is a prime example.

 

[Overload]

Wasn't the PS1 the weakest console of that generation?

Yeah the ps1 was actually a 32-bit console while the N64 was 64 bit. Look how well ps1 did in comparison to the N64.

 

[Crimson King]

With system power, it varies. The SNES was = in power to the Genesis, but made more use of it. The PS1 was less than the 64, but made use of what it had. The PS2, while weakest, was able to provide the best games of the generation.

This gen, the Wii is the most successful, but the games aren't being played nearly as much (there was a study on this). The 360 is outselling the PS3, but the 360 used less powerful parts that gives it a shorter life span, while Sony wanted to go a lot longer with the PS3.

So, really, it depends on the market. Here, depending how the games look, it'll tell you if there is a market for this. Gamers want fun, pretty games.

 

[Red Exodus]

I like how people are saying games make the console, but honestly, who is going to take a risk on the Zeebo in these trying times? It's not being marketed in the places where most of the big developers are so they won't care about it, it's a miracle it even has RE4.

They didn't make it for the everyday gamer so the idea of them marketing it in 1st world countries or other countries with well established entertainment markets is just terrible. The Zeebo belongs on the heap along with the Polystation and the other pseudo-consoles that end up in pawn shops and thrift stores.