Gizmondo Fights Apathy - Pledges 89 Titles in 2005

Cool. Any chance of a link if it goes up on Guardian Unlimited?



I have to admit that you have a good point there.

The best example I can think of is the Playstation and the Xbox. The PS broke into a market dominated by Sega and Nintendo while the Xbox broke into a market domainated by Sony.



I have a support for Gizmondo based on the fact that on paper the device may look ugly but sounds impressive. The company have also signed Microsoft Game Studios, Ubi and SCi. This gives it the possibility of considerable support in the future especially if M$ can pull a few more games out of the bag. The Xbox sold on Halo alone, why not Gizmondo too?

It could well be that the Gizmondo will carve out a small but profitable market. The nGage must have been profitable for Nokia, and it has sold a fair number.

My instant reaction that the moment is that it's launched with insufficient games at a stupid price. £230 for an ugly portable console without the screen/aesthetics of the PSP or the possible play features of the DS seems stupid. However, should that price come down to £100-150 or so then the console may stand a chance.



That would just be dirty.

If Gizmondo could get a few in shops to try I'd be will up for going in and having a play to give my opinion on the actual console, but at the moment there doesn't seem to be anywhere to actually play the console itself. People are naturally cautious about purchasing an unproven device from a new company. The only way Tiger can convince people to buy would be to take it out on the road and into game shops throughout the UK. If it's such a good device, it will sell itself.

Of course!



I take your point, but the key for me is is the term "broke the mould". I do not believe that either Sony or Microsoft did that. They essentially did EXACTLY what Sega and Nintendo had done before them, but of course with a new generation of faster hardware, and with CD media. But they were logical iterative developments, in fact both Sega and Commodore had had CD consoles already.

Jake maintains that Gizmondo is a breakthrough piece of hardware. I dispute that.



The thing is, it costs a developer nothing to say that they will support a new platform. But that doesn't mean that they actually WILL.

It doesn't cost them too much to port a few old games - and gives them a possible welcome revenue stream for old IP.

But to produce new, dedicated games, costs lots. And there is no proof that anyone other than Tiger's own studios are going to do that for Gizmondo. And they do not seem to have any particularly interesting IP.

But without stand out new games, no console will succeed.



Because Halo has not been released for Gizmondo. I know that sounds fatuous, but you get what I mean, Gizmondo doesn't have a killer app.



The problem is in the modern marketplace, small just isn't profitable anymore. Tiger has already burned through millions doing very creditable websites, presentations at E3 and Game Stars, PAs with Pharrel out of the Neptunes and advertising campaigns from Mother. Unless it is more than a small success, it is unlikely to be a profitable one.



I think even at that price, it would still suffer from not having sufficient games available for it. Plus the manufacturers would probably be losing an unbearable amount of money on each unit.

Yeah, as always your reasoning is 100% sound.

Prehaps I was just being a tad optimistic.

The Register have found that even the console's killer GPS feature is seriously flawed:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/08/review_gizmondo/

In fact, the reviewer appears to have similar sentiments to myself about the unit.

I wish ;-) it always was, I mean!

On the other hand, I do think the Gizmondo looks great.

And I do wish we had a serious third player in the hand-held market. And that that third player wasn't Microsoft - but as I've stated before, I think Giz wil either fail, or get bought by Microsoft and turned into Xmob.

But after reading the review on your link, it sounds like it's got even more to worry about than the lack of games. And it's OK the reviewer saying give them six months to sort it out - this market just doesn't work like that.

I know that the reviewer likened it to the problems that "dogged" PS2 and PSP on launch, but that's just bull. 99% of PS2s and PSPs were/are fine. Yes there were/are some manufacturing and quality problems - but the Gizmondo seems to have fundamental design problems - no on-board memory for maps, no GPS antenna. These things can't be fixed by a software release.

The flaws that The Register cite with Gizmondo are fatal.

The GPS could provide the killer functionality and it doesn't work.

I can't believe it has no real local storage. I value my mobile credit a bit too much to be able to pay to fetch everything via expensive GPRS. I physically wouldn't be able to afford to run the system.

Many of the gripes as are fixable, but also as you said the market won't let Tiger have time to fix them. Just look at the flagging nGage QD.

But it will still be interesting, and they're not Microsoft yet. The future awaits.

Ok, here we go again…

1/

Let’s start with the internal memory issue shall we?!
64 mb’s of internal memory:

This has been cut and pasted directly from the Gizmondo website:

World's most powerful memory chip into Gizmondo

Now we can say it. Gizmondo will come complete with the industry's most advanced on-board nonvolatile memory chip, mDiskOnChip G3 from M-Systems.

"I am pleased to see our new mDiskOnChip G3 product contribute to the high-performance, small size and long battery life of this exciting multi-entertainer," says Francois Kaplan, General Manager of M-Systems Europe.

mDiskOnChip G3 was launched in March 2004. It provides low cost, next-generation flash storage for embedded systems, without compromising reliability and performance. The 64MB flash disk gives Gizmondo the necessary on-board storage for it's variety of facilities, such as movie playing, gaming and music. What it means in non-technical terms is simply: maximum fun.




2/
Gps works absolutely fine. Just stood outside my house getting a fix on 8 satellites,
Which took about 2 minutes.. Then clicked on “Where am I “ came straight back not only the road I live in but also my house number too.
When the “Tom Tom” software is released next month, we really will be “cooking with gas”!!!


3/
Doctor Dee wrote:
“But I note with interest that while Jake has addressed your posting point by point, he has not even addressed the direct questions I put to him. So I'll ask him again to give us example of the many times that new entrants have broken the mould in mature markets.”

OK. Let’s put his question to rest. Dyson, a new-comer into the vacuum cleaner market, was a rank outsider but he competed against the long-time leaders, Electrolux and is still going strong. Anita Roddick launched into a mature cosmetics market with a new approach to selling and marketing beauty products with the Body Shop. Still doing well I believe. Apple, I also believe have been very successful. They have been through rough times but twice they have swam against the tide of opinion and gained strong market share. Do you want another? Well, there’s EasyJet with its new approach to marketing flying – in a mature market against to rather big and established set-ups. BA immediately springs to mind! And I could go on but I’m come to the end of the line in terms of doing your research for you. I’ve argued my case clearly, clarified every claim and corrected your errors, and believe it or not I have no association with Tiger Telematics other than the fact that I think the Gizmondo is a great product and the company has lots of potential. Not a crime I think.

With 21 stores opening up globally. 89 games to be launched. Millions of units already signed up in distribution deals around the world.

I think the future is looking good. However the test of time will tell.

One last point & a very important one to finish up on & that is, towards the end of 2005 the Gizmondo is expected to sell for £90 or less.
Which really will through down the gauntlet to the competition!

OK, so explain the review.

And instead of cut and pasting tedious marketing drivel from the Gizmondo website, tell us your own experience. Does the GPS feature work when you have no credit on your SIM?



I KNEW that was going to be your response. Dyson did NOT break the mold. He just produced a vacuum cleaner that was technically different to previous models. It was not a paradigm shift. It had the same form factors, and performed the same tasks as a traditional vacuum cleaner.



And how, exactly was making products, packaging them and selling them in shops a radical departure from what people were doing before?



That's a good one. Let's recall once again what you said: "many times that new entrants have broken the mould in mature markets"

How did Apple, as the maker of the FIRST ever home computer break the mold in a mature market? It wasn't a mature market was it? It was a brand new market that they created.



No "new approach" to marketing. Just cheap seats.



Oh, get of your high horse, Mr "outraged". You haven't done my reaserch for me, I pretty much guessed that you were going to come back with Dyson, EasyJet and Apple.... I must admit Boody Shop surprised me. But the point is, I don't believe that any of your examples demostrate your criteria. I do not believe that those companies "broke the mold"... except for one, and then not in a "mature market"



I don't think that you have argued clearly, I think that you have repeated endless screeds of the Gizmondo website, and accepted that becauuse they say it, it is true. I think you are possibly the most credulous person I have ever met.

As for "correcting my errors". I haven't made any statements other than my personal opinion - that Gizmondo needs more and better games to stand a chance, and that without them, I think it's destined to failure. I can assure you that this is NOT an error, the same logic applies to PSP, DS and any other platform too.

I have NOTHING against Gizmondo, I just feel that it has no chance. Clearly, after buying one, you NEED to feel as if your money isn't wasted. If this means that you also need to be hopelessly unrealistic about its chances... go ahead. But don't go around calling other people's work, and their enntrirely justifiable scepticism "shoddy journalism".



Not a crime at all, and you are welcome to your opinion...



But it's just the way you mindlessly regurgitate their marketing claims that makes me think that you work for them. If they are not paying you... they OUGHT to be.



Agreed. Would you care to make a wager? Let's say, if Gizmondo manages to make it to second place in the hand-held console market in the UK or USA within three years, I'll give you £1000. if not, you give me £1000?

No... thought not!

What kind of crap is that? "expected to" by whom?

I mean... I happen to agree.

I think they'll be selling off the remaining units as cheap as they can to clear shelf space.

You really are as stupid as you are ignorant aren't you!!!

You don't listen , you don't contribute, you don't offer up any objective thought process whatsoever.
However you knit-pick, side step at every opportunity you can.
Acknowledge absolutely sweet FA.
You have said nothing positive.
Maybe you should apply for a job at "The Sun" newspaper, it would be right up your street the way you go about things!

Take for example quoting you:

"Agreed. Would you care to make a wager? Let's say, if Gizmondo manages to make it to second place in the hand-held console market in the UK or USA within three years, I'll give you £1000. if not, you give me £1000?

No... thought not!"
DoctorDee - SPOnG

You really are lothsomely laughable, childish prick!

Here you are offering a wager. Not allowing me to even reply to your ridiculous offer, made solely on your terms,& then saying "No...thought not"!

Is that the best you can do?!
PATHETIC!!!

You'll be please to know that I read the Guardian most days, (& as a photographer have worked for them).However I shall be looking out for your "piece" with relish. I hope your standards will improve considerably in order to meet theirs!!!

I am neither pleased nor displeased to know about your reading habits.



Is this supposed to impress me? Or was it merely for your own satisfaction?



The Guardian is an auspicious publication, but my standards have proven acceptable to the 20 odd publications I have written for and edited over the last 15 years.

But please, why did you feel the need to put the word piece in inverted commas?

Yes. I am.

But I can work out how to quote on these fora while using a Mac.



Oooh, someone can't handle not being agreed with. Are you going to stamp,. and scweam and start cawwing peopwe names? If I carry on, will you hold your bweath until mummy comforts you?



Excuse me? Objective. All you have done is quote the freaking Gizmondo website like it was your bible.



I acknowledge your opinion. I just think that it is wrong, and you REALLY don't like that, do you?



I don't think that you have been paying attention. I said that I thought the Gizomondo looks nice. I said that I'd LIKE to see a worthy competiitor too Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo and that Gizmondo could conceivably be that if it had a worthwhile roster of games.



I'll scweam and scweam and scweam.



Scweam and scweam and scweam and hold my breath.



The purpose of the forum is for you to debate my terms, and either accept or turn down the offer. I am open to negotiation. If, for instance, you can't aford £1000, we can do it for 1p, the joy of winning would be the same.



Well... I managed not to resort to calling names and stamping my feet.

Whoa, Jake, DUDE! You got owned.

I must say, the calling names thing isn't really acceptable round here. The SPOnG forum generally attracts a better kind of post than that. And what with you being a new boy and all, it's not even as if you've even earned the credit to get away with it.

We tend to be a tolerant bunch around here... that's not to say we don't go at one another passionately... but we don't usually let it get personal, and we don't typically resort to calling names. That's what, for me, makes SPOnG forums different than (and better than) other games sites.

I know, I know, last time a big name calling happened it was ME doing the name calling... but I'm as embarrassed about that as anyone. Especially BTQueezy and his sorry banned ass ;-)

C'mon Jake! You've gone almost 24 hours without throwing the pacifier out of the perambulator.

What's your considered response to these latest, injurious posts?

FFS! We simply must know!

Guys, guys! Why not leave this poor Jake individual alone?

He seems like my type of guy. He dives in with both feet where the sane may fear to tread. He knows what's best because he's been told it by someone else (in Jake's case the Gizmondo website, though in my case it's my dads psychopathic right-wing friends). He can't conceive of why anyone would disagree with him. But if they do, he threatens them (well, in Jake's case he sulks and calls names, whereas I make a credible threat of nuclear distruction).

I think he's just exercising his first amendment right to be an asshole. And I will defend that right with every ounce of intelligence, wit and cunning in my body.

Looks like you're on your own.

It did:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1458557,00.html

Cool, thanks :)

Hey, Jake. Remember me?

Look what happened: http://news.spong.com/article/9562