Welcome to Modojo, 
Unboxing the Xboy
Written by Cody Musser on Wednesday, October 25, 2006
We examine why Microsoft should (and shouldn't) enter the handheld fray. And no, Zune isn't "good enough."
The handheld market is a turbulent ride to embark upon. Well, for anyone excluding Nintendo, for whom it seems the ride is actually a skyward blast to the heavens of unyielding profits. Nearly every company that competes with Nintendo has seen their handheld swept away in the sands of time, and that's not to say they aren't remembered for their efforts, because some handhelds that have long since been forgotten were actually worthwhile devices. Yet, the stampeding 'N' has claimed highest honors in the handheld market, essentially since the birth of the very market itself. The vast majority of competitors have left thanks to the stiff competition Nintendo delivers, and those remaining, (cough ... Sony) should obviously be asking themselves why they're willing to fight this battle.
With that said, is there a possibility that Nintendo will face any new challenges in the handheld war? Sony seems to be struggling to keep up with the dust that Nintendo is leaving behind, so who will carry the torch from the long line of those willing to take a gamble on toppling the house that Mario built? The answer is on the tip of everyone's tongue, and there's no reason in holding it back any longer. It's Microsoft.
An awful, awful (and old!) mock-up. That's the way we roll. Pages 2 & 3 have better pics, we promise.Microsoft is obviously the next in line to face the challenges that Nintendo will present in the handheld market, and the question isn't actually will they be ready, it's should they even try? The handheld market is an interesting one, and if Microsoft hopes to deliver, they're going to need to face not only their competition, but also their own ethos as a company. The Xbox 360 is a device that was built on the foundations of embracing the strongest technology available at the time, and improving the visuals, connectivity, and community offered to gamers. Would that same philosophy, which Microsoft is delivering impressively in the console market, translate to handhelds? Yes and no.
If embracing the 'bigger, faster, stronger' ideology was enough to win the market, then Sony should undoubtedly be in a much happier position than they one they currently find themselves. Visuals have proven, for handhelds, to play second fiddle to innovation, as Nintendo seems to understand. So could Microsoft innovate? The answer to that question isn't as easy as it seems. Offering a device similar to Sony's PSP would prove Microsoft is comfortable with their roots, and also that they'll most likely suffer the same failures and difficulties that Sony is currently facing. On the other hand, offering a device similar to a Nintendo DS, and embracing some form of innovation and emergent technology would instead seem like a much wiser route to embark upon. Microsoft could potentially embrace both sides of the spectrum and that would surely offer them some reason to claim their handheld a sure winner, but even that isn't so simple, thanks to a market that is undoubtedly going to be divided by region.
posted October 26, 2006