Dear Future Gamer

Yeah Andy, you're right("Microsoft's Motives", FG51) - why not just devise a set-top box? I imagine several set-top boxes already have Microsoft involvement, but the console market already exists and it already has mass-market appeal, so X Box will sell by the bucket-load. The fact that they'll now be net enabled just adds more value, and makes it more attractive than just a set-top box. Gaming devices such as these are going to be controlling the living room, more than any cable company's set-top box. I think the main thing is how far Microsoft are prepared to take it. PlayStation makes up something like 40 per cent of revenue for Sony, so Sony are obviously going to invest heavily in the console market. Are Microsoft?

Andrew McKinnon

FG: The big brains at Microsoft have been looking very closely at the console market and one thing they don't lack is money to invest. But it's not the biggest wallet that wins in the console wars, it's software support. Somebody is going to lose and lose heavily.