Zeebo: A console for the developing world

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Startup coming Zeebo is launching a brand new video game console in developing nations around the world. Started by the company Qualcom, a cell-phone processor and chipset manufacturing company, they are hoping that people in these nations will want to play video games as much as those in first world countries.

The big kicker about the system though, other then it's low cost of around an estimated $200 US at launch, is that the only way to purchase games for the system is digitally through cell phone networks where absolutely no subscription is required. They are hoping this method will curb piracy.

The company's main target market are countries such as India, Brazil, China and Eastern Europe. Technical specifications for the system are compared to those of a Nintendo Gamecube. It features low power consumption (about 1 watt), RCA plugins capable of a resolution of 640 x 480, three USB slots and is about the size of the Xbox 360 power adapter. Obviously these specifications are up to snuff here in North America, but systems like the Sega Genesis still do very well in sales in countries like Brazil according to Zeebo's Vice President of business development and licensing, Reinaldo Normand.

One of the most encourage prospects of the system are the developers that have already jumped onto the product. Electronic Arts (probably could have guessed that one...), THQ inc., Activision-Blizzard, Namco and Pop Cap are just to name.

The games itself are set to cost around $10 US and titles already include Fifa, Double Dragon, Sonic Adventures, Resident Evil 4, Quake are just a few of the bigger names that will on the system.

A lot of people are comparing this system to the Phantom, another system that attempted the digital distribution model, that never seemed to ever get off the ground, but key difference seems to be the target market. As oppose to the Phantom, that went after the already crowded U.S. market, the Zeebo is going after the developing market.

The console is planned to hit Brazil first.

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Wii is not that far up ahead of GC in terms of gfx power. And GC looks fantastic on SDTV's. 10$ per title, sounds great for the majority for those who find it hard to afford next-gen consoles. The gaming population in India is huge, cheapo Nes knockoffs in Palika Bazaar sell like crazy still, these are the people who have fathers driving to work in Bajaj scooters, have computers that run on 256mb ram and their handheld gaming is snake on Rs.2k cell phones, and they would kill to own something like Ps2. If this console is marketed properly towards them it can be a huuuuge.
 
Params7 said:
Wii is not that far up ahead of GC in terms of gfx power. And GC looks fantastic on SDTV's. 10$ per title, sounds great for the majority for those who find it hard to afford next-gen consoles. The gaming population in India is huge, cheapo Nes knockoffs in Palika Bazaar sell like crazy still, these are the people who have fathers driving to work in Bajaj scooters, have computers that run on 256mb ram and their handheld gaming is snake on Rs.2k cell phones, and they would kill to own something like Ps2. If this console is marketed properly towards them it can be a huuuuge.

well said..targeted market will be the key factor.must learned from M$
 
Ambar said:
How is pricing it at 200$ or roughly 9k~ in India exactly going to help?

that pricing will not going to work in Brazil even. I feel that the marketing is the key difference in succession-n-failure of a game console-considering the four P's - product ,price,promotion,place
 
Oh man, I looked at the console again...they need to do something about that controller. No way anybody should play Resident Evil 4 on that :/
 
Params7 said:
Oh man, I looked at the console again...they need to do something about that controller. No way anybody should play Resident Evil 4 on that :/

true..its look like old SNES controller
 
When modded PS2's are available for 7-8k with pirated discs as low as 30 bucks .....and a huge collection of titles.....i wonder how they will counter that........besides Sony commands a lot of credibility in the Indian market.....
 
Ragin_Ice said:
When modded PS2's are available for 7-8k with pirated discs as low as 30 bucks .....and a huge collection of titles.....i wonder how they will counter that........besides Sony commands a lot of credibility in the Indian market.....

new moded ps2-6.5 k
used moded ps2-3.5 k

in chennai :eek:hyeah:
 
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