10 reasons why the Xbox 360 will succeed where the Dreamcast failed.

10 reasons why the Xbox 360 will succeed where the Dreamcast failed.

Sure, it's easy to come up with some parallels between the two platforms, but will the Xbox 360 go the way of the Dreamcast and have Microsoft abandon it a few years into its life cycle? Extremely unlikely. Microsoft is in a much different position than Sega was a few years ago. Here are some of the top reasons why the Xbox 360 will succeed where the Dreamcast failed.

Its predecessor was a complete failure.

Square, the most important publisher in Japan, never supported the console.

EA, the most important publisher in the U.S., never supported the console.

Dreamcast was too early for broadband gaming; 56K didn't really cut it.

Wasn't backwards compatible.

Sorry Dreamcast fans, but the system's controller really wasn't that great.

Had tons of amazing games...but no Halo 3.

FFVIII released the same day as the Dreamcast.

Former president Bernie Stolar quit right before the system launched, sending a bad sign.

Had a limited budget of only $100 million to market the console.

Following on the heels of the very popular Xbox.

Has the support of Square Enix starting with Final Fantasy XI.

Has the full support of EA, with a whole lineup of titles at launch.

Broadband penetration is getting higher and Xbox Live is unparalleled.

Backwards compatible (mostly).

Has a wireless pad that many claim may be the best controller ever made.

Will have Halo 3. And it will be huge.

Next to no competition at launch.

Solid executive team in J Allard, Robbie Bach, and Peter Moore.

Can, and will, spend whatever it takes to make the Xbox 360 a success.