http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/7849191.htm
http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?comments=30323
? Three IBM-designed 64-bit microprocessors. The combined power of these chips means the Xbox Next will have more computing power than most personal computers. Earlier versions of these PowerPC chips are used in Apple Computer's high-end G5 PowerMac machines now.
? A graphics chip designed by ATI Technologies with speeds much faster than its upcoming R400 chip for the personal computer. This chip will help the next Xbox to display games with the resolution of high-definition TV.
Holy smokes!! It's interesting to see they're ditching the hard disk, which I'm assuming is to prevent the piracy problems they've had with the current Xbox. High-definition TV resolution games!! Widescreen plasma TV's are getting pretty popular, so hopefully they'll be affordable for everyone in 2005 [;)]
Blu-ray DVD technology holds 27 gigs of data. That's a lot. [:)]
quote:Originally posted by Sorceror Bob
Xbobx2!!no!! you're replacing me!!
seriously though, gonna have to do something special for me to get one in favour of my trusty pc!!
But true, development costs will be insane compared to what they todays games, how many developers will jump on board for that..
no installing games, smaller loading time, no render setting that need to be changed, no hardware problem (well I havn't had any), no huge OS eating your ram, no need to upgrade all the time once about every four years. Do I need to go on??
quote:Originally posted by Doord
no need to upgrade all the time once about every four years. Do I need to go on??
No. You just have to but a new console every four years.
It does sound like a sexy beast though. Just keep in mind that Microsft changed the specs for the Xbox on a weekly basis, so this should probably be taken with a grain of salt.
It would be a pity to lose the hard drive. That thing is just so damned useful. No memory cards, and the ability to have your own music playing while thrashing around on PGR was excelent.
Its probably gonna be bullshit.
I mean look at all this shit about GameCube 2 (The N5) Using 100-1000 small Super computers (Blue Gene). The PS3 having 100 times the power of a Pentium 4. And now this! Its just hype crap and hell the Xbox architects etc.. could just be trying to get people hyped if thats the case then they have achieved it.
I think its bull overall, there is always hype over new console often made up by Fan boys who think there console is the greatest. I personally think if consoles like these were made the cost would well exceed the $1000-$5000 mark (Hey i remember here the PlayStation started at $2000 at Kmart then it dropped too $800!) and like said before the games would/might get better graphics but at the cost of the developers budgets and gameplay and of course length.
But in a way i guess its possible. Think though what is Silicon made of? Sand, thats right the beach has the fastest processor in the world with a in built wave generator with un beatable physics and realistic graphics and a great cooling system that cant be beat! Oh and the OS is good too its called Life [;)].
Tom
PS: The reason that they are dropping the Hard drive is because not only for Piracy reasons but because a console with a hard drive isnt really a console, its a PC. Im not joking either they even stated that themselves, a console with a DVD player doesnt count either they said as well, sorry people but Nintendo is still in the lead of originality and legit consoles [;)].
it is not what that is in a console that makes is a console, it is how it plays. If you plug it in to a TV it mainly for playing games and has a pad not a keyboard then it plays like a console therefore is one. Well that my spin on it.
Also the game cube is not that much different to the x-box, I my not be right but I believe that IBM made the processor and n-Vida made the graphics card, just like the x-box :)
quote:Originally posted by Doord
no installing games, smaller loading time, no render setting that need to be changed, no hardware problem (well I havn't had any), no huge OS eating your ram, no need to upgrade all the time once about every four years. Do I need to go on??
Good points, but on the flip side.. No mod support(that i'm aware of), weak internet, no applications (ps, max, maya etc) and most importantly, no Total War games..
My PC currently does everything I want it to. So why get a smaller system that will just take up room *glances at N64*
I read a bit of the comments on Shacknews, and there's some good opinions there. Maybe the Xbox 2 will have the HD as optional, or perhaps memory cards/flash ram will be cheap enough and large enough so that it could be used instead for downloads/patches/caching/saves.. it'll definately reduce the size of the Xbox2 in anycase.
I really hope the nextgen consoles will be the huge leap that I'm looking forward to. I got that impression from the Playstation 2 (especially when they were touting it could do Toy Story in real time), so here's hoping this time the Xbox2/PS3/Phantom(*cough*) will blow our socks away!!
I think it?s silly getting hyped up over how powerful the next gen of consoles are going to be. Of course they are going to be powerful, they are the next wave of high tech home gaming, but what really matters, and what has always mattered, far more then the hardware, is the software. The bottom line is what games will be available, how cool will those games be, and what kind of range of games will there be.
The ps2 outsold its contenders by a long shot, not because it was the most powerful (which it wasn?t), but because it had such a large range of games that come under the ?I?ve gotta have it!!? category. I could probably list at least 30 games on ps2 that are compulsory playing for any gamer with true passion for computer games, while I would be hard pressed to list 10 must have games on both the xbox and game cube combined. If Microsoft really wants to be the king of the console, they should spend less worrying about hardware and more about software. It?s the game developers that make a console great, not the hardware itself.
Besides, what chance does an American company really have against the Japanese king of game consoles, Sony (or even Nintendo)?
people just a note, theres something about the console wars:
its your own opinion
so saying things like:
"Nintendo is still in the lead of originality and legit consoles"
"while I would be hard pressed to list 10 must have games on both the xbox and game cube"
is all a matter of personall opinion and most likely meaningless to other people and only serves to start little fights. Im telling you your wrong or right, its just your opinion so keep that in mind [:)]
palantir - Microsoft does have Rare up their sleeve. :D
You are right though. These press releases never mention how many excellent games will be on offer on launch. "The XBOX NEXT will have 2 games available on launch; a PSOne port and a shallow driving game that shows off the amazing graphics grunt the XBOX has to offer..."
I think its a shame they are losing the HDD. It was one of the few things that helped the XBOX stand out from the other two contenders. It really made for some interesting cross-platforms titles; certain games took advantage of the HDD and let you do stuff like save music. This would no doubt have been a shot in the arm for the Xbox's sales...
anyhoo.
Er yeah, I meant to say that those views were merely my opinion? I?m just trying to point out that games are what make or break game consoles. When I mentioned must have games, I was talking about super successful games that made it into the top sales figures. I think sales figures kind of speak for themselves?
IMO, the whole reason to get a game console should be if there is one single game out there that you just have to have. For me, the only reason to get a ps2 (or ps3) is the Gran Turismo serries. That?s pretty much the only game that can tear me away from the PC for any substantial length of time.
I think it will be very interesting to see were the future of game consoles lies. I have always thought that the gap between PC and game console will dissolve, until the day comes when you just have a box plugged into your high definition tele that does everything you could possibly want from a home entertainment/PC system. Especially with the development of new control systems, like motion capture (think Sony Eye Toy evolved ? controlling computers with simple body movements), it could theoretically be possible to easily do everything you do on a PC in the comfort of your lounge room ? one day?
In my opinion. [:D]
The hdd was one of the main reasons i got an xbox. I absolutely detest memory cards. Unless xbox2 ships with a 7 gig memory card that plugs into the back of the box (and NOT the controller) i doubt i'll be purchasing one...
It's not so much the cost as just the hassle of having to worry about more things than just the game disc to play a game, not to mention the extra development opportunities (ideas) opened up by having that storage device (and knowing that every single unit had it).
Bad move MS.
CYer, Blitz
I still don't believe Sony's comments about the PS3 being able to render Toy Story in real time. When nVidia released their Quadros, they tried saying that it could render FF: Spirits Within in real time. Pity it was actually just a watered down version of Sid with one light in real time. Close, but not quite the same.
My biggest problem with consoles, is that they all have games on them that are worth buying. I just really don't want to have three consoles sitting in front of a TV. Having to switch them all around whenever I want to play a different one.
quote:Originally posted by Aven
My biggest problem with consoles, is that they all have games on them that are worth buying. I just really don't want to have three consoles sitting in front of a TV. Having to switch them all around whenever I want to play a different one.
One of my mates has :
3 Xboxes
2 PS2
2 Gamecubes
6 siblings
1 large flatscreen TV
Why?
Personally I'm a nintendo person all the way, I just prefer their in-house titles. Does x-box have any great franchises that arent made by other companies? I dont think they do, Same with Ps2 (Not totally sure on that one though) Nintendo has Zelda, Mario, Metroid, donkey Kong etc People buy nintendo consoles for these games alone. Plus I like how nintendo doesnt bullshit their hardware specs like sony and microsoft.
As for the convienience of consoles over PCs, yes they are simpleer to use, but I prefer PC's I like taking care of my computer, fidgeting around with settings etc.
quote:Originally posted by Aven
My biggest problem with consoles, is that they all have games on them that are worth buying. I just really don't want to have three consoles sitting in front of a TV. Having to switch them all around whenever I want to play a different one.
There is this thing called an "A/V switch box". ;)
It?s interesting that Micro$oft think that by rushing the crapbox2, er, I mean xbox2 [;)] onto the market early will win them the war of the next gen consoles? I?ve always thought that any product held off until perfected makes for a better product. And is there really any indication that hitting the market a year or two before the other consoles will really give them that big of an advantage? Most console sales seem to take place when there is competition to drive down prices.
Still, I guess there are always the people willing to pay top dollar to have the latest thing?
quote:Originally posted by palantir
It?s interesting that Micro$oft think that by rushing the crapbox2, er, I mean xbox2 [;)] onto the market early will win them the war of the next gen consoles?
Certainly didn't work for Sega's Dreamcast. Not really a fault of Sega though. All it took was Sony's PS2 hype to kill it. Maybe it'll work again against Microsoft [:)]
quote:Originally posted by Souri
quote:Originally posted by palantir
It?s interesting that Micro$oft think that by rushing the crapbox2, er, I mean xbox2 [;)] onto the market early will win them the war of the next gen consoles?Certainly didn't work for Sega's Dreamcast. Not really a fault of Sega though. All it took was Sony's PS2 hype to kill it. Maybe it'll work again against Microsoft [:)]
I think the major problem the Sega Dreamcast had was that they did very little marketing.
Were Sony have aimed the playstation one at a different market, the people which watch TV but don't play games and now all these people are gamers. Not to say that people that play playstation are not gamers or anything like that just saying that Sony graped this un-taped market and got a huge number of units sales out from it. Nintendo start this with the Snes, but the playstation was out before the New Nintendo (N64) when these people were looking at the new PC games and were looking for a new console to be able to play games like this.
Also because of this huge unit base many game developers etc. got on broad. So if Microsoft can get there marketing right and get out before the Playstation 3 when this people are looking for an upgraded console (because of how much better PC games are looking now compare to the PS2) they will do the same to Sony.
Sega's weekend of launching the DC was the most successful launch (US wise) before the PS2 was launched. Great system despite it's short lifespan. But you can't compare Sega, rated the worst company to invest with in Japan for two years running and losing millions for about 5 consecutive years to the Redmond giant.
It's a bit redundant to compare Microsoft's 'killer franchises' with Nintendo's, considering that Nintendo have been making console games for a lot longer. The games mentioned by Fluffy are great (if this time around, not as strong as the last incarnation) but I think that if MS are given a similar timeframe, we could see a similar number of great titles. Maybe. They've got Halo so far and some decent sports games -- in part, I wonder if the age of the mascot is dead now that the average age of the modern gamer is a lot higher.
People who write Micro$oft make me think this: [img]http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2002/20020722l.gif [/img]
In truth MS has succeeded in one aspect - they've now got decent brand recognition. Where people would have just gone for a PS2, now they are thinking -- which one do I want? Xbox or PS2? Or they pick up an NGC on the cheap. Getting out to the market first may pay off - but Sony have some of the best marketing muscle I've seen.
Personally - I hope that the next race is more even. If Sony come out on top again (third time in a row -- unprecedented in the console world), it could end up turning into a monopoly of sorts.
Hehe. [:D] Yep. That guy in the cartoon is pretty much me, I'm sad to say... (Apart from the location).
Anyway, my star fleet uniform is getting dirty, so I better get mum to clean it while I prey at my Linux alter...
*kneels in front of PS2, in praying position*
"May Linux one day triumph over Windows. One to beam up." [:P]
*Dissapears in dazzle of cheap particle effects*
(hey, it?s late, and I?ve been programming all day ? I make no apologies)
sounds like power can it get the deveopler behind this power to make some turly cool games. Only time will tell.