It's gonna be $99 because Apple TV.
VG Leaks: BC for NextBox to be an add on, can play offline
- Thread starter DieH@rd
- Start date
It's gonna be $99 because Apple TV.
It would be pretty useless without a durango if you want to play your disc based 360 games. So as a standalone it's really just an apple tv kind of thing I guess, I wouldn't buy it as a standalone.
Teletraan1
Banned
Then what was that twitter dbag going on about the other day? Guy tosses his job away over a repackaged 360. I cant wait till this thing is revealed to get the true story.
BlazingDarkness
Member
It will let you, you just need a Durango too.
Yeah, but it makes no sense to make it a requirement. What exactly would they need to verify by an always-online requirement? People have been able to play pirated 360 games for years.
I thnik Xbox Mini is going to require online connection to purchase and download games (and TV /streaming multimedia functionality) but that's far as far as it goes.
Convenience? Only one HDMI used? Only Durango controllers in your living room?
I get that. I'm talking about BC for old games and XBLA stuff. It seems like a bad idea for anyone looking for BC in the Durango. It's just plain smarter to use the 360 instead of buying a $150 accessory.
Stripper13
Member
While this is also a rumour - and we'll wait for confirmation when Durango is finally unveiled. I still cannot believe anyone bought into the Xbox = always online, no offline gaming - bullshit.
It reveals either a clear bias from the individual or a distinct lack of critical thinking.
It reveals either a clear bias from the individual or a distinct lack of critical thinking.
Canis lupus
Member
Xbox tower of power!
Slayer-33
Liverpool-2
nib back on board!
cyberheater
PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
Sounds like a good solution.
I thought the Gakai PS3 games were free if you had the PS3 disc in the drive. No?
Liabe Brave
Member
Maybe I didn't see discussion, but doesn't this rumored setup mean 360 BC is exactly like Sony's PS3 BC, i.e. a streaming solution? It seems to work like this:
- Durango collects controller input and, for disc-based games, anything read off the disc.
- Durango sends this data over the network to mini360
- Mini360 does the number-crunching
- Mini360 sends a video feed back to Durango
Won't this potentially have the same latency and video quality problems people feared for Sony's Gaikai idea? It's a local rather than wide-area network, so perhaps it wouldn't be as bad. But on the other hand you're paying $150 for it, as opposed to an unknown cost for the Gaikai system (probably a small number spread over time, as a service).
Also, I can't imagine Microsoft would allow you to fully install 360 discs across the network from Durango to mini360. So would you be allowed to install 360 games onto the Durango hard drive? If not, that option for increasing performance would be gone in this BC.
- Durango collects controller input and, for disc-based games, anything read off the disc.
- Durango sends this data over the network to mini360
- Mini360 does the number-crunching
- Mini360 sends a video feed back to Durango
Won't this potentially have the same latency and video quality problems people feared for Sony's Gaikai idea? It's a local rather than wide-area network, so perhaps it wouldn't be as bad. But on the other hand you're paying $150 for it, as opposed to an unknown cost for the Gaikai system (probably a small number spread over time, as a service).
Also, I can't imagine Microsoft would allow you to fully install 360 discs across the network from Durango to mini360. So would you be allowed to install 360 games onto the Durango hard drive? If not, that option for increasing performance would be gone in this BC.
To be fair, anything is possible after Windows 8.
If it works like I think it'll work, then it'll probably save you an HDMI out on the back of your TV as well as a power outlet. Also, it puts a $99 (I imagine subscription-less) Xbox 360 on the market. If that ends up being how it works, then you'd also have an Xbox 360 that doesn't play disc games. The add-on functionality seems like a way to incorporate that.
BlazingDarkness
Member
I guess it depends on just what this TV functionality will entail, maybe it'll be a really excellent value $150 accessory that renders you old 360 pretty pointless.
Slayer-33
Liverpool-2
I can easily see this happening @ GS.
Games that are downloaded or played off the disc wont require a connection
I'm thinking this device will be plugged seamlessly into durago like a Xbox 360 Slim HDD.
Insane Metal
Member
No mandatory online is great, but stackable unit to play 360 games? The fuck?
Two when combined with your cable box!
I think the Mini is a smart way of solving the BC problem, and it will also sell very well during the holidays. It appeals to both core gamers who value BC and convenience, and also casual/non-gamers who want an easy way to consume media/games.
Obviously the no always-online requirement is huge, but I think people are also overlooking the Kinect 2.0 mention. Specifically, they say Kinect 2.0 isn't a huge focus right now for Microsoft, and doesn't have to be plugged in at all times. Even if everyone still has to buy one with their Durangos (which they didn't actually state), it was still a big worry among lots of people that Kinect would be one of Microsoft's major focal points.
Opus Angelorum
Member
Clearly the term has been confused with 'always connected'.
Glorified G
Member
But both Kotaku and vgleaks details contradict one another. I don't see why superdae wouldn't supply this info to Kotaku if he had it.
He always came across as a fanboy on twitter and probably just denying it without any information. Just a hunch, but I think vgleaks got their source from somewhere else.
But there doesn't need to be a term. There isn't at the moment and nothing has changed.
I wouldn't be surprised if both are designed to look like one device if connected and there is a dedicated port to connect them, and when the combined devices will run 360 games it could be using less power than 360S.
If Microsoft designs this stuff right it's going to be a win/win solution for those interested in revisiting their old 360 games.
Stripper13
Member
Of course it's smarter to use the 360 for BC. Just like it's smarter to use the PS3 over PS4 gaikai BC. However giving consumers options isn't a bad thing. More importantly we have no idea about the functionality of the new mini. It could lose the disc tray but end up being a far more capable media box than 360 is/was.
dAnthraxxx
Neo Member
I'm probably late to the game but after looking through the responses, there seem to be a lot of people who don't understand what this means for current XBOX 360 users and the new Durango console.
Here's how I see it.
There are 2 units. The XBOX Mini and the Durango Console.
The XBOX Mini unit:
The DURANGO unit:
If you don't have a 360, then you don't really care about Backwards Compatibility. You can save money by not NEEDING the Mini unit and can just buy the Durango Unit. You will still get the TV service, next-gen games, etc. If you were really interested in playing the backlog of XBOX 360 games, then you could always upgrade by purchasing the Mini unit.
If you already have a 360, then you've already got a machine that plays your collection of current Xbox games. You don't need the mini unit immediately. If you want next gen games, then all you need is the Durango Unit. Durango will provide TV services that the Mini does, so unless you want everything in a neat package, you don't need the mini. Unfortunately, the difference in hardware won't allow Durango to interface with the current 360 models, so switching between Durango and 360 is the only real downside I can see. Upgrading the Durango Unit with the Xbox Mini at a later time of your choosing seems like it would be easier on your wallet.
If you only want the TV services, then the Xbox Mini unit is what you want. The VGleaks article said that MS is trying to keep the price of the Xbox Mini unit at $150 or less. AppleTV is 100 bucks and requires Always Online. So at it's maximum price of 150, you get TV services that also plays 360 games. As the article stated, you would have to download the games/movies/music, or if you already have them previously purchased, just redownload them. If you decide that you want to play next-gen games, then you can save your money and purchase a Durango unit to go with your Xbox Mini when you have the money. At this point you'll have the full package.
If you have no interest in either Durango or the Xbox Mini, then purchase a PS4 and be happy with what you got.
In any scenario, the choice of whatever features you want seems to be saving your wallet a little bit
Here's how I see it.
There are 2 units. The XBOX Mini and the Durango Console.
The XBOX Mini unit:
- No physical Disc Drive
- XBOX 360 Functionality
- Provides competitive AppleTV service
- required Always Online connection to download games and stream media
- 100-150 price range
- Interface with Durango to provide BC WITH the Durango Unit
The DURANGO unit:
- Next Gen gaming console
- Always Online, but not required for local play(like the current 360)
- Also provides competitive AppleTV service
- NO built-in Backwards Compatibility, must interface with Xbox Mini for BC
- Competitive price point compared to PS4
If you don't have a 360, then you don't really care about Backwards Compatibility. You can save money by not NEEDING the Mini unit and can just buy the Durango Unit. You will still get the TV service, next-gen games, etc. If you were really interested in playing the backlog of XBOX 360 games, then you could always upgrade by purchasing the Mini unit.
If you already have a 360, then you've already got a machine that plays your collection of current Xbox games. You don't need the mini unit immediately. If you want next gen games, then all you need is the Durango Unit. Durango will provide TV services that the Mini does, so unless you want everything in a neat package, you don't need the mini. Unfortunately, the difference in hardware won't allow Durango to interface with the current 360 models, so switching between Durango and 360 is the only real downside I can see. Upgrading the Durango Unit with the Xbox Mini at a later time of your choosing seems like it would be easier on your wallet.
If you only want the TV services, then the Xbox Mini unit is what you want. The VGleaks article said that MS is trying to keep the price of the Xbox Mini unit at $150 or less. AppleTV is 100 bucks and requires Always Online. So at it's maximum price of 150, you get TV services that also plays 360 games. As the article stated, you would have to download the games/movies/music, or if you already have them previously purchased, just redownload them. If you decide that you want to play next-gen games, then you can save your money and purchase a Durango unit to go with your Xbox Mini when you have the money. At this point you'll have the full package.
If you have no interest in either Durango or the Xbox Mini, then purchase a PS4 and be happy with what you got.
In any scenario, the choice of whatever features you want seems to be saving your wallet a little bit
My guess is similar functions to the Apple TV if it's going to compete directly with it. At this point, I see it dead in the water on both ends. Those who have a streaming solution will continue to use it (Apple TV, Roku, current console) and gamers will continue to use their old system till it dies.
They'd have to add something that isn't offered to consumers to drop money on the device.
People do that all the time. PS3 slim and Xbox slim were bought be a ton of people that already had the systems.
Keep your current 360 then. It is not mandatory to buy the Xbox mini. It is for people that don't have a 360 or just want to play both the 720 and 360 games through the 720.
Plinko
Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
This post is EXACTLY why I see this being a disaster for Microsoft.
Remember the incredible market confusion for Wii U? GAFers who work in retail constantly reported about many, many people who had no idea that the Wii U was a new system.
Does anybody else foresee the same thing for the new, smaller, disc drive-less 360? Won't people not in the know confuse it with Durango?
Beer Monkey
Member
Well presumably they won't call Durango the Xbox 360 U.
I think the problem with Wii U was that Nintendo did not know how to market the device correctly.
Smart marketing is key here. Look at the success of Kinect, for example.
That's why you get a PS4 or WiiU.. well mostly PS4 (as it is with PS3). But hey, when you're in MS's camp, you can't have everything. At least, the lack of continual internet connectivity is a major win for consumer camp. It makes me wonder whether it was the mounting pressure of negativity that caused them to back track or was it always the plan...
GoofsterStud
Member
Plinko
Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
I highly, highly doubt they lose the "Xbox" name for this one, though.
Reiko said:
While I agree that marketing is key, I'm not following your comparison here. Kinect didn't have "Xbox 360" in its name, nor did it look anything like an Xbox 360. It was quite clear it was something different.
How would they confuse something with likely 2 distinct names?
The pricing gap will be huge, too.
Also... Food for thought: who said the mini will come with a controller?
Probably always the plan.
If I remember correctly, a Chinese MS dev called us on GAF and Kotaku idiots for not understanding the rumor correctly and Adam Orth's comments.
Well the plan was for MS to debut 2 new Xboxes, presumably at E3. So whatever it is, it's been planned for a long while.
Not a chance.
Syphon Filter
Member
Shit just got real,now it's another ball game. Hope it's true.
Plinko
Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
Because I don't see them losing the "Xbox" name for the add-on. Also, the pricing gap on Wii U/Wii was huge.
I don't think anybody can screw it up as bad as Nintendo did with Wii U marketing. That is/was legendary market confusion. I still think MS is going to have issues, though, if what is being reported is true.
Those cases are different. You need a Durango to play any disc-based games. It seems like these games would be served up like movies or TV on the Apple TV. Those who will primarily buy the mini are those who currently do not have a media streaming solution.
TheChewyWaffles
Member
As opposed to switching TV/Receiver inputs all the time? Granted, I'd prefer "free", but I'll take this over keeping my old 360 around.