Support NeoGAF

[imastalker co.]

so this one has been given to me as a rumor by a friend who's been right about everything he's told me, he didn't want to give me a 100%, but he told me he's been hearing about it a good amount lately.

anyways, word on the street is that the 360 will also play PC games. that it would be one of the suprises MS had in store for E3.

anyways, not endorsing this one what so ever, but just thought i'd give you the heads up on what i heard.

anyways, this would be a pretty big deal i'd imagine.

 

[Doube D]

wasn't there something about 2 versions? 1 essentially being a pc that plays x360 games?

 

[duckroll]

anyways, word on the street is that the 360 will also play PC games. that it would be one of the suprises MS had in store for E3.

That'll be interesting but what how would it handle installations, patches, stuff like Steam, etc? If it can be pulled off in an impressive way this would be a BIG deal, if not... then big deal! :lol

 

[thorns]

it's impossible, considering the different cpus.

 

[AniHawk]

If it played PC games... that'd be an instant launch purchase. Hopefully I'd get to play older ones too, so I could hunt down Grim Fandango and the like.

 

[imastalker co.]

wasn't there something about 2 versions? 1 essentially being a pc that plays x360 games?

yeah, i've been hearing from a lot of very reliable sources that there would be multiple versions of the system.

i'd imagine the PC support would probably be a feature of the higher end version. the 360 controllers are gonna be supported by PC's right?

i could totally see this being true, but that's just me.

 

[Shogmaster]

So what you're saying is that all future PC games will be made not to contain any OOOE code? Sure, sound feasble. *place the biggest rolleyes your monitor can display here*

 

[imastalker co.]

well, when it comes to the techinical stuff, you guys would know better, so i'll take your word for it.

there you have it i guess.

 

[mrklaw]

Thats got to be bullshit.

Of course, technically it may be doable, as you'd just need to check compatibility - you wouldn't be able to play *all* PC games.

And it would be business suicide. Hey EA, want to avoid those nasty license fees you pay for console games? Just make an Xbox 360 compatible PC version - no fees at all!

Unless the 'xbox PC' is still planned, in which case its a duh, as it *is* a PC anyway.

 

[imastalker co.]

perhaps PC games that are being developed using XNA? well, that's if XNA PC support is even in the plans. don't know much about that.

 

[Doube D]

it's only bs if you read it as an xbox that plays pc games. It could however very easily be a pc that plays xbox 360 games (meaning it would contain the x360 in addition to traditional hardware)

 

[Scrow]

... the world is going mad.

 

[iapetus]

If it plays PC games (stunningly unlikely given the entirely different architecture) then MS have missed the point completely and deserve to suffer.

 

[Elios83]

I don't think it's technically possible.The architecture is completely different,it would require some kind of emulation.Also with memory requirements for PC games going costantly up it won't last long.

 

[j^aws]

For example, Wiederhold said QuickTransit will allow the next-generation Xbox (which will have a Mac-like PowerPC chip) to run first-generation Xbox software (which was written for an Intel chip).

http://wired-vig.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,64914,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_2

Some form of emulation perhaps? Also MS have 'Virtual PC' tech...

 

[Doube D]

emulation is simply out. I mean that will NOT happen, period.

 

[Borys]

This time MS is really bend on killing PC gaming :[

Let's see:

What should little Jonny get?

a $299 box plays all the 360 games and all the PC games in full detail, 60 fps etc

or

a $1000-2000 box that plays ONLY PC games (in the same detail, framerate etc.)?

 

[golem]

well, microsoft is pushing the Tray and Play standard for the PC , so game won't have to be installed (much) on the hard drive. And maybe with XNA devs can ship dual playable DVDs with both Xbox and PC executables (such as you sometimes see with Mac/PC games). Being REALLY COMPATIBLE with PC's however is hard to see, unless they are making XNA games a whole new standard (perhaps a playable only on Longhorn standard?)

 

[j^aws]

emulation is simply out. I mean that will NOT happen, period.

And it won't happen with the PS3 too...?

 

[mrklaw]

it's only bs if you read it as an xbox that plays pc games. It could however very easily be a pc that plays xbox 360 games (meaning it would contain the x360 in addition to traditional hardware)

360 Blaster!

 

[Any1]

If it plays PC games (stunningly unlikely given the entirely different architecture) then MS have missed the point completely and deserve to suffer.

And what point would that be?

 

[Izzy]

360 Blaster!

Hahaha - I really don't think many people here remember Creative's 3DO Blaster.

 

[golem]

i wanted a 3do blaster back in the day... also was excited when nvidia's vid card supported Saturn controllers, but then found out it couldnt play the actual games (right?)

 

[WordAssassin]

Woo! I'd finally have something to play World of Warcraft on!

 

[Tim the Wiz]

If this rumour is true, the Xbox 360 will get my purchase at launch.

The power of the dark side is too strong ...

 

[Izzy]

i wanted a 3do blaster back in the day... also was excited when nvidia's vid card supported Saturn controllers, but then found out it couldnt play the actual games (right?)

Hahaha, I bought mine (Blaster) ten years ago while on holidays in France...I tracked it down from an advertisement in Jeux France CD....I was so clueless back then...still am... :lol

 

[Scrow]

a $299 box plays all the 360 games and all the PC games in full detail, 60 fps etc

full detail at 60fps eh? interesting...

 

[Borys]

full detail at 60fps eh? interesting...

Don't forget I was commenting on a rumour.

 

[midnightguy]

Johnny Nighttrain, Xbox 360 playing PC games is old news

didn't you hear about 'Xbox Next PC' ? ('Xbox 360 PC' -if you will)





http://money.cnn.com/2004/05/26/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm
http://xbox.gamespy.com/articles/519/519579p1.html?fromint=1
http://www.xbox365.com/news.cgi?id=EplyEElkVAlFaWTpCi8259
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/7189/Microsoft-to-Release-Three-Versions-of-Xbox-2/
http://www.xboxgaming.com/index.php?module=news&go=rf&nid=1642
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19615
http://www.totalvideogames.com/pages/articles/index.php?article_id=5808
http://www.totalvideogames.com/pages/articles/index.php?article_id=5814

Microsoft thinking about a machine that would play both console and PC games.

"a videogame console system with a hard drive and a built-in fully functional PC." Mention of the device came on one of several slides shown to focus groups.

One slide describes the unit, which would require a PC monitor or high definition television, as being backward compatible with current and next-generation Xbox titles. It would also play PC games and include a fully functional version of Windows

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

Xbox 360 will also play Dreamcast games.

 

[midnightguy]

Microsoft to Release Three Versions of Xbox 2?
By: César A. Berardini - "Cesar"
Nov. 11th, 2004 8:12 am
A report at The Inquirer claims that Microsoft plans to release three versions of the Xbox successor. One would be a simple Xbox 2 with no hard drive, while a second version, called Xbox Next HD will include a hard drive as the name implies and some additional functionality that takes advantage of the massive storage. Finally, a third model called Xbox Next PC, which is a supped-up Xbox 2 that resembles Sony’s PSX, will more act like a hybrid of an Xbox and a PC.

The Inquirer goes on to claim that the Xbox Next PC is an entry-level PC that runs Windows and all standard PC software. It also includes a CD Burner, wireless keyboard, mouse, game controller and will work best when connected to a HDTV or PC monitor. This will be like an Xbox version of a Media Center PC. We guess that, if the story is true, this special Xbox will load both Xbox and PC games that have been developed using the XNA set of tools.


The report also claims that Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD will ship next fall, while the Xbox Next PC will ship a year later, just in time for the release of Sony’s PlayStation 3. This is also the same timeframe in which the successor of Windows XP, code-named Longhorn, will launch bringing with it the next generation of DirectX and other Windows technologies.

We still find all claims of this report hard to believe, not because of the source, just for the simple fact that three versions of a console (one without a hard drive) would be against what Microsoft has been evangelizing all these years. When taking into consideration that Xbox Next is supposedly using POWER processors, it appears that Microsoft is taking a completely different approach for the next generation.

what would be new is, if the BASE, and HDD-installed versions of Xbox360 could play PC games

 

[dorio]

That would be stupid. What incentive would anyone have to make a 360 game when they could just make the pc version?

 

[golem]

thats why (going by the rumor) i dont think all xbox models would be able to play pc games.. gotta convince the devs to get a 360 license...

unless...

 

[mrklaw]

That would be stupid. What incentive would anyone have to make a 360 game when they could just make the pc version?

Exactly. MS and Sony etc make their money from the license fees payable on all software sales - around $10 a unit. Thats a lot of money.

In effect, MS would be losing money so publishers can make games to play on their console, and making nothing back.

 

[seanoff]

I'm with Shogmaster here, cannot see how they can do it without sticking in a Pentium or Athlon chip and a WinOS.

This thing is going to cost some money.

As for running Longhorn u really want to see the recommended spec for a PC to run all of it.

4-6Ghz Processor, 2Gb RAM, 256Mb graphics card etc. I can't see it running on a Xbox360 without the Xbox being a plugin card on a PC with a pretty fair spec by itself.

apcmag.com may have it up, the magazine does. Mary Jo Foley has it up as well

 

[fse]

Xbox 360 will also play Dreamcast games.

And Dreamcast 2 games!!!

 

[swordsman]

If is true then that would be great. It is hard to pull it off.
I think there will be some kind of hardware that will be implanted on the graphic card for pc that handles the games which special developed for cross platform (X360/PC) and vice versa X360 will play the pc games which are developed for cross platform in mind.

 

[Ghost]

I doubt you'll be able to run PC games (i think ATI would go nuts if they did that) but MS has been touting unifying the platforms, so id expect at least a few 360 games to be able to interact with PC titles online next gen (maybe for content creation or Allards example RTS PC, FPS 360 game)

 

[acidviper]

That would be stupid. What incentive would anyone have to make a 360 game when they could just make the pc version?

MS can pay them more.

I really think it is a question of which PC games it can play. If it can play all/many PC games then this is MEGATON. If it can play certain yet to be released PC games then its not that interesting.

 

[SteveMeister]

At the bare minimum, PC games would have to be recompiled, and any data loaded from files would have to be endian converted in order to run natively. Otherwise it's up to emulation, and while the system is likely powerful enough to handle Xbox games, it's certainly not powerful enough to run the latest games in anything but native mode.

 

[Shaheed79]

With a 20gig removable HD?

Yyyeah........

 

[Error Macro]

With a 20gig removable HD?

Yyyeah........

hello

more bigger badder larger harder firmer awesomer hard drives later

you can buy these separately

maybe

we will see

 

[DarkCloud]

Heh...if it was an emulation based setup that only ran games up to a base set of specs (I'm talking older games here...DOS up to maybe something that required 800-900Mhz proc) then I could see something like this happening. I doubt they'd allow it to play modern day titles (even if they could) as that's a potential 360 sku down the toilet as well as stomping on PC dev's toes.

But in an emulated environment they could easily get Starcraft, Max Payne, Black n White, etc to work at max settings/60fps...and I know for a fact I'd be happy with just that.

Not likely to happen though.

 

[trmas]

If they can't figure out backwards compatibility, this one doesn't make any sense either...

 

[KnotLikely]

How soon will it be after launch that a company releases an adapter that will allow you to use a regular ole 250 Gig hard drive? You know it's going to be done...

Should we also have a pool guessing how long before each console is cracked? I'm betting 360 will be cracked by the time Revolution launches :lol

 

[Fct]

"Xbox 360 will also play Dreamcast games."

Hmmm... Chankast.

 

[jarrod]

I remember when it was rumored that Xbox 1 would play DC/PC games.

I always felt MS should've invested in Bleem though, allowing legal PSone emulation on Xbox. Would've been bold on their part.

 

[mrklaw]

also, I'm not sure how much MS would want to associate Xbox 360 with the PC. They had that hanging over them for the first one, and managed to shake it off pretty well. But if they do this, people may think 360 is 'just' a PC, and maybe stick with what they've got, or think its complicated to use etc.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Wait, I thought that Xbox 360 will be compatible with the Revolution?

And now it plays PC games too! Holy shit! All we need is PS3 compatability and we only have to buy one console!!!

:lol

Mark my words.

No fucking way in hell.

 

[sonycowboy]

If they're going to have removable hard drives, like say 20GB, how much could they cost? $30-$40.

If so, why bother with the memory cards?