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Microsoft to release three versions of Xbox 2
- Thread starter jonhuz
- Start date
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puck1337 said:
It's never to early. In fact, I'm already formulating a list for Xbox 3
Interesting and scary at the same time.. I don't think this is impossible but Microsoft has to be very, very careful with this.
Also, if they want to release within a year, they must make Halo 2 playable on Xbox Next. I just can't see how they could dump Halo 2 so quickly. Full BC or just some game-specific stuff (like mentioned in the other thread), but Halo 2 must be playable on the then-current Xbox system in December 2005...
Also, if they want to release within a year, they must make Halo 2 playable on Xbox Next. I just can't see how they could dump Halo 2 so quickly. Full BC or just some game-specific stuff (like mentioned in the other thread), but Halo 2 must be playable on the then-current Xbox system in December 2005...
Time to pack the bags XBox and Sony fanboys, Revolutions now has the road cleared to success!
HEHE!, I don't like this idea either. Who in their right mind buy a low end PC to play Xenon? Why not buy the cheaper Xenon and save money for a kickas$ PC?
Would you play the Xenon PC on a monitor or on a TV?
HEHE!, I don't like this idea either. Who in their right mind buy a low end PC to play Xenon? Why not buy the cheaper Xenon and save money for a kickas$ PC?
Would you play the Xenon PC on a monitor or on a TV?
JackFrost2012
Banned
If Sony is able to launch the PSP at 19800 yen, then I see no reason why Microsoft wouldn't be able to launch the Xbox Next with 3 different hardware SKUs. Viva insanity!
Doth Togo said:
According to reports streaming in from some loose-penned European press, Microsoft will release three different versions of the Xbox Next. The standard Xbox Next will be a basic gaming console. The Xbox Next HD will include a hard drive. Then, about a year later, the Xbox Next PC will be released as a fully-functioning Windows Media Center PC, all in a package smaller than the current Xbox. It is slated to come with a wireless mouse and keyboard and a CD Burner. This should cause some healthy consumer confusion next year while making things difficult on developers.
"Fully-functioning windows media pc"?? DAMN, windows media pc u can record and rewind live television, also can then record those shows to a DVD. If this is true, it would be awesome.
depends on how much it costs to determine how successful it is.If true, I like this idea. It makes everyone happy. I just hope developers choose to support the HD with custom soundtracks or downloadable content, instead of ignoring it because some of the audience doesn't have it.
TCR for 3 SKU's shouldn't be that bad. It would just be another couple sections to worry about. More of an inconvenience rather than a "nightmare."
TCR for 3 SKU's shouldn't be that bad. It would just be another couple sections to worry about. More of an inconvenience rather than a "nightmare."
Crazymoogle
Member
So, the rumored theory that Xbox was a Trojan horse for Microsoft is true now. Xbox was just a device to bring PC Gaming to everyone's living room and with the rumored Xbox Next PC & XNA this will now happen. Bill Gates' whole plan was to eliminate videogame systems and replace them with Console PCs. I really hope now that Sony or Nintendo just crush them in the next system wars, but I know that would not happen.
Mr_Furious
Member
Confusing and segmenting your userbase is NEVER, I repeat, NEVER a good idea.
MS kinda openly stated that the XBOX is their way in the living room. Really thats no secret at all. That's also where XNA fits in. They eventually want everyone to use XNA for games. Then different console platforms will be obsolete and you're gonna buy a console like you're buying a DVD player now. SONY obviously isn't going along with that, and there is really no way around SONY here. So i don't know if they really thought this through.
element
Member
so you can really over pay for basic consumer electronics!!WordofGod said:
Woohoo for an even larger monopoly!! We will force you to watch Sony movies, on a Sony TV, using Sony blueray, with Sony Music artists that you can listen to on your Sony MP3 player, which you can then plug into your Sony Car stereo, and then get to work to work on your Sony computer with a linux distro made by Sony.
I'm sorry. While I don't agree with everything Microsoft does, at least they aren't trying to control every asset of entertainment from the production to the viewing.
What would this do for MMO console games introduced in the middle of the console's lifespan? Say the sales numbers for the xbox HD are low and those for the xbox NO HD are high. Do they release a FFXI type HD pack for the xbox NO HD? Or do they release it and limit themselves to the smaller xbox HD audience?
I hope they completely ditch the version without Hard drive. They're promoting costly CGI cutscenes, long load times, smaller environments and lack of backwards compatibility. I see on Halo 2 where they have several 350MB files on the X, Y, and Z partitions totaling over 2GBs. Will MS include over 2GB RAM to compensate? I don't think so. I hope that it's scrapped.
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Deku Tree said:
they release it and require that those who want to play it either have the XBNHD or the regular XBN with a larger memory card (1 gig @ $90). If you consider memory cards as an add-on, then they'll need an add-on.
V
Vennt
Unconfirmed Member
Memory Card devices (Flash etc.) are not suitable replacements for a hard drive, not at least for the purposes of caching (too slow).
Also current flash technology suffers from a highly limited maximum number of writes, adhoc storage of smaller amounts of data, written to infrequently is generally the recommended use.
If the units are not upgradable and interchangable I think it's more like that games would be written for the lowest common denominator, not only due to technical constraints, but also from a business efficiency perspective, publishers & 3rd parties are going to want to reach the largest userbase possible for the lowest achievable outlay. Economics 101.
Also current flash technology suffers from a highly limited maximum number of writes, adhoc storage of smaller amounts of data, written to infrequently is generally the recommended use.
If the units are not upgradable and interchangable I think it's more like that games would be written for the lowest common denominator, not only due to technical constraints, but also from a business efficiency perspective, publishers & 3rd parties are going to want to reach the largest userbase possible for the lowest achievable outlay. Economics 101.
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Freeburn said:
and there you have your answer.
Particle Physicist
between a quark and a baryon
Trakball said:
element hasnt debunked this.... yet .. im guessing it might be close to the truth..
i dont think its a bad idea actually.. it could work . ..
Warm Machine
Member
An Xbox with Windows Media Center built in would be excellent. All the power of a Tivo in a console.
a 8 gig flash drive (Not flash card) would be cheap to manufacture. Most cost comes in when you're compressing bytes into a small space. Since Microsoft would be manufacturing the system themselves, they could constantly revise the drive details themselves to lower costs at any time during the console's manufacturing run.
However, the media center edition should have an 'extra' 60+GB hard drive locally. It could be used excusively for caching and could help the performance of PC games and the OS itself (Playing back media files and other operations).
However, the media center edition should have an 'extra' 60+GB hard drive locally. It could be used excusively for caching and could help the performance of PC games and the OS itself (Playing back media files and other operations).
Settle down guys, Sony's plan of record is pretty much exactly the same.
I don't know how valid this xbox rumor is, but last I heard Sony wants to release several different versions of PS3 as well -- Game Only, Game with BRD recorder, and a home server version with hard disk and other stuff.
I don't know how valid this xbox rumor is, but last I heard Sony wants to release several different versions of PS3 as well -- Game Only, Game with BRD recorder, and a home server version with hard disk and other stuff.
Freeburn said:
Exactly. And it's also exactly why it's a bad idea. I really don't know what Microsoft is thinking. This sounds (again) like a move an industry leader could pull off, not someone aspiring the lead and as far behind Microsoft is from Sony.
bad move 1 : early launch
bad move 2 : 3 models with differents options
What's the third bad move now?
They do not harm any content on your Hard drive, unless you renamed something as the origional files and a Xbox Dash update overwrites the old files. The most that would happen is you being banned from Live. You're still able to play your Xbox, your retail games and games on the Hard drive, the unsigned files, everything. They don't delete or touch the files on your hard drive. You lose functionality accessing their online services, like Windows XP pirated users and Windows Updates.Che said:
Stop making stuff up :lol
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Willco said:
can you give me tommorow's lottery numbers too while you're pulling other crap out of your ass?
Mr_Furious
Member
I guess it all depends on what "added functionality" actually is. Some games may be developed with HD in mind and even the added benefit of backwards compatibility may be a factor significant enough to segment the userbase. Ultimately, I don't think both models can sustain themselves in the marketplace in the long run and Microsoft will be forced to discontinue their least popular option, therefore potentially aborting support for the "added functionality" (depends on which model). Releasing 2 versions of the same console hardware, day one, may confuse consumers causing them to shy away to a "simpler" alternative (when available).Redbeard said:
But then again, this is nothing more than a rumor from The Inquirer, of all sources so whatever. History has proven that confusing the market by offering too many options by any one hardware company results in bad things.
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Willco said:
Wow, you pulled your "COCK" out of your Ass?
You just FY(ourself)UTA
I for one am definitally on board for the Xbox Next PC, assuming it is coming out.
there are alot of things about having 2 or 3 versions of Xbox 2 that will dismay gamers, like not having a HDD in the basic model. I don't have time to think too much about it or discuss it but I understand some of the arguements even without reading this whole thread.
there are alot of things about having 2 or 3 versions of Xbox 2 that will dismay gamers, like not having a HDD in the basic model. I don't have time to think too much about it or discuss it but I understand some of the arguements even without reading this whole thread.
btw, Xbox Next PC is old news.
May 27, 2004
http://money.cnn.com/2004/05/26/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm
May 27, 2004
http://money.cnn.com/2004/05/26/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm
Particle Physicist
between a quark and a baryon
ill be on board with an Xbox Next HD .. but there is no chance in hell im gonna get it at launch.. not after all those great promotions this gen .. ill be perfectly contect staying back a gen for a year or two ..
element
Member
why? What has Sony done that makes them so much better then MS?
Buys out smaller companies to give an unfair advantage to themselves? Check for both Sony and Microsoft.
Buys out larger companies to give unfair advanages to themselves? Check for both Sony and Microsoft.
What makes Sony an angel compared to Microsoft?