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[sonycowboy]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=6980

Xbox 2 set to feature removable hard drive - reports

Rob Fahey 12:47 23/02/2005

But are these sealed units, or is the fabled xPod making a return to the rumour mill?

Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console is set to feature a removable hard drive bay, according to online reports today, which will allow users to upgrade their entry-level systems to include mass storage capabilities.

Citing a "reliable source", technology news site Engadget revealed details of the removable hard drive, claiming that the unit attaches to the top of the console "in a really slick way, almost like the hood scoop on a muscle car."

The report tallies with claims from developers working on the system, who have told GamesIndustry.biz in the past that Microsoft has disclosed that there will be a mass storage device, but that they should not rely on its presence for their games.

It's been assumed for some time that this means that Xbox 2 will be sold in at least two basic configurations - with and without a mass storage unit - and today's report seems to indicate that it will be possible to upgrade between those models by adding the hard drive.

One vital question, however, is whether this hard drive will simply be a sealed memory unit (which may actually be a hard drive, or may be a very high capacity flash drive) or if it will sport a screen and buttons, allowing it to be used as a portable media player.

Comments made to GamesIndustry.biz by sources who claim to have seen the new console suggest that the latter may be the case - resurrecting the "xPod" rumours which originally surfaced last year, after XNA boss J Allard allegedly told fellow snowboarders in a bar at a Canadian resort that the next Xbox would come with an iPod style media player.

Engadget also reports, from the same source, that the new console is set to be called "Xbox 360" when it hits the market; at present, the only official moniker attached to the project is "Xenon", its development codename.

Microsoft has reported tested a number of names on consumer focus groups, and is believed to be determined not to launch as "Xbox 2" - just as rival Sony is apparently keen to drop the numbering system from its next PlayStation console.

"Xbox 360", "Xbox Next" and "NeXtBox" have all been suggested as names that the company is considering in the past few months - and if those sound too convoluted to be real, it's worth bearing in mind that according to UK tech news site The Inquirer, the current frontrunner for the name of the next Windows operating system is Windows e-XPedition...

 

[Blimblim]

The european Xbox teams should get to see the final Xenon design within a few days, if not already done. So we should get more on more informations about all this in the coming days.
If there is really a Xpod (I have no information about this), then I sure hope there will be a way to backup the saves one way or another, considering how easy to lose or steal these things are. I'd love some way to backup my saves over xbox live so I can link them to my account and be able to get them back in case my xbox or hard drive dies.

 

[SteveMeister]

The european Xbox teams should get to see the final Xenon design within a few days, if not already done. So we should get more on more informations about all this in the coming days.
If there is really a Xpod (I have no information about this), then I sure hope there will be a way to backup the saves one way or another, considering how easy to lose or steal these things are. I'd love some way to backup my saves over xbox live so I can link them to my account and be able to get them back in case my xbox or hard drive dies.

And they will be just as bound by NDA as we American Xenon developers are...

 

[Blimblim]

And they will be just as bound by NDA as we American Xenon developers are...

Of course, but knowing these guys there will be leaks. Yes, leaks, as multiple times. They just can't shut up.
Hell, I even got some information about the system color and overall design from 3 different sources already, and none of them has been to Redmond yet... Scary

 

[Folder]

So...

This report is taken from the Endgeadget report from yesterday, right? Endgadget also reported, last week I think, perhaps the week before, that the Xbox 2 would also see wireless controllers.

Aren't both these stories, like, a year old?

What's more interesting is the Xbox 2 WiFi-enabled chatter doing the rounds right now IMO.

Edit: NDAs mean nothing to a developer with a pint of free lager in his hand!

 

[sonycowboy]

Edit: NDAs mean nothing to a developer with a pint of free lager in his hand!

Just ask Capcom :lol

 

[Pug]

Just ask Capcom

Nicely landed low blow there Sonycowboy!

 

[jarrod]

VMU 2?

 

[kaching]

Citing a "reliable source", technology news site Engadget revealed details of the removable hard drive, claiming that the unit attaches to the top of the console "in a really slick way, almost like the hood scoop on a muscle car."

So much for an "inhaled" design.

Sounds fine though, as long as MS is having devs treat the situation as if every Xb2 has a hdd.

 

[Deku Tree]

So in order to have a HDD in my xbox next, I have to buy another (most likely expensive) all purpose media player? No thanks. I hope there is more to this story.

 

[Ghost]

I could see maybe MS teaming with Creative/iRiver/both to create a new line of 360 compatible media players, i hope they dont try and break into the hardware part of that industry themselves as it'll probably lead to an inferior media player that i need to buy just for its 360 functionality.

 

[Shig]

This would be a very interesting move. A lot more people will be able to justify the extra price of the HD unit if it has secondary functionality like this. And they'd get people that don't even have XB2 buying the "Xpod" to use as a standalone MP3 player or whatever. Pretty clever idea.

 

[Razoric]

thats pretty smooth

 

[Redbeard]

I like the idea. It would be nice to be able to manage the contents of the HDD without going into some menu in the Xbox dashboard.

 

[Deg]

Sounds great. Much better than Revolution. I find it amusing that MS were dumb enough to not use the harddisk this gen when they could have. Even simple picture viewing would be great(as a real feature not modding). Consoles could possibly be great for this stuff in the living room and could even give them a real place in living rooms. Rivals are of course the digital services by digital tv, media boxes etc.

For the portable media player i dont know. If the harddisk is detachable from the media player thats another thing.

Xenon sounds very promising and with the way Sony have been going lately MS will likely provide better in these areas.

 

[Razoric]

"Xpod" could be a trojan horse into portable gaming too. Imagine that right now it is mainly storage for Xenon and has the ability to play Mp3s and whatnot. But if it had a screen, maybe you could even play some games on it... such as upgrade an RPG character for an xenon rpg while you are on the road. Eventually people get used to the whole thing, MS releases downloadable games for Xpod (or even an upgraded xpod 2) via Xbox Live... ba bam!! Console, Portable, Online Service all wrapped into one neat package.

 

[Deg]

MS are going to do a handheld console, its only a matter of time.

 

[Duckhuntdog]

what this about fragmenting your userbase? I keeed.

 

[Odnetnin]

so in essence. a $80 USD (or apporximate) say 60-80gigg HDD is the new memory card? I like the sound of that.

 

[bigNman]

Much better than Revolution.

Tell all. Oh that's right, you dont have a clue about Revolution.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

This all sounds great for hardcore gamers like the ones in this forum. The whole xPod rumor was great even a year ago, but how does this play with the mainstream crowd. The average consumer doesn't want to have to pay extra for something like this. They also don't want to have to wade through several different, and possibly confusing, versions of the game system hardware just to get what they want. One box that has what they need, take it home, plug it in. How much would this media player add to the cost? Will it divide the Xbox community in some way with games getting some enhancements if you have the add on drive? Won't something like this be necessary for Xbox Live? Downloadable content needs to be stored somewhere. Lets not forget the success rate of these types of add-ons in the past. (Sega CD, 32x, PS2 HD, 64DD, etc.)

I guess at this point, I'm still taking these rumors with a healthy dose of skeptisism. There are so many rumors floating around at the moment it's hard to know what to believe.

 

[Prine]

Does sound awesome indeed. Get home from school, put the HDD in my Xbox 360 and play my music using custom soundtrack option. It also opens up a lot more avenues, like Jarrod said, VMU like device, being able level up chracters and whatnot. Might even make Xbox 2 attractive in japan considering the amounf of funtionailty this Xpod "could" have with other devices.

 

[Razoric]

Won't something like this be necessary for Xbox Live? Downloadable content needs to be stored somewhere. Lets not forget the success rate of these types of add-ons in the past. (Sega CD, 32x, PS2 HD, 64DD, etc.)

Memory cards could be used for storage. I fully expect them to be 20-40 megs next gen.

And every add-on you mentioned was released at or near the end of the consoles life-cycle in an attempt to match or "catch up" to another competing product. This harddrive (if the rumor is true) will be released at launch and you can even get it bundled with the system.

I see two options here:
Get an Xbox 2 w/ HDD and never worry about memory cards or
get an XBox 2 w/ memory card and the option to buy the HDD later.

Not really that confusing.

 

[Blimblim]

Memory cards could be used for storage. I fully expect them to be 20-40 megs next gen.

The leaked Xenon Development Kit document stated 64 mbytes for memcards.

 

[Shig]

I'm sure the music industry could really get behind this... They could allow songs from games to be DLed to the HD player, people would pay more attention to the songs when using it as an MP3 player, and that could positively impact CD sales.

 

[Redbeard]

Lets not forget the success rate of these types of add-ons in the past. (Sega CD, 32x, PS2 HD, 64DD, etc.)

The success of those add-ons were based on games. The HDD solution that's being proposed here seems to be more for extraneous media purposes (and convenience); it really doesn't matter if it's a success or not if no games are riding on it.

 

[Razoric]

The leaked Xenon Development Kit document stated 64 mbytes for memcards.

Ahh nice, I figured they'd be way up there.

 

[Pug]

Good for a laugh more info to be found here http://www.engadget.com/entry/1769878333365299/ Just watch out for the Red Bull and tequila

 

[PhatSaqs]

what this about fragmenting your userbase? I keeed.

What userbase?

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Well, after having the hd in the Xbox this generation, I don't want to live without it in the next, so I for one would buy the add on, especially if it provided even more functionality then just storing games (ie: a media player of some type). Although I already have an mp3 player and a personal media player. I was just thinking what this might mean to the general consumer. I just hope it's affordable. Can't wait for E3 when the speculation will finally be over.

 

[AndoCalrissian]

If the Xpod was true, and the system had backwards compatability, I might end up buying it.

 

[Azih]

The Rumours have been flying thick and fast the last little while.

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

I suppose/hope there will be some games made for using the HD, so on the cover there will be some "HD required" label.

And if this is true, MS could even use the same strategy about the disk reader: it seems it will be a common DVD, but if they architect Xbox 2 to be easily expandable, there could be some way to switch it with an HD-DVD when they'll be available at reasonable prices.

 

[Duckhuntdog]

What userbase?

The userbase MS is confident that will stick with the Xbox brand and buy a Xenon. You know ALL 18 million of them, not one defector, 100% loyalty. Like Nintendo's fanbase.

 

[Deg]

Xenon should do well. MS are heading in the right direction unlike Nintendo who are going to release a crippled console like GC almost certainly.

 

[rastex]

If MS allows us to use USB storage, then that automatically makes all our iPods, Shuffles, Zens, iRivers, etc etc a music playing Xenon save center. I *really* like the sound of that.

 

[Azih]

If MS allows us to use USB storage, then that automatically makes all our iPods, Shuffles, Zens, iRivers, etc etc a music playing Xenon save center. I *really* like the sound of that.

That seems to work against the Xpod idea where MS markets their own snazzy peripheral that fits into the case.

Either that or the snazzy MS peripheral is USB storage for the casuals while the people who know what's up can use thier own storage devices.

 

[rastex]

Either that or the snazzy MS peripheral is USB storage for the casuals while the people who know what's up can use thier own storage devices.

Bingo! Just like the Xbox LINK cable, Xbox surround sound player, etc etc. Or the Xbox-specific device could provide extra functionality like soundtrack support whereas standalone devices could only support saves.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

If MS allows us to use USB storage, then that automatically makes all our iPods, Shuffles, Zens, iRivers, etc etc a music playing Xenon save center. I *really* like the sound of that.

I could really get into this! Any device that shows up as a Mass Storage Device in Windows can be used as a storage device for Xbox 2

 

[Azih]

I could really get into this! Any device that shows up as a Mass Storage Device in Windows can be used as a storage device for Xbox 2

Especially since it would make transferring Save files easy as pie. Hell we could have a GAF save file transfer system, and I can imagine games that would make full use of people creating their own levels, characters and uploading them for other people to download..


of course it would make save file hacking real easy.... hrm.

Edit: Also.. THESE ARE RUMOURS, I refuse to get excited about this crap. Though if you're listening Microsoft... MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

 

[Deg]

Especially since it would make transferring Save files easy as pie. Hell we could have a GAF save file transfer system, and I can imagine games that would make full use of people creating their own levels, characters and uploading them for other people to download..


of course it would make save file hacking real easy.... hrm.

Edit: Also.. THESE ARE RUMOURS, I refuse to get excited about this crap. Though if you're listening Microsoft... MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

Each xbox could have its unique id leading to a unique save file? You can do this with GC and PS2 too with those usb memory cards.

 

[Odnetnin]

Especially since it would make transferring Save files easy as pie. Hell we could have a GAF save file transfer system, and I can imagine games that would make full use of people creating their own levels, characters and uploading them for other people to download..


of course it would make save file hacking real easy.... hrm.

Edit: Also.. THESE ARE RUMOURS, I refuse to get excited about this crap. Though if you're listening Microsoft... MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

oh snap don't post comments like that. It makes the whole thing sound like PC. :X

 

[Deg]

oh snap don't post comments like that. It makes the whole thing sound like PC. :X

More importantly you could transfer data from your pc. Sound files, pictures etc. View you recent photo collection on tv, view recent movie clips from a holiday etc.

 

[human5892]

I would like this news only if a non-Xpod version of Xenon was sold. I don't want to pay for (and I'm sure I'm not alone on this one) an extra piece of hardware that I didn't want/need in the first place.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I would like this news only if a non-Xpod version of Xenon was sold. I don't want to pay for (and I'm sure I'm not alone on this one) an extra piece of hardware that I didn't want/need in the first place.

Umm...that's pretty much been said from the start, even in this latest round of an old rumor. It's an add on.

 

[Particle Physicist]

Citing a "reliable source", technology news site Engadget revealed details of the removable hard drive, claiming that the unit attaches to the top of the console "in a really slick way, almost like the hood scoop on a muscle car."

sounds like its going to be really ugly again.

 

[GhaleonEB]

sounds like its going to be really ugly again.

I don't think so. Remember the description from a while back, about how the system has an "inverted" design? Sounds like htere is a curved, concave space on the top, which is filled in to be a curved, converse space when the HD is attached. If the curves fit with the overall design of the system, then I can see this being pretty slick.

 

[Funky Papa]

sounds like its going to be really ugly again.

No

 

[Azih]

No

Oxygen?

 

[3rdman]

In a perfect world where money falls from the heavens and MS gladly sells everything at a huge loss, I'd like to see something like this for the Xpod..

Remember the days of downloadable games like Pinta Quest for Skies of Arcadia that played in the VMU's of Sega's Dreamcast? How about downloadable or unlockable mini games that look more like modern cell phones or GBA games? How about if it also played video? You could then copy over any video footage for viewing on the TV. Others have mentioned mp3 playback, but imagine how that could be implemented...How about a feature where the developers allow you to download the game's soundtrack for portable listening?

Anyways, this little device (if true) would really sell well. Everyone and their brothers is buying an iPod and its popularity is obvious. Selling something like that with greater functionality at a better price and you've got a winner!