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[Wiz]

My understanding of the devices;

XBOX360 Mini device
- No disc drive, so it's essentially useless as a standalone XBOX for gaming, but good for TV functionality alone
- Requires an internet connection to function
- Access to the XBL marketplace and whatnot
- Will share some features of the Durango TV (IPTV) functionality (to combat Apple TV)
- Required to play 360 games, when connected with the durango


Durango
- The new 'new' XBOX
- Plays Durango games etc, uses Kinect functionality
- Will not play 360 games, you must hook up the Mini device once you insert a 360 disk to play (you put the 360 disc in the Durango disc tray, but it runs only when connected with the Mini)
- Requires an internet connection for TV functionality
- Plays used games
- Plays offline games

You and me are on the same page here. And honestly, this doesn't sound too bad - if all true.

 

[Phonomezer]

sounds awesome, lots of crow about to be consumed

There's not a buffet large enough.

 

[BloodMoney]

"Durango will be priced competitively according to PS4′s price."

Well maybe you better hope PS4 won't be $500 either

I am prepared for both PS4 and Durango to come in at $450 for the premium SKU... but in durango's case it sounds like its going to end up being $600 total for the 2nd unit.

 

[Mononoke]

This sounds like a bad idea. Two seperate devices to play BC?

Added cost to what could be an already expenisve system?

Do not want.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

It's a cheap standalone 360 that also interfaces with Durango. I don't know why "add-on" is being bandied about. And if any 360 interfaces with Durango, you're essentially calling the Xbox 360 a Durango add-on, when it clearly also functions as a standalone device.

As a standalone device I think it's only TV functionality and XBL marketplace titles, you won't be able to play 360 discs on it without the Durango.

 

[shandy706]

Durango doesn't require internet connection, the new XBOX 360 does.

Don't be stupid. It needs it for the extra features as a cable/pass through box...not to play games.

Great news that offline gaming and used games are a go!

There's not a buffet large enough.

Ha, people won't eat crow. They'll shift their complaints to new things.

 

[Beer Monkey]

People who don't want to pay for BC don't have to buy it. Its the perfect solution and nobody can complain any more. If BC doesn't matter to you ignore it.

So much saltiness.

By the time I sell my Slim on craigslist this will be cheap.

 

[Trevelyon]

Realistically how small can this thing be? Using say, the PStwo Slim as a base line.

 

[Devilgunman]

This used game allow rumor totally contradicts with previous rumors saying Durango disk is worthless after installing and can be tossed away.

 

[BishopLamont]

It's possible, although very unlikely, that you can't play 360 games with it without Durango, but there is no way you can't use it for other functions as it's specifically touted as the apple tv competitor

You need the Durango, it says it in the article, and without the Durango you can't play 360 games. That apple tv competitor thing is just fluff, its clearly made to play 360 games.

Seems to be some debate here. I can understand reasons for either approach. Which is the reality?

Read the article. It requires the Durango to play 360 games.

 

[BrownWalrus]

Ehh not sure that i like the idea of stacking other things to my primary console. I prefer having my next gen console do everything out the box, so i would actually prefer Gaikai over this alternative as long as the majority of the PS3 library is available to stream from launch and the prices are reasonable.

 

[VibratingDonkey]

 

[Zeppelin]

It wouldn't be able to be sold separately, then.

True. They should probably make a mini-360 SKU as well. SKUs... SKUs everywhere!

I'm thinking this hardware solution is better than Gaikai's streaming solution. Gaikai will probably take a long time to get a decent amount of PS3 games on their network, right?

I honestly doubt Gaikai itself will ever be decent. But if they get it working for one game wouldn't that mean they've essentially made it work for all games?

 

[Lynn616]

It's a cheap standalone 360 that also interfaces with Durango. I don't know why "add-on" is being bandied about. And if any 360 interfaces with Durango, you're essentially calling the Xbox 360 a Durango add-on, when it clearly also functions as a standalone device.

It really is that simple. New super cheap standalone 360. And they can say Oh by the way it can interface with the 720 too if you have one.

 

[SkyMasterson]

This is the dumbest idea ever. Buying a console that piggybacks off another console to give me BC from my last console doesn't sound like the best way to go about this.

Seriously.

In fact, I'm still confused after reading about it. No way that ends up being true. Sounds way too confusing.

Fucking companies man, just give me my BC MS and I will buy your console at launch.

 

[Mifune]

Hallelujah to all of this if true. Now bring on the games.

 

[Rhindle]

As a standalone device I think it's only TV functionality and XBL marketplace titles, you won't be able to play 360 discs on it without the Durango.

I suppose though, it could contain the 360 CPU/GPU combo, and enable disc-based BC on the Durango unit.

 

[harSon]

Sounds good. Cant wait until Microsoft unveils their new console. It seems like they have some inteResting stuff in the pipeline.

 

[flaxknuckles]

If this means we can use the new Xbox features while playing old games at the same time I'm down for it.

 

[Soriku]

Excellent news if true which seems likely. Though the 360 add on seems pointless

Pointless for people who own a functioning 360. Not pointless for anyone else.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

The new xbox sounds pretty fucking amazing based on all I've heard today. All these possibilities, especially on the cable tv side of things, and I'll be able to play proper next gen games, too?

This is shaping up to be an amazing device from the sounds of it. However, just because this sounds like good news, doesn't mean I'm believing it yet. I'd like to hear it from MS, but I like where this is going.

 

[Wiseblood]

So this will work over a local network? I wouldn't mind getting this 360 BC/IPTV box and putting it in the bedroom for media stuff and have the living room Durango access it when I want to play a 360 game.

 

[Grimsen]

That is pretty good news. I can get this add-on if my 360 dies.

 

[BrownWalrus]

You need the Durango, it says it in the article, and without the Durango you can't play 360 games. That apple tv competitor thing is just fluff, its clearly made to play 360 games.

I'm a little confused about this thing.

Why would you even purchase it, aside from the TV functionality, which i assume would be standard in the Durango itself.

For $150, you can just buy a standard 360 by the time the Durango comes out. I'm guessing it just might be a more attractive, smaller "Attatchment" that you can just pop discs into, or something. Hopefully it will at least upscale all 360 games to 1080p.

edit: completely missed the point that you put the 360 disc into the durango itself but you need the device to be attached in order for them to work. interesting

 

[blackflag]

that's actually kind of cool, but ya know, if the other rumors are true......won't matter.

 

[R3TRO]

So I'll have to buy this to play GTA V...They have me by the balls.

 

[PG2G]

No, but there could be more elegant solutions. I think the Sony patent was more of a small box containing only the custom parts required for BC while the main console handled the rest. This Durango rumour just sounds like a 360 without a disc drive. The end result may actually be closer to the Sony idea (we'll see), but if this rumour is true their solution to BC is to just buy a separate console, and that's not really BC to me.

I see what you mean. It has some components that won't be directly related to processing (storage, networking, video out, input stuff) which pushes the price up some. I guess because they want to be able to sell it standalone.

In the end it doesn't really matter though, as long as it is priced and sized appropriately. $99 would be good IMO, $150 is pushing it a bit as a BC solution.

that's actually kind of cool, but ya know, if the other rumors are true......won't matter.

What other rumors? This leak pretty much discounts every bad rumor about Durango.

 

[chris0701]

The article also mentions about "specification update"

Microsoft’s delay in announcing these products from April goes more inline with not having a physical set of devices to show (among specification updates), which should be ready by May or June when this information is officially released.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

I suppose though, it could contain the 360 CPU/GPU combo, and enable disc-based BC on the Durango unit.

Yeah, that's what it'll do, the Mini will just act as a catalyst to allow 360 discs to run on the Durango, on its own it'll just be TV functionality, basically.

 

[Hex]

Wondering how long it will be before the stories of people buying the add on by itself thinking that it is a stand alone device.

 

[Dreamgazer]

+1 to the anti-always-online camp.
+1 to new comers to the system.

-1 to the always-online-is-necessary-defender.
-1 to the "I don't want so many devices under my TV for BC" camp.

I'm okay with this, but it really depends on the price of the BC device.

 

[Zyae]

Ehh not sure that i like the idea of stacking other things to my primary console. I prefer having my next gen console do everything out the box, so i would actually prefer Gaikai over this alternative as long as the majority of the PS3 library is available to stream from launch and the prices are reasonable.

You'd prefer being required to re purchase all of your games on a streaming service in order to play them, other than buying an attachment that provides other features that lets you play all of the games you already own?

 

[optimiss]

stackable?

 

[Officerrob]

My understanding of the devices;

XBOX360 Mini device
- No disc drive, so it's essentially useless as a standalone XBOX for gaming, but good for TV functionality alone
- Requires an internet connection to function
- Access to the XBL marketplace and whatnot (so it can play downloadable titles)
- Will share some features of the Durango TV (IPTV) functionality (to combat Apple TV)
- Required to play 360 games, when connected with the Durango, can NOT play 360 discs when not connected


Durango
- The new 'new' XBOX
- Plays Durango games etc, uses Kinect functionality
- Will not play 360 games, you must hook up the Mini device once you insert a 360 disk to play (you put the 360 disc in the Durango disc tray, but it runs only when connected with the Mini)
- Requires an internet connection for TV functionality
- Plays used games
- Plays offline games

 

[daxgame]

thank god if true. Still not really happy with the direction, can't wait to see the games

 

[c0de]

So always online and no used games = 360 mini.

 

[gofreak]

I'm not exactly sure why the mini 360 requires internet connection in the first place.


Hows it not an attachment if its useless without the Durango?

It's not?

The report seems clear that it's a new 360, but without a disc drive. It will play digital games. It'll offer network services. It'll be spun as a set-top-box.

It will work without Durango.

However if you put it on the same local network as a Durango, you'll be able to 'remote play' it from Durango - play 360 software over the local network through the Durango interface. If you put a 360 disc in your Durango you'll be able to play that too - presumably it will shuffle data from the optical disc on Durango over the network to a reserve on the 360 hard drive and the 360 will play the software from there.

I think you'll be able to connect existing 360s to Durango in this manner also. The new revision is just the latest 360 revision, and it might be styled to sit next to a Durango better, but functionally will be the same in terms of interfacing with Durango.

 

[Kazuma Kiryu]

oh man, that new 360 sku that people were talking about will be this thing without a dvd drive?
man, what a bummer, i was really interested when people said there was gonna be a $99 360 sku, but not for this...

 

[AgentP]

It is. Now I don't have to worry about losing my content when my 360 dies and MS have stopped making them/they are extremely hard to find on the market.

That is some strange logic. You don't have to worry about playing your 360 games if MS stops making the 360 because now you can buy a disc-less 360 to play them.

I think you'll be able to connect existing 360s to Durango in this manner also. .

Via what connection and why bother?

 

[mocoworm]

MS delivers ... If true.

Cannot wait for the actual reveal.

 

[BocoDragon]

So many people were requesting this kind of thing in the recent PS4 no-BC threads.

Depends on how big/expensive this is. It will determine whether its a good idea, or just begs the question "why not just keep a 360 hooked up?"

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Title should probably be edited to reflect the confirmed offline play and used games. Those are probably the most important thing to take away from this and it's not mentioned in this or the other threads title.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

Excellent news if true which seems likely. Though the 360 add on seems pointless

We need them to officially announce this stuff to fill in the blanks. As of right now it sounds like a $99 360 Super Slim that functions the same was as a PSP Go.

 

[bananas]

Seems to be some debate here. I can understand reasons for either approach. Which is the reality?

The 360 mini is a standalone device, in that it is designed to be a Apple TV competitor with a focus on media. However, it has no disc drive.

It also, optionally, works as an attachment to Durango (which supposedly already has all the media device functionality built-in) to allow BC with Xbox 360 games. You put the disc in the Durango, it's being processed on the 360 mini hardware that you attached to it, and is outputted through the Durango to the TV.

 

[Dunlop]

So the solution to the BC question is buying/keeping a 360. Got it. Captain obvious to the rescue.

It is to purchase a media box that will have the additional benefit of allowing you to play your old 360 library to answer the niche of people who want BC.

HDMI Passthru on Durango and this addon to replace my Boxee Box suddenly has me interested. I traded in my 360 last week so I don't really care about BC aspect of it.

It will come down to what type of IPTV features are offered/allowed in communist Canada. My STB uses Mediaroom so who knows

 

[GavinGT]

As a standalone device I think it's only TV functionality and XBL marketplace titles, you won't be able to play 360 discs on it without the Durango.

It sounds like there's no playing of 360 discs with this 360 mini. I don't think you're going to pop a disc in your Durango, have that disc data streamed to the 360 mini, have the video/sound signal processed there, and then sent back to the Durango. That just doesn't sound feasible, at least not if they're aiming for a wifi interface. More likely, if you want to play 360 discs on your Durango, you'll want to buy an already existing Xbox 360 model that contains a disc drive and connect that to your Durango.

So always online and no used games = 360 mini.

Always online = a catchy marketing term for Durango to describe its media features
no used games/internet connection required to download marketplace content (not necessarily to access existing content) = 360 mini

oh man, that new 360 sku that people were talking about will be this thing without a dvd drive?
man, what a bummer, i was really interested when people said there was gonna be a $99 360 sku, but not for this...

The new 360 sku was always described as not having a disc drive.

 

[Lynn616]

As a standalone device I think it's only TV functionality and XBL marketplace titles, you won't be able to play 360 discs on it without the Durango.

Yes a download only 360. I love the idea.

 

[shandy706]

The article also mentions about "specification update"

8-O

 

[mavs]

Wondering how long it will be before the stories of people buying the add on by itself thinking that it is a stand alone device.

Nothing in the article says it isn't...

 

[surly]

Odd how a mention of this hasn't been in any of the thread titles yet: -

Durango itself will also always be online like any other device (correct with rumors), but it will not be a requirement to play local content and it will not prevent playing used games.

I guess people aren't in such a rush to post this over the previous rumours. Funny that.

This sounds like a bad idea. Two seperate devices to play BC?

Added cost to what could be an already expenisve system?

It's a great idea.

The $99 device is stand-alone. It functions like a Roku box but also gives you the XBLA marketplace. The market is big for devices like that, but this would be the only one that offers a decent game selection.

If you have a 360 already, you don't need the $99 device to play 360 games. If you are buying a Durango and you didn't own a 360 and want to play 360 games, you will now have a cheaper way of doing so.

The alternative would be to put 360 hardware inside Durango, pushing the price up when not everybody cares about BC anyway.