Support NeoGAF

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

As amazingly balsy as the Game Awards reveal was, the Xbox Series X has a rather anti-climactic look that doesn't inspire creativity as it does power.

This made me think: Will Microsoft prioritize sheer power over creativity, whether it's in the design, specs, OS, accessories of the Xbox Series X?

Its interesting to see the parallels between this situation and Silicon Valley's situation back in Season 3/4 when Richard and Action Jack Barker were competing against each other in terms of their products.

In this case, Richard (Pied Piper) represents Sony PlayStation while Action Jack Barker (Hooli) represents Microsoft Xbox.

Action Jack Barker didn't care about the creative aspects of his product; he just wanted sheer power and no-frills design philosophies embedded into his product.

Hence, the "Box" is oddly similar to the way the "Xbox Series X" is designed: A no-frills, generic-looking BOX that does its job very well.

My worries is that Xbox may adopt this approach to all other facets of the Xbox Series X from its design all the way to its exclusives.

I feel that Microsoft isn't giving their Xbox team enough credit to do something creative and bold enough to centre itself as a legitimate counterpart to Sony's PlayStation.

GAF, what do you think? Did Microsoft do the right decision of taking this no-frills approach towards its console brand?

 

[brap]

Somebody actually designed that thing? News to me.

 

[XcloudTimdog]

I think you paid way too much attention into its design. The fact that you even made a thread says it deeply effected you. To me that is exactly what Xbox wanted to do.

 

[XcloudTimdog]

Gaf: Lockhart will look def and sleeker. Will that be considered no frills too?

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

Gaf: Lockhart will look def and sleeker. Will that be considered no frills too?

We shall see if my hunch is correct or not.

Worst case scenario is they do. However, it would be rather interesting to see if they gain back marketshare with this new approach to sheer power.

Looking forward to the battle between these two titans!

 

[V4skunk]

The design choice good be for better cooling, if not it still looks nice.

 

[FranXico]

Welcome back mate. Join the other threads where we talk about the GitHub leak in circular fashion too.

 

[Codes 208]

Pretty sure the short of it is they chose functionality over design. Not that it's bad, i definitely understand the complaints of it being too big but i kinda like the sleek tower look. It sure looks better than the dvr design of the OG xbox one anyhow.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I think you paid way too much attention into its design. The fact that you even made a thread says it deeply effected you. To me that is exactly what Xbox wanted to do.

This is MHK, it's not how you think the story in your head is.

 

[FranXico]

The design choice good be for better cooling, if not it still looks nice.

Yes, it's basically a mini PC tower. And those are designed to let the hot air out by convection.

 

[intbal]

I typed out a few answers, but I didn't like any of them.
So I'll just throw in a guess about some things.
Anaconda: $700
Lockhart: $350 (released later)
Xbox One X: $300 (while supplies last)
Xbox One S: Discontinued
Still with the zero exclusives.

 

[Hawking Radiation]

The console looks to be function over form and all consoles should be designed in a way that aids in performance first over the console aesthetics.

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

The console looks to be function over form and all consoles should be designed in a way that aids in performance first over the console aesthetics.

It makes sense when you put it that way.

However, I'd argue that creative design is still something that's pursued in Silicon Valley, especially with the phone/tablet industry.

 

[Hawke502]

Dude, Phil already gave an entire interview talking about that, he said it was to keep it powerful and quiet, he said its as quiet as an One X

 

[Derktron]

I think you paid way too much attention into its design. The fact that you even made a thread says it deeply effected you. To me that is exactly what Xbox wanted to do.

Or....they needed to design it like that. But yeah I do agree.

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

Dude, Phil already gave an entire interview talking about that, he said it was to keep it powerful and quiet, he said its as quiet as an One X

It still looks 'bulky' to me, personally. It's missing that X-Factor to it, ironically.

 

[DrAspirino]

It makes sense when you put it that way.

However, I'd argue that creative design is still something that's pursued in Silicon Valley, especially with the phone/tablet industry.

True, but think again about the design. On phones/tablets, the SoC do not overheat even remotely as much as an x86 APU does and if we talk about x86 design leaders (cof cof...Apple), they sacrifice performance in order to keep aesthetics and acoustics a priority.

On the x86 world, it's either performance and reliability or aesthetics and acoustics.

 

[Hawke502]

It still looks 'bulky' to me, personally. It's missing that X-Factor to it, ironically.

its not that bulku, its 1 controller wide and 3 controllers tall more or less, and you can put it horizontally

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

its not that bulku, its 1 controller wide and 3 controllers tall more or less, and you can put it horizontally

It's definitely eye-catching to say the least because of how it imposes itself as a console.

I've never seen a console that looked like the Xbox Series X before, but I still felt like there was room for creativity in its design.

Lets see if Sony does something creative with it's new console!

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

Because Sony is superior obviously baka.

 

[quest]

It still looks 'bulky' to me, personally. It's missing that X-Factor to it, ironically.

If it's silent as the one x that is the x-factor to most of us. This device is most likely going to be 300-350 watts. It needs space to breathe and to vent that much heat silently. After the one x I trust MS engineers this was the best way to cool this console a big ass low rpm fan.

 

[lefty1117]

Original concept for XBOX SERIES X (XSEX)

 

[Derktron]

If it's silent as the one x that is the x-factor to most of us. This device is most likely going to be 300-350 watts. It needs space to breathe and to vent that much heat silently. After the one x I trust MS engineers this was the best way to cool this console a big ass low rpm fan.

Say it louder for the people in the back.

 

[ethomaz]

MS should hire a design team first.

 

[Karak]

Ya the cooling is the major factor. Will be hidden somewhere no one can see it just like all my other computers/consoles so it could be a pyramid for all I care lol. MUCH more interested in performance and cooling than what square shape it takes.

 

[captainraincoat]

Having the innards in a vertical run allows some pretty good cooling solutions.....think of that the next time you turn your PS4 on and you can't hear your game

 

[Real]

Heat rises.

 

[JustP_Gaming]

You know emotions are running at an all time high when we are still having posts like this. I honestly think some of you dont sleep at night. It's ok y'all this will pass eventually.

 

[Ruben43cb]

It is tiny. Go look at pics of it next to a controller or a banana even haha. Its just different shape but still pretty small

 

[Jigsaah]

As amazingly balsy as the Game Awards reveal was, the Xbox Series X has a rather anti-climactic look that doesn't inspire creativity as it does power.

This made me think: Will Microsoft prioritize sheer power over creativity, whether it's in the design, specs, OS, accessories of the Xbox Series X?

Its interesting to see the parallels between this situation and Silicon Valley's situation back in Season 3/4 when Richard and Action Jack Barker were competing against each other in terms of their products.

In this case, Richard (Pied Piper) represents Sony PlayStation while Action Jack Barker (Hooli) represents Microsoft Xbox.

Action Jack Barker didn't care about the creative aspects of his product; he just wanted sheer power and no-frills design philosophies embedded into his product.

Hence, the "Box" is oddly similar to the way the "Xbox Series X" is designed: A no-frills, generic-looking BOX that does its job very well.

My worries is that Xbox may adopt this approach to all other facets of the Xbox Series X from its design all the way to its exclusives.

I feel that Microsoft isn't giving their Xbox team enough credit to do something creative and bold enough to centre itself as a legitimate counterpart to Sony's PlayStation.

GAF, what do you think? Did Microsoft do the right decision of taking this no-frills approach towards its console brand?

Pretty sure Phil said something like it was built with functionality in mind. They wanted a good thermal solution, and for it to be big enough to handle AMD's tech, which typically run's pretty hot compared to Nvidia or Intel. To compare it to the Exclusives, you have to remember, Microsoft isn't sticking their noses in the creative works of the studio's it's purchased. That has been repeated over and over. I also believe that in future iterations about the console, style will be more of a priority.

 

[Bungie]

I like the look & some of these have potential.

 

[Bungie]

[Deleted]

 

[Elektro Demon]

They designed it so that it has a good cooling. But I think it's a lazy design. You can still have good cooling if you design it the old fashioned way. Why they didn't opt out for this, beats me.

 

[Ar¢tos]

By making it looking like a pc tower, Ms is easing the transition from consoles to pc that will happen after next gen.
It will be xcloud and pc only.

 

[Dr.brain64]

Can you swap internal hdd/ssd/m2 etc?

 

[DeltaPolarBear]

Sony is scared of repeating the error of PS3 and The Cell. PS5 will be cheap and easy to program.

What is MS afraid of? RRoD. Scarlet would be impossible to overheat.

 

[Ruben43cb]

My making it looking like a pc tower, Ms is easing the transition from consoles to pc that will happen after next gen.
It will be xcloud and pc only.

Well they may sell xbox PCs... kind of like alienware. But I hope xbox doesnt disappear

 

[imsosleepy]

I really like the design lol

 

[DeltaPolarBear]

Well they may sell xbox PCs... kind of like alienware. But I hope xbox doesnt disappear

There is no money in it. Without the walled garden, there would not be paid multiplayer and MS would not sell it at cost. MS needed to stop people running software that didn't pay MS 30% of sales, which means no Steam or Origin or Gog, etc.
MS does not own the pc platform. It wish it does.

 

[phil_t98]

It still looks 'bulky' to me, personally. It's missing that X-Factor to it, ironically.

what one person thinks looks wise it isn't good another will love its simple design. how often do people actually look at the Xbox or playstation? not much they just play games on them

 

[Xenon]

 

[StreetsofBeige]

It's technically still X-Rectangle.

If they can shave off 3-4 inches it will be a true box.

 

[Hideous Snake]

Although I don't like the design but it's obvious that it's made for better cooling. Surprisingly it doesn't look as big as in the pictures. Also as Phil said "Powerful and quiet" so I'm sure they know what they're doing with their next console and not just some rubbish design

 

[nikolino840]

Welcome back

Well.... there's stuff inside the box,Is not empty

You could upload some images of cases you prefer most then the Xbox series X (or draw one)

 

[Virex]

Well it's more powerful than the PS5 will be. So I assume what's inside is what matters.

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

Well it's more powerful than the PS5 will be. So I assume what's inside is what matters.

Not confirmed yet.

 

[CRAIG667]

Well, I really like the design.
Of all the Xbox family it's up there with the white S for me

 

[XcloudTimdog]

Not confirmed yet.

If sony looked like a piece of junk but was more powerful, would you be ok with that?

 

[longdi]

Im not an engineer. But my guess this design can house a regular 180-200mm fan at the bottom to exhaust air from the same size vents on top

The conventional consoles/laptop designs, have smaller silts as vents and the fan blades are thinner.

Im not sure how this mini tower design should house the heatsink. Since with silted fan, it sits on top directly of the heatsink.

Will we have overhanging heatsink on the XOX? How much more effective will such tower design really have?

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

If sony looked like a piece of junk but was more powerful, would you be ok with that?

Honestly, I would not be okay with that.

I like balance when it comes to these things.

Most important thing though is quality of manufacturing, which Microsoft has a rather poor track record of.