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[ParkPace]

EDIT: pic was too big, so I removed it.

 

[Timedog]

Do you think they can firmware upgrade the harddrive to be larger? This kind of thing should be possible through xbox live right??? Firmware fanboys unite!

 

[IVYLancets]

CNN had a news report on Xbox 360 during E3 this year, the reporter was convinced and stated that the Xbox 360 as we seen it, is not the only form it'll have. He claimed that MS will be using the Xbox 360 chip set into other appliances, like DVD Players, Cable boxes, other devices that connects to a TV. When you look at the 1up.com feature comparing the Xbox 360 and Dreamcast, the last one they left out was 'Dreamcast on a Chip'. Something that MS, if CNN is right, is planning on doing too. I guess they just imagine a time you buy something and it already has the ability to play Xbox 360 games whether you like it or not.

 

[Vormund]

Possible. Considering they own the chipset this time round, it wouldn't be a bad idea to recoup costs.

 

[IVYLancets]

Possible. Considering they own the chipset this time round, it wouldn't be a bad idea to recoup costs.

I agree. It would seem like something MS would do, trying to pimp out this tech as much as possible. I can imagine them using one of their partnerships, like with Samsung to include a built-in Xbox 360 into Samsung's HD TVs. Just bring over an X360 controller and boot it up. That is what the CNN reporter was hinting at. Although, we know how reporters don't always have the best idea of what they're reporting.

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

Future proof? HDD. I've noticed only 12 or 13gb are available to the user right now. That space could be put to good use in the short term. And MS could release larger drives in the future as they get Marketplace to where they want it with downloadable movies, music and whatever else.

Now if only MS would discontinue the retard pack, and offer the retards a deal where they can get the HDD cheap at cost.

 

[Jerkface]

The only thing I can think of is the larger spaced discs that work in standard DVD players that they had invested in the development of. It could be that they are banking on that to come out of the labs pretty soon for use as a proprietary format that would work on existing 360 units.

 

[mrklaw]

Sell the MCE application to XP owners.

 

[Ghost]

Larger hard drives + internet delivery = future proof

 

[----]

Xbox 360 itself is not very future proof


1.) no Blu-Ray or even HD-DVD
2.) you cannot upgrade the CPU, GPU and probably not even the RAM
3.) narrow 128-bit bus
4.) no HDMI support
5.) no practical, feasible support for 1080p


but Xbox 360 software is future proof because 360's successor will be 100% fully backwards compatible

1.) HD movies are still possible. See all of the 720p movie trailers on Live. I think it's an assumption that consumers are going to embrace either HD-DVD or Blu Ray especially when you've got crap like HDCP to contend with.
2.) But you can easily upgrade the DVD drive to an HD or Blu Ray drive to allow the system to play HD movies. This would be no different than the numerous tweaks and hardware changes that the PS2 has undergone in the past generation.
3.) True, but I don't think anyone really cares.
4.) HDMI support can easily be added with a new av cable accessory (MS says doesn't make sense to support since so few have it
5.) ATi has said that the Xbox 360 can do 1080p, but it's not likely we will see many if any 1080p games this generation. Even on PS3 I expect 1080p in games to be about as well supported as 1080i in Xbox 1 games. Considering how few people will have 1080p tv sets it makes no sense for a game designer this generation to try to make their game in 1080p.

Obviously you can't ugrade CPU/RAM/GPU/Bandwidth but that is very different than the media drive. Things like the DVD drive, hard drive, ethernet port, etc. can be easily upgraded during the life of the console. Realistically speaking does anyone really believe that if Blu Ray or HD-DVD became a crucial technology that went mainstream and became a huge selling point for PS3 that MS would just sit on it's hands and not add the technology to the Xbox 360? There are a lot of things keeping Blu-Ray/HD DVD from ever being successful (competing formats, market confusion, Nazi-like content protection, popularity of DVD, lack of HDTV's in homes). If high definition movie playback becomes essential to next gen video game systems then MS will add the technology. When Christmas 2007, 2008, 2009 roll around the objective is going to be selling the console to new consumers, not worrying about if the people who bought the Xbox 360 2-3 years ago are happy with the addition of HD movie playback. And if the studios will let them they will probably offer HD movie downloads over the internet.

 

[Amir0x]

2.) But you can easily upgrade the DVD drive to an HD or Blu Ray drive to allow the system to play HD movies. This would be no different than the numerous tweaks and hardware changes that the PS2 has undergone in the past generation.

Actually that would pretty much be entirely different from the hardware changes PS2 has undergone this past generation.

 

[gofreak]

1.) HD movies are still possible. See all of the 720p movie trailers on Live. I think it's an assumption that consumers are going to embrace either HD-DVD or Blu Ray especially when you've got crap like HDCP to contend with.

But studios have, and that's where the content comes from. Anyone can establish a new movie distribution standard if they wanted, but if the studio support isn't there, what's the point? On the consumer end, downloading a trailer and downloading a movie are also two different propositions from a feasibility point of view..

2.) But you can easily upgrade the DVD drive to an HD or Blu Ray drive to allow the system to play HD movies. This would be no different than the numerous tweaks and hardware changes that the PS2 has undergone in the past generation.

It'd be quite more significant. And could you upgrade existing units? Probably not due to the video output available.

4.) HDMI support can easily be added with a new av cable accessory (MS says doesn't make sense to support since so few have it

I don't think an analog-to-hdmi cable would comply with HDCP concerns, if you are talking about using it in conjunction with a new drive you plug into your existing x360.

 

[open_mouth_]

In the future, the 360 could likely have:

1) HD DVD or Blu-Ray (whichever format prevails) drive version to play HD movies, but games will still come on DVD's and be playable across all Xbox 360's.

2) Downloadable movies, music, tv shows, music videos, and more

3) Tivo-like add-on

4) Video chat (this is confirmed already)

 

[bunker]

Larger hard drives + internet delivery = future proof

agreed, I could see them moving to that business model in the future. But I think it is all dependent on broadband infrastructure. Delivering a 7 GB game at today's broadband speeds would take you quite a while to download, but with new technologies like Verizon's FIOS service in the US offering greatly improved download speeds, I could see this happening.

 

[M3wThr33]

4) Video chat (this is confirmed already)

Right, like the PS2 or Xbox ones ever caught on in Japan.

 

[FiRez]

The X360 is future proofed

If they actually put an standard HDD, I would believe that......but nooooooooooooo.

 

[Kung Foo Kid]

I think its a case of them viewing the new format choices (blue-ray and HD-DVD) to be obsolete in the future. In my opinion they see the future where all content is streamed or downloaded to the harddrive. In that case then any type of physical format would be pointless and technically they would a have a future proof entertainment box. All you would have to do is upgrade the harddrive.

hmm...

 

[DarienA]

agreed, I could see them moving to that business model in the future. But I think it is all dependent on broadband infrastructure. Delivering a 7 GB game at today's broadband speeds would take you quite a while to download, but with new technologies like Verizon's FIOS service in the US offering greatly improved download speeds, I could see this happening.

But I doubt it's going to happen within this next generation... hell company's like Verizon are now offering 768kbps services just to try to get people to move up to broadband.

I've said before... the penetration is just not there... we've got at least IMO in the US 2 more generations to go.... btw I love my FIOS... 15/2.... now if they would just drop the price of that 30 service in my area....

 

[truffleshuffle83]

hard drives fail, optical media such as dvd/blue ray do not. id hate to have my hard drive fuck up after downloading movies and games cause i gurantee MS wont be replacing your data

 

[D3VI0US]

hard drives fail, optical media such as dvd/blue ray do not. id hate to have my hard drive fuck up after downloading movies and games cause i gurantee MS wont be replacing your data

Actually anything you buy over XBL like Arcade games and DLC is attached to your gamertag and can be downloaded as many times as you want. Anyone know how buying stuff on Steam works?

 

[truffleshuffle83]

ask apple about redownloading songs after your hard drive corrupts ..............SOL even though it attaches what music you downloaded to your username

 

[Wulfer]

I can see Tivo coming fast. Why else would they put a record button on the remote. MS just isn't talking about it yet!

 

[Ghost]

hard drives fail, optical media such as dvd/blue ray do not. id hate to have my hard drive fuck up after downloading movies and games cause i gurantee MS wont be replacing your data

So DVDs dont get scratched now? Must have missed that development.


Ive gone through a lot more DVDs than i have Hard drives (and i look after my DVDs), Hard drive storage does NOT have a reliability issue. And why does it matter if Apple cant keep track of what you've bought properly, that doesnt mean MS hasnt done it (ive heard of no problems with it so far).

 

[VictimOfGrief]

I'm going to say a firmware update that upgrades the DVD drive to HD-DVD drive. :lol

 

[truffleshuffle83]

So DVDs dont get scratched now? Must have missed that development.


Ive gone through a lot more DVDs than i have Hard drives (and i look after my DVDs), Hard drive storage does NOT have a reliability issue. And why does it matter if Apple cant keep track of what you've bought properly, that doesnt mean MS hasnt done it (ive heard of no problems with it so far).

ive gone through 3 hard drives in my computing life time none of which were my fault. if you scratch dvd's thats your own fault

 

[Phoenix]

You can't future proof a static piece of hardware.... what is it going to morph into whatever standards get adopted in the future? Foolishness. I can't believe anyone would actually believe that.

 

[DarienA]

You can't future proof a static piece of hardware.... what is it going to morph into whatever standards get adopted in the future? Foolishness. I can't believe anyone would actually believe that.

<applause>

Futureproof is a stupid buzzword that should die.

ive gone through 3 hard drives in my computing life time none of which were my fault. if you scratch dvd's thats your own fault

Unless it's scratched via your DVD drive.

 

[Larry Bird]

 

[truffleshuffle83]

what did you decide to do pick up the unit and turn it upside down while playing a game. i have NEVER had a dvd drive scratch a dvd. im just saying relying on a hard drive is retarded

 

[Ghost]

A. No more retarded than DVDs or any optical media

B. Its not reliant on the hard drive anyway if you can download eveything you've paid for nothing.

 

[Chittagong]

 

[DarienA]

i have NEVER had a dvd drive scratch a dvd.

Congratulations.. u get a cookie.

 

[truffleshuffle83]

but we dont know if MS will do that with downloaded movies and games....if they do then im fine with it. when broadband speeds up and they offer a bigger HD it will be

the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...the way of the future...

 

[Suburban Cowboy]

what about the whole "we dont want your living room" or whatever the fuck they said just this week?

 

[D3VI0US]

ask apple about redownloading songs after your hard drive corrupts ..............SOL even though it attaches what music you downloaded to your username

Right but that's not how Live works silly. Since your Gamertag can only be active on one box at a time you can redownload all your files, but once your recover your account somewhere else all the content comes with it on whichever box the Gamertag is active. Also you may even be able to password protect your Live account so you can have it active on multiple boxes but not doubly accessible, not sure about that last on though I heard someone say something to that effect.

Also they're probably going to have some functionality with Vista. I believe if you have Vista you won't need Windows MCE to use all of th entertainment hub features but not 100% sure. That's how they're futureproofing I would assume, by bringing the PC to the forefront and the 360 being a gateway through software and services that will run of the power of human energy while we all experience the state of a lucid dream. Believe?!?!

 

[Dr_Cogent]

360 was built for the future. That's all I can say at this point.

How compelling. What a wonderful addition of information to the thread.

I know who killed JFK. That's all I can say at this point.

Useless.

 

[DJ Sl4m]

Wouldn't the addition of the AI chip, (I believe, but ot sure if it was called the PPE chip ?) in the expansion port and larger HDD's later be enough for it to expand it's gameplay potential as it gets older ?

 

[BlueTsunami]

What I don't understand is the talk of using the HDD slot to add other functionality. If you do that, you lost cacheing ability alot of the Xbox 360 games must use. So say you add some Drive or Device to the HDD slot, you lose functionality to gain functionality.

 

[BlueTsunami]

Not if the ad-on is designed in such a way that it allows for a harddrive to be installed (like a daisy-chain), or contains its own hardrive or flash memory within.

I still don't see that as a viable choice, reasons being. An Ad-on (any Ad-on) is going to consume space, space that pretty much taken up already by a 2.5" HDD that the 360 takes. So it wouldn't be feasible to have a HDD and something else (especially a HD-DVD drive). Now Flash memory could possibly be added (to whatever device) but it starts to get really expensive around 2GB, so you get this new device but you've been downgraded to 2GB of space.

 

[3rdman]

guys, can someone please promise me that there will not be a new version of 360 that fucks us totally? like, i have a premium pack now, and i don't want to be seen with one when they release "xbox360: teh megapwnzors edition!"

If anything does come out, it'll be similiar in diifference to what the PSX was to the PS2. It'll probably be more expensive with HD-DVD or BR and a bigger HDD. Just my guess though...it's really not worth worrying about.

 

[Tenacious-V]

You guys who think HD-DVD is gonna be there for games are delusional. It's not gonna happen. And NO it's not secretly built in. They're using DL DVD's and that's it. Can there be a possibility of higher density DVD's? Who knows, but they're not segmenting the market just to hold more data. They made the decision to stick to DVD cause there was no other readily viable option for the release timeframe they wanted. HD-DVD/BD aren't ready yet, plain and simple, so they stuck with a tried and true format. Those of you deeming DVD a big problem already are just jumping the gun. Multiple discs will most likely be used like in the past, and it wasn't a problem, but already saying games are gonna suffer because of it, is just your speculation.

PS3 has the capacity advantage, no way around that. But I guarantee you for the first while as well, most PS3 games will be hitting on DL DVD's. And with most 3rd parties and middleware usage, most games will probably stick with DL DVD's for wider multi platform releases. It'll be the big exclusives that really start using SL BD or multiple discs. But for the most part DL DVD will most likely be the standard for next gen.

Sony did a damn good job of hyping BD as a must have for movies and games, but hyping it and proving it are 2 completely different things. We don't know if BD is absolutely needed for games, Sony would like you to think so, but it's not proven. Sony added BD for PS3 moreso to push it as the HD movie format as #1, as opposed to utilizing it as a game content format. DVD may very well be just fine, we just have to wait and see. When Gears of War comes out, looking like it is, and if it's only on 1 DVD, then we'll know DVD is just fine for games. MS made a good choice sticking with DVD for time advantage purposes (let's see how well it actually pans out though), and Sony made a good choice with BD to pimp HD movies, and to push their format.

Microsoft shoots down talk of HD-DVD equipped Xbox 360
Tom Bramwell 10:18 15/12/2005

"No plans" to add next-generation DVD player to Xbox 360 spec

Microsoft has cleared up speculation regarding possible HD-DVD functionality in future versions of the Xbox 360, saying that it currently has no plans to release an Xbox 360 equipped with a next-generation DVD player.

The unusually direct statement is a straightforward denial of a report from a Japanese news service yesterday, which claimed that the company planned to launch an HD-DVD compatible Xbox 360 in 2006.

"Microsoft, in both America and Japan, has not announced anything regarding the possibility of a next generation DVD drive being placed in the Xbox 360," a Microsoft spokesperson told IGN. "There are currently no plans to release an Xbox 360 equipped with a next generation DVD player."

Speculation over whether such a device might be forthcoming originated with comments made back in August by Bill Gates himself, who said: "We are looking at whether future versions of Xbox 360 will incorporate an additional capacity of an HD-DVD player or something else."

And just last month, Microsoft's Japanese Xbox chief Yoshihiro Maruyama said, "it's a possibility" although he did add that it wouldn't have anything to do with games. "If the Xbox 360 uses a next-generation DVD drive in the future, it will only be used for watching movies that run on next-generation DVDs," he said.

As well as allowing high definition movies to be viewed on the system, the topic of high-capacity storage is also of interest because of concerns that standard DVDs - even dual layer versions that can store around 9GB of data - may not be enough to hold all the necessary game data developers want, particularly later in the console's life as programmers and artists come to terms with the machine's capabilities.

However, as Maruyama's comments indicate, there is probably no way for Microsoft ever to move the Xbox 360 to using HD-DVD based games, since by doing so they would render some software incompatible with the original versions of the Xbox 360, which would not be able to read the HD-DVD discs.

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=13623

 

[Liquid]

Future proofed...until spring 2006.

spoiled milk by the time it actually gets here.

 

[callous]

You never know with Blaster1X, he may have edited for our sake, for the sake of planet earth.

:lol