XBOX 2 GETS CES STAGE FRIGHT?

S

sonycowboy

Member
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=112743

Reports suggest we're going to have to wait a little longer for the grand unveiling of Microsoft's next-gen monster

13:09 With Bill Gates confirmed as the keynote speaker at the Consumer Electronics Shown in Las Vegas on January 5, everyone was expecting Xbox 2 to make its debut on the night.

Why? Gates chose exactly the same event to unleash the original Xbox on the world in 2001, leading to widespread anticipation that he'd do the same for Xbox 2.

Nonetheless, these rumours have never been confirmed by Microsoft itself. Now the presence of the next-gen console is beginning to look even more in doubt, with internet reports citing Xbox 2 development sources suggesting that the grand unveiling will actually take place in March at the Games Developers Conference in San Francisco.

Both theories have strong foundations. The Bill Gates connection is rock solid, but Microsoft used the GDC last year to show off their XNA development tools, believed to be the basis for Xbox 2's technology. A slightly delayed unveiling may also benefit Microsoft as it strives to get Xbox 2 on shelves before Sony's PS3 and Nintendo's Revolution - why would it show its hand early if it's holding all the aces?

We asked Microsoft to comment on these reports and guess what? "We do not comment on rumour and speculation."

We'll keep our eye on developments and keep you up to date.
 
I don't see why people act like showing it at CES is early. In every previous generation, haven't we been seing these consoles at E3 or TGS the year BEFORE they are released?
 
Well MS might have learned it's lesson because the Xbox unvieling was far from impressive. Oh man the Xbox was getting bashed like a red headed stepchild on GAF until the launch.. especially after the weak E3 show. Going all out a few months later is better than half assed early.
 
They might be trying to go after Sony unveils more of their cards at the ISSCC in February, but they have to pay attention that ISSCC will not be a 100% complete disclosure of the CPU used in PlayStation 3 (it might talk about a slightly younger CPU as they are presenting the first generation CELL processor and the PlayStation 3 CPU might have some nice improovements over it in terms of performance) and that the CPU is not the only thing Sony will use to hype PlayStation 3.
 
Azih said:
Well MS might have learned it's lesson because the Xbox unvieling was far from impressive. Oh man the Xbox was getting bashed like a red headed stepchild on GAF until the launch.. especially after the weak E3 show. Going all out a few months later is better than half assed early.
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haha GA = Owned
 
open_mouth_ said:
haha GA = Owned
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Man it was a crap launch. They were pushing shit like Malice, and that Furry foot racing game, they had Lorne Lanning being grand asshole of the universe on their behalf. There were some really pathetic statements about how Square might come aboard very soon. It was worthy of all the mocking it got.
 
When Xbox was unveiled at CES 2001, they sure as hell weren't using final hardware to run Malice and Oddworld. It was running on a phase1 XDK, a P3 1GHz and a GeForce 2 Ultra.
 
Even if it's not a "grand unveiling" Gates could still announce it and mabye show some stuff right? At least let people start talking about their Xbox 2 games.
 
Just sounds like a bunch of game journos hedging their bets since they got it wrong the last time they predicted Xbox2 unveiling at GDC 2004.
 
open_mouth_ said:
haha GA = Owned
Click to expand...
No -- at that point, the Xbox probably deserved even worse than what it got. It truly looked completely inept.

If Microsoft needs more time before they show Xenon off in order to finalize some software, I say, take it, you poor bastards. Don't let the Xbox 1 debacle happen again.
 
Redbeard said:
Even if it's not a "grand unveiling" Gates could still announce it and mabye show some stuff right? At least let people start talking about their Xbox 2 games.
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Well they could show off the case and run some games off a devkit or something. Sort of like what they did last time.
 
Any unveiling at GDC will center mostly around the technology and tech specs. I wouldn't expect to see the hardware or any confirmed games. Maybe a few tech demos, but that's about it.
 
I would not expect anything other than a brief mention at the CES speech. There is no reason to shoot themselves in the foot (by impacting current Xbox sales) this early. In 2001, they had nothing to lose.

Likewise GDC should bring no more than details on final specs and developer tools (which will largely have been shared with developers already at that point).

The only thing that I could see changing that is if Sony indicates that they will show final hardware at E3, which I doubt. If that were the case, Microsoft might move up their schedule to avoid sharing the spotlight.
 
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=pub&aid=3941

Senior industry sources, speaking to gamesindustry.biz over the weekend, have indicated that it is extremely likely that Xbox 2 - currently codenamed Xenon - will be unveiled during Bill Gates' keynote address at the International Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas on January 5th, 2005
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Sources were testers at Activision UK.

However, high-level talk amongst industry insiders, including analysts and publishers, suggests that there's more to this particular rumour than idle gossip.
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Completely untrue - This never happened.

However, the platform holder has also yet to confirm plans for X04, this year's version of its annual press event, and given the company's apparent desire to gain first-mover advantage in the next generation of home consoles
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At that time, MS had confirmed there would be no X04

I love gamesindustry.biz
It's amazing what an important sounding URL and editorial style can do for a bunch of jokers.
 
MS is in a pickle here. On one hand they shouldn't say too much about XBOX2 or even show footage because that might hurt currently good XBOX sales. On the other hand they have to counter the PS3 specs hype that is currently unfolding.
 
Panajev2001a said:
They might be trying to go after Sony unveils more of their cards at the ISSCC in February, but they have to pay attention that ISSCC will not be a 100% complete disclosure of the CPU used in PlayStation 3 (it might talk about a slightly younger CPU as they are presenting the first generation CELL processor and the PlayStation 3 CPU might have some nice improovements over it in terms of performance) and that the CPU is not the only thing Sony will use to hype PlayStation 3.
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What good will it do them, though? I can't imagine them going "Oh shit, we better improve this thing in the next week." or alternately "Well, it's a good thing we let them show off their tech before we showed our better tech."
 
Folder said:
I love gamesindustry.biz
It's amazing what an important sounding URL and editorial style can do for a bunch of jokers.
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And that buried the fucking needle on my Hypocrite-O-Tron 2000. ;)
 
I love gamesindustry.biz
It's amazing what an important sounding URL and editorial style can do for a bunch of jokers.
Click to expand...

he did say important sounding and gamesindustry.biz does sound like it "could" be some important site some people will do anything to hate...
 
Azih said:
Well MS might have learned it's lesson because the Xbox unvieling was far from impressive. Oh man the Xbox was getting bashed like a red headed stepchild on GAF until the launch.. especially after the weak E3 show. Going all out a few months later is better than half assed early.
Click to expand...

Man, I remember it was tough days on GAF being a pre-release Xbot - the ugly design threads....the thread with the japanese guys laughing at the Xbox in it's case....Malice....but hasn't our faith been rewarded? :D
 
COCKLES said:
Man, I remember it was tough days on GAF being a pre-release Xbot - the ugly design threads....the thread with the japanese guys laughing at the Xbox in it's case....Malice....but hasn't our faith been rewarded? :D
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I have to say, I admire the tenacity of those who have been Xbots since those dark days. They are truly the most faithful of fans.
 
xsarien said:
And that buried the fucking needle on my Hypocrite-O-Tron 2000. ;)
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Neither our URL or editorial style is important sounding. Quite the opposite. So perhaps you need to fix your Dictionary-O-Tron first? ;-)
It just needed pointing out that you suckers swallow their plagiarised self-important bullshit unquestioningly all day long. Give us a hard time as much as you want. That’s what we’re here for. Just don’t take as gospel the shit spewed by a self-important fantasist, which in fairness, you have been doing. And you’ve been doing it because it has an important sounding URL and editorial style.
 
Folder said:
Neither our URL or editorial style is important sounding.
WTF?
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Folder said:
I love gamesindustry.biz
It's amazing what an important sounding URL and editorial style can do for a bunch of jokers.
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:lol :lol :lol

I think you missed the part of the sentence that set people off .

:lol
 
How would being an Xbot be possible prior to the launch of the actual console? I guess maybe if you're a Microsoft fan...
 
lockii said:
How would being an Xbot be possible prior to the launch of the actual console? I guess maybe if you're a Microsoft fan...
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The same way the PSP already has fans, the same way the DS had fans, the same way the (fucking) N-Gage had fans. Jesus, we have hard drive manufacturer fanboys around here, it's nuts.

But specific to the XBox, before it was launched? Yeah, there were a lot of disillusioned Sega fanboys joining that camp due to the company's early (however misguided) support of the system.
 
sonycowboy said:
or the most common option, being a die-hard Sega fan who hated both Sony & Nintendo for their years of abuse :lol
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Hate to say it, but that was me. After Shenmue II, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Toejam and Earl III, PSO Episode III and GUNVALKYRIE were all announced the XBox was looking to me (and many others) as heir-apparant to the Dreamcast.

Too bad that after tha opening solvo, Sega decided to run downhill as fast as possible.

Fortunenately, Microsoft and Bungie have provied plenty of reasons for me to stick with the XBox brand next time around. Sega sure won't be factor.
 
lockii said:
How would being an Xbot be possible prior to the launch of the actual console? I guess maybe if you're a Microsoft fan...
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Well, we were asking this same question some 3 and a half years ago or so.
 
Um. Well. If its not at CES it should be at E3 right? I wonder why MS will NOT want hype. They are the HYPE MACHINE. Fable. Sudeki. GBTG. Hype. HYPE I tell you

Folder - I like HOW you're criticizing Gameindustry.biz when you work for.. Uh oh... :runsoff: . :lol
 
Sounds like it could be true. There was recent news about Sony showing something in February I think, so maybe they decided to wait until March. If they do show something at CES it will probably be the case or a tech demo or something like that.
 
I was an early Microsoft fanboy, simply because I was caught up in the Bungie hype. I remember being blown away by the Halo demo I saw on the PC Gamer demo disc about a year before MS bought Bungie. It was badass, and pretty much forced me to buy an xbox. The easy ability to mod and run it as a home media center made it my favorite console by far this gen.
 
MS need to let Sony go first.

They need to be able to demonstrate that their machine matches (or betters) whatever Sony put out in their demos.

Lets face it , the Sony demos will be kick ass and stylish. The MS demo/games should be good , but i still remember the demo for the devtool with the car... technically very nice, but artistically like a kick in the nuts from a horse.
 
DCharlie said:
MS need to let Sony go first.

They need to be able to demonstrate that their machine matches (or betters) whatever Sony put out in their demos.
QUOTE]

There's the rub - the earlier they launch the more time Sony has to top MS's hardware. See: Dreamcast. (No, I'm not saying Xenon's situation will be at all similar, just this particular)
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Ninja Scooter said:
or being completely batshit insane.
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A little OT, but I really think some of them are. I like my Xbox, but damn. I paid a visit to that Xbox site's forums recently, and the flow of conversation surrounding next-generation developments is ridiculously entertaining. Many seem convinced Microsoft will retain the performance crown next-generation despite an equally ambitious competitor launching later, and those few that realise that this is unlikely are already preparing their counter-arguments and damage control ("Efficiency will be key!", "Ease of development!"). They sound like GCN fanboys during the xbox-vs-gcn tech debates of years past - how ironic :lol
 
lockii said:
How would being an Xbot be possible prior to the launch of the actual console? I guess maybe if you're a Microsoft fan...
Click to expand...
What about the PC gamers who looked in envy to their console gaming friends? Xbox was a natural first choice for a PC gamer, because A) no already popular franchises (i.e. sequels) and B) many devs/games had a PC background.

Yes, I was one of those enthusiastic PC gamers who liked the idea of a PC-based console. I think of it as my soft entry into the world of console gaming. It might sound funny but I think it applies to a lot of PC gamers, particularly if they have not had much experience with consoles before.

Oh yeah, interesting to note that I didn't really even care about the games at the time (before launch). I didn't really have any expectations... that said, I had a chance to play Halo a week or two before release, and I was totally blown away (that's what a big-ass projector screen and Halo split screen can do to a console gaming virgin).
 
I still contend that the bulk of Microsoft's early gains were due to PC gamers jumping ship to the Microsoft machine. They still are the first choice of that crowd as they jump off the PC crack pipe and look for their next designer drug.
 
human5892 said:
No -- at that point, the Xbox probably deserved even worse than what it got. It truly looked completely inept.

If Microsoft needs more time before they show Xenon off in order to finalize some software, I say, take it, you poor bastards. Don't let the Xbox 1 debacle happen again.
Click to expand...

Nothing compares to the shitty launch of the PS2, or the "Toy Story Graphics" fiasco.
 
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