Support NeoGAF

[MightyHedgehog]

This is really DREAMCAST like imho

Never ever launch before SONY

(well DS is not doing so bad theres still hope MS)

One the bigger differences here is the console manufacturer isn't about to go under as you launch a new system, as Sega was for the duration of DC's existence. Another is, MS actually has most of the third party support going into its new console, where Sega clearly did not. And yet another big difference is the difference in tech...the gap, time-wise, is very small (4-6 mos.) between the X360 and the PS3 versus the time between the DC and the PS2 (about a year and a half).

Launching toe-to-toe with Sony, IMO, is the worst thing for MS (and Nintendo) to do. Going a bit before gives them time to be in the spotlight to entrench by establishing the platform's credibility with gamers, build a library of software to tout, get further down the learning curve for development, and shape the expectations of gamers. If you make do with the time before your competitors show up by making it tougher for any who follow you to meet or exceed your delivered experience, you have the upper hand.

 

[Dragmire]

NEW YORK -- The revolution will be televised.

Gotta be a jab at Nintendo. But if the rumors are any indication, X-Box 2 will be a slight evolution at best. It has the same controller we've been using since the mid nineties.

 

[soundwave05]

It's a double edged sword. Most people didn't know of Sega's financial troubles, but they still stayed away from the DC because they figured the PS2 was coming and would be "better".

Sony just has to recreate that type of thinking within most consumers or at least within their core PS2 fanbase.

Having a more powerful chipset will help in this regard, the press is going to go apeshit on the hype-meter once they see it and the Blu-Ray video playback as well.

 

[megateto]

Guess this will be heavily downloaded over Europe (not a chance that MTV Europe air this at 1 am...)

 

[gofreak]

I wonder if they'll wheel anyone from MS out to present certain aspects of it, or leave it totally down to Elijah and his team of celebs to manage things. Something tells me Allard won't be able to resist putting himself on MTV, but something also tells me the spot may be better off without him I wonder also if they'll even mention tech specs at all..perhaps they'll simply demonstrate its superiority over the last Xbox more visually, at most with comparisons between similar types of game. It'll be really interesting to see how they pitch this..it has to be very different from how they approached the original Xbox, as really, it's message was almost completely focussed on the technical before launch (and before everyone realised how good Halo was). Methinks MS are trying for the softer, "lifestyle" edge that has always been Sony's forte.

 

[Midas]

I wonder if they'll wheel anyone from MS out to present certain aspects of it, or leave it totally down to Elijah and his team of celebs to manage things. Something tells me Allard won't be able to resist putting himself on MTV, but something also tells me the spot may be better off without him I wonder also if they'll even mention tech specs at all..perhaps they'll simply demonstrate its superiority over the last Xbox more visually, at most with comparisons between similar types of game. It'll be really interesting to see how they pitch this..it has to be very different from how they approached the original Xbox, as really, it's message was almost completely focussed on the technical before launch (and before everyone realised how good Halo was).

They'll proably save tech-spec talk for E3.

 

[Hiro_Kunimi_80]

They'll proably save tech-spec talk for E3.

They'll save... something more.. for E3, not tech spec

 

[J2 Cool]

Man, I don't care what anyone thinks of Microsoft, this is smart. How do you overshadow something, that to hardcore gamers, is technically superior before you've shown your stuff? Get it in people's faces before they see anything better. Plus, a ton of rappers and celebrities have been huge Xbox supporters. Being common knowledge, the better graphical system last gen, people are going to think this is huge with all the media. Not only is Xbox relatively new to the scene, Xbox 2 will reassure them it's still the up and coming product.

Meanwhile, PS3 looms in the back, with mentions from the rare kid who knows enough. People like to forget old news. PS2 is almost there, and if PS3 doesn't have the explosion, in your face attitude Xenon should, people will assume it the second option next gen. But, of course, these claims are on a smaller scale. It is a smart move, but not permanately damaging. And the mags will eventually run PS3 bonanza issues, every issue.

Very smart battle strategy but it's definetly gonna be a war.

 

[Midas]

They'll save... something more.. for E3, not tech spec

And what would that be?

 

[gofreak]

They'll save... something more.. for E3, not tech spec

The big-name franchise coup ala Nintendo's "stealing" RE away from Sony last gen? GTA X360? Yeah, I'm not really letting go of that one..

 

[Rhindle]

Speaking of E3, has anyone here received their press conference invites?

The invite is a mirror with dozens of thin green circles on it and it directs people to a Web site running an animated pattern of green circles.

The site also displays the words, "Amplify everything. Hit reset on your reality."

^^ Future marketing slogans, methinks.

 

[Chrono]

I wish it was earlier but oh well, at least we know when the next-gen flood will begin.

You would not believe how hard it is. I've known about this since february, I've given many hints about it but could not say more. Ho well, one down, still many things I can't say...

uh, are you optimistic about the revolution Blimblim... ?

 

[ram]

They will out business Sony. Nobody makes promotion, marketing and hype as good as MS.Watch out Sony and... try harder.

roflmao - M$ has the most mediocre marketing that i ever saw. in europe, every time they are ruled out by sonys marketing.

 

[Blimblim]

uh, are you optimistic about the revolution Blimblim... ?

I don't know anything about Revolution or PS3. Sorry.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

It's a double edged sword. Most people didn't know of Sega's financial troubles, but they still stayed away from the DC because they figured the PS2 was coming and would be "better".

Sony just has to recreate that type of thinking within most consumers or at least within their core PS2 fanbase.

Having a more powerful chipset will help in this regard, the press is going to go apeshit on the hype-meter once they see it and the Blu-Ray video playback as well.

Well, everyone's gonna play the numbers game...they always do on some level. Sony, if they indeed have the most powerful piece, will trumpet their specs. But they'd trumpet them regardless.

Blue Ray could be a pretty decent hot-thingamajig bulletpoint...dunno, really. Most people don't know what it is or are even aware of its existence yet. DVD was out for ~4 years before the PS2 came along and it took yet another year or so for DVD to pretty much supplant VHS as the media standard for the mainstream. The new formats won't mean much to people if they don't see stuff on it they want...and I'm sure there will be some serious stuff next year for BR, but first you have to convince everyone who just started getting used to the idea of picking up DVD collections and whatnot that they should move up already...tough sell even if BR's main thing is size and recordability. Personally, I think it's way too fucking soon to be jumping to another media type, but eh...we'll see if it means jack or not.

Let's just say that if MS got the next GTA as a timed-exclusive and it was online-enabled as well...I think a lot of what I just talked about above would be relatively meaningless. And it doesn't have to be about GTA. It could be any game. The point is the games are gonna sell people on the system more than specs. They always do.

The Atari VCS/2600 was vastly inferior to many of its later competitors, yet it wasn't conquered by any of them...mainly because of the games it had.

SMS was superior to the NES is many ways, yet NES stomped it because of its library and a few key titles...mainly SMB in the beginning.

The Genesis didn't have many of the more obvious abilities of the much newer SNES hardware, yet it did well because of games and marketing...not tech.

This is why the upcoming gen is far from predictable. I don't see it being a case of domination, at the very least. In fact, I think this upcoming gen will be the most hard-fought and closely contested since the 16-bit days in North America...and I'm fucking glad, actually. I've been waiting to see some blood in the streets for a while now...

 

[gofreak]

Speaking of E3, has anyone here received their press conference invites?

^^ Future marketing slogans, methinks.

"Amplify Everything" on its own could work, but "Hit Reset on your reality"..?

Also, now might be a good time to note that "Amplify Everything", iirc, was one of the marketing slogans reported from that London consumer testing event Spong reported on..

edit - actually, Spong reported "Amplify Yourself!"..close enough I guess

Also, do you have a link to that site?

 

[Midas]

Also, now might be a good time to note that "Amplify Everything", iirc, was one of the marketing slogans reported from that London consumer testing event Spong reported on..

:lol

Well, almost.

http://forums.gaming-age.com/showpost.php?p=1122201&postcount=1

 

[Borys]

roflmao - M$ has the most mediocre marketing that i ever saw. in europe, every time they are ruled out by sonys marketing.

Europe does not cunt
You win the US you win the world.

 

[gofreak]

Europe does not cunt
You win the US you win the world.

:lol

Not...at....all

 

[Nick Laslett]

delete

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Meh, the MTV thing is just the kick-off...not where MS' marketing efforts will stay. If their handling of Halo 2 is anything go by, marketing-wise, X360 will be off to as good a start as it's gonna get.

 

[maharg]

This is why the upcoming gen is far from predictable. I don't see it being a case of domination, at the very least. In fact, I think this upcoming gen will be the most hard-fought and closely contested since the 16-bit days in North America...and I'm fucking glad, actually. I've been waiting to see some blood in the streets for a while now...

Not that it sets any real precedent, but a lot of people felt this way about this gen as well.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Yeah, I really felt that MS was gonna get hammered by Sony and Nintendo until around XMAS '02 where it was clear that Nintendo was just fucking clueless, IMO, and MS was learning and learning fast. I'm kinda surprised that so many gave their money to Sony, but I also believe that Sony has provided the best overall platform this gen (even if it's not my favorite this gen)...as if it weren't obvious, anyway.

Take the best that Sony did and the best that MS did and you'd have a mighty awesome fucking platform...Nintendo will just be themselves...slowly descending further into their insanity...or am I wrong and will Nintendo wipe the floor with everyone using the power of its Revolution? Naw...

 

[Redbeard]

This is pretty cool. We won't have to deal with shitty media slowly leaking out, at least not those of us who can watch it on TV.

 

[The End]

This is a Big Deal in the US, and really puts it on Sony to push the PS3 to the mainstream consumer earlier and earlier. Don't be surprised to see PS3 teaser ads before Xbox360 launch now (still the worst name ever).

 

[sasimirobot]

Hmm, 9:30am in Japan. Hope there's a decent screening party here, for all of us Xbox fans to turn up to They can hold it in my apartment if they supply me with cable TV.

The joke was so subtle I almost missed it.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

... Xbox360 ... (still the worst name ever).

I don't much care for it, myself...ah well, I didn't care for the names of plenty of past consoles...Dreamcast, Playstation, Turbo-Grafx 16, Nintendo 64, GameCube, and XBOX at one time, too...eventually it's just a label you don't give too much thought about.

 

[AniHawk]

I'm probably the only person in the world to like the name, "Dreamcast."

Xbox 360 isn't really a bad name either.

 

[Ryudo]

Man, I don't care what anyone thinks of Microsoft, this is smart. How do you overshadow something, that to hardcore gamers, is technically superior before you've shown your stuff? Get it in people's faces before they see anything better. Plus, a ton of rappers and celebrities have been huge Xbox supporters. Being common knowledge, the better graphical system last gen, people are going to think this is huge with all the media. Not only is Xbox relatively new to the scene, Xbox 2 will reassure them it's still the up and coming product.

Meanwhile, PS3 looms in the back, with mentions from the rare kid who knows enough. People like to forget old news. PS2 is almost there, and if PS3 doesn't have the explosion, in your face attitude Xenon should, people will assume it the second option next gen. But, of course, these claims are on a smaller scale. It is a smart move, but not permanately damaging. And the mags will eventually run PS3 bonanza issues, every issue.

Very smart battle strategy but it's definetly gonna be a war.

I dont know man, i think MS sucks at their xbox advertising. Sony had the puke worthy "Third place" stufff which was stupid as all hell.... but you remember that stuff.

Maybe i just like sony's advertising better, but i definately think the kick Ms's butt.

 

[Amir0x]

I'm probably the only person in the world to like the name, "Dreamcast."

no you're not. Dreamcast was a good name

oh also, Xbox 360 is the worst system name ever. I was going through all of the major systems names and I can't think of a single one that is more shitty. But MightyHedgehog is right, doesn't matter that much in the long run. Just an annoyance...

...also, good idea for Microsoft on the MTV unveiling. MTV sucks ass and people who watch MTV are idiots, but there's no denyin' that it holds a pretty big level of sway with just the right age group that they want to target.

 

[Koshiro]

Europe does not cunt

:lol :lol :lol

 

[Redbeard]

no you're not. Dreamcast was a good name

oh also, Xbox 360 is the worst system name ever. I was going through all of the major systems names and I can't think of a single one that is more shitty. But MightyHedgehog is right, doesn't matter that much in the long run. Just an annoyance...

Worse than Nintendo 64? I mean, that's just their company name in front of a number. At least this thing isn't called the Microsoft 360.

 

[Amir0x]

Worse than Nintendo 64? I mean, that's just their company name in front of a number. At least this thing isn't called the Microsoft 360.

Yes, worse than Nintendo 64. The word "Nintendo" actually sounds pretty cool if you don't stop to associate it with all its history, but "Xbox" is already a silly AMERICAN NAME WITH X MEANS XTREME OR POWERFUL TAKE YOUR PICK and to put a 360 after it is just absurdly tacky.

 

[maharg]

Worse than Nintendo 64? I mean, that's just their company name in front of a number. At least this thing isn't called the Microsoft 360.

All consoles before that generation that were successful had the name of the company as a pretty prominent part of the name. Sony's the one who came in and basically forgot to push their main brand along with their console brand.

Certainly it's no worse than Nintendo Entertainment System or Super Nintendo Entertainment System, at least.

 

[Borys]

Sony had the puke worthy "Third place" stufff which was stupid as all hell.... but you remember that stuff.

That ad campaign was really stupid.
This one was kind of better:

This one's nice:

 

[Redbeard]

Yes, worse than Nintendo 64. The word "Nintendo" actually sounds pretty cool if you don't stop to associate it with all its history, but "Xbox" is already a silly AMERICAN NAME WITH X MEANS XTREME OR POWERFUL TAKE YOUR PICK and to put a 360 after it is just absurdly tacky.

Fair enough, but what about the TurboGrafx-16?

 

[Amir0x]

Fair enough, but what about the TurboGrafx-16?

TurboGrafx is totally TURBO man. You can't diss that shit.

But seriously, TurboGrafx isn't a terribly endearing name either but at least it's not something like X FACTOR or X BOX. That x is tucked neatly behind the second to last letter and it's totally not PLASTERED over even the design of the machine If it was like TurboGrafX-720 I'd probably be even more aggressive toward that.

 

[Redbeard]

TurboGrafx is totally TURBO man. You can't diss that shit.

But seriously, TurboGrafx isn't a terribly endearing name either but at least it's not something like X FACTOR or X BOX. That x is tucked neatly behind the second to last letter and it's totally not PLASTERED over even the design of the machine If it was like TurboGrafX-720 I'd probably be even more aggressive toward that.

Bah. You need a little dose of this to get your X-treme lovin' on:

 

[Ryudo]

Yes, worse than Nintendo 64. The word "Nintendo" actually sounds pretty cool if you don't stop to associate it with all its history, but "Xbox" is already a silly AMERICAN NAME WITH X MEANS XTREME OR POWERFUL TAKE YOUR PICK and to put a 360 after it is just absurdly tacky.

But playstation and PSP are cool ? :lol

Its like workstation..... but you play gaymes on it.

 

[Amir0x]

But playstation and PSP are cool ? :lol

Its like workstation..... but you play gaymes on it.

Why did you spell "GAMES" with "GAY" in it?

Also, not liking one name does not imply liking another. It's just that Xbox 360 is the worst name ever, so it's worth mentioning how much venom I have for that particular name.

 

[PhatSaqs]

This is a cool idea.

Dont screw it up MS.

 

[Ryudo]

Why did you spell "GAMES" with "GAY" in it?

Also, not liking one name does not imply liking another. It's just that Xbox 360 is the worst name ever, so it's worth mentioning how much venom I have for that particular name.

lol :lol

I actually didnt mean to use a y, i just happened to be thinking gaystation (i will spare everyone the trudgery of showing that pic).

For the record i think xbox 360 is funny. We even have adds in australia about the toothbrush.

 

[Prine]

Fantastic, this is a brilliant move by MS.

They just keep impressing me. Now will they broadcast Perfect Dark Zero within that half hour timeslot? Or talk about the functionality of thier new console? Hope its the former, just air the games dammit, get the consumers excited!

 

[Mama Smurf]

Well I don't get MTV, so I guess I'll be avoiding this place so I don't have to put up with "OMG did you see PD0?!" etc until I fidn a torrent.

Which'll probably be about 10 minutes afterwards, so it's no big deal.

 

[Lord Error]

Dammit, now I wish I could watch the MTV in Canada. You have to pay extra for that channel here (protect the Much Music!), and given how bad they've become over the years I never even gave it a thought.

Which'll probably be about 10 minutes afterwards, so it's not big deal.

Yeah, now that I think about it, there might be some kind of live feed on MTV.com?

 

[midnightguy]

Xbox 2 to be unveiled on MTV on May 12th
Illustration
Rob Fahey 12:45 11/04/2005

Next-gen Xbox wins the race to be seen first despite Sony's conference shuffling antics

Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console is set to be unveiled to the world not at E3, as was previously believed, but in a half-hour long special to be aired on MTV the week previously, on May 12th.

The move is a massive break with tradition on Microsoft's part, and will get the Xbox 2 in front of consumers several days ahead of the unveiling of Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Revolution in Los Angeles the following week.

"It doesn't make sense to unveil the product behind a closed door, at a trade-only event," according to Microsoft corporate VP Peter Moore. "We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first."

The half-hour show will be a star studded affair, hosted by Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood and featuring a range of athletes, celebrities and even a live performance from rock band The Killers.

Last week it emerged that Sony's pre-E3 press conference has been scheduled to take place a few hours ahead of Microsoft's event, reversing the running order of previous years and supposedly giving the PS3 a head-start over Xbox 2 in the coverage war.

Xbox 2 - or whatever the console is eventually called, as it's believed that both Microsoft and Sony have ditched the sequential numbering system for their new machines - will be launched late this year, with an October / November date currently on the cards. Neither Sony nor Nintendo is expected to launch new hardware until 2006.

Microsoft is also running a viral marketing game to lead up to the May 12th unveiling of Xbox 2, with the "OurColony" game mimicking many features of the hugely successful Halo 2 "I Love Bees" viral game, and giving players tantalising sneak peeks at some aspects of the console and controller's design - although so far the main info to be gleaned is that the controller is probably white, which ties in with reports from sources close to Microsoft that it has gone with a white colour scheme for the system this time around.

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7919

"Next-gen Xbox wins the race to be seen first despite Sony's conference shuffling antics" yeah baby

 

[Chrono]

You know Xbox360 is already growing on me. And not just the name, if it's not that much less powerful than PS3 and will get a lot of games that I'm interested in (myst walker RPG...) I might just get one this fall. Of course that's only if Revolution’s launch is pretty far away because I just love Nintendo games.

"Next-gen Xbox wins the race to be seen first despite Sony's conference shuffling antics

eh, Sony can reveal the PS3 any time before that if they want to.

 

[Gantz]

Sweet. I'm going to talk to my boss today and see if he can get me on the set.

 

[gofreak]

"Next-gen Xbox wins the race to be seen first despite Sony's conference shuffling antics" yeah baby

There never was a race I'm not sure why so many think it's desireable to reveal first, especially when the timeframes we're talking about can be counted in days.

 

[midnightguy]

There never was a race I'm not sure why so many think it's desireable to reveal first, especially when the timeframes we're talking about can be counted in days.

heh, I know. It's just fun to see Microsoft "one upping" Sony, just a little