XBOX 2 in 2005?

[irateplatypus]

What do you all think of this?

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=6766

Xbox 2 will release "in late October, early November"
GamesIndustry.biz staff 12:40 11/02/2005
It's been known in industry circles for months, but the news is now finally starting to leak. You'll be able to buy the next generation Xbox in both America and Europe in 2005, say experts.

While internet news sources today have reported that Microsoft is readying to launch its next generation Xbox hardware in America and Europe in the fourth quarter of this year, Eurogamer has learnt that the specific timing for the machine's roll-out is late October or early November, and merely weeks after the US launch. The exact date is yet to be solidified.

Speaking under conditions of strict anonymity, senior American and British development, publishing and retail sources have confirmed the launch window in the past weeks.

It is also now widely known among British sources that Microsoft UK is currently in the planning stages of a spectacular and unprecedented launch event in central London for the winter release.

While it has been accepted for some time that Xbox 2, currently codenamed Xenon, would be released in America before the end of the year, the news of a Q4 launch in both the UK and Europe will send shockwaves through the industry and gaming community on this side of the Atlantic.

Many have expressed concern that Microsoft is forcing the next generation of console hardware too early, and that the current generation still has much to achieve. The most famous example of this came from then Nintendo of Europe MD David Gosen speaking at an ELSPA summit in London last October, where he lambasted Microsoft for pushing a next generation machine to market in 2005, and even went so far as to question Microsoft's motivation as profit.

"In every cycle, some manufacturer not profiting from the current cycle is eager to kick-start the next one," he said at the time.

EA recently confirmed that next generation Xbox titles would ship alongside current generation offerings later this year, although the certainty of a European release this side of 2006 has been muted: until now.

Microsoft has already publicly snubbed the suggestion of Xbox 2 being shown for the first time at GDC in March, and it now seems obvious that E3 will see the grand unveiling of the machine.

A Microsoft spokesman characteristically swatted away any next gen talk: "Microsoft has not made any announcements regarding the next generation. We are currently very focused on further building the success of the Xbox console today and are not speculating on timing for a future version."

However, it must be noted that with the current lack of Xbox console stock still proving to be a huge problem for retailers and the future Xbox first party release schedule having almost completely dried up, it's an interesting comment for Microsoft to make at the point when every publisher and their dog are busy leaking Xbox 2 software information.

is this possible? what do you think this means for the industry if microsoft is out of the gate so much quicker than everyone else?

[Carno]

Fuck. I just bought my Xbox last year.

[IC3]

I'm a strictly PS2 guy, Xbox still hasn't sold me..As long as you get charged to play online with Xbox..I won't even consider it. Other than that Xbox is a nice system, and Xbox2 will probably be mindblowing..along with the next PS release..whenever thats going to be.

[FngKestrel]

We'll have to see post E3. All three systems are planning to reveal their next gen consoles.

[Mr.Deflok]

I'm a fucking whore, consider it already sold, along with the 'PS3', the Revolution, the Evolution, the PSP and what-the-fucker-ever-else which comes my way.

Why be a Fan-Boy when you can be indulgent.

[Carno]

I have heard the term "fanboy" a couple times before, but I'm not sure what it is... Is being a fan of something a bad thing?

[Wingless]

Dammit I know there's a flash movie somewhere out there explaining fanboys to n00bs...

There are two fanboys in my opinion: the casual fanboy who has given good reason to be a Sony/Nintendo/whatever fanboy (see IC3's post above). Then there's the fanatical fanboy who will defend his/her love until their death and/or embarrassment. Fanatical Fanboys tend to get into flamewars over their devoted topic, until a Nazi reference comes up, and the discussion ends.

Seeing as the TFP rocks and flamewars don't usually happen, super fanatical fanboys are hard to come by here.

Hope that explains it... just float around message boards on the net for awhile and you'll know what a fanboy is.

(Why I just explained that to you, I don't know. It's been a boring day.)

[Carno]

Hmmmm, I see... Thanks.

[blitz.fenix]

HL2>Halo 2. Does that count as fanboyism?
I'm prepared to die for that argument

Back on topic

And I was thinking of buying an Xbox this summer...Wonder if I should still get it to have LANS at friends houses

[mr sticky]

Originally Posted by Mr.Deflok

I'm a fucking whore, consider it already sold, along with the 'PS3', the Revolution, the Evolution, the PSP and what-the-fucker-ever-else which comes my way.

Why be a Fan-Boy when you can be indulgent.

I'm with Deflock on this one. Each system has their games you absolutely have to play. Why be left out?

Color me indulgent, as well.

[japhyryder]

As every bit of news leaks out less and less Xboxes will be sold, personally, I am going to wait for PS3, if the rumors are even half true, xbox will be left in the dust.

[hulk]

Nintendo are gearing up to have the Revolution out quickly, too. Should be an interesting race =)

[crossova]

Originally Posted by Carn

Fuck. I just bought my Xbox last year.

lol. as i can sympathize w/ you b/c i just modded my xbox in November, while i have already got my money's worth out of it. i would hope that they would just stop making xbox1 games out right...like all the crap games would still be on the original console but the bigger/better games would be on the 2.

I thought M$ was just getting around to designing the new console, can they really have it in retail by this fall?

[crossova]

Originally Posted by blitz.fenix

HL2>Halo 2. Does that count as fanboyism?
I'm prepared to die for that argument

Back on topic

And I was thinking of buying an Xbox this summer...Wonder if I should still get it to have LANS at friends houses

i would get a used xbox or one from off of ebay. no point in buying a completely new system if it will be outdated in possibly several months.

[Lasereth]

Originally Posted by Mr.Deflok

I'm a fucking whore, consider it already sold, along with the 'PS3', the Revolution, the Evolution, the PSP and what-the-fucker-ever-else which comes my way.

Why be a Fan-Boy when you can be indulgent.

HIGH FIVE!!!!!!

-Lasereth

[Lasereth]

Originally Posted by Carn

I have heard the term "fanboy" a couple times before, but I'm not sure what it is... Is being a fan of something a bad thing?

A fanboy is a person who will not accept the positive aspects of any other types of media besides the media he enjoys. One of the most common fanboys are videogame console fanboys. If a fanboy owns an XBox, the PS2 and Gamecube automatically sucks simply because he has an XBox. Or maybe the fanboy says that the PS2 and GC suck because the XBox has better graphics.

A fanboy can be a fanboy of different things besides consoles as well. Some will not accept that other FPS besides Counterstrike are good. Some won't accept that other MMORPGs besides Everquest are good. Fanboy = ignorant, close-minded person who believes that their media choice is better because they haven't tried out the alternatives, and/or can't afford the alternatives, or hate the alternatives because of an immature reason.

-Lasereth

[Lasereth]

Oh, and Microsoft has planned to ship the XBox 2 in 2005 since it was even announced as a sequel. I personally think they should wait until 2006 to give the system another year of life. If they do release this year, I'm not sure if it would help or not -- look at the Dreamcast.

-Lasereth

[theburner]

Hey guys.. Played some Halo 2 last night with my MS buddy, and point blank asked him if I am getting an Xbox2 for Christmas. He said, and I quote "Unless something fucks up bigtime, yes you will get one for Christmas."

There you go.. Started asking him questions about it (looks, features etc..) and he clammed up. He was playing from work so when he does this it is usually because someone walks into his office.

[crossova]

^^ the Xbox2 will be able to play halo2 right? i'd hate to get the system and cant even play Halo2 on Live.

[omega2K4]

Backwards compatibility is still up in the air for the Xbox 2, its possible, but I don't know if it'll make it.

[theburner]

Only things I know for sure.. Live will continue to be live. There won't be a Live 2.0 for Xbox 2, it will be the same live setup. Xbox 2 will be released before Christmas. I tried asking my buddy more questions last night, but he was REALLY hesitant to say anything over live, even when it was just the two of us in a lobby.

BTW, I wonder if that should worry us.. The fact he didn't want to talk over Live.. Is anyone listening?

[Scorps]

Why now?

I'm not done with this one yet!