Derwood

I hate that it's upright. It's retarded that the PS2 is that way, so don't copy them. What next, you're going to dumb down your graphics and speed to be like a PS as well?

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Krycheck

Hold on a sec.

If you get the hd upgrade aren't you also paying for more media capabilities? The thing that I love about my Xbox is that I can rip cd's to the drive and play them later in the games I play. Didn't I hear something about the new xbox being able to connect to media center PC's? Before we start flaming MS like we all like to do maybe we shoud wait till we find out exactly what we're getting for the extra $100.

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shadowmaster

the new xbox looks exciting, can't wait for E3 this year.

and stay tuned for the official interview on mtv May 12 I believe that it'll be at 9:30, it's the official coverage of the game. should be good stuff

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guthmund

Here's the thing. I have no problem with the $300 dollar model. That sounds about right all things considered. The problem I have is that these companies, Microsoft in particular, like to force you into buying superfluous shit because it expands their bottom line.

When the X-box came out, I recall Microsoft boasting about all the 'features' the console had. You can play you're DVDs on the X-box, you can take advantage of your big nice television and new surround sound stuff, blah blah blah. What they failed to mention is that in order to take full advantage of this stuff, you were going to have buy additional equipment. You want to play a DVD, well, a DVD kit is going to run another $30. You want crisp picture and surround sound, you should buy the Advanced AV kit, it's only another $20. The point is they nickel and dime the average gamer to death. To take full advantage of the console (as advertised, mind you) you have to spend more than the original price. So, it's not just $300. I spend $300 on an x-box, I have a nice looking paperweight that I can turn on, but not play. I have to shell out another $50 to buy a game. Another $30 so I can invite a friend over to play with me. Another $30 to play DVDs (because you can just bet, they're going to offer a DVD playback kit with this one as well.) I just think accessories should be....accessories. You don't necessarily need them to take full advantage of the system i.e. cord extensions and modified controllers.

It's certainly true, you're not going to get top of the line stuff all around, but with $300 plus the money spent on accessories you're going to have to buy, you can do some serious upgrade damage on a mid-level PC.

And no, I don't necessarily need backwards compatability because I already have an X-box, but... It's a second generation console. PS3 and the Revolution are both confirmed backwards compatable. What's the point of making the X-box 360 non-backwards compatible? Money. Greed. Love of Pay o' la. It's not that they can't do it. They just want to charge you for it. Now they can justify charging an extra $100 for a HD. After the release of the new machine, I can't imagine why they wouldn't drop the price on the old x-box...maybe around $100? So, the gamer who owns the older x-box that craps out has no choice but to spend another $100 on either an older x-box (probably less reliable and presumably more likely to crap out faster) or buy the new add-on to play all those games they've accumulated over the past couple of years.

The cynic in me prophesizes...Games like Halo and Splinter Cell will probably be "repackaged" for the new console, have a few new levels tacked on, a whole host of stupid ass add ons like interviews with the guy in the office down from Bungie studios and then sold again as "Super-Special Ultra Cool Platinum Plated Gold" Edition for $30. I mean, if we're stupid enough to spend $20 on a new Halo 2 add-on disc whose only real substance lies in a handful of multi-player maps (their are 9 of them) then we're probably stupid enough to buy new "editions" of games we've already purchased once.

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irateplatypus

i don't want to sound like a MS basher when i've never seen the thing in action, but...

it doesn't seem wise to segment your userbase into two major categories (those with the HD, and those w/out) right out of the starting gate. if a large percentage of the installed base gets the cheaper version (and i assume that will be true to some extent), then you are essentially hamstringing your developers into producing software for the the lesser of the two models.

guthmund, i had those same reservations (among others) about the psp.

even so, there is a decent chance i'll get the first next-gen console released, MS or otherwise.

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Derwood

Perhaps the lack of backwards compatibility in the base model means they don't plan to continue to develop XBox games after the 360 is released. PSX games continued to come out for at least a few years after PS2 debuted, mostly because they could be played on the new console.

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Fremen

*bumped, 'cause it was so good to read*

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akito

I really don't agree with the fact that it's going to cost an extra hundred bucks for backwards-compatibility, but whatever, that's microsoft for ya. In all honesty, odds are I'll get it. It's a sexy machine, that's for sure.

The specs on it are pretty killer though, so it should be a good time if you can shell out the cash.

Undercover_Man

*still thinks the "backwards compatability" thing, is for "downloading" the games from XBox1 to XBox 2 hdd. No hdd ("lite" version), no backwards compatability*

guthmund

What would it matter? I mean, if it could read off a hard drive, why couldn't it read it off the disc directly?

In the article posted a couple of weeks ago at GameSpy....
The media stays the same. So, the new optical drives, can read the old games as the media is of the same type.

The PS3 and Revolution are both updating their consoles and have managed to maintain backwards compatability, but Microsoft can't do it unless you buy a 40GB hard drive for $100? What's so drastically different between the two incarnations of X-box that a hard drive is going to magically fix?

If Microsoft had come out right in the beginning and said that they've decided to go a different route and because of hardware specs, new software, chosen distributors and the like there was no way for them to make the X-box 360 play older X-box games, I would have gone quietly into the night.

But they didn't. And I won't.


Absolutely. I mentioned this in another thread about the X-box backwards compatability, but I don't remember it getting too far. And you're absolutely right. The PSP is another fine example, so, it's not like Microsoft has the monopoly on short sighted arrogance. "Universal Media Discs?" If one could die of irony...

Awww, shucks... /embarassed

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mr sticky

You know...I don't really know why we argue so much over this. We all know that console wars are based on games. Not hardware!
Sure, it's great to be able to look at features and doodads and say, "Hey! This will rock!" But, I don't play Xbox. I play Jade Empire, Halo, and Fable. I don't play PS2- I play Ratchet and Clank!

I love video games. Not necessarily video game systems.

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hulk

Well, you appear to be the exception. At least, according to what MS and Sony are trying to do with the 'digital hub' idea.

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Cynthetiq

there a number of people who follow that ideology.

I don't care what the platform is, I care about the games, not about the tech specs. If it's never used, what good is it?

I already have a digital hub within my Tivo....and the modded Xbox just complements the whole deal.

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paulskinback

I don't go for these pictures, I remeber something similar before the xbox came out, and when it did it looked like a big briefcase sized hunk of shit. But I bought one instead of a PS2 so i'll probly buy an xbox2 instead of a PS3.

Theres no way that it won't be backward compatible guys, its another rumor started to get people talking and pre-advertise it. So when it comes out and it is compatible, everyone thinks "hey microsoft are great and they listen to their consumers" (which in fact they don't) and go out and buy it.

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soccerchamp76

Everybody who bashes the 360 for being pricey, do you think the new PS3 is going to be $199 and include 4 controllers, 2 games, and all the nice cables? Didn't think so.

Keep in mind that Microsoft lost money on every Xbox they sold and will most likely lose money with these systems. The real money is in the games. The Xbox 360 is a powerful computer with a great graphics card and is only $299. Try building a gaming machine with THAT money.

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Jean Reno

Fake.

Photoshopped.

spongy

My take is that they put it upright to show size versus the ps2 models... the writing on the unit is horizontally based, so it seems to me that it will be sitting on your entertainment center.

As far as this being fake or 'shopped, I understand that these pics are from a MS site.
regardless, we will know a lot more when Mtv has their Elijah Wood hosted special on May 12.

And yes, this will be before the PS3 is rolled out .. that will be the next week at e3 in LA.

For a couple years now the muckety-mucks have said that the next xbox will be out before the ps3.. now they have it beat by maybe 6months in the US.

Yes, the ps3 will have next gen dvd, and lotsa other cool stuff, I'm just piointing out dates of release.. as far as we know right now.

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ChickenNinja

I posit that the reason that only the hard drive version will be backwards compatible is that the Xbox 1s all have hard drives, and that it's used as virtual memory or something.

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Ace_O_Spades

I miss the days when you got two controllers AND the light gun, PLUS two games when you bought a new console.

Why can't they just do that for us now? Games are about bringing joy and fun into people's homes and lives, not draining them of their money.

Somewhere everyone lost the message.

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soccerchamp76

Capitalism.

You make a product that everybody is going to want to buy, so you can charge whatever the hell they want for it. You should be grateful that it will be that cheap.

• CPU will use three 3.0GHz PowerPC cores, each with 32KB L1 cache, 32KB instruction cache, and the three share 1MB of L2 cache. Later alpha decks only featured two cores
• The graphics will be handled by a “next-gen” 500MHz ATI post-X800 adapter
• There will be 256MB RAM—no word on what type; memory cards will range from 64MB to 1GB
• There will be a USB 2.0 camera for 1.2-megapixel shots and VGA-quality video
• 5.1-channel audio is handled in software—X3DAudio to be exact (no word on in/outs)

Keep in mind that Microsoft lost money on every Xbox that was sold, the money is made up for in games (and most likely accessories as well).

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Furry

As I was scrolling down I thought it was a picture of a kettle.

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blackmouth

I don't know what microsoft is trying to pull off; It might of hired an apple conceptual product designer. It just looks too pretty; no hard lines. I bet my girlfriend will like it......

hulk

That's not really that much graphical prowess, compared to the other consoles. 3 CPUs will help grind out the game logic, but graphics-wise, it's just there for show. I don't know how much they plan on gaining by having three, really. Having two in the latest Macs doesn't up the speed a huge amount unless the app is so optimised it hurts.

Then again, you americans like just adding more to make things look better

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blackmouth

oo.. a fake pic.. figures

Derwood

Well, if you're willing to wait it out a bit after launch, they usually sell consoles with bundled games. Xbox had a Sports Pack, a Jet Grind Radio/Sega GT combo and the Clone Wars/Tetris Worlds combo.

Plus stores like Sam's Club ALWAYS have big combo packs with extra controllers and stuff that you don't normally see at Best Buy/Circuit City/Gamestop

For example: http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_s...18792&fid=1S12

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Janey

looks like it's time for me to call a halt to the toys. The PS2 is the last one for me. Maybe when i get kids, I can buy them a PS10 or whatever.

I've got real things to spend my money on these days. Mortgage, car, FOOD!, RRSPs, even if I did buy the system, there would be no time to play it. Nope, life is full already.

Lasereth

Most people forget how much the NES debuted for in the early 1980's. The system was $200-250 brand new. Games were $50 or more. Videogame prices have went down drastically in the past 20 years. A small amount of inflation has occured over the past 20 years as it always does in history. SNES games used to be $80 each in the early 90's. Some where over $80 at chain retailers like Toys R Us. No system has ever debuted for less than $250 excluding the Gamecube.

Piecing together this information, it's very realistic to conclude that videogame prices have went down A LOT since the first videogames came out. $200-250 in 1983 is more like $300 or more in 2005. Sure, the system did come with two controllers, but honestly, what are the production costs of making a small piece of plastic with 2 buttons?

I don't agree with Microsoft forcing consumers to buy the HDD for backwards compatibility, but give them a break: they're out to make money like every other videogame company. If they need to sell it seperately to make money, then let them. I'd rather videogame companies make money and keep making great games than lose money and stop.

EDIT: I just did some inflation research. <B>According to inflation rates, if the NES debuted in 2005 it would cost $477.55.</B> Like I said, videogame prices have went down, not up.

-Lasereth

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Ace_O_Spades

Iiiiinteresting... Thanks for the info!


Doesn't change my mind about consoles coming with an extra controller and game though.

That will never cease to piss me off.

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saut

To everyone mad about $100 extra for backwards compatibility: If you've already got an Xbox, this doesn't really matter. If you don't have one, then it only matters if you want to play games for the original Xbox, which doesn't sounds like something I would want to do too much given the lack of many memorable titles on Xbox(1).

P-Naughty

Am I the only one concerned about the fact that there is only ONE visible controller port? I think MS would have a little more common sens than that. And while it looks like there are two more under the door at the base of the model, it still seems stupid to need THREE X-Boxes to play a 4v4 game of Halo 2. Are they gonna come out with one of those stupid ass multiport things like the PS folks did?

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FngKestrel

^ Read earlier in the thread. Post #6 specifically.

hrandani

Put me down as also thinking it looks sexy.

hulk

Is it just me, or does the design reek of Apple?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but the lamest form of effort. Sheesh.

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crossova

i said the same ass thing in a previous post *shrugs*

Anibal5

Why does it have to be backward compatiable?
I am not throwing my current x-box away. Yes it is chipped.
At worst it will be a file server for Div-X, cartoons and "pre-360" games.
I cant see a downside there.

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RemyLebeau97

I love XBox but for $500 bucks that thing better know how to give a blow job, thanks.

biznatch

Fuck thaaaaat...I think I still have wayyyy enough fun landing my helicopter in the middle of the highway near Las Venturas in GTA san andreas, and then watch the traffic buildup go crazy....
Why would I need a fake mac sitting next to my small TV that'll have me working like a dog for a long time..
Buying another system with 2 controllers and a fair amount of game will have me more than 600 dollars poorer. I don't think people realize how many great games are still playable on the PC and PS2, or even on that filthy huge box Mr. Gates calls the 1st X Box.
We don't need a new system, not if its gonna cost us that much money.
All I can afford to give MS is a big middle finger.