Xbox 360 Announced, and it's a Big Deal

[Jason Dunn]

Yeah, every other Web site on the planet has already posted on the Xbox 360, but I wanted to absorb some of the data I've been reading before posting. The Xbox 360 is a very big deal, and not just because it's the most advance gaming console on the planet. First, watch this great video. Here are some quotes and links to sources around the Web.

"The 360 will pack a powerful technological punch, with an advanced IBM Power-PC processor and next generation ATI graphics chip. The machine will once again feature a hard drive for users to store saved games, music and more. This time, the drive will be 20GB (versus the current 8GB drive on the Xbox). It will also be detachable, allowing users to take their data to friends' houses, and upgradable."
- CNN Money

"Microsoft has realized that if it wants to further software initiatives in the home, it needed to reluctantly become its own hardware OEM and create the market for the hardware necessary to sell software. As a common folk saying goes, “when all you have is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail” and of course that is why the Xbox originally resembled nothing more than a low end PC with a souped up graphics than anything else. Looking ahead, in this regard it is important to note that while Xbox 360 is a hardware platform it is really a software play for Microsoft. In fact, Microsoft has long now adopted a traditional video game business model, where it publishes ALL titles for the platform and charges third parties a fee on each disc that they ship for Xbox."
- Jupiter Research

"The Xbox 360 represents a technological breakthrough only possible because of the hard work of hundreds of masterminds around the world who converged to create the ultimate gaming machine. Unreal Engine 3-powered games running at 1280x720 with full screen anti-aliasing? Not a problem for the Xbox 360."
- Team Xbox

"...Bill Gates deliberately blabbed some details about the next xBox game system, which is to be officially announced this week. This gaffe, which I don't believe was a gaffe at all, came for specific reasons that are still not clear, but the implications of Gates' remarks ARE clear -- that xBox 360 will perform many functions that currently require a home computer. Not only will xBox 360 play video games, it will play music and movies, surf the web and probably even offer a non-PC platform for voice-over-IP."
- I, Cringely

So let's see here: high-definition, amazing CPU power, built-in Media Center Extender...this thing is going to make a killer add-on to a TV set, and is poised to move far beyond just being a gaming machine. Be sure to check out the I, Cringely article linked above - it's very thought-provoking.

[Jason Dunn]

Yeah, every other Web site on the planet has already posted on the Xbox 360, but I wanted to absorb some of the data I've been reading before posting. The Xbox 360 is a very big deal, and not just because it's the most advance gaming console on the planet. First, watch this great video. Here are some quotes and links to sources around the Web.

"The 360 will pack a powerful technological punch, with an advanced IBM Power-PC processor and next generation ATI graphics chip. The machine will once again feature a hard drive for users to store saved games, music and more. This time, the drive will be 20GB (versus the current 8GB drive on the Xbox). It will also be detachable, allowing users to take their data to friends' houses, and upgradable."
- CNN Money

"Microsoft has realized that if it wants to further software initiatives in the home, it needed to reluctantly become its own hardware OEM and create the market for the hardware necessary to sell software. As a common folk saying goes, “when all you have is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail” and of course that is why the Xbox originally resembled nothing more than a low end PC with a souped up graphics than anything else. Looking ahead, in this regard it is important to note that while Xbox 360 is a hardware platform it is really a software play for Microsoft. In fact, Microsoft has long now adopted a traditional video game business model, where it publishes ALL titles for the platform and charges third parties a fee on each disc that they ship for Xbox."
- Jupiter Research

"The Xbox 360 represents a technological breakthrough only possible because of the hard work of hundreds of masterminds around the world who converged to create the ultimate gaming machine. Unreal Engine 3-powered games running at 1280x720 with full screen anti-aliasing? Not a problem for the Xbox 360."
- Team Xbox

"...Bill Gates deliberately blabbed some details about the next xBox game system, which is to be officially announced this week. This gaffe, which I don't believe was a gaffe at all, came for specific reasons that are still not clear, but the implications of Gates' remarks ARE clear -- that xBox 360 will perform many functions that currently require a home computer. Not only will xBox 360 play video games, it will play music and movies, surf the web and probably even offer a non-PC platform for voice-over-IP."
- I, Cringely

So let's see here: high-definition, amazing CPU power, built-in Media Center Extender...this thing is going to make a killer add-on to a TV set, and is poised to move far beyond just being a gaming machine. Be sure to check out the I, Cringely article linked above - it's very thought-provoking.

[Mike Temporale]

I've been sucking in the Xbox 360 news all day, and I have to admit that this is one amazing power house console. I love the wireless controllers, and the swapable face plates. Great stuff Microsoft. :mrgreen:

Tom's Hardware also has a really good write up covering a lot of different elements from 360. http://www7.tomshardware.com/game/200505121/index.html

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Why I love it when MS is the underdog:

When asked what the thinking was behind letting gamers plug a competitor's product in to use on a Microsoft device, Mr. Henshaw replied, "Other console makers want to force you to buy brand "S" memory and use a brand "S" format to play on brand "S" TV's. We just want things to work for the gamer and be as easy as possible."

Take that, Sony! Muhahahaha!

And now the important question: How expensive will it be?

[Chris Gohlke]

I read somewhere in the last day (I think CNN, but can't find it now) that it was going to have 3 3Ghz processors and would be water cooled. I thought WTF, but it was pretty reputable. I just can't find it again. Anyone see this?

[Mike Temporale]

Originally Posted by Chris Gohlke

I read somewhere in the last day (I think CNN, but can't find it now) that it was going to have 3 3Ghz processors and would be water cooled. I thought WTF, but it was pretty reputable. I just can't find it again. Anyone see this?

It's not 3 different 3Ghz chips. It's one 3Ghz PowerPC chip that has 3 different cores. You can read all about it on this page of the Tom's Hardware review.

[Chris Gohlke]

Originally Posted by Mike Temporale

It's not 3 different 3Ghz chips. It's one 3Ghz PowerPC chip that has 3 different cores. You can read all about it on this page of the Tom's Hardware review.

Thanks, that clarifies it, I went back over my surfing history for the day and the CNN article did say it originally, it looks like they changed the article.

[mcsouth]

With all of the focus on Sony's Cell technology, the Xbox 360 sure seemed to slip under the radar - at least mine! I will admit that I've questioned myself about buying an Xbox, but never quite bit. We ended up with a Gamecube (young kids - it is a Nintendo, after all!), and I didn't figure that I needed another system to buy expensive games for.

However, this new Xbox has almost made up my mind for me - given Sony's tendency towards highly proprietary equipment, I am having a hard time thinking much about the Playstation, although their game base is hard to ignore, but this Xbox, and its apparent openness and, dare I say it, convergence makes it very attractive at this point. It will be interesting to see what price point MS brings this to market at - anybody want to take a guess? Figure that MS will try to get $400 for it, or will it be higher or lower?

[Felix Torres]

Originally Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng

Why I love it when MS is the underdog:

Take that, Sony! Muhahahaha!

And now the important question: How expensive will it be?

Sony's nightmare is just beginning:
- XBOX Live (silver) free to all comers
- 512MB RAM/20GB HD/wireless controllers=increased productions costs on features that *must* be matched
- Media center features in the wake of the PSX debacle
- Near-Simultaneous release in all three major markets means a big hit to PS2 revenue this year, right when SONY's other streams are tight
- Worst of all, MS has a *big* co-marketting deal with Samsung (SONY's main CE rival and their main console rival team up to twist the knife)

As for price, it could be anywhere from $199 to $399, but I'm betting on $299. What is unclear is what the bundle will look like.
The wi-fi is an add-on for sure.
The HD may or not be standard in the base price--if they go cheap, the HD may be extra.
One controller should be part of the deal but they could unbundle it.
We'll have to wait until monday for that kind of info.

Should be interesting to see how MS counters SONY's noon vapor pre-announcement of the 06 PS3 in their evening press conference. Maybe by hanging a PS3 poster next to playable 360 prototypes?
"You can look at their pictures or play our games"? :twisted:

(This time, SONY outsmarted themselves; by trying to "beat" MS's announcement to maintain the fiction of leadership they only succeeded in sandwiching themselves and giving MS the first *and* final say.)

So, how can MS screw this up?
1- Miss the schedule
2- Price it too high
3- Overplay the hd capability to where consumers miss the sd compatibility

Basically, if you're into gaming, you buy the best console of 05 and a free Media streaming box for free.
Or, if you're into Media, you buy the MCE extender with DVD playback (the first!) and get a game console for free...

Interesting times ahead.

Me, I just need to know what kind of media it will play through the USB mass-storage interface; they've already indicated music is a go (even the Pod, oddly enough) but I want video, too.
And I want WMV hd via DVD.
If they do, I'm in.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Best console? Errr, that'll depend on the person and the games he or she plays. For me there are some Japanese games that are only available on the PS series that the Xbox doesn't have. There're also the driving games (GT series has been a blast). All the talk about penta flops or texels mean nothing if there're no games to play!

[Darius Wey]

I've been lusting over this one for quite a while. Unless Sony can deliver the goods sometime soon, the Xbox 360 is where my money's at. Doubling up as a gaming centre and media centre is what makes this enticing. Suffice to say, it's some serious swag. 8)