Xbox 360 Hardware Unveiled

By Eurogamer staff Published 13 May, 2005

Everything from base tech to Live and peripherals.

Xbox 360 has been officially unveiled by Microsoft.

Confirmation that it was "Xbox 360" came just after 2AM BST as Microsoft's J Allard delivered the immortal words in official context for the first time as part of a streaming video presentation (direct link) that capped off the company's OurColony.net viral marketing campaign. "You are the colony," Allard beamed, before launching into a glitzy look at the making of the system.

Media-wise, we have official photographs, shots of the "Guide", and four "poster pics".

The video confirms that the design seen in leaked shots earlier this week is real, and that the controllers seen in those shots are indeed wireless. The presence of a removable hard drive module is also confirmed, although it's still not clear whether a version of the console without this module will be launched.

'Xbox 360 Hardware Unveiled' Screenshot 1

It also confirms the launch period: Holiday season 2005, with the suggestion based on aggregated sources being a November US launch - eerily and perhaps deliberately close to the original Xbox launch date - with European and Japanese releases following shortly after. Perhaps even within 7-10 days, according to some.

The special also reveals what the function of the large Xbox 360 logo seen in the middle of each controller is - it's a button to pop up the Xbox 360 Guide, a menu system which gives access to a variety of multimedia, online and offline features of the console, including a host of features designed to link up with Windows Media Centre PC systems.

The system design was the result of a massive process that involved as many as 20 rejected prototypes, and the idea of the final design - which is about the same size as a PlayStation 2 - is that the "dual concavity" gives it the look of something breathing in. It can stand on its side or upright without the need for support.

Full system specifications of the system followed as a worldwide embargo lifted at 2:30AM BST. The console will be powered by three IBM PowerPC CPUs, each one running at 3.2Ghz and with the capacity to run two hardware threads simultaneously - effectively meaning that the system can process six threads at once. Each core also has an on-board vector unit - and the whole system uses a water-cooling system to keep the temperature down, much like the high-end Apple PowerMac G5 desktop computers, which use similar PowerPC chips.

'Xbox 360 Hardware Unveiled' Screenshot 2

The ATI graphics processor in the box will run at 500MHz, with 10MB of embedded DRAM on the graphics part, while the box itself has 512MB of GDDR3 RAM, which is shared between the CPUs and the graphics chip. This will drive Microsoft's vision of an "HD era". Although Xbox 360 will not require a high-definition television set to run, Microsoft is heavily behind the idea, and all games will have to support 16:9 widescreen resolution, 720 progression-scan and 1080i, as well as anti-aliasing, and 5.1 Dolby Digital surround and custom soundtracks.

As expected, the system will not use either of the new high-capacity DVD standards, instead opting for a standard 12X dual-layer DVD-ROM, while the hard drive will ship in a 20GB base unit, which can later be upgraded. Memory card units, two of which can be plugged in at once, will start at 64MB - it's not clear what exactly their purpose will be, as yet.

The system will support up to four wireless controllers, and also has three standard USB 2.0 ports. As well as the built-in network port, it is also "Wi-Fi Ready" - although it appears that the Wi-Fi adapter will be sold separately. Specifications have it supporting 801.11b, 802.11g and 802.11a models - the full range of likely options.

Xbox 360's also listed as "video camera ready", and it's known that the video camera will be sold as an optional extra that allows for video messaging amongst other things. The camera will support VGA 640x480 resolution at 30 frames per second and takes 1.3-megapixel photos.

'Xbox 360 Hardware Unveiled' Screenshot 3

In terms of multimedia functionality, Xbox 360 will boast DVD playback out of the box. A clever idea is that the X360 will power down its noisiest fans when it plays back video content, allowing users to enjoy things without distraction. Equally curious and bound to be popular is the news that alerts will be able to pop up during television or DVD playback, allowing you to, for example, sit and watch a DVD of The Simpsons whilst waiting for a friend to pop up and challenge you.

There will also be the opportunity to rip music to the hard drive and play content from Windows Media Centre PCs across the network. Interestingly, it also promises the ability to play media from portable music devices and digital cameras - and leaked details from a Danish games magazine specifically mention the iPod, raising the possibility that the system may be happy to play media even off portable devices from Microsoft's competitors in this space.

Microsoft also unveiled the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote, which features backlit buttons and allows you to browse content on the system, controlling music, pictures and more, and extensive Windows XP Media Centre Edition functionality. There's even A, B, X, and Y buttons for basic control of the Xbox 360 itself.

Of course, the announcements wouldn't be complete without some reference to the customisation being touted so strongly by J Allard - so the unit itself can be completely customised with new face-plates, much like clip-on covers on mobile phones. Many are visible in the OurColony video.

'Xbox 360 Hardware Unveiled' Screenshot 4

Last night's dramatics also confirmed what's already been said about Xbox Live, and more. Users will have a choice of packages - a Silver option, which allows them to download content including new levels, weapons, game demos, community-created content through Xbox Live Marketplace; and a Gold option that opens the door to full online play.

Players will be able to personalise Live with their own snapshot from the camera, engage in video messaging conversations, online tournaments and ladders, play with celebrities and join sponsored tournaments. What's more, the first month of the Gold "premium" service will be free, and various free showcase weekends should follow.

Microsoft has also indicated that you'll be able to avoid players you don't enjoy playing with by ranking them based on the experience.

Full details on the software unveiled overnight will be made available elsewhere. And for those of you who fancy a laugh, check out our archive of live coverage of the evening that saw us glued to the screen from 8PM through until 4AM, posting anything and everything. It was highly entertaining. And some of the jokes were quite funny too. See that here.

Picture of Eurogamer.

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Comments (92) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • dokodemo #1 7 years ago

    There's lots of good technology there. Expensive technology. State-of-the-art PC technology.

    So I'm just curious, will Microsoft subsidise the hell out of it and get it on shelves for less than £200?

    As I'd imagine 3 x 3.2Ghz PowerPC processors alone cost more than that (though obviously the benefits of mass production will help).

  • Razz #2 7 years ago

    Xbox 360!!

  • Huntcjna #3 7 years ago

    I think there gonna punt it cheaper than expected to really nail people on the software and peripherals the more affordable it is at launch the greater early user base. Do we know if its backwards compatable or can I just not read?

  • jumpdeveraux #4 7 years ago

    Backwards compatibility yes/no... how difficult is that to answer?

    If yes, I throw the original black brick from the balcony and pop one of these under the tv.

    Surely this is a key point for early adopters without large tv cabinets.

    /contemplates new tv cabinet.

  • W0PR #5 7 years ago

    Water cooling?!?! They couldn't even build a safe power supply into the first Xbox!

  • Nexus_6 #6 7 years ago

    meh

  • Eighthours #7 7 years ago

    The presence of a removable hard drive module is also confirmed, although it's still not clear whether a version of the console without this module will be launched.

    From the way the specs have been laid out, and tyhe way tyhe whole thing was presented, it looks very much like the HD will be included in the basic package. Looks like Microsoft have had a rethink after everyone yelled about how important it was for everyone to have one.

  • Spin_Dr_Wolf #8 7 years ago

    Wheres the rest of the RAM ?

  • joey #9 7 years ago

    Interesting, this thing is more State of the art Apple Mac than PC, it looks like an Apple product, it's uses Power chips, it has a simple UI, it's white....ummm I knew Bill was a big Apple fan, but what a way to pay homage.....any way sod all that this is the first MS product I really want, i have already sent in a hardware request to my IT department .....

  • Captain Fetid #10 7 years ago

    Does it run Linux?

  • pauleyc #11 7 years ago

    Interesting indeed, this is the first time I'm really interested in the Xbox360. And that despite the horrible promo video (the "hip" part of it at least).

    /watches "you are the colony, you are in control"
    /feels nausea

    edit: W0PR, maybe that's the *shocking* next-gen experience...
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/05 @ 11:01

  • Tweakmonkey #12 7 years ago

    "A clever idea is that the X360 will power down its noisiest fans when it plays back video content, allowing users to enjoy things without distraction"

    Nice feature. Sony - take note.

  • Nemesis #13 7 years ago

    Blimey; they ain't skimping on the hardware then.

    /is still waiting for the price

  • Tyronne #14 7 years ago

    good to see this years xmas present to myself has finally been revealed.

  • mr_chiquita #15 7 years ago

    | Water cooling?!?! They couldn't even build a safe power supply into the first Xbox!

    To be honest it probably won't contain actual h20, it'll probably be some sort of harmless non-conductive coolant. 3M do a nice range I think.

    Or maybe vegetable oil... http: //www.markusleonhardt.de/en/oelbilder.html

  • drumbaby #16 7 years ago

    Good job for Muntersoft that none of their executives look like unphotogenic gimps in that video.

    :)

  • mcmonkeyplc #17 7 years ago

    Three things:

    1) Backward compatible or not?
    2) Price
    3) EU release date

    Please be close to the American so I can beg for it for my Birthday :p

  • cardboardMonster #18 7 years ago

    "My gamertag is..." STFU

  • binky #19 7 years ago

    Ok..... Interested now :D

  • pauleyc #20 7 years ago

    Does anybody know what kind of power supply they will use? 3 processors, a 500 MHz GPU, HDD...quite a lot.

  • kflarsen #21 7 years ago

    Now bring on the killer app. You DO have a killer app, don't you?

  • dextress #22 7 years ago

    Does anyone have a link to the MTV show? I can't wait until tonight, and it must be online by now.

  • ABXY #23 7 years ago

    CANT BLOOOOOODY WAIT!!!!

  • KTroopA #24 7 years ago

    how much how much...?

  • statix101 #25 7 years ago

    "As I'd imagine 3 x 3.2Ghz PowerPC processors alone cost more than that (though obviously the benefits of mass production will help"..

    Ok lets get this straight..its NOT 3 seperate CPU's...its 3 cores on 1 SINGLE processor.
    And that's no where near as powerful as having 3 physically seperate CPU's....
    It raises all the old problems of getting these cores to work in parallel in an efficient way, similar to the problems developers had when starting out on the PS2's massively parallel processors...

  • Putty-Man #26 7 years ago

    Wonder how the batteries in the controllers are charged?

    Wud be neat if you cud plug them into the console soemwhere to do this, instead of having to take them out to recharge/replace all the time.

  • sturridge #27 7 years ago

    Most retarded video ever. If sony is smart enough they'd come out with a video that was the complete opposite of that pissbucket and gain alot more respect. If you watched that video and didnt feel like smashing your hand through the monitor then you need to seek help.


    Fuck you XBOX people for giving the respectable gaming world a bad "were the schizzle because we listent to eminem, wear sneakers and have rebel earings"

    Your pathetic, so many gaming kids across teh world will probably be bullied as a result of your actions come monday.

    bully: "So you think your cool with your megahurtz jacket and your three point two hairstyle? Your a faggot."
    Victim: "Xbox's views on what gamers should look like and act do not refelect the majority"
    bully: "Shut the fuck up. Bend over so I can beat your ass with this stick"
    Victim: "Beat this asshole " (does a backflip, runs up the wall, lands behind bully, snaps his neck and dissapears into the shadows"


    as regarding the CPU issue, you can have all the processing power in the world but if your algorithms arnt developed for multiple threads, then youd be better off using the other two cores as heaters, or possible cooking instruments.


    sturridge

  • effinwooly #28 7 years ago

    I am gobsmacked !!! I must admitt i am a Sony Fanyboy and have never had time for the Xbox, but this (this is so difficult to say) looks amazing !!! There i have said it (spits) I need one and I am going to get one....... Its well more powerful than i expected ! Hopw the hell are they going to keep the price under £500 with all those specs !!

    I never thought i would say this ever in my life time, but well done microsoft ! (i feel dirty !)

  • Tonka #29 7 years ago

    I've finally managed to download and see the MTV XBOX 2 insult of a preview. What a complete waste of time.

    (But if american gamer chicks are really that hot I'm thinking about heading west(as long as I dont have to watch overhyped rubbish on tv all day that is))

  • JohnnyWashnGo #30 7 years ago

    Frankly, as a gamer appraoching the dreaded 30 years old mark, I couldn't be more underwhelmed with this new machine.

    Microsoft's constant focus on technology is probably at the heart of this. I want to play games; good, involving, exciting games.

    I do not want to hear about the processing power of the machine, or how it can become the media hub of the house, or how the fascia can be changed to promote 'individuality'. This is superficial fluff that obfuscates the real subject at hand, the bloody games.

    Oh and I really hate this whole 'colony' thing that is going on. It sounds condescending at best and only stands to prove that Microsoft see everyone as a revenue stream. If you could see through the eyes of Allard, you would see many human sized dollar signs walking around.

    Microsoft wants to control you and your household.

    Put a stop to it before it goes any further.

    You will have only yourself to blame when you find that your thoughts are not your own and that your dreams come with Nike ads built in.

    Their marketing campaign should have revolved around Sheep, not Ants.

    JohnnyWashNGo.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/05 @ 12:49

  • Juriel #31 7 years ago

    Hopefully the programming can take advantage of the processor setup.
    And yes, the video was extremely aggravating.
    They start off by insulting the viewer by saying he is the colony.
    Then they think I care who these people on the video are.
    Ngh.

    At least, below all the geeky whining, there was some shots of the console, its insides and what you can do with it. But the video could have been 5% the length of this bullshit-laden version, and still have offered all the relevant bits.

  • BeDevil #32 7 years ago

    Looks like Ghost Recon 3 and PGR3 will be the 'killer aps' - i like the softened shadows and character detail in the GR3 shots. Problem is it's another mulit-platform release, not a bloody exclusive, not built solely for the 360s' architecture.

    As for backwards compat, what happens to all your old savegame data - can it be copied across on memory card? No... Maybe a link cable? Otherwise, what's the point?
    Edited by 2 at 13/05/05 @ 12:40

  • Bru-Man #33 7 years ago

    Ah, I think I've just worked out why it's called XBOX 360.
    $360 -> £360 :D

  • Markusdragon #34 7 years ago

    Heh, it's amusing seeing pro-sony guys saying "WTF, this is catering to jocks, get with real gamers, loL!1" when sony was the first company to cater to the larger audience.
    Besides, the video is masterful if you look at it as a piece of semi-unintentional comedy; they're nerds, for frigg's sake!


    EDIT: Oh, and it's called the 360 because 360 degrees is a revolution; the 360 is a revolution in gaming.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/05 @ 12:44

  • El_MUERkO #35 7 years ago

    Nice piece of kit, I await its release with interest, though I may not buy it, want to here what Sony have to say for themselves :)

  • jiveguy #36 7 years ago

    I think sturridge needs someone to talk to.

    Hopefully, after this week, when everyone gets over the hardware feeding frenzy, we wil have E3 concentrating more on the games side of things.

  • Tonka #37 7 years ago

    No, it's called 360 cause 3 > 2 & 3 = 3 as in PS3
    Every other explanation is induced using microwave beam cannons hidden in XBOXes around the world and purely coincidental

  • drumbaby #38 7 years ago

    It's called '360' because although at 360 degrees Celsius structural steel only loses about one percent of its strength, a power cable normally goes 'woof!'.

    :)

  • davyuk #39 7 years ago

    My god, that was painful to watch. J Allard and the producers of that video have just removed any ounce of repect I may have had for them. You just need to replace mentions of 'Xbox' with 'Abs Pro' and you have one of those daytime TV infomercials that make me dive for the remote for fear of having the intelligence sucked from my brain.

    Please Sony, don't pander to the people that enjoy this drivel.

  • Zerimski #40 7 years ago

    "Problem is it's another mulit-platform release, not a bloody exclusive, not built solely for the 360s' architecture."

    The 360 version is being developed separately from the versions for the current batch of consoles, like the Xbox version of GR2 was separate from the PS2 version. So it will be built solely for the 360s' architecture.

    Also, the simple fact that it was unveiled of MTV should have given people an idea of what to expect. The rants about it pandering to jocks etc would be valid if it were aired on TechTV, but it wasn't.

    And Sony need to pander to exactly the same audience, because if they pitch their product solely at the "hardcore", they'll not shift nearly enough units to compete. Let's face it, the "hardcore" don't need MTV unveilings and lots of marketing bollocks, they have other resources. You're going to buy a next-gen console at some point anyway.
    Edited by 3 at 13/05/05 @ 13:20

  • stormcr0wfleet #41 7 years ago

    i thought it was called xbox360, beacuse it operates at an average temperature of 360 degrees Celsius.. i mean, 3x 3.2ghz processers and a big fuckoff graphics card cramed into a relitively small space like that!. I could proberly fry my bacon and eggs on it the morning after an allnight gaming session!.

  • teamonkey #42 7 years ago

    Llamasoft's developed the music player visualiser thingy in the X360. Have a look at the video on http://www.llamasoft.co.u k/

    Quite an improvement over the music player in the Xbox, isn't it! :)

  • stormcr0wfleet #43 7 years ago

    im downloading the 23mb trailer now, its going at an incredibly slow rate thou. im not getting over 50kbs :(

  • BeDevil #44 7 years ago

    "The 360 version is being developed separately from the versions for the current batch of consoles...So it will be built solely for the 360s' architecture"

    Well that's cool if so :)

    I really don't like the idea of cross-generation multi-platform games that are basically current-gen beefed up with bump mapping...

  • stormcr0wfleet #45 7 years ago

    duno if u guys have seen these
    http://www.gametrailers.com/download.php?id=5734&typ e=wmv&f=

    check out the "codename" trailers... i have no idea what game this is?. but look at the graphics and the lighting!. just bloody awesome!

  • Feanor #46 7 years ago

    Makes sense to have a hard drive for everyone, since 20 GB hard drives must be cheap to produce in 2005.

  • knif3r #47 7 years ago

    PML @ stormcr0wfleet. classic mate!!

    I think X360 is gonna rock. Check the article on IGN (xbox360.ign.com) about 'Gears of War' - uses the unreal 3 engine and is exclusively xbox 360 - someone pass the asthma pump now!!

  • towser #48 7 years ago

    Does anyone know if it will be backwards compatible? couldn't see any mention of it in the article.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/05 @ 14:06

  • Zerimski #49 7 years ago

    That's not been announced yet. Apparently more on that subjct will be released at E3.

  • onyxbox #50 7 years ago

    I love Xbox but I just can't see what the 'hook' is with the new one... I mean what is the hook with this one? What's different about it? What will it do the others don't already do?

    At least PS2 had a DVD player and back then THAT was worth having.

    360 just seems like a knee jerk reaction to Intel and NVida shafting them on every sale of the old XBox. Don't get me wrong it's a nice machine by the looks of things but then... so was the Dreamcast.

  • knif3r #51 7 years ago

    I think the hook is gonna be this whole online marketplace / 'Xbox Live on acid' thing they're touting at the mo.

    I also think alot of people are overlooking the development tools that they gonna be developing the games with , namely XNA. Should allow for simultaneous development of x360 and PC games. No more waiting 6 months to a year for PC ports like Doom 3 and Half-life 2 etc...

  • effinwooly #52 7 years ago

    The specs are fantastic (I am a nerd by the way !) The Sony Fanboys must be SO fed up !! lol

  • Lukus #53 7 years ago

    I was also wondering about backwards compatiability. I also wondered if anyone one spotted any confirmation of the old hard-dive doubling as a portable media player rumour? That would be a cool feature and would save me having to buy an ipod.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/05 @ 14:36

  • gibbondrives #54 7 years ago

    Backwards compatibility: MS are having problems with it (which at least means they're trying to make it back compatible). More news on that would appear at E3.

    Portable Hard-Drive: The one it comes with looks certainly like it won't be a media player. But with it being detachable it could mean a portable player that does slot in could appear separately. But as MS are touting portable player connectivity via USB its likely it won't use the drive bay at all. If its possible to use your hard drive in another persons X360 though, that could be a good way of taking your content to a friends house. But that would negate the need for memory card slots.

    *needs a lie down*

  • Batfink #55 7 years ago

    Oh Happy Day :)

    Now HERE's a agood reason to buy an Xbox360

    http://www.llamas oft.co.uk/neon.php

    Geoff Minter state-of-the-art trippy-shit-maker? Yes please :)

  • PlayerPlayerPlayer #56 7 years ago

    I beg your pardon? "You are the colony?" Are you sure?
    What is this? Mysticism? Star Wars rubbish?
    I thought I was the cologne...
    Well, looking forward to this anyway.

  • ElephantMonkey #57 7 years ago

    Hardware backward compatibility is definitly not there. I'm sure though that MS would be able to accuratly emulate the xbox1 with software. It has 3 PowerPC CPUs at 3.2Gz! The power is there. The will i there. So I guess backward compatibility should be there too.

  • Zerimski #58 7 years ago

    No, there is no confirmed information regarding backwards compatibility at the moment. That is not the same as there being no backwards compatibility.

  • FredMT #59 7 years ago

    Ramblings...
    I taped the MTV episode but couldn't get beyond the first five minutes and no, I didn't choke either. This machine will run Linux but what I find will not find spurprising is the hacked NT/XP kernel kernel that will eventually find its way on the web for the PS3. Sony and IBM will release a regular computer based on CELL architecture. Intel must be feeling pretty much alone now but never fear: the Phantom still has your back.
    Whatever has become of that console?
    Anybody?
    I am going with the analyst who said the next-gen uptake will start with the PS3...
    I have limited funds and can only afford one machine: I will wait for the third actor before chossing my show...
    Oh! I do not think that it is an accident that all the players are using IBM inside their boxes either: think lower programming costs for the developers
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/05 @ 15:24

  • Krusty #60 7 years ago

    Hope they don't knobble the UK versions with no HDTV support, like they did with the XBox. Surely they can't this time since it's all Hi Def etc etc

    What the hell were they thinking there?

  • old_skool #61 7 years ago

    EUROGAMER : PLEASE FIX THE FORUM , sentences b r e a k i n g up in firefox 1.03 . Fine in IE6

  • AOFanboi #62 7 years ago

    <em>the hacked NT/XP kernel kernel that will eventually find its way on the web for the PS3.</em>

    How likely is it that someone will bother rewriting Intel machine code to PowerPC machine code? Or did you mean MacOS X?

  • Biggles #63 7 years ago

    There's blatantly going to be backwards compatibility. If there isn't, they're really shooting themselves in the foot (feet?). One of PS2's main advantages beforehand was the large body of stuff available from launch thanks to it supporting PS games. And they'd be fools not to take advantage of using all the existing Xbox games.

    Came up with a theory as to their sheepishness though, earlier...
    Presumably, they want developers to get on with making lots of 360 games as quickly as possible. Now if they come out and say original Xbox games will work too.... some of those developers might decide to stay on making new old Xbox games rather than adopting the new tech immediately. Just an idea, dunno. But would be highly suprised (and disapointed) if you can't play the old games.

    Hmm... considering getting one of these new puppies as haven't had a console since the days of NES etc... and can't afford to keep up with PC gaming these days.

  • Tweakmonkey #64 7 years ago

    With this spec it's gonna cost about £1000 anyway ;-)

  • stormcr0wfleet #65 7 years ago

    i think the price point on release in the UK will be £349.99, perhaps £399.99 with the HD and a memory card or a couple of games and a live supscription etc.. I think microsoft will lower the price to around £199.99 when the playstation3 is released.

    For what is stuffed inside it, i wouldnt mind one bit paying £400 on release. if you compare it to the price of a top end gaming pc, then your getting a bargin!.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/05 @ 19:16

  • O-Fox #66 7 years ago

    I like what I see.

  • Les #67 7 years ago

    The hardware specs sound nice, but the (concept) screenshots I've seen don't impress me one bit. It's not even close to photo realism and I don't see it as that much of an advancement over the current generation of consoles. I think it's a bloody shame M$ speeds up the transition to the next generation of consoles, because except for M$ and the gaming media (including Eurogamer) most people couldn't care less for nextgen consoles.

  • redzero #68 7 years ago

    OurColony snippit:

    In the "Truth" video from OurColony, at 5:01 dots start to appear in the bottom left corner of the video. If you take the dots in alphabetical numeric order and also compare/check www.ourcolony.net front page, you get

    "ourcolony will return"

    :)
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/05 @ 21:09

  • MrGrumpy.au #69 7 years ago

    Damn I promised myself I wasn't going to be an early adopter, but with it's
    specs and games it'll be tough to resist.

    Project Gotham 3
    New Ghost Recon
    Rallisport Challenge 3 (please let this rumour be true! lol)
    Dead or Alive 4

    Cheers
    Edited by 2 at 14/05/05 @ 03:42

  • OnlyMe #70 7 years ago

    I want to say that if it's not backwards compatible, then I won't be buying one on release. But knowing me, I can't live up to that promise because my wallet's always itchy when the console is standing there in the store, right before my eyes. Legs get wary, hands get shaky, I get hot and start sweating. Then the console starts speaking to me; "buuuy meeee nooooow!". Annoying that.

  • johlee_99 #71 7 years ago

    Well, to all you bitter Sony fanboys. It's not that bad a commercial. It's emphazing the colony as a 'we' meaning that we are all connected playing in videogame nirvana, yadda, yadda.

    I can't wait for this considering all the big brains that designed, but software is key. And this time, MS loosened up their wallets and got a lot of big names on board at launch, not later.

    GO MS!!! Make me late for work again!!!

  • WickedDeeJ #72 7 years ago

    This all sounds well and good, but one crucial policy of MS has yet to be unveiled: Regionalisation: The whole problem with the current get Xbox is that the PAL versions had the HD features chopped out of them, that the PAL software library was but a mere fraction of the NTSC one, and that PAL gamers could always count on a lovely two month delay in release for the same English language games.

    From the looks of things, MS has eliminated the first one, and it now *seems* that gamers in the PAL regions will be getting Xbox360 at its full potential, and not a feature-reduced version as we did with the first Xbox.

    In regards to software, this is really the Big Issue(TM) for me. I'd love for MS to make a statement that either the Xbox360 would be regionfree, meaning that if you had an NTSC compatible TV, then you could play whatever games you like, or that they would be enforcing global release policies with the publishers.

    Something akin to writing into the EULA for developing an Xbox360 game: "Product *must* be shipped globally within seven days at the most."

    This would arguably lead to more games on the shelves in all regions, meaning more profit and a better reputation for the system, and in the end, when Sony releases the PS3 to the same old "Japan first, US second, EU whenever we get around to it." policy, MS would have a clear advantage.

    As you've probably guessed; what I'm looking for is any reason why I should not import an NTSC version. I wouldn't mind a PAL version, *if* I were 100% sure that I wouldn't get conned on the software and features.

    So, any news on the global gaming policy? :)
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/05 @ 09:58

  • BartonFink #73 7 years ago

    WOPR Wrote:
    Water cooling?!?! They couldn't even build a safe power supply into the first Xbox!

    ..edit meh!

    Jeysus at least they were proactive about it unlike ....

    then again I suppose it's M$ so you will rant on regardless :)
    Edited by 4 at 14/05/05 @ 11:18

  • the creeper #74 7 years ago

    I'm guessing that the 360 won't be backward compatible. Why else would Microsoft have just designed the only piece of retail electronics that's shaped so that it can stack on an existing Xbox? :o)

  • Gamebyte #75 7 years ago

    Wheres the internet TV?

    Wheres the graphically superior games?

    Why is it a high end PC in a stylish box pushed out before the technology to compete was there?

    Why is it a microsoft media center when we all know it fails?

    The social structure, the interconnectivity, the online its all there but where are the games that make it sell? and where are there more plus points to this machine than than negatives?

  • lufcfan #76 7 years ago

    I'm actually impressed. I'm a die-hard Sony fan (not a fanboy, but I've just never had time for Xbox or GC) and I'm really gonna have to think about which one to get.

    I wanna see what Sony are going to give with PS3 at E3 - and if it isn't as good as that, then Microsoft have a new customer.

    I really like the central hub thing - and the design is really growing on me. Nice work - and I never knew Allard looked like a complete a*se with a stud;) . I thought he was another Microsoft freekazoid (we all know the Bill family pic, lol)

    Anyway, just one thing - if GTA is gonna be on PS3 for about 8-9 months before X2 in the future, i'm gonna have to look at PS3 as my next machine.

    But my god, is the next gen hotting up nicely - what more is there to say other than 'I want one' :)

  • Yossarian #77 7 years ago

    Gamebyte:

    Where's...

    ...the credible content in your post? I've been looking, but I'm just not seeing it.

  • Yaz #78 7 years ago

    "....but where are the games that make it sell? and where are there more plus points to this machine than than negatives?"

    Wait, has E3 come and gone already?

    And there was I thinking it starts next week.

  • Lankyn #79 7 years ago

    Why are futuristic products all sperm coloured?

  • chronom4n #80 7 years ago

    i saw allard going on about how we are the fucking colony, the way he was going on, it could only be the american mentality towards the rest of the world. after seeing the american wrestling antics, i can only say that it is unbearable to watch. I AM PART OF A COLONY?!, fuck i do not want to be part of a colony that is controlled by an american corporate machine. and to me all the american corporate way of business is about making as much money as possible. so much for the controller being original, looking back all MS did was copy the best bits of the ps2 controller and the dreamcast controller and then amalgamate them together, so i cant really call that original.

  • brombeer #81 7 years ago

    Well, I agree with Johnny. I'm past the thirty years of age marker already and I'm completely underwhelmed too. Now I definitely know for sure I'm NOT going to buy the Xbox 360 (indeed a clever name: 360 degrees is a Revolution, Xbox 2 is smaller than PS 3 is smaller than Xbox 360...but it sucks anyhow). I'm not an ant, and definitely not part of a freaking ant colony. Not with Americans at least. Now I also know why Bush sent all those men to their death in Iraq. They were just ants, right? The design is aweful. White? For Christ sake, does it have to stand out in my living room as well? And why, oh why isn't the price announced yet? Higher than 360 Euros, that's for sure. Or backwards compatible? Or any quality games? And paying for every download? How American, how Micro$oft. Take an example from Ubisoft (European based). Almost all download content is for FREE. Inards doesn't say anything, it's the games running on them. One (original black toaster) Xbox for sale, with some 17 games. Anyone? And stick the 360 in that other circular hole Microsoft, known as an ass...
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/05 @ 10:14

  • Azu87 #82 7 years ago

    It's just stupid to call this a revolution because of the name. And the name itself is stupid because this is NOT a revolution. Everythingh from the first Xbox have just been updated, and seeing that PS3 might do everything better, I don't see a reason to get Xbox 360. Revolution will be something new in how we play games (at least according to Nintendo) so that's where my money goes. PS3 will be the most powerful console, and Revolution will be the console that brings something new to gameplaying. Where does that leave Xbox 360. That's right, if you can wait for PS3, there IS no place for Xbox 360. If Sony just makes the online-gaming better, that alone makes the next Xbox a complete waste of money because Live is the only thing that kept Xbox differend from the other consoles. Now Nintendo is really coming into the online gaming with DS and Revolution, and that sounds much more compelling than Live with its PC-game -like games.
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/05 @ 10:40

  • jiveguy #83 7 years ago

    Well, I think I've read them all now with someones excuse for not buying a games console being that an American president sent troops into combat.

  • the creeper #84 7 years ago

    I'd love it if Sony call their next console the PlayStation361 now. If MS don't want to be numerically inferior to them, then Sony could turn it around and use it as a marketing tactic. "Well there's is only 360. Ours goes up to 361..." :o)
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/05 @ 13:38

  • Yossarian #85 7 years ago

    I'm nor sure it won't be called something other than the Playstation 3.

  • captain-future #86 7 years ago

    hehe. probably PlayStation Next or PlayStationX (Xenon) or ...

  • ali-uk #87 7 years ago

    Pretty sure it's PS3. New tagline is 'accept chang3'.

  • 3william56 #88 7 years ago

    "gives it the look of something breathing in."
    [Insert Xbox360 suxxors comment here] :p

    Curious about the standard DVD spec: will this turn into a Ninty 64 cartidge blunder? Will high capacity DVD be neccessary to get FMV in full 1080i, plus all the textures and graphics data that this beastie will be able to throw around?

    The specs look pretty serious, especially when you compare it to a Xbox or PS2. But that's usually b*ll*x - can someone give us a practical idea of what these specs actually mean in the real world - say compared to the HL2 spec, or a current issue ninja gamer PC?

  • the creeper #89 7 years ago

    'Pretty sure it's PS3. New tagline is 'accept chang3'. '

    An alternative point of view on this slogan is that they're preparing people to accept that it's not going to be PS3. Guess we'll know later today...

  • joey #90 7 years ago

    Well this is going to be interesting, all those Wintel heads wondering how this will perform, MS choosing a IBM Power chip because it's the most powerful solution? An MS system running on Power chips, I feel a shudder going though the geek world, but...but.. as we all know PC's are faster than, no wait I cannot even mention the name, and the PS3, oh another IBM chip, then the Revolution errr, IBM also. Not a Intel/Amd chip anywhere, even though they are clearly faster?

    Answer is, it will be really bloody fast, Power chips were built for AV work, and are not some nasty overclocked legacy lash-up. So be sure the future is bright, and very fast. (and before anyone thinks I'm an Machead, I'm not, this post is brought to you thanks to Mr Gates, I just know a good chip when I see one!)

  • louyfitz #91 7 years ago

    I sure as hell hope it's released cheaply, as I dought I can afford £300, but £200 would be OK for me.

    Anyway the console looks good, shame now it's been unveiled it makes me kinda sad that I can look and not touch for another 4-6 months.

    Those screenshots do look a little crappier than I thought they would, the home made PD:Z ones looked better than the real ones, lol.

  • ElephantMonkey #92 7 years ago

    Sorry microsoft but your design just got uped by SONY.

    <a href="ht tp://www.eatsleepcode.ca/temptrash/ps3/ps3-3.jpg"&g t; back </A>

    <a href="http ://www.eatsleepcode.ca/temptrash/ps3/ps3.jpg"> TopFront </A>

    <a href="http://img 239.echo.cx/img239/9127/39ry.jpg"> Colors </A>


    This is trully a sleak piece of equipment everyone would be proud to own and put in his living room. Even with the Spidermanish fonts on it. Its elegance make the xbox360 look like a crapy piece of toy besides it.
    Edited by 3 at 17/05/05 @ 01:24