The New XBox Sounds Pretty Sweet

http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/nextbox.htm

Could this be the neXtbox?
by Robert Valdes


1/18/05
Lately, things have been heating up in the world of video game hardware. Sony is about to drop their handheld answer to the Nintendo DS in the form of the PSP, and the Gizmondo is ramping up to add to the fray. Truth be told, the handheld battle is only a prelude to the real war. In the next 12 to 24 months, we will see the release of the Xbox 2, PS3 and GameCube 2.

With the game industry now eclipsing the film industry in the quest for the almighty dollar, this next chapter will be the most dramatic and exciting we've seen to date. Rest assured Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are working diligently to pound on each other in the market place when the next-generation consoles drop. At this point, all the players are keeping their cards close to the chest. But recently, Microsoft tilted their hand slightly. Here's what Stuffo found:

On December 30th, 2004, the United States Patent and Trademark Office accepted a patent application submitted by Microsoft for a "System and method for parallel execution of data generation tasks" for a video game console.

Almost six months ago, there were images circulating on the Web that claimed to be a schematic drawing of the Xbox 2 from a patent application. Around the same time, Team Xbox ran the image and reported a source had tipped them off to some of the features fans could expect in the next console. Several other gaming sites picked up the story, but eventually Microsoft "asked" (read: cease and desist letter) Web publications carrying the image to pull it down.

Now the very same schematic appears as part of this patent application, released to the public on the USPTO web site. Check it out:

(See URL for graphic)

Techno-babble aside, what Microsoft wants is to make the Xbox 2 the only machine in your living room. The plan is to provide one unit for video game entertainment, online functions and direct-to-disk digital TV recording. "Ambitious," you say? We tend to agree. But after weeks of lurking in dark gaming alleys and beating up informants, here's what we found.

The Scoop
All right. A few things need to be said before you continue reading. Our sources are sound, our research thorough and our knuckles are bloody, but the sad fact is most of this is rumor, conjecture and speculation. That's all we have now. That's all anyone has now. We have managed to get a few solid facts, but as with all things in the hardware world, you won't really know until the manufacturer wants you to know. So keep that in mind as you read. That being said, here's the story.
What we know:

IBM has signed on to replace Intel as the provider of processor technology in new Xbox products and services.

ATI Technologies has signed a contract with Microsoft to produce the graphics chip for the next Xbox. This is a switch from the hardware giant Nvidia who produced chips for the first Xbox. Here's what Robbie Bach, the vice president of the Microsoft Home and Entertainment Division had to say about the partnership with ATI in August 2003:
"We're combining Microsoft's vision, software experience and R&D resources with ATI's pioneering leadership in graphics technologies to create innovative future Xbox products and services that meet the lifestyle needs of consumers in the Digital Decade ... We selected ATI after reviewing the top graphics technologies in development and determining that ATI's technical vision fits perfectly with the future direction of Xbox."

Taiwanese chip maker Silicon Integrated Systems will help create the input/output chips for the Xbox 2.

The B/R/S Group, a California-based market research company that has the Xbox division of Microsoft on its client-list has been holding focus groups to study a device it refers to as Xbox Next PC.

Company representatives have acknowledged that "Xenon" is the code name for the Xbox 2 project.

Microsoft is set to send out the Xbox 2 developer's kit in the first quarter of 2005. This kit will include an R500 card. Microsoft's current kit is powered with older Radeon 9800 cards. The first round of Dev kits are meant to run on Mac G5s. The Xbox 2 uses a RISC CPU and not the Intel X64 compliant CPU that was used for Xbox 1. If you know what all of that means, good for you.
What we've heard:
The proposed plan is to release three versions of the Xbox 2 over the course of a year. The first would be available in the fourth quarter of 2005 and the last a year later, to coincide with the release of Sony's PS3. The three versions break down like this:

Xbox Next - The Xbox 2, plain and simple. No hard drive, but an optional one can be purchased at the rumored price of $100.

Xbox Next HD - Reports indicate it will include a hard drive and extra functionality. Rumors also point toward an extra-special, crispy incentive: a Halo 2: Directors Cut that will be shipped with the Xbox Next HD. This alleged Halo 2.5 is supposed to function at a higher HD resolution and include extra playable features. Team Xbox was the first to report this. Here's a quote from their source.
"Halo 2.5 will be an Xbox 2 launch title and is going to run in HDTV resolution with new, improved textures and graphical effects. All the stuff that people expected from Halo 2 but didn't make the cut will be there ... The technology that powers Halo 2 has been designed from day one to take advantage of the next generation hardware... In Halo 2, the Xbox was pushed to its limits, but now the game will reach new heights with the advanced hardware ... Now, here is the twist: Halo 2.5 will come preloaded with the optional HDD. It'll be one of the two reasons to get the Xbox 2 that comes with a hard drive. The other reason ... well, you'll just have to wait."

Be still, my beating heart.

Xbox Next PC - Xbox Next PC is basically an entry-level PC that runs a Windows operating system (perhaps Longhorn?) and can play both Xbox and PC games. It may also include a CD burner, wireless keyboard, mouse and game controller. Users can check e-mail and run standard PC software like Word as well. Unlike other consoles, it will be meant to connect to an HDTV or PC monitor. Think of an Xbox version of a Windows Media Center PC. It's supposed to come out a year after the other two Xbox Nexts, to coincide with the release of Sony's PS3. The theorized price point is in the $600 range.

[ January 29, 2005, 02:41 PM: Message edited by: DJ FC ]

[Mr. Blonde]

Wow...600 dollars for a gaming system..that's pretty re-fucking-diculous...how much are they going to bed by the time we have kids? fuck!

Well it's 600 dollars for a stand alone PC which would run the next generation of Windows, with integrated everything, internet, PC Software, and Gaming.

$600 sounds pretty reasonable.

Of course I could never go without a seperate PC, but I bet this would open up worlds for the XBOX.

[Mr. Blonde]

Yeah, that diagram made no sense to me.

[ninjaface]

Yeah, fuck that diagram. Before I buy anything, I'll simply wait for the following:

1. Xbox2 vs PS3 system specs
2. Breakdown of features
3. 4 years after the release for the price to come down to $150.

[buckeye]

diagram makes sense, the one released spring last year was actually more detailed (some of the specs were listed. At that time i had it confirmed that it was a legit diagram, the next xbox is going to be crazy.

[Schroeder]

Yeah, but the real question is whether Microsoft can get more exclusives and 3rd party games (as well as Microsoft games), to make it a system that isn't carried by just three or four games, as you could argue the current xbox is.

[ninjaface]

Could also argue that the PS2 is the same way. GTA:3, Vice City, San Andreas and probably some shitty final fantasy game.

The thing is, the Ps2 didn't have just one single killer app like the XBOX did (Halo)

PS2 had all the Madden games (which are better on PS2, don't know why probobly the controls)

PS2 had Gran Turismo 3, the GTA's like you mentioned, all the "Street" games (NBA, NFL Street), the SSX games, not to mention cult classic games such as "Amplitude" and "Katamari Damacy" the list goes on and on.

PS2 had a quality selection of games, unlike XBOX which just had Halo.

[THEINCREDIBLEdork]

anyone who doesn't play PC games is a pussy

[Schroeder]

Originally posted by ninjaface:
Could also argue that the PS2 is the same way.

No, actually, you couldn't. While the games you listed are must have or essentials, there are tons more games that are phenomenal and help carry the system. For instance: The Devil May Cry series, Tekken tag tournament and 4, The Tony Hawk Series, The Ace Combat games, oh, and there always those little known Metal Gear something or other games.

The point is, the Xbox is carried on the back of Halo and Kotor (Knights of the Old Republic). Without Halo, we aren't even looking at possible Xbox two diagrams because there would never be an Xbox 2. Microsoft would have failed miserably. The Xbox even at this point doesn't have enough great exclusive games to even warrant a purchase.

[buckeye]

The PS2's killer ap is the GTA series, which is avialable on every console, this game is also the only PS2 game to recieve a game of the year award. The Metal Gear Solid series is probably the next best thing on PS2, but doesnt compare to Splinter Cell so really Xbox owners arent missing out on much.

As for madden you're basing the argument that its better on PS2 soley on your controller prefrence. The game is identical almost in every aspect, aside from a few graphical tweaks for the Xbox version. However the main difference is in the online play, Xbox Live is hands down better than the service offered by PS2.

These Xbox only games are just off the top of my head


-Halo 1(game of the year 2001)&2
-Ninja Gaiden (this is a much bigger "classic" than Amplitude or Katamari Damacy)
-Crimson Skies
-MechAssault 1&2
-Fable
-Project Gotham Racing
-Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 1(game of the year 2003)&2
-Ghost Recon 1&2
-Elder Scrolls III

<font size="3">*Edit*
</font>Games added

Panzer Dragoon Orta
RalliSport Challenge
Deus Ex
Gunvalkyre
Full Spectrum Warrior
Jet Set Radio Future
Amped
Top Spin



[ January 31, 2005, 02:16 AM: Message edited by: buckeye ]

[Niger Angelus]

I feel better about my PS2 now. Yeah, I can't believe you left out the Metal Gear Solid Series. I love those games.

[buckeye]

Originally posted by Schroeder:
For instance: The Devil May Cry series, Tekken tag tournament and 4, The Tony Hawk Series, The Ace Combat games, oh, and there always those little known Metal Gear something or other games.[/QB]

-DOA&gt;Tekken. DOA is online and you really cant argue either way which one is better offline they are both good.

-Ace Combat???..??...? are you kidding me

-Splinter Cell rapes Metal Gear Solid

-Tony Hawk is not PS2 exclusive so why include it?

Finally if the PS2 games are so much better, and better recieved by everyone, then why does Xbox carry a higher game attach rate? Hmmmm? For those who dont know it means that Xbox owners on average buy more games for their system than PS2 owners do for theirs. To me if it would seem logical that if the PS2 games are so fucking sweet then people would buy more of them.

The point is, the Xbox is carried on the back of Halo and Kotor (Knights of the Old Republic). Without Halo, we aren't even looking at possible Xbox two diagrams because there would never be an Xbox 2. Microsoft would have failed miserably. The Xbox even at this point doesn't have enough great exclusive games to even warrant a purchase.

Fable and Ninja Gaiden both sold better than KOTR, infact just look at my list above, i would consider those games some of the better games on the system. There are many reasons why the Xbox did so well, yes Halo is a big one, but i feel that they ran Xbox differently than PS2 or Gamecube. They were the first to announce an online service, a harddrive was included with the system along with an ethernet adapter allowing for the systems to be networked. Hell they even made it so you could plug 4 controllers in at once(yes i know other systems have done this to), simple and very fucking convenient.

[ January 31, 2005, 02:16 AM: Message edited by: buckeye ]

[Mr. Blonde]

As long as we're on the "my console is better than yours" argument, does anyone else think that the gamecube sucks hardcore nuts? I've never played, and have no desire to. I don't like the games, and I want to take a giant shit on every console ever made.

[Niger Angelus]

Gamecubes suck. I have played one before. Once. That is all it took for me to hate it.

[fat_retard]

Play Resident Evil 4 and then think about what you guys just said.

[Mr. Blonde]

Originally posted by fat_retard:
Play Resident Evil 4 and then think about what you guys just said.

I'm pissed that it's just on Gamecube.

[ninjaface]

Nintendo better kick some major ass on its next console, or it will go the way of Sega and we will be playing Mario games on the XBox.

[fat_retard]

Originally posted by ninjaface:
Nintendo better kick some major ass on its next console, or it will go the way of Sega and we will be playing Mario games on the XBox.

Nintendo will always have a monopoly in the handheld market so they will always stay in the console race. There is now way the PSP will ever dethrone the Gameboy, no matter how much better the graphics are. Also Nintendo will not ever make games for the Xbox. Nintendo is a very japan-centric company and the xbox was very unpopular in Japan so I really doubt Nintendo would make games for xbox at all.

[buckeye]

Nintendo was very close to striking a deal with Xbox, had the gameboy not done so well it would've became a reality.