Swat Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 although i dun have a xbox, here's some news 2 get u excited "Microsoft supremo Bill Gates has spoken to French national newspaper Les Echos about the Xbox project, giving interesting insights into both the future of the current console, and the company's plans for Xbox 2 and its continued assault on the living room. According to Gates, the next-generation Xbox (which many people speculate will be called "Xbox Next", based on recent domain name registrations by Microsoft) will be a much more broadly-focused multimedia device than the current console. Among the features touted for the system are "digital media capabilities such as video and photo editing" and "Internet capabilities without the need for direct connections through Wi-Fi." This all makes the Xbox 2 sound very like, well, a PC - indeed, if the system combines Internet, video and photo-editing functionality with a games console, it may become an attractive alternative to PC ownership for a lot of families. However, there's also a danger that this new multimedia focus will dilute the company's games offering; much of the success of Xbox to date has been attributed to its relentless focus on gaming, which has won the hearts of the key hardcore market. It's also possible that some of this functionality will make it into the Xbox before a new console launch comes around, with several sources telling gi recently that Microsoft is considering major upgrades to the Xbox Dashboard in the near future, including a possible integration of Internet Explorer and Windows Media into the console. Regarding the current position of Xbox in the market, Gates described the company as "satisfied with the number two position behind Sony and ahead of Nintendo in the global console market". Now, Nintendo might question that - and if Microsoft is ahead, it's not by enough to be worth talking about. Let's say "joint second" then. Gates proceeded to trot out the usual spiel about third party support ("software developers have historically only supported the top two platforms", conveniently ignoring that Nintendo has historically been the biggest developer for its own platform anyway). Gates also promised continued support for the Japanese market, which is still in the doldrums despite the good performance of Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball in the territory. "We knew it was going to be difficult, and we will continue to invest in the Xbox there," he pledged. Whether this investment will yield the kind of software support that's needed to sell the Xbox not only to Japanese consumers, but to the legions of Japanese software fans in the USA and Europe, still remains to be seen." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerothorn Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Interesting article. I didn't get some of the writing, though. The two pieces being: Gates proceeded to trot out the usual spiel about third party support ("software developers have historically only supported the top two platforms", conveniently ignoring that Nintendo has historically been the biggest developer for its own platform anyway). I don't get that. What do they mean "Conviently ignoring"? What does Nintendo being the biggest developer for its own platform have to do with anything? Yes, it is, partially because it doesn't have much third party support. It seems...irrelelvant, somehow. Like mentioning the average price range of red delicous apples. And then they debated the Xbox number 2 position. It IS close, but Microsoft has the lead, and its not by 100 consoles or whatever most people think- Gamecube has the lead in Japan but Microsoft has the lead in North America and Europe, and while Gamecube has a considerable lead in Japan, that is one country, North America and Europe being 2 continents. Plus the whole focus on Bill Gates is just odd....the way the media treats him, you'd think he ran the company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Glorfindel Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 This makes me kinda want to get the newest XBOX, if its going to be part-PC. Not only does it have great gaming, it'll have the INTERNET!!! Now thats what makes me want to get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannibal Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 I imagine this won't cost $199. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taos Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Originally posted by Lord Glorfindel This makes me kinda want to get the newest XBOX, if its going to be part-PC. Not only does it have great gaming, it'll have the INTERNET!!! Now thats what makes me want to get it. Hmmm, I kind of the opposite of this. It makes me not want to get it and be happy that I've got my new pc on the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerothorn Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 I WOULD say this move was a bad move for Microsoft, since console gamers like things to stay the same and don't like part-PC consoles....except I won't. Because, 1. Microsoft's buisness managment team obviously knows a lot more about buisness then me, and 2. Sony is doing the same thing with the PS3, so the sony fanboys can't diss Microsoft for doing it without dissing Sony^_^. Seriously though, Sony will make it trendy. And I don't mind it having more capibilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taos Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Originally posted by Aerothorn 2. Sony is doing the same thing with the PS3, so the sony fanboys can't diss Microsoft for doing it without dissing Sony^_^. Seriously though, Sony will make it trendy. This is great news Aero. I did not know what ps3 was going to be like. I really get tired of all the ps2 blah blah blah..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerothorn Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Ya, Sony annouced they were gonna try to make the PS2 a media center thing, playing cds, watching movies, playing games, etc. And its gonna have the hard drive/ ethernet card thing, so it will be closer to a PC. Basiclly, a console is just a stripped down, cheaper PC, so as they learn to produce parts for cheaper, consoles will get closer to PCs, until a new kind of technology(ala Virtual Reality) is introduced. Then the PCs will have, say, VR cards in them for 5-10 years before consoles do, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Glorfindel Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 Originally posted by Aerothorn Then the PCs will have, say, VR cards in them for 5-10 years before consoles do, etc. I think a console with a VR chip would make more money than a pc would with a VR chip. For a VR chip is a great gaming graphics opportunity, and to make a two or three hundred dollar console using VR technology, it would target gamers much more than it would for a PC. Cause not everybody can afford a good PC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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