XBOX portable halfway through XBOX360's lifespan
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ArthurDigbySellers
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[quote name='javeryh']I don't think I care unless there is a way to transfer XBLA games to it and the screen is 16x9 and 720p. I'd pay $250 or so for a portable Geometry Wars but there's no way I'm rebuying the game for $5! 
[/quote]
If the ergonomics of the Xbox portable match MSoft's past consoles, it will be big enough to do everything you want it to. Although it will probably run on gas.
[/quote]If the ergonomics of the Xbox portable match MSoft's past consoles, it will be big enough to do everything you want it to. Although it will probably run on gas.
[quote name='javeryh']I don't think I care unless there is a way to transfer XBLA games to it and the screen is 16x9 and 720p. I'd pay $250 or so for a portable Geometry Wars but there's no way I'm rebuying the game for $5! [/QUOTE]
Holy crap javeryh, that XBLA transfer idea is
ing genius. That's a must if they actually put out a device.
[/QUOTE]Holy crap javeryh, that XBLA transfer idea is
ing genius. That's a must if they actually put out a device.
Purkeynator
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I had the same thought but better. What if the handheld is actually a new hard drive? Then your Xbox Live games are already loaded onto your handheld/harddrive. There is no transfer involved. Then you can also use your handheld as an ipod like device for music too. The handheld would use the operating system of the oragami project. Trust me they are considering it.
RelentlessRolento
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Bad move for M$ to jump into portables since PSP and DS havce such strong hold over the market. Plus the fact that most people don't want more than 3 portable systems since the two out already are good enough. M$, please just stick with the origami.
A
Apossum
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[quote name='RelentlessRolento']Bad move for M$ to jump into portables since PSP and DS havce such strong hold over the market. Plus the fact that most people don't want more than 3 portable systems since the two out already are good enough. M$, please just stick with the origami.[/QUOTE]
exactly. Too late MS.
exactly. Too late MS.
CappyCobra
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[quote name='RelentlessRolento']Bad move for M$ to jump into portables since PSP and DS havce such strong hold over the market. Plus the fact that most people don't want more than 3 portable systems since the two out already are good enough. M$, please just stick with the origami.[/quote] DS I'll believe but PSP, come on. I see more PSP's on the preown shelf than I care to count. Microsoft might make a 'bad move' by entering in the portable market but it will translate to more competition. And competion is always good for the consumer. Honestly, after you get over the intial awe of the graphics of the PSP, you can't honestly say that playing games on a handheld and not get pissed about the ing loading time. Handheld media should only be solid-state period.
ing loading time. Handheld media should only be solid-state period.
k
Photomotoz
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When Sony released the PSP I already thought it was making the market more crowded, I mean Nintendo had been doing a good job. And now Microsoft wants to join?! Ugh, my guess it will be just like the PSP except with more focus on online play. Mu point is that they are gonna more like the PSP in the fact they I am sure they will focus on multimedia functionality instead of gaming.
the big diesel
CAG Veteran
When microsoft releases it's protable system, I can guarantee that it will be live compatable. This will mean that you will be able to talk to your buddies and download movies and arcade games. I would also be willing to bet that alot of xbox games and maybe even 360 games will be playable on the handheld in some form or another.
Now think about this. What if you could get on your Microsoft Handheld and wirelessly connect to live and play Halo 2 against other Mircosoft Handheld users AND against people playing Halo 2 on the Xbox and 360.
That would sell like crazy.
Now think about this. What if you could get on your Microsoft Handheld and wirelessly connect to live and play Halo 2 against other Mircosoft Handheld users AND against people playing Halo 2 on the Xbox and 360.
That would sell like crazy.
Quackzilla
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Releasing a new portable smack in the middle of the PSP's lifespan would be really stupid...
There is a reason that "next-generation" console come out withing a year or so of each other...
There is a reason that "next-generation" console come out withing a year or so of each other...
Grave_Addiction
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[quote name='Quackzilla']Releasing a new portable smack in the middle of the PSP's lifespan would be really stupid...
There is a reason that "next-generation" console come out withing a year or so of each other...[/quote]
I don't understand why this would be stupid. The reason people are attracted to the PSP is because of it's graphics and multimedia capabilities. But if Microsoft comes out with a more powerful system that is Xbox Live compatible, people will come in droves. Especially, if a new Halo game is available at launch.
I don't think the "launch cycle" arguement can hold up well, because the PSP just doesn't have a very good library of games. If Microsoft launched its new portable with four to five very solid to great games, it would just about equal what is available on the PSP.
Now don't get me wrong, I love my PSP, but I don't keep it for the games aspect. I like it more as a multimedia device. I did the same thing with the N-Gage, but the PSP's vastly superior screen won me over.
I don't think either system will be able to outsell the DS, though. The damn console just has so many good games and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon.
There is a reason that "next-generation" console come out withing a year or so of each other...[/quote]
I don't understand why this would be stupid. The reason people are attracted to the PSP is because of it's graphics and multimedia capabilities. But if Microsoft comes out with a more powerful system that is Xbox Live compatible, people will come in droves. Especially, if a new Halo game is available at launch.
I don't think the "launch cycle" arguement can hold up well, because the PSP just doesn't have a very good library of games. If Microsoft launched its new portable with four to five very solid to great games, it would just about equal what is available on the PSP.
Now don't get me wrong, I love my PSP, but I don't keep it for the games aspect. I like it more as a multimedia device. I did the same thing with the N-Gage, but the PSP's vastly superior screen won me over.
I don't think either system will be able to outsell the DS, though. The damn console just has so many good games and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon.
RelentlessRolento
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[quote name='Grave_Addiction']I don't understand why this would be stupid. The reason people are attracted to the PSP is because of it's graphics and multimedia capabilities. But if Microsoft comes out with a more powerful system that is Xbox Live compatible, people will come in droves. Especially, if a new Halo game is available at launch.
I don't think the "launch cycle" arguement can hold up well, because the PSP just doesn't have a very good library of games. If Microsoft launched its new portable with four to five very solid to great games, it would just about equal what is available on the PSP.
Now don't get me wrong, I love my PSP, but I don't keep it for the games aspect. I like it more as a multimedia device. I did the same thing with the N-Gage, but the PSP's vastly superior screen won me over.
I don't think either system will be able to outsell the DS, though. The damn console just has so many good games and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon.[/QUOTE]
I have to disagree. Sony already has that side of the market under wraps, plus they do have a strong library of games (finally!). If M$ really wanted to do it and it was succsesful it would really cut a huge amount out of their budget and pull them away from 360 stuff. Just a bad idea all around.
I don't think the "launch cycle" arguement can hold up well, because the PSP just doesn't have a very good library of games. If Microsoft launched its new portable with four to five very solid to great games, it would just about equal what is available on the PSP.
Now don't get me wrong, I love my PSP, but I don't keep it for the games aspect. I like it more as a multimedia device. I did the same thing with the N-Gage, but the PSP's vastly superior screen won me over.
I don't think either system will be able to outsell the DS, though. The damn console just has so many good games and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon.[/QUOTE]
I have to disagree. Sony already has that side of the market under wraps, plus they do have a strong library of games (finally!). If M$ really wanted to do it and it was succsesful it would really cut a huge amount out of their budget and pull them away from 360 stuff. Just a bad idea all around.
the big diesel
CAG Veteran
[quote name='whoknows']
That's sadly probably the truth too, there is no way this thing wont be huge. It will be portable in name only.[/quote]
You think that just because the Xbox was huge that everything that Microsoft releases will be massive.
If you can realize that it shouldn't be too big, then don't you think that one of the thousands of people working for Mircosoft might also come to this conclusion?
That's sadly probably the truth too, there is no way this thing wont be huge. It will be portable in name only.[/quote]
You think that just because the Xbox was huge that everything that Microsoft releases will be massive.
If you can realize that it shouldn't be too big, then don't you think that one of the thousands of people working for Mircosoft might also come to this conclusion?
RelentlessRolento
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[quote name='the big diesel']You think that just because the Xbox was huge that everything that Microsoft releases will be massive.
If you can realize that it shouldn't be too big, then don't you think that one of the thousands of people working for Mircosoft might also come to this conclusion?[/QUOTE]
Well, everyone knows that the battery charger will at least be massive
If you can realize that it shouldn't be too big, then don't you think that one of the thousands of people working for Mircosoft might also come to this conclusion?[/QUOTE]
Well, everyone knows that the battery charger will at least be massive
Rusty Ghia
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[quote name='whoknows']
That's sadly probably the truth too, there is no way this thing wont be huge. It will be portable in name only.[/QUOTE]
Well, the Virtual Boy was also supposed to be "portable" but just take a look at the damn thing and tell me who in the hell would want to lug that thing around?
http://pocket.free.fr/html/vm2001/60.jpg
That's sadly probably the truth too, there is no way this thing wont be huge. It will be portable in name only.[/QUOTE]
Well, the Virtual Boy was also supposed to be "portable" but just take a look at the damn thing and tell me who in the hell would want to lug that thing around?
http://pocket.free.fr/html/vm2001/60.jpg
the big diesel
CAG Veteran
[quote name='RelentlessRolento']Well, everyone knows that the battery charger will at least be massive [/quote]
Well you can't deny that.
[/quote]Well you can't deny that.
they need to focus on the 360 hell they cant even finish the xbox ps2 battle they just put out a new system n let the old one die instantly there to money hungry .
They could easily be #2 even with there game catalog going against the revolution and ps3 and that would be pathetic.
Only reason anyone would want there portable is if it can do something better than the rest and if its just graphics people may think twice about buying portables you cant flood the market over n over with systems you will hurt the casual gamer fanbase.
They could easily be #2 even with there game catalog going against the revolution and ps3 and that would be pathetic.
Only reason anyone would want there portable is if it can do something better than the rest and if its just graphics people may think twice about buying portables you cant flood the market over n over with systems you will hurt the casual gamer fanbase.
Well MS is confirmed to be working on an ipod killer, and it is headed by some former xbox people.
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/11181/Sources-Confirm-Microsoft-is-Working-on-iPod-Killer/
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/11181/Sources-Confirm-Microsoft-is-Working-on-iPod-Killer/
This subject seems to cause an outbreak of cognitive impairment whenever it arises.
The Xbox was a big console? So what, get over it. It isn't any mystery why this happened. Microsoft was determined to reach the market quickly, falsely believing their schedule should be influenced by incumbents Sony and Nintendo. So they adapted a PC chipset and further didn't devote the time needed that could refine the cooling solution to allow something closer to the PS2's size. If they'd been in less of a hurry they could have had a less bulky package in time for the 2002 Xmas season and enjoyed a someowhat stronger chipset with more RAM as a means to make up fro being 'late.'
But they made the mistake of letting themselves be rushed. Further, the rush caused them to strike an unviable supply deal with Nvidia, so when the time came for die shrinks of the chipset that would have allowed for a engineering revision of the Xbox in a much smaller version. Not to mention gettingcosts under control.
That's all ancient history. The Xbxo 360,, while not tiny, better fits into most entertainment centers and will get smaller down the road as chipset revisions make it feasible. For the first model size and power draw are less of an issue than establishing the best combination of power and price. Without those in the beginnning it doesn't much matter what later versions improve upon if those two aspects don't win the audience early on.
Portables are a different story. Nintendo rule the portable game world for many year largely thanks to following a strict formula that competitors couldn't seem to appreciate. They kept producing pricey units that sucked down expendable batteries at a distressing rate while Nintendo plodded along with the inexpensive, power efficient, and viscerally dull GameBoy. And Nintendo kept making the big money because they knew what really mattered in portables. Secondary non-gaming features are all well and good but useless without a reasonable price and a decent duration on a set of batteries. (Or these days a charge.)
The range of viable price points has expanded in recent years for portables but the formula is still applicable. It's pretty unlikely the folks at Microsoft haven't observed that, especially since they've been partnering on PDAs, cell phones, and other devices for over a decade. They've already seen a lot of what works and what doesn't. Price, performance, portability, the whole gamut. To jump into this not only requires a good base platform but also some attention getting additional features to make it more than just another entry to portable gaming.
The hardware is the easier part. You spec out a set of parameters: Size, price, power longevity, etc., and see what the competing vendors have to offer. ATI is a natural for the video solution since they've got a good relationship with Microsoft and are already deeply involved in driving GPU power in the handheld space. The CPU would almost certainly be an ARM variant, most likely the Intel (or whoever owns it by then since it's rumored to be up for sale) Xscale. Microsoft has the ARM ISA and especially Xscale as the primary focus of its existing handheld device efforts.
Some things it won't do: run games from the current or previous Xbox, nor offer a 720p display.
Xbox 360 XBLA games are mostly native Xbox 360 code. No portable in the next few years is going to be capable of running such games. MS could work out some deal to get both console and portable versions of a game for a lower compbined price but sharing the existing code base just ain't gonna happen. The only possible exceptionis games written using the .NET CLR to produce games that are somewhat platform independent much in te same way as Java apps. But for this to work for a game that runs well on both the Xbox 360 and the hypothetical Xportable means keeping the thing pretty limited.
720p in a portable game console just isn't in the cards for much longer than the projected appearance of this machine. Fat too expensive and difficult to appreciate on the size of screen to be expected. It would be a major jump over the PSP if it just offered full NTSC widescreen equivalent resolution. While we may not care for how Sony has marketed PSP movies, especially in locking out fullscreen playback from Memory Stick, but te movies on UMD look pretty damned good. A machine that ups the ante without getting into subnotebook size would be a nice jump without getting into HDTV territory.
Unless this project is much farther along than rumored, there would be a gap of at least three years between when the PSP specs were finalized and when this device would be ready for announcement with its own spec list. On that basis, offering a big jump in hardware capabilities for a similar launch price, $200 to $250, is not a big deal. Once the novelty of the specs wears off the real interest will be in the service side of the product. Online purchasing of downloadable games will be just part of the game business by then and expected of any new platform. They could try to one-up Sony by offering a better way to access video content, especially if support for connection to a regular TV set is included as a standard feature. (PSP movies would be a lot more interesting if you could connect your PSP to a TV wherever you go to watch movies with friends on a fullsize screen.)
It could work. Flash price will continue to drop. An 8 GB SD card should be under $100 by late 2008 and the cheapest 1" hard drives will be sporting 40GB capacities or greater. MY own experience is that a feature film on DVD converted to WMV at full quality is typically under a gigabyte. If they can work out the DRM issues and make the price right (sharing from a Media Center PC would be standard for broadcast material) it could score wear Sony missed.
In addition to a decent launch library, having that service lineup driving sales from day one is the real challenge.
The Xbox was a big console? So what, get over it. It isn't any mystery why this happened. Microsoft was determined to reach the market quickly, falsely believing their schedule should be influenced by incumbents Sony and Nintendo. So they adapted a PC chipset and further didn't devote the time needed that could refine the cooling solution to allow something closer to the PS2's size. If they'd been in less of a hurry they could have had a less bulky package in time for the 2002 Xmas season and enjoyed a someowhat stronger chipset with more RAM as a means to make up fro being 'late.'
But they made the mistake of letting themselves be rushed. Further, the rush caused them to strike an unviable supply deal with Nvidia, so when the time came for die shrinks of the chipset that would have allowed for a engineering revision of the Xbox in a much smaller version. Not to mention gettingcosts under control.
That's all ancient history. The Xbxo 360,, while not tiny, better fits into most entertainment centers and will get smaller down the road as chipset revisions make it feasible. For the first model size and power draw are less of an issue than establishing the best combination of power and price. Without those in the beginnning it doesn't much matter what later versions improve upon if those two aspects don't win the audience early on.
Portables are a different story. Nintendo rule the portable game world for many year largely thanks to following a strict formula that competitors couldn't seem to appreciate. They kept producing pricey units that sucked down expendable batteries at a distressing rate while Nintendo plodded along with the inexpensive, power efficient, and viscerally dull GameBoy. And Nintendo kept making the big money because they knew what really mattered in portables. Secondary non-gaming features are all well and good but useless without a reasonable price and a decent duration on a set of batteries. (Or these days a charge.)
The range of viable price points has expanded in recent years for portables but the formula is still applicable. It's pretty unlikely the folks at Microsoft haven't observed that, especially since they've been partnering on PDAs, cell phones, and other devices for over a decade. They've already seen a lot of what works and what doesn't. Price, performance, portability, the whole gamut. To jump into this not only requires a good base platform but also some attention getting additional features to make it more than just another entry to portable gaming.
The hardware is the easier part. You spec out a set of parameters: Size, price, power longevity, etc., and see what the competing vendors have to offer. ATI is a natural for the video solution since they've got a good relationship with Microsoft and are already deeply involved in driving GPU power in the handheld space. The CPU would almost certainly be an ARM variant, most likely the Intel (or whoever owns it by then since it's rumored to be up for sale) Xscale. Microsoft has the ARM ISA and especially Xscale as the primary focus of its existing handheld device efforts.
Some things it won't do: run games from the current or previous Xbox, nor offer a 720p display.
Xbox 360 XBLA games are mostly native Xbox 360 code. No portable in the next few years is going to be capable of running such games. MS could work out some deal to get both console and portable versions of a game for a lower compbined price but sharing the existing code base just ain't gonna happen. The only possible exceptionis games written using the .NET CLR to produce games that are somewhat platform independent much in te same way as Java apps. But for this to work for a game that runs well on both the Xbox 360 and the hypothetical Xportable means keeping the thing pretty limited.
720p in a portable game console just isn't in the cards for much longer than the projected appearance of this machine. Fat too expensive and difficult to appreciate on the size of screen to be expected. It would be a major jump over the PSP if it just offered full NTSC widescreen equivalent resolution. While we may not care for how Sony has marketed PSP movies, especially in locking out fullscreen playback from Memory Stick, but te movies on UMD look pretty damned good. A machine that ups the ante without getting into subnotebook size would be a nice jump without getting into HDTV territory.
Unless this project is much farther along than rumored, there would be a gap of at least three years between when the PSP specs were finalized and when this device would be ready for announcement with its own spec list. On that basis, offering a big jump in hardware capabilities for a similar launch price, $200 to $250, is not a big deal. Once the novelty of the specs wears off the real interest will be in the service side of the product. Online purchasing of downloadable games will be just part of the game business by then and expected of any new platform. They could try to one-up Sony by offering a better way to access video content, especially if support for connection to a regular TV set is included as a standard feature. (PSP movies would be a lot more interesting if you could connect your PSP to a TV wherever you go to watch movies with friends on a fullsize screen.)
It could work. Flash price will continue to drop. An 8 GB SD card should be under $100 by late 2008 and the cheapest 1" hard drives will be sporting 40GB capacities or greater. MY own experience is that a feature film on DVD converted to WMV at full quality is typically under a gigabyte. If they can work out the DRM issues and make the price right (sharing from a Media Center PC would be standard for broadcast material) it could score wear Sony missed.
In addition to a decent launch library, having that service lineup driving sales from day one is the real challenge.
[quote name='Rusty Ghia']Well, the Virtual Boy was also supposed to be "portable" but just take a look at the damn thing and tell me who in the hell would want to lug that thing around?
http://pocket.free.fr/html/vm2001/60.jpg[/QUOTE]
I took mine plenty of places. Of course, it was $20 at Blockbuster with all the accessories in a custom carrying case. The games were $2 each. Great deal. I bought about a dozen sets with games and gave them as gifts. Since most of my friends weren't gamers and had never heard of the thing, they were pretty impressed.
It the Virtual Boy had been $130 or less and/or launched with a must-have game, it could have been a nice little niche business. As it was, Nintendo forgot its own formula for GameBoy success when it came to the VB's pricing, then further dropped the ball on software support. There were good games but no great ones.
In a business venture you can survive one major mistake but not two. Most often it is inability to answer two questions, "Does it work?" and "Is there money in it?" If you cannot give a good answer to at least one of those, chances are investers are going to look elsewhere.
http://pocket.free.fr/html/vm2001/60.jpg[/QUOTE]
I took mine plenty of places. Of course, it was $20 at Blockbuster with all the accessories in a custom carrying case. The games were $2 each. Great deal. I bought about a dozen sets with games and gave them as gifts. Since most of my friends weren't gamers and had never heard of the thing, they were pretty impressed.
It the Virtual Boy had been $130 or less and/or launched with a must-have game, it could have been a nice little niche business. As it was, Nintendo forgot its own formula for GameBoy success when it came to the VB's pricing, then further dropped the ball on software support. There were good games but no great ones.
In a business venture you can survive one major mistake but not two. Most often it is inability to answer two questions, "Does it work?" and "Is there money in it?" If you cannot give a good answer to at least one of those, chances are investers are going to look elsewhere.
bread's done