Xbox Next Specs

[ryankenn]

I'm glad it's not just me that prefers the larger controller.

I for one am all about backwards compatibilty. It took me forever to finally find a game like Super Conflict for this platform, but I finally managed it, and I want to be able to play it on the next gen console, because I doubt anyone is going to re release a title like that.

Some of that info is confusing for sure. It sounds like the memory cards will hold a small portion of data strictly for the system to use to bootup? Does this mean you have to have a memory card, or it just put files in that 8MB space that makes loading/saving the games on the card easier/faster for the system. I'd be for having the internal HDD for sure, I like storing music on there and having it play in the background of Tiger and Madden.

I wish they'd make things like the Web Cam optional, because I could give a rat's butt about that kind of thing. I can just imagine how much a 1024MB memory card is going to cost. The small ones cost $50 CAD as it is if I paid retail. Thank goodness for EBAY.

It sucks that I have to buy a PS2 for the GT series of games, and an XBOX for sports.

 

[NeoNemesis]

I remember years ago when the first rumors came out saying that the xbox 2 would have something like a 7Ghz processor and garbage like that. Looking back at it makes me laugh.

 

[GlobalFear]

that 8mb is not ram, it's memory, like a memory card for game saves. so it has the same 8mb as current xbox memory cards, plus a bunch for user data, i'm guessing that means mp3's, etc.

My bad on missreading it.

 

[Noodle Boy]

Can't wait for this bad boy to be released...Halo 3 is gonna look so BANGIN!!!!! If the next-Box has backwards compatibility, I hope you can play xbox games at a higher resolution, like Halo 1 and 2 on 720p or something.

 

[finalgt]

Heh. There isn't going to be an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray drive because they'll be too expensive to be put in a 2005 console system, but that doesn't stop them from putting in a graphics card that's supposed to be even faster than current $300 video cards, as well as a processor that has 3 cores, each running as fast as the fastest single-core PowerPC chip on the market today? Not to mention the fact that they don't even say why a video game system would need a triple-core CPU in the first place. I have yet to see one of these stupid-ass rumors that sounds even remotely reasonable.

 

[KoolDrew]

I saw this posted on like 3 other forums and it is very impressive.

 

[Volkermord]

Microsoft is going to kick themselves in the ass. That will happen when this machine isn't backwards compatible. I think that would be a dumb move. Then again nothing is official until Ms says so or lies about it.

Just my two cents.

 

[JasperW]

Heh. There isn't going to be an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray drive because they'll be too expensive to be put in a 2005 console system, but that doesn't stop them from putting in a graphics card that's supposed to be even faster than current $300 video cards, as well as a processor that has 3 cores, each running as fast as the fastest single-core PowerPC chip on the market today? Not to mention the fact that they don't even say why a video game system would need a triple-core CPU in the first place. I have yet to see one of these stupid-ass rumors that sounds even remotely reasonable.

lol very good point

"uh we can't shell out the $70 for that optical drive, but let's put in the $400 video card..."

I don't see how the price of something like this could be <$1000. We all know how expensive macs are with their Power PC processors. How can there be 3 of them in this machine and it be remotely affordable? Maybe to go with their "adult" edge they will make the price only affordable to adults too?

 

[reddhaus]

Microsoft is going to kick themselves in the ass. That will happen when this machine isn't backwards compatible. I think that would be a dumb move. Then again nothing is official until Ms says so or lies about it.

Just my two cents.

I bought the PS2 when it first came out. I thought the whole backward compatibility thing was so cool and important. I soon realized that after I had played the PS2 games and got used to the improved graphics I hated going back and looking at PS1 graphics.

IMO, no matter how good the current games are, the next gen games will always be better. I would rather play a game for a few weeks or months and then trade/sell it while it is still worth something.

The other day I sorted through my games and decided I would trade in Rainbow Six 3 because I never play it and Rainbow Six Lockdown will be out in a few weeks. They gave me something like 3 or 4 bucks for it. I should have got rid of it when I could get 20 or 25 out of it.

So, all that said, I don't feel that the backward compatibiliy issue is important. I would rather have them spend the R&D resources on more RAM, and more powerful CPU and GPU's. If you like certain games enough to want backward compatibility, don't get rid of the original system they were designed for.

What was the release date for Halo 3 again?

 

[reddhaus]

lol very good point

"uh we can't shell out the $70 for that optical drive, but let's put in the $400 video card..."

I don't see how the price of something like this could be <$1000. We all know how expensive macs are with their Power PC processors. How can there be 3 of them in this machine and it be remotely affordable? Maybe to go with their "adult" edge they will make the price only affordable to adults too?

If the "$30" optical drive will meet the needs, why use a "$70" optical drive? Use the extra "$40" for the graphics hardware.

They can keep the cost down because of the sheer numbers of these processors that will be produced. This might be a stretch but I would be willing to bet that the Xbox Next will out sell Mac Power PC's. I personally know more people that own an Xbox than I do a Mac.

They also HAVE to keep the price down even if it means that they would lose money on the console itself. Otherwise they will not sell. They will make up plenty of profit on games and Xbox Live subscriptions.

Dang!! Bill Gates is a smart, very rich man!!!!

 

[Terpfen]

Can't wait for this bad boy to be released...Halo 3 is gonna look so BANGIN!!!!! If the next-Box has backwards compatibility, I hope you can play xbox games at a higher resolution, like Halo 1 and 2 on 720p or something.

Not possible. The art would have to be redone for the higher resolution. If Xbox2 is backwards compatible (doubtful at this point) then it'll just run everything the way it does currently, with no enhancements (except maybe some different-sounding music thanks to the sound processor.)

 

[WickedAngel]

No mention of backwards compatibility...

I sure do hope its there. While my XBOX game library is small (SC2, Halo, Halo2, Ghost Recon2), I hate to see MS loose this round again because they don't have a substantial library for the first six months.

Launch lineups aren't terribly important...Sony rode well off of a terrible launch for nearly eight months.

I'm surprised anyone would consider the Xbox a loss, regardless. Microsoft wasn't looking to outsell Sony; they're arrogant, not stupid. They wanted to get their foot in the door of the industry. They succeeded in every possible way and did far better than anyone ever expected them to do. Hell, they've managed to consistantly outsell a company that has been in the market for decades. That is no small feat with a fledgling console.

 

[spIdeZ]

Not possible. The art would have to be redone for the higher resolution. If Xbox2 is backwards compatible (doubtful at this point) then it'll just run everything the way it does currently, with no enhancements (except maybe some different-sounding music thanks to the sound processor.)

sure it's possible. Look at PC emulators for N64 and SNES etc, you can run at any resolution you want, also with filters and antialiasing and other crap.

 

[TheMostWantedPolishTwin]

I'm really excited about the next next gens..

 

[DJHolmes]

Looks pretty impresive. I kind of think they're trying to get an edge over the competition by having some nice, exclusive features. Since the design still seems very similar to a PC, I think we may see developers reach the limit of what the Xbox 2 is capable of much sooner than the PS3, where as I have a feeling the power of the PS3 will be much more dependent on the software devolpment over the years and will increase as developers learn more about programing the cell chip. I guess game selection is all that will really matter.
The high resolution is going to rock. I'm curious about what the hard drive will cost compared to memory cards and how modable the box will be.

 

[goatlord]

Heh. There isn't going to be an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray drive because they'll be too expensive to be put in a 2005 console system, but that doesn't stop them from putting in a graphics card that's supposed to be even faster than current $300 video cards, as well as a processor that has 3 cores, each running as fast as the fastest single-core PowerPC chip on the market today? Not to mention the fact that they don't even say why a video game system would need a triple-core CPU in the first place. I have yet to see one of these stupid-ass rumors that sounds even remotely reasonable.

As someone said up a ways, manufacturers will be able to make these components relatively inexpensively because they will be making A LOT of them. X850 and 6800U GPUs, as well as PowerPC processors, cost a fortune because they don't sell in the same quantities as X300 GPUs and lowend Pentium 4s.

Besides, I suspect the current $300+ video card prices have more to do with marketing than with actual production cost. Similarly, what makes a Macintosh expensive is not the PowerPC processor alone.

As far as backwards compatibility goes, I suspect the easiest way to do it would be the same way PS2 plays PS1 games: integrate the old hardware into the new. They have (or used to have) x86 cards for Macs; I wonder if they're working on a similar solution. I can't believe that the PS3 running full-software emulation of the older hardware will really be viable.

I'm fucking excited about a second set of triggers on the damn controller though... I'm not excited at all about a builtin camera - save a couple bucks, please, we don't want it!

 

[fbiguy]

Keep in mind too that consoles MUST be "one step ahead" of the PC industry at launch because they're destined for 2-4 years of operation. As per usual these hardware specs are marginally better than your top end PC today.

I really thought someone would have brought this up already, but...

The SEXbox (SE stands for Second Edition perverts) is going to be a multi-thread environment. While what is quoted above is very true, this next generation is adding something to the mix.

See when the first Xbox came out, the PC world was very much still in the single thread world. I dont think even the HT technology (intel) was out/announced.

What im trying to say is. The SEXbox should be able to retain the "ahead of PC's" status a bit longer because the games should all be taking advantage of the multi-thread functionality...

While in the PC world, companies are going to be like "ok lets figure out if it will be cost effective to program for multi-thread processors".

Eh, hope you get my point, i know its not laid out very well.

 

[Terpfen]

sure it's possible. Look at PC emulators for N64 and SNES etc, you can run at any resolution you want, also with filters and antialiasing and other crap.

Two different situations--they don't compare. There's a difference between running Yoshi's Island on a modern PC and running Forza Motorsport on an Xbox2 at 720p.

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

A total of 9 ghz of cpu power and graphics that are more powerful than a x800 series card? I'll believe it when I see it instead of getting off to rumors.


Also, only 8mb of memory? There is no bloated OS, but I don't see how any game would run with 8mb of ram. I guess they could use the drive like a page file but, if the hdd is optional..........
It is a bad sign when your graphics card has more ram than your system.

thats for cache or other files not os are your crazy!? if the os was 8mb it could be loaded into ram

 

[Circuitbreaker8]

That sounds awesome! Screw PC gaming,,,,i'm so sick of spending all this money on hardware and we get like 1 or two games worth buying. BF2 is the only game I care about this year for the PC.....hopefully PC gaming will actually be good in the next year or two..

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

That sounds awesome! Screw PC gaming,,,,i'm so sick of spending all this money on hardware and we get like 1 or two games worth buying. BF2 is the only game I care about this year for the PC.....hopefully PC gaming will actually be good in the next year or two..

lol im kinda mad i just bought a $1500 pc and im going to have to work my ass off once a release date is set for this but its ok, BF2 worth it even if modern combat will come to consels

 

[Circuitbreaker8]

lol im kinda mad i just bought a $1500 pc and im going to have to work my ass off once a release date is set for this but its ok, BF2 worth it even if modern combat will come to consels

Yeah...and hey! You're from MD! w00t

 

[Tiny]

On the Front [H] page....MS just confirmed the specs...kind of. Screenshots of the new interface too!

Posted by Steve 6:16 PM (CST)
Official Xbox 2 Details:
We posted details in our 6th Edition today on the specs for the next generation Xbox console. This is it, there is no more speculation, you are getting the official information straight from the horse’s mouth…Microsoft. Here are some of the features listed in the press release:

*A well-balanced system that will deliver more than a teraflop of targeted computing performance.

*A multicore processor architecture co-developed with IBM Corp. that provides developer "headroom" and flexibility for the HD Era .

*A custom-designed graphics processor co-developed with ATI Technologies Inc. designed for HD Era games and entertainment applications.

After seeing the HI-RES pics of the new interface....the following makes more sense to me:

9 (L) x 10(W) x 3(H) inches

And on the interface screenshots, why is there Forza Motorsports and Halo 2? It could be for just display....but it could be more!

I LOVE ALL THIS!!!!!

 

[Circuitbreaker8]

On the Front [H] page....MS just confirmed the specs...kind of. Screenshots of the new interface too!

​

After seeing the HI-RES pics of the new interface....the following makes more sense to me:

9 (L) x 10(W) x 3(H) inches

And on the interface screenshots, why is there Forza Motorsports and Halo 2? It could be for just display....but it could be more!

I LOVE ALL THIS!!!!!

Yeah I love the release of new consoles...its always so fun

 

[wayne2456]

Time to throw away the pc........ and get ready for Xbox2!!

 

[bigtony]

Heh. There isn't going to be an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray drive because they'll be too expensive to be put in a 2005 console system, but that doesn't stop them from putting in a graphics card that's supposed to be even faster than current $300 video cards, as well as a processor that has 3 cores, each running as fast as the fastest single-core PowerPC chip on the market today?

Why would they need all of that storage? How many games are out now that use up all of the space on a dvd-9? Having one wouldn't increase the performance much, if any. At least it will use the power available from the gpu and cpu.

On another note, I read somewhere that it wouldn't be backwards compatible because they would have to pay licensing fees to Nvidia for emulating their hardware to run on the new Ati gpu.

 

[Terpfen]

Why would they need all of that storage? How many games are out now that use up all of the space on a dvd-9? Having one wouldn't increase the performance much, if any. At least it will use the power available from the gpu and cpu.

Well, being able to fit standard-resolution textures for the 85% of the market that doesn't have an HDTV, and 720p-appropriate textures for the required support is one reason.

If Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are necessary because the space needed to record HDTV surpasses dual-layer DVD's storage capabilities, it might be nice to adopt one of the two formats for gaming, which is arguably more storage-hungry than movies or TV shows.

Besides, PS3 is using Blu-Ray. This was confirmed months ago. Couple that storage space with hardware that will likely be the Xbox2's equal, or even better, then Microsoft has problems. The way this is going, Microsoft is going to wind up having the next Saturn: on its own, a good machine, but it won't stack up to Sony's offering.

I'm hoping Nintendo can pull a rabbit out its hat and produce a console that can do more than simply host Super Mario: Look, More Goombas!, or Zelda: We Still Think Wind Waker Was Cool.

 

[bonkrowave]

I like the look of this console. It has nice Hard edges with subtle sweeps, it is different from the first one, yet similiar enough to follow the design of the first one.

I dont like the colours, hopefully they will change them. I would like to see some speed holes added, and maybe a racing strip to make it look sporty.

 

[MartinX]

I like the look of this console. It has nice Hard edges with subtle sweeps, it is different from the first one, yet similiar enough to follow the design of the first one.

I dont like the colours, hopefully they will change them. I would like to see some speed holes added, and maybe a racing strip to make it look sporty.

I don't think that that has anything whatsoever to do with XBox2/Xenon/XBoxNext/XBox360/XWhatevertheyactuallycallit, thats just something some random guy dreamed up. As far as I know no proper concept art exists outside MS, just stuff based on rumours, and that picture is dated before even most of the rumours.

I don't know what Xenon will look like, but I'm pretty sure it'll be more compact, sleeker with a much more curvy design, not a brick like that (again), and probably just one dominant colour, microsoft went to some lengths to separate the original X-Box from blatant "Microsoft" branding, so unless they change that strategy I think they'll steer clear of the MS colours (Probably Green details though, designers love to keep elements for sequel products).

That design does remind me of something though, I'm pretty sure there's already a console somewhere in history that looked very similar to that, possibly one of the versions of the 3do, that's going to bug me...

*EDIT* I know what I was thinking of, it's sort of a mix of design queues taken from other consoles, Segas Saturn (imagine it in black) and Dreamcast would be the most recent, plus the previous Phantom design.

 

[brom42]

Sorry, off the main subject.

I'm hoping Nintendo can pull a rabbit out its hat and produce a console that can do more than simply host Super Mario: Look, More Goombas!, or Zelda: We Still Think Wind Waker Was Cool.

Nintendo is heading in a different direction that the other consoles. Nintendo's Revolution is going to be a pure gaming machine, not spreading out to do other multimedia things. (like how the cube doesn't play dvds) This can be both good and bad, its bad bacause its really nice to have a system that does a bunch of stuff, like thanks to my xbox I still haven't had to buy a dvd player. The good side of it is that they can make and sell the system for cheaper and the hardware can be more efficiently tuned to playing games well.

Nintendo has one big advantage for them, they are basically using the same type of hardware. The gamecube has a powerpc processor with ATI graphics, the Revolution will be using probably 1 or 2 powerpc processors with ATI graphics. So backwards compatability should be quite easy for them.

I am not going to play my bets on anyone until I see what they offer at E3 this year.


[puts on Nintendo Fanb*y hat]
Nintendo has a cult like following that includes myself. I am hoping that they come out with a console that hosts Mario and Zelda: Windwaker was one of my favorite games system. I couldn't care less if they release any other games as long as they keep on pumping out their series. I am not worried at all about Nintendo as I think that the Revolution will be significatly less expensive that the other systems. (based on current hardware rumors) Only time will tell.

 

[NEODARK]

If Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are necessary because the space needed to record HDTV surpasses dual-layer DVD's storage capabilities, it might be nice to adopt one of the two formats for gaming, which is arguably more storage-hungry than movies or TV shows.

thats not completely necessary, specially with their new WMVHD technology, remember they were already able to fit a full featured movie on a normal dual layer dvd or dvd-9. So far the biggest games on xbox are about 5 or 6 gigs, that still leaves about 3 gigs for extra textures and wmvhd video and whatever compression...

although yes it sucks as we wont be able to buy a cheap HD-dvd player with xbox, at least PS3 will have blu-ray, but otherwise games should be minimally affected

 

[reddhaus]

More info.

http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/microsoft-xbox/594355p1.html

http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/microsoft-xbox/594355p2.html

 

[ryankenn]

I recently bought a Gamecube, for the sole purpose of holding me over for the next Sony/Microsoft platforms. I sold my Xbox last year, so as to recoup some of the money spent before its value decreases once the new console is released. How can you beat the Gamecube if all you want to do is play a couple of games to pass the time until the NFL starts back up. I bought a Gamecube for $89CAD, Madden 2005 for $39CAD, and an extra controller for $19CAD and I'm set. I like the pricing alot.

As for the XBOX2, I doubt they are paying $400 for a videocard, or $70 for an optical drive, its more like 4 million to ATI in one payment, and you supply us with however many cards we need over the next 2 years. Its chump change to Microsoft and I'm sure this console will end up only breaking even on cost when it goes up for sale. They lost money on the original, I can see them doing it again just to keep sticking it to Sony.

 

[brom42]

I recently bought a Gamecube, for the sole purpose of holding me over for the next Sony/Microsoft platforms. I sold my Xbox last year, so as to recoup some of the money spent before its value decreases once the new console is released. How can you beat the Gamecube if all you want to do is play a couple of games to pass the time until the NFL starts back up. I bought a Gamecube for $89CAD, Madden 2005 for $39CAD, and an extra controller for $19CAD and I'm set. I like the pricing alot.

As for the XBOX2, I doubt they are paying $400 for a videocard, or $70 for an optical drive, its more like 4 million to ATI in one payment, and you supply us with however many cards we need over the next 2 years. Its chump change to Microsoft and I'm sure this console will end up only breaking even on cost when it goes up for sale. They lost money on the original, I can see them doing it again just to keep sticking it to Sony.

Looking at the sales from when halo2 was released (the first quarter that the Xbox made a profit), I think that as long as they include something halo related with the release of the Xbox2 they will be alright. There is a huge fanbase for the halo series and more than a few will run and get a Xbox2 just to play the next halo. Hopefully Microsoft won't just be counting on their one golden goose and will get some more titles out there that sell as well as halo.

I know I said the H-word, but stay away from the flame!!

 

[-(Xyphox)-]

I cant wait for Halo 3 and Xbox 2

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

lol nintendo there funny,they openly say they dont go for good graphics and it sure as hell shows. i think if any consel dies in this round its going to be nintendo unless they have something extremly revolutionary

 

[Tiny]

I think the PS3's use of BLU-RAY has more to do with Sony seeing it as a cheap(since they make it)viable marketing type tool to get the BLU-RAY name and specs out there to the John Q. Publics of the market. They are not wanting another BETA vs. VHS thing again.

 

[finalgt]

lol nintendo there funny,they openly say they dont go for good graphics and it sure as hell shows. i think if any consel dies in this round its going to be nintendo unless they have something extremly revolutionary

Pft. I will make the argument that Nintendo is the only company in the game right now that actually has a vision. Sony and MS, what are they doing? They're making console games come closer and closer to PC games. When the fuck did internet play become so important for games that are played with a controller that has less than 20 buttons. When the fuck did graphics supercede gameplay?

I will take 4 player Super Smash Brothers Melee (a 3+ year old game) with 4 friends over playing any current Sony or Microsoft game alone in my basement pretending that talking with 13 year olds over some microphone is somehow a valid replacement for the real thing.

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

Pft. I will make the argument that Nintendo is the only company in the game right now that actually has a vision. Sony and MS, what are they doing? They're making console games come closer and closer to PC games. When the fuck did internet play become so important for games that are played with a controller that has less than 20 buttons. When the fuck did graphics supercede gameplay?

I will take 4 player Super Smash Brothers Melee (a 3+ year old game) with 4 friends over playing any current Sony or Microsoft game alone in my basement pretending that talking with 13 year olds over some microphone is somehow a valid replacement for the real thing.

lol sales my friend tell all

 

[WickedAngel]

Pft. I will make the argument that Nintendo is the only company in the game right now that actually has a vision. Sony and MS, what are they doing? They're making console games come closer and closer to PC games. When the fuck did internet play become so important for games that are played with a controller that has less than 20 buttons. When the fuck did graphics supercede gameplay?

You know the problem with the "vision" that Nintendo has? It's the same vision we've been seeing for the past two decades. They have three serious franchises; Mario, Metroid, and Zelda. They regurgitate countless sequels and spin-offs for each. Rinse, repeat.

Who in the hell said graphics ever surpass gameplay?

Internet play is important because it means you always have an opponent. You don't have to convince your friends that games are fun. You don't have to wait for them to come over to have someone to play against. You don't have to sit around waiting for them to learn the game while you're left without a serious challenge. Log in to XBL and you have all of those things instantly; there is always someone on, there is the Optimatch which puts you against an equal skill level, and most of the people who are vets of XBL know what the hell they're doing.

I will take 4 player Super Smash Brothers Melee (a 3+ year old game) with 4 friends over playing any current Sony or Microsoft game alone in my basement pretending that talking with 13 year olds over some microphone is somehow a valid replacement for the real thing

Good for you. Unfortunately for Nintendo, most of the industry is tired of their stubborn attitude towards the mature and online markets. A handful of mature games per year isn't going to cut it, nor will the two or three online-enabled Gamecube games.