Summer 2005 For XBOX2?
Rumor: Xbox 2 Launching in 2005?
By Mike Viscel -- Staff Writer
Published 9:33 AM CDT, May 6, 2004Will the next Microsoft console be at E3 next week? All signs point to "yes".
Both Nintendo and Microsoft have admitted that Sony's head start this generation has given Sony an almost unfair advantage with the PS2. Both companies have openly admitted that they will not let Sony launch before them as next generation approaches. Said Microsoft's Xbox boss, Robert J. Bach, in a recent interview: "We'll be there when Sony is there." Looks as if "there" may be sooner than we all think.
BusinessWeek today claims that they have learned that Microsoft plans on launching their next generation console during the holiday season 2005. The new console, code named Xenon, would break the typical five-year life cycle that console typically follow. According to Sony, PlayStation3 (PS3) is scheduled to launch around the same time, however, Sony has not really finalized key technical details. Game developers claim that without those details they can not begin making games, which takes at least 18 months. For this reason game developer believe that Sony plans on launching the PS3 in Japan during the Spring of 2006 and approximately six months after in North America. This would give Microsoft a year lead on it's biggest rival, Sony.
If this news does turn out to be true, Microsoft's new console may be too appealing for developers to pass on. Many developers claim that having a full year jump on Sony will make Xenon more attractive simply because the user base will be bigger from the beginning. Second, Microsoft is actively attempting to make game development easier with new software. Said one developer "We can't believe this is Microsoft."
Could we see something from Microsoft at E3 next week? If BusinessWeek is correct Xenon could very well be there.
Fnuh, and I haven't even had my XBox for a year yet. Oh well. I wonder what they'll be planning for as their big "HOLY COW BUY OUR NEW SYSTEM" game this time out. Since, theoretically, Halo 2 isn't an option, unless they want to have hordes of angry gamers at their doors.
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Have there been any rumblings about it being backward compatible?
I''ve recently seen an article about Nintendo saying the GC2 will likely be backward compatible -- not that it''s a sure thing -- and Sony has said the PS3 will be backward compatible not just with PS2 games but PSOne games as well.
PSN: InfinityDevil
Gone completely farbot.
I think that that the Xbox2 may be even closer, given what is going on with releases on the Xbox.
Most titles are available for $20-30 retail, $15-25 used.
Either the market is saturated, which I find hard to believe, or developers are waiting for the next generation hardware to come in.
Right now, the release list for Xbox looks pretty bleak-a bunch of PC and PS2 retreads, and the few titles developed exclusively for the Xbox have consistently been delayed.
Spending another year foundering without a real gotta have game probably won''t help Xbox traction very much.
If they really want to grab the market, cut the Xbox price to $100 before Christmas, and launch Halo 2 and Xbox 2 as a new package at the same time.
I see no reason why the Xbox and Xbox2 couldn''t be sold concurrently , like the PS1 and Ps2 are now.
If Micorosft wants any more advice, my email is.......
Why not? Whatever they may had in the previous generations is jus another chip in the new one...
Panem et circenses
"You really need to smoke a tree first to appreciate that one." - Sanjuro
What titles & in what stores are you seeing those prices, especially the retail prices?
I''m not being sarcastic, I am honestly surprised that you''re able to find games at those prices. Anytime I ever look at Xbox games new copies are the standard $50 (unless they are ""platinum edition"" which are $30) & used copies of the more popular games still go for a minimum of $30.00, even more depending on how long the game has been out.
LiquidMantis wrote:
Must be a regional thing, Vic. I shop EBX, Gamestop, BestBuy, here in Boston, and those are the prices here. Onyl the latest title gets the $50 treatment, otherwise, price falls off really quickly.
Xbox 2 will not be out next summer. If it is out inext year t will be in the fall.
For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance. ~Ron Shelton, Bull Durham, 1988
Man, while I have no insider info on this, I hope for the good of development teams everywhere this isn''t true. The amount of time required to turn out high quality art assets for the next generation of hardware is going to be massive (more detail = more time needed). Consequently, the lead time for a launch title, including pre-pro and tech development, will need to be at least two years or so. In other words, if you''re about to start working on an XBox2 game and it''s coming out next summer, prepare to kiss your life, health and sanity goodbye!
"Ah, good taste! What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness" -- Pablo Picasso
Well weve, got Toy Story graphics on a console now so its just a matter of increasing the subdivision detail on the nurbs/spline models. Shouldnt take anymore time than usual to make the art
Being fangoriously devoured by a gelatinous monster.
(praises Jeebus he ain''t no artist).
"Ah, good taste! What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness" -- Pablo Picasso