Nextbox rumors..

Wouldn't a Windows 8 base prevent the sort of "writing code direct to the hardware" regular consoles enjoy? That's why you can squeeze so much more out of lesser specs than PCs running a Windows operating system. Hmmm. I can see a Metro interface, but I'd be shocked if it was a straight up Windows 8 box. Maybe Windows RT?

Certis wrote:

Wouldn't a Windows 8 base prevent the sort of "writing code direct to the hardware" regular consoles enjoy? That's why you can squeeze so much more out of lesser specs than PCs running a Windows operating system. Hmmm. I can see a Metro interface, but I'd be shocked if it was a straight up Windows 8 box. Maybe Windows RT?

Do we know if the 360 is running a modified version of the NT kernel? I still thought it was. Or did the actually create a light OS from scratch that basically has enough system support for Direct X?

I'd expect the revised controllers to have updated wireless capabilities and standardized around the swivel D-pad (depending on how it's been received - loving mine).

Just enough change to make people have to buy new wireless controllers without killing off the overall love of the 360 at the PC level.

System-wise, I really think they're going to try and have a subsidized option - I'd probably be all over that.

TheGameguru wrote:

Given the 8800 series hasnt even launched on the Desktop side..and while the 8800 should be midrange I still think thats probably on the high side in terms of power draw and cooling for a semi closed set-top box. Unless this is a 2014 release I'm struggling with believing that...OF course it could be 8800 in name only and be a heavily modified mobile type GPU/APU.

Hah, I feel like an idiot; I saw '8800' and thought of the GeForce 8800, not the next AMD GPU series.

Certis wrote:

Wouldn't a Windows 8 base prevent the sort of "writing code direct to the hardware" regular consoles enjoy?

I don't think it's W8 OS as seen on PC. The original link says it's a "windows 8 kernel specially os". I shorthanded it in my my post, likely leading to confusion.

Aaron D. wrote:
Certis wrote:

Wouldn't a Windows 8 base prevent the sort of "writing code direct to the hardware" regular consoles enjoy?

I don't think it's W8 OS as seen on PC. The original link says it's a "windows 8 kernel specially os". I shorthanded it in my my post, likely leading to confusion.

I'd expect Metro... sorry.... Modern UI on top of the Windows 8 kernel like you say. I thought there was some chatter prior to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8's release regarding MS working toward a unified kernel. The logical extension of that being the same kernel ends up in the XBox as well.

I bet we'll see a Halo 2 Anniversary at launch. Loved the Combat Evolved Anniversary one. My son thought switching between "old version and new version" was awesome. When we played "Reach," he kept asking, "Is there an 'old version' of this game Daddy?" LOL!

The first xbox was running a version of Win2k. If the 720 is 'just' running a customised Win8 on ARM/x86, but is locked down (i.e. like a console, not a windows-box) I don't see what's preventing them from letting games drop into a low level mode.

A bit of speculation: I'd suspect they'll use some clever virtualisation business to separate and contain different parts of 'the experience', might also let you suspend/resume games and could be good for system security. Back in 2005 for the 360 virtualisation was pretty primitive compared to what it is now.

Merphle on January 2, 2012[/url]]Microsoft announces that its upcoming console runs Windows 8 as its core operating system, and that all games built for that console can be run on any vanilla Windows 8 home-built PC, as long as it meets sufficient minimum specs.

I still have hope!

People have always wanted that, and it's never (or so rarely that I've never heard about it?) happened.

Even the xbox using very close to PC hardware/OS wasn't a guarantee of easy ports, or perhaps that developers became so used to that one spec there were a good few shoddy ports. As ever, it seems the availability of cross platform play (see Portal2) and quality ports is more a business thing than a technology thing. I'm sure they could probably put Win8 and most or all the 720 'enhancements' on the 360 now if they had the will to do it, but they need to hold stuff back to give the 720 some exclusive selling points.

TheGameguru wrote:

I think what makes more sense to me is less a dedicated "box" but rather a Linux based settop that essentially streams over wifi games you have installed in Steam.. either through Valve dedicated server farms (unlikely since thats the OnLive model) or directly through you PC with Steam Client (PC, Mac, or Linux) installed.

There would be wireless keyboard/mouse support (think a Phantom Lapboard) as well as Gamepad. This to me is the most cost effective and easy to "sell" concept to gamers. A quick and easy way to get your Steam Big Picture mode gaming to your HDTV in the living room/basement without the need for a dedicated HTPC that can cost upwards of $600+

I think something like that is down the road. Newell was talking about future hardware (post-Maxwell) that could support 8 simultaneous users, and it doesn't seem that far off to support streaming to other devices in a house. It's also a novel use of that power beyond 'more pretty' that you may not notice outside of 4k screenshots.

TheGameguru wrote:

I think what makes more sense to me is less a dedicated "box" but rather a Linux based settop that essentially streams over wifi games you have installed in Steam.. either through Valve dedicated server farms (unlikely since thats the OnLive model) or directly through you PC with Steam Client (PC, Mac, or Linux) installed.

There would be wireless keyboard/mouse support (think a Phantom Lapboard) as well as Gamepad. This to me is the most cost effective and easy to "sell" concept to gamers. A quick and easy way to get your Steam Big Picture mode gaming to your HDTV in the living room/basement without the need for a dedicated HTPC that can cost upwards of $600+

Wrong thread?

Gravey wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

I think what makes more sense to me is less a dedicated "box" but rather a Linux based settop that essentially streams over wifi games you have installed in Steam.. either through Valve dedicated server farms (unlikely since thats the OnLive model) or directly through you PC with Steam Client (PC, Mac, or Linux) installed.

There would be wireless keyboard/mouse support (think a Phantom Lapboard) as well as Gamepad. This to me is the most cost effective and easy to "sell" concept to gamers. A quick and easy way to get your Steam Big Picture mode gaming to your HDTV in the living room/basement without the need for a dedicated HTPC that can cost upwards of $600+

Wrong thread? :)

wow totally..

Wrong thread... I like cheese

TheGameguru wrote:
Gravey wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

I think what makes more sense to me is less a dedicated "box" but rather a Linux based settop that essentially streams over wifi games you have installed in Steam.. either through Valve dedicated server farms (unlikely since thats the OnLive model) or directly through you PC with Steam Client (PC, Mac, or Linux) installed.

There would be wireless keyboard/mouse support (think a Phantom Lapboard) as well as Gamepad. This to me is the most cost effective and easy to "sell" concept to gamers. A quick and easy way to get your Steam Big Picture mode gaming to your HDTV in the living room/basement without the need for a dedicated HTPC that can cost upwards of $600+

Wrong thread? :)

wow totally..

Or is it?!!

Dun dun duhh!

Says it's using Kinect for Windows and a projector. Wonder if the both could be integrated into Kinect 2.0.

So pot is legal in Washington now, huh?

Aside from the obvious "if you can do that, why not just project the whole game on the wall?" questions, holy hell would I love to see something like Child of Eden using that tech. It'd be like the finale of 2001 IN MY HOUSE!

Aaron D. wrote:

Says it's using Kinect for Windows and a projector. Wonder if the both could be integrated into Kinect 2.0.

The Verge says they won't fully show it off until April so I'm assuming April is the Xbox 8 reveal/tease.

BNice wrote:

The Verge says they won't fully show it off until April so I'm assuming April is the Xbox 8 reveal/tease.

I was thinking the same.

What's interesting about the video is that it's showing several levels of display settings.

:18 shows slight, off-screen effects like isolated laser blasts and such.

:27 has full-wall projection only from the bottom of the TV screen and up.

:32 displays "full room" mode witch looks both hella-immersive and hella-nauseating.

:42 throws a crazy shimmer over objects in the room (tres cool), synching with the gunfire.

That's a lot of options to customize your level of immersion. Wonder if that would be user or developer dictated.

Chaz wrote:

Aside from the obvious "if you can do that, why not just project the whole game on the wall?"

Clarity. Getting a quality projected image requires a good screen and light control. "Suggesting" the periphery is much easier in comparison. Plus you've got a high-resolution display for the focal content. You can use a common projector spread all around like that without requiring a bajillion megapixels.

MS: I will buy this device. PM me for CC#.

Aaron D. wrote:

Says it's using Kinect for Windows and a projector. Wonder if the both could be integrated into Kinect 2.0.

That is absolutely fascinating! So, a rear mounted projector / camera? About 12 seconds in, there's a horizontal white object on a shelf behind the guy's shoulder with what might be a blue light on it. Could that be it? Or is it just my crappy cell phone screen resolution?

And I wonder if the light emitted by the TV being blocked from the player might improve the Kinect's accuracy? Or at least give it a better idea where to look for movement? Could you hide a frame of full screen color from being observed each second for the camera to pickup?

Sorry, I'm just going into crazy speculation mode. This was the first thing I've seen from CES that's really seemed interesting.

Microsoft never does anything cool

edit... this will be super cool in my new man cave.. my 60" Plasma on the wall has a good deal of white space around it.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/mx2uE.jpg)

LiquidMantis wrote:

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/mx2uE.jpg)

IMAGE(http://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/i/itarunagata/20050218/20050218213326.jpg)

Tell me about it.

Between the "leaked" system specs yesterday and this video today, I wonder if MS is trying to hook people into saving their money for 720 this fall.

I was already sold on the new console, but info like this just keeps cementing my resolve. That mid-range projection stuff seems amazing, and I'm not even talking about the 37" HDTV > Full Room Projection concepts.

Imagine playing Forza 5 and going into a tunnel and having the tunnel ceiling lights pulsing through the room in an authentic wave-like fashion (like those old B&W films). Imagine playing Madden or FIFA and having a touchdown/goal replay where the camera is at ground level and the stadium crowd is cheering all around your living room.

Damn.

Well, given that my XBox died shortly before christmas, my plans on buying a new one have been put on hold pending the 720 release. So this trickle of info is good for me at least.

Funny, that sounds like a Sony quote from around the ps3 launch!

Yeah, it's going to be interesting to watch the amount of "if we say it then it must be true" hyping up they do in the next 18 months. Pinches of salt all around.

Jayhawker wrote:

"We want for consumers to think to themselves 'I will work more hours to buy one'. We want people to feel that they want it, irrespective of anything else." - Steve Ballmer

Scratched wrote:

Yeah, it's going to be interesting to watch the amount of "if we say it then it must be true" hyping up they do in the next 18 months. Truckloads of salt all around.

FTFY