More XBOX 360 info

holyjabroni73 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005

The Associated Press
Updated: 9:30 p.m. ET May 12, 2005REDMOND, Wash. - Microsoft Corp. says its next version of Xbox will thrill hard-core gamers with mind-blowing graphics and lure in newcomers with free online games, slide shows, music and video chats with friends.

Xbox 360 looks nothing like its bulky, black predecessor. It's sleek and white, and it can stand on one end like a book or lie flat like a DVD player. Its 20-gigabyte hard drive and three powerful processors will enable high-definition graphics and surround sound, making games seem more like movies.

(MSNBC is a Microsoft - NBC joint venture.)

Mike Sabine, a market analyst with International Development Group, raved about the lifelike look of a war game he saw in a recent preview offered to analysts and reporters.

"I actually expected to be a little underwhelmed," he said. "I expected it to be a leap or two better (than the original Xbox), but I was very impressed."

Another game Microsoft demonstrated featured NBA star LeBron James, his muscles flexing and his shiny tank top rippling in the light of a street lamp as he dribbles and shoots.

"Honest to goodness it was almost as good as video," said Van Baker, vice president and research director for Gartner Inc.

Though Microsoft had planned on giving consumers their first peek at Xbox 360 in a half-hour MTV special Thursday night, some of the 200 people who attended the show's taping a week ago leaked pictures and specs on gaming Web sites and blogs last weekend.

The MTV debut is part of Microsoft's strategy to outshine rival Sony Corp., which is not expected to release the next version of PlayStation until next year. Sony is expected to unveil a working version of PlayStation 3 and announce launch plans at the Electronic Entertainment Expo gaming trade show in Los Angeles next week.

Microsoft says Xbox 360 will arrive in North American stores around Thanksgiving and in Europe and Japan by year's end. Analysts said several months of lead time could help the new Xbox close in on the market-leading PlayStation, but they're waiting to see what Sony rolls out before making any bold predictions.

"I think clearly this is going to be a horse race," Baker said.

Sony now has 43 percent of the U.S. video game console market with PlayStation 2, compared with Xbox at 19 percent and GameCube at 14 percent, according to Jay Horwitz, an analyst with Jupiter Research. He predicts the new Xbox will grab 38 percent of the U.S. market by 2010, overtaking PlayStation 3 by 6 percentage points.

200 new titles
Microsoft has said gamers can expect 200 new Xbox titles by the end of the year, but hasn't said how many will be designed for Xbox 360 and whether the new machine will play games designed for the old model.

There's also no word yet on cost. The current Xbox sells for $149.99.

Many Xbox 360 features are designed for non-gamers: watching movies, playing music, viewing slide shows or holding video chats. It has three USB ports to connect digital cameras, music players and other devices.

While current Xbox owners need to buy an attachment to play DVDs, Xbox 360 supports DVD playback out of the box.

Microsoft is hoping its online gaming service, Xbox Live, will grow in popularity with Xbox 360.

Xbox Live gamers who can already talk to one another during game play will also be able to see their buddies and competitors in video-chat windows off to one side of the screen. A small video camera for such chats will be sold separately.

"Gamer guides" will let players introduce themselves to others, making it easier for people to find competitors at their skill level. That could make online gaming seem a lot less intimidating to novices, analysts say.

"We truly believe the future of gaming is online, ... bringing together massive communities from around the world to play or just to hang out," said Peter Moore, a Microsoft vice president in charge of Xbox marketing.

For casual gamers, Microsoft plans to include some free online games like checkers or bingo, though the company hasn't said how many will be offered.

fearme504 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-14-2005

nice read, also go watch this vid..already posted it in another thread but i will in this one too
http://media.xbox360.ign.com/article...512_wmvlow.wmv

WEBBC · #3 (**permalink**) 05-15-2005

That Vid is pretty cool..has some good info..I really don't know which system I will be taking but seeing this video really makes me want to pick one of these little bad boys up

cashpath · #4 (**permalink**) 05-15-2005

When the XBOX360 comes out in November and those of us who buy it are enjoying our 7 months of next gen games while those of us who will buy the PS3 (me too) wait 7 months.... It will probably make our SIM league Obsolete.

Now, from what I'm seeing it may be possible to run a Maddenboard Managed COACHES MODE Franchise using the XBOX360. And if that is possible that will probably be where the SIM league turns..

I'm not into running a league where the person that is the better player wins, but the COACHES MODE idea would be very fun for me...

But it all depends on what happens in November.

fearme504 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-15-2005

i dont quite understand, Are you saying the league will end when ever the xbox 360 comes out? Or...Will you transfer it to that game or what.. i dunno im just confused

WEBBC · #6 (**permalink**) 05-16-2005

Well if you are saying that you will do a coach mode type sim league and we don't have to have the Xbox360 to be an owner than I am in cause I love this stuff..I still don't know if I will be getting it or just waiting for the PS3...I may trade in the Xbox when the Ps3 comes out.

cashpath · #7 (**permalink**) 05-16-2005

I'm saying that it sounds like there will be a way to run coaches mode leagues with the XBOX360.. of course everyone in the league would need a xbox360....

Which means this league will probably end and a new one will start using that...

This league has to end sooner or later anyway.. nobody expects me to to this much work for 30 seasons do they LOL

fearme504 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-16-2005

lol

I suppose it does have to end sooner or later...ill be getting xbox 360 THE DAY it comes out....and Madden too so ill all up for the Coaches mode league, and Me and Leftwich are going to win it all!

SlickRick1382 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-16-2005

yeah i posted that somewhere else. Its the next step and eliminates all the hard work which is going to be obselete. Getting the XBOX just for this =), Cash with people turning to the new XBOX for the sim league you should get an endorsement deal =p j/k

WEBBC · #10 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005

Well if I have to buy an XBox360 to get into a league with all you guys than I may just be doing that...You can find leagues anywhere but you still don't have the quality we do here..

holyjabroni73 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearme504

lol

I suppose it does have to end sooner or later...ill be getting xbox 360 THE DAY it comes out....and Madden too so ill all up for the Coaches mode league, and Me and Leftwich are going to win it all!

Yeah you and every other person in the world. Hell they might have to do a lottery to give them out otherwise stores will be closing cause of fights. Just like the first xmas with xbox and ps2 hehe

Im wanting to get one. I love the pc feature on it. Im all in for a coaches mode too. Im glad i already bought a router and stuff. Saves me a little. Anyone heard a price on the new xbox? Id like to know so I can have it ready when it rolls out. That would be one item that I would wake up at 5 in the morning to go get too

cashpath · #12 (**permalink**) 05-18-2005

Just count on spending $500 then if its less your ok

holyjabroni73 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-19-2005

Yeah I expect that. My wife is really impressed with it. We were reading up about it and she didnt see anything about it being pc game compatible. I assured her that it was. We will get it for that as one of our main reasons, and if the league does continue on the 360 I want to be around for that too.

I respect your decisions about being with your family during the summer as well Cash, 150%. My kids will be getting out shortly as well, and this week i wasnt around as much cause my daughter and wife had birthdays so I tried being with them a bit more. There are times I am on here like a madman. I have alot of things coming up as well, and I just hope that in some capacity either with 360 or something else we can keep this going. It would be nice if 360 let us do a coaching mode franchise. Only thing is wed have to get guys online at same time, but that shouldnt be too hard to do. It might just take a bit longer for weeks to go by, which really isnt that bad.

Thanks for the heads up bro