No doubt this is a April Foolio, but consider this: It was four years between the debut of Xbox and Xbox 360. November, 2009 will mark four years since the debut of Xbox 360. I would not be surprised at all to find that the *successor* to the Xbox 360 comes with a built-in Blu-ray drive, and has the processing power to render all games at 1920x1080. I'd welcome such a console with open arms--it'd be a worthy replacement for my 360, and undoubtedly Microsoft has learned a LOT from all the reliability problems and noise of the 360.
I suspect we'll learn what's coming for Xbox around the middle of 2009.
Now that's where the console thing gets a little more interesting, Mr E.
If the Xbox 360 sticks to the usual 4 - 5yr 'lifespan' then it would mean the next 'next gen' XBox will happen before the PS3 has even gotten going properly.
1 whole generation behind & still nothing of much worth to play on it (except pretending it's all about movie playback).
What will the gaming PS3 fanboy crowd have to say then, eh?
you're already looking to replace your 360? wow, shouldn't consoles have more of a run than 4 years? I think the only reason there was such a short amount of time between the two is because the xBox came on the scene so late. Also, why bother with rendering at 1080p? All I ever hear from 360 owners is that isn't an advantage of the PS3 because real games can't be rendered at that resolution with reliable frame-rates...blah, blah, blah.
Not trying to start a flame-war. Just wondering about your's and others' take on these things. Honestly, I'm not sure many would pony-up the extra dough for a 360 with those capabilities. It sounds like they'd just be creating what so many of the fanboys (not saying you are) despise: a PS3. I happen to agree with you, though, I'd love to have a console with PS3's features/specs and XBL/media content.
Despite the BS the PS3 (like the current XBox 360) is way behind the level of current PC graphics cards - IIRC somewhere about the point of the Nvidia 7900GS.
Even with the bonuses that come from being 100% 'dedicated' that is still very very ancient by todays standards.
That's just the nature of the beast, the design is a minimum of a year out of date by the time the unit launches and just keeps getting increasingly left behind as every year passes.
Optimisation will takle you so far but if you want to stay close to the best you have to continue to update.
Those that aren't into that can stick at the gen they are happiest with until prices/specs lure them to change - and the PS2 sales prove there is a big market for those who will not update with every generation, tho I suspect the XBox 360 is going to pull a similar trick and remain in production and sell decently for a long time to come (the huge game catalogue alone will see it appeal for a long long time).
Personally I prefer PCs and have practically zero interest in game consoles.....
.......but the Playstation fanboys are usually pretty funny and occasionally amusing to poke sticks at.
daaper, I'm not "looking" to replace my console, but there is most definitely room for improvement. I happen to own both a PS3 and an Xbox 360, so I have no vested interest in bashing or promoting either one. I will say, however, that I have owned an original Xbox, and an Xbox 360 since launch day, and bought a PS3 in late 2007 primarily for Blu-ray movie playback. If I were in charge of Xbox development at Microsoft, I'd see if there were a way to create a new console as I outlined in my original post, yet make it fully backward compatible with the 360. That would not only help to lure existing 360 owners who are looking to get Blu-ray playback, but also those who would like higher quality graphics for future games, AND those who want a quieter experience than the current high-speed DVD drive whine. As a bonus, you'd still be able to play all the great existing 360 games on it. It would be a huge win all around, for sure.
As an aside, I did get Uncharted: Drake's Fortune for the PS3, and it's one of the very best games I've ever played on any platform. So the oft repeated lie that there are no worthwhile games for the PS3 is absolutely false. This fall looks to be quite packed with great games for the PS3 as well.
Well, if MS follows its trend it will shoot itself in the foot and stop 360 production and the release of 360 games like they did with the XBOX.
TT, you are right about the PS2 which is why the 4 year cycle is not really valid as it's only the MS life cycle and they are the new kids on the block.
Making an upgraded, backwards compatible console would be a smart move, but it's not likely their R&D can survive the cost with the profits that have currently come out of the 360 with its all too high failure rate.
Mr. E, I completely agree. I've played Uncharted and it is a fantastic game. As I think back about over my many years of gaming, I don't ever recall thinking that there was a ton of great games for any system. There are always "rent" games and "buy" games (mostly "rent"). I, too, am excited about the games coming out this fall. Many of my favorite "buys" have some sort of sequel coming.
TT, all I meant by "creating a PS3" is that an upgrade to the 360 of that nature (blu-ray & 1080p) would be viewed as MS trying to match specs (which seems to sell systems more than the actual games do anymore). It wouldn't necessarily be a better console, but I have a feeling it would push a lot more people in the direction of the 360 that are having trouble deciding. It seems like a lot of the 360 fanboys belittle the PS3's blu-ray/1080p abilities, but I have a sneaking suspicion they wouldn't complain if they worked their way into the 360.
On a side note: If the 360 had a built-in HD DVD player I could've just as easily been swayed in that direction when I was looking. As it was, though, I had a nice, new TV and I wanted a console with an integrated player, not something I had to go out and spend extra on. If the "new" 360 came with Blu-ray, I think Sony would have a very tough fight on their hands...
I find it hard to believe MS would now jump into bed with arch enemy sony especially when they were happy to let HD DVD die when that format was supported by one of MS's major allies, unless of course sony has parted with a truck load of coin and MS simply couldn't say no!
Its been reported many times that Toshiba is all ready in the process of making the next 360, and who knows, now they are building cell processors, maybe the next gen 360 will have the same, maybe with Toshiba's supposed super upconvert or DVD 2.0, time will tell all, but IMO, I highly doubt this article will happen.
I'm giving the 360 a 6 year lifespan this generation before the next system is released, but I also think MS will continue to sell the 360 for awhile at the same time doing the same thing as Sony. MS not going to just quickly kill the 360 off like they did with the Xbox. So I say we'll hear about the new system sometime late in 2010, and the next system will be released November 2011. So there's still just over 3 1/2 years to go. MS is now making a profit on the 360, they need to keep it up and make up some of the loss on the Xbox. MS is just not going to rush out the system until it's been really tested out this time. I don't think MS wants another major RROD problem.
There's also ZERO reason to have a Blu-Ray drive built in the 360. Again, it would only be used for movies anyway, but more Importantly, the 360 actually a lot of great, fun games to play that Blu-Ray Movie playback really isn't that important unlike the PS3. How many of them PS3's are actually hooked up to a HDTV? It's already been Reported that only around half even pay to watch HD content on their HDTV.
I still say Blu-Ray end the end will also fail. DVD is cheap and good enough for more people. Unless you have a really, really large screen, then maybe Blu-Ray would make for since in that case. DVD's work on ALL SDTV and HDTV's, Blu-Ray is only good for HDTV's, of half of those owners, are still only watching SD content. I won't have anything to do with Blu-Ray, I plan to stick with DVD's and get my HD content from my HD Comcast Box. Wither it's Regular HD programming from CBS,ABC, ect, or HD On Demand, even HD PPV. Or Xbox LIVE. Going Blue is just not worth it.
By the time the next system is released, Blu-Ray may be dead or doing about as good as SACD and DVD Audio and MS may end up going with a totally different format. You'll be lucky to see a Ad-On Blu-Ray drive for the 360, and it'll be a cold day in hell before you find one built in! There's just ZERO reason for it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr. E @ Apr 1st 2008 10:45AM
No doubt this is a April Foolio, but consider this: It was four years between the debut of Xbox and Xbox 360. November, 2009 will mark four years since the debut of Xbox 360. I would not be surprised at all to find that the *successor* to the Xbox 360 comes with a built-in Blu-ray drive, and has the processing power to render all games at 1920x1080. I'd welcome such a console with open arms--it'd be a worthy replacement for my 360, and undoubtedly Microsoft has learned a LOT from all the reliability problems and noise of the 360.
I suspect we'll learn what's coming for Xbox around the middle of 2009.
Truth Teller @ Apr 1st 2008 11:10AM
Now that's where the console thing gets a little more interesting, Mr E.
If the Xbox 360 sticks to the usual 4 - 5yr 'lifespan' then it would mean the next 'next gen' XBox will happen before the PS3 has even gotten going properly.
1 whole generation behind & still nothing of much worth to play on it
(except pretending it's all about movie playback).
What will the gaming PS3 fanboy crowd have to say then, eh?
daaper @ Apr 1st 2008 11:14AM
you're already looking to replace your 360? wow, shouldn't consoles have more of a run than 4 years? I think the only reason there was such a short amount of time between the two is because the xBox came on the scene so late. Also, why bother with rendering at 1080p? All I ever hear from 360 owners is that isn't an advantage of the PS3 because real games can't be rendered at that resolution with reliable frame-rates...blah, blah, blah.
Not trying to start a flame-war. Just wondering about your's and others' take on these things. Honestly, I'm not sure many would pony-up the extra dough for a 360 with those capabilities. It sounds like they'd just be creating what so many of the fanboys (not saying you are) despise: a PS3. I happen to agree with you, though, I'd love to have a console with PS3's features/specs and XBL/media content.
Truth Teller @ Apr 1st 2008 11:27AM
@ daaper
They would not be 'creating a PS3'.
Despite the BS the PS3 (like the current XBox 360) is way behind the level of current PC graphics cards - IIRC somewhere about the point of the Nvidia 7900GS.
Even with the bonuses that come from being 100% 'dedicated' that is still very very ancient by todays standards.
That's just the nature of the beast, the design is a minimum of a year out of date by the time the unit launches and just keeps getting increasingly left behind as every year passes.
Optimisation will takle you so far but if you want to stay close to the best you have to continue to update.
Those that aren't into that can stick at the gen they are happiest with until prices/specs lure them to change - and the PS2 sales prove there is a big market for those who will not update with every generation, tho I suspect the XBox 360 is going to pull a similar trick and remain in production and sell decently for a long time to come (the huge game catalogue alone will see it appeal for a long long time).
Personally I prefer PCs and have practically zero interest in game consoles.....
.......but the Playstation fanboys are usually pretty funny and occasionally amusing to poke sticks at.
Mr. E @ Apr 1st 2008 12:00PM
daaper, I'm not "looking" to replace my console, but there is most definitely room for improvement. I happen to own both a PS3 and an Xbox 360, so I have no vested interest in bashing or promoting either one. I will say, however, that I have owned an original Xbox, and an Xbox 360 since launch day, and bought a PS3 in late 2007 primarily for Blu-ray movie playback. If I were in charge of Xbox development at Microsoft, I'd see if there were a way to create a new console as I outlined in my original post, yet make it fully backward compatible with the 360. That would not only help to lure existing 360 owners who are looking to get Blu-ray playback, but also those who would like higher quality graphics for future games, AND those who want a quieter experience than the current high-speed DVD drive whine. As a bonus, you'd still be able to play all the great existing 360 games on it. It would be a huge win all around, for sure.
As an aside, I did get Uncharted: Drake's Fortune for the PS3, and it's one of the very best games I've ever played on any platform. So the oft repeated lie that there are no worthwhile games for the PS3 is absolutely false. This fall looks to be quite packed with great games for the PS3 as well.
Mr_Fizzlepop @ Apr 1st 2008 12:15PM
Well, if MS follows its trend it will shoot itself in the foot and stop 360 production and the release of 360 games like they did with the XBOX.
TT, you are right about the PS2 which is why the 4 year cycle is not really valid as it's only the MS life cycle and they are the new kids on the block.
Making an upgraded, backwards compatible console would be a smart move, but it's not likely their R&D can survive the cost with the profits that have currently come out of the 360 with its all too high failure rate.
daaper @ Apr 1st 2008 1:20PM
Mr. E, I completely agree. I've played Uncharted and it is a fantastic game. As I think back about over my many years of gaming, I don't ever recall thinking that there was a ton of great games for any system. There are always "rent" games and "buy" games (mostly "rent"). I, too, am excited about the games coming out this fall. Many of my favorite "buys" have some sort of sequel coming.
TT, all I meant by "creating a PS3" is that an upgrade to the 360 of that nature (blu-ray & 1080p) would be viewed as MS trying to match specs (which seems to sell systems more than the actual games do anymore). It wouldn't necessarily be a better console, but I have a feeling it would push a lot more people in the direction of the 360 that are having trouble deciding. It seems like a lot of the 360 fanboys belittle the PS3's blu-ray/1080p abilities, but I have a sneaking suspicion they wouldn't complain if they worked their way into the 360.
On a side note: If the 360 had a built-in HD DVD player I could've just as easily been swayed in that direction when I was looking. As it was, though, I had a nice, new TV and I wanted a console with an integrated player, not something I had to go out and spend extra on. If the "new" 360 came with Blu-ray, I think Sony would have a very tough fight on their hands...
Gus @ Apr 1st 2008 7:05PM
I find it hard to believe MS would now jump into bed with arch enemy sony especially when they were happy to let HD DVD die when that format was supported by one of MS's major allies, unless of course sony has parted with a truck load of coin and MS simply couldn't say no!
Its been reported many times that Toshiba is all ready in the process of making the next 360, and who knows, now they are building cell processors, maybe the next gen 360 will have the same, maybe with Toshiba's supposed super upconvert or DVD 2.0, time will tell all, but IMO, I highly doubt this article will happen.
JBDragon @ Apr 2nd 2008 12:18AM
I'm giving the 360 a 6 year lifespan this generation before the next system is released, but I also think MS will continue to sell the 360 for awhile at the same time doing the same thing as Sony. MS not going to just quickly kill the 360 off like they did with the Xbox. So I say we'll hear about the new system sometime late in 2010, and the next system will be released November 2011. So there's still just over 3 1/2 years to go. MS is now making a profit on the 360, they need to keep it up and make up some of the loss on the Xbox. MS is just not going to rush out the system until it's been really tested out this time. I don't think MS wants another major RROD problem.
There's also ZERO reason to have a Blu-Ray drive built in the 360. Again, it would only be used for movies anyway, but more Importantly, the 360 actually a lot of great, fun games to play that Blu-Ray Movie playback really isn't that important unlike the PS3. How many of them PS3's are actually hooked up to a HDTV? It's already been Reported that only around half even pay to watch HD content on their HDTV.
I still say Blu-Ray end the end will also fail. DVD is cheap and good enough for more people. Unless you have a really, really large screen, then maybe Blu-Ray would make for since in that case. DVD's work on ALL SDTV and HDTV's, Blu-Ray is only good for HDTV's, of half of those owners, are still only watching SD content. I won't have anything to do with Blu-Ray, I plan to stick with DVD's and get my HD content from my HD Comcast Box. Wither it's Regular HD programming from CBS,ABC, ect, or HD On Demand, even HD PPV. Or Xbox LIVE. Going Blue is just not worth it.
By the time the next system is released, Blu-Ray may be dead or doing about as good as SACD and DVD Audio and MS may end up going with a totally different format. You'll be lucky to see a Ad-On Blu-Ray drive for the 360, and it'll be a cold day in hell before you find one built in! There's just ZERO reason for it.