SCI/TECH: Let the Gaming Wars Begin - Again

Microsoft launched the first strike in the next-generation video game console wars Thursday, unveiling its new Xbox system, which will go on sale at the holiday season. The new Xbox 360 was unwrapped on an MTV special, an effort to steal the thunder of Sony and Nintendo, which will release details of their new PlayStation and GameCube systems next week. This next wave of high-tech hardware promises better graphics and more sophisticated games - music to the ears of millions of people who play titles such as "Madden NFL," "Grand Theft Auto" and "Halo."





Now that is one slick looking game console I can not wait to get my hands on one.

Some of the features the new Xbox are a slim, concave design, it can link to a wireless network, and up to four wireless game controllers can connect to it. It will come with a detachable 20GB hard drive, a DVD drive and three USB 2.0 ports for connecting devices such as cameras and keyboards. The system can connect to a free version of Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming service through an Ethernet port, as well as a subscription-based version offering more features.

The new Xbox will also be able to stream music and pictures from digital music players, cameras and Windows XP computers, Microsoft says.

A Sony spokesman said this week the company is waiting for the Electronic Entertainment Expo next week - the largest computer and video game trade show in North America - to reveal details on the successor to its PlayStation 2.

Third place Nintendo is also keeping quiet until the E3 show. The expo is a three-day industry event where game publishers, hardware-makers and their various partners announce upcoming games, gadgets and services.


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[edit on 5/14/2005 by shots]

Ha never fails.

I finally break down and buy a playstation and they come out with the PS2.
I bought an XBOX for the kids (I probably use it more than them though ) for christmas and now they are coming out with a new one.

We just started a discussion of the relative merits of Apple and MS and the directions each is taking to adapt to the market, including a discussion of the XBox. So, if you have anything to add, after you've sounded off here, drop in here.

And again, Sony and Microsoft make great systems and Nintendo fails again. Hey, all you people who bought GC/GC Games, throw them out cause the next Nintendo can't play them.

Thankfully Xbox and PS3 are gonna be steller dude! Play PS1, PS2, and PS3 games on PS3, while the next Xbox can play new and old Xbox games. Also, again, better graphics. Not to surpising since Atari has better graphics then GC.

Excuse me James, but what do you mean Revolution can't play them? Nintendo confirmed with IGN that it will play GC games.

Anyhow X-Box 360 sounds fairly impressive, the only problem is it doesn't sound like a huge improvement, more like X-Box 1.5 if anything. I'm sure it's a decent system but it's mostly just a PC that doesn't do as much stuff.

Wireless controllers...that's a bad idea. I hated my wireless mouse, had to change batteries every 4-5 days. I hope they give you the choice of buying the regular wired controllers, otherwise I will probably not buy the microsoft gaming console.

Don't know what cheap mouse you had but my Microsoft keyboard and mouse set works great. Had it almost a year and changed batteries only once in the mouse. Also xbox controllers will have rechargeable batteries.

Bleh.

I'll just keep my [email protected] with 2.5GB ram and GeForce 6800GT x2 SLI thanks. I've owned a few PS2s and XBoxes since they came out and never got into it. I dislike sports/driving games which constitute the bulk of console titles, hate using clunky controllers and don't like the idea of being stuck with an unupgradable box for 5-6 years. Most of the good games are now either cross-platform or come to PC later with better graphics and expanded features anyway.

But seriously I'm happy for all you console people. Computer gaming is too expensive for many. Maybe it will keep some of the kiddies away from MP CoD 2 after its released in the fall.

Originally posted by Veltro

Maybe it will keep some of the kiddies away from MP CoD 2 after its released in the fall.

New COD 2 when did they announce that? I missed it and love the PC versions released so far although the 2nd was not at good as the original.

But that is the way it goes with games, the same happen with MOH the first was great and the rest started going downhill. MOH Pacific Assault was the worst of the series Still has bugs and no updates other then one so far.

Originally posted by shots
New COD 2 when did they announce that?

Heres a link to a preview from a few days ago.
Gamespot CoD2 Preview

It's looking pretty sweet. I'm hopefull it will live up to it's name. I also loved the original MoH and Allied Assault but the expansions were horrible and Pacific Assault was just god awful and killed the series IMO.

Oh and the release date is at present 8/1/2005. But as we all know that will probably change before too long.






[edit on 14-5-2005 by Veltro]

A 20GB removable Hard Drive? Come on!!! This is 2005 not 2000. XBox is going to get owned by the PS3. Wireless sucks. Especially if you live next to a military air force base.

Ive heard a couple nintendo details and it sounds good! Top sellers are always the look and the gameplay (games too). The PS3 and New Nintendo is what im better for this time around.

Originally posted by Veltro
Heres a link to a preview from a few days ago.
Gamespot CoD2 Preview

Thanks for the link. I had already checked the game out doing a fast search and yes you are right it does look real neat. Just hope one can play single player at home and not have to go on line. I never play on line games because you find a lot of cheaters and that spoils game play.

Originally posted by shots
Just hope one can play single player at home and not have to go on line.

Oh yeah it's going to have a SP campaign just like the first one. I read about it in a gaming mag. The British North Africa campaign looks especially cool. I mainly play offline as well. I did enjoy playing online but the experience was ruined by the cheaters as you have said. Thats why I made the XBox comment.

Doesn't XBOX live allow the creation of Passworded games? Just start those up and give people who you know do not cheat the password to those games.

I'm looking forward to this system, but wireless controllers do seem like a problem. Even with rechargable batteries...how long will they last? Seems like it would be problems when they died in the middle of a game, just a thought.

I have also herd that XBOX 360 may have free XBOX Live weekends! That is a pretty damn good deal. Also im never buying another nintendo product. I felt quite cheated by them a few times around, games suck, and the next one would surly suck more cuz they lost all of there good game developers to microsoft from some stupid corpratate moves, they also are lacking the technological development. PS3 will also be quite good based on what I heard. Can't wait for Conker: Live and Reloaded for XBOX.

Originally posted by Omniscient
I'm looking forward to this system, but wireless controllers do seem like a problem. Even with rechargable batteries...how long will they last? Seems like it would be problems when they died in the middle of a game, just a thought.

Li-Ion batteries can last months on a single rechage depending on how much you play. They last aroudn 800-1200 recharges.(That is if they are planning on putting Lithium Batteries in them, which they would be stupid if they didn't)

The controllers have a charge cord that allow for you to trickle charge while playing. There really is no reason why your controller would die while playing. The charge light willsurely change color to let you know you need to juice up.

Anyone else notice there are three 3.2GHZ IBM chips in there? That's close to 10GHZ of processing power! I've seen some gameplay footage of a few games and man o man, it looks as good, if not better, than anything on the PC right now.

Also, Veltro, sports/driving games make up a small fraction of the titles for consoles. I'd say less than 10 percent.

XBOX 360 looks like it will be a good solid system, and it has much more beef under the hood than I expected.

I'm eager to see what Sony has for the PS3, with their cell processor jointly produced with IBM and Toshiba.

Nintendo has some interesting tidbits on it's box too. Thank god they've got a DVD player in this one, and backward compatability. Rumor has it the controlers have some sort of gyro scopic element to them. Sort of like a built in driving wheel. Tilt it to the left, you go left, tilt to the right, you go right. If there is one thing Nintendo has done with it's consoles, it's push foward controller innovations.

Can't wait to get my hands on these new babies!

-O

Anyone else notice there are three 3.2GHZ IBM chips in there?

Really I heard 3 1.8GHZ ...where did you see this?

Originally posted by sardion2000

Anyone else notice there are three 3.2GHZ IBM chips in there?

Really I heard 3 1.8GHZ ...where did you see this?

I read this as well, it's 3.2GHz.

Wireless is a drag, but it's better than having wires catching fire. Also, 20GB is lame, but you can swap it.

I've been saying this all over the boards, and elsewhere, but with a replacable harddrive, internet connection, and 3 3.2GHz processors, that's one awesome computer. I'm a Mac user, diehard, but that'll be cheap and fast. At the very least, good for running SETI. I've got friends who are gonna buy it as their new computer.

By the way, is XBox 360 the stupidest name ever or what?