Click the pics, for higher res . . .

 

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - I'm gonna have to indulge. Gotta be worth it for Halo3 alone!!!

 

Sure is

Microsoft have certainly raised the bar in total home entertainment, can't wait to see what Sony pull out of the bag. Whoever 'loses', we win

 

Sony have announced that there’s a possibility we may see their next console some time this year! 2006 was the expected launch, but a lot of people are waiting to see what Sony present at E3, to determine how likely it is that we’ll see the PS3 sooner than later.

 

will it run XBMC

 

I has Media Centre functionality built in So I would assume it will play almost any media.

 

The amount of news about the Xbox360 since yesterday's unveiling is huge as the media embargo has been lifted for all big news sites and agencies. Here are a few interesting articles I found.

* ATI stock gets lift from Xbox 360 launch (from Reuters.ca):
"ATI Technologies Inc. stock popped up more than 8 percent on Friday after the graphics chip maker replaced rival Nvidia Corp. as a supplier for Microsoft Corp.'s new Xbox 360 video game console.
ATI expects royalties that are similar to its Nintendo GameCube deal, in a range between $2 and $5 per console, and that should affect the company's first-quarter results, chief executive Dave Orton told Reuters in an interview.
Beyond the deal's financial impact, ATI expects that Xbox 360 will help drive demand for the high definition products its graphics chips can power."
Read More: Reuters.ca

* Xbox 360: In Depth Video Feature
A 3rd video (6.41m) of the Microsoft Xbox360 has been released. We had the MTV unveiling show and the ourcolony.net video yesterday, and now we found another video on kikizo.com (thx to wolf202 for the link). It's in the same style as the ourcolony.net video (so much more interesting then the MTV show ). The video feature goes behind the scenes with everyone on the Xbox team (J. Allard, P. Moore, ...), for a detailed look at the Xbox360.
You can download this (large 74MB) video from kikizo.com (links are at the bottom) or gamersreports.com.

* Backward Compatible or not?
That's probably the hottest question left unanswered so far by Microsoft.
As recently as last week, a Microsoft executive said Microsoft hadn't yet determined whether the new Xbox 360 would be backward compatible. They cite a host of technical issues as reason because the console is moving from a Intel x86 based CPU to an IBM PowerPC and from an Nvidia GPU to one made by ATI. Analysts say it may come down to whether Microsoft is able to license patented technology from the cpu/gpu vendors of the original Xbox or find a way to emulate Xbox1 games without having to pay license fees.
The images shown on the new Xbox Live demos where they use images of Halo 2 and Crimson Skies and the fact that people are playing Xbox1 games on the Xbox360 on the ourcolony.net video gives some credence to the theory of Microsoft supporting backward compatibility. It atleast suggests that the test units are backward compatible. But it could be because Microsoft tries to prevent us from seeing Xbox 360 games in action as well.
Read More: IGN.com and nwsource.com

* Xbox 360 demos running on Macs (by News.com)
"The nifty clips of video games supporting Microsoft's new Xbox 360 console are running on Apple machines, Microsoft confirmed on Friday.
"We purchased a number of Apple G5's because very specific hardware components of the G5 allow developers to emulate some of the technology behind future Xbox products and services," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. "This is an interim development tool that will be replaced with a more powerful and comprehensive solution later.""
Read More: News.com

* Microsoft’s Disruptive Xbox 360 Marketing (by Joystiq.com)
"Forrester Research published a piece that says Microsoft's decision to launch their console prior to E3 represents a deliberate strategic move that accomplishes several key objectives. Forrester calls it a “brave move” that allows Microsoft to:
1. Side step the industry shindig and talk directly to potential consumers.
2. Reduce the classic five-year game console cycle.
3. Build a frenzy of community speculation and support.
4. Offset some of its negative branding in the PC market.
5. Break the new console out of the gaming ghetto."
Read more info and Joystiq's opinions check Joystiq.com.
You can find the original paper on Forrester.com (free reg. req.)

* Xbox 360: What might have been
The guys over at Hellogamer made a panoramic shot of all the Xbox360 designs that didn't make it. These were shown very shortly in the ourcolony.net video released 20-30mins before the MTV show yesterday.
Check out the panoramic shot on hellogamer.com and the original video is available here.

* Japanese Xbox360 Unveiling
As I said in previous news, Japan got their 'own' special unveiling. After the MTV show they got a special event hosted by Microsoft Japan that took place at the Virgin Cinema in Tokyo. Yoshiki Okamoto of Game Republic, Tetsuya Mizuguchi of Q Entertainment, and Hironobu Sakaguchi of Mistwalker, appeared onstage to present their projects.
GameSpot has an article about it here.

 

What a massive amount of hype!! The only answer I want is when I can have it and how much.

 

That all I want to know now, Oh and what Sony's effort is going to be like !!!!!!!

 

few more PGR3 piccys

http://media.xboxyde.com/gallery/pub...1/726_0001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...GR3screen2.jpg

 

u can have it for xmas, maybe even nov. (better pre-order though)

the box + 1 controller will cost £300 i imagine.

+ £25 for an extra ctrlr
+ £30 for wireless card
+ £30 for cam
+ £30 for headset
+ £50 for a game

I reckon you're looking at a day 1 sell out of min £400 but more likely £500.

 

that is possibly the most detailed and well formated post I have ever seen Dunk!

http://shop.game.net/xbox360/

 

Wonder if it will be as easy to chip as the old Xbox, the motherboard on the old Xbox looked as it was designed to be chipped.

 

Am a little late on the updates, as I was at Anfield yesterday

>> From GameSpot.com:

 

Hello

By the look of the picture, the X-Box is still quite big. I would of thought they would have tried to get it smaller than the (old) PS2 as that was a barrier for them in Japan.



Steve

 

I don't suppose it could be any smaller considering everything it has crammed inside ?

 

You could also read that as..

"we're not releasing Halo 3 at launch because we want to hold it back and hopefully steal some of the limelight from the PS3 launch"

I wonder if Siny will do that usual thing of theirs and generate hype by creating supply problems... holding the consoles back till there's a frenzy surrounding the console then mysteriously finding enough consoles for everyone that ordered one....

 

I don't think the size is much of an issue with the nex box. I think the old one is pretty ugly but as the new one has removeable facia you can have the front as you want. Great idea to get it to match in with your Tv set-up.

 

Hello

In Japan it's a huge issue: little flats, little spaces under Televisions and too many consoles.

So although it may come cram packed with goodies, generally they don't care. Although of course they could all have been lying to me and just not want to buy that "Big ugly American box .. "

Steve

 

I don't think the new one looks that big. Mind I'm not one of these hobbit size Japanese you speak of

Just found this..... looks like you're right!

 

The more I read about the 360 the more it's obvious how much they have taken onboard what the modding scene has done with the current Xbox.

 

so theyre not cheap then, how much was the first one new? i seem to recall ms saying they got the price of the 1st one wrong & should have been somewhat cheaper which they will apply for the next one...

 

 

I paid £400 for my first xbox on day of release in the UK (still got the recepit from game)...

I seem to remember that was console only as well (a game was extra)...

 

I reckon £299 - I wouldn't pay anymore than that - although I remember paying that for the original PlayStation

 

Yeah £299 sounds about right. More than that and it'll just have to wait....

 

£249 without the H/D
£299 with the H/D

If it were priced like that it would be very tempting to get it on the day of release.
I preordered my Xbox from Dabs last time round. Was one of the lucky few who got a very good deal

 

Is the HDD version the only one available on launch day?

And as for the HDD being removable - thats just modding heaven is it not?

 

From what I've read, I got the impression that it will come with a 20gb hard disc by default, which you can unplug and upgrade if you so desire...