More Xbox2 and XNA info

[AzBat]

I've been checking ComputerAndVideoGames.com a lot recently and come across a lot of exclusive stuff on Xbox2, hands-on info on XNA demos and XNA interviews at their site. I think they're now requiring a user name and password(which I signed up for). Hopefully not.

Here are the links...

Exclusive: Allard admits Xbox 2 controller issues
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=102896

Exclusive: Robbie Bach: We will beat Sony with Xbox 2
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=102868

Exclusive: Peter Moore: "Japan Can't Survive On Mahjong Games"
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=102861

Hands-On With Xbox Next-Gen!
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=102854

Tommy McClain

EDIT: (formatting changes)

 

[hey69]

if they ask for a username , just type hey69 or john .
they don't ask for a password anyway

 

[AzBat]

I really like the last article, which is about the new XNA demos. Evidently they were "playable". The crash demo has a feature they weren't showing at the keynote. They included a crash test dummy in it and a scoring system for the most spectacular crashes. There's a lot of parameters you can set to effect how the car "flys" and hit the dummy. They've hinted at included the crash demo as an easter egg in a future title or maybe it's own game where you could compete on Live. Would be great if we could see some "game play" videos which have the crash test dummy.

Tommy McClain

 

[Tahir2]

And let's not forget Microsoft's other key announcement from last week, that there will be a standardised joypad across Xbox and Windows formats - the XNA demos (see here for the world's first hands-on) used an Xbox pad plugged into a Windows PC - which will usher in an unprecedented level of compatibility between the two formats moving forward.

Dreams of convergence merge again (and it *seems* this dream never really materialises).. my friends already use their XBOX pads to play games like NFS: Underground on the PC.

 

[AzBat]

And let's not forget Microsoft's other key announcement from last week, that there will be a standardised joypad across Xbox and Windows formats - the XNA demos (see here for the world's first hands-on) used an Xbox pad plugged into a Windows PC - which will usher in an unprecedented level of compatibility between the two formats moving forward.

Dreams of convergence merge again (and it *seems* this dream never really materialises).. my friends already use their XBOX pads to play games like NFS: Underground on the PC.

I was thinking about this the other day and thought that they might be leaning to wireless controllers with this idea. They could go with an add-on for the current Xbox to support it, built-in for then Xbox2 and then support them on the PC either with Bluetooth, or something proprietary. Maybe this is one reason why we haven't seen a first party wireless controller for the Xbox? Would be nice if they went entirely wireless with the Xbox2(wireless headset and 802.11g built-in). I'm really getting tired of my wires.

Tommy McClain

 

[nobie]

Heh well it's not surprising MS says it will "beat" Sony. They said the same thing with the first X-Box :]

 

[Wunderchu]

I really like the last article, which is about the new XNA demos. Evidently they were "playable". The crash demo has a feature they weren't showing at the keynote. They included a crash test dummy in it and a scoring system for the most spectacular crashes. There's a lot of parameters you can set to effect how the car "flys" and hit the dummy. They've hinted at included the crash demo as an easter egg in a future title or maybe it's own game where you could compete on Live. Would be great if we could see some "game play" videos which have the crash test dummy.

Tommy McClain

yeah, I also thought that info was quite cool 8)

 

[McFly]

So what exactly was in those machine the demos where running on? Dual 2GHz G5 and a pre R420 card?

Fredi

 

[Megadrive1988]

almost certainly a R420

 

[hey69]

i downloaded yesterday a litle movie about the techdemo of unreal3 engine running on the new NvidiaFX card. looked awsome,
i'm looking forward for the next gen of consoles 8)

 

[London Geezer]

i downloaded yesterday a litle movie about the techdemo of unreal3 engine running on the new NvidiaFX card. looked awsome,
i'm looking forward for the next gen of consoles 8)

Where did u find it?

 

[hey69]

http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=webnewsshow&id=3359 here you go

 

[London Geezer]

Cheers...

 

[nAo]

http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=webnewsshow&id=3359 here you go

that's old stuff from NV30 launch demos..

ciao,
Marco

 

[Dave Baumann]

So what exactly was in those machine the demos where running on? Dual 2GHz G5 and a pre R420 card?

Fredi

Yes, they were R420 - in an XP based PC. Film Noir was written by MS themselves, but the other two demos were written by a 3rd party software dev house, based in Toronto. Demo's were probably built on an R350 but demo'd on R420 because they had availability by GDC.

 

[rabidrabbit]

The demos todays PC's equipped with better CPU's and GPU's are already quite amazing.
My jaw hit the floor when I first saw ATI's 'Chimp', and nVidia's 'Fairy' demos.
It should be remembered though, that these are more or less non-real-time interactive (or with minimal interactivity, setting the demo parameters before running, minimal camera movement etc...), and that there is very little variation in the relatively simple scenes.
Still, I expect (Edited: thanks for correction lb) graphics of at least this quality to be available in next gen console games.

 

[London Geezer]

The demos todays PC's equipped with better CPU's and GPU's are already quite amazing.
My jaw hit the floor when I first saw ATI's 'Chimp', and nVidia's 'Fairy' demos.
It should be remembered though, that these are more or less non-real-time interactive (or with minimal interactivity, setting the demo parameters before running, minimal camera movement etc...)
Still, I except graphics of at least this quality to be available in next gen console games.

Expect hun...

But yeah i'd expect that too, more or less... I'm more worried about resolutions though to be honest. Those ATI or NV demos wouldn't look the same at 480i if u know what i mean....

 

[ZoinKs!]

I'm more worried about resolutions though to be honest. Those ATI or NV demos wouldn't look the same at 480i if u know what i mean....

If you have an hdtv, you shouldn't need to worry about that. The xna talk mentioned "high def" gaming several times.
If you don't have an hdtv, hopefully there'll at least be good aa.

 

[Dave Glue]

And let's not forget Microsoft's other key announcement from last week, that there will be a standardised joypad across Xbox and Windows formats - the XNA demos (see here for the world's first hands-on) used an Xbox pad plugged into a Windows PC - which will usher in an unprecedented level of compatibility between the two formats moving forward.

Dreams of convergence merge again (and it *seems* this dream never really materialises).. my friends already use their XBOX pads to play games like NFS: Underground on the PC.

True, many (such as myself) also use PS2 pads through adapters sold by Radioshack for 10$.

But developers simply can't expect that - regardless of the existence of DirectInput, apparently things may be a little more complex - the wild variation in controller designs for the PC also means that on-screen instructions are rarely applicable to the controller you're using (press button 4 to jump - uh, what's that on my Wingman Rumblepad? My Dualshock?). EA has pretty much forced your hand with thier Logitech deal, while I'm sure a significant reason is simply a cross promotion agreement with Logitech, the latest MVP baseball will only work with a select range of gamepads, with the Logitech Dual Action at the forefront (registry entry modification can remedy this however, but casual gamers aren't going to know about that). It's damn annoying and EA should certainly have the funds to support more, but I can immediately see one benefit - the loading screens show a Logitech Dual Action with all the options available for each button, much like console loading screens do. The configuration is mapped out automatically to the style of the Logitech controller as it is with console controllers, no fiddling around with button assignments needed (although I admit it's rare when I have to do that regardless).

One only company can force a standard controller design, and that's MS. The cancellation of the Sidewinder line certainly makes sense in retrospect. The question is: when? We need a standard joypad design now, and I'd much prefer it to be the controller-S over the Logitech. Perhaps the Beyond3D staff can persuade Mr. Allard to come back here for a quick Q&A?

 

[Jabjabs]

i downloaded yesterday a litle movie about the techdemo of unreal3 engine running on the new NvidiaFX card. looked awsome,
i'm looking forward for the next gen of consoles

Ditto. Considering just how many titles now run on Unreal technology and how MS now is working with Epic towards using it more on Xbox, I too can't wait for the next generation.