Three Versions of XBox2?

[kyetech]

Is it true that Longhorn will be compatible with Xbox2 and Xbox1 games?

Doesn't this negate the need to buy a console when you will be able to play all these games on your PC?

I think youll need to by the pc version of the software, for the standard PC,

and the Xbox2 version for the console and hybrid thing. otherwise MS, would make no money out the software and poeple wouldnt bother with Xbox2. IMO.

I think the software would lock out the wrong target hardware?

 

[London Geezer]

Cross platform software (PC-Xbox) doesn't sound too good to me. Too many issues, the devs would have to program the games to be compatible with both x86 PCs and the Xbox hardware which will be completely different. Not gonna happen, unless they relase 2 different copies, but that's pretty much like today really.

 

[kyetech]

Cross platform software (PC-Xbox) doesn't sound too good to me. Too many issues, the devs would have to program the games to be compatible with both x86 PCs and the Xbox hardware which will be completely different. Not gonna happen, unless they relase 2 different copies, but that's pretty much like today really.

agreed, which is pretty much what i said ^^

 

[ChryZ]

Wasn't the whole XNA idea to have XNA capable platforms and all software created with XNA will run on any XNA powered platform?

 

[kyetech]

Wasn't the whole XNA idea to have XNA capable platforms and all software created with XNA will run on any XNA powered platform?

yeah, so from a dev point of view it runs on all hardware, but from a consumer point of view they still might lock xbox2 from running on standard longhorn PC. ??

 

[London Geezer]

Wasn't the whole XNA idea to have XNA capable platforms and all software created with XNA will run on any XNA powered platform?

Tell the developers that they have to release one game that needs to be compatible with a Pentium4 and also a THING made up of 3 double core G5 or whatever it's gonna be.... And also compatible between anything from a NV30 up to the mystery that will be the XGPU..... It's ok by me, i really don't care, but they might not be too happy with that...

 

[zurich]

Hey, this was my idea :?

 

[London Geezer]

Hey, this was my idea :?

Sue them.

 

[Brimstone]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19615

L'Inq are hypothesizing on "XBox Next", "XBox Next HD" (Hard Drive) "XBox Next PC" (PC/Media center version) with the PC version release aimed at around PS3's launch.

Should we consider who posted this when considering the possibility of the rumor?

 

[London Geezer]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19615

L'Inq are hypothesizing on "XBox Next", "XBox Next HD" (Hard Drive) "XBox Next PC" (PC/Media center version) with the PC version release aimed at around PS3's launch.

Should we consider who posted this when considering the possibility of the rumor?

I think we should be considering this passage:

We are hypothesizing on...

:? :?

 

[Gubbi]

I think we should be considering this passage:

We are hypothesizing on...

:? :?

Still, it makes perfect sense IMO. MS is losing money on XBox mostly because it is built out of components that haven't dropped significantly in price over time.

What three different units allows MS to do is make 1.) a barebones console, sell it with a (small) loss and recoup expenses by roalties. 2.) A version that supports TIVO. 3.) fully functional livingroom PC. Both 2&3 will be priced above the cost to make them. All share the common CPU/GPU/Memory infrastructure, only the amount of peripherals differ (and hence capabilities).

Games boot directly from DVD and hence are not affected by the PC version being infected by malware.

Speculation of course, by makes sense to me.

Cheers
Gubbi

 

[London Geezer]

Oh it definately makes sense, and it's "kind of" ben done before by pretty much everyone, but i'm only saying that TheInquirer hasn't gotten a "prediction" right for.... centuries...

 

[thop]

Should we consider who posted this when considering the possibility of the rumor?

Pretty much my thoughts. Dave actually posting this adds quite a bit to its credibility.

 

[Entropy]

Should we consider who posted this when considering the possibility of the rumor?

Pretty much my thoughts. Dave actually posting this adds quite a bit to its credibility.

If Microsoft did this they would directly compete with their customers, but with the advantage that they didn't have to pay for a very expensive component of a low cost PC - the OS. They would obviously be able to offer an attractive deal. Equally obvious is that their current customers wouldn't be thrilled.

They would also sidestep Intel. This has happened to some degree before but was largely nipped in the bud. With Microsoft directly selling this piece of kit, this would probably not simply be a way of keeping intel subservient.

If it happened, it would be extremely interesting. Would it signal the definite split between entertainment and utility PCs, where X86 would still rule the increasingly commoditized and stagnant utility segment while XBox derivatives went toe to toe with Sony in the gaming/media segment? A lot of qestions open up.

Unfortunately, I don't believe this rumour for a second. It's too aggressive, even with a neutered "Media" OS.

 

[Dave Glue]

Unfortunately, I don't believe this rumour for a second. It's too aggressive, even with a neutered "Media" OS.

Agreed. I can perhaps see the Xbox HD, pay a premium for Xbox1 compatibility (perhaps not full) and other media-centre type functions.

But Xbox PC? First off, MS has made its fortune letting others make the hardware for them - why would they want this? There would be a huge backlash from OEM's for one. Would it have an X86 processor, in addition to the Xbox2 internals? How fast? What PC games will it run?

Just too many questions, and flies in the face of MS's position on hardware.

 

[Entropy]

Unfortunately, I don't believe this rumour for a second. It's too aggressive, even with a neutered "Media" OS.

Agreed. I can perhaps see the Xbox HD, pay a premium for Xbox1 compatibility (perhaps not full) and other media-centre type functions.

But Xbox PC? First off, MS has made its fortune letting others make the hardware for them - why would they want this?

Well, that part of the question can be answered. Microsoft, as any company, wants to grow. And their OS business, which is where they make the most of their money, is losing steam. PC ASPs are continously dropping, the OS is a growing part of the cost, and its price is therefore also under pressure. Even governments and administrations are looking for ways to reduce their software costs, and Microsoft has been forced to adjust. Only a little, mind you, but still - the trend is there.

Meantime, consumer dollars are spent on cell phones, home entertainment, digicams.... Markets where Microsoft has little to no presence even though their platform in theory is perfectly capable.
They want in.
Plus, they fear what the consequences might be if Sony becomes the defacto standard of media centric computing.

So the motive is there - but IMHO they have to much to loose for something too radical.

 

[Dave Glue]

Wasn't the whole XNA idea to have XNA capable platforms and all software created with XNA will run on any XNA powered platform?

No, its goal is to make porting between platforms easier and overall just make producing a game that much quicker, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to slap an Xbox2 game that was developed with XNA into your PC.

 

[Megadrive1988]

bunch of links for this topic:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=5435
http://xbox.ign.com/articles/565/565504p1.html
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/7189/Microsoft-to-Release-Three-Versions-of-Xbox-2/
http://www.engadget.com/entry/6717250847203461/
http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/565/565592p1.html?fromint=1
http://xbox.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=3744
http://news.gaminghorizon.com/media/1100191318.html

 

[Inane_Dork]

I'm pretty sure they're all based on The Inquirer's story.

 

[PC-Engine]

Ok this idea sounds interesting, but could someone explain to me why MS needs to do this??

Also if this turns out to be true, will there be a HD DVD drive in the premium model for HD DVD movie playback?