Top 10 Xbox2 News of 2004?

[AzBat]

Hey guys, I'm working on sort of a review of the biggest Xbox2 news of 2004. I figured I'd get your opinion. Here's a list I have so far...

1. M-Systems contract: no hard drive?
2. XNA is announced
3. TSMC gets fab contract
4. No backward compatibility?
5. Xenon diagram/specs leaked
6. 3 flavors of Xbox 2
7. Xbox2 patent
8. Bill Gates at 2005 CES
9. Halo 2.5 on Xbox 2
10. Possible Xbox 2 names: Xbox 247, 360, E, EV, FS, HD, NE
11. ATI R500 - unified shader architecture, 90nm
12. Xbox2 Controller - USB, connect to PC, replace or move black/white buttons)
13. PowerPC-based x86 CPU?
14. HD-DVD support?
15. Xbox2 launches late 2005

What do you guys think? Anything not on my list? Hopefully your responses will help get me out of my writing void I've seen to gotten myself in. Thanks in advance.

Tommy McClain

 

[nelg]

I would say number 11, the ATI R500 rumor. Only because it embodies several facts(?) such as the IP license model, using TSMC, and unified pipelines.

 

[hey69]

after CES
17 january, MS press conference (xenon details )
almost confirmed by an insider

 

[one]

after CES
17 january, MS press conference (xenon details )
almost confirmed by an insider

Hmm, so the CES speech by Gates is for Windows MCE and Longhorn then

 

[AzBat]

I would say number 11, the ATI R500 rumor. Only because it embodies several facts(?) such as the IP license model, using TSMC, and unified pipelines.

I'm having a hard time thinking the R500 rumor is the biggest of 2004. The ATI deal was already announced in 2003. We did slowly get details on it this year like the 90nm at USMC and unified shader architecture. But on the on the whole was the new stuff about the R500 really bigger than the other stuff?

Tommy McClain

 

[AzBat]

after CES
17 january, MS press conference (xenon details )
almost confirmed by an insider

Umm, I'm asking about 2004, not this year. Save that for a different thread.

Tommy McClain

 

[hey69]

hm sorry,

but you'v posted

8. Bill Gates at 2005 CES

so i guessed there is something needed after that

 

[Megadrive1988]

1. M-Systems contract: no hard drive?
2. XNA is announced
3. TSMC gets fab contract
4. No backward compatibility?
5. Xenon diagram/specs leaked
6. 3 flavors of Xbox 2
9. Halo 2.5 on Xbox 2
11. ATI R500 - unified shader architecture, 90nm
13. PowerPC-based x86 CPU?
14. HD-DVD support?



IMO these are the major things.

 

[nelg]

I would say number 11, the ATI R500 rumor. Only because it embodies several facts(?) such as the IP license model, using TSMC, and unified pipelines.

I'm having a hard time thinking the R500 rumor is the biggest of 2004. The ATI deal was already announced in 2003. We did slowly get details on it this year like the 90nm at USMC and unified shader architecture. But on the on the whole was the new stuff about the R500 really bigger than the other stuff?

Tommy McClain

Since it was on the list I took it in its totality, without separating which portions came from 2003.

 

[AzBat]

hm sorry,

but you'v posted

8. Bill Gates at 2005 CES

so i guessed there is something needed after that

I mentioned it because it was news that the Xbox community discussed to death in 2004. Personally I don't see it being big news. Bill Gates was at CES 2004, but the news that he was going to be there are again did stir the pot.

Tommy McClain

 

[AzBat]

1. M-Systems contract: no hard drive?
2. XNA is announced
3. TSMC gets fab contract
4. No backward compatibility?
5. Xenon diagram/specs leaked
6. 3 flavors of Xbox 2
9. Halo 2.5 on Xbox 2
11. ATI R500 - unified shader architecture, 90nm
13. PowerPC-based x86 CPU?
14. HD-DVD support?



IMO these are the major things.

Interesting selection on your last 3. I figured the patent would have made the list even though it was released the 2nd to last day of 2004.

Tommy McClain

 

[AzBat]

Since it was on the list I took it in its totality, without separating which portions came from 2003.

I included in its totality because I figured some people might cry foul for not including it. Maybe somebody can convince me that major R500 details/rumors were released in 2004(Dave, you reading?). If I include it might be with the announcement that TSMC got the contract and that they were planning 90nm and later that it was ready.

Tommy McClain

 

[Wunderchu]

I say "Xenon diagram/specs leaked" is the biggest news .. only because if the specs turn out to be true, it will be the first time in console history that such detailed specifications of an officially unannounced console became so publicly available so much time prior to the console's official announcenment

 

[AzBat]

I say "Xenon diagram/specs leaked" is the biggest news .. only because if the specs turn out to be true, it will be the first time in console history that such detailed specifications of an officially unannounced console became so publicly available

Agreed. It will probably be my biggest news on the list.

Tommy McClain

 

[Megadrive1988]

1. M-Systems contract: no hard drive?
2. XNA is announced
3. TSMC gets fab contract
4. No backward compatibility?
5. Xenon diagram/specs leaked
6. 3 flavors of Xbox 2
9. Halo 2.5 on Xbox 2
11. ATI R500 - unified shader architecture, 90nm
13. PowerPC-based x86 CPU?
14. HD-DVD support?



IMO these are the major things.

Interesting selection on your last 3. I figured the patent would have made the list even though it was released the 2nd to last day of 2004.

Tommy McClain

well, don't think that the patent isnt big. it could be huge. i just glanced over this and made a list really really quick, without thinking TOO much

 

[one]

after CES
17 january, MS press conference (xenon details )
almost confirmed by an insider

Hmm, so the CES speech by Gates is for Windows MCE and Longhorn then

Duh, hadn't seen this

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=6093

Xbox 2 announcement looks unlikely as CES looms
Illustration
Rob Fahey 16:45 04/01/2005

Xenon's unveiling likely to be pushed back to GDC or E3

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates' preconference keynote address is set to open the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas tomorrow, but it now looks highly unlikely that the expected Xbox 2 announcement will be made in his speech.

 

[Brimstone]

I don't think it belongs in a top list of Xenon news, but the High Performance Computing OS announcement from Microsoft is very intresting, in light of the "CELL" OS.

http://entmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=6281

 

[kyetech]

hm sorry,

but you'v posted

8. Bill Gates at 2005 CES

so i guessed there is something needed after that

why wasnt his thread called Top 15 Xbox2 News of 2004/2005?

tsssk.... scof scof.

 

[AzBat]

I was looking for the Top 10. I just gave a pool of news for people to pick and choose from. Guess I shouldn't had numbered them.

Anyway, I think I got what I was looking for. Unfortunately, I realize now that my article will larger than I originally intended. I guess we'll see how it fairs.

Tommy McClain