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"X-Box And Gamecube, My Views"

Two major game console releases, the Microsoft Xbox and the Nintendo Gamecube, are scheduled to ship in time for the 2001 holiday season. Not long ago, it would have been hard to imagine that these two companies would be able to release these machines at the same time. Nintendo displayed a working prototype of the Gamecube as early as August 2000, and Microsoft didn't offer a peek at the Xbox until early January 2001.

The Nintendo Gamecube will be a step toward the company's goal of creating the ultimate hardware for playing games. The system will run on something like a 405-MHz IBM PowerPC, and performance figures released by Nintendo indicate that the Gamecube will be the fastest console on the market when it is released (hundreds of millions of polygons per second versus today's tens of millions). The Gamecube will have expansion slots for more memory and a modem/broadband adapter. You'll also be able to use the next-generation Game Boy Advance as a controller with a personal viewing screen. Unfortunately, the Gamecube will not be backward compatible with the Nintendo 64, nor will it play DVDs.

The Microsoft Xbox essentially will be an inexpensive PC that can be connected to a TV. Preliminary specs call for an Intel CPU in excess of 1 GHz, a 300-MHz nVidia graphics chip, 64MB of RAM, a DVD drive, an 8GB hard drive, and Ethernet. The Xbox looks great on paper, with proposed performance far exceeding anything currently available in game consoles.

Microsoft claims that software can be developed rapidly and easily for the Xbox, since it's actually a specialized PC. But even with nVidia on board, developing graphics for NTSC (TV) will be more difficult than for VGA. Besides, one of the benefits of gaming on a PC is that hardware can be upgraded. That isn't the case, of course, once the technology is frozen into a console.

I've followed both of these projects deeply through their production stages, and I for one am excited in terms of the future of gaming. What do you guys think? Am I just hyping these two machines way to excessively? Is ny optimism just wishful thinking? One thing is for sure, I'll be the first to place down my deposit when Special Reserve give us information on their first batches.



Jason Bagnall
UK, Birmingham

Some nice pointers, WAAAAAY of with the release dates though. I don't think the X-Box or Gamecube will be released anywhere untill deep into next year.

I may not be a notable, but I know that chewing gum....er...wrong speech....I may not be a notable, but I echo Grix's sentiment. None of us take ourselves seriously, although the men in white coats haven't actually found us yet anyway.

Don't take offence at my innuendo - as Freddie once sang.

I'm out to get you...





:)

MolineuxGuy wrote:

"I don't feel I've offended anybody here."

"You people are so persistent in getting the last word.

"I've just been stating facts, that's what I do."

"pointless and has no meaning whatseover, how anybody could see that as fun is beyond me."

"I didn't get illiterates acting all hostile as they seemingly do now."

"no need to act like idiots about it, people used to be cool here"

"check your damn sources people! Jesus."


I found the stating facts quote funniest. ;0)

Look mate, calm down. No-one's out to get you... we really are trying to welcome you back, whoever you are, but you really aren't making it easy for us.

You people are so persistent in getting the last word. Oh well, I guess that's a good thing, seems Special Reserve have formed some kind of community here. In regards to Pro, you're right in some aspects BUT I don't feel I've offended anybody here, I've just been stating facts, that's what I do. And contrary to what my tag says, I'm not a newb, just a new account under a new ordering address, that's all. As for the "Worlds longest thread", don't demote yourselves, it's pointless and has no meaning whatseover, how anybody could see that as fun is beyond me.

Hey, I didn't become a notable because some guys all voted for me for a laugh! I WORKED my @ss off to be one, and you listen to me...

None of us take ourselves seriously. Neither should you. :D

MolineuxGuy wrote:
> MEANING that when I previously used to post here (quite awhile ago
> now), I didn't get illiterates acting all hostile as they seemingly
> do now.

This is the net. Spelling and grammar are no longer priorities as long as the message gets across. As for hostility, I believe you had a part in that.

I see gibberish all over these boards, most of the material
> not related to the subject in question. 'Oh lets set new grounds
> for record breaking and make the worlds longest thread!' give me a
> break.

The longest thread is a lot of fun, so don`t disrespect it.

Did you have another name before, which is why you are a newbie now, or have you never really posted that much?

MEANING that when I previously used to post here (quite awhile ago now), I didn't get illiterates acting all hostile as they seemingly do now. I see gibberish all over these boards, most of the material not related to the subject in question. 'Oh lets set new grounds for record breaking and make the worlds longest thread!' give me a break.

What do you mean we used to be cool?

:D

Heh, sorry just a little tense right now. Watching "The Shining", literaly sends me into a bag of nerves.