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Thinking Positively About The X-Box : - )
OK, many of you know that I’m not the biggest Microsoft Fan. However Microsoft’s new machine the X-box is starting to look like something special, and even I'm impressed. So instead of Focusing on the negative I've decided to focus on the positive things about the X-box.
So what is there to know about the X-box, well when it comes out in the US this November it will be the worlds most powerful home console/entertainment system. It will cost $299 stateside, so this means it will probably cost £299 by the time it arrives in the UK in early 2002.
The Games look impressive with Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, Dead or Alive 3, Star Wars Obi-Wan, Crazy Taxi, Panzer Dragoon, The Simpsons Road Rage, Jet Set Radio Future, SegaSports NBA 2K2, Sega Sports NFL 2K2, Sega GT, House of the Dead 3, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2X, Dino Crisis 3,Genma Onimusha, Madden NFL 2002, F1 2001, a new FIFA game, and WWF Raw is War to name but a few of the titles that are being developed for this machine
However what interested me the most was the new features Microsoft has put into the X-box’s basic user interface (Called the X-box Dashboard). Not only will their be parental controls that will allow parents to prevent their children from playing games/or sections of games with a violent or mature content. The dashboard will also allow gamers for the first time to play the music they want in their favorite games. Normal audio CDs can be put into the X-box, and the music can be stored on the X-box’s 8GB hard drive. This means for the first time that gamers will be able to take full control of a games music. This is something that was on my wish list for a next generation console, and surprisingly it now looks like someone at Microsoft was listening to the voices of the gamers everywhere.
There are some grey areas with regards to the X-box, most notably what internet connectivity features will be available in the final machine, and if the machine will play DVDs. I have just visited www.xbox.com and so far there seems to be no official line on this.
However Microsoft has said that they expect a broadband hardware add on to be available for the machine in the second half of 2002, so hopefully by the time the X-box reaches the UK this feature may be built in.
Microsoft certainly have the power, money and influence to deliver broadband Internet access to gamers, they own are large share of the UK cable company NTL so perhaps an online future isn’t that far away. :-)
OK, many of you know that I’m not the biggest Microsoft Fan. However Microsoft’s new machine the X-box is starting to look like something special, and even I'm impressed. So instead of Focusing on the negative I've decided to focus on the positive things about the X-box.
So what is there to know about the X-box, well when it comes out in the US this November it will be the worlds most powerful home console/entertainment system. It will cost $299 stateside, so this means it will probably cost £299 by the time it arrives in the UK in early 2002.
The Games look impressive with Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, Dead or Alive 3, Star Wars Obi-Wan, Crazy Taxi, Panzer Dragoon, The Simpsons Road Rage, Jet Set Radio Future, SegaSports NBA 2K2, Sega Sports NFL 2K2, Sega GT, House of the Dead 3, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2X, Dino Crisis 3,Genma Onimusha, Madden NFL 2002, F1 2001, a new FIFA game, and WWF Raw is War to name but a few of the titles that are being developed for this machine
However what interested me the most was the new features Microsoft has put into the X-box’s basic user interface (Called the X-box Dashboard). Not only will their be parental controls that will allow parents to prevent their children from playing games/or sections of games with a violent or mature content. The dashboard will also allow gamers for the first time to play the music they want in their favorite games. Normal audio CDs can be put into the X-box, and the music can be stored on the X-box’s 8GB hard drive. This means for the first time that gamers will be able to take full control of a games music. This is something that was on my wish list for a next generation console, and surprisingly it now looks like someone at Microsoft was listening to the voices of the gamers everywhere.
There are some grey areas with regards to the X-box, most notably what internet connectivity features will be available in the final machine, and if the machine will play DVDs. I have just visited www.xbox.com and so far there seems to be no official line on this.
However Microsoft has said that they expect a broadband hardware add on to be available for the machine in the second half of 2002, so hopefully by the time the X-box reaches the UK this feature may be built in.
Microsoft certainly have the power, money and influence to deliver broadband Internet access to gamers, they own are large share of the UK cable company NTL so perhaps an online future isn’t that far away. :-)
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Microsoft have just announced some new news on their Xbox website. The Xbox Memory Unit has finally been revealed, and it appears to be similar to the N64 memory unit and fits into the X-box controller. Unfortunately there isnt a price yet, and no mention of its capacity.
If you head on over to
http://www.xbox.com/ news/0107/0201.htm (remove spaces)
Youll also see that the X-box team are planning a competition in the near future (Hopefully UK residents will be able to enter to). Yes Three weeks from today, the nice people at Microsoft are going to give one lucky person an Xbox Development Kit. Which is basically a PC based closely around the X-box architecture...worth winning if all you have is a 200Mhz PC like me
The system includes the following:
Intel 733 MHz Pentium III
Intel VC820 motherboard
NV15 with 64MB DDR (250MHz core, 183MHz memory)
128MB PC800 RDRAM
20 GB HD
6x DVD drive
Intel Pro/100 MB Ethernet card
Microsoft mouse
Microsoft keyboard
Xircom USB Card
2 Game pads
This should give you an idea if your PC will ever be able to emulate an X-box, itll have to at least be as good as the above PC.
You cant enter the competition yet, but Ill keep you all posted.
If you head on over to
http://www.xbox.com/ news/0107/0201.htm (remove spaces)
Youll also see that the X-box team are planning a competition in the near future (Hopefully UK residents will be able to enter to). Yes Three weeks from today, the nice people at Microsoft are going to give one lucky person an Xbox Development Kit. Which is basically a PC based closely around the X-box architecture...worth winning if all you have is a 200Mhz PC like me
The system includes the following:
Intel 733 MHz Pentium III
Intel VC820 motherboard
NV15 with 64MB DDR (250MHz core, 183MHz memory)
128MB PC800 RDRAM
20 GB HD
6x DVD drive
Intel Pro/100 MB Ethernet card
Microsoft mouse
Microsoft keyboard
Xircom USB Card
2 Game pads
This should give you an idea if your PC will ever be able to emulate an X-box, itll have to at least be as good as the above PC.
You cant enter the competition yet, but Ill keep you all posted.
What you said about gamers and artists is true. I don't play games as such on my PC but I do a lot of 3D work and webdesign. I am constantly improving my system's speed as Fireworks is sooooo slow especially when running Corel, Dreamweaver, Apache, PHP, MySQL and TrueSpace at the same time.
If the X-box can shift 32 million units there will be an X-box2. Even if the machine is only Successful in America there will be a sequel...my logic is that the X-box is now seen as a console to those in the industry...but its more than that its Microsofts way of bringing its content to your home.
Microsoft sees the X-box as being a unit that should be connected to every TV in the world (or at least America). This Dream is the same as Sonys Dream for the PS3.
If you look at the slowdown in the computer industry you will realise that in the near future there will be a lot of mergers as companys try to cut costs. Computers sales are slowing, and yet Laptop sales increasing...Buying the latest computer doesnt make as much of a difference to people anymore (only gamers and artists are interested in the increased specs of new machines)...most people are happy with what they have. This means that computers will soon become smaller,more compact and more stylish and ultimately cheaper...thats where the X-box comes in.
This Dream will be pushed on us eventually if not with the X-box then with the X-box2.
Microsoft sees the X-box as being a unit that should be connected to every TV in the world (or at least America). This Dream is the same as Sonys Dream for the PS3.
If you look at the slowdown in the computer industry you will realise that in the near future there will be a lot of mergers as companys try to cut costs. Computers sales are slowing, and yet Laptop sales increasing...Buying the latest computer doesnt make as much of a difference to people anymore (only gamers and artists are interested in the increased specs of new machines)...most people are happy with what they have. This means that computers will soon become smaller,more compact and more stylish and ultimately cheaper...thats where the X-box comes in.
This Dream will be pushed on us eventually if not with the X-box then with the X-box2.
There will never be an Xbox 2.
2007, thats only 6 years away! Hoorah!
Not being funny but i'm just thinking about what i'm going to be playing over the next few months. I haven't even started looking at autumn releases yet.
As far as hardware goes, i'm not thinking about that at all. I'm happy with my DC and until that changes i'm not even thinking about buying anything else.
Don't get me wrong, i am taking an interest in the 'Cube and the X, as i will buy one at some point. But the X1 isn't out yet, let's not start discussing the X2.
Not being funny but i'm just thinking about what i'm going to be playing over the next few months. I haven't even started looking at autumn releases yet.
As far as hardware goes, i'm not thinking about that at all. I'm happy with my DC and until that changes i'm not even thinking about buying anything else.
Don't get me wrong, i am taking an interest in the 'Cube and the X, as i will buy one at some point. But the X1 isn't out yet, let's not start discussing the X2.
According to an independent survey the Playstation 2 will remain the best selling console until 2005 having shifted 56 million units. However the X-box and Gamecube by then will have shifted 32 million units each. The X-box selling badly in Japan but well in the United States.
This will mean Sony will still dominate the market in 2005, however when you realise that the X-box is basically a PC in a box, this should mean that the cost of developing the X-box 2 would be much less than the Playstation3.
If these figures turn out to be true then Microsoft could have the number one console come 2007!
This will mean Sony will still dominate the market in 2005, however when you realise that the X-box is basically a PC in a box, this should mean that the cost of developing the X-box 2 would be much less than the Playstation3.
If these figures turn out to be true then Microsoft could have the number one console come 2007!
how can you have the words THINK and POSITIVELY in the same sentence as X-BOX i cant figure it out and WOW explosive news they are getting a FIFA game is it really that exciting
I've been searching the net for the latest on the X-box, heres what I've found:
The lastest news on the X-box is that the DVD drive will be manufactured by Philips. I have a Philips CD drive and its never failed me, so this is good news. Sony and Philips have always been at the forefront of optical technology after all they invented the CD, and DVD. So Microsoft has teamed up with the best. Apparently the deal with Philips will mean they can make enough X-boxs in the short time till launch, particularly in Europe were Philips is a strong market leader.
Microsoft has also settled its dispute over the rights to the X-box name with a little company called X-Box technologies. That company is probably a little richer now. :-)
Apparently Microsofts adverts will now be mostly Game based, no doubt to calm the fears of people who think the X-box will have no games. Initial Reports were that the X-boxs advertising campaigne would be negative taking digs at Sony's popular Playstation2 console.
The lastest news on the X-box is that the DVD drive will be manufactured by Philips. I have a Philips CD drive and its never failed me, so this is good news. Sony and Philips have always been at the forefront of optical technology after all they invented the CD, and DVD. So Microsoft has teamed up with the best. Apparently the deal with Philips will mean they can make enough X-boxs in the short time till launch, particularly in Europe were Philips is a strong market leader.
Microsoft has also settled its dispute over the rights to the X-box name with a little company called X-Box technologies. That company is probably a little richer now. :-)
Apparently Microsofts adverts will now be mostly Game based, no doubt to calm the fears of people who think the X-box will have no games. Initial Reports were that the X-boxs advertising campaigne would be negative taking digs at Sony's popular Playstation2 console.
I think the X-box may suprise quite a few people, Microsoft may not be the most popular company in the world but they have the contacts in the industry that will mean the X-box will be a force to be reckoned with.
With Microsofts reputation as the worlds leading software company, its easy to overlook the X-boxs good qualities. Besides which Microsoft actually make excellent quality hardware items such as their Sidewinder GamePads so its not like theyre completely unfamiliar with the hardware world.
The X-box will be built using the best PC gaming technology thats available today. Nividia makes probably the best Graphics cards for the PC (GeFORCE 2), so the fact that Nividia are behind the X-box's impressive graphical capabilities is good news for gamers everywhere.
As the X-box will utilise DirectX technology, which PC programmers are very familiar this should also mean that the X-box will be easy to program. This should mean better games that utilise the X-boxs hardware to its full potential. One of the main criticisms programmers had of the Playstation 2 was that there werent any development tools provided by Sony for the machine.
The X-box is lucky in that programmers can buy the Quake III and Unreal 3D engines, on which to build their games.
If the Future of Gaming means that every game may look as good as Unreal on the PC, then it cant come soon enough.
With Microsofts reputation as the worlds leading software company, its easy to overlook the X-boxs good qualities. Besides which Microsoft actually make excellent quality hardware items such as their Sidewinder GamePads so its not like theyre completely unfamiliar with the hardware world.
The X-box will be built using the best PC gaming technology thats available today. Nividia makes probably the best Graphics cards for the PC (GeFORCE 2), so the fact that Nividia are behind the X-box's impressive graphical capabilities is good news for gamers everywhere.
As the X-box will utilise DirectX technology, which PC programmers are very familiar this should also mean that the X-box will be easy to program. This should mean better games that utilise the X-boxs hardware to its full potential. One of the main criticisms programmers had of the Playstation 2 was that there werent any development tools provided by Sony for the machine.
The X-box is lucky in that programmers can buy the Quake III and Unreal 3D engines, on which to build their games.
If the Future of Gaming means that every game may look as good as Unreal on the PC, then it cant come soon enough.
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