The new Xbox

[Neil]

Wow (if true, obviously).

New system could steal Wii 2’s thunder with shock E3 reveal

The successor to the Xbox 360 console is on desks at an unnamed Electronic Arts studio, Develop understands.

The new hardware, sent to EA last month, is a very early build with no casing – it is in fact being stored inside a PC shell.

EA developers are getting to grips with the tech to create first-generation software, Develop has been told.

“Quite often when new consoles come around they’re packaged into a PC shell, but actually what’s inside is an entirely new console,” a senior, trusted, well-placed source said.

Microsoft has declined to comment. EA has declined to comment. Develop’s source is not employed at either company.

The source believed, but did not have certain information, that the new Xbox would launch by the end of 2012. The individual expects an announcement will be made, at least in some form, at E3.

SHOW TIME

In March, new data revealed Microsoft was at the early stages in building the successor to the Xbox 360.

The platform owner had advertised new job vacancies such as Graphics Hardware Architect and Performance Engineer for the Xbox Console Architecture Group.

Microsoft’s new hires will be “responsible for defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation,” the company said.

The language of the job vacancies suggested a reveal for the console is years away, but Develop’s source says a shock reveal could be weeks away.

“Why let Nintendo steal the thunder in June [At E3]? It doesn’t want to lose momentum. That’s why I think Microsoft is rushing to make an announcement at E3.”

It leads to suspicion that key next-gen projects are underway at Microsoft’s own internal studios. Some project names Develop has seen would suggest a change of guard.

NEXT GENERATION

Specifications for the device are not available, for now. Develop understands that the hardware will feature enhanced support for Kinect with just a couple of alterations.

Over 52 million Xbox consoles have been sold since the system’s launch in May 2005.

Microsoft’s innovative motion controller, Kinect, launched November last year and has buoyed the console’s appeal.

Ten million Kinect units were sold worldwide as of March this year.

“Kinect will keep the 360 going for a couple of years, but Microsoft knows that if it slows down now it will face trouble,” the source added.

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[The Omen]

Interesting! Look forward to the announcement...

[gadford4th]

As long as I can still plug my kinect into it........

[James]

I would bet that you won't need to - the new XBox may have a 'kinect' built in.

[y2rich]

And the rumour has been quashed by both EA and Microsoft. Can't see there being another XBox for at least 3-4 years. Shooting themselves in the foot having just released Kinect.

[Neil]

Oh well, back to normality. Still, the Wii 2 is coming.

[Travelcard]

Originally Posted by James

I would bet that you won't need to - the new XBox may have a 'kinect' built in.

Good point - that's the obvious route. Will probably the 'kinect 2' by then as well.

[Pistol Knight]

The new hardware, sent to EA last month, is a very early build with no casing – it is in fact being stored inside a PC shell.

thats because it IS a pc (a poor one that you cant upgrade)

[Heb 7:4]

Originally Posted by Pistol Knight

The new hardware, sent to EA last month, is a very early build with no casing – it is in fact being stored inside a PC shell.

thats because it IS a pc (a poor one that you cant upgrade)

But which you can play sat on your couch, and which actually works with the games you buy without you having to piss about with drivers and patches.

Don't get me wrong, I was a big PC gamer, and FPS are still best on a PC (as are graphics) but seriously, nothing beats the accessibility and ease of a console.

[Neil]

PC gaming is for sad loners, FACT!

[TopKnot]

Originally Posted by Heb 7:4

But which you can play sat on your couch, and which actually works with the games you buy without you having to piss about with drivers and patches.

Don't get me wrong, I was a big PC gamer, and FPS are still best on a PC (as are graphics) but seriously, nothing beats the accessibility and ease of a console.

Untrue. PC gaming has come a LONG way since the days of driver problems. The newer versions of windows and DirectX have hugely reduced this. And console games are no less susceptible to patches these days. If you want to hook your pc up to a telly via HDMI and play at full HD, you can. If you want to plug in a wired 360 joypad with native support, you can. I do that with my laptop.

You can believe the myth that PC gaming is un-user friendly (similar to the myth that consoles are for kids etc) and dismiss it as an option, but you're missing out on some good stuff.

[Funk Butter]

Microsoft will upgrade its disc technology for its next Xbox from DVDs to Blu-Ray discs, catching up to rival Sony, games industry sources tell Kotaku.

Sony's PlayStation 3 currently supports Blu-Ray, which can contain 25 or 50GB of data compared to DVD's 9GB.

But that disc detail could be far less impactful to the next generation of game consoles than the assertion I've heard from one reliable industry source that Microsoft intends to incorporate some sort of anti-used game system as part of their so-called Xbox 720.

It's not clear if that means that the system wouldn't play used games or how such a set-up would work. Obvious approaches—I'm theorizing here—like linking a copy of a game to a specific Xbox Live account could seemingly be foiled by used-game owners who would keep their system offline. My source wasn't sure how Microsoft intended to implement any anti-used game system in the new machine.

BUMP

[disco mixx kidd]

Cheers FB

[Adlerhorst]

Originally Posted by Travelcard

Good point - that's the obvious route. Will probably the 'kinect 2' by then as well.

Kinect 4 has much more of a ring to it.

[PalaceMonkey]

I'd be surprised & disappointed if they put in anything to completely stop used games

[Swanny32]

It seems thats the way both Xbox and Playstation are going with their new consoles, highly frustrating if that is the case, looks like it'll be £40 maybe more for a new game, once finished it'll sit on your shelf for ages until you decide to throw it in the bin one day.

Going to drop the profits or a few shops in the process which I'm sure won't go down too well.

[Ridcully]

The notion of owning anything digital is slowly fading away. It appears that you are now just paying a licence to play or listen to something but that you don't own it any longer. Digital currency is clearly changing...

Now if we get supplementary services like Netflix or Spotify for games that could be something cool, otherwise its game over for consoles and onto OnLive etc.

[CPFC_R_GREAT]

Hello BBS friends.

Quick question...is there a way of transfering all my current 360 data to a new Xbox whilst only owning one at a time.

By that i mean, I want to use my current Xbox as a trade in against a new one. Can I do this and still take all my data with me?

Many thanks.

[Brett]

You mean a new 360 because if you're asking about the unreleased Xbox then no-one outside of Microsoft will be able to answer...

If you're going 360-to-360 then all you need the is Xbox Transfer Kit (it's basically a cable).

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[Swanny32]

Originally Posted by CPFC_R_GREAT

Hello BBS friends.

Quick question...is there a way of transfering all my current 360 data to a new Xbox whilst only owning one at a time.

By that i mean, I want to use my current Xbox as a trade in against a new one. Can I do this and still take all my data with me?

Many thanks.

If you trade in Dan then you'll have to give your hard drive in with it, better off buying a new one, transferring data and then selling old one.