To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

SpaceNinjaDino — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:21:21 GMT

A Microsoft representative had stated in 2007 that they were looking at what chips/technology would be around in 2011 and plan a next-gen console around that.

Since then, they've seen that they can extend the life of the XBOX 360 years beyond the original XBOX years. Coupled with economy downturn and the real costs of making something even more powerful, all of the consoles will make this gaming cycle a long one.

We already knew the post-Jasper chip that Microsoft was working on would be a CPU+GPU in one. This will allow for a smaller footprint and we shouldn't be surprised when Microsoft launches a cost effective and smaller XBOX 360. We will see this first before any evidence of a next-gen console.

This delay will make the next cycle a better one. We should have 2GB DDR4 at an affordable price. I fully expect that to be the "720" RAM spec. The GPU will probably have an internal SLI/Crossfire or high quantity of pipes.

I believe the SKUs of the next gen will include slot loading for 360 BC and "720" discs and another SKU will be smaller without the slot to just have downloaded games only. They will need a minimum 250GB hard drive and they will still charge $100 for it if purchased separately. They need to allow for HD chaining to continuously expand the capacity without replacing.

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

Warrengonline — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:24:42 GMT

@CFR

There to could be a 'smaller' Xbox360 and yes, MS would have to 're-build' the system - by rearranging the inner parts. By doing so to improve the flow of hot air AND have enough room for built-in wifi. It can be done, maybe it will a few months before the new Xbox720 comes out. The PS2 is taking off because 1. lots of people (including myself skimped on it, we were happy with the PS1 - I still am). 2. The games on PS1 and PS2 can be gobbled up BRAND NEW for under $30 a pop! 3. Cheapskate and Smart parents can now buy the little tykes and irresponsible kids a cheap $100 system that is quality. People will still be buying the Xbox360 long after the Xbox720 comes out - as long as Xbox Live can be accessed by it. Just look at the Nintendo GameCube sales, shocking, but "Kudos Nintendo". But we all shall see 2010 is only a few months away. :)

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

OgBaka360 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:56:51 GMT

this is great news... looking forward to natal

motion control games... nice

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

Fletch955 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:27:53 GMT

Hmmm, why am I starting to think Halo Reach will be a Natal launch title!?

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

CFR — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:04:23 GMT

Natal can't be built into the console, if it was built in, you would have to have the console in perfect unobstructed sight of you. It's not going to happen.

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

CDN Crockett — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:22:27 GMT

@Absyrtus

Slimmer not so much for me but quieter is a MUST!

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

Mr Barrel Roll — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:42:08 GMT

We've almost maxed out graphics. Really, things can't get much more 'realistic' than they are. Yes, there can still be a bit of improvement, but in the near future (think maybe 3-5 years) lifelike graphics will become commonplace, and you really can't get more lifelike than lifelike. If tech progress in console gaming will continue, there needs to be some other sort of revolution. Graphics can only go so far, then we all take them for granted and start to ignore them. Once everything is the same 'realistic' level, it's not a selling point anymore. So a future generation will need something else as a selling point.

I'm not sure Natal is that thing. Really, it's just a different version of the Wii's selling point... the Wii's gimmick. Has there been a single game for the Wii where the motion controls make you go "Wow, that was really a lot better an experience than CoD or Halo with a controller?" No, it's pretty much all flailing arms and quicktime events. Bleck.

Don't get too caught up with the gimmick. Motion control has potential, yes, but nothing will ever replace my tried-and-true dual-analog. (Please, someone, make me regret saying that in 5 years!)

Just some rambling.

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

TES7769 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:39:09 GMT

If Microsoft wants to maintain it's dominance over Sony and take away what little lead Nintendo has, then they had better get working on the "720" and soon, because there's no way the 360 is going to remain king of the hill 4-5 years from now.All MS need do is take the current 360 hardware and increase the power 2 fold etc. and keep backwards compatibility.Natale might be neat but no way it can keep the competition from taking way an lead MS might have in the next couple of years.

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

Pixmation — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:22:33 GMT

I personally think 360 is a little over half of the product life span, please don't treat console like PC that keep adding little upgrades and try to extend the product life. I am all for the next generation console by mid-late 2011. I can still hook up the 360 to another TV as entertainment center, no loss. More GPU speed and power, more polygons, better graphics! Microsoft can't afford to leak anything that will hurt current 360's sales.

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

Shonk — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:21:39 GMT

I think it will be

what the wii is to the game cube

the same thing but slightly faster clock speed

and natal built in

just make sure it does 60fps 1080p native ms

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

DNAgent — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:32:25 GMT

I think I will believe Ballmer since this whole situation just looks like he leaked out the info and now everyone else is in damage control mode & are trying to deny what he said. I mean why would he lie about it or even make a joke about it? It seems as if the info slipped.

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

hudsmack — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:07:11 GMT

This video is as old as the internet, but gee...who would've though Ballmer would have diarrhea of the mouth?

video.msn.com/video.aspx

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

Warrengonline — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:50:19 GMT

What Steve Ballmer said earlier today . . .(June 18, 2009) . . Was misinterpreted. Remember, we ALL (who are updated online and order the NXE on CD) got a 'NEW' Xbox360 last year. We got a 'NEW' Dashboard, a 'NEW' Party Chat, a 'NEW' Avatar, a 'NEW' NetFlix Channel, a 'NEW'. .etc.. . IF an Xbox720 Natal System was going to be released, so what!? Remember the Phantom - The PC Power console? Or the SNES CD that was eventually turned into the Sony Playstation? Take it for what it is and for what it isn't. If you TRULY believe 2010 is MS's new console year, save up your money and be the first in line. If you do not believe, keep on a walking. I want a Natal - errmmm, 'working' Natal. Too much of the 'potential' has been 'improvised'. Voice-recognition at 10+ ft away, motion detecting in low-light areas with a distance of 5+ feet away, video chat with 'air-controls' with running applications, scanning minute details from 5+ ft - wow, that is unbelievable, but I am waiting anxiously. So Steve Ballmer said some intriguing things - "YEEEEEAAAAH!" (raised hands above head). The Xbox360 rocks as is. (minus the few known issues)

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

TreyTable — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:09:25 GMT

Since Major can't really say it (I would think), I will say that Steve Ballmer should learn to shut the hell up about XBOX and focus on other important Microsoft projects such as Windows 7, Bing, and how they plan to one up the latest product from VMware.

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

AriesDog — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:44:53 GMT

Steve has a history of saying stuff early and not clearly. I still love his crazy football coach attitude.

re: To clarify what Steve said earlier today....

waldo15 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:37:31 GMT

Hehe, damage control! damage control! Call us paranoid, but when the entire Xbox machinery goes on the record trying to undo what the big Kahuna did... sounds suspicious.

One of the posters in here has a good point... you guys denied the HDMI port early in the process and then a new "console" got released, but afterwards all of the 360 SKUs were offered with HDMI. It coul dvery well be that for codename Natal you guys will release it bundled with a specific Xbox SKU (though very unlikely it will be brand new guts) and then later offer it as an upgrade package to the older ones.

Anyhow, I bet you guys in the offices roll your eyes every time Bald-mer goes on tour. Every MS PR division is put on hold for that...