Xbox 360 name change to Xbox Pure just a stunt – but actually…
The InterWeb is today full of rumours and re-reporting of an alleged leaked document which would see the Xbox 360 renamed to the Xbox Pure. The document actually appears to be a forged entry for a contest to win a game. But, actually, is it such a bad idea?
Cheap Arse Gamer (CAG) published a story yesterday claiming to have proof of the Xbox 360 getting a name change to Xbox Pure. The story has since gone viral, being featured on N4G, Destructoid, and Xbox360fanboy to name but three.
But it’s highly likely to be absolute bull. As indicated by the comments on the original post, this is much more likely to be an entry in to a CAG contest to get a false story spread around the Internet.
But, just hang on a minute. Is this such a bad idea? Maybe a name change is exactly what the Xbox 360 needs to reinvigorate its falling sales.
The Xbox 360 has already lost its place as the best-selling console this generation, with the Wii successfully hurdling it earlier this year. The Microsoft console is also struggling to sell in big numbers in any of the major gaming territories on a monthly basis: in the US, it’s a perennial fight for third place between the Xbox 360 and PS3, in Europe, it’s almost always third, and apart from the odd blip, that’s also the case in Japan. So what to do?
We already know that Microsoft is trying to reposition the Xbox 360 as a console for casual gamers, sort of like an adult version of the Wii. There’s also the new Valhalla chip set on its way, rumoured to be hitting store shelves at the end of 2009. What better way to accompany a new slimline, quieter and smoother running Xbox 360 than to give it a change of name?
The added bonus would be disassociating the console with the Red Ring of Death that affected so many early models, and completely obliterated Microsoft’s marketing efforts in the process.
Just think about it. In time for the 2009 holiday season, Microsoft releases a new slimline Xbox 360 (now named something completely different) with a whole host of casual games attached to it. This new model comes with a lower price point, a brand new chip set, and no danger of any RRoD.
It would be marketed at those Wii owners who are, by now, thoroughly bored of their machines and sick of playing Wii Sports time and time again. Give those gamers a chance to graduate to an Xbox Pure (or whatever it’s called) and I’m convinced it would sell millions.
The CAG story may be total and utter crap, but Microsoft wouldn’t be doing itself any harm by taking the idea and actually making it a reality. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time it has stolen an idea now would it.
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16 Responses to “Xbox 360 name change to Xbox Pure just a stunt – but actually…”
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September 19th, 2008
A name change??
First they continually drop the price of the xbox, now a crummy name change.
Microsoft aren’t the most innovative pick of the bunch.
September 19th, 2008
Ill have you know that bills new ads for Windows Vista are both to the point and….bwahahahaha… I’m sorry I couldn’t finish that without laughing…
Its probably bull, but silly if it isn’t.
September 19th, 2008
SW- I have to say those are the worst commercials. Apple’s commercials are creative and amusing. MS with Bill and Seinfeld, well, let’s say pathetic!
September 19th, 2008
DAVE PARRACK- you screwed up this article. The new full name for the xbox is Xbox Pure Sh*t. But I think they are going to call it XPS for short for obvious reasons.
September 19th, 2008
yeah m$ adverts are total rip offs.
September 19th, 2008
Falling sales? I guess you must not have seen the NPD data for last month. Welcome back DAVE PARRACK! Your purple patch wasn’t going to last forever.
LOL @ Wylie and Bourne. If bagging the 360 makes you feel any better, then go for it. Not sure why you’re even commenting, this isn’t a PS3 related article.
September 19th, 2008
I’m glad we didn’t see another “Wii will ply bluray” slipups here.
It could have its advatages, but as much as it would seperate them from the RRoD, it would seperate them from their existing games (not that it would be bad if they want to target the casual…) However, bad for the casual is seeing another Xbox out. After all, the 360 didn’t come out that long ago!
I imagine a name change would help them some, but it would hurt them just as much. The PS3 and 360 are already suffering from too many different versions of the consoles confusing consumers (I am 100% sure both have been hurt in sales, at least slightly). A name change just muddles everything even more.
September 20th, 2008
XPBS
you forgot the “bull”
September 20th, 2008
lmao why do we have the entire Parrack family on here? Cmon guys stop taking the piss.
@ Harry, i enjoy discussing technology involving gaming in general, if that involves how Microsoft are attempting a pathetic revamp of the helpbox please fix me by doing it the cheap way (we know what happens when microsoft does things the cheap way *looks at RROD*).
September 20th, 2008
I AM RETARDED AND LOVE MEN! I AM IVAN PSP!
September 20th, 2008
@ Bourne,
Thank you for proving my point. If beating a dead horse makes you sleep better, then I guess I am happy for you. You obviously do it to make you feel a little better about something. I wonder what it is? Not hugged enough as a child?
September 20th, 2008
its not a dead horse, you xbots have obviously repressed the RROD as a child, and hate to think about it or acknowledge that it still occurs, albeit a lot less.
September 20th, 2008
No Bourne, it is a dead horse. See that’s what separates us from the likes of you. We aren’t harping on the 2.40 bricking issue, the constant delay of games, and the overuse of the word ‘potential’ as we don’t feel the need to defend our system by constantly bashing the other. But as I said, if you feel the need to do that to make you feel better with your purchase then go ahead.
September 21st, 2008
Ok Harry
1.) 2.40 was a glitch which hit a limited number of people as opposed to up to 33% of all xboxs. It didnt even cause long term permenant damage.
2.) Constant delays are not a problem. If devs need time to polish off quality games, i’m not complaining.
3.) There’s no overuse of the word potential, because it will live up to the hype. Once Devs abandon doing multi plat games for ps3 and 360. the 360 has held back the ps3 for months!
September 21st, 2008
HAHAHAHA a limited number of people? The only reason it wasn’t as widespread was that Sony removed it before more people had it brick on them. How on god’s green earth they would release something like that without testing it fully astounds me, especially after all the gloating they did about the red ring problem that 360 had.
Constant delays are not a problem??? Are you serious?!!?! If you’re happy to wait for games for years then you seriously need to re-evaluate yourself. How many times was Haze delayed? Extremely polished game that was, huh? I’ll give you a hint kiddo, they’re not delaying the games to polish them, they are delaying the games because they are having problems developing them, as it’s a dog of a system to develop for.
And yes, there is overuse of the word ‘potential’. The PS3 has been out for around 2 years now, shouldn’t that be enough time for people to realise it’s ‘potential’? And how is 360 holding PS3 back?? As far as I remember, it was the PS3 that held GTAIV off it’s original release. And when it finally was released, it wasn’t even in HD!
Want to know what made me laugh? Star Wars: The Force Unleased had the PS3 as the lead console, and the 360 version was a port. However, the PS3 version had frame rate issues and sound issues, whereas the 360 version had little to none. How is it that a port is better than the lead console’s game? If the PS3 was so powerful, why was the port better? Oh let me guess, you’re going to say ‘lazy developers’?
Seriously, you really need to remove those rose coloured glasses and stop being such a douchebag.
September 22nd, 2008
Harry- you have some good points from time to time. But please don’t try to compare 2.4 bricking issues to RROD. That’s just being silly. It effected a limited number of consoles. Yes, they pulled it just to make sure it didn’t become a bigger issue, but isn’t that the smart thing to do?
By the way the XPS comment was all in fun. You need to settle down and not take things so serious. Besides, I rarely put down the Xbox, usually I am either having fun with the stories written, or defending the PS3 from nonsense that some Xbots spew out there.