Microsoft: no need for new Xbox 360 with Natal
Earlier on in this gen’s cycle, Microsoft indicated that the console cycle would be longer than the original Xbox but not by much. However, it seems like with Natal on the horizon Microsoft may be rethinking its long term strategy.
Peter Moore former head honco of Microsoft Xbox division stated in an issue of EGM back in 2007, that the production team was already working on the next Xbox targeting processors that will be out in 2011 to 2012. This gave way to some indication that Microsoft was planning a seven to eight year console cycle initially.
According to David Hufford of Project Natal, Microsoft doesn’t need to think about putting out a new Xbox. This is in contrast to earlier indications back in 2006 when talk of next gen console releases were discussed.
It seems like Natal will be a new rebirth for the Xbox 360 when it launches near the end of this year. According to the Guardian, Hufford stated that Natal will prolong the life of the Xbox 360.
It seems to me that it is clear that Microsoft is gearing to go down Nintendo’s path with the Wii by shifting primary focus away from the hardcore gaming market and towards the casual market. I can’t really blame them as the casual market is where all the gold is at.
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January 10th, 2010
“Earlier on in this gen’s cycle, Microsoft indicated that the console cycle would be longer than the original Xbox but not by much.”
Funny, I thought they said that the 360′s life is going to be one day more than the PS3′s? I guess it depends on who you quote.
January 10th, 2010
Xbox 360 few owners are going to be more screw with the garbage LMFAO.
January 10th, 2010
Good point Harry, story updated*
January 10th, 2010
As Ivan recently praised his casual games of bowling and Sodium’s tank shooter in PS3′s Home… minis and Critter Crunch are next for him… lol.
January 10th, 2010
NATAL is the destruction of the Xbox 360 entire brand SAD COPYCATS.
January 10th, 2010
On some level, they simply know not to copy EyePet.
January 10th, 2010
@Ivan
The 360 is not the Wii… I think the whole “motion sensing” thing is confusing you.
January 10th, 2010
Does casual means cheap?
January 10th, 2010
I see Ivans bored himself to death now & just decided to become a parody of himself.
I’m loking forward to what they do with this, expecially a year or 2 down the road.
It’s funny watching the Pbots claiming, at this very early stage, that 3D is going to be massive
(despite the need for an expensive & brand new HD TV to even see it – not even available yet on many brands)
and yet motion control
(despite the obvious massive success and potential demonstrated by Wii – or even their own magic pink wand & eye-piece device)
is claimed to be doomed to be a terrible disaster.
What a bunch of contradictory joker fanboys.
January 10th, 2010
(obviously in the case of the
“magic pink wand & eye-piece device”
that’s potential only at this stage, not any success at all)
January 10th, 2010
So, instead of getting that shiny brand new Xbox 720, we get:
A motion sensor.
It seems clear that Microsoft is tapping into the casual market, but not exactly in the way I’d like them to. If you want to hit the casual market, just make some extremely fun games that are non-violent and suitable for everyone. In Sony’s case that is LittleBigPlanet, which is a lot of fun regardless of your age.
Nintendo did it the bad way. What they did was take advantage of the casual market’s LACK of gaming knowledge, and released novelty after novelty. Wiimote, Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit, see a pattern here? They’re all VERY MEDIOCRE, yet they sold like CRAZY. There are better games out there for a casual gamer to play, yet they always go down like bottom-feeders.
As long as Microsoft stays well rounded, doesn’t start releasing very crappy games just to show off Natal, and stays 100% true to their statement that “hardcore gamers will LOVE Natal”, I will be happy.
@Happy
You are blowing things out of proportion. Who said that Sony’s 3D was going to be “massive”? Who said that motion control is “doomed to be a terrible disaster”? Not anybody in the right mind, I know that. I think that this “bunch” of idiot “Pbots” who are “contradictory joker fanboys” that you are battling consists of Ivan. And… yeah, that’s about it.
January 10th, 2010
Saber_HAHAha
You don’t know what we’re getting, nobody except the senior management at Microsoft know what Xbox 720/mk3 is or when it’s coming.
You might like to cast your eye on some of the posts above.
You’ll also find on some of the other threads that Natal is slammed constantly and yet Sony’s stuff lauded as bound to be good.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you’re right about Ivan tho, either that or he made good on his idiotic claim to go looking for Blu-ray.com buddies to come and help wreck the site turning it into a tedious Pbot circle-jerk.
You know who they are.
January 10th, 2010
“Who said that Sony’s 3D was going to be ‘massive’?… Not anybody in the right mind, I know that.”
Roca, who said it would be mainstream in a few years… which would be fairly massive indeed.
January 10th, 2010
massive and mainstream is not the same.
when I said mainstream I meant that almost all electronic devices will be 3D capable. but like always CarlB and his attempt to put down Sony and the PS3
January 10th, 2010
Ohhhhh… that’s what you reaallllly meant by “mainstream”… “almost all electronics devices (we’ll go ahead and specify display and visual recording devices – as I doubt our toasters will ever be 3D capable – but I guess we could have a 3D image of our toast while it toasts… nevermind) would be 3D capable”… not that most people would actually use them… well I already said that before (at least as far as HDTV’s go). In fact, most devices already are “3D capable”… HDTV’s (all you have to do is hook up a pc w/software via HDMI and glasses), 3D cameras are already in use, existing DVD players and Blu-ray players, etc. So you are predicting what has already happened?
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how_to/4310812.html
January 10th, 2010
CarlB
No surprises there.
3D TV is, at best, years off of being mainstream but he’s here predicting it’s a done deal and slating anyone who expresses any doubts.
January 10th, 2010
why would I keep bothering with carlB, he seems to be passionated about twisting other ppls comment. he always takes them in a way that will make MS and the 360 look better than anything else.
HH
is not monday yet…I will get back at you on monday to kill some work time and proabably laugh a lil
January 10th, 2010
the fact that it was the main attraction at CES this year and that almost all electronic companies are backing it up its a good sign.
so take it however it please you the most
http://cnettv.cnet.com/9745-1_53-306.html?tag=smallCarouselArea.1
January 10th, 2010
Yes, it is obvious they will slap the 3D label on anything they can to make everything old new again (including stereo systems and blu-ray players) and help sales… it’s a “3D ECOSYSTEM!!!”. This reminds me of the blu-ray ads at the beginning of the discs that say “BLU-RAY SOUND WILL BLOW THE ROOF OFF YOUR HOME!!!”… lol.
They are electronics manufacturers, it is in their best interest to hype this as the next coming. So buy into the hype if it pleases you the most.
Look, I’m not saying 3D is a bad thing… I just don’t believe most people will be wearing goggles in their living rooms every night in two years time.
Those who own rights to any past films and shows are loving it though, as they can resell the exact same product over and over again anytime any sort of leap in tech is made. VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, and now 3D, next will probably be holographic TV’s… what is it… quadruple dipping now? And consumers lap it up and buy entire new libraries every single time… lol.
In any case, as long as glasses are part of the equation this doesn’t look like it will become mainstream (i.e. the majority of people will actually use it on a regular basis, regardless of owning capable devices) anytime soon. Fortunately this is just a stopgap to something better, and it’s likely you won’t need glasses 10-15 years from now.
If true 3D devices that require glasses does become immensely popular though, you can bet manufacturers will milk the tech for as long as they possibly can, regardless of whether a better tech may already exist. Consumerism… gotta love it. For more on the paradigm, check out the book, “Consumed” by Benjamin Barber.
“Most insiders generally agree that this technology is at least five years away from a consumer rollout — but it is coming… Looking further into the 3D crystal ball, some experts conclude that there’s no question that not just glasses-free viewing — but holograms — are the future… Offering an early glimpse at the potential, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Japan demonstrated a moving hologram at this year’s National Association of Broadcasters convention. Among 3D watchers, it was one of the exciting and most-discussed exhibits.”
http://www.thewrap.com/article/3d-revolution-take-off-the-glasses-holograms-10982
Holograms… now there’s something to get excited about
January 10th, 2010
*yawn*
keep your pathetic anti Sony/PS3 campaign to yourself, I have better stuff to do that to waste my time arguing about this..something you seems passionated about.
January 10th, 2010
Well that is exactly what I was going to say. As long as glasses are attatched 3D will never fly. It has been the main factor why 3D never took off years ago. In fact I’m glad I don’t have to wear glasses because even wearing sunglasses bother me after a while. Let Imax keep the 3D in theaters where it belongs. On a side note I do remember a 3D TV at CES last year that did not require glass what-so-ever. The question is do I want to watch everything in 3D?
January 10th, 2010
How is that “anti Sony/PS3″ Roca? Sony isn’t the only one involved, and Microsoft has plenty of interest in it as well, as they stand to profit from 3D software. How’s the view of your sky without the roof on your home btw? Mine hasn’t been “blown off” by blu-ray sound yet
January 10th, 2010
Let alone the fact that Natal is also a 3D camera system? Microsoft is definitely vested in the tech.
January 10th, 2010
We’d dig 3DTV if it weren’t for those annoying glasses. But there’s hope: we found several companies at CES who are trying to get rid of them.
You can’t spit on the CES convention floor without hitting a 3D HDTV. To some, this is cause for excitement. For me, it is cause for Advil. Watching a 3D movie or television set isn’t pleasant due to the glasses required to see the stereoscopic image. I know I’m not the only one who finds the experience uncomfortable.
But discomfort—headaches, eyestrain, nausea—isn’t the only problem with 3D glasses. If we all had 3D TVs in our homes, how many glasses would we buy? Six? And what if one day there were seven people in your living room? What if you lost a pair? 3D glasses are inconvenient at best, and disruptive at worst.
Before attending CES, I knew there had to be another way. Turns out, there are several ways. This week, I sought out companies who are attempting to bypass the 3D glasses issue with a variety of technologies, each usually referred to as “auto-stereoscopic.â€. None of them are perfect, and nearly none of them are available commercially—but they all hold promise. I, for one, hope the marketplace adopts a non-glasses approach to 3DTV. More on CES 2010
ZoomNot many manufacturers are yet investing in the no-glasses 3D system, and all of them are very hard to find on the show floor. In fact, we never did find two manufacturers who were supposed to be present. The first is Magnetic 3D, which makes monitors ranging from 22 to 42 inches that could be used for gaming (this line is called the Emersa series). The second is NEC, which is working on a 12.1-inch auto-stereoscopic 3D display for the Japanese market, and also will make displays as small as 3.1 inches. In general, most of the companies looking to enter the non-glasses 3D market are first approaching it from the retail and commercial perspective: screens that show advertising in public spaces, rather than in products designed for the home market.
ZoomThe first no-glasses-required set we actually managed to spot on the show floor is made by a Chinese company called TCL. A loop of animated 3D cartoons played over a honeycomb of 3D sets. The 42-inch TD-42F is already on the market in China, says TCL 3DTV Project Marketing Manager King (no last name). It sells for about $20,000. It works like this: there are actually eight lenses on the screen itself. Depending on where you stand in relation to the TV, you see only a few of those perspectives. This “lenticular†system is popular in all the 3D systems with no glasses that we saw. TCL’s TV set only displayed animation on the show floor. Looking at live-action would’ve been a better test of the set’s potential for eventual home use. The 3D aspect of the screen did not “pop†forward as much as, say, the flying fictional beasts in the showing of Avatar I saw last weekend. The up-in-frontness of it was much more subtle here.
ZoomNext, I checked out a prototype at Samsung’s booth. The 50-inch display has a very wide viewing angle, and I could see 3D cartoons no matter where I stood in front of it (again, no live action footage). The images on screen looked very similar to those on the TCL set. Personally, I don’t see a downside to a 3D world where bullets don’t look like they’re two inches from your nose—those kinds of special effects are cheesy, anyway. I want 3D images to enhance my experience, not distract me with flashy flying objects that make me gasp. Samsung’s prototype is made for commercial use, and the company has not announced plans to make this prototype into a product for home use.
January 10th, 2010
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2010/01/09/do-we-actually-want-or-need-3dtv/
January 10th, 2010
“Let alone the fact that Natal is also a 3D camera system? Microsoft is definitely vested in the tech.”
is this where you were trying to get? lmao. another pathetic attempt to praise MS/Natal/360. this was just as funny as you going on Home to bash it and praise MS game room
January 11th, 2010
Is “pathetic” word of the day? Time to diversify that vocabulary.
I can’t see anything wrong with Carl’s posts. I think you may need to cool it with the whole finger pointing routine. It’s getting tiresome.
January 11th, 2010
Roca, if you somehow translate what I have said here about 3D to be “anti-Sony/PS3″, then it is just as much “anti-Microsoft/360″, if not more so, as they are heavily vested in the tech as well. Comprende?
January 11th, 2010
Reminds me of the time we were making fun of his ‘wand’ and he accused us of hating on Sony. Aaaaah good times. Link is provided below.
h**p://gamer.blorge.com/2009/12/22/around-the-web-surprising-game-of-the-year-awards/
January 11th, 2010
harry
Roca parrots back anything said to him before, haven’t you noticed?
January 11th, 2010
thanks for the link harry, it just shows that HH has been harassing me for quite a while now…
also…it doesnt surprise me at all that you 3 (CarlB, Harry & HH) agreed on something. its been a common trend for the xbot crowd. at least you and CarlB are more civil and can debate in a decent manner..whereas HH just gets frustrated and start the insulting parade (I wonder what gets out of it)
January 11th, 2010
Microsoft: “There’s no need to launch a new console”
A Microsoft senior director has reiterated his company’s stance on a 360 successor, saying it has no need to launch a new console.
“I think it’s important to say that the Xbox 360 is the console of the long future for us. There is no need to launch a new console, because we’re able to give this console new life either with software upgrades or hardware upgrades like Project Natal,” said David Hufford, senior director of Xbox product management, speaking to The Guardian at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.
“The Xbox 360 was designed for a long life,” he added, “and I don’t even know if we’re at the midpoint yet.”
In response to quizzing on a possible move to more modern chip technology, which would lower manufacturing costs of the console, Hufford said the company was currently content with its pricing.
“We love our prices right now,” he said. “I don’t want to say that technology stops, but we believe we have a high quality console, and we stand by that quality with an unprecedented warranty, so we think we’re in a good place now heading into the Natal era.”
Following the news last week of Sony’s commitment to a dedicated 3D TV network and confirmation the PlayStation 3 was upgradable to 3D via a firmware update, Hufford also higlighted to Microsoft’s own 3D efforts, saying the 360 didn’t need an upgrade in order to support 3D games.
“Avatar is on Xbox and we have a 3D game, Scrap Metal, in our booth right now,” he pointed out. Microsoft also used this year’s CES to announce a new retro-focused Game Room for XBL, and the expansion of its Zune video marketplace into 10 new countries later this year.
January 11th, 2010
“Following the news last week of Sony’s commitment to a dedicated 3D TV network and confirmation the PlayStation 3 was upgradable to 3D via a firmware update, Hufford also higlighted to Microsoft’s own 3D efforts, saying the 360 didn’t need an upgrade in order to support 3D games.
“Avatar is on Xbox and we have a 3D game, Scrap Metal, in our booth right now,†he pointed out.”
I just find it funny how Sony is making a big deal about 3D and the 360 just went and did it. Microsoft is smart why waist marketing on tech that won’t take off for at least 5 years if ever. For those who have the tech there is Avtar and Scrap Metal.
January 11th, 2010
Roca playing the victim.
Too funny.
Too bad nobodys playing your tedious game today tho, huh?
January 11th, 2010
…..and yes CAD, good call.
Whether it amounts to the ‘revolution’ and sales opportuntiy so many in the CE industry have convinced themselves it must be, this time, remains to be seen.
Personally I reckon they are all looking into the terrifying abyss of the current economic slump and trying to talk up some confidence.
The economic depression of the 1930s took over 4 years to really hit its worst, we’ve some ways to go yet before the financial disaster, which started in 08, hits its stride.
January 11th, 2010
Gears of War 2 in 3D at CES 2010
http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/14232680/gears-of-war-2/videos/ces10ford_gears3d_010910.html?show=hi
January 11th, 2010
PS3: Gran Turismo 5 in 3D makes an unconvincing demo
Sony tried to win 3D converts by showing a version of Gran Turismo 5 on one of the company’s newest displays. While the experience was novel (and impressive), it doesn’t feel right for long-term gaming.
Sony’s booth at CES was an orgy of televisions, many of which displayed 3D content. One of the busiest areas was a display hooked up to a PlayStation 3, where show-goers could get their hands on one of the most-hyped game releases…. in 3D. That’s right, Gran Turismo 5 was demoed using the latest and greatest screen and the most over-used gimmick at CES. So how was it?
After putting on the glasses and playing a good session, it’s unclear if the 3D effect adds anything of real worth to the experience. The game looks great, and it plays just as well as you could imagine—this is Gran Turismo 5, after all—but after a few minutes I was ready to take the glasses off and play the game using the standard graphics on a normal television.
Seeing both your arms and the dashboard in front of you while the track races by in 3D is definitely cool, but the graphics were dimmer than you’re used to from a standard set, and wearing the glasses on top of my normal glasses wasn’t exactly an optimal experience.
After playing Gran Turismo, I felt almost like I had experienced a very novel arcade game. It was certainly fun for ten minutes or so, and it’s suitably impressive to see Sony’s technology shown off with a such a big-name title, but staying at home and playing games for hours and hours in 3D? That’s going to be a very hard sell for the forseeable future.
January 11th, 2010
CES: Gran Turismo 5 PS3 revs in latest build
Sony Corp. this week demonsrated the latest build of Gran Turismo 5 for the Playstation 3 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV.
The latest Gran Turismo 5 build showcased impressive force feedback control with a Logitech Force Feedback Steering Wheel. Each turn and oversteer was replicated with a jagged motion, in addition to vehicle collision.
The CES build did not include vehicle damage. Polyphony Digital previously stated the title would include the feature.
The graphics engine held at a solid 60 frames per second with strong vehicle detail and location rendering.
The title, to be released in Mar., will include more than 950 vehicles, and an online multiplayer mode for up to 16 players.
Retailer Amazon.com this month price cut sales of Gran Turismo 5 to under $55 in a new pre-order sale.
January 11th, 2010
Playing Gran Turismo 5… In 3D!!!
Sony’s CES booth was heavy on 3D content, the current fancy of consumer electronics makers, including a playable 3D version of Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation 3. Does the Real Driving Simulator become even real-er when played in 3D?
Well, it certainly ups the challenge, as adjusting to a 3D display while coming to grips with Gran Turismo 5’s impressive driving physics doubles the learning curve. But it certainly looks 3D with the PS3 game’s HUD popping against a cockpit that simulates a real feeling of depth, from the steering wheel and driver’s hands displaying in the foreground, down to the 3D vents in the dashboard.
It was impressive. But it was also a little bit disorienting. That may be due to my penchant for oversteering the Mazda that was available to take for a spin. And I mean that literally, as the braking in GT5 and the force feedback from locking up the tires sometimes sent be spinning wildly out of control. Readjusting my eyes to the 3D display afterward took longer than my eyes were comfortable with.
The 3D effect was, for lack of a better word, tastefully done, offering a sense of depth to the road ahead without much in the way of technical gimmickry. But it did have a drawback, as objects far in the distance and shadows cast on the car’s interior introduced a more noticeable moiré pattern effect when viewed in 3D.
As a tech demo, GT5 in 3D was interesting, even if the extra visual tricks didn’t add much substance to the experience.
Sony plans to update the PlayStation 3’s firmware at some point in 2010 to introduce 3D content – reps said “summer†– if you’d like to test out 3D gaming yourself.
January 11th, 2010
Yes I’m bored!!!
January 11th, 2010
i wonder why no GT5 demo has damage yet….
interesting….. after all, Roca and Ivan said the damage in GT5 would be “perfect” as stated by Kaz….
January 11th, 2010
I was wondering the same thing.
January 11th, 2010
I’m pretty sure that Demo is a very old build, that’s what I read somewhere.
Don’t care anyway Gran Turismo and all racing games are shit. Mainly because I’m shit at them lol.
January 11th, 2010
“also…it doesnt surprise me at all that you 3 (CarlB, Harry & HH) agreed on something.”
HH and I don’t agree on DLC.
January 12th, 2010
Harry and I agree on Infamous… great game that.
January 12th, 2010
That is a great game, obviously I have the Platinum lol.
January 12th, 2010
shut up kev, you know barely anything about ps3. crawl back under your rock you embarrasment to humanity
January 12th, 2010
oldie,
I noticed you got the plat for that. How long did it take for you to get the ‘Rockhound’ trophy??
January 12th, 2010
Liquid:
LoL, You destroy that Xbot.
CarlB:
inFAMOUS is awesome but sometimes it could cause well at least for me headache i still play it all the time to slide. Can’t for inFAMOUS hope it has online play like UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves has.
January 12th, 2010
Ivan you, by your own admission, find XBL confusing.
As if your judgement counts for anything.
January 12th, 2010
HH by you own admission, “avatar is shit”
then you went to watch it in 2D and 3D
……As if your judgement counts for anything
January 12th, 2010
lol pwned bitch!
January 12th, 2010
Roca
Jeeez but you’re a ludicrously dim jerk.
The film is being touted as a technical tour de force, you drone on and on and on about the 3D and yet when it comes to it you think going to see it twice (especially in 2D first & then in 3D) is something odd.
It must just be your own special brand of idiot.
Naturally you are too ignorant to understand how anyone might be interested in seeing for themselves & going to make an appraisal and appreciate the tech whilst still find the movie itself cr@p.
I guess that’s the idiot blinkered fanboy in you at work again.
Just like how come yuou can’t compute how come I don’t particularly like lots of aspects of Blu-ray but still have it.
Much as I enjoy a good old hippy themed yarn as anyone the fact is that is derivative and a story we have all heard/read/seen many times before- Dances with Wolves in space is as accurate a description as I’ve seen.
It is sugary bubblegum and if it is meant to be an allegory (look it up) it is (considering the ending) wildly (not to say sickly) at odds with repeated human reality.
Ooops, a bit of grown up talk there.
What was I thinking?
Get back to your fanboy BS and trying to back Ivan and his lies up, you pathetic gormless moron.
But don’t worry one of the f*ckwit chorus will be along to back up the next purile brainless garbage you spew out so you don’t feel a total cretin.
January 13th, 2010
HH by you own admission, “avatar is shitâ€
then you went to watch it in 2D and 3D
……As if your judgement counts for anything
if Avatar was available on more formats…like in 8 bit, 16 bit animated, and black and White, HH would have watched the movie on every single format.
then his sentence will be something like this:
scenario 1
HH – “Avatar is shit”
scenario 2
HH – I watched Avatar in 2D, 3D, 8 bit, 16 bit, the animated version and in Black & White
January 13th, 2010
Too stupid.
I went to check out the film but especially the 3D, therefore a look in 2D first made perfect sense.
It must be rubbish to be so stupid that you can’t understand this.
January 13th, 2010
scenario 1
HH – “Avater is shit”
scenario 2
HH – “I went to check out the film but especially the 3D, therefore a look in 2D first made perfect sense”
scenario 3
HH – “a second look in 3D makes even more sense” [specially after he claimed the movie is shit]
January 13th, 2010
There you go, when you’re made to look like the idiot you are just spew your stupid spam.
You’re as funny as a GT5 delivery schedule.
January 14th, 2010
“You’re as funny as a GT5 delivery schedule”
a GT5 delivery schedule will be more credible than any of your posts/statements/claims
here is one of the best of 2009 from you:
HH – ODST look better than Uncharted 2″