<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Surprised there's been no thread on this already. Oh well... Anways, here's what I do know (most rumoured) about Microsoft's next-gen system:

• On 13/05/2005 (Friday) at 7pm on MTV (thank gawd I have Foxtel), Microsoft will finally blow the lid on their Xbox follow-up. Not sure about the time difference, but coverage for the States is 9:30pm Thursday 12th May. [ link ]
• It's tipped to be called Xbox 360 (Food for thought: 360 = Revolution = Microsoft + Nintendo? Hmmz... :P )
• Christmas 2005 release -- in the US at least. I'm thinking March for Europe and Australia.
• Most likely won't be backwards compatible with Xbox games.
• Two versions planned. Low-end will not include a harddrive. High-end will include a harddrive and Microsoft's own WebTV system. [ link ]
• Word is [ this ] will be the systems controller. Also look for it to be wireless. [ link ]
• EA will air a commercial in the States this Saturday showing off Madden for next-gen systems. Some screenshots have already been released. [ link ]

21 sleeps to go for the unveiling (and E3 a couple days later) -- Can't wait, woohoo! :dance3: </span>

There's already a Next Generation thread in Off Topic that covers the lot.

Also, the only official name the console has is Xenon; 360 is still a speculative name(as well as a stupid name :P ), so th thread should really be called the Xenon thread. :D

Wait... there's videogame talk in Off Topic? :P Ahh my bad... probably should have ventured into there first. Still, methinks it deserves its own thread.

Time will only tell, but my money is on the system being called 360 -- many sources are convinced that's what it will eventually be called. Xenon, like Nintendo's Revolution and Dolphin (later GameCube), are development codenames and I'm most certain that won't be the name they'll go with.

I'm really interested to see how this console plays out.

Considering I bought a ps2, then a gamecube, then an xbox, I doubt I will buy the new console on release. But you never know. Its all about the games.

E3 should be a big one this year.

But the only offical name is Xenon! :P


I really hope it isn't called 360, cause that's a shoking name...

I might as well post this here too.

Check out www.engadget.com 'Xbox 360 this is it':



Hopefully theres like a black version or something, Thats too too bright for my liking. It's like if you make something look white its automatically futurtistic - Apple didn't design this did they? :P But I'll hand it to the design crew, it does look pretty neat.

Full size, no watermark.

I hope that concave has something cool in it.

Gamespot are on the ball too:

Xbox 360 revealed (sort of)

Enough with the Xenon, it's Xbox 360 fellas. :dance3:

As long as it isn't a heavy mother****er that takes up a ton of space I'll be happy. ;)

Looks like the real deal. Doesn't have that "wow factor" I was hoping for, but it's growing on me. Looks better in [ actual shots ] I must admit, and I don't mind the look of it when [ stood vertically ], although I do prefer having all my electronics horizonally. And by the looks of the disc tray, the unit seems rather small and compact which I'm very much happy about.

A'ight.

Yes, those pics do look good. But it probably isn't the final design, it could still be an early concept Microsoft decided to release to get everyone pumped up about it. Remember that huge X with a green circle in the centre? We all thought that was the X-Box. :P

Sam with the name 360 could be the codename. I beleive it gonna be called Xenon cos its sounds cooler.

Note the lack of controller ports. ;) (on the front anyway)

Personally, I'm not liking the silver, so I'm gunning for a scratch resistant colour.(like black. :D)

Overall design(from what I've seen of it) I'm not too keen on, but like Tinklez, I think it'll probably grow on me, and I'll possibly have one by next feburary. -_-

EDIT: Looking at it again, I think that the circle/rectangle thing on the right could just be a cover for 2 controller ports.(see the two dots on the left of it)
I also think that the text on the drive looks shit. :D

You did? :huh: :P


And yeah, not too keen on the silver also -- and just when black has gone back to being the new black. Silver is so 2002.

I hope it isnt actually called the Xbox 360 :( .

All signs are pointing to it being the 360. I all but accepted it as fact a few weeks ago and it has grown on me. I don't like the name but I no longer think it's stupid, I now don't mind saying it.

I don't mind the name. It's better that following Sony's footsteps and just adding a numeral onto the existing name.

Yeah, screw Sony and their one numeral system! 3's the way to go! -_-

;)

If it does end up being called the 360, I'll be fine with it, it wont stop me getting the console or anything, I guess I'll get used to it over time, and yes it is better than simply adding a number to the end of the name, it's adding three numbers!! :o

I'd prefer they constantly do what Nintendo do and attempt to create a new innovative name for their latest console, but it looks like I'll have to settle with three digits instead of one Natrak. ;)

Just looking over the pics again, there are some noticable differences between the front-on image, the angled image and the teaser image linked to on ourcolony.net

One wonders whether this is the final design, the fact that it bares a distinct similarity to the shot seen on ourcolony.net means they could be revisions of the same outer case, or they could be clever photoshops made to bare similarities to the said image.

Hopefully this is the final design though, the Xbox 360 over at Gamespot looks horrible, whereas this design has quickly grown on me. It's looking quite sleek, particularly when compared to its behemoth predecessor.

I'm geussing there will be controller ports, for wheels especially. If you're gonna have it plugged to the wall outlet you might as well connect it with a cord to the console eh? I mean it would be pointless having wireless wheels if still needed to be plugged to the power, cos having it rechargeable would be impossible considering all the force feedback, and vibrations you get out of it, that would eat up energy, and you'll be recharging a lot! (imo)

And that power button looks stupid. You'll be playing and some ignorant bastard could walk in front and bump the button, turning off the machine. Its just too fucking BIG! But like I said earlier, this might not be the final design. (Hopefully)

And again, I'm geussing XBox 360 is only a codename. They can't be that stupid?! :/ It sounds like some 45 year old fart gave it that name to please to the younger generation or something. There's nothing "uber" about it. <_<
I agree, Nintendo have the most creative names, but I don't see anything wrong with PS3. Its still better than XB360! (imho)

:huh: Well.. at least it looks interesting...

Xenon sounds way cooler than the 360. But that design Mach posted does look sweet... looks crap vertical though.

It's really a marketing issue with the names, Sony and Microsoft can't discard the Playstation and Xbox names as they are now established brands. The difference with Nintendo, is that the company name itself is the established brand, hence you have names like Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, etc.. Since Nintendo is soley a games company, it is the name 'Nintendo' that is recongnised, it was the same with Sega's consoles, you had the Dreamcast, Mega Drive, Saturn etc..

Since Sony and Microsoft are companies that have several branches, Playstation and Xbox are the recognisable names, nonetheless there is still room for some creativity rather than a number ir numbers.

[ Live Xbox 360 Shot! ]

Some sneaky fella smuggled in their camphone to the launch event. :ph43r:
Hopefully it comes in black as I'm still not sold on the looks of the console. The controller does look quite nice and comfortable though.

Now let's see some games!

No wonder Microsoft were pissed when the images a month or so were leaked... :P

I actually like it.

I'm still not too keen on it myself...and it really does look like they made it white to look trendy and hip.

Like I said before, I wouldn't get a silver or white piece of hardware, as scratches show-up REALLY easily on light colours.
Though on the other hand, you can hardly see dust on them, unlike Black things, where dust shows up really easily.

It's pretty chunky in size which is worrying me, given I have limited console space in my room...

Doesn't that much bigger than the old PS2 imho. :\

Oh my god! Say it ain't so, Brother Estapol! A console actually designed to appeal to the masses! What is the world coming to!

Do I detect a hint of sarcasim?

Professor Frink: "This thing's going off the charts!"

Natrak: "Ohh, a sarcasim detector, that's a REAL usefull invention..."

*detector explodes*

:P


Yeah I was going to edit a comment to the end saying like "(but I guess that's an move is a given really)", but I got lazy.

I was also going to say that it's really just captialising on the popularity of the iPod, but I figureed that might just be taken as iPod bashing(since most know I hate iPods), so I decided not to say it.

After looking at it for a bit longer, it reminds me of the Phantom. :P What's with the curved edges? And I guess MS needed to have something that's overly sized this time around too - the power button!

The controller is cool though. Mmm, wireless.

EDIT: A new leaked image of the 360. Revised model too.

I rather quite like the look of it. Though I wonder if I will actually get one at launch. End of this year just seems so soon.

I dont like that 'revised' model. :P

Hmm, not as nice looking as you would expect a next gen console to look like. Sure it seems alright, its just the whole design doesn't sit very well with me.

That 'revised' edition looks ratshit. If that is it I'm going to kick someone.

Well if the link was still working I'm sure I'd have a bitch about it as well...

Oh, wait. That's just Civic having a laugh.

Nearly got me. :P

LOL :lol:

I asked Syb for another link to the pic, and on the page that the pic he linked me to, it had a little blub about the Apple Pippin. :P

GOLD!! :lol:

http://assembler.roarvgm.com/Apple_Bandai_...age_2/backb.jpg
Now THAT'S what EVERY console should have on the back, non of this "If you want better Quality, you have to buy the cables seperately" shit. :P

That revised model is so 80's :P :lol: .

Official MTV event not long away now :) .

Speaking of the MTV thing, I checked Foxtel's MTV program guide, and it's already listing it! "Xbox Launch Party" it's called I think. Friday @ 7pm EST.