Microsoft VP: Xbox Portable a matter of "when" not "If"

Hey guys, just sharing info as always. I thought this was interesting, and while i dont think this is the right time, i DO think microsoft could benefit from a handheld done right. What do you guys think? What do you think this portable needs to succeed? (features, games, apps)

"In a surprising conclusion to a new Kikizo interview posted today with Microsoft Corporate VP Shane Kim, the Xbox bigwig revealed that a potential foray for the Xbox brand into the handheld/mobile/portable space is certainly on the cards.

"For us, it's a matter of focusing on 'when', because if we chased after a mobile or handheld opportunity, we would not have the resources and ability to do things like... Project Natal. So we've chosen to focus on the living room experience from a hardware standpoint, if you will, but we're building a service in Live that will... will extend to other platforms. No question about it."

LINK

Interesting

It would be nice to see the PSP get some comparable competition

It better not just be another PsP, I don't know what they could do to make it stand out.

Probably get crushed by the DS.

This definitly has my interest.

Probably get crushed by the DS.

SpinoRaptor24

I'd rather see the Zune with gaming capability (and phone, while you're at it), but I'm all for an Xbox handheld. It'll definitely be tougher for Microsoft, since Nintendo pretty much controls that market, and Sony already has a huge following. I don't know if Microsoft will be lucky this time around, but it can't hurt to cheer 'em on.

Unless it damages the actual Xbox in any way. Then, one thing at a time, I say.

Do not want :( Games made for handhelds= less games made for consolesCouth_

Then buy handhelds and you won't have less games.

There's no room for MS. The only reason we'll see Sony continue on in the handheld business is because the PSP has been successful in Japan. And there's no niche left for MS to fill. They should just continue to make cheap consoles.

I'd rather see the Zune with gaming capability (and phone, while you're at it), but I'm all for an Xbox handheld. It'll definitely be tougher for Microsoft, since Nintendo pretty much controls that market, and Sony already has a huge following. I don't know if Microsoft will be lucky this time around, but it can't hurt to cheer 'em on.

Unless it damages the actual Xbox in any way. Then, one thing at a time, I say.

Sharpie125

There's no room for MS.

hakanakumono

I dunno, if they provide as good an online service as they do for the 360.. maybe a tied Live account between your console and handheld, that would be a big plus. The idea of really good online gaming on a handheld would be a big draw.

Stuck in downtime between classes? A halo 1 match on campus WiFi sounds hawt..

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

There's no room for MS.

TaMuK711

I dunno, if they provide as good an online service as they do for the 360.. maybe a tied Live account between your console and handheld, that would be a big plus. The idea of really good online gaming on a handheld would be a big draw.

Stuck in downtime between classes? A halo 1 match on campus WiFi sounds hawt..

[QUOTE="Couth_"]Do not want :( Games made for handhelds= less games made for consolesYandere

Then buy handhelds and you won't have less games.

I hope it has 2 analog sticks so you can actually play fps on it..

Yeah the correct time is NEVER. The market penatration would be absymal @ best. There is no room for a 3rd handheld. Ninty has 65, Sony the other 35. What maybe 5%?

That would be such a huge blow to their bottom line, that it isn't even feasible for @ least the rest of this generation. I just don't see MS being that stupid but then again they did release a shoddy piece of hardware while knowing it that cost them 1 Billion and ME and Vista....

[QUOTE="Yandere"]

[QUOTE="Couth_"]Do not want :( Games made for handhelds= less games made for consolesCouth_

Then buy handhelds and you won't have less games.

A lot of 2d games/side scrolling games are better of coming out on handheld systems because the lack of tech compared to consoles. So pretty much I really enjoy playing my 2d games on the DS and enjoy playing my 3d games on my consoles.

Actually, that's what I'm thinking tbh. I think, if somebody had mentioned Microsoft in the game console business years back, I wouldn't have thought they'd turn out successful. Here we are again at handhelds, but it's risky as hell. But if Microsoft pulls it off, I see no reason to hope it fails. I probably won't buy it personally, unless a number of my buddies get it and there is a must-own multiplayer game for it... I won't say no to new technology.

[QUOTE="Couth_"]

[QUOTE="Yandere"]

Then buy handhelds and you won't have less games.

Yandere

A lot of 2d games/side scrolling games are better of coming out on handheld systems because the lack of tech compared to consoles. So pretty much I really enjoy playing my 2d games on the DS and enjoy playing my 3d games on my consoles.

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

There's no room for MS.

TaMuK711

I dunno, if they provide as good an online service as they do for the 360.. maybe a tied Live account between your console and handheld, that would be a big plus. The idea of really good online gaming on a handheld would be a big draw.

Stuck in downtime between classes? A halo 1 match on campus WiFi sounds hawt..

The PSP already has the PS3 and PSP linked. The PSP is also getting Adhoc, I believe. I think it's already out in Japan because I know the latest Disaster Report game in Japan uses it to add more players to the game (it's a disaster survival game ... of course).

I don't think MS can really do anything that Sony hasn't already done or isn't planning now, except ... charge money for online.

[QUOTE="Yandere"]

[QUOTE="Couth_"] Buy a gimped handheld just to play games that could have been better on a home console? No thanks.. Can't tell me games like Crisis Core and Chains of Olympus wouldn't have been way more awesome on the PS3... I am pretty disappointed Peace Walker is a PSP game as well. Oh and I bet GTPSP had a hand in the delays of GT5.. Yeah this isn't a route I want MS to go down

Couth_

A lot of 2d games/side scrolling games are better of coming out on handheld systems because the lack of tech compared to consoles. So pretty much I really enjoy playing my 2d games on the DS and enjoy playing my 3d games on my consoles.

It worked for SONY in one market. They just need to find a way to make it work in the other.

please god no... just one handheld please. sony, withdraw from handheld. i mean, psp is good, but DS is just way more fun.

nintendo: stick to handhelds (no likey Wii compared to PS360)

sony: stick to consoles (no likey PSP compared to DS)

microsoft: stick to windows (RROD)

Theres no room in the handheld department for M$bronxxbombers

This is true. Which is why they are undoubtably going to come in later, do a better job than sony and push them out. Much like they did with consoles. I've said it again and again Microsoft is in touch with it's audience the best out of the 2 and knows what they want. Sonys lost the plot all together..the PSP Go is one of many examples of this.

[QUOTE="Couth_"]Do not want :( Games made for handhelds= less games made for consolesYandere

Then buy handhelds and you won't have less games.

Most of you guys are looking at this the wrong way. It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure that the future of mobile devices is all-in-one, iPhone-esque packages, nor does it take one to figure that MS is already planning an iPhone competitor (case in point, the pre-E3 rumours that Xbox/XBLA games were coming to the ZuneHD, and that MS would announce "Pink" AKA Zune for Windows Mobile, not to mention ol' Xbox Live Anywhere).

So an Xbox Portable wouldn't be a handheld in the literal sense of the term, rather it would be an Xbox/XBL-based service for the "Zune Phone' and/or other mobile devices. MS doesn't need to worry about competing with the DS/Gameboy/PSP (or their successors) when they can offer an all-in-one mobile device right out of the gate.

[QUOTE="TaMuK711"]

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

There's no room for MS.

Brownesque

I dunno, if they provide as good an online service as they do for the 360.. maybe a tied Live account between your console and handheld, that would be a big plus. The idea of really good online gaming on a handheld would be a big draw.

Stuck in downtime between classes? A halo 1 match on campus WiFi sounds hawt..

It sounds more like the fanboy in you doesn't want MS to succeed in the handheld market.

An iPhone/iPod-like gadget with a portable Halo would sell a lot of units.

I'll be interested to see what MS brings to the handheld gaming market.

Remember people were writing the PSP off when it was coming to the handheld market.

I think there is room for 3 competitors in the hand held market. No ones is asking people to buy all, just get the one you want and don't worry about the rest. It would also force Sony to put more effort into the PSP and rethink its high price point on the PSP Go if it happened any time soon. But it would likely coincide with the PSP 2.

I dont see it happening though, I would be happy for M$ to prove me wrong.

[QUOTE="SpinoRaptor24"]

Probably get crushed by the DS.

Brownesque

Once again M$ finds a way to ruin ANOTHER type of gaming...

There's no room for MS. The only reason we'll see Sony continue on in the handheld business is because the PSP has been successful in Japan. And there's no niche left for MS to fill. They should just continue to make cheap consoles.

hakanakumono

you thought the same thing before the orignanl Xbox came out...now look whats going on. Ps3...a distant 3rd;):D

Once again M$ finds a way to ruin ANOTHER type of gaming...

kingkui

how did Microsoft ruin gaming?:?

Theres no room in the handheld department for M$bronxxbombers

The Zune HD is already confirmed to be shipping this fall with the new Nvidia Tegra chip, which is supposed to be an absolute monster in terms of portable gaming performance so that could very well be their first step towards the realization of an Xbox Portable.

While the PSP tries to share the market with the Ipod Iphone phenomenon, the xbox portable could 'dual-stick' it's way in and become the portable for the hardcore gamers. A true next-gen portable would be amazing.

I've said many times in the past that the next MS console will launch with the MS portable as an integral part of the system sorta like the DC VMU but obviously with all the bells & whistles for gaming and communications on the go.

If so, sign me up. :)

bad decision, normally the xbox crowd are the ones driving the car and not the ones sitting in the backseat on car trips to granmaws house.