Oh boy here we go again. [url]http://www.n4g.com/industrynews/News-157881.aspx[url] Is this a hint that i wasted money on my 360 and support for it will be dropped in two years? Why the hell is M$ so damn worried about being number 1. Industry analyst Michael Patcher said Microsoft should focus on being a profitable second or third place and not be so worried about coming in first. I don't know why fanboys come down on Sony for supporting all three of their platforms and say all they care about is Blu-Ray and not games. Obviously M$ cares a little more about something else other than games. Yes they do. The concept of the Xbox was a response to how Sony was taking over the living room with the Playstation brand. Yes that is true as it was said in Dean Takahashi's book. Now that M$ is in the console biz, it will speed up the lifespan of consoles and produce nothing but wasted potential and money in previous hardware while putting the pressure on competitors to keep up.
Speaking during an interview with Venture Beat, Bach said that if you asked him whether being first to market with Xbox 360 was the right decision, he'd say "definitely yes," and the platform holder has a desire to do it again with the next console.
"The last cycle for the original Xbox was a little shorter than typical (at four years). We started way late," he said. "If you take the question of whether it was the right thing to try to be first [with Xbox 360], the answer to that is definitely yes. It has given us a leg up in a number of places that are super important.
"It has given us a leg up with game developers. It has given us a leg up from an economics perspective. It helped us expand Xbox Live quickly. At a strategy level, if you asked if we wanted to be first again, I would say yes."
But the E&DD boss said it was "too early to tell" when quizzed on his expectation for the next console's release plans. "Our view is we will be selling Xbox 360 for a long time," he said.
"People ask me how many people I have working on the next generation. On the one hand, it's everybody. On the other, it's nobody. People are continuously working on new technology.
"We start thinking about the next generation before we shipped the Xbox 360," Bach continued. "It doesn't start with a date. It starts way upstream with silicon development.
"From that comes a series of data points. You start making early technology choices. It's an evolving thing. Stuff doesn't become concrete until you get inside a window of when you have to ship, more than 18 months or so out."
If we see anything before 2010, we'll be very surprised.Robbie Bach
In the context of the whole article, it doesn't sound like Microsoft is just going to drop the 360. I think your drumming up a bit of hyperbole there TC.
Remember the 360 came out in 2005 though, so even if MS do launch again in 2010 as some people are worried that is still 5 years (what one year less than sony and Nintendo do). At least if that is the case, consoles will not look quite so pathetic compared to PC tech out at the time. I don't know 5 years seems fair enough to me, although they should definatelty carry on supporting the 360 even after its successor is launched (this could be their weak point).
Anything Earlier than Winter 2010 release is just wrong IMO.
Personally 2011-2012 would be fine for a New Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo, Handhelds are a different matter though, id be happy with a New Nintendo or Sony Handheld by the end of next year.
I cant see the Next gen consoles being anything spectacular unless they have around 2048mb or more system memory, Multi Cores and 'Standard Hard Drives'.
Looking at it down the line....The only people MS would be hurting by pushing new system after new system would be themselves...People will eventually get tired of playing catch-up. I think they should stick it out with the 360 for a bit longer and transition to a new system after they've completely exhausted the current one...
but whatever...I honestly can't say I care because I won't even bother getting it if its that early.
[QUOTE="Robbie Bach"]Speaking during an interview with Venture Beat, Bach said that if you asked him whether being first to market with Xbox 360 was the right decision, he'd say "definitely yes," and the platform holder has a desire to do it again with the next console.
"The last cycle for the original Xbox was a little shorter than typical (at four years). We started way late," he said. "If you take the question of whether it was the right thing to try to be first [with Xbox 360], the answer to that is definitely yes. It has given us a leg up in a number of places that are super important.
"It has given us a leg up with game developers. It has given us a leg up from an economics perspective. It helped us expand Xbox Live quickly. At a strategy level, if you asked if we wanted to be first again, I would say yes."
But the E&DD boss said it was "too early to tell" when quizzed on his expectation for the next console's release plans. "Our view is we will be selling Xbox 360 for a long time," he said.
"People ask me how many people I have working on the next generation. On the one hand, it's everybody. On the other, it's nobody. People are continuously working on new technology.
"We start thinking about the next generation before we shipped the Xbox 360," Bach continued. "It doesn't start with a date. It starts way upstream with silicon development.
"From that comes a series of data points. You start making early technology choices. It's an evolving thing. Stuff doesn't become concrete until you get inside a window of when you have to ship, more than 18 months or so out."
If we see anything before 2010, we'll be very surprised.Danm_999
In the context of the whole article, it doesn't sound like Microsoft is just going to drop the 360. I think your drumming up a bit of hyperbole there TC.
Agreed, the next MS console will feature FULL BC and I say the dev'ing will continue for 360 long after the next MS console is officially announced - seems like a no brain-er to this gamer.
No earlier than Q4 2011, hopefully. Sony could easily release the PS4 at the same time if they do what I think they're going to do. And I'm sure Nintendo could release their next console by then.
As long as the next consoles have 100% BC, I'm with you on this.
xsubtownerx
Since MS owns the GPU and CPU... And the fact that Valhalla is coming next year. Which is all in one CPU/GPU chip. Spells out to me that they will have BC on their next console.
just because they want to be first again doesn't mean they will. sony didn't care to much this gen if microsoft was first but next time around i think they definately will. being first is definately a major advantage. microsoft and sony are just lucky nintendo wasn't first this gen.
Why is anyone surprised by this? And why are people acting like this is horrible? Unlike the previous generation, MS doesn't need to pull the plug on it's previous unit so quickly. Given the success of this generation of XBL, this version of the Xbox will be around for a decent full console cycle.
Yellow rings of death? Blue? What color will it be?Bread_or_Decide
Hopefully none. After having to shell out one... or was it two... billion dollars because of the RROD issue, I would think that Microsoft isn't going to make the same mistake of cutting corners during development.
Why is anyone surprised by this? And why are people acting like this is horrible? Unlike the previous generation, MS doesn't need to pull the plug on it's previous unit so quickly. Given the success of this generation of XBL, this version of the Xbox will be around for a decent full console cycle.heretrix
Also, just because they release a new console doesn't mean they'll can the 360 right away like they did with the Xbox. The 360 is a lot like the PS2 in many, many ways. Take that like you want.
Doesn't sound surprising. And considering that all of Microsoft's competitors this generation are aiming for long life cycles, they don't have to rush quite as much as they did with the 360. The time period between the Xbox 360 and its successor will certainly be longer than the period between the Xbox and the 360.
And unlike the Xbox, the 360 actually is capable of giving Microsoft a profit. As a result, there's no reason for them to pull the plug on the console like they did with the original Xbox, which was bleeding money at an alarming rate, even four years into its lifespan. I don't think they'll drop support on the 360 like they did on the Xbox.
Everyone who says they won't release until 2011 is wear blinders. Let's see here, Microsofts business strategy is limiting competition. The only way they can do this in the console world is being first to market. Microsoft has a HUGE hardware issue with the 360. Their solution is to make modest adjustments, publicize them as a fix and offer a 3 year warranty (2 years into the lifecycle adding up to the magical console lifespan of *dun dun DUN* 5 years)! Microsoft has been dropping hints for over a year now that they are well into development. They're has been massive speculation from ALL parts of the industry. They've achieved their focus of expanding their market share product over product and have over SKU'ed their product.
Finally, Microsoft showed up late on it's first outing and it really hurt them. They are going to err on the opposite side for at least the next two generations (360 and the 720? ybox? Micromachine?
[QUOTE="Frexie"]M$ throwing in the towel early...again?Bread_or_Decide
Considering the PS3 and Wii are still in their infancy this is pretty absurd. Devs are not going to be happy about this.
360 will have been out for 5 years by 2010, it seems reasonable for MS to be releasing another console around then doesn't it? Why should they wait and extra for Sony to catch up, that seems a poor decision financially and for gamers that will have been playing on a system which is using 5 yr old technology. Plus, my refurbed console probably won't last much beyond that :P
Just because MS introduces a new console doesn't mean you have to go out and buy it. I'm not sure why people are complaining this is too soon for a new console. 2010? Really? It is a dream come true for people who don't have a 360 (assuming it will acutally have full BC).
maybe they should wait and be the second one to come out with something new, maybe after sony. Then pull off a better version of what they got (like how PS3 dominated with Blu-ray, killed HDDVD, and possibly better hardware overall). of course, that'd be just cheap and stupid, but what the hell. Good things come with time I guess. just hope that the next Xbox has full BC and all packages come with a hard drive. the Core system was just lame.
i'm thinking sony and microsoft will release around the same time next-gen while nintendo still rides the Wii for another year. i'm thinking 2010 sounds about right.
i'm thinking sony and microsoft will release around the same time next-gen while nintendo still rides the Wii for another year. i'm thinking 2010 sounds about right.Zero5000X
That would essientally give the PS3 a 4 yr lifespan?
i'm thinking sony and microsoft will release around the same time next-gen while nintendo still rides the Wii for another year. i'm thinking 2010 sounds about right.Zero5000X
2010 seems likely, I mean, 5 year life span is normal for a console.Andrew_Xavier
agreed. By then GPU's would of advanced so much the release of a new system would be justified. PLus my son would be just old enough for the good old 360 and PS3. His Wii is already in play so no biggie.
[QUOTE="Zero5000X"]i'm thinking sony and microsoft will release around the same time next-gen while nintendo still rides the Wii for another year. i'm thinking 2010 sounds about right.blue_hazy_basic
That would essientally give the PS3 a 4 yr lifespan?
[QUOTE="Zero5000X"]i'm thinking sony and microsoft will release around the same time next-gen while nintendo still rides the Wii for another year. i'm thinking 2010 sounds about right.musicalmac
I can't imagine a new Sony console in 2010.
Sony isn't in the same position they were the past two gens. I think Microsoft's early release was the largest player in the 360's success so far over the PS3. i mean, it isn't games cause Microsoft clearly has the better library at the moment and yet the PS3 sells better than the 360. also, japan is still a big problem for Microsoft. I don't think that Sony is going to let Microsoft get the upperhand again.
Sony isn't in the same position they were the past two gens. I think Microsoft's early release was the largest player in the 360's success so far over the PS3. i mean, it isn't games cause Microsoft clearly has the better library at the moment and yet the PS3 sells better than the 360. also, japan is still a big problem for Microsoft. I don't think that Sony is going to let Microsoft get the upperhand again.
Zero5000X
I don't think Sony wants to give MS the opportunity to get their console out there first, but I'm not sure they have a choice. Japan is a trouble spot for MS, but they're doing their best with all the recent RPG announcements. It should be interesting, whatever happens.
I highly doubt this means the 360's life will be shorter than that of the Xbox's, and I also highly doubt them releasing early will cause a repeat of the RROD issue.
excellent - this is what I've always wanted :) consoles that come out roughly when new PC GPU and CPU generations change the guard. screw this 10 year lifespan BS.
people giving the wasted potential argument don't understand the industry. with new technology and possibilities coming up every 5 years there is actually more potential in having faster console gens. and eager developers can simply start development on PC knowing it'll be easy as pie to port what they've started on when final specs are released.
M$ will be the earliest t o annouce their next gen console with the cutting edge technology and super duper game line-ups to take conrol of VG industry........ Hey they desperate to win it`s not so it`s no surprise here.........
I highly doubt this means the 360's life will be shorter than that of the Xbox's, and I also highly doubt them releasing early will cause a repeat of the RROD issue.GazzaB
The Xbox had a four year life span. By fall 2010 the 360 will have turned five.
Sony isn't in the same position they were the past two gens. I think Microsoft's early release was the largest player in the 360's success so far over the PS3. i mean, it isn't games cause Microsoft clearly has the better library at the moment and yet the PS3 sells better than the 360. also, japan is still a big problem for Microsoft. I don't think that Sony is going to let Microsoft get the upperhand again.
musicalmac
I don't think Sony wants to give MS the opportunity to get their console out there first, but I'm not sure they have a choice. Japan is a trouble spot for MS, but they're doing their best with all the recent RPG announcements. It should be interesting, whatever happens.
well i'm sure all console manufacturers have been working on their next-gen consoles. i think Sony may have shifted a lot of their resources to the PS4 when they realized the PS3 wasn't doing as great as they expected.
i agree micorsoft is doing well with their JRPGs. Lost Odyssey was great and the upcoming JRPGs look great but i still don't think they're going to make to much of a mark in Japan. personally, i think Microsoft's best move for Japan would be to buy Square-Enix or atleast form a partnership. Sqaure said they would be down for something like that to expand their sales in the west. personally i don't want it to happen but it would be a good move for Microsoft.
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