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NEWS 259 - 26 Comments
From: Ross Entered on: February 22, 2005 6:28 PM
I'll take one with a large hard drive, please. And a side order of modchip.
From: The Bone Entered on: February 22, 2005 7:20 PM
Sign me up as well. Biggest damn hardrive available. Do you think it will be chip-able?
From: Jackzilla Entered on: February 23, 2005 9:58 AM
This thing better come equipped with a cup holder.
From: The Bone Entered on: February 24, 2005 9:40 PM
I neither have the space nor the sweetness to pull this off, but Zilla or Bert may way to have a gander at this homemade projector. The video is pretty sweet and you could find the parts fairly cheap I would imagine.     http://www12.tomshardware.com/images/thg_video_13_d iy_beamer.zip
From: Ross Entered on: February 25, 2005 7:12 AM
That's pretty sweet - I've seen similar efforts recently as well. But the thing is, REAL projectors are getting so cheap (and they're so much smaller and better-looking) that I don't think I'd attempt this unless I already happened to have the parts onhand and I didn't care about destroying them.
From: Jackzilla Entered on: February 25, 2005 4:05 PM
Xbox 2 to Break E3 Embargo? ? March Showing Mooted     SPOnG believes that Microsoft is set to surprise the gaming world by showing its Xbox 2 console well before this May?s E3 show, slated for mid-May in Los Angeles.     According to two independent sources, the Redmond software giant has an Xbox 2 conference of ?significant importance? slated for some point in March 2005, which SPOnG has been led to believe will include software and hardware being displayed to the public for the first time.     On contacting Microsoft this morning, we were told, ??that at this time, we have no announcement to make regarding the next-generation Xbox,? making a refreshing, perhaps even telling break for the 'we don?t comment on rumour or speculation'. line.     So we must ask ourselves, does the news stack up? Certainly, the timelines for the roll-out of Xbox 2 break all the rules. The successor coming so soon after the original is illustrative of Microsoft?s refusal to follow the industry norm. There will also have been considerable investment into market trends regarding product acceptance. With all three consoles being unveiled at E3, there is a significant risk that much of the coverage in the mainstream press will focus on the market-leading PlayStation brand and the highly mysterious headline-grabber that is Nintendo?s Revolution.     If Microsoft show Xbox 2 next month, it will have a free run at the media, snatching attention away from the PSP and the DS and be in a position to capitalise on a product that will already be a tangible next-generation home console in the eyes of gamers and the press.     http://news.spong.com/detail/news.asp?prid=8378
From: The Bone Entered on: February 28, 2005 12:14 AM
XBOX is dealing Playstation a swift kick in the nuts with their release of Halo 3.     From IGN:     Halo 3 In Production   Yes, we have news about Halo 3. IGN learned last week while drinking secretly imported beers with its informants that Microsoft is prepared for the battle of its life in this upcoming console war. From what we understand, Bungie is hard at work on, not so surprisingly, Halo 3, which will be ready day and date with the launch of PlayStation 3.     So, while Bungie said it's working on something else, well, we have different news. Sure, the smart creative guys at Bungie are working on something else, but you had better bet your bottom dollar they're also working on the next Halo. The release of Halo 3 at the precise launch of PS3 is a pure, military tactical move, similar to the PS2's greatest lineup ever launching simultaneously with the launch of the Xbox and GameCube. It's designed to counter Sony's upcoming launch with the best weapon Earth has on its side, Master Chief. Go, John 17, go! Save Earth from Sony!
From: Ross Entered on: February 28, 2005 7:15 AM
But it'll still be on the original Xbox, right? Not Xbox 360?
From: The Bone Entered on: February 28, 2005 9:25 AM
Correct, but it certainly steals the thunder from Sony.
From: Jackzilla Entered on: February 28, 2005 11:15 PM
Um... my impression is that xbox 2 will already be out by the time the PS3 hits, so Halo 3 will be on the NEXT xbox.
From: BigFatty Entered on: March 1, 2005 5:01 AM
Me too - why would they rush out H3 on an old box when they want to promote the new one? H3 will be what gets people to buy the new box.
From: Jackzilla Entered on: April 11, 2005 10:01 AM
Xbox 2 to be unveiled on MTV on May 12th     Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console is set to be unveiled to the world not at E3, as was previously believed, but in a half-hour long special to be aired on MTV the week previously, on May 12th.     The move is a massive break with tradition on Microsoft's part, and will get the Xbox 2 in front of consumers several days ahead of the unveiling of Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Revolution in Los Angeles the following week.     "It doesn't make sense to unveil the product behind a closed door, at a trade-only event," according to Microsoft corporate VP Peter Moore. "We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first."     http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7 919   (full article)
From: Ross Entered on: April 11, 2005 10:43 AM
Fookin' Sweet! Gotta set my Tivo!
From: Jackzilla Entered on: April 12, 2005 10:04 PM
Microsoft Could Ship 3M Xbox 2 Units In Dec. Quarter     Goldman Sachs said it confirmed with Microsoft that the company is unlikely to discontinue production of the Xbox videogame console with the launch of Xbox 2. Microsoft will provide a sneak peek of the Xbox 2 console on a television special on May 12 on MTV in North America and on May 13 internationally.     "We had expected Xbox 2 to shown for the first time at the E3 videogaming conference in Los Angeles (May 17-20, 2005)," Goldman said. "This appears to be a tactical effort to show Xbox 2 before Sony demonstrates the PS3 at E3."     The research firm, which rates Microsoft at "outperform," expects Xbox 2 to be available for retail sale in October or November at a retail price of about $249 to $299. Goldman said the Xbox console would cater to the lower-end of the consumer segment.     The firm expects Microsoft to ship about 3 million units of the Xbox 2 worldwide in the December quarter. Sony is expected to debut the PS3 at E3, "although the product is not expected to be available in the U.S. until mid-2006 (perhaps a Japan launch in the fourth quarter of 2005 although more likely in the first quarter of 2006)," Goldman said.     http://www.forbes.com/markets/2005/04/12/0412automa rketscan05.html?partner=yahoo&referrer=
From: Jackzilla Entered on: May 12, 2005 9:59 PM
Anyone else watch that MTV XBOX 360 Special? It actually made me LESS hyped for the new xbox. What a shit ball production that was. Nice job, MTV and M$!     The web-site opened:     www.xbox360.com
From: Ross Entered on: May 13, 2005 7:25 AM
I totally forgot to watch, dammit. Maybe I can download the show somewhere.     It's interesting to me that all these next gen consoles will be including multi-core processors or even multiple processors. Currently, no games are written in a multithreaded fashion (like, say, an operating system is) and it will be interesting to see how quickly, if at all, many game development shops adopt new design techniques to take advantage of the hardware that's being put in. Sure, in general, a jump from 730 Mhz to 3.2 Ghz is huge - but it's really much bigger than that if you can make use of the simultaneous processing that multiple cores provide. I'm just skeptical that it will be done.
From: Jackzilla Entered on: May 13, 2005 9:12 AM
Why does it feel like I have a baseball bat in my pants?     FULL AUTO for Xbox360: "Burnout meets Twisted Metal!"     http://www.gamespot.com/x360/action/fullauto/previe w_6124213.html
From: Jackzilla Entered on: May 13, 2005 10:55 AM
Better than the MTV shit:     http://msxb.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ourcolony/TheColony_v2_ 750k.zip
From: Ross Entered on: May 13, 2005 2:55 PM
FUCKING SWEET.
From: Jackzilla Entered on: May 13, 2005 3:26 PM
Do you feel like you have a rake in your pants too, Bert?
From: Ross Entered on: October 28, 2005 6:19 AM
So who's getting the Xbox 360? Jack?     Me, I think I'll wait for the modchip... :)
From: Jackzilla Entered on: October 28, 2005 2:26 PM
The truth is I'm loving my current xbox(es) and don't have enough time for all the games I have now! And the 360 is gonna cost a bit: $400 + additional controllers + games... yikes. And there's no killer title (like Halo 3) to get me in line on day one.     So the Xbox 360? It's on my Christmas list. :)
From: BigFatty Entered on: October 28, 2005 10:42 PM
I think I'll let Jack be the early adopter and see how his is. If necessary, I will go out and get one. I don't even play my existing box (which I deem Uber-sweet).     On a brighter note, I will be able to get the 360 with my 10% Meijer discount - with a possibility of another 15% off that - Cha-ching!
From: Jackzilla Entered on: May 15, 2006 6:42 PM
It looks like the hackers have figured out how to play backups on an Xbox 360.  Bert - You need to figure this one out and teach the rest of us... http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEuZyyVFyprcUrLDTt.php
From: Ross Entered on: May 15, 2006 7:06 PM
Interesting.  I only understood about 50% of what that page says.  It sounds like it's only flashing the firmware of the DVD drive, that there is no soldering necessary?  If so, that's not bad at all.  Probably won't be long until they just come out with a program that does this all in one step for you if that's the case.   However, do any of us have a dual-layer DVD writer?  I don't.  I mean, they're cheap, but I never bought one because the discs are so expensive.   The comment about detecting it on Xbox Live brings up an interesting point:  it sounds like MS is already making the coolest multiplay options available via Xbox Live only, and not System Link.  Coupled with the ubiquity of high speed home internet connections, might it make SystemLink moot?  Might it eventually be useless to mod your Xbox if MS can detect it online?  I guess for single player only games it might be worth it, but if the only compelling reason to game is to play online and they can catch you, this might the end of an era.
From: Jackzilla Entered on: May 15, 2006 7:46 PM
I just have this to add: The fact that BURNOUT is only multi-player thru Live and NOT SystemLink is bullshit.  There better be a special place in hell for who ever OK'ed that.  Fuckers.