Microsoft: Xbox 360 news
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Suzuka Master
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Another PGR3 pic and details from the developers:
New Image:
Wireframe of the same image:
Last week we released a single screenshot from PGR3 which seemed to cause quite a stir all over the Internet...
Initially, people claimed it was just a photograph! I think people have pretty much come to the correct conclusion now though - this is what people can genuinely expect from the next generation of video games. Bizarre Creations are proud to be one of the developers leading the charge toward High Definition, and we're very pleased with the results so far.
As a small gift to all of you who still refuse to believe that last week's image was a real screenshot, here we have the wire-frame version of the same scene, captured from the same dev kit that the original screenshot was taken. After reading the comments from all over the web (ranging from "That's awesome" to "That's a fake!"), we felt we had to release something which proved we're not messing with you.
Some people also claimed that we only showed this particular building because it's our most impressive. That's simply not true... and I wanted to work out a way to prove it to you. So as I wandered over to Chris's desk to get this wire-frame shot I decided that I would ask him to grab whatever was on his screen at that particular moment. After a couple of seconds of fiddling with his 360 controller to get the best angle, Chris rendered out this new shot for us. This is New York City again, in a slightly different area of town - and as with the shot last week, it's just a random street rather than a specific 'showpiece' area that some were worried about.
Yes, it is possible to get all areas of the game that need it up to this level of detail – that’s what you get for 2 years work with up to 35 artists here at Bizarre, plus additional help from outsourcing companies! Some areas (ie. those with simple buildings in real life) won’t be as detailed, but where buildings are that complex, the game will be that complex too. And in case you don’t believe me again, the wire frame screenshot is printed below, taken immediately afterwards from the same dev kit, by switching the game into wireframe mode.
This is how PGR3's artwork looks right now. On actual 360 hardware. Please bear in mind, however, that you're still looking at a work in progress video game, and that the final in-game effects and lighting aren't even in place yet. We're still a long way from the finish line, but things will only improve from this point on. Start preparing now, and save your pennies for a widescreen HDTV and surround sound system. Although the game will still look stellar on a regular TV, you'll get the best experience when you go High Def.
In other news, Roger (our super code monkey) did a small show 'n' tell for the team. He demonstrated some of the new effects that have recently been put into the game. A whole bunch of us crowded into the meeting room, and saw the game running in all it's 720p glory on a huge projector. Running into barriers and watching the crowd scatter in terror never gets old!
In our debug build, we can detach the camera and wander over the cityscape, without having to worry about driving our car to the particular bit of track we want to look at. It really helps when you need to get a good look at some of the buildings or other geometry in the game. Whilst I was whizzing about in the debug camera, I stumbled upon something really impressive...
When you zoom right up to the back of your car, you can actually see gases being vented from the engine! You notice heat haze at the back of your car's exhausts! It ripples the air around it, and gives the impression of heat blasting over the back bumper of your super car. (I'll try to get a screenshot of this soon). It's simply awesome - Should. Have. Sent. A. Poet.
Anyways, check back next week for more updates!
http://www.bizarreonline.net/index.p...mments=1&id=32
Initially, people claimed it was just a photograph! I think people have pretty much come to the correct conclusion now though - this is what people can genuinely expect from the next generation of video games. Bizarre Creations are proud to be one of the developers leading the charge toward High Definition, and we're very pleased with the results so far.
As a small gift to all of you who still refuse to believe that last week's image was a real screenshot, here we have the wire-frame version of the same scene, captured from the same dev kit that the original screenshot was taken. After reading the comments from all over the web (ranging from "That's awesome" to "That's a fake!"), we felt we had to release something which proved we're not messing with you.
Some people also claimed that we only showed this particular building because it's our most impressive. That's simply not true... and I wanted to work out a way to prove it to you. So as I wandered over to Chris's desk to get this wire-frame shot I decided that I would ask him to grab whatever was on his screen at that particular moment. After a couple of seconds of fiddling with his 360 controller to get the best angle, Chris rendered out this new shot for us. This is New York City again, in a slightly different area of town - and as with the shot last week, it's just a random street rather than a specific 'showpiece' area that some were worried about.
Yes, it is possible to get all areas of the game that need it up to this level of detail – that’s what you get for 2 years work with up to 35 artists here at Bizarre, plus additional help from outsourcing companies! Some areas (ie. those with simple buildings in real life) won’t be as detailed, but where buildings are that complex, the game will be that complex too. And in case you don’t believe me again, the wire frame screenshot is printed below, taken immediately afterwards from the same dev kit, by switching the game into wireframe mode.
This is how PGR3's artwork looks right now. On actual 360 hardware. Please bear in mind, however, that you're still looking at a work in progress video game, and that the final in-game effects and lighting aren't even in place yet. We're still a long way from the finish line, but things will only improve from this point on. Start preparing now, and save your pennies for a widescreen HDTV and surround sound system. Although the game will still look stellar on a regular TV, you'll get the best experience when you go High Def.
In other news, Roger (our super code monkey) did a small show 'n' tell for the team. He demonstrated some of the new effects that have recently been put into the game. A whole bunch of us crowded into the meeting room, and saw the game running in all it's 720p glory on a huge projector. Running into barriers and watching the crowd scatter in terror never gets old!
In our debug build, we can detach the camera and wander over the cityscape, without having to worry about driving our car to the particular bit of track we want to look at. It really helps when you need to get a good look at some of the buildings or other geometry in the game. Whilst I was whizzing about in the debug camera, I stumbled upon something really impressive...
When you zoom right up to the back of your car, you can actually see gases being vented from the engine! You notice heat haze at the back of your car's exhausts! It ripples the air around it, and gives the impression of heat blasting over the back bumper of your super car. (I'll try to get a screenshot of this soon). It's simply awesome - Should. Have. Sent. A. Poet.
Anyways, check back next week for more updates!
http://www.bizarreonline.net/index.p...mments=1&id=32
Wireframe of the same image:
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http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07...s_6129704.html
Xbox 360 packaging, accessories displayed
Microsoft shows off wrappings for its console and games; unveils the accessory lineup planned for the next-generation console.
At the Xbox Summit 2005, Microsoft showed off its first mock-up of the Xbox 360's retail packaging: a simple white and green box that matched the console's color scheme.
The side of the Xbox 360's packaging listed the accessories that will be included with the console: a hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox Live, headset, and Ethernet cable. No cables for hooking up to a monitor were listed.
One side of the packaging had the slogan "Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system is you. It's your future. With the most strong games and the most powerful technology, Xbox 360 puts you at the center of your entertainment experience. With the Xbox 360, you can play the most compelling games, watch DVD movies, and share your digital music, photos, videos, and TV."
The packaging for the console's games was shown as well. It was a standard-size, plastic DVD case. The Xbox 360's controller was also on display, and it had a comfortable grip akin to Nintendo's GameCube controller. The alignments of the analog sticks and directional pad also resembled the GameCube controller.
Microsoft also showed off auxiliary accessories that will be available for purchase separately from the console. They include:
Wireless Controller - The 360 comes standard with one wireless controller. Additional controllers are sold separately.
Wired Controller - Wireless controllers can sometimes run into interference from outside sources.
Memory Unit - Xbox 360's memory unit comes with a plastic case to protect your saved data from harm.
Rechargeable Battery Pack - Additional batteries are available for the wireless controller.
Play and Charge Unit - This accessory lets you play with your wireless controller hooked to the Xbox 360 while also recharging it.
Quick Charge Unit - As the name may suggest, this accessory lets you charge your controller's battery quickly.
Wireless Network Adapter - This adapter is an antenna unit that can be plugged into the Xbox 360's USB port for wireless connection to the Internet (wireless LAN). It is compatible with IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11c.
Hard Drive - Additional hard drives will be officially available from Microsoft.
Remote Control - A remote control is available for accessing the Xbox 360's various functions.
Headset - Additional headsets will be offered for the Xbox 360.
Faceplates - As Microsoft announced during its initial Xbox 360 unveiling, the console's faceplates can be switched around to give it different looks.
VGA HD Cable - If you want to play with HD graphics, this is the cable that you'll need.
Component AV Cable - For players that want to use component AV.
S-Video AV Cable - For players that want to play with an S-video output.
By Hirohiko Niizumi -- GameSpot
POSTED: 07/25/05 01:24 PM PST
Microsoft shows off wrappings for its console and games; unveils the accessory lineup planned for the next-generation console.
At the Xbox Summit 2005, Microsoft showed off its first mock-up of the Xbox 360's retail packaging: a simple white and green box that matched the console's color scheme.
The side of the Xbox 360's packaging listed the accessories that will be included with the console: a hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox Live, headset, and Ethernet cable. No cables for hooking up to a monitor were listed.
One side of the packaging had the slogan "Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system is you. It's your future. With the most strong games and the most powerful technology, Xbox 360 puts you at the center of your entertainment experience. With the Xbox 360, you can play the most compelling games, watch DVD movies, and share your digital music, photos, videos, and TV."
The packaging for the console's games was shown as well. It was a standard-size, plastic DVD case. The Xbox 360's controller was also on display, and it had a comfortable grip akin to Nintendo's GameCube controller. The alignments of the analog sticks and directional pad also resembled the GameCube controller.
Microsoft also showed off auxiliary accessories that will be available for purchase separately from the console. They include:
Wireless Controller - The 360 comes standard with one wireless controller. Additional controllers are sold separately.
Wired Controller - Wireless controllers can sometimes run into interference from outside sources.
Memory Unit - Xbox 360's memory unit comes with a plastic case to protect your saved data from harm.
Rechargeable Battery Pack - Additional batteries are available for the wireless controller.
Play and Charge Unit - This accessory lets you play with your wireless controller hooked to the Xbox 360 while also recharging it.
Quick Charge Unit - As the name may suggest, this accessory lets you charge your controller's battery quickly.
Wireless Network Adapter - This adapter is an antenna unit that can be plugged into the Xbox 360's USB port for wireless connection to the Internet (wireless LAN). It is compatible with IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11c.
Hard Drive - Additional hard drives will be officially available from Microsoft.
Remote Control - A remote control is available for accessing the Xbox 360's various functions.
Headset - Additional headsets will be offered for the Xbox 360.
Faceplates - As Microsoft announced during its initial Xbox 360 unveiling, the console's faceplates can be switched around to give it different looks.
VGA HD Cable - If you want to play with HD graphics, this is the cable that you'll need.
Component AV Cable - For players that want to use component AV.
S-Video AV Cable - For players that want to play with an S-video output.
By Hirohiko Niizumi -- GameSpot
POSTED: 07/25/05 01:24 PM PST
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oh damn...... am I gonna have to get an Xbox 360?? 
you can create your own tracks in PGR3!!!
Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/
you can create your own tracks in PGR3!!!
Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/
NEW PGR3 DETAILS POWER IN
Monday 25th July 2005
Slick visuals, circuit creation and 80 different cars spewing exhaust fumes
11:08 Bizarre Creations has slipped out a few new details on Project Gotham Racing 3 during a showing of the Xbox 360 sequel at the ongoing Xbox Summit event in Japan.
According to IGN, during a demonstration of the game Bizarre's Nick Davies revealed that the next-gen follow-up will feature 80 different cars and that users will not only be able to customise the game's tracks but also build their own circuits to race on.
Not surprisingly, it's reported that visually the title is rather impressive, both cars and environments looking slick.
Davies went on to talk of how both car interiors and exteriors are made up from 40,000 polygons each (as opposed to 10,000 polygons in PGR2), that Brooklyn in PGR3 boasts the same polygon count as PGR2's New York City entire and that crowds are now made up from polygons too.
Monday 25th July 2005
Slick visuals, circuit creation and 80 different cars spewing exhaust fumes
11:08 Bizarre Creations has slipped out a few new details on Project Gotham Racing 3 during a showing of the Xbox 360 sequel at the ongoing Xbox Summit event in Japan.
According to IGN, during a demonstration of the game Bizarre's Nick Davies revealed that the next-gen follow-up will feature 80 different cars and that users will not only be able to customise the game's tracks but also build their own circuits to race on.
Not surprisingly, it's reported that visually the title is rather impressive, both cars and environments looking slick.
Davies went on to talk of how both car interiors and exteriors are made up from 40,000 polygons each (as opposed to 10,000 polygons in PGR2), that Brooklyn in PGR3 boasts the same polygon count as PGR2's New York City entire and that crowds are now made up from polygons too.
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more material....
Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/
material....Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/
PEEK AT PROJECT GOTHAM RACING 3
Tuesday 26th July 2005
New screens from Bizarre's Xbox 360 racer included in-car shots, in-game shots and more
10:46 Inside, outside, peering down on cityscapes from the skies - new screenshots from Bizarre's Project Gotham Racing 3 present a sneak peek not only at in-game action but also at the work going into the title's heavily detailed car interiors and locations. Plus, there's a very brief glimpse of the track customisation features that allow you to tweak existing circuits and even construct your own fiendish race courses.
Tuesday 26th July 2005
New screens from Bizarre's Xbox 360 racer included in-car shots, in-game shots and more
10:46 Inside, outside, peering down on cityscapes from the skies - new screenshots from Bizarre's Project Gotham Racing 3 present a sneak peek not only at in-game action but also at the work going into the title's heavily detailed car interiors and locations. Plus, there's a very brief glimpse of the track customisation features that allow you to tweak existing circuits and even construct your own fiendish race courses.
Thread Starter
Suzuka Master
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Originally Posted by srika
controller to have keyboard add-on?
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Suzuka Master
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HD video of PGR3.. Looks amazing. You need a powerful compter to run though
http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-...WMVHD-Trailer/
http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-...WMVHD-Trailer/
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Suzuka Master
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Newest pic of PGR3 from the cover of Edge magazine:
I love the fact it will have Lambo's!!
http://www.xboxyde.com/news_1805_en.html
Click on the pic at the top
I love the fact it will have Lambo's!!
http://www.xboxyde.com/news_1805_en.html
Click on the pic at the top
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Suzuka Master
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Not related to PGR3, but it's a high-def trailer for Gears of War on the X360... This is supposed to be this next gen's Halo... Some of those that helped create Halo are helping on this game as well.
http://movies.teamxbox.com/xbox360/g...720p_60fps.wmv
(Right-click Save As)
http://movies.teamxbox.com/xbox360/g...720p_60fps.wmv
(Right-click Save As)
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Suzuka Master
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Originally Posted by h2o-pr00f
whats gonna be the price of these next gen games? is it gonna be any harder for game makers to adapt to this huge increase in space and quality in what they can work with?
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Suzuka Master
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Originally Posted by fdl
If you want bleeding edge graphics, play PC games.
Here are the specs of the X360:
3x 2 thread 3.2ghz processor --> 6 total threads. Let me know where you can get a 3 core 3+ ghz P4 or Athlon now.
ATi Xenos GPU which is said to be 3x faster than their current X850 and close to 2x faster than their newest part the R520 which won't even be released for a few more months. It's also significantly faster than the latest nVidia GPU - GTX 7800.
The same with the PS3.
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http://www.tomshardware.com/hardnews...11_143709.html
Microsoft plans to charge license fee for Xbox 360 peripherals
August 11, 2005 - 14:37 EST
Manufacturers seeking to release peripherals for the Xbox 360 will have to pay royalties to Microsoft on each unit sold, with a new security system on the console preventing the connection of unlicensed devices.
August 11, 2005 - 14:37 EST
Manufacturers seeking to release peripherals for the Xbox 360 will have to pay royalties to Microsoft on each unit sold, with a new security system on the console preventing the connection of unlicensed devices.
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From: Appleton WI
Originally Posted by srika
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also I think they wanna crack down on noname 3rd and 4th party brands making random Xbox peripherals and potentially making quite a chunk of change off of it... this measure will ensure that only people who pay and work with Microsoft, can develop products for it.... it may also crackdown on hacking attempts....
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http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3142741
Ready for Some Real 360 Details?
Sources say price, date will be revealed 8/17.
by Jane Pinckard, 08/11/2005
We've heard from analysts, pundits, and fanboys. Now, it seems, we are close to getting the true story. Our sources say that Microsoft is getting ready to announce the launch date and the price of the Xbox 360 on August 17 at 9:30 A.M. EST sharp. The spokespeople at Microsoft have no comment on this rumor, but that's hardly a surprise.
Previously, a number of websites reported that Wal-Mart had leaked the price of the next-gen console, saying that employees apparently had seen internal documents listing it for $299. This rumor was never confirmed, either. A call to Wal-Mart revealed only that customer service staff was trained to say that the price had not yet been determined. But plenty of analysts agreed, at least, with the price range of $299 to $349, and J Allard himself has said it would not reach as high as the early reports of $400.
As for the rumor that the HDD will not come standard with the console, industry analyst Piper Jaffray McNealy wrote in a report last week that he predicted a price of $299, but "with the 20-gig hard drive selling as a peripheral for somewhere in the range of $60-$99."
That's along the lines of our speculation, too. We predict that Microsoft will actually announce two prices next week: the Xbox 360 itself without the stand-alone hard drive will retail for $299; bundled with the drive, the package will be priced between $349-399. We also think the drive will be available separately for those consumers who bought the option one package and seek to upgrade. As for the launch date, everyone pretty much agrees that it will be November, pre-Thanksgiving.
We may find out for sure August 17. Stay tuned.
Sources say price, date will be revealed 8/17.
by Jane Pinckard, 08/11/2005
We've heard from analysts, pundits, and fanboys. Now, it seems, we are close to getting the true story. Our sources say that Microsoft is getting ready to announce the launch date and the price of the Xbox 360 on August 17 at 9:30 A.M. EST sharp. The spokespeople at Microsoft have no comment on this rumor, but that's hardly a surprise.
Previously, a number of websites reported that Wal-Mart had leaked the price of the next-gen console, saying that employees apparently had seen internal documents listing it for $299. This rumor was never confirmed, either. A call to Wal-Mart revealed only that customer service staff was trained to say that the price had not yet been determined. But plenty of analysts agreed, at least, with the price range of $299 to $349, and J Allard himself has said it would not reach as high as the early reports of $400.
As for the rumor that the HDD will not come standard with the console, industry analyst Piper Jaffray McNealy wrote in a report last week that he predicted a price of $299, but "with the 20-gig hard drive selling as a peripheral for somewhere in the range of $60-$99."
That's along the lines of our speculation, too. We predict that Microsoft will actually announce two prices next week: the Xbox 360 itself without the stand-alone hard drive will retail for $299; bundled with the drive, the package will be priced between $349-399. We also think the drive will be available separately for those consumers who bought the option one package and seek to upgrade. As for the launch date, everyone pretty much agrees that it will be November, pre-Thanksgiving.
We may find out for sure August 17. Stay tuned.
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Xbox 360 = PSP friendly! These are also the first screens of the Xbox 360 GUI Ive seen... I wonder how close they are to the final version, if not the final version... 
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3142632
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3142632
PSP + Xbox 360 = Love
Microsoft wasn't lying when they said they'd work together.
by Patrick Klepek, 08/08/2005
The audience bellowed when Microsoft showed PSP as a connectivity device for the Xbox 360 on a slide during their Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference, but it wasn't just laughs. An Xbox 360 development kit has fallen into the hands of PSP Vault user 'misterDNA', who quickly hooked the handheld up.
The PSP connects to Xbox 360 like any other USB device, and once the machine recognizes the PSP, you're able to browse stored images at full screen and stream MP3 files stored on the memory stick. That's the extent of the PSP/Xbox 360 connectivity, but you can't do anything like that with your PlayStation 2.
Including support for PSP at all is a humorous (and respectful) nod from the company constantly bashed by critics and courts for unfairly alienating competition in various markets. True as that might be, in this case, Microsoft's the first kid on the block with hardware natively supporting PSP's multimedia functions.
Now, if only there was a hack letting you watch UMD movies on your TV...
Microsoft wasn't lying when they said they'd work together.
by Patrick Klepek, 08/08/2005
The audience bellowed when Microsoft showed PSP as a connectivity device for the Xbox 360 on a slide during their Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference, but it wasn't just laughs. An Xbox 360 development kit has fallen into the hands of PSP Vault user 'misterDNA', who quickly hooked the handheld up.
The PSP connects to Xbox 360 like any other USB device, and once the machine recognizes the PSP, you're able to browse stored images at full screen and stream MP3 files stored on the memory stick. That's the extent of the PSP/Xbox 360 connectivity, but you can't do anything like that with your PlayStation 2.
Including support for PSP at all is a humorous (and respectful) nod from the company constantly bashed by critics and courts for unfairly alienating competition in various markets. True as that might be, in this case, Microsoft's the first kid on the block with hardware natively supporting PSP's multimedia functions.
Now, if only there was a hack letting you watch UMD movies on your TV...
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there is a new video showing off Xbox 360 games at Xbox360.com. Get into the main screen, and click on the floating Madden icon... pretty impressive stuff!
Get a sneak peek at PGR3, Elements of Power, Perfect Dark Zero, Gears of War, Call of Duy 2, Madden, and others!
Get a sneak peek at PGR3, Elements of Power, Perfect Dark Zero, Gears of War, Call of Duy 2, Madden, and others!
Just pre-ordered 3 Xbox360's from the first shipment.
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http://theinquirer.net/?article=25409
Fight Night: Round 3 to look identical on Xbox 360 and PS3
Graphical differences purely academic
By Aaron McKenna: Monday 15 August 2005, 10:14
AS MUCH AS SONY AND MICROSOFT like to blab on about how their console is better than one another in a corporate version of "My daddy's taller than your daddy," it would appear that actual developers and publishers who are making the games are not quite sticking to the same party line.
A recent interview featured in the US gaming magazine, Game Informer, suggests that the Xbox 360 version of EA’s Fight Night: Round 3 should match the same quality and unable to spot differences.
Previously the garish footage had been a big notch on the post for the PS3 camp who said that the footage displayed the technical brilliance of the PS3 - but if the two are due to look the same then we'd say that all the differences our PR buddies will be hyping up are really just academic. µ
Graphical differences purely academic
By Aaron McKenna: Monday 15 August 2005, 10:14
AS MUCH AS SONY AND MICROSOFT like to blab on about how their console is better than one another in a corporate version of "My daddy's taller than your daddy," it would appear that actual developers and publishers who are making the games are not quite sticking to the same party line.
A recent interview featured in the US gaming magazine, Game Informer, suggests that the Xbox 360 version of EA’s Fight Night: Round 3 should match the same quality and unable to spot differences.
Previously the garish footage had been a big notch on the post for the PS3 camp who said that the footage displayed the technical brilliance of the PS3 - but if the two are due to look the same then we'd say that all the differences our PR buddies will be hyping up are really just academic. µ
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http://theinquirer.net/?article=25415
Microsoft to developers: don't count on a hard drive for the 360
Xbox 360 development minefield
By Aaron McKenna: Monday 15 August 2005, 15:56
WITH CONSOLES BECOMING increasingly computer-alike it would seem that console heads could find themselves having to deal with the same hardware issues that computer players have, even though consoles are meant to be simplified by containing universal kit.
After weeks of speculation, key Xbox executive J. Allard has confirmed in an interview with US magazine Game Informer that the Xbox 360 may not always ship with a hard drive, hinting instead that Microsoft may release different configurations of Xbox’s over the years, potentially creating a development minefield.
"It's something we're not ready to announce yet," he said. "I don't think it's a one-size-fits-all [approach] over the next five-year horizon." This could also mean that the console may be shipping with HD-DVD drives a couple of years down the line.
"We've said [to developers], 'Hey look, don't bank on the hard drive always being there,'" he revealed. "There may be a scenario in the future where we don't want to have a hard drive, and in that case, we have to make sure that the games that you've created are accessible to the broadest possible audience."
The official line is that the Xbox 360 will be carrying the hard drive upon launch, with about 20GB being the expected capacity, but developers are basically being told not to rely upon it. This means that what should otherwise be a stable development platform in hardware terms could now see the goalposts shifted even more unpredictably than on the PC – after all, developers for the PC are pretty sure that it will still have a hard drive two years down the line. µ
Xbox 360 development minefield
By Aaron McKenna: Monday 15 August 2005, 15:56
WITH CONSOLES BECOMING increasingly computer-alike it would seem that console heads could find themselves having to deal with the same hardware issues that computer players have, even though consoles are meant to be simplified by containing universal kit.
After weeks of speculation, key Xbox executive J. Allard has confirmed in an interview with US magazine Game Informer that the Xbox 360 may not always ship with a hard drive, hinting instead that Microsoft may release different configurations of Xbox’s over the years, potentially creating a development minefield.
"It's something we're not ready to announce yet," he said. "I don't think it's a one-size-fits-all [approach] over the next five-year horizon." This could also mean that the console may be shipping with HD-DVD drives a couple of years down the line.
"We've said [to developers], 'Hey look, don't bank on the hard drive always being there,'" he revealed. "There may be a scenario in the future where we don't want to have a hard drive, and in that case, we have to make sure that the games that you've created are accessible to the broadest possible audience."
The official line is that the Xbox 360 will be carrying the hard drive upon launch, with about 20GB being the expected capacity, but developers are basically being told not to rely upon it. This means that what should otherwise be a stable development platform in hardware terms could now see the goalposts shifted even more unpredictably than on the PC – after all, developers for the PC are pretty sure that it will still have a hard drive two years down the line. µ