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Smaller XBox 1.5 Rumored In Japan
Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a Gamesindustry.biz article rounding up the Japanese rumors that an XBox 1.5 will launch later this year. It seems Japanese magazines such as WAM and Dorimaga are reporting a smaller-sized XBox will be launched alongside the flagship Japanese RPG True Fantasy Live Online. But the article suggests that "..it's not expected that any changes will be made to the internals of the system, however - this is, by all accounts, a purely cosmetic makeover."
Xbox 1.5 rumours gather speed in Japan Rob Fahey 16:17 03/06/2003 Now less likely to maim small children when falling off tables? A number of Japanese magazines are reporting that Microsoft is moving ahead with plans to release a redesigned Xbox, dubbed "Xbox 1.5", which will come in a significantly smaller case than the original model. Weekly magazine WAM has reported that the new system will be launched alongside the MMORPG True Fantasy Live in Japan later this year - a move which would make sense, given that True Fantasy Live is one of Microsoft's key hopes for invigorating sales of the Xbox in that territory. Also reporting on the new Xbox is respected Japanese games magazine Dorimaga, which speculates that the forthcoming hardware revision is the reason why Japan has not seen an Xbox price cut in the last few months - with the price of the old hardware expected to drop when the new version appears on the market. Many commentators fully expected Microsoft to unveil a revised version of the Xbox hardware at E3, following long-running criticism of the bulky casing of the console. It's not expected that any changes will be made to the internals of the system, however - this is, by all accounts, a purely cosmetic makeover. Source: GamerFeed
They should make an XBox that you could carry around with you and it should have an LCD display attached. You should also be able to hook up to your TV when you are at home. They could call it a "laptop." It would rock.
...And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me." - Martin Niemoeller (1892-1984)
My friend that has become an Xbox crazy keeps talking about an "Xbox Lite" that's supposed to be coming out that's smaller and cheaper. This with price cuts may be that thing. Though if it's the same internals, I don't know how it's going to be that much lighter. Was the shell for the Xbox stainless steel? Thought it was all the crap in there that was weighing it down so much.
I wonder if the standard controls will be smaller too. I heard a lot of people complain that the size of the controller made it difficult to handle for people with small hands. My five year old prefers to put it on the carpet rather than hold it.
This is a boring sig
is dead in Japan. THey are getting absolutely hammered by Sony. This has a desperate feel to it. BC
The current Xboxes are bigger than most Tokyo appartments! Of course they aren't selling in Japan!
: )
You can't take the sky from me...
So to release a smaller model, they're assigning it a bigger number. Sure, yeah, that makes sense.
I personally don't see any problem with my Xbox's size as is, but then again I don't really have a need to move it anywhere.
It might be prudent to note here that there are already three versions of the Xbox.
V1.0, V1.1, and V1.2. These all have minor hardware changes in them, but look the same externally. I suspect most of the changes were to stop the mod-chips from working.
So basically the reason it is called 1.5 is that it is just a new version (and they probably will change it a small amount to render current mod chips useless)
All consoles have various revisions which may or may not change how it looks on the outside. So it's not really a big deal, it's expected.
Ok, so I've been rooting for Nintendo to make a comeback for several years. Unlike Sony, they make hardware that I would like to justify developing for. And unlike Microsoft, I don't have to feel like I'm supporting the destruction of gaming ecology.
But back to the point, with both Sony and Microsoft releasing 1.5 systems, they are going to have a hard time selling more systems in the near future. Sony especially, because the system it is releasing has new features, but whenever a new increment of a system is released and sold the people it is sold to will expect a reasonable lifetime for that system, not just a final year or two before an update. Plus, they lose some of the hype surrounding the next big system from _____, as the last big system just came out. Would we be discussing a slightly smaller X-Box if it wasn't consuming some of the interest in the next generation of systems?
Stopgap measures in the gaming industry have proven fatal for sales time and time again. With both Sony and Microsoft shooting for their toes, perhaps the Nintendo Tessaract will have a better chance in the market.
The ______ Agenda
I know someone who owns a xbox. What I'd really like to see is the fan(s?) disappear, or be really quieter. Because it really sucks for a gaming machine to make so much noise, especially when used as a DVD player... Dunno about other consoles, but if I had to buy one I'd certainly compare the fans noise.
"(MS)...plans to release a redesigned Xbox, dubbed "Xbox 1.5", which will come in a significantly smaller case than the original model."
"It's not expected that any changes will be made to the internals of the system, however - this is, by all accounts, a purely cosmetic makeover."
Calling it Xbox 1.5 doesn't only not make sense from a silly pedantic POV (as in my parent comment), but it is also misleading for the Japanese consumer who may be lead to believe that this is a technically better version of the original Xbox. Xbox S, as you suggested, is a much better name.
Get a decent 5.1 receiver. Fans? What fans?
Public Warning! Bill Gates' new seemingly cute xbox 1.5 Is just using it's chilidish new look to attack the toes of every martha stewart\pokemon loving consumer out there! People are reporting opening and extracting their harmless looking a-cup sized bundles of joy only to find it's minime appearence is a camo to hide it's shocking 80 pound weight, enough to cut off the toes of a super model level toe clipped battle hardened richard simmons...
The WINDOWS! The MONOPOLYS!! IT"S ALL BEEN A DISTRACTION!
INDEPENDENTLY MINDED CAT POOPS OUTSIDE THE BOX, full story at www.theonion.com
A new, smaller Xbox would mean that Microsoft's huge cache of unsold consoles won't take up quite as much space in the warehouse. At least until it goes all ET and ends up in a landfill..