Xbox 2 - Scaling Down Size, Evolving Live, Xenon-ize

Thanks to IGN Xbox for its coverage of an interview with Japanese Xbox boss Yoshihiro Maruyama, in which he discusses the release timing of the next-gen consoles, suggesting: "If asked if the [Xbox sequel's] release will happen next year, I'd say that no, it won't be next year", and predicting: "We foresee the next generation PS2 hardware arriving some time after 2006." He also mentions that a smaller-sized console is "something that we'd like to do" for the Xbox's sequel, which GameGossip are claiming may be called the 'Xenon', according to a job posting on Microsoft's website. Elsewhere, Microsoft's Robbie Bach has been discussing the evolution of Xbox Live at CES, mentioning, via GameSpot, that "...he wants to turn Xbox Live, the trash-talking meeting ground of testosterone jazzed gamers, into a kinder, gentler realm reminiscent of Microsoft's other online playground, the Zone.com." Finally, GameInformer provides clarification that the previously mentioned Xbox Media Center Extender Kit "will not recognize media on PC's not running Windows XP Media Center Edition" - it appears upgrading your PC to this edition may be tricky/impossible for some.

Comments

Kinder? Gentler? WTF?

[Blackknight]

he wants to turn Xbox Live, the trash-talking meeting ground of testosterone jazzed gamers, into a kinder, gentler realm reminiscent of Microsoft's other online playground, the Zone.com.

Please don't. The best thing about Xbox Live is that you can get on there and talk trash while fragging people. In fact, that's part of the reason I got Live in the first place.

I don't think the Xbox demographics would like these kind of changes.

Forget the Bitmap Brothers....

[Chuck Chunder]

Xenon is simply a poncy name. Having built up the brand they'd be a bunch of numbnuts not to call it XBox 2.

How idiotic

[EnglishTim]

Restricting the extender media playback to just PCs running Windows Media Center seems asinine, and I can't see any good technical reason for it.

Why drop the trashtalking?

[Inoshiro]

Microsoft has been very serious about building up this image about how bad-asses use the XBox. Their XSN Sports lineup shows this to a T: "dominate anyone, anywhere, at any time" (with online stats updates, challence notifications, etc).

The big, black box with a whole word of competition where you destroy opponents and feast on their still-beating hearts is what Xbox Live! and the Xbox has been advertised as for over 2 years now. To neuter that seems silly.

Or, perhaps, MS has realized that Nintendo's made a lot of headway being accesible to all age groups, not just white males age 18-35.

Re:A kinder, gentler Xbox Live? Nay, nay, I say!

[unclethursday]

One of the main appeals of the XBox to me is that it really, really, really tries to cater to the 18-44 year old male gamer who otherwise would do all his gaming on a PC.

Which, you know, completely explains all the 12-16 year olds on Live games. Really. Listen to some of the people on there, doing most of the trash talking, and the most cursing just because they can. They're kids, and annoying brats at that.

Then comes along Counter-Strike on Xbox Live, where the goddamn mute function simply doesn't work, so you have to hear all the pre-teen and teend retards the entire time. I'm so glad I only rented that game; it's better on the PC anyway.

The Xbox, and Xbox Live doesn't cater to "the 18-44 year old male gamer crowd" any more than the GameCube caters to kids. If these were true, I'd never hear these annoying 12-16 year olds on XBL, and I wouldn't own a GameCube because I'm 29 with no kids of my own.