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

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

[Fortunato_NC]

"...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."

Obviously, he's never played Chess on Zone. They trash-talk like nobody's business on there!

Seriously, I'm not so sure this is a great idea. 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.

To that population (which, of course, I'm a part of), videogames are an escapist pursuit - you tend to dissociate from the real-world a bit. Some of the nicest people I know have totally different, hyper-competitive personalities when playing videogames. The person who works out his agression on Xbox Live doesn't want it turned into My Little Pony Meets Rainbow Brite in The Land Of Cotton Candy.

People trash talk on Xbox live because the games and the environment are conducive to it - it's semi-anonymous, and you're playing games like Madden and Wolfenstein. You pop someone from all the way across the map, you want to brag about it. That's what the Xbox Communicator is for...