Xbox 2 Concept Designs Leaked?

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Xbox 2 Concept Designs Leaked?

Posted by CmdrTaco on Sunday September 12, 2004 @02:01AM from the just-so-long-as-it-runs-xbmc dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Two new images of what are reported to be Xbox 2 concept designs and logos , have recently been found on the internet. The designs are said to have been released by an anonymous tipster who claims to be part of a focus group for the Xbox 2. The anonymous member reports that he has more concept designs ready to release in the near future." Doesn't look to me like there's much credibility here, but they still look pretty.

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Xbox2 Mod? by Stefan+Fredriksson · 2004-09-12 02:07 · Score: 5, Interesting

One of the most important things that has made XBOX a somewhat sucess is the ability to mod it.

Now, if you are a student for example now you need only one machine and you get a DVD player, a computer and a game-console in one box. All for a few hundred american money (inkl. harddrive and modchip)

If they want to continue to grow they must make the XBOX2 "moddable".
1. Re:Xbox2 Mod? by System.out.println() · 2004-09-12 02:53 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  One of the most important things that has made XBOX a somewhat sucess is the ability to mod it.
  
  Actually, that made it a spectacular failure.
  
  Sure, there are a lot of XBox's floating around now, but don't kid yourself - Microsoft didn't make a dime on any of them. Console makers can offer such powerful systems for so cheap (both being relative, of course) because they traditionally take a loss on the system and make up for it in game sales and licenses. And owners of modded XBox's tend not to buy games.
  
  --
  I've got more mod points and GMail invi
2. Re:Xbox2 Mod? by Jeff+DeMaagd · 2004-09-12 03:14 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  You see, that's not necessarily the markeet Microsoft was going for. They did include a DVD player but that doesn't make them money, streaming media doesn't make them money. If a person buys an XBox, mods it for media and doesn't buy games
  
  The only thing that can let Microsoft make money on XBox is games and peripheral licencing. From that perspective, they have no incentive to make modding easy. If Microsoft hadn't bought so hard into the idea that the base consoles always lose money, it might be different, but then the console wouldn't have been so interesting to mod.
  
  I'm not arguing against users doing mods. While MS might sell more consoles, because of the mods, a lot of those additional consoles sold fall outside their intended market. I think they'd rather sell fewer consoles than make the system hackable.
3. Re:Xbox2 Mod? by Ma�djeurtam · 2004-09-12 03:22 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Since it will have a G5 and (if I'm not mistaken) and probably something from ATi or nVidia, so we can assume that it will be transformable into a Mac clone without too much effort.
  
  Contrary to the legend, there's nothing proprietary in today's Macs, except for the G5 itself. The rest is well documented (PearPC helped a lot in that array).
  
  *That* would be an interesting mod!
  
  --
  Instant Karma's gonna get you, Gonna knock you right on the head (John Lennon, 1970)
If this is true... by jmcmunn · 2004-09-12 02:08 · Score: 5, Interesting

Then it certainly looks much smaller than the current rendition of the Xbox. And from the sixe in the pics, it looks like it probably does not have a hard drive in it. Unless of course they went with a laptop drive, or something smaller then the standard desktop drive.

I must say, I don't like the silver too much. I like the black of the current game systems, they blend into the rest of the entertainment center as is.

it will be interesting a couple years from now (or next year?) when the next generation systems start coming out if this is what it really looks like. I don't believe for a second that this would leak out on accident, I would bet if these are real pics they were let out on purpose to see what reaction they get before they start making them for release.
1. Re:If this is true... by Animats · 2004-09-12 03:38 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Yeah, the industry switched from silver to black around 1990, and from black to silver around 2000.
Re:Site's dead....some post a link! by kjamez · 2004-09-12 02:10 · Score: 5, Interesting

yet another opportunity for me to point out that i think slashdot should mirror a site for 5 or 6 hours at least immediately as they post the link. or maybe just the images. cachedot.org

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you can't have everything, where would you put it?
Just the Normal MS Marketing by 4r0g · 2004-09-12 02:21 · Score: 3, Interesting

I think that this is just normal MS marketing practice to "leak" out information of an upcoming product to keep it in the headlines. Makes it more interesting when it finally ships. Just look at Longhorn, XP, 2000 (NT5 anyone?) and the rest.

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- 4r0g
other concepts.... by kc_cyrus · 2004-09-12 02:25 · Score: 5, Interesting

Some Other Xbox 2 Concepts here
Xbox FS by PhotoBoy · 2004-09-12 02:26 · Score: 4, Interesting

Xbox FS could be a genuine name, a few months back I had an email from a GameSpot affiliated company asking if I wanted to participate in a questionnaire about "next generation consoles" (I guess I forgot opt out of emails from GameSpot affiliates).

It didn't specify which next gen consoles in the email but most of the questions were about the next Xbox and what I thought of potential names, it also offered a potential logo which was like the current X logo but wrapped around a sphere.

The other names that I can recall were Xbox HD, Xbox 360 and Xbox 247. Xbox 2 and Xbox Next weren't offered as options.
Hmm... by kjones692 · 2004-09-12 02:46 · Score: 1, Interesting

Hey, isn't that... an iMac G5 in the background?

--

Love the Third Amendment?
On the point of 'modding' by 88NoSoup4U88 · 2004-09-12 02:47 · Score: 4, Interesting

I hope they will make it possible for custom content (like amateur mods) to be imported, and played on the Xbox 2 : I am sure that the demand to mod games like it is happening on PC's atm, will only increase in the future ; ifnot also raise gamesales, if customers know there is more content once the game is released.
One free chance to be innovative for once for MS ;)
then again, IIRC, they weren't going for a harddisk in there this time around (don't know for sure if this still stands) ; and this would make custom content (defenitely at the sizes mods come these days) nearly impossible.
Make it a real Media Center by FerretFrottage · 2004-09-12 02:49 · Score: 3, Interesting

How's that for a desgin concept? I love the xbox because for ~$200 I can get a reburbed unit, a mod chip and a cheap 100+GB HD. Now I have the ability to view my family pics, my ripped CDs, camcorder pics on any tv I have the xbox connected to...many thanks to the developers of XMBC. I just started adding Linksys NSLU2 devices as file servers and the whole setup is getting that much more smaller (footprint wise) and quieter. Now is MS wasn't so anal about the "Not Invented Here" cause we control the world and its $$$, they could have really made some major market share in TV/PC convergence.

I'm sure the xbox2 will be more locked down than so until espn 2k7 or Madden 2k8 really rocks over the current offers, its great to have the xbox.

--
"Look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a fat white guy who is threatened by change."
FAKE! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 02:50 · Score: 5, Interesting

This is fake.

The XBox2 has a new connector for controller. This photo features traditional XBox controller connectors.
This is news for nerds? by segmond · 2004-09-12 02:50 · Score: 4, Interesting

pictures of an external box? i want specs, internal pictures, no one cares about how it looks.

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------ Curiosity killed the cat. {satisfaction brought it back | it didn't die ignorant | lack of it is killing mankind
Re:Design by Planesdragon · 2004-09-12 02:54 · Score: 2, Interesting

Who the hell plays consoles for innovation?

Yes, there IS innovation--usually in the form of games that do something not done before--but that's not the point.

The point is a cheap way to play games at home. It's a way for your children or spouses or guests to play a game without violating the sanctuary of your PC lair.
Re:Silly article, really by 88NoSoup4U88 · 2004-09-12 02:59 · Score: 2, Interesting

"It's what the game console's *case*, a bit of molded plastic, might be made to look like. To be blunt, why does this matter?"
Maybe because that was one of the 'biggest' (gotta love the pun) problems with the first X-box ? It was considered -way- too big.
I agree that at the current stage of development, the case is most likely (maybe even more so now) to be changed ; The new Gameboy DS also did a very quick overhaul in a few months ; and most of the changes put through there were based on the comments they got on the various trade shows.
Controller Ports? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 03:03 · Score: 1, Interesting

What is Microsoft doing going with controller ports. I would think after the success of Nintendo's Wavebird, everyone would be going with wireless controllers.
1. Re:Controller Ports? by lowe0 · 2004-09-12 03:30 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Cost, no force feedback, batteries (unless you integrate rechargeable batteries, which costs even more), and the opportunity to sell you their own wireless controller a couple months down the road.
Re:And as an added side bonus... by Achorny · 2004-09-12 07:47 · Score: 2, Interesting

Try playing a game that requires a keyboard and mouse on a console...

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