Xbox 2 To Be Unveiled on MTV May 12

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft confirmed this morning that the Xbox 2 will be revealed on live TV on May 12. MTV will air a half-hour long special to launch the system. 'It doesn't make sense to unveil the product behind a closed door, at a trade-only event,' according to Microsoft corporate VP Peter Moore. 'We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first.'" More coverage available on GamesIndustry.biz and Press the Buttons.

Comments

Own hardware

[Virtual Karma]

with xbox2 MS might be venturing into hardware. Read this:

Recent news stories report that Microsoft may design their own chips for the Xbox 2 design. This means that the manufacturers of the current Xbox console may be out of the picture. For the Xbox 1, NVidia had won the bid to supply the graphics chips for the Xbox, and Intel won the bidding war against the CPU manufacturer AMD.

source: here

Re:Own hardware

[smackjer]

Xbox 2 is using IBM PowerPC technology for the CPU(s?) and ATI for video.

Re:Own hardware

[UnknowingFool]

Recent news stories report that Microsoft may design their own chips for the Xbox 2 design. This means that the manufacturers of the current Xbox console may be out of the picture.

I think you mean "spec" instead of "design". Chip design is not something that is within the realm of MS' ability. Sure they have bazillion dollars and can throw a lot of money at a problem, but designing chips takes talent and vast amounts of people that MS doesn't have and can't hire in time.

The last I heard, IBM was designing and manufacturing PowerPC chips for the Xbox2. In this way, the supplier - vendor relationship is no different than the Xbox. However, this time, the machine won't just be a modified PC with a modified Intel x86 processor. MS can be more specific about what the chip can do. In this way, IBM's relationship with MS is like Apple's relationship with IBM. Both companies tell IBM what they need the chip to do. IBM handles the details like where the memory and controller goes on the die, how the chip handles branching, etc.

Also ATI will make the graphics chips for the Xbox2. This was somewhat foreseable after the MS-nVidia relationship soured. But because ATI now supplies the GPU, there has been speculation that the Xbox2 will not be backwards compatible. nVidia's Xbox chips used proprietary technology that they probably don't want to license to MS and ATI.

Viral Marketing

[magicsquid]

This makes perfect sense. Microsoft has started another viral marketing web game for the Xbox 2 (similar to the original ilovebees for Halo2). Check out http://www.ourcolony.net/ The countdown ends on May 12th at 8PM eastern. BTW, the password is play.

The rewards give out tiny glimpses of the Xbox 2. So far only the controller has been seen.

Re:Viral Marketing

[br4inst0rm]

Yep, go here to learn more, and join in the fun! http://www.forum.immersionunlimited.com/viewforum. php?f=70&sid=e4cf577f9bd30ea40d8d399f5eb0264b Welcome aboard!

Re:Definitely Next?

[kneecarrot]

There have been three semi-official names kicking around:

• Xbox 2
• Xbox Next
• Xbox 360

There have been no official confirmation of something being chosen, however. Personally, I think they'll go with "The Sony Raper".

Re:Accessibility?

[ZephyrXero]

Nope, whore's get paid money for sex. She's just a slut ;)

Go ahead, mod me down...I can take it.

Re:The list gets longer

[lowe0]

2001 called... they'd like their jokes back.

MS introduced a smaller controller a long time ago.

Re:The list gets longer

[XSforMe]

...I'm not really a console person in general, but I dispise XBox....

People buy this as a game console? =)

Seriously speaking, Xbox rules, but once you load the "proper" software onto it. XBMC, DVDX and MAMEoX has turned my once overpriced paperweight birthday present (Xbox) into a work horse. With the proper software one can watch region free, NTSC/PAL DVDs. Watch TV / tune to radio from other countries, play classic video games and have a quick glance at the weather forecast.

Now that XBox2 is comming out, the original Xbox will be selling dirt cheap. This is a good time to buy one of these babies. You will not regret plunging those 200 dollars (including modding costs) into it.

Re:Accessibility?

[gmikej]

Remember when MTV was only about Music Videos?

Nope, I started watching MTV during it's second year on the air. Totally missed MTV when its' focus was on Music.

PS: I stopped watching it over 10 years ago now.

Re:Definitely Next?

[Have Blue]

Don't forget "Xenon".

IBM wins the video game war, hands down

[USCG]

Kind of cool, IMHO that IBM has contributed to the Sony Cell CPU, and they are building the XBOX2 CPU and whatever Nintendo's next machine is.

Thank humanity for big blue!

Re:Accessibility?

[jcuffe]

Actually, the way that the XBox (and the PSP for that matter) was priced, Microsoft lost money on every unit sold, because their business model banked on making up the lost profits through LIVE subscriptions. This is why the community that was working on hacking the XBox got so many friendly letters in the mail, and it's also why Sony isn't planning on opening up the UMD format - they are relying on post-console purchase sales to make the profit. Selling the unit alone is not enough.

Re:Interested maybe, not, kinda?

[Nosferax]

Video recording... On what?... Memory cards? There isn't supposed to be a HD in it...