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

Music? Television

[Anonymous Coward]

Just as MTV revolutionized the way the world experiences music

Wait, wait... Let me get this straight, there is MUSIC on MTV!? This must be like MTV Europe or something...

Re:Music? Television

[jcuffe]

I think they had something like that a few years ago. Then I think they cut everything out except the 30-second snatches of "music" on TRL.

The thing that makes me sad is that MS views people that watch MTV as their target audience. I don't even want people that ingest that filth sharing any sort of demographic with me.

Re:Music? Television

[ackthpt]

Just as MTV revolutionized the way the world experiences music

Wait, wait... Let me get this straight, there is MUSIC on MTV!? This must be like MTV Europe or something...

I heard a rumor that they were going to rename it Hip-Hop and Dumb Hotel Heiress Network.

I used to do my Econ homework with MTV on, now I can't stand the stuff (MTV, not Econ.)

Re:Music? Television

[panaceaa]

Silly rabbit, the M stands for Microsoft.

Re:Music? Television

[Amoeba]

Empty-V: The Shiny Things Network

Re:Music? Television

[zardo]

The only show on MTV that draws my attention is cribs, and then after a while I find myself cursing at the tv, cursing god and cursing my mass produced crap hole of a house. Why can't I come home to Jessica Simpson sun bathing in the pristine pool in our backyard? Bad for the soul I tell you.

Re:Music? Television

[Auckerman]

"I heard a rumor that they were going to rename it Hip-Hop and Dumb Hotel Heiress Network."

Personally, I've been calling MTV the Shiney Things Network for over a decade now. I swear the programming directory must suffer from ADD or something.

Re:Music? Television

[AceCaseOR]

I used to watch MTV2 (except I muted the rap videos) but I had to cancel my Satellite subscription so I've been without Satellite for a while. From the sounds of things, MTV2 is turning into another clone of MTV. Uggh.

Hopefully VH1 Classic is still around.

Re:Music? Television

[ZephyrXero]

Apparently music playing in the background of crappy reality tv shows still counts to them... I watch the new MTV.

This is very un-shocking though... With the colony counting down to May 12th and Peter Moore (used to run Sega US...remember 9.9.99?) running the Xbox team, this just seems to make perfect sense.

Re:Music? Television

[Adrilla]

M2 is taking over the same model that Mtv is using, they're showing more and more shows and even over there, the music videos are starting to disappear. Same with VH1 which is also owned by the same company (Viacom). I don't know what's worse, three music channels that hardly ever play videos, or the awful videos they play, when they do play videos.

Re:Music? Television

[afd8856]

The VH1 Classic that I get is reruns all over. And lots of bad 80s and 90s music.

The only worthwhile shows are Friday Rocks, the Rock Show and some oldies at 10am.

Re:Music? Television

[Anonymous Coward]

Then I think they cut everything out except the 30-second snatches of "music" on TRL.

Anybody watching TRL for snatches isn't there for the music.

Re:Music? Television

[Sauron79]

No, Microsoft wants Xbox 2 to be everythign except a gaming console..

Re:Music? Television

[PaisteUser]

Wait, wait... Let me get this straight, there is MUSIC on MTV!? This must be like MTV Europe or something...

No, the music is on the MTV Music Video channel (and now have seperate genere channels to go along with it) a completely seperate channel now which does exactly what the original MTV channel did a long time ago, I can't even remember when that was! At any rate, of course you have to subscribe to digital cable to get it, or whatever the premium satellite package is. D'oh!

Re:Music? Television

[ZephyrXero]

You gotta love Best Week Ever though... Besides that...yes, crap.

Re:Music? Television

[Gregg M]

The thing that makes me sad is that MS views people that watch MTV as their target audience. I don't even want people that ingest that filth sharing any sort of demographic with me.

And then it just becomes an industry of... cool.
Lester Bangs -- Almost Famous

Re:Music? Television

[Mr.Progressive]

Have you seen Pimp My Ride? It's actually fairly entertaining television. And this is coming from someone who watches at the most 80 minutes of television a week (The Daily Show).

Re:Music? Television

[Mr.Dippy]

I really do miss the days when video games were considered underground and for hardcore nerds. I do take offensense that the current video game industry sees me as an ADD High school cheer leader who can't get enough music industry dribble contained in shiney package presented by Paris Hilton. Everytime I watch MTV my head hurts from the constant camera shifting and bright lights they use in every shot. I know it's probably really extremem but I'm going to pass up on Xbox 2. I'm not crazy about playing games online and I'm not crazy about the way this product is being marketed to me. Please, for the love of God, won't somebody bring back the Sega Genesis/Dreamcast and let people who actually enjoy playing innovative games do just that.

Re:Music? Television

[jcuffe]

I don't know if I was planning on getting an XBox whateverthefuck anyway, but I don't know if I'm going to boycott it because their PR department is a steaming pile of shit - I'm moving in with two friends who are as technophilic as myself, so if we see something we like, we're going to get it.

All in all, though, it does make me sad to see that. Hopefully they can make up for this lame marketing move with an abundance of mature games (and no kids, mature doesn't just mean blood and tits).

Re:Music? Television

[mallfouf]

I strongly & sadly agree with your comments.

Re:Music? Television

[northcat]

Actually it *is* their audience. You might think that all gamers are intelligent beings who like games that mentally stimulate them, but mainstream gamers, just like mainstream-anything, are just mindless mtv-watching zombies who play anything that the media feeds them and play a new version of an American football game every year.

Re:Music? Television

[farble1670]

I don't even want people that ingest that filth sharing any sort of demographic with me.

while i don't have the market research to back this up, i have a strong suspicion that MTV's target audience is almost identical to that of XBox, or PS2, or .

Re:Music? Television

[jcuffe]

You're probably right, but it still is disappointing to be lumped into that demographic. I'm curious as to what the gap is in profits that companies make off of mainstream gamers vs. hardcore gamers (there are more mainstream gamers, hardcore gamers buy more games). If they're marketing their products like this, the gap must be pretty large.

Re:Music? Television

[Rorschach1]

"Then I think they cut everything out except the 30-second snatches of "music" on TRL"

Maybe someone can clue me in here... TRL is a request show, right? How the hell do the viewers know what to request, if they never show the videos in the first place!

It's a sad, sad thing when attention spans have decreased to the point that people can't even watch and entire 3-minute music video in one sitting...

Re:Music? Television

[DeionXxX]

I wish there was Hip-Hop on MTV... you must realize that when they took out the music, they took out ALL the music. Some people might differ on what counts as "music" but still. There is truly nothing that even resembles music on MTV anymore.

Re:Music? Television

[suffe]

I think they are refering to the Jamba ring tone ads.

Re:Music? Television

[farble1670]

how are you lumped into that demo? specifically, you are not in the 12-19 year old MTV watcher video game playing demo (or whatever). that's okay, they will advertise to you in another way, i am sure. just because they are doing a spot on MTV doesn't mean that they view that as their only demographic.

the fact that MS et. al. spends so much $$$ advertising console / games makes it a pretty sure bet that they do their research about target audiences. it strikes me as a little naive to second guess how they are spending their advertising $.

Re:Music? Television

[rinks]

Actually, that's on VH1. So no, MTV offers nothing :)

Re:Music? Television

[Mitijea]

Personally, I think this is a good thing. Why should we have to hear about the system first through a third party, rather than straight from the source? And why does it matter what channel it is on? It could be on QVC for all I care - still doesn't mean that I'll stick around to buy some crappy jewelery after it's over. A few days after this showing to the public, the "insiders" will still get their grubby hands on the product, and will let us know how it works out for them. At least now we will have so preconcieved ideas about it to temper their fanaticism. Sure it will be just an infomercial, but again, what is wrong with that? I actually feel a tad bit more respect for Microsoft for coming to us, the consumers, first, rather than the media. At least this way we know up front where the biasedness is (obviously proMS), rather than hidden behind the guise of independent reporting (as if there was such a thing).

Re:Music? Television

[jcuffe]

Fair enough. I stand corrected.

Re:Music? Television

[ilyaaohell]

This isn't directed specifically at you, this is merely a general observation, but anybody who uses the argument that MTV doesn't play many music videos to explain MTV's suckyness is a fucking IDIOT!

Why the HELL would you sit in front of the goddamn TV, switch over to a channel, and WATCH a goddamn music video marathon!? What the fuck is wrong with you?

You want to know why radio works? Because you can listen to it playing IN THE BACKGROUND. You could do something like read a book or clean the house, and you hear the music in the background. It livens up your activity, or relaxes you, or excites you. But it's usually not the primary activity during music listening.

You want to know why this won't work with TV? Because it's fucking TV! How many times can you watch the same music video by the same 5 bands you like (out of the 50 that you don't)? You'd have to be extremely lethargic or have way too much time on your hands to just sit there and watch fucking music videos! Music videos are nothing but commercials for a band's album. Do you really want a TV channel that plays 24 hours of music commercials? That's what it would be like! That's what it was in the early 80s! It worked then because flashy commercials with sexy singers and dancers were NEW and EXCITING. They're now neither.

If you have satellite or digital cable television, you probably have something like 20 or more TV channels that basically act like a radio, broken up by a genre. How many times do you go sit on your couch, turn the TV on and turn it to one of those channels? Probably not that often. Sure, they don't have actual video to go along with the sound, but they at least devote each channel to a specific genre. With MTV playing videos non-stop, you won't have that. It'll be an avalanche of multiple genres, consisting mostly of whatever genres would bring in the biggest audience. Why the hell would you sit through that? Why would you watch until the commercial, sit through the commercial, and then watch MORE music videos!? You wouldn't! That's why they don't do this on MTV! Because nobody in their right fucking mind would watch that crap!

MTV may suck, but it has nothing to do with the number of music videos they play. It's the fact that neither I nor most of you are in their target demographic!

Re:Music? Television

[Fig, formerly A.C.]

"Good thing"?

Elijah Wood will present the half-hour segment that'll be jam packed with celebs gushing over the console,

Yeah, cause Frodo was an avid gamer in the movies. :P

Seriously, celebs know dick about politics, economics, or video games. I don't think someone with an artsy-fartsy theater background or "duh captain of duh team" is qualified to review a game system or games.

Re:Music? Television

[radicalskeptic]

There are still hardcore nerd gamers. These are people who watch vids of Japanese speed runs of Kirby Super Star*, play 2D fighters for 10 hours straight with complete strangers (via tourneys and casual gatherings organized over the internet), and still hang out at arcades. We do exist, dammit!

*A 9 year old game for SNES. And yes, at the gathering I was at last Saturday, we actually *did* watch it!

Re:Music? Television

[9Nails]

Hey! Wait a second... I do have cable radio channels and listen to them. And I do listen to radio in the background while I'm working around the house. And, well, I don't watch MTV because they didn't Pimp MY Ride, yet, but when they do I'll resent your remarks!

I honestly don't watch any other show son MTV because of the lack of good music and what is shown in most videos is not much more than a teenage boys fantasy. *yawn*

Re:Music? Television

[r3dx0r]

sadly, this is not the case anymore (at least in germany)
mtv europe has become just another mtv (america). there used to be original content,
but since it is cheaper to buy american series and synchronise them
all we get is pimp my ride, viva la bam, made, true life, boyling point, room raiders,
simple life, newly weds, dismissed, etc.
and the only series made by mtv europe are 'dismissed german' & 'pimp my bike'
you get the picture, same sh*t, different continent.

Re:Music? Television

[Mitijea]

Who said anything about this being a review? It obviously isn't. It is PR, plain and simple. And again, so what? I'd much rather them be honest about it being PR (which they are), rather than disquised as a review (which most supposed reviews actually are). Just because they have an actor presenting the product doesn't change a thing. In fact, having an actor do so only makes it easier to listen to because they at least know how to read their lines. Would you rather some wooden techy come out and fumble through the same words?

Re:Music? Television

[topper24hours]

I see this as just another way of trying to "out-hip" Sony. They already pushed XBOX2 up to release it (probably) before it is even ready. Anybody see it crash when Bill was on Conan? That was rich! I got deja vu from the 98 blue-screen event - this company will NEVER put quality ahead of profit. Anyway, I only hope that when PS3 comes out they find some clever way to WAY outdo this little publicity stunt of Microsofts.

Re:Music? Television

[Asgorath]

Nope, not here in Europe either... I can't recall the last time I saw Music on Mtv.

Sadly they also recently bought the one Dutch Music Station that just put out nontop music on request and now they are also introducing things like SOAP's on it. Mtv is the worst thing there is for music! Both in quality of what they once showed and the fact they don't actually show any music anymore anyway.

Re:Music? Television

[RichardX]

Yeah, I know.. it really sucks.
I'm sure I'm not alone in having been ostracised in my formative years for my love of computer games (now called "videogames" ubiqutously)..

Now here we are, a few years down the line, gaming has been completely hijacked by the likes of Sony, and it's the cool thing now to come home from the pub with your mates and spend an evening on the Playstation. Much like the net, really. Developed by geeks who get no respect from the rest of the world, then taken over by the great unwashed, who proceed to bugger it all up (in the case of gaming - who do you think buys all the damn EA football games.. and in the case of the 'net.. banner ads and spam)

Never fear though, there IS still underground gaming - and the aforementioned Dreamcast is a fine example. Because it doesn't need a modchip to run copies or homebrew there's a pretty good development community for it.

Re:Music? Television

[ZephyrXero]

Funny you mention the Dreamcast. Sega debuted their marketing campaign for it during 1999's Mtv Video Music Awards ;)

How's anyone ever gonna beat 9.9.99? Maybe PS3 will come out on 06/06/06?

Re:Music? Television

[Kpt Kill]

New from Microsoft!
Its the Halo III gaming console.

Re:Music? Television

[Patrick Mannion]

Thank god, the other consoles don't. And thank god they don't release Windows on MTV or for that fact Linux. Of course, most the retarded teenage girls would be like "Whatz Linix?!?"

Re:Music? Television

[Creepy]

yeah - and the smart MTV watchers will probably be camping out for Revenge of the Sith tickets (instead of preordering by phone or online)... the dumb ones will try to run XBox 2 carts for their Playstations and wonder why they're all defective.

The sad part is, after working computer tech support, I'm at least semi-serious - there are people that dumb...

Re:Music? Television

[MilenCent]

I do take offensense that the current video game industry sees me as an ADD High school cheer leader who can't get enough music industry dribble contained in shiney package presented by Paris Hilton. Everytime I watch MTV my head hurts from the constant camera shifting and bright lights they use in every shot.

Contrast with:

Please, for the love of God, won't somebody bring back the Sega Genesis/Dreamcast and let people who actually enjoy playing innovative games do just that.

I kind of hate to bring this up because Sega had the quality behind them to back it up, but remember that it was Sega themselves who pioneered this way of selling games, granted in a form that seems almost understated today, in their legendary battles against Nintendo. (Who still hasn't gotten the hang of marketing this way, bless whatever their corporate excuse for a heart might be.) "SEGA!!!"

Re:Music? Television

[MilenCent]

Seriously, celebs know dick about politics, economics, or video games. I don't think someone with an artsy-fartsy theater background or "duh captain of duh team" is qualified to review a game system or games.

Ahem. As an English grad student with a rather extreme amount of game playing experience under his belt (I've beaten Athena for crying out loud), I do have to take offense at this statement....

But only barely.

Re:Music? Television

[Total_Wimp]

... or, put another way, they want to sell a lot of consoles and a lot of games. In order to do that they have to hit the biggest market available. In case you folks weren't paying attention, Linux-loving uber geeks are not the current "biggest market available." This announcement is about as surprising as companies wanting to advertise during the Super Bowl.

If anyone ever thought Microsoft ever had any intention of supporting any niche community with their Xbox, they need to stop taking whatever drugs they're on. MS has been shooting for mainstream since day one. If you want a product that's designed for the geek/gamer niche then buy your products from a company that targets you, like, say, id on the PC. Console makers have no intention of going after your dollars except as an incremental revenue stream. If you stick with folks that actually care about you, you're far more likely to continue getting good games that you like.

TW

Re:Music? Television

[I'm Don Giovanni]

When was videogaming "underground"? Maybe "hardcore nerds" were more into it (actually, they were more into D&D at my school), but I don't recall it being "underground". After all, the song "Pac-Man Fever" was a top 10 hit and Tron did well at the box office.

Re:Music? Television

[bigman2003]

This has to be one of the dumbest comments I have ever seen on Slashdot:

"Please, for the love of God, won't somebody bring back the Sega Genesis/Dreamcast and let people who actually enjoy playing innovative games do just that."

define:innovative - being or producing something like nothing done or experienced or created before

So- if we go BACK in time, and play the same old games, we are being INNOVATIVE?

Re:Music? Television

[bigman2003]

So who is qualified to review videogames?

Hell- a B-list celebrity probably has a lot more free time on his hands than I do.

Do you really want to see those tools from Gamespot try to carry a 22 minute show? Those bozos can't keep my attention for more than 10 seconds, even if they do know what they are talking about.

Re:Music? Television

[bigman2003]

I think this is a great move on Microsoft's part.

Personally I agree with them, release the product to the PUBLIC not a bunch of journalists sitting in a room!

I want to see the video myself...and not some crap shaky-cam version, I want to see the real thing. I am the guy paying money for the console and the games...show me a little love and give me the first view. Not some tool who writes about videogames for some newspaper in Tampa.

Re:Music? Television

[druzicka]

won't somebody bring back the Sega Genesis

Still working on the Dreamcast.

Re:Music? Television

[hubang]

Well, for the first XBox, MS aimed at 30-45 year olds. Sony trounced them but good.

At least they're doing right competing for the Teeniebopper money. They actually buy (well, their parents do) console games.

Re:Music? Television

[Nivoset]

my TV is generally my background music, i like to hear a mix of music (mtv not so good for that anyway) and work on other things, occasionally taking a break to watch a video i like. my xbox now serves this as i downloaded untold amounts of music videos that i play on mplayer when doing stuff on my computer or cleaning up my room. i do wish more would come out, or a good channel with more to watch. or a stream of different types of music videos. but it works for now. i think most peoples argument is that they play only 5 different videos ever, (when i see, there mostly rap videos) and then reality TV, which i think is ok, but not as much as its shown. along the same lines, mtv should have music to throw on anytime of the day, but its not "making money" thats what they want is money, cheap show with large viewer bases (damn reality TV there for you again!) i still gotta hand it to MTV for making up that show type. I'm pretty sure road rules and real world are close to being, if not are the original reality TV. not survivor, its just the more known one now i guess.... /end rant

Re:Music? Television

[ZephyrXero]

I agree as well, as much as I dislike alot things MS does, they're making alot of good decisions with this new system.

Re:Music? Television

[Neoncow]

Ah, Econ. Learning about how markets, capitalism, and fiscal policy works.

Ah MTV, how the captialist market really works. *Sniffle*

I'm taking all bets

[Shkuey]

3 to 1 it gets a BSOD while on live TV.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[macrom]

I'll just take that money from you now because we all know the Xbox gets a GSOD

Re:I'm taking all bets

[Reignking]

Don't worry -- MTV does nothing live. They'll have everything prerecorded, just like they have their Spring Break show on two weeks after they film it.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[Nifrith]

Actually, this isn't unheard of. Albiet, Media Center BSODed, but the XBox got a system memory error..
At CES no less..


*snicker*

Re:I'm taking all bets

[NanoGator]

"3 to 1 it gets a BSOD while on live TV."

Tee hee giggle snort. If it's funny 300 times, it's sure to be funny 301 times!

Frankly, I'll take a crash on Live TV over blatant lying about how many millions of polygons can be rendered per second. *Glares accusingly in Sony's direction.*

Re:I'm taking all bets

[maxzilla]

its hard for an Xbox to BSOD when you gan only get it to run linux... what might be more fun is if they take it into a game and find someone yelling over live.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[ChuckSchwab]

Well now hold on. The Xbox 2 is going to be a good, solid system, just like the rest of the Microsoft products. Keep in mind, these are the folks the brought us Windows (!) as well as the whole .NET framework. I personally haven't gotten anything like a BSOD in all my time using Windows. I've seen other people get one on occasion, but never me. Long point short, it's not likely they'll get a blue screen of death on live TV. I think I'll take your bet.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[dioscaido]

I know you are trying to be funny, but that screen is from the developers kit. At CES BillG got a nice big blue screen when a tech was demoing some beta racing game on the xbox.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[NanoGator]

"And you look like a fucking moron to the console world after the lies the dumbfucks at MS told about how many millions of polygons the piece of shit xbox could pump out."

Bullshit. Show me where Microsoft claimed 66 million polygons a second.

"Keep your dimwitted mouth shut you pussy. Got that dweeb?"

Translation: I love Sony so don't be digging up dirt on them!

Re:I'm taking all bets

[NanoGator]

"Why would MS have to make the specific claim that the Xbox could do 66 million polygons per second in order to back up the foul-mouthed poster's case?"

That was more of a poke at Sony than it was a literal challenge. I'm not saying it never happened, but I don't recall MS claiming the XBOX was 6 times more powerful than it really was.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[KDR_11k]

MS appears to have the wrath of some deity against them, every single time they present a product it goes wrong. Bluescreens, earthquakes and various other bugs.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[cthellis]

You're right, they didn't claim 66 million. They claimed 300 million at GDC 2000, downgraded it to 125 million at launch (100+ million sustained transformed and lit polygons), and--exactly like the PS2--come nowhere near those numbers.

Now I'm not sure what demos may exist for either (I was told by someone who ran a huge amount of Performance Analyzer tests on PS2 games that some code exists that comes close to the theoretical maximums--but that's about as meaningful as my saying one car tire CAN spin at 1,000,000 RPM... but not when it's powered or even attached to my car. Fun geekery, but that's about it.) but if we're talking "real world numbers"... No, the tech specs that get bandied about are utterly useless in making a determination.

...and if one is REALLY wanting to laud a company for it, try Nintendo or Sega, whose aim has been much closer to reality. Microsoft is NOT the company to defend when comparing to Sony in that arena.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[NanoGator]

" Microsoft is NOT the company to defend when comparing to Sony in that arena."

Hey, if you can show me where MS touted the XBOX as being several times more powerful than it could really be, I'll happily retract that statement.

Just to be clear: I'm not an XBOX or Microsoft fan. I'm coming from the point of view of somebody who's never heard MS make these sort of claims despite being more or less 'in the know'. I'm not kidding when I say I'll retract it, I just want a little proof.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[NanoGator]

Shit shit shit.

Sorry, I misread your post. When you said " they didn't claim 66 million. They claimed 300 million at GDC 200" I thought you meant Sony, not MS.

Okay, I promised it, you got it: I retract this comment: "Bullshit. Show me where Microsoft claimed 66 million polygons a second." Sorry about that.

Re:I'm taking all bets

[cthellis]

*grins* No sweat. I don't have any individual devotions in the gaming arena, but I do like to clear up silly things like that. (And there seem to be a lot of people who like to kick on Sony because of their tech specs, but remain notably silent about others with similar tendencies.)

Ultimately it's not going to be the power or any specs in "millions" that make a console win out--those things are for us Slashdot-reading geeks to drool over and then bitch about ;-) --but rather the games that hit each system. Do they make that system worth the purchase? I don't think anyone really sits around and chews over the multiplayer titles going "...but the texture resolution will be somewhat better in this scene!" or "5 seconds longer to load...? UNACCEPTABLE!" They're driven by their proprietary games and their overall content, and that's never really going to change.

That being said, ALL the systems have some truly gorgeous and amazing-overall quality games... and we have no idea how many polygons per second they're running at. ;-) Play what you like. ^_^

PSP

[Yeldarb-7]

The PSP "Launch Party" was a flop. Why shouldn't this be also?

Re:PSP

[matth1jd]

I knew alot more about the PSP when they had the launch party for that. What it looked like, how much it was going to cost etc.

Microsoft has been keeping pretty tight wraps on the details. People will probably watch this to just see what the thing is all about.

/Just saying

Re:PSP

[Foolomon]

Because Microsoft has a bug in Excel such that the spreadsheet that calculates the Neilson numbers will make it look like a success.

Re:PSP

[uujjj]

There was a PSP launch party?

Re:PSP

[ZephyrXero]

I doubt I'll watch it live...but I'll probably torrent it a few hours later ;)

Re:PSP

[ZephyrXero]

+0.5 (kind of funny?)

Accessibility?

[ackthpt]

'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.'"

So they put it on a Pay-TV channel? Ok, maybe I'm the last person in the USA without cable. I'll just have to wait for the regular network commercials to tell me how cool this thing is that I don't really need, but will feel strangely compelled to buy anyway.

The Rationale: "We'll introduce it on MTV because it worked for Bill Clinton."

Things to look forward to:

• Blue Music Video of Death
• Some unknown girl/guy in the special will eventually rise to stardom for no apparent reason than they look good and/or can dance and sing
• Days^H^H^H^HHours after the first XBox 2 hits a store shelf before Linux is up and running on one
• First worm to hit XBoxes, which will be virtually impossible to remove due to the closed nature ot the system

Remember when MTV was only about Music Videos?

Re:Accessibility?

[Virtual Karma]

Sorry, but your argument makes no sense.

You say putting it up on MTV is not a bad move. May I know why? MTV is one of the most popular pay channels. MS might have figured that if you dont pay for your digital cable then you might not be in a position to pay for an expensive gaming console and plus fork out $50 for the game titles every month. And you wont subscribe to Xbox live for sure. So you are NOT a potential buyer of XBox 2. So why even spend money to target you and the likes.

About running Linux. Once you have paid money for the console. And made Bill happy do what ever you please. Trash it, use it as a coffee mug holder or run Linux. MS doesnt care a damn.

And yes sir... MTV no more makes money only on Music Videos...

so my advice is ... move on.. MTV did, MS did and so did Linus (moved on from BitKeeper)

Re:Accessibility?

[Politburo]

Things to look forward to:
Blue Music Video of Death
Some unknown girl/guy in the special will eventually rise to stardom for no apparent reason than they look good and/or can dance and sing
Days[You're a tool]Hours after the first XBox 2 hits a store shelf before Linux is up and running on one
First worm to hit XBoxes, which will be virtually impossible to remove due to the closed nature ot the system

Yeah.. cause all of those things happened with the first XBox.. ::rolls eyes::

Re:Accessibility?

[wankledot]

The intersection of people without cable, and people buying a new Xbox2 is pretty close to 0.

Re:Accessibility?

[ackthpt]

You know who watches the networks? All of AARP. You know who's in the target demographic for the XBOX2? Few members of AARP.

You might be closer to the truth then you think. Most people paying for Cable are probably AARP or close to it, meanwhile they have to buy XBoxes for their children/grandchildren who want one for Christmas/Birthday/Rightthisdamnminute

Video games all look really cool until someone breaks out the Tinker Toys....

Re:Accessibility?

[miyako]

actually, I know a lot of people with the current generation of systems, who will also buy the next-gen systems, who do not have cable/sattelite tv. I, and most of the people I know, rarely if ever watch TV. Most shows I ever cared about have been cancelled seasons ago and are available on DVD now. The way I see it, I could spend $50/month for 100 channels of reality TV, or get an extra game a month. I'd much rather have the game.

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:Accessibility?

[ZephyrXero]

But I bet you they've got broadband, so they can just download and watch this thing whenever...

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: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:Accessibility?

[jericho4.0]

I havn't had a tv in 15+ years, and I have several friends without tv's who are gamers.

If the next generation of consoles delivers signifigantly better gaming than PC's (as looks sure to happen), we'll buy them.

Re:Accessibility?

[wizarddc]

I think you mean the empty set.

Re:Accessibility?

[BewireNomali]

exactly. marketing 101 ... you market to those who aren't buying your products. the average x-box gamer is 30 or something, and probably isn't watching mtv.

no need to market to you all, cause you already know what you want and why you want it. gotta get the impressionable ones.

it's crazy cause you all gripe about this lack of attention, but you should be honored a bit that the company respects your own ability to choose discretely... so they're not trying to subliminally cram it down your throat. instead you complain...

you just can't win.

Re:Accessibility?

[Surt]

Blue Music Video of Death

Pervert.

Re:Accessibility?

[fakedupe]

[quote]Some unknown girl/guy in the special will eventually rise to stardom for no apparent reason than they look good and/or can dance and sing [/quote] For no apparent reason? Arent folks who look good, sometimes get paid to be models? Folks who sing and dance, don't we pay them too? Maybe you meant:Some unknown talentless girl/guy in the special will eventually rise to stardom for no apparent reason, being totally annoying and not being able to sing or dance.

Re:Accessibility?

[hackstraw]

Remember when MTV was only about Music Videos?

Ah, but that was way before young people needed soap operas directed towards them. So, MTV became the soap opera channel for teenagers and young 20 somethings, and then the created VH1 with the motto "Music First". Clearly they are living up to their motto by their schedule. Well, 3AM to 10Am at least.

Re:Accessibility?

[Nivoset]

i dont "pay" for cable... it comes magically!!!

actually, i'm one of the lucky ones where the cable companies f*ss up and forget to actually disconnect cable or some such. so i didn't do anything, but i got the basic cable (60+ channels now!) for free. its nice, since i dont think its worth the 30-60$ a month for cable when i mainly have it on as background noise

Re:Accessibility?

[Refrag]

Well, I don't have any subscription television but I do have an HDTV, PlayStation 2, and a GameCube.

But, you're right. I don't have an Xbox.

Re:Accessibility?

[CynicalGuy]

Right now I get 6 MTV channels. 5 of them show music videos all the time. Maybe you need to upgrade to digital cable?

Re:Accessibility?

[Pfhorrest]

Video games all look really cool until someone breaks out the Tinker Toys....

That would be the jewler's screwdriver set and the soldering iron, right?

Re:Accessibility?

[kehren77]

That's an excellent point. Granted a large number of homes get MTV, but it still is a "closed door" situation. Couldn't they have put it on the UPN network so everyone could see it? :)

And if you are going to put it on a cable station, wouldn't you give the event to the schmucks over at G4 TV?

What are these "Music Videos" of which you speak? I think they play some of those from 2am-5am. Personally I miss the days of Beavis and Butthead.

Re:Accessibility?

[drinkypoo]

I don't have any subscription television, but I do have an Xbox and a Gamecube. No HDTV; my big screen is a 1978 sony front projection model :)

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

[p0rnking]

I thought IBM was providing the chops for all of the next gen consoles (PS, Nintendo, and XBox)?
If IBM is providing the chips to M$, then of course M$ is going to have a say with the chip design.

Re:Own hardware

[smackjer]

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

Re:Own hardware

[0kComputer]

Yeah, supposedly that's why there wont be backwards comapatablity. Nvidia made the graphics card for the 1st xbox, and now they are out.

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.

Re:Own hardware

[LordNimon]

Recent news stories report that Microsoft may design their own chips for the Xbox 2 design.

Highly unlikely. They would need to hire a bunch of chip designers, who would work on it for years. We would have heard about it by now, if they had chosen this route.

Re:Own hardware

[JoshRosenbaum]

But because ATI now supplies the GPU, there has been speculation that the Xbox2 will not be backwards compatible.

You sure about that? I would imagine that MS would have an API accessing the graphics components, and that they would just need to change the back-end of the API. It seems far more likely that the backwards compatability problem will come from using a PowerPC chip which uses different machine code than an x86 chip, and would require all games to be recompiled/changed. NOTE: I have not read anything on this subject.

Re:Own hardware

[UnknowingFool]

You sure about that? I would imagine that MS would have an API accessing the graphics components, and that they would just need to change the back-end of the API. It seems far more likely that the backwards compatability problem will come from using a PowerPC chip which uses different machine code than an x86 chip, and would require all games to be recompiled/changed. NOTE: I have not read anything on this subject.

From what I read, the nVidia proprietary technology is not impossible to overcome but difficult considering the timelines involved. I'm sure that with enought time and money, ATI and MS could overcome it, but considering the other challenges, MS seems hell bent on getting to market before the PS3. To some extent, the CPU change is also daunting to overcome as well, but there is far more experience with companies working with x86 code. AMD does it somewhat for their AMD chips so that most if not all software is compatible. Linux, BeOS, and BSD has been ported to x86.

Re:Own hardware

[MKalus]

What I find more interesting is that this could mean more games for the Mac!

Now that would be sort of ironic if Microsoft would be helping Apple to get a foot on the ground with the one thing they truly lack behind right now: games.

Re:Own hardware

[sinkemlow]

I'm pretty sure the manufacturers of the current Xbox are already out of the picture.

I'm also pretty sure that the current Xbox (version 2) are being made in Mexico.

I'm also pretty sure that you could find that company's website here.

Of course, I don't know...I'm just guessing.

Re:Own hardware

[amliebsch]

Right. Just as soon as someone ports DirectX to Mac!

Re:Own hardware

[MKalus]

Sure, directX will make things a lot easier, but I think the biggest issue right now is that most programmers aren't really used to the G5.

Let's wait and see, I think it may help.

Bad move...

[Kjuib]

Releasing the game console right before starwars?!
Anyone who is going for the XBox2 Rush will be inline to see Starwars at some theatre that is not going to show it.

Re:Bad move...

[Golias]

Unless another sequel to Knights of the Old Republic comes out for the new X-Box right away. Then you could play that while all the other chumps are in line for Star Wars, and enjoy fresher dialog, a more compelling story, and better-composed shots, without a hint of Hayden Christiansen anywhere to be seen.

Re:Bad move...

[Striikerr]

This will be the perfect oppoortunity to show just how hardcore some geeks really are. They get a friend (ok, they're geeks and geeks stick together so all their "friends" are in line with them)... better make that: they get their mom to go buy the new Xbox and she brings it, along with a car adapter and portable LCD so her son can play the new xbox in line to the latest Star Wars movie. The first game will be Star Wars themed where Jar-Jar must rescue the pricness from an evil Sith in the guise of a giant ape who throws barrels down some ramps at him.

Re:Bad move...

[TheoMurpse]

You know, I really don't think it's Hayden Christiansen's fault; I saw him in Life as a House, and he was really good. I think it's George Lucas, all by his lonesome, who screwed up II (see I for supporting evidence).

Definitely Next?

[Reignking]

The article (yes, I RTFA) calls it the XBox Next. Is it confirmed, then, that the official name of the new XBox is XBox Next?

Re:Definitely Next?

[ackthpt]

The article (yes, I RTFA) calls it the XBox Next. Is it confirmed, then, that the official name of the new XBox is XBox Next?

No, it'll be the yaXBox

to be followed by the XBoxeon and XBoxium

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:Definitely Next?

[MongooseKY]

I just wish they would change the name to something that doesn't include "box" so that morons would stop using the ever-annoying "boxen".

Re:Definitely Next?

[Fear the Clam]

Xbox 2000

Or does that sound too futuristic?

Re:Definitely Next?

[kneecarrot]

If by "futuristic" you mean "horribly dated", then yes.

Re:Definitely Next?

[ZephyrXero]

They should just call it "Bob" or Xbob for marketing reasons...

In Japan, they can call it the XBoob b/c the only people who bought the first one were big DOA fans.

Re:Definitely Next?

[ZephyrXero]

I just RTFA myself... I can't believe no one has commented on this White Xbox thing... I sure hope that's not true. Damn rasist crackers over at Microsoft :P

Seriously though, I don't want another white console..I thought we did away with that in this last generation :/

Re:Definitely Next?

[Have Blue]

Don't forget "Xenon".

Re:Definitely Next?

[AaronBrethorst]

XBox Science Theater 3000 ;-)

Re:Definitely Next?

[bynary]

Is it going to be a round box?

Re:Definitely Next?

[Mitijea]

Personally, I think this is a good thing. Why should we have to hear about the system first through a third party, rather than straight from the source? And why does it matter what channel it is on? It could be on QVC for all I care - still doesn't mean that I'll stick around to buy some crappy jewelery after it's over. A few days after this showing to the public, the "insiders" will still get their grubby hands on the product, and will let us know how it works out for them. At least now we will have so preconcieved ideas about it to temper their fanaticism. Sure it will be just an infomercial, but again, what is wrong with that? I actually feel a tad bit more respect for Microsoft for coming to us, the consumers, first, rather than the media. At least this way we know up front where the biasedness is (obviously proMS), rather than hidden behind the guise of independent reporting (as if there was such a thing).

Re:Definitely Next?

[RichardX]

Actually, MS have already released Microsoft Bob and they're trying very hard to forget about it...

Re:Definitely Next?

[dwin902]

I believe I remember reading that Xbox 360 was a likely choice because it contained a "3", like the PS3. MS apparently thought that marketing an Xbox 2 would be difficult because consumers would think (subconsciously) that it was less advanced than the PS3. I've never really understood marketing techniques anyway.

Re:Definitely Next?

[MilenCent]

Xbox 360

I always pictured this name option as Microsoft hedging their bets, just in case Nintendo's Revolution turns out to be something soul-shattering that they can try to hurriedly co-opt. I mean, why else would you name your system after the number of degrees in a circle unless you wanted to associated it with revolution.

Re:Definitely Next?

[Anonymous Coward]

There have been three semi-official names kicking around:

* Xbox 2

* Xbox Next

* Xbox 360

Does it not speak volumes about Microsoft's perception of their target audience that they opted away from naming their second console with a two as the suffix due to the fact Microsoft thought consumers would compare it to the three in the "PlayStation 3" and think because three is higher than two...

Now for something shiny.

Re:Definitely Next?

[Unipuma]

Actually, they did the same thing with MSWord, which went from version 2 to version 6. (Because some 'other' word processing software at that moment was at version 5 and going to 6)
Not just breeza teen-boppers fall for this, as long as it's new and shiny, you can sell it to PHBs as well. ;)

It's that bad?

[Quasar1999]

Usually they build enormous hype by not showing it off to the consumer but rather showing it to select few reviewers, who then spill all sorts of happy, wonderful, everything is awesome, best thing since sliced bread reviews... everyone gets all hyped up, and by the time end consumers get to see the product for what it is, full of issues, the hype is so big that no one cares, and they sell millions...

Why switch the perfect marketing model?

Re:It's that bad?

[lpangelrob2]

Shh... shh... you're ruining Microsoft's moment of true innovation! :-)

Re:It's that bad?

[Kwil]

Three possibilities:

1. The thing isn't that great to actually play with. By doing this on MTV, they can avoid reviewers getting their grubby hands on it.

2. They're trying to get that first entry advantage by making it available (at least in mind-share) to the consumers.

3. Both.

Re:It's that bad?

[jmichaelg]

Why switch the perfect marketing model?

Because they don't want to share the stage with Sony's PS3 rollout. This way, at least for now, Xbox will be the toy gamers are talking about for a week before E3. Who knows, maybe Sony will counter with something else like a giving away a night playing video games with Pamela Anderson or something.

In the end, it probably doesn't matter much - when the actual hardware and software goes on sale will matter more as well as the caliber of the software.

Re:It's that bad?

[TGK]

Things I would do with Pamela Anderson....

0001 - [Censored - NSFW]
0002 - [Censored - NSFW]
0003 - [Censored - NSFW]
.
.
.
4657 - Play video games

Re:It's that bad?

[aztektum]

Because they're obviously gunning for the college crowd with this. The new consoles will be more expensive than prior generations, you gotta get those kids to start buying fewer packages of ramen ASAP so they have enough for a downpayment on a loan come release.

Re:It's that bad?

[0racle]

Playing with Pamela Anderson would suck.

Re:It's that bad?

[Richthofen80]

The new consoles will be more expensive than prior generations

FUD. Consoles have hovered in the 'more than 100 but less than 500' range for a while. My parents paid top dollar for their intellivision in the eighties.
http://www.intellivisionlives.com/blues ky/hardware /

That's $300 at release. Wow, same price as Xbox and Playstation, but twenty years later. Now, since the dollar depreciated over time, Xbox and Playstation were actually less costly on their release.

Super Nintendo games were MORE than gamecube games are now. (street fighter 2 was $60, and I remember some carts costing as much as $80).

Not to mention that the video game market is cheaper in general, with a resale market through major video game outlets, so kids can buy used games and trade in their old ones. That didn't exist when the only place you could buy video games was Toys R Us.

Stop whining for college kids and ramen. Xbox Next probably won't be more than $300. The last system to top out too much was Neo Geo, which I believe listed for $500. And didn't sell squat.

Re:It's that bad?

[fbg111]

who then spill all sorts of happy, wonderful, everything is awesome, best thing since sliced bread reviews...

And the result of showing it to the MTV audience first instead will be different how? Same marketing model, different implementation.

Re:It's that bad?

[aztektum]

I'm not a college kid and I hate ramen. It was tongue in cheek.

Re:It's that bad?

[hollismb]

You do realize they'll still be showing it at E3 a couple days later, right? I'm all for this. Instead of waiting an hour to download some shaky handycam video because everyone else and their mother are trying to download it at the same time, I can actually watch a well-presented (at least in terms of video quality) show on television. Sounds good to me. Sure, it'll probably full of fluff and flashy imagery, but it'll at least answer a few questions. What does it look like? What is it called? When does it come out? How much does it cost? Is there the hardrive standard, seperately, or not at all? Will is get/save content directly from a PC on my network (ver likely)? How are the controllers different? Are they standard wireless? Is it backwards compatible? What are some of the launch games, and what do they look like? I'm betting we'll get answers to at least most of those questions.

Re:It's that bad?

[wild_berry]

Why switch the perfect marketing model?

You've not been following the game... The trick these days (compare ilovebees for Halo 2) is to have a viral marketing scheme that forces people to invest themselves (with their time, etc.) in the product before it's available, and the final explanation will have them unable to not purchase the item.

The viral marketing for this one focuses on "ourcolony.net".

Re:It's that bad?

[Lynxara]

Yeah, I'm one of the people who paid $75 for Final Fantasy 2 along with a $200 Super Nintendo. Hearing people bitch and moan about $40 PSP games and $50 dollar PS2 games has always floored me, after living through $60 dollar standard cartridge prices for so long.

Re:It's that bad?

[mink]

IT makes sense for carts to be more expensive since you are paying for actual memory chips and whatnot.

A DVD takes a few cents to press a copy of. Frankly now that everyone has gone optical I do expect games to be released in the $30-$40 range rather then the $50-$60 range.

This is almost as bad as the record companies telling us, CDs will have to be expensive at first to help pay for changing pressing plants over from records to CD, but in a few years prices will drop significantly. Never happened because they got hooked on price fixing, and the government has not got the balls to do anything real about it.

closed door?

[deuist]

How is MTV open door? Most studio visitors will not have a chance to play the X-box. At least trade shows allow anyone with an entrance pass to try the products.

Re:closed door?

[Kwil]

And suddenly you understand.. ..they want to show it.. not have people play it.

Re:closed door?

[Keeper]

Who said that it wouldn't be shown at E3? It isn't DEBUTING at E3; E3 is May 17-19.

"talk to" implies discussion

[Raindance]

"We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first."

Make that, "We wanted to talk directly at the consumer first."

Sadly, you can't "talk to" anyone via TV (especially MTV-style networks). Let's just call this an (admittedly clever) uni-directional advertisement and be done with it.

Re:"talk to" implies discussion

[geomon]

Do you think there will be hot-babes with bare midriffs to sign?

Re:"talk to" implies discussion

[King Fuckstain]

Which is worse: showing it to the general public in a one-way medium or showing it to the so-called journalists at E3 with a wink and a nod?

Either way, you're getting an advertisement. The gaming press is so easily bought and sold that there's very little point reading game reviews. Someday they'll get some integrity...

Re:"talk to" implies discussion

[n0dnarb]

Very "insightful", pointing out the obvious fact that your TV is not a two-way Orwellian telescreen. Does that mean I'll get karma for pointing out the fact that talking via TV ("especially MTV-style networks" or not) doesn't work that well?

Re:"talk to" implies discussion

[thehun101]

They have a name for those: Infomercials.

- the Hun

Re:"talk to" implies discussion

[csrjjsmp]

You most certainly can talk TO them on the TV. You can't talk WITH them.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Subliminal Messages

[CypherXero]

From the virial marketing site: "chaos with penguins"

Shhhh, Microsoft has hidden a secret message in their viral marking website, ourcolony.net

Re:Subliminal Messages

[lxs]

I thought it had something to do with the Virial Theorem, but I can't see how this applies to marketing or the XBox.

bleh

[rwven]

I think largely, people aren't excited anymore like they used to be about console launches. Yeah, neat new technology or whatever, pretty visuals...saw it all last year on my PC... and on another note, whats this drivel about "bringing it to the consumers first?" They're just po'ed because sony got the 3pm slot at E3 and they got the 6pm slot... Typical MS PR cover...

Re:bleh

[lowe0]

Isn't Sony setting up their event independently, and not even in the same city? I'm pretty sure that Sony went ahead and set up their event intentionally to be just before the MS event, and conveniently far enough away that reporters would have to scramble if they were to cover both.

I'm glad MS is doing something different to launch the Xbox, but I doubt I'll get the kind of information I want from an MTV special. I want a release date, price, hardware info (backwards compatible? hard drive? HD capable?) and a look at launch titles. That's a lot of info to try to lay out in half an hour, especially for marketing fluff.

Re:bleh

[PeterFranks]

I think quite the opposite. The competition from the three vendors this current generation has sent the video game industry soaring, and this next gen might be the most important/exciting lineup yet. Sure it's been done on computers before, but consoles are plain more popular. I've always been a console guy myself; I'm pretty excited about it.

Paid Programming

[razmaspaz]

Will this be the highest tune in ever for a paid advertisement that is not taking place during the Super Bowl? I mean really, I don't think MTV is giving away air time to Microsoft...right?

Re:Paid Programming

[wankledot]

Why wouldn't they? Can you imagine now much a 30 second spot during this show would cost? Existing Xbox games, gamer-focused products, etc. will pay big money to get their ads in. If I were MTV, I would be more than willing to give up an hour for a guaranteed demographic in a focused market (games) and very captive audience. MTV's salespeople would fall all over themselves selling ads during this to EA and any other game publisher.

Re:Paid Programming

[torinth]

I mean really, I don't think MTV is giving away air time to Microsoft...right?

Are you kidding?

The odds that Microsoft has to pay for this ad are slim to none, for the very reason you gave! In addition to a good chuck of their normal demographic, tens of thousands of Slashdotter-like nerds, even, who would never tolerate MTV under normal circumstances will secretly tune into their network to see this program. MTV will have other advertisers beating at their door to get the interstitial spots in this program, and that's where the funding comes from.

The first public unveiling of the XBox 2 isn't exactly yet another run of the Oreck Air Purifier ad, you know. It's a highly anticipated event (whether it should be or not), and will draw a huge audience, as you pointed out.

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:Viral Marketing

[sux0rbiscuit]

Our Colony shows to be a pretty good campaign and we carry the news on Our Colony at IU.

Re:Viral Marketing

[Anonymous Coward]

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

What, they managed to fit the whole thing in one picture?

Re:Viral Marketing

[stemcell]

Grandparent: The rewards give out tiny glimpses of the Xbox 2

So I'm guessing they couldn't...

Re:Viral Marketing

[MilenCent]

So, could someone tell me how ILoveBees, despite having a Halo 2-themed story, actually had all that much to do with Halo 2? It could have been used just as well to hype Kirby's Air Ride.

Re:Viral Marketing

[Snowmit]

What, they managed to fit the whole thing in one picture?

Hilariously, they didn't.

May 12 should be fine.

[bigtallmofo]

I don't mind this airing on MTV so long as it does not impede or interfere in any way with the airing of MTV's coverage of Spring Break.

I've seen pornography that was less graphic than MTV in those shows.

cross-marketing

[SalMoriarty]

just think of the cross-marketing ideas microsoft has for this contract they signed with MTV. it probably includes a required "best week ever" spot on vh1, plus it will automatically win "best whatever of the year" award at the spike tv video game awards. don't even get me started on the possibilities with cbs and the nfl (though, EA may have that all wrapped up).

Why Bother with Our Colony...

[UnHolyRam]

... Since it seems we now know what it's counting down to.

Wardrobe Malfunction

[amigoro]

Rumour has it that Bill Gates is going to suffer a wardrobe malfunction on the show and reveal to the world the true meaning of microsoft and why he is not trying to get perpendicular.

Re:Wardrobe Malfunction

[TeknoHog]

He: How's this for a hard drive?
She: *sigh* I didn't think anyone used 3.5'' floppies any more

(with apologies to Sexy Losers)

Core Audience

[geek_xyu]

Wasn't the original xbox supposed to be aimed at a more mature market? Instead here microsoft is targeting the Britany Spears/reality tv fans. Not much of a surprise but I don't think Microsoft has a clue what they are doing. They are just praying their new system doesn't lose money when it debuts like xbox 1 did.

Re:Core Audience

[Rude Turnip]

"...a more mature market?..."

Yes, and now all those mature people can feel like they are young and hip since they had to watch MTV to see the launch of XBII. It's all part of the plan.

Re:Core Audience

[javaxman]

Wasn't the original xbox supposed to be aimed at a more mature market? Instead here microsoft is targeting the Britany Spears/reality tv fans.

You either overestimate the sophistication of Xbox users, or underestimate the age of folks watching Real World/Road Rules Challenge XXXTREME or whatever they're showing on MTV these days. In either event, there probably is a good amount of overlap in the target audience. They're trying to hook eyes of 14-40 year-old bored people with disposable income and lots of free time. MTV is as good a place for that as you'll find, these days.

Re:Core Audience

[ihatewinXP]

Aside from 'the Xbox losing money' deal I think you have really hit the point. I was in the discussion the other day of PSP vs. DS and it became clear that Sony was making mistakes that christ almighty either they themselves have made recently or other companies paid forward for them.

Letting the DS ship 6 million units before the PSP went on sale? Not including at least some paltry Memory Stick? Going with Yet Another Bastard Sony Media? Comparing a design flaw to a work of art (wow)?

I find it amusing that these monolithic companies dont seem to learn from their successes or mistakes. The Xbox is an entry into the computer (hardware) business for MS. The largest company in the world went into the deal planning on losing money up front and they did and thats cool. Now whether or not they planned on only selling about 100,000 boxes in japan is up for debate but it was and is clearly aimed at an older audience in America. The older audience 'gets it' as not just a game box but a damn good/cheap media center - and thats why many of us took the next step faster then MS wanted and started modding them.

Where is NextBox going to be targeted? I hate to tell them but they cant compete with Nintendo with younger kids (and the _parents_ who drive them to the store and purchase the system) or compete on any level with the Sony installed user base. That left them the grown ups but spending millions to launch it on MTV is obviously not aiming for that either.

WTF? I guess we will see. Myself, I have a modded xbox (Leet-Gear.com shameless plug) but I have always 'enjoyed' Nintendo games and products the most. When the NextBox becomes moddable I will purchase one, other than that, I am holding oput for a Revolution......

Re:Core Audience

[Guppy06]

"Wasn't the original xbox supposed to be aimed at a more mature market? Instead here microsoft is targeting the Britany Spears/reality tv fans."

No no, they don't want the mature market, they want the market that thinks of themselves as mature, i. e. the Britney fans.

Re:Core Audience

[El]

Advertising on MTV? Sounds to me like their target market is really clueless people with lots of disposable income... how many people that watch MTV can actually afford an Xbox? Hmm... they must be targetting the kids that can whine until their parents but them one!

Personally, I only have Basic Cable 'cause it is free with my internet connection, so I couldn't watch MTV even if I wanted to... which is ok, since I haven't wanted to for about 20 years now. (Yes, when I was a teen I used to watch MTV because music videos were new and cool and I was hoping some of that coolness would rub off on me. It didn't.)

Re:Core Audience

[javaxman]

No no, they don't want the mature market, they want the market that thinks of themselves as mature, i. e. the Britney fans.

That was soo much better than my response. I salute you, Guppy06

Re:Core Audience

[geek_xyu]

I am a speaker over your age range and I happen to enjoy games that don't involve cartoon like animals. I look for games that I find entertaining not just filled with gore or objectification of women. As far as your remarks go I'll assume your are making direct comments towards the GTA series. While GTA does have content you may not agree with it is a reflection of real life and it show you what the cost of attempting to live that life is. You can find the same violence on television or movies. I find any of the godfather movies or even scar face identicle. They were violent, but they also showed what was lost when they lived that life. Gta shows that if you attempt a crime the cops will come down on you hard, you lose friends and family and even risk your life. It has deeper meaning for those willing to see it.

Re:Core Audience

[kurosawdust]

Real World/Road Rules Challenge XXXTREME

Not to get off-topic, but did you ever notice how some of the same people keep showing up for "Real World/Road Rules Challenge X" year after year after year? I guess they've chosen to make a career of walking tightropes above skyscrapers and whining in confessional booths.

Re:Core Audience

[javaxman]

did you ever notice how some of the same people keep showing up for "Real World/Road Rules Challenge X" year after year after year?

Clearly, there's some mix of the producers thinking "let's get this dynamic/bitchy/interesting character" and the people thinking "I've nothing better going on". The current "Good Guys vs. Bad Asses" puts that right out there.

It's like shooting fish in a barrel, though. I mean, these are people who were clearly dying to get on TV for a few seconds in the first place, of course they're going to go back if given a chance, right?

Ugh, I don't believe I'm talking about this. I feel all dirty now. I swear, I don't watch the show. Really. Until there's a good fight and someone calls me away from my video game to check it out, at least...

Re:Core Audience

[snuf23]

Uh huh, are you SURE you don't fit into that "14-40 year-old bored people with disposable income and lots of free time" demographic?

Re:Core Audience

[javaxman]

Uh huh, are you SURE you don't fit into that "14-40 year-old bored people with disposable income and lots of free time" demographic?

Oh, I fit the demographic, all right, though the income and time aspects are debatable. I just don't like the show, I'd rather play video games or oh, I don't know, watch actual music videos.

I know about the show because someone I live with watches it.

Re:Core Audience

[snuf23]

"I know about the show because someone I live with watches it."

I feel for you. The horror, the horror!

Elijah Wood?

[News for nerds]

Sorry I prefer Monkey Boy.

MTV -- Pimp my XBox

[the_skywise]

I don't think I need to add anything further...

Re:MTV -- Pimp my XBox

[Reignking]

That'll never happen -- MS will sue if you try to mod your XBox!

Re:MTV -- Pimp my XBox

[AceCaseOR]

How do you put spinner rims & hydraulics on an X-Box?

Re:MTV -- Pimp my XBox

[JFMulder]

Better than that. Make a speicla jackass episode. Have Johny Knoxville kids kicking him in the nuts while he uses the Xbox-camera as a jackstrap to see if it's sturdy or put the controller in his underwear and walk around in the city. Or just have Steve-O pee on a turned on machine and see how much pain from electric shock he can tolerate.

The list gets longer

[brontus3927]

The list just keeps getting longer of the things I have no interest in buying. I'm not really a console person in general, but I dispise XBox. I mean, that controller is just huge. I'm also the kind of n00b that moves the controller around, I've just never been able to kick the habit not since I was a kid playing on the Atari 2600. With the Xbox controller's heft, I might accidently kill somebody.

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

[brontus3927]

I was talking about the smaller controller. I've never even tried the "full size" one.

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:The list gets longer

[whathappenedtomonday]

I'm also the kind of n00b that moves the controller around

hm you should try this, especially if you like racing games:
Tilt Gamepad

Re:The list gets longer

[Blue-Footed Boobie]

The controller has been 'normal' sized for about 2 years now.

Re:The list gets longer

[Jarlsberg]

Bleh, it's people like you that made MS change their controller. The original controller was really well designed and fits into my hands perfectly.

Re:The list gets longer

[MKalus]

I agree 100%. I loved it, it was / is one of the nicest controllers I had in my hands so far.

I am not a fan of the S controller, and apparantly Microsoft STILL makes the original one somewhere, but I don't seem to be able to find it :(

I have two controllers and I hope dearly that they don't break.

Re:The list gets longer

[vincent404]

honestly, I tend to agree on some points. I am somewhat of a console person, but I just don't feel the spark when it comes to the Xbox 2. I think its becuase they have yet to acheive the full pontential of the Xbox itself and I feel that releasing another system so soon would be a bit of an issue.

Re:The list gets longer

[badriram]

good to know there are other here that like the older controllers. They dont make any new ones and the small ones just suck.... :-(

Re:The list gets longer

[brontus3927]

It just doesn't sit comfortably in my hands. I find the PS2 and N64 controllers much more comfortable

Re:The list gets longer

[brkello]

Well, the controller was resized. Actually, out of the three consoles (I own them all) the xbox controller is my favorite. It is just more confortable than the other two. Usually Nintendo is on top of that...but in this generation, it is my least favorite controller by far. But really, what does the old controller have to do with the next generation Xbox. Nothing. Just another slashdotter excuse to bash MS for karma.

Re:The list gets longer

[Big Cheelay]

For the first time, I don't feel like a large handed freak in my love for the original Xbox controller. It fits perfectly in my paws. I can't stand the S-controller or PS2's controller which I thought were aimed more towards children, women, and/or carnies.

Aww man...

[Stick_Fig]

...it's gonna be huge, just like the Xbox 1.

Sorry guys, had to do it. :(

well.. at a trade show..

[gl4ss]

you might be given some hard pressed questions from industry experts asking if the plastic case actually is the machine and if it actually works.

a show on mtv would be just one way, them pulling all the strings and saying whatever they want of the device - without the possibility for anyone to ask questions about it.

Re:well.. at a trade show..

[tomstdenis]

You mean they're not objective? Neither is CNN but nobody seems to mind that...

The best part of MTV [or MuchMusic in Canada] is the big titted teenage chicks with low self-esteem. Nothing like the mute button to enjoy a good 30 min program ;-)

Tom

Re:well.. at a trade show..

[Keeper]

Who said that they wouldn't be showing it at E3? They're launching it on a TV show, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to show it anywhere else.

Re:well.. at a trade show..

[xgamer04]

a show on mtv would be just one way, them pulling all the strings and saying whatever they want of the device - without the possibility for anyone to ask questions about it.

Just like cable news channels!

target market

[Therlin]

Maybe you are not in their intended target market?

This could be dangerous for MTV

[Anonymous Coward]

By showing what amounts to an ad, they might lose their position of artistic integrity they've developed all these years.

How will they get in a word edgewise?

[dr_dank]

In the past ten years since the ADHD league took over MTV programming, will this unveiling go as expected?

Bill Gates:
Welcome to the next level of home video game enter

ANNOYING POPUP!-HI THIS IS MEGAN FROM CRAPSMELL, NJ AND I LOVE JAY-Z, WOOOOO!

its processing power will make its extensive library of

RANDOM SNIPPET OF VIDEO!

the Xbox2 will retail for

HEY ITS CARSON DALEY, LOOK AT HIS HAIRLESS CHEST Aieeee!

Re:How will they get in a word edgewise?

[tedrlord]

I think I represent all people with ADHD when I say I take offense at that. I can't keep up with anything MTV plays anymore. Leaving it on for more than a minute gives me a migraine.

Actually, these days I think all they play is a pattern of flickering lights that hypnotizes teenagers into buying 50 Cent/Eminem albums and any product containing the word X-TREME.

Re:How will they get in a word edgewise?

[Eric S Raymond]

I've got ADD, not ADHD, you INSENSITIVE CLOD!

Re:How will they get in a word edgewise?

[tedrlord]

As far I can tell, they're the same thing. People with ADHD inattentive-type aren't actually hyperactive, but they still call it ADHD. Never figured that part out.

Should read:

[superultra]

"We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first."

There must be a typo. Moore's quote, in light of Sony's recent attempt to upstage Microsoft at E3 by showcasing the PS3 3 hours earlier, should read: "We wanted to talk directly to the consumer, first."

Reading between the lines

[psplay]

The article reeks of Marketing squalk. Lots of hype and worlds longer than marmalade, lot of Wow and fizz, but not much substance. No wonder it's on MTV.

If there was something interesting to say about the product, don't you think they would have mentioned that instead of "behind-the-scenes video" and "jam packed with celebs"?

When a Mareketing Manager is "ecstatic about our alliance with MTV" instead of ecstatic about the product. I begin to doubt. Is it me or does this article give off vibes of overhyping to compensate for a poor product?

Re:Reading between the lines

[Jarlsberg]

When a Mareketing Manager is "ecstatic about our alliance with MTV" instead of ecstatic about the product. I begin to doubt. Is it me or does this article give off vibes of overhyping to compensate for a poor product?

Sheesh, didn't you know that marketing guys are ecstatic about everything that's even remotely connected to the products they are marketing. :)

In this context, of course they're ecstatic about their "alliance" with MTV. I'm *pretty* sure they're also ecstatic about their product, its line-up, its new look, their tie-in with ATI and IBM etc.

Re:In Other News...

[daeley]

Wait, am I thinking of a different channel? Please don't tell me the "M" is for "Microsoft."

The "M" is for "Marketing."

Marketing killed the video star.

Re:"Press the Buttons"?

[nb caffeine]

Thats a good question. Their writeup sounded like reading slashdot at -1.

Not that i expect a lot from blogs (god i hate that word), but come on, how about something a tiiiiny bit insightful, you know, a reason for existance.

Come to find out, the guy who runs press the buttons works for everything2.com, and guess who the registration contact in the whois information is:
Checking server [whois.easydns.com]
Results:
Registrant:
Blockstackers
8122 Main St
Dexter, MI 48130
US

Domain name: EVERYTHING2.COM

Administrative Contact:
Malda, Rob easydns@cmdrtaco.net
8122 Main St
Dexter, MI 48130
US
616.395.5400 Fax: 616.395.0223


I usually despise conspiracy theories on slashdot, but it looks like taco is throwing a friend of his a bone by linking up on slashdot. Ugh.

Interested maybe, not, kinda?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm interested in Xbox2 only if it allows me to use it for:
- internet browsing front end
- music playback
- video playback (mpeg1, 2, 4, wm)
- video recording using external capture box
- games
- a .net virtual machine so I can run end user written code

Re:Interested maybe, not, kinda?

[corsican]

Dude, they have that already. They call it a "PC."

Re:Interested maybe, not, kinda?

[Nosferax]

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

Re:Interested maybe, not, kinda?

[kannibal_klown]

Some of the rumors say that they're 2 versions of XBox 2, one barebones and one with a hard drive (for convenient saves and what-not).

Re:Interested maybe, not, kinda?

[Surt]

Cool, where can I buy subsidized PC hardware?

Re:Interested maybe, not, kinda?

[FuturePastNow]

You can go buy an XBox now for $150.

Re:Interested maybe, not, kinda?

[Surt]

That was my point. ;-)

Re:Xbox2 is G5 powered!!!

[Psykechan]

yea, because I always use Windows XP on my Xbox1.

The TiVo units use a PPC and so far no one has been able to run any MacOS on them.

By this logic, you should be able to run MacOS 8 and below on a Genesis or NeoGeo because they are 680x0 based.

There is a lot more than processors to make a computer.

Good Move

[slusich]

This is going to expose the product to the people who are going to be buying it early on. I personally can't wait to see it, and depending on the price point, I'll probably buy one farily soon after they come out. I've got all 3 of the current generation of consoles, and at present I own more games for the Xbox then the other 2 combined. The Xbox is a really solid machine, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what the next generation is going to be capable of.

Maybe not 12th. Register saying Sony and M$, 16th

[cyanics]

According to the register, Sony and Micro$haft will be debuting their platforms on the 16th, not the 12th.

Double header.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/11/sony_ms_ ps 3_xbox2_launch/

Marketing Risk?!?!?

[affinity]

Will this gamble prove successful for Microsoft's marketing machine or will it just add to the loses that MS will pile up for the launch of XB2?

Most gamers will pay more attention to E3 then to the MTV special as reports from E3 will be _honest_ and not the fluf that MS puts out.
However may MTV may have the better lookin chick's?!?!

Reminder

[mattmentecky]

I see a lot of "jokes" being tossed about in relation to MTV rarely being about music, Xbox debuting is an example of this etc. however need I not remind you that this is not unique to MTV, for example CBS rarely broadcasts about Colombia.

Re:Reminder

[Reignking]

Well, no. And it had nothing to do with dropping the word "Fried", either, which I had thought was true.

The snopes articles says the real reason behind the shift to KFC had nothing to do with healthy food or finicky consumers: it was about money -- money that Kentucky Fried Chicken would have had to pay to continue using their original name.

Special Edition Xbox

[Anonymous Coward]

They'll be missing out on an obvious marketting ploy if they don't call it that.

This will be running a G5, right?

[Rude Turnip]

How long before someone figures out how to get OS X running on one of these? Or, if it's easier to get a PPC Linux distro installed, then it's just a matter of installing Mac-On-Linux afterwards.

Re:This will be running a G5, right?

[javaxman]

How long before someone figures out how to get OS X running on one of these? Or, if it's easier to get a PPC Linux distro installed, then it's just a matter of

If we're taking bets, I'm going to guess ( for no good reason, without justification ) there's nothing like a Northbridge on this thing, so PPC Linux first.

Besides, you're not breaking a software EULA to get Linux working on your Xbox, doesn't that mean anything to you people ?

Damn, I need a sarcasm key for that last line.

And no, not a 'G5'. Something like it, but likely not actually a G5. A 64-bit PowerPC chip. Not a G5. Though the difference might be slight... it could be significant. The "Cell" for the PS3 is a PowerPC chip, too, but it's quite different from the PowerPC 970.

Re:OMG

[ZephyrXero]

No....ya didn't :P

Microsoft marketing genius

[PhatboySlim]

Am I the only one who sees this as a genius marketing move? How long have consumer electronics been debuted at trade show events without any coverage except on Tech/G4-Tv.

MTV may no longer play music videos, but they get great ratings, and specifically within those great ratings is the hard to reach demographic that the XBOX should appeal to.

Congrats to Microsoft for being the first to figure this out. Keep an eye out for Sony to follow their lead if this works out well.

Re:Microsoft marketing genius

[maxzilla]

Or sony will just enslave a college and make them do their bidding before beaming them to space. I wouldnt be suprized if Sony did the unveling at the NFL draft...

MTV...

[FoXDie]

This is exactly the reason I can't get myself to accept the Xbox. They are catering to, as Penny Arcade put it nicely, the Generic Frat Fuck. http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-11 -08&res=l

Re:MTV...

[spectecjr]

This is exactly the reason I can't get myself to accept the Xbox. They are catering to, as Penny Arcade put it nicely, the Generic Frat Fuck.

How do you figure? What about the XBOX, exactly, caters only to "the Generic Frat Fuck"? What's different here to what Sony's doing? And how the hell did you get modded insightful? Because your post shows nearly zero insight - just a link to penny arcade.

I'll wait

[Tenebrious1]

I'll wait on buying it until Microsoft releases Xbox2SP1.

Re:In Other News...

[Rayonic]

...for some reason, no one is surprised when MTV ("Music" TV) announces yet another half hour of programming devoted to something completely unrelated to the, you know, music.

Actually, I'm sure this program will have a few game montages set to music. Halo footage set to some rock, GTA-ripoff set to some hip-hop, a new Project Gotham racer... They could easily triple or quadruple MTV's weekly music video quotient.

Good move by Microsoft

[Dark Paladin]

Already, they've put themselves into the name game for the mainstream media right before E3. It won't be "blah, blah, blah, Xbox and PS3 unvieled today", it will be three straight days of "blah, blah, blah, Xbox" - then when E3 hits, "And now lets' compare the PS3 to the Xbox".

While I have my issues with the Xbox losing a ton o' money for Microsoft and not having a big enough library for my tastes (let me state: my personal tastes, so please so replies about the 10 Xbox games that are the "bestest evah!", thank you), at least they're working harder on the marketing for the Xbox 2 - more Japanese developers are announcing products, better viral marketing.

Now that the Sony and Xbox lines will be compatible in power and graphics, it will come down to the games and other features (like Blue Ray and such). Eh - I'm patient. I probably won't buy either system for at least a year after they come out.

Maybe ;).

Re:Good move by Microsoft

[klocwerk]

because going first worked great for the nintendo DS...

Re:Good move by Microsoft

[Dark Paladin]

I didn't say the move would bring success - only it was a good one.

Besides, the DS seems to be doing pretty well.

New Technology...

[Thunderstruck]

Certain to be fast, amazing, and internet enabled. So will it have a telnet/MUD client?

"Welcom to Microsoft MUD. It looks like you're trying to PK. Would you like..."

Re:CPU hardware

[Jace of Fuse!]

So how much improvement will the new PowerPC cpu chip be over the piece of sh*t 700mhz celeron that the oiginal X-Box has?

Quite a bit, actually, and the ATI chip will be an improvement as well. So the new XBox gets a boost in power and specs, but loses backwards compatibility, the hard drive, and shakes off a few more 3rd party developers.

Where are the Netcraft confirms XBox is dying posts?

Xbox2?

[Daedalus_]

I thought it was supposed to be called the Xbox360 or somesuch?

May 12?

[uvsc_wolverine]

Hey! That's my birthday! Maybe with all the patents that Microsoft has been awarded for dumb stuff, I can get a patent on items being released on May 12 and sue Microsoft for royalties!

Re:I thought SONY owns MTV...

[Reignking]

Wrong. CBS owns Viacom which owns MTV.

msnbc?

[Tired_Blood]

If they're doing it on cable tv, why not use MSNBC? Wasn't that the point of the ownership? Or did they just forget that they have a cable asset?

Re:msnbc?

[DrEldarion]

Who do you think buys more video games, the MSNBC crown or the MTV crowd?

Why on MTV? Top 3 reasons

[horza]

Top 3 reasons to release on MTV instead of allowing public near the box:

3) experienced gamers may comment on the gameplay instead of the pretty cut sequences

2) the BSOD occurences can be snipped from the 'live' broadcast

1) the prototype board which happens to have better specs can be hidden under the desk and empty xbox2 case

Phillip.

Re:So?

[aXiSPoWeR]

there is a ton of great games for the xbox just EAs sports line up with XBox live is superior to all else. Beyond that XBox has numerous games that are worth playing that most people ignore. If your willing to open up the XBox with XBMC the media capabilities are enourmous streaming video audio and images and you don't even need a mod chip for it. In the end XBox is the most powerful system out there. Just most people are sony fanatics and are not willing to give it a chance and learn about it. As far as XBox 2 they got the creator of final fantasy to make games for it. It seems that XBox 2 will not be a console to be ignored. Within months people will crack it again making it a billion times better. There are ton of xbox haters just cuz it's "Microsoft" but everyone that was able to look past that fact has enjoyed it thoroughly. XBox has become biggest part of my home theater set up and i wouldn't trade it for the world. While my PS2 is collecting dust.

Don't you mean.....

[LanMan04]

Sony Rapee?

After ps2 and before ps3

[ozzmosis]

Pretty short life of the xbox.

Re:CPU hardware

[Drooling Iguana]

Also means that Macs are going to get the X-Box 2 emulators before PCs.

MTV?

[bbzzdd]

I'll wait for the torrent with the 2:03 minutes of actual content.

Kids watch MSNBC?

[cbreaker]

So, what kids do you know that watch MSNBC?

I guess they think the biggest money is in the kid sales. Maybe it is. But I know a LOT of twenty-somethings that buy all this stuff and we're not watching MTV.

MTV was good when they had Music Videos of all types. Not, if you actually catch a video, it's crap eyecandy with all booty and no originality. But now it's all these shows, every one packed full with teenage girls that scream at whatever the next boy band is. No thanks.

Re:Kids watch MSNBC?

[tanxadillo2]

All the kids I know watch C-Span.

Thinking micro style

[drakethegreat]

Well if you were to unvail the worlds most expensive console that exceeds all others by a price of double the usual entree level standard then what better place then MTV? MTV is full of kids who REALLY REALLY HAVE TO HAVE THAT. They think OOOOOH thats the coolest thing right now and it compliments my style because MTV tells me its cool! Its all marketing and I guess microsoft knows true geeks would rather have a hacked Xbox 1 then a 700 dollar Xbox 2... We actually think before we buy.

SPOILER - Preview of H/W specs

[Anonymous Coward]

CPU: Da Bomb!
Graphics Processor: Sick!
RAM: INTENSE!
Memory Bandwidth: Kickin'
Polygon Performance: Da shiznat!
Storage Medium: To da MAX!
Pixel Fill Rate: Just sick, yo
Audio Channels: Outta control!

Re:SPOILER - Preview of H/W specs

[Howler]

Damn! I was hoping that the Pixel Fill rate would be "wack" and not "just sick, yo."

Re:SPOILER - Preview of H/W specs

[mink]

I am also dissapointed that nothing is "off the hook".

It's an infomercial.

[IGnatius T Foobar]

So basically what they're saying here, is that they're doing an infomercial. Microsoft has sunk low enough to advertise its products through infomercials, and MTV has sunk low enough to run infomercials.

Sorry people, I don't watch infomercials unless they contain the genius of Ron Popeil. And let me tell you, Bill Gates is no Ron Popeil.

Game demos?

[Quiet_Desperation]

Will it play anything other than FPSs and auto racers?

Not that there's anything wrong with FPSs and auto racing, but, geez...

I know! How about a WWII shooter?!?! Has that been done?

Re:So?

[Turn-X Alphonse]

I'm more a Nintendo fanboy but still. The Xbox holds no intrest to me what so ever. I don'tlike sports games or console FPS which is all it does seem to have. I don't like the FF series so that goes out the window.

I'll stick to my cube and DS. At least I know what I'm getting then

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:CPU hardware

[Jace of Fuse!]

That might be the case, except as far as I can tell there aren't even any really usable XBox emulators for the PC yet. One sort of functions, and another will run Halo, though I don't know how well.

Given how long these two emulators have been in the works, there's no reason to expect the XBox 2/Next/Xenon will be emulated any day soon.

But if it does happen, yes, I would think it would appear on the Mac first.

You Forget...

[jweric]

Most people who watch reality are adults with lifes. For the most part.
However most of the people that watch MTPeee are Kids who have no idea of what life really is...
Which is slashdot... And tiny slips of paper called checks and pink slips...

Re:Maybe not 12th. Register saying Sony and M$, 16

[Jarlsberg]

Here are the air times from the norwegian press release. I won't bother to translate the text, as I'm sure it's pretty easy to figure it out.

Air dates for "MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed"

Nord-Amerika: Torsdag 12. mai klokken 9.30 pm (21:30)

Japan/Asia: Fredag 13.mai klokken 11.30

Frankrike: Fredag 13. mai klokken 19:00

Tyskland: Fredag 13. mai klokken 19:00

Italia: Fredag 13. mai klokken 23:30

Nederland: Fredag 13. mai klokken 19:30

Polen: Fredag 13. mai klokken 21:00

Portugal: Fredag 13. mai klokken 20:00

Romania: Fredag 13. mai klokken 20.00

Skandinavia: Fredag 13. mai klokken 22:00

Spania: Fredag 13. mai klokken 21:30

England: Fredag 13. mai klokken 20:00

Australia: Fredag 13. mai klokken 19:00

The Big Question

[fbg111]

Will it be backwards compatible with Xbox?

The opposite actually...

[gosand]

The "M" is for "Marketing." Marketing killed the video star.

Actually, I think marketing MADE the video star. Marketing is all they have.

SHOUT OUTS

[gosand]

ANNOYING POPUP!-HI THIS IS MEGAN FROM CRAPSMELL, NJ AND I LOVE JAY-Z, WOOOOO!

HI, this is Steve from Redmond WA. WHUT WHUT. I'd like to give a shout-out to my homies back home - BILL, CLIPPY, AND ALL THOSE DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Re:SHOUT OUTS

[TheoMurpse]

You forgot, "Give it up for me!"

By the way, you deserve about 200 mod points for that. It's the funniest thing I've read all week.

Hooray!

[EiZei]

Now all the slashdot armchair humourists can start recycling all their 4-year-old microsoft console jokes. Oh joy.

My main concern is...

[Xarius]

<flamebait>
Will this successor be large enough to break a human back when dropped from 4 feet? Will the controller still require 4" long nail extensions to reach all areas?
</flamebait>

Got Next? (snooooze)

[gosand]

I am sure they will adopt the campaign/slogan
"Who's got next" or "Got next?"

snooooooze.

Two things:

[Wraithfighter]

1: They aren't releasing it four days before E3, they're just showing it off with a few tech demos. Ya know, stuff that makes everyone go ooh and ahh and won't matter much because its all about the games, not graphical specs. Otherwise, Xbox and Gamecube would be the top-sellers in this generation, since they have the best graphics, instead of the PS2's lackluster visuals. 2: Just a note: The OurColony.net thing has a countdown timer that ends an hour and a half after this special, and its been pretty much proven that Microsoft is behind it all :). So two questions: 1: Why an hour and a half difference? Did they forget to account for daylight savings time or did MTV change the time? 2: What happens there when it hits 0?

Re:Basically, your buying an extra computer ! wast

[zymano]

Sorry. but this is not offtopic !

Anyone else agree ?

Not so much anymore

[Syncdata]

I've been without cable for about 3 years now, and after the initial withdrawl symptoms wore off, I realized how many hours were actually in a day, as well as having 45 extra duckets to spend/save as I please. The only thing I miss is sports, and the internet covers that desire adequetly.

I was listening to NPR sunday, and there was a segment on On the media, related to how american express and Proctor and gamble are divesting in television ads due to a declining revenue/per ad dollar spent.

10 years ago, the Television was the entertainment hub in the home. Now, with the internet, DVDs, MP3s, etc, there is no real Hub perse.

Let me tell you, when Proctor and Gamble is worried about television advertisement, change, she is a coming.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Yeah, I can see it now

[homer_ca]

Yo yo yo! We got MC Billy G in da hizzie wit da live world premier of the Xbox2. The dopest ass game console, fo' sho'! Give it up for my man, Billy G.

Re:Yeah, I can see it now

[Lisandro]

You should be modded +1 Insightful. Or +1 Funny. Or even better, "+1 Sad truth".

MTV is a bad joke these days.

It's not a pay channel..

[Genjurosan]

at least, when 99% of the viewers have their parents pay for it. *grin*

And actually, you might be the LAST person in the US that doesn't have basic cable. Just kidding of course, but I think it makes sense. The amount of market that is going to be missed is most likely less than a fraction of percent of the target market. That fraction will be made up through WOM.

Re:It's not a pay channel..

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

And actually, you might be the LAST person in the US that doesn't have basic cable.

Actually most "basic" cable service does not include MTV and such, generally just "the networks" and a few channels such as CSPAN, CSPAN2. This "basic" cable service generally runs something like $10 to $15 per month.

The service which adds the 50 or so channels like MTV, ESPN, CNN, VH1, and so on, is generally called "standard" cable. While rates vary wildly in different states, etc, generally $35 to $50 per month.

Re:It's not a pay channel..

[Genjurosan]

Good point..but basic cable is subdivided by some carriers into limited and standard basic. Either way, your splitting hairs, when I was just giving him a hard time. toe-may-toe ta-mah-toe

Re:CPU hardware

[Drooling Iguana]

They haven't got PS2 or Gamecube emulation working either, but they will. It just takes a while for the emulation projects to catch up to the current hardware (with a few notable exceptions like the near-instant arrival of GBA emulators.)

yeah...a market which..

[bmajik]

sony invented and cornered with the playstation 1.

i loved FF7 as a game. imagine my horror when i realized that _those_ people played it also.

everybody in this generation grew up with video game machines at home. The PS1 came out right about the time that the 8 bit generation was going off to college.

consoles are no longer the domain of the nerdy game wizard at home. they're mainstream.

Microsoft is going after sony where sony already is. MS didn't invent the concept of the video-game-experience-for-mouth-breathers,but seeing how affluent and indiscrete mouth breathers are, they sure want a peice of the action.

Re:CPU hardware

[burns210]

I thought the rule of thumb was to have full speed emulation of another architecture (old atari, nintendo, etc) you needed 10x the processor speed. Is that not true?

Given the specific hardware, I wouldn't think even the fastest of the dual proc Powermacs would be able to properly play an xbox (let alone a 3-processor PS3) emulator+game in any usable or enjoyable way.

Re:Just like computers used to be....

[DeXtroMe]

Sorry Jefferson, Nixon, and Truman. Come on someone here gets it it's Futurama

Er.

[A Sea and Cake]

Let's just hope that this iteration of the x-box won't be the size of a small planet.

This doesn't mean...

[PapagenoX]

the console will actually be available, but just that we'll get the specs, some pics, and a release date, right?

Re:Just like computers used to be....

[snuf23]

"I'm not saying XBox sucks (although it does)"

Um, doesn't that mean you are kind of, you know, saying that it sucks?

"it's just Microsoft's typical "dumbing-down" for the masses. They can make more $$ from zillions of average Joes than from nerds, and as they care about $/quality, there you go.."

The Xbox is the most nerd friendly console out there. It has easy to solder in mod chips, a hard drive you can upgrade, ports that can use standard USB keyboards and mice with a plug convertor, tons of free emulation, homebrew games, ports and media software. And yes it can run Linux.

Games

[Tom]

Xbox 2 will be revealed on live TV on May 12.

Two additional games will be revealed on June, 17. A third is expected before August.

Wrong criterion

[Yakko]

I happen to not have cable (because I NEVER watch TV, that's why), and I'll -still- skip on the xbox and the xbox2. There are reasons for this:

- no games that interest me. Those that do are available on the Cube or PS2, and even if they weren't, they're not exactly killer apps. Anyway, once I filter out the FPS and sports games, there's virtually nothing left

- I'm uninterested in playing games online with a bunch of strangers, much less in -paying- for the privilege of online play

- For xbox, the hardware was totally uninspiring. This doesn't mean anything significant, but coupled with the "no games" thing, it's just another nail in the coffin. I'm not sure what the xbox2 hardware will really be, so jury's out (though it's probable that the controller will STILL suck)

- I'm (almost) totally uninterested in using the console for anything except playing games. The only peripheral interest I have here is buying a used xbox and a mod chip, then making a tiny file server out of it, but the cost of the mod and a real hard drive could be more than the xbox. May as well get a quieter and cooler (in comparison to my current server) XPC for this job...

I am glad I am not alone

[Enrique1218]

I thought I was unique in my utter disdain for MTV. Judging from the posts, the world seem less lonely. I like music and beautiful women too but I find MTV presentation of the two moronic and obnoxious. As for Microsoft using as a venue to premiere XBox 2, I don't really care because the alternative-G4TV- is just as moronic.

Stupid argument

[AvantLegion]

Marketing goes across the board to draw in the money of everyone they can get it from. It doesn't change the product in any way. They're not "catering" to anyone - they're marketing to everyone.

I'm SURE someone will hack it to do that stuff.

[TheLittleJetson]

Microsoft's horrible security track record is to our benefit when it comes to their gaming consoles. They put the copy protection routines from the first xbox on a removable chip (I think it was even flashable.)

The Xbox 2 is supposedly powered by 3 (three) PowerPC 970 (G5) chips, and some equally insane video processor. It would make quite the media-center PC if someone can hack it. I'm not so sure about .NET but I would expect to see Linux running on one of these, and a whole bunch of software shortly thereafter.

Didn't say Don't Watch...

[ackthpt]

If you're not watching it anymore than how would you be able riff negatively about it so well.

I don't have cable, which is not the same as saying, "I don't watch it." I still catch it here and there, at friends or at the pub or elsewhere.

I remember when it used to be nothing but videos, then they added a show here and there, including Bevis and Butthead, next thing I knew there were only videos in blocks of a few hours and those hours got shorter and shorter... until it wasn't music anymore. Now it's not just shows, but shows which are about as interesting as regular network TV. Funny how they gravitate back to that, no matter what the original theme of a cable channel was.

and longhorn!

[nilbog]

...and longhorn will also be released this May in a special on lifetime (the appropriate channel to reflect how long the development process took).

I've learned not to hold my breath for any Microsoft product launches.

Re:Just like computers used to be....

[iocat]

Even if all you did was buy an Xbox with Halo or Halo2, put in the disc, and then superglued the drive shut, the Xbox be worth having. I don't care who's name is on the box, if the games are good -- and Halo is the real deal for console FPSes -- the system is ok.

Anyway, game consoles are cheap enough that no one out of college has any excuse for not having all of them, and savvy college students can make roommate decisions that enable them to have access to all the systems.

Translation

[mdavids]

'We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first.'

Translation: We know it's not very impressive, so we can't afford to let reviewers get their hands on it in an uncontrolled situation. Hopefully we'll make a few bucks before word gets around.

Re:Just like computers used to be....

[snuf23]

"Do you really think that Microsoft intended it to be that way? "

No I don't. So you get to stick it to the man with your modded Xbox. Screw you MS, look I bought the console you don't make any money off of, turned it into a machine that plays Nintendo ROMs and will never buy an Xbox game!

Re:Just like computers used to be....

[AbRASiON]

Halo is EXTREMELY over-rated and while it's good for a console FPS and not a bad game really, it's absoloutely _NO_WHERE_NEAR_ as good as the fanboys claim.

The xbox however is a great little console once it's mod'd and not just for the piracy crowd - the emulation scene and homebrew stuff on it is great - personally I think there's at least 2 years life left in the Xbox 1 - fuck MS for trying to rush out the XB2 for more cashos.

I know I won't be buying for at least 18 months.

LIVING HELL!!

[antek9]

Like what? Everyone reading a book, or something?

Re:Xbox2 is G5 powered!!!

[snuf23]

Yeah, it's pretty stupid logic. Of course if you have an OS with available source it's a much better chance. So I would imagine we may see Linux on the Xbox 2 but no way Mac OS X.
The PowerPC chip in the Tivo, IBM PowerPC 403GCX - is a very low power chip designed for embedded applications. It is way slow by desktop computer standard. Which is why Tivo starts to suck juggling recording schedules once you have 15 or 20 season passes programmed in.

Next month Nintendo...

[SynapseLapse]

will debut the Nintendo GameTriangle on the Disney channel with Erin Carter, Mandy Moore and Hillary Duff hosting.

It's true, my uncle works at Nintendo.

Sigh

[sammaffei]

MS just doesn't get it. The average age of the video gamer is 29.

Not likely to watch Punk'd TV. More likely to have the disposable income required to purchase the blasted thing.

Just give up Bill. You'll never win. I know it hurts to be second best. But, maybe you might gain some humility in the process.

Look at it this way...You'll always have monkey boy!

Half-Hour Advertisement???

[speedplane]

How is this any different than a half hour tv-ad? Microsoft just wants to make money, so for them I understand this move entirely.

But is it naive for me to hope that most Americans will see through this and realize that their watching a very expensive marketing pitch?

This type of advertisements hidden in a semi-reputable publication (I know MTV may not be reputable but it has a good following) makes me sick.

Re:Just like computers used to be....

[snuf23]

Sony officially DOESN'T sell the Linux kit to North America anymore. Sure you can dig them up. A quick look on ebay shows 2 auctions, with the one closest to finish being up at $178.50. Nice price for a 40GB hard drive, USB mouse and keyboard.
Also good luck with a new slim PS/2 - no room for the hard drive in there. No real room for a mod chip either.
Sure you can softmod an Xbox just as you can with a PS/2, hard mods tend to be more reliable and offer more options.
75% of games work off the HD? I've only found one Xbox came I couldn't install on the HD.
More memory and a bigger hard drive (I put a 160GB drive in, but you can go bigger) gives more room for programs. More memory (64MB helps when running later arcade games in MAME. And yes you can mod the memory higher if you really want to go crazy (CPU too).
For connectivity, things like XBMC (Xbox media center) work via FTP or even Windows (Samba) shares over the network. You get DIVX, XVID, MPEG, MP3, OGG etc. playback just fine.
I'm sure there is a ton of PS/2 homebrew stuff just as well as on the Xbox. Kind of scares me when the first search result for keylauncher brings up a page noting "warning, this release has been confirmed to damage your HDD, use at your own risk".
The Xbox has great dashboard replacements such as Avalaunch that handle organizing and launching home brew programs and HD installed games.
So yeah, screw the Xbox frat guy Halo player as stereotyped by Penny Arcade. I really have no interest in how MS markets the Xbox. It annoys me too. But, wahoo - it sure is a nice cheap toy for me to play with and who cares about the official games.

Some here weren't even born...

[CherniyVolk]

Many years ago, believe it or not, MTV actually stood for "Music TeleVision". It was MTV, who coined the term VJ's for Video Jockeys in accordance to DJ's for Disc Jockeys. I do not think it's mere coincedence that everyone knows what a DJ is, but if you said VJ...

At one time, there were no commercials ever aired on MTV. The music videos streamed in, and MTV had their own short animations of around 30 seconds that basically reminded the person they are watching MTV. Once in a while, a VJ would have a word or two, maybe give some band gossip and it was back to playing the videos. Also, it's worth pointing out, that despite accusations of racism, they have yet to display as much musical diversity as they did when we were still drinking from Pizza Hut sponsered PacMan glasses (made of real glass even!).

Today is a different issue. IF you get to catch a glimpse of a video on MTV, it would be chopped up as if to say, 'alright enough of that let's get to what's really important, RealWorld drama!'. (Guns'n'Roses and their epic 8 minute songs, which drew lots of viewers such as November Rain and Estranged would probably never be aired in full these days). MTV is nothing more than teenage commercials. And the purpose of this post?

It's getting SO bad, it's no apparent to me they will permit "teen" infomercials on MTV.

Of course, they nolonger care that I don't watch MTV, I'm nolonger in their target age bracket. But when did this happen? When they first came out, adults as well as kids enjoyed watching music videos on MTV.

MTV has hard data to show that videos, obviously in the past, presented a direct relation to growing fanbase and market success of any particular band, to include record/cd sales. As if musicians aren't crapped on enough by the industry, MTV trades the bands success for a Gatorade contract for two hours a day for commercials. Oh, but then Noxima wants two hours out of the day too, and Nike, and MtDew(Pepsi); there's a long line. Oh, how quaint, MTV also aires all these stupid hour long shows and soap operas perfect for product placement. How much of the day goes towards playing Music Videos? Who knows, last time I glanced at MTV, they were doing some "Shout Outs" thing where the rare video would become a postage stamp on the screen, video audio lowers, all for some pimple face fat girl to blow kisses to her equally disgusting boyfriend. If I were a successful band, I would sue MTV for such a thing, making those videos aren't cheap; how dare MTV have the audacity to belittle the bands efforts. Full screen that puppy and crank up the volume, and to hell with the 30 minute (which you know they are going to air twice in one day) Microsoft XBox infomercial.

pwned

[shoptroll]

MTV pwned G4

Love the extreme double irony in this case.

Poor G4! Snubbed!

[RubberDogBone]

Poor G4! Bet the're all pissed Microsoft snubbed G4, the only actual video games channel that nobody watches, to instead debut their new toy on what used to be an important music channel but is now some mutant thing nobody really cares about.

G4 would have been perfect for this debut. But MS had to go and point out what everyone knew: video game TV is stupid. Bye bye G4.

But still, it would have been smarter to debut this on QVC. Huge audience ready to preorder, huge boost to QVCs image, etc.

Re:Just like computers used to be....

[iocat]

Thanks for your opinion on Halo. Forgive me if I disagree!

Microsoft says that it, at least, will be creating software and supporting Xbox at least through 2007, and its likely other companies will as well. Anyway, if the company was just looking for short term cash it wouldn't introduce a new system -- on which it will no doubt take a per-unit loss. It's part of a slightly longer term strategy to beat PS3 out of the gate. Who knows if it will work. Typically the first out can win, but it didn't work for Sega with Dreamcast, or (long term) Genesis either.

Re:CPU hardware

[Jace of Fuse!]

I thought the rule of thumb

The rule of thumb you are refering to no longer exists because software is less often actually written for specific hardware.

The more modern the system becomes, the higher the level the software is normally coded for, and the easier it becomes to emulate (from a system requirements stand point). This sounds counter-intuitive, but rest assured in at least many modern cases it is certainly true.

Take the N64 for example. Ultra LHE was able to run Mario 64 fairly accurately using nothing more than a Pentium 400 and a Voodoo 2. The emulator was even tweaked years after it's release (without any new code, and only INI modifications) to run many other games that were released after the Emulator itself.

Because modern software is written to take advantage of libraries functions more frequently than hardware functions, it is becoming easier and easier to (simply?) reimpliment those libs and retarget their function calls to the host system. The advent of other modern emulation techniques such as dynamic recompiling also helps. Please don't mistake this as me implying that it's easy to emulate modern systems, because it's certainly not any easier. It does however mean that long gone are the days when a system 10 times the power of the emulated system will be required.

With the right software, there is no reason to bleieve that a modern PC couldn't run XBox software at a decent speed. On the flip side, the emulator is almost certainly going to have to be more complex. This may explain why progress has been moving so slowly on XBox, PS2, and GC Emulators.

Didn't MTV host a gamers award show?

[HardSide]

Was it MTV or VH1 that had a 1 hour game award show, awarding the top games of the year and the worst. If I also remember correctly it was hosted by 'Snoop Dog' and obviously he knows a lot about computers/games with that name of his... *btw that was sarcasm* Then didn't online gaming sites such as gamespy.com bash the 1 hour mtv special for the ridicilous statements they made like "half-life is so dope, everybody gotta get it" ... yeh good job. So in conclusion. This is just a bad idea. They should've premiered xbox2 on the tech channel or something.

How about the...

[paragon_au]

neXtBox?

Re:Poor G4! Snubbed!

[j.bellone]

Think about it though, they are debuting the console to most of their target auidence. First of all, G4 isn't across the whole nation, but a good part of it. G4 isn't going anywhere, Comcast bought TechTV and merged them together and then cut all the good geek stuff. This crappy TV channel will be around for awhile now.

Would they have been better debuting it on G4 or QVC? Maybe. But I think they are attempting to sell this thing as more than just a game console; more like an entertainment center.

Re:In Other News...

[mink]

I think they should be hyping Mr. Wood's new hot movie role as Kevin. I mean he is so much cooler then some halfling, and much more in tune with the average MTV crowd today.

Not surprised

[stellabambino]

This doesn't surprise me that Microsoft is going public a week before Sony unveils the PS3 over at E3, in fact - why Microsoft is going public is because the PS3 was going to havea mere three hour window at E3.

Not a wise move on Microsoft's part. Most of the major game-news outlet places essentially shut down the week leading up to E3 to travel, get settled, and be ready for the insanity that is E3. Microsoft will get lots of coverage from the mainstream press, but the folks that can make or break their console's rep in the gaming press I suspect will be in poor attendance.

For those complaining...

[et3rnul]

...the average x-box gamer is 30 or something

Does that seem kinda sad to anyone? Don't get me wrong, I'm 19 and I still play games once in awhile, but I don't plan on 'gaming' when I'm 30.

Who gives if Microsoft is marketing on MTV? If you're not an MTV fan, does this mean its not meant for you? Absolutely not. Even if you are a 30 year old nerd still playing video games, don't take offense from this. They will still come out with a TV spot for those of you veteran(old) gamers on GTechTV(or whatever the name of that now f*cked up station). You're not being lumped into this demographic. Microsoft knows that millions of kids watch MTV, so naturally you advertise to the largest audience. You would do the same if you were a company trying to make money. What's wrong with making money? I'm sorry to have to break this to you, but Microsoft did not make this console only for nerds. So stop with the elitist remarks about "I won't buy this product because its not marketed toward me" and decide whether to buy it if the product is good at all.