Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Two Versions of XBox360 Confirmed?

Posted by Zonk on from the twice-the-flavour dept.

63N1U5 writes "Sources close to Microsoft tell GamesIndustry.biz that the company plans to ship two versions of the new XBox console. The premium version of the console will include a hard drive, and could possibly ship with a version of Microsoft's WebTV installed." We've been reporting on this since the end of last year but it's nice to have some firmer details.

10 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. The Premium version ships with a HD... by Flamora · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While the non-premium version is a downgrade, hardware-wise, from the current XBox?

    Doesn't this strike anyone as a bit confusing and such? The current XBox has a hard drive in it, why wouldn't every XBox 360?

    Sure, I can see the WebTV being a "premium version" perk, but a hard drive? Give me a break.

    1. Re:The Premium version ships with a HD... by wallykeyster · · Score: 3, Insightful
      The current XBox has a hard drive in it, why wouldn't every XBox 360?

      Because it isn't needed? Rumor is that most games will not use the hard drive (instead using a some flash RAM). I believe that the hard drive will be required to play LIVE games, but to play a single player (or local multiplayer) will not require one on the 360. This will allow Microsoft to drop the price on their basic model, perhaps hitting $150 out of the gate. You want to bet they won't sell millions of these plus the LIVE kit?

  2. WebTV by Momoru · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I had the original WebTV. It sucked. But maybe with a highdef version of WebTV, it may be useable. It seems like MS is trying slowly but surely to have Xp Media Center and Xbox converge into the "tv top Windows appliance" they have always wanted.

  3. Again with 'confirmed'. by hollismb · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What is it with Zonk considering anonymous sources as confirmation of something? Until Microsoft says it, nothing is confirmed. This is just a more specific version of the rumor from November that came out regarding multiple versions of the Xbox. Likely? Yeah, but really it's all just speculation until the MTV special next month. Shudders at the thought of MTV as an actual source of information. And how come these anonymous sources never bother to mention for certain whether the HD version will have backwards compatibility?

  4. WebTV a premium feature? by binaryspiral · · Score: 5, Funny

    Adding WebTV as a premium feature is like selling a computer with a free month of AOL.

    Oh wait...

  5. I Predict The Next Games.Slashdot Headline by superultra · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Two Versions of Xbox360 More Confirmed"

    ROXOR739A writes, "My cousin and I played a 3 round session of Rock, Paper, Scissors this morning. He represented two versions of the Xbox360, and I represented one version. He won 2 out of 3. I think this mostly confirms two versions of hardware, and it's nice to have this confirmation. When asked to elaborate Microsoft gave their standard reply, 'We do not comment on rumors or arbitrary games of Rock, Paper, and Scissors.'"

    (Read More... |28 of 29 comments | games.slashdot.org)

  6. The article is horribly written. by Omni+Magnus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I hate how the article mentions the the low end XBOX 360 will not have backwards compatability, but the premium version will have Microsoft Web TV. WTF, why didn't you mention wheter or not the premium XBOX will be backwards compatible. The reason why the XBOX 360 is not going to use a hard drive is because hard drives are expensive compared to most of the other components of an XBOX. Check out Newegg, you cannot find a 3.5 in hard drive for under $50, no matter how small the capacity. Most current games do not take advantage of the hard drive very well. Only a handful of games have released downloadable content which gets stored on the drive. Also, if you are constantly swapping games in and out of the XBOX, you won't be taking advantage of the XBOX caching files on the hard drive, and therefore you would'nt notice a decrease in the load times. Seriously, most of the people who take advantage of a hard drive in the XBOX, are the modders who use a larger hard drive to store the games. The XBOX 360 will come with enough flash RAM to store game saves, and for those who really want the downloadable content and improved load times for one game can purchase the premium version.

  7. shame by Sv-Manowar · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's a shame to see this happen, It reminds me of the N64 expansion pak, where you NEEDED to upgrade to play certain games (like Perfect Dark)

    Hopefully there won't be any "HD model only" type games which can only be used on the higher model. It would annoy a lot of customers

    --
    Business Voyeur
  8. A cheap version without a hard drive could be good by pnice · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If they build the Xbox 360 like the current Xbox they might just not install a hard drive on the cheap version but it will still have a place for an IDE connection. This could work out good for those that are interested in modding one (if it becomes possible). You buy the cheap one, mod it and install your own hard drive, the size you want. I know I immediately replaced my 8gig Xbox hard drive with a 120gig. Now the 8gig just sits around collecting dust.

    --
    My Xbox Live Gamer Card
  9. Re:two version... by SunFan · · Score: 4, Funny


    I propose: XBox360 and XBox 360 MEE (More Expensive Edition).

    --
    -- Microsoft is the most expensive commodity operating system and office suite vendor in the marketplace.