More 360 Launch Details From TGS

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More 360 Launch Details From TGS

Posted by Zonk on Thursday September 15, 2005 @08:02AM from the lots-of-pieces-coming-together dept.

Microsoft's presence at the Tokyo Games Show has resulted in a number of new details about the Xbox 360, set to launch November 22nd. 1up has a look at Japanese impressions of the upcoming launch, some games that may have been under your radar so far, and a new trailer for many of the upcoming games. Next Generation is also reporting that, at a London event yesterday it was confirmed that the 360 is now in mass production. From the 1up impressions article: "Another concern, and a lesson learned from the last launch, was that Japanese gamers at the were hesitant to buy into a new, wholly unfamiliar console. This time Microsoft hopes to entice gamers by opening a 360 lounge in the fashionable Aoyama area a full month before the launch date. The lounge will be a hip, comfortable place where gamers can play demos of 360 games before they buy them."

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DAMNIT, ZONK! by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 08:06 · Score: 0, Redundant

What did I tell you???

The damned 360 isn't even out yet, and already I'm sick of it. Thanks for ruining it for me, zonk.
1. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 08:36 · Score: 0
  
  1) Get job on "news" site.
  2) ????
  3) Profit!
  
  I think I've got it! ???? = Start taking bribes from Microsoft, The Escapist, 1up, etc. to link to their articles and pimp their consoles. Way to figure it out, Zonk!!!
2. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by NanoGator · 2005-09-15 08:39 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  "The damned 360 isn't even out yet, and already I'm sick of it. Thanks for ruining it for me, zonk."
  
  I'm sick of stories about FireFox, but there's still a significant number of people who think an incremental version number is headline news.
  
  There, now we both know the world's population is greater than 1.
  
  --
  "Derp de derp."
3. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by pnice · 2005-09-15 08:51 · Score: 1
  
  People get excited about things that are yet to be released. It seems to be much worse in the game world.
  
  Is it bad that IGN already has http://xbox360.ign.com/ and http://ps3.ign.com/?
  
  --
  My Xbox Live Gamer Card
4. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 08:51 · Score: 0
  
  I'm sick of comments by NanoGator, but there's still a significant number of moderators who don't know what a karma whore he is.
5. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Seumas · 2005-09-15 08:56 · Score: 1
  
  Dude, new game consoles are a big deal. I don't even own one, but it has been a long time since we've had a major console release. People are excited about the Xbox this year and the PS3 next year. Can you blame them? They've been playing games on 1999/2000 hardware for the last five years. They're ready for something new and better to get out. Plus, this is the first major console rollout since gaming really has hit it big time (meaning, it's own television station, award shows and every hollywood slut carrying a PSP around). The world is very different from when the last system came out.
6. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 09:00 · Score: 0
  
  "I'm sick of comments by NanoGator, but there's still a significant number of moderators who don't know what a karma whore he is."
  
  Yeah because putting down FireFox is a surefire way to shoot up to +5 around here.
7. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Gogo0 · 2005-09-15 12:19 · Score: 1
  
  What on the Xbox2 or PS3 makes them so much better than the Xbox and PS2? Better graphics is pretty much the only improvement.
  
  What makes playing the same games with lesser (though still impressive) graphics on 5-year old hardware so bad?
8. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Meagermanx · 2005-09-15 13:40 · Score: 1
  
  I'm really excited about this new console generation. With all these fancy new graphics, mysterious controllers, and all this news coverage, there will be tons of people going out to buy XBOX 360s and PS3s. What does this mean for me? I'm going to buy an XBOX for a fraction of the cost they're at now from someone who just spent $400 dollars on a new box with fancy graphics and strange controllers! If you don't mind the slightly outdated graphics, you're about to be able to buy a whole lot of cool games really cheap.
9. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Seumas · 2005-09-15 16:31 · Score: 1
  
  1) Better graphics.
  2) Consoles are a different color now!
  3) More network gaming via consoles.
  4) Madden 2007 and Halo 3?
  5) More media-centric rather than just a game-playing device.
  
  Really, what do you expect from a new console?
  
  This GameCube is stupid! It's just N64 with better graphics!
  This N64 is stupid! It's just SNES with better graphics!
  This SNES is stupid! It's just NES with better graphics!
  This Sega Saturn is stupid! it's just Sega 16-bit with better graphics!
  This Sega 16-bit is stupid! It's just Sega with better graphics!
  This PS2 is stupid! It's just PS1 with better graphics!
  
  The entire reason people buy new consoles and always have is that the next generation looks and sounds better and, as much as gameplay matters, sweet explosions and smooth rendering still gets most people excited.
  
  Plus, for people like me who have never cared about nor owned a console, it's exciting, because we're finally going to move into the systems with the 2005/2006 generation.
10. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Seumas · 2005-09-15 16:47 · Score: 1
  
  But who are you going to play all your cool multiplayer games with when everyone has moved to the next generation console? It's the same reason people buy Madden 2006 - because while they're happy with 2005, all the other people are going to be on 2006 too and they don't want to be left sitting on the couch playing with themselves.
11. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Gogo0 · 2005-09-15 17:04 · Score: 1
  
  Heh, I find it humourous that this was posted right after the Revolution's controller unveiling.
  
  The entire reason people buy new consoles and always have is that the next generation looks and sounds better and, as much as gameplay matters, sweet explosions and smooth rendering still gets most people excited.
  
  Yes, most people get excited about graphics, but again we are getting a new way to play games, a new experience. I and many others expected this from the Revolution, not that graphics would be its focus.
12. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by thenextBillGates · 2005-09-15 17:07 · Score: 1
  
  hey can someone show me how to ask a question on slashdot? i've been trying to ask a question on java programming but aint been able to do it. there's just so much stuff on this site. Can anyone help me out????
13. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Seumas · 2005-09-15 18:15 · Score: 1
  
  I played my little brother's PS2 and the controller baffled the shit out of me. Too many buttons and levers and sticks and knobs. And the control itself was the size of a small fishing boat. I'm scared to death to see what the new controllers for all these systems will be like.
  
  And that Z trigger thing on the N64... Holy shit... What the fuck was that...
14. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Gogo0 · 2005-09-15 19:32 · Score: 1
  
  I'm trying to not be an ad for Nintendo, but this is one of their big selling points of the Revolution. They think that controllers have become too complicated and imposing to many people, so they wanted to simplify things to the point that they could reach an entirely new audience.
15. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by angle_slam · 2005-09-16 07:37 · Score: 1
  
  Better graphics is pretty much the only improvement.
  You say that like graphics are not important. But since the PS2 and XBox came out, there has been a lot of developement in the area of TVs, specifically HD and larger screens. The PS2 looks like crap on a big screen TV. The Xbox is better, but not true high definition on all games. Xbox 360 and PS3 will have true HD. That is a HUGE deal for people with big screen TVs.
16. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by Gogo0 · 2005-09-16 07:53 · Score: 1
  
  I have a 61" widescreen DLP, trust me that I know what you are talking about...
  
  ...but when I am playing a game, i find that it doesnt really matter to me what it looks like. I have just as much fun playing Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana (2d sprites) as I do playing MGS3 (fantastic visuals). Granted the graphics of each contribute to the games respectively, but when you boil it down, graphics between the ps1 and ps2 havent added much, and it is looking to be the same way with the ps3 and etc. of course I will be wowed and in awe when playing MGS4, but when it comes down to the wire, i dont give a shit about the graphics, only sneaking past that guard or taking down the latest Metal Gear.
  
  I like to say that I play games, not graphics. Graphics are a plus, but I think we have reached a point that they dont matter so much in the game as they do in the commercial for the game.
17. Re:DAMNIT, ZONK! by mink · 2005-09-21 09:39 · Score: 1
  
  Sometimes even married men end up on the couch playing with themselves, we are often poor.
  
  "Straight jackin' saves you that green, it's low maintenance, don't need a woman!" - Crunch
  
  --
  Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
*snooooore* by cornface · 2005-09-15 08:06 · Score: 5, Funny

See subject.
1. Re:*snooooore* by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 09:13 · Score: 0
  
  Wow, I watch the montage, and I think:
  
  Same tired xbox shit, now with shader 3.0 support!
2. Re:*snooooore* by cornface · 2005-09-15 11:57 · Score: 1
  
  Same tired xbox shit, now with shader 3.0 support!
  
  Most of them were so dark I couldn't tell what was going on. Shader 3.0: so shady you can hardly see it!
3. Re:*snooooore* by yammosk · 2005-09-15 12:36 · Score: 1
  
  Most of them were so dark I couldn't tell what was going on. Shader 3.0: so shady you can hardly see it!
  
  They ported the Doom3 engine to the 360?
Smooth move by grub · 2005-09-15 08:12 · Score: 3, Insightful

Another concern, and a lesson learned from the last launch, was that Japanese gamers at the were hesitant to buy into a new, wholly unfamiliar console.

So let's introduce this new console in Japan after it's been introducd everywhere else on Earth. That'll warm them up to us.

--
Trolling is a art,
1. Re:Smooth move by NeMon'ess · 2005-09-15 08:31 · Score: 1
  
  While it's being released everywhere else, it'll be getting lots of publicity in Japan. Just like how the US market salivates over reports of games and systems that Japan gets months earlier.
2. Re:Smooth move by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 08:37 · Score: 0
  
  You not understand Japanese culture. Still thought we are #1 in world and deserve respect of first release! Serious Microsoft not release here with everywhere else slap in face to Japanese gamer.
3. Re:Smooth move by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 08:42 · Score: 0
  
  That, and they're forgetting that this is still a new, wholly unfamiliar console.
  
  The install base of the original XBox in Japan is very low, so it's not like they've managed to establish a brand name in the past 4 years. I don't think it will be different this time around.
4. Re:Smooth move by bigman2003 · 2005-09-15 08:49 · Score: 1
  
  Hmm...
  
  Was that message fake engrish, real engrish, or just a completely illiterate native english speaker?
  
  --
  No reason to lie.
5. Re:Smooth move by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 10:10 · Score: 0
  
  When you say #1, are you refering to video game sales? Cuz if so, the US is #1 by far and away. Europe is number 2. It seems to me that it makes sense to release first in the biggest market.
6. Re:Smooth move by Toby_Tyke · 2005-09-15 23:47 · Score: 1
  
  So let's introduce this new console in Japan after it's been introducd everywhere else on Earth. That'll warm them up to us.
  
  I am so sick of hearing this. I hate MS as much as the next good little slashdotter, but this almost psychotic need some people have to claim every single thing they ever do is a mistake is beggining to get on my nerves. Claiming the XBox 360 will be hurt in Japan by launching a week or two after the rest of the world is frankly nuts.
  
  I'm going to assume you live in the US or Europe. Do you own any console other than an X-Box? GASP! you mean you bought it even though it launched in your country after it launched in Japan?
  
  If anyone can show me real evidence of any Japanese gamer saying "well, I was going to buy a 360, but since it's launching in the US two weeks earlier, fuck it I'll wait for the PS3" then I will be amazed.
  
  --
  "I realise this is not a very popular opinion but it's the truth, and there for needs to be said" -Bill Hicks
Kiosks by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 08:22 · Score: 1, Interesting

What about setting up some kiosks in stores? I know a kiosk at Toys R' Us is what got me to buy an N64 (I was blown away by SM64). A single lounge in one city doesn't seem like it would be worth it.
Off topic, I was at a Meijer (similar to a Wal*Mart for those that don't have them) and they had a DS set up at a kiosk. I swear, someone must've played the thing with a pocket knife. The touch screen was totally unresponsive except for the corners. This nintendog must've done something horribly wrong to someone...
1. Re:Kiosks by cornface · 2005-09-15 08:31 · Score: 1
  
  The condition of the display model DS's that I've seen actually make me a little nervous when I'm playing the "rub" levels on Wario Ware. I try to tell myself that people were probably using things other than the stylus. Argh.
2. Re:Kiosks by NanoGator · 2005-09-15 08:43 · Score: 1
  
  "Off topic, I was at a Meijer (similar to a Wal*Mart for those that don't have them) and they had a DS set up at a kiosk. I swear, someone must've played the thing with a pocket knife. The touch screen was totally unresponsive except for the corners. This nintendog must've done something horribly wrong to someone..."
  
  I don't think I've seen an NDS display that didn't look like this. I can't believe there are shitheads out there that actively seek to vanadalize this stuff.
  
  --
  "Derp de derp."
3. Re:Kiosks by Rob+T+Firefly · 2005-09-15 08:46 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Maybe they work for Sony.
  
  --
  Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
Quantity by Rob+T+Firefly · 2005-09-15 08:22 · Score: 5, Funny

From TFA: "Maruyama exuded confidence as he pointed out that there are over 100 games in development scheduled to launch by the end of January 2006." Unfortunately, 97 of them are EA football games.

--
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
1. Re:Quantity by Meagermanx · 2005-09-15 13:52 · Score: 1
  
  Wow! MORE racing games? That's so great. And football games? Yeah, we totally need more than one of those for each console! Did they tweak the rules any? Add in a couple of robots, ninja, or deathtraps on the field? No? Still the same game with different voices and 6 new players? Wow. Sounds like a real buy. How about those WWII shooters? Got those covered? Oh, going for Vietnam now, are we? That's pretty great, I guess. What's that, the 67th war based FPS out this year? Defintiely a must buy. How about fighters? Oh yeah, I know you got us covered there! Every fighting game needs a sequel that just adds a few moves on to a player, and adds a couple less-than-stellar characters into the mix. But graphically, you're still topping the charts, right? I just love to see the same game with new graphics. Playing through the exact same level over and over, from generation to generation, really lets you look at how far, graphically, we've come. Well, time to blow the old paycheck.
hip by Tachikoma · 2005-09-15 08:26 · Score: 3, Insightful

something about claiming to be, or that something will be, hip, makes them un-hip.

The moment you annouce you are hip, are are un-hip-ified. ergo, awareness of one's hip-ness is ok, however thou shall not speak of it.

or i could sum it up with "the first rule of hip club is you do not talk about hip club"

--
i don't care
Re:hip - stupid by Tachikoma · 2005-09-15 08:31 · Score: 2, Funny

I just realized my own comment was really f*ing stupid

--
i don't care
Launch Titles? by ivan256 · 2005-09-15 08:33 · Score: 1

All this hype, with no list of launch titles? This thing isn't nearly pretty enough to drop $300/400 on to just look at on my shelf.
1. Re:Launch Titles? by Seumas · 2005-09-15 08:49 · Score: 1
  
  Gamestop has a nice $2,000 bundle on their site, but since they're really just taking a random guess at whether the games they're providing with it will be released on the same day (or even by the end of this year) with it, there's not really any point.
  
  Sure is a sweet bundle, though.
2. Re:Launch Titles? by RoadDoggFL · 2005-09-15 09:10 · Score: 1
  
  And the PS2 was?
  
  --
  "This is considered plagiarism."
3. Re:Launch Titles? by ivan256 · 2005-09-16 05:24 · Score: 1
  
  I currently own 10 games that were PS2 launch titles, and they all range from good to excelent.
  
  Compared to the zero titles that have been confirmed for the Xbox 360 launch, I'd say the PS2 did pretty well.
4. Re:Launch Titles? by RoadDoggFL · 2005-09-16 08:28 · Score: 1
  
  Umm, which ones? And it's easy to compare to the 360 when nothing's even out yet. I'm having a hard time picking out anything on the PS2's launch list that's even worth mentioning, much less call excellent games.
  
  --
  "This is considered plagiarism."
5. Re:Launch Titles? by ivan256 · 2005-09-16 08:39 · Score: 1
  
  Umm, which ones?
  
  DOA2: Hardcore (Good)
  Dynasty Warriors 2 (Excelent, so much so that there have been 3 more since)
  FantaVision (Excelent)
  Midnight Club (Would be excelent without the bugs... Good anyway)
  NHL 2001 (Was excelent for the time)
  Silent Scope (Just OK)
  SSX (Excelent)
  Summoner (Good)
  Swing Away Golf (Good)
  TimeSplitters (Good)
  
  And it's easy to compare to the 360 when nothing's even out yet.
  
  I'm not saying the 360 won't have great launch titles... But until they tell us what they are, how can they expect me to be excited about going out and buying one of these things ASAP?
6. Re:Launch Titles? by RoadDoggFL · 2005-09-16 08:50 · Score: 1
  
  My point isn't that nobody's hyped about the 360. I'm just bothered by the fact that everybody was hyped for the PS3 when they have nothing but speculation and a history of less-than-spectacular launches (I can agree with... Dynasty Warriors 2 and NHL 2001 as good games).
  
  --
  "This is considered plagiarism."
That N64 feeling... by steveo777 · 2005-09-15 09:03 · Score: 1

Anybody recall the release of the N64? This system was hyped like mad before release. Power, graphics, everything was released beforehand. Not to mention promises of a huge release library right up close to the end. But, finally, after waiting what seemed like forever, we got two games. Mario 64 (amazing game, don't get me wrong) and Pilotwings 64. There may have been another, but I don't remember (waverace?). Then we had to wait a month before any other games came out. And almost none of them were worth playing for a long time. I can't remember the second game I bought for it, but the second really fun game I remember was Turok.
Feels like that now. Lots of promises, but not much to show. Granted, there are at least 4 release titles, but who knows when the rest will really be out. At least the 64 was released with that killer game. Anybody have an idea as to the 360's killer game? I mean, aside from whenever Halo 3 may arrive.

--
This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
1. Re:That N64 feeling... by RoadDoggFL · 2005-09-15 09:30 · Score: 1
  
  Oblivion would do it for me. I'm also really tempted by Test Drive: Unlimited (I live in Hawaii) and I'll definitely be sold if I ever find release dates for Ninety-Nine Nights and Too Human.
  
  --
  "This is considered plagiarism."
2. Re:That N64 feeling... by Delphiki · 2005-09-15 10:02 · Score: 1
  
  Obviously this isn't based on any actual information from Microsoft or the developer, but I'd bet on Ninety-Nine Nights being a launch title, because I've heard more about that than any other xbox 360 game so far. There's a lot of interest in it, so Microsoft is going to push hard to have it out as soon as possible.
  
  --
  Feel free to mod me "-1 - Angry Jerk".
No HD? Not in JP. by MBCook · 2005-09-15 09:18 · Score: 1

At least three other reporters expressed some dismay at the high price point and asked if consumers would really accept the console at that price, and whether a second, cheaper SKU without the harddrive would be offered at some point. Maruyama was confident that the price made sense, and said that while a second, cheaper SKU in the future was not out of the question, the launch would feature only the one with the harddrive, mainly to support the beta launch of Final Fantasy XI on Xbox 360 this winter.
So in the US, we get two versions (the real one, and the crippled one), but in Japan they only get the real one. It will be interesting to see how the crippled version sells in the US. I wonder if Europe will get the crippled version?
I've got to agree that the high price is a problem (here, there, and everywhere). But the little "XBox 360 Bar" is an interesting idea. That would probably help (as would the fact that the XBox 360 isn't a new system from a first timer, but a second gen).
But, it's the Revolution details I want to know about (it has been said we'll learn more tomorrow).

--
Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
1. Re:No HD? Not in JP. by RoadDoggFL · 2005-09-15 10:04 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  You know, on a message board today we realized how amazing it is that Nintendo has generated so much hype by doing nothing. I thought Sony was the master at this but this is something else. A lot of people are expecting news about the controller but I think the launch is still too far out to ensure that the ideas won't be copied before Nintendo can even benefit from them.
  
  --
  "This is considered plagiarism."
2. Re:No HD? Not in JP. by fixmyship · 2005-09-15 12:47 · Score: 1
  
  Europe will get the crippled version too.
  
  Prices here in Sweden seem to be set to 3995 SEK (about $523) for the real one and 2995 SEK (about $392) for the crippled.
3. Re:No HD? Not in JP. by NMatthew · 2005-09-21 05:43 · Score: 1
  
  The UK will get both versions. With HD at £279 (about $500) and the crippled one at £209 (about $375).
  
  Neil
Parent wasn't a bash by RoadDoggFL · 2005-09-15 10:09 · Score: 1

That post was supposed to be longer and I was gonna elaborate some more but for the record I'm rooting for Nintendo in this upcoming generation.

--
"This is considered plagiarism."
1. Re:Parent wasn't a bash by Meagermanx · 2005-09-15 14:00 · Score: 1
  
  I'm not rooting for anyone untill I see the Revolution's controller. Then we'll talk.
2. Re:Parent wasn't a bash by RoadDoggFL · 2005-09-15 16:49 · Score: 1
  
  http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-23521-2567-x -x-x&tag=gs_hp_flashtop_read&body_pagenum=1
  
  Let's talk.
  
  --
  "This is considered plagiarism."
What about Europe? by MMaestro · 2005-09-15 13:14 · Score: 1

So let's introduce this new console in Europe after it's been introducd everywhere else on Earth. That'll warm them up to us.
Edited text put in bold.
Turok?!? by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 16:35 · Score: 0

Turok was your second fun game on the N64? Did you enjoy jogging through a fog-filled wasteland?
I laugh at your choice and I mock your value system!
Alternative sites to 1up.com for articles? by Allador · 2005-09-15 17:11 · Score: 1

Is anyone aware of other sites with these articles?

I've never been able to read a story at 1up.com, as their server just never responds, even days after the stories post.
1. Re:Alternative sites to 1up.com for articles? by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-15 17:36 · Score: 0
  
  http://www.hack360.com/