Rejected Xbox 360 Prototype Designs

Matt writes "Next-Gen.biz has published the second set of prototype designs that were considered, but ultimately rejected, for the Xbox 360. Note the distinct similarities to the final design actually chosen." I wonder if I'm alone in just wishing that consoles looked like stereo components and fit in my rack without scary balancing acts and lopsided aesthetics. A Gamecube, PS2, and X-Box can not be stacked nicely.

Comments

Sure they can.

[Leon da Costa]

A Gamecube, PS2, and X-Box can not be stacked nicely.

Sure they can. Have you never heard of duct tape?

Stackable Console

[Dubpal]

I wonder if I'm alone in just wishing that consoles looked like stereo components and fit in my rack without scary balancing acts and lopsided aesthetics.

I've often wished the same thing, and it turns out that Sony actually made something to cater to that market.

The PSX is a DVD Recorder/Tivo-Like device (that uses an interface similar to the XMB type used in the PSP) that's also a PlayStation 2. If you look at the image on the first link, you'll see it wouldn't be at all out of place in a home theatre set-up. It looks like they're still making them, but you can't get them outside of Japan.

Link Slashdotted Already

[Dubpal]

But the Coral Cache works fine. http://www.next-gen.biz.nyud.net:8090/index.php?op tion=com_content&task=view&id=1550&Itemid=2

Mirror

[Rinnt]

Here

Marketing departments won't grant your wish

[ChrisF79]

"I wonder if I'm alone in just wishing that consoles looked like stereo components and fit in my rack without scary balancing acts and lopsided aesthetics. A Gamecube, PS2, and X-Box can not be stacked nicely."

Although that would be nice for the consumer, it offers Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo no product differentiation. They want their systems to be flashy and unique so the convenience of stacking for the consumer goes right out the window.

GC in my computer

[CastrTroy]

I've often thought of modding my GC right into my computer. There's a lot of empty space in the bottom front of my tower, and it would be a great place to put it. With the revolution being even smaller, it looks like it will even be easier. Maybe in the future we can just use the same computer forever, since most productivity applications don't require that much CPU power, and use consoles that drop right into a drive bay in order to facilitate playing games.

nintendo started that

[Odocoileus]

I remember an article when the super nintendo came out, they said they made the surfaces non-flat so that you wouldn't set your drinks on it. Seems logical since most kids back then would sit on the floor and play (shorter cables?), and drinks spill easy when sitting on the carpet.

I'll join the "me too" crowd

[DarkEdgeX]

Yes, I wish game consoles were in a standard shape that fit into a home theatre / entertainment center setup as well. I'd be especially happy if manufacturers will ditch top-loading designs (such as the GameCube, SNES, Genesis, and Dreamcast) and instead use tray loading designs (like the PS2 and XBox). With top-loading designs it pretty much means you can't put anything on top (or even near the top) of the unit.

Maybe that fits in well with how the company would like our living rooms to look (just one system, theirs, on the top of everything else), but it's not how reality works.

Re:Marketing

[DrEldarion]

The person who designed that obviously did NOT forget their childhood.

I think that was more of a problem than anything. People saw the design and thought it was childish, whereas they saw the PS2 and XBox and thought of them as more "mature" consoles. Since the aforementioned teenagers and 30-something losers are the ones buying most of the consoles, the childish design didn't fare as well.

If you have a rack...

[Dracolytch]

If you have a rack, insist on putting all of your gear in that rack, and worry about the stability of items because they're not designed for the rack, why not buy some shelves for your rack?

I know, whining is much cheaper and easier, but this ain't exactly new technology.

I wonder how many ordinary problems would be gone if we just used our energy for solving them, instead of complaining.

~D

Re:If you have a rack...

[JediTrainer]

...why not buy some shelves for your rack?

I think the biggest problem with this is that they still take up an obscene amount of space. Because most of these consoles are top-loading, this means both that you need to have the unit in an area where you can reach the top easily (and grasp the disc/cartridge), and it also means you need quite a bit of vertical space so that you can lift up that disc/cartridge.

If these consoles were designed like stereo components, say where all the controls and game slots were on the front, you'd use up a lot less space and thus could have more stuff crammed in there, because you wouldn't need to have the extra inches of vertical space clear on top of the unit for these tasks..

Stacking causes overheating

[Junks Jerzey]

Modern consoles (PS2 and up) run *hot*. I've often wondered if the awkward styling is to *prevent* stacking. The cooling systems aren't designed for numerous hot boxes stacked in close quarters.

Re:Marketing

[CastrTroy]

Yeah, the handle on the GC is something that's really nice. It shows that they encourage you to bring it with, you, and that they thought you might actually want to do that. With the XBox, the thing is really heavy, and big, and not meant to be brought with you. It's meant to sit under your tv. Are people aware you can hook up 2 GCs to two TVs, and play 8-way mariokart? Whoever thought internet multiplayer is the best should really try some real multiplayer games, with people in the same room. This is the same reason why lan parties are so much more fun than just playing against your friends over the internet.