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[Rimfya]

Gotta focus group all those ads.

 

[clav]

Well the S model was pretty damn good

Either way they want to avoid another Xbox 1- while I loved that design, not everyone agrees with it. Needs to attract a lot of people and not just a small segment of the target audience.

Looks like aesthetics will be a big deal if you consider the recent Microsoft hardware releases (e.g. Surface, Phone).

The focus groups picked the best shell of the prototype choices imo. These were awful looking:

Think the console will look a lot better without that memory card fugliness.

Can't believe not long ago we all thought proprietary memory cards were acceptable.

 

[SniperHunter]

Wait !

CELL could render games natively in 1080p...Where is the CELL Sony ?
It was ten times powerful than 360's cpu ?
bla bla bal terraflops calculations bla bla bla
Sony would use it as a gpu bla bla bla

Ok, sony..Our bodies and minds are ready for your new bullshits...

that was under ken kuturagi...now that ken is gone they have abandoned his tech vision

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

If MS takes the same route they took for talking about and marketing Halo 4 be read for a bumpy, confusing, frustrating and often boring ride.

 

[gutter_trash]

so MS going US centric with the cable company subsidy thing.

Knowing how greedy Canadian telcoms are (Rogers, Bell, Videotron), you can pretty much scratch that off over here LOL.

 

[sangreal]

so MS going US centric with the cable company subsidy thing.

Knowing how greedy Canadian telcoms are (Rogers, Bell, Videotron), you can pretty much scratch that off over here LOL.

eh? from what I remember of my time in Canada, they give out the same shitty third-party STBs as here in the US (Scientific Atanta/Cisco or Motorola, etc). 360 would just be another one on the list. Providers make a killing leasing these things out for a monthly fee over several years

 

[la flama blanca]

People don't realize Microsofts main goal was living room. From the very beginning. Not just games... Everything.

Control the living room.

But people seem to think Microsoft is in a panic mode because they aren't reacting to Sony - and that they're adding more revenue streams and potential game changers to their gambit.

Microsoft doesn't fuck around. People run around and scream "first parties! First parties" thinking that MS is clueless. Do people forget how quickly Microsoft ramped up their development studios prior to Xbox 1 launch?

Microsoft removed a lot of studios because they went risk averse. They needed to make Xbox profitable.

Now it is insanely profitable (E+D quarterlies don't paint how great Xbox is performing), they are in a position to become market dominant (momentum, revstream growth, have core and casual attention, Xbox being a household name) and they are going to come out swinging. No you won't see the ridiculous releases MS had in their first outing but you will see more B, A and AA titles coming from them as they now have the revenue streams to back up the risk. This is the make or break generation and they aren't going to skimp their way through it. This is Microsoft. This is their version 3.0. This is when they typically shine.

This system isn't just about games, it's about everything. Microsoft is NOT going to be ignoring core or just letting third parties do all the heavy lifting. They now have the ability to do some amazing stuff without ballmer breathing down their neck thanks to being profitable. They can now take ample risk to ensure market position strength.

I am excited to see what happens.

Having this much faith in either console is a sure set up for disaster. Microsoft doesn't know shit and having to focus test their stuff is disgusting like Sony's trust in their engineers to know what to do.

 

[ChosenPredator]

so MS going US centric with the cable company subsidy thing.

Knowing how greedy Canadian telcoms are (Rogers, Bell, Videotron), you can pretty much scratch that off over here LOL.

pretty much, Rogers/bell some greedy ass bitches

 

[DopeyFish]

so MS going US centric with the cable company subsidy thing.

Knowing how greedy Canadian telcoms are (Rogers, Bell, Videotron), you can pretty much scratch that off over here LOL.

Rogers already offers 360 through some package subscription
Telus allows use of Xbox 360s as a client for IPTV (optik I think)

Bell doesn't allow use through fibe TV even though they use MS MediaRoom

I assume MS is building some platform to give some functionality to platform holder because if I were to guess... They want control of the message

I would fucking do cartwheels if Rogers had Durango as a client, I'd take my scientific atlanta/Cisco box and launch it into Lake Ontario with a catapult

 

[Eusis]

Funny how the GAF perception seems to be MS will fall flat on their face and Sony will hit a 1000 yard bomb out of the park

I half expect both will fall flat. But I can't make any real predictions until we see what happens, I do think if Microsoft banks on the subsidizing model though then things could potentially blow up on them in a spectacular fashion. And by banking on it I mean either NEEDING to go through with it or the system is prohibitively expensive (like $600+) without it.

The focus groups picked the best shell of the prototype choices imo. These were awful looking:

Which leads me to wonder what the fuck happened with the Saturn controller's focus testing.

The fact that was focus tested also likely indicates this happened with EVERY system to some extent, so getting surprised here might be like discovering they use hazardous materials inside of these systems. Even though I doubt any of us are going to crack open a console and lick its CPU.

 

[SniperHunter]

Having this much faith in either console is a sure set up for disaster. Microsoft doesn't know shit and having to focus test their stuff is disgusting like Sony's trust in their engineers to know what to do.

well said,

 

[DopeyFish]

Having this much faith in either console is a sure set up for disaster. Microsoft doesn't know shit and having to focus test their stuff is disgusting like Sony's trust in their engineers to know what to do.

Focus testing a design = not knowing shit?

I'd rather have a good looking console instead of that... Last... Ps3 revision... Thing

 

[Big Takeover]

What is the benifit of having a cable box inside my Xbox besides getting rid of a device in my entertainment center?

Well for starters you'd be getting a hell of a lot better cable box, as they're one of the most underdeveloped pieces of tech you have in your house.

- PiP with games
- Skype while you watch TV
- Notifications across the platform from just about any source you could imagine
- Stream TV to your phone\tablet
- Control your TV from your phone\tablet
- There could be TV programs that you could interact with like a game.

The possibilities are pretty vast.

One box that can do everything, operating cohesively. That's going to be pretty cool. Who knows how it will be at playing games. We'll have to wait and see on that one.

 

[la flama blanca]

Focus testing a design = not knowing shit?

I'd rather have a good looking console instead of that... Last... Ps3 revision... Thing

That's what I attribute having to focus test and for me, is an indicator of a company not knowing what direction they want to go. The gaming industry is being plagued with having to focus test things because they are bloated with non-important and non in-tune with the gaming industry individuals. This is my personal experience with the industry so I may just be a bit bitter, but you can also see how Microsoft handles all of their other divisions as further proof of my statement. And Sony, they just keep entrusting their own clueless engineers to direct how a product should be made.

 

[Baconsammy]

Sony has MS on the run.

Mind games and playing it like a game of Chess.

Kaz is going for the kill! My guess is that Sony will unveil the PS4 this month but hold back stuff for later to ruin the MS party. MS unveiling later also runs the risk of being overlooked when Nintendo show off what they've got.

Looks like Sony has won this one!

I don't know what's funnier, that you think this, or that you actually wrote it.

Sony has unveiling during the quite period and going first, they'll own February and much of March in terms of hearts and minds.

Oh shit it got better. Sony poised to own months of the year that it doesn't have a console released in. That's pure gold.

 

[Jack_AG]

This would be interesting. I'd give Microsoft all of the momentum going into E3.

That depends on the PS4 showing. If MS shows their box second and it winds up not looking as hot - all eyes will be on PS4. Not saying it will happen as I think both boxes are (rumored) strong but if Sony hits hard with 1st party IPs that look better than what MS brings... it might not matter what MS does - they wont have traction at the start.

I think it will be neck/neck personally. All depends on how big the first splash is.

 

[ArtHands]

My understanding is they could probably announce whenever and have been ready for a while. If they already have plans in motion it for some kind of big MTV style reveal they probably cant push it forward due to Sony going first. My guess is they, like the rest of us kind of thought Sony were waiting a little big longer but now they will probably wait and see on what they do and if they need to make a announcement sooner.

They will both be announced before E3 anyway and thats the real battleground.



Thats how you trick'em.

Mind games! What fun.

Has Microsoft response to that comment of Sony about waiting for them to reveal first though? And how is this mind game suppose to work out?

 

[DopeyFish]

That's what I attribute having to focus test and for me, is an indicator of a company not knowing what direction they want to go. The gaming industry is being plagued with having to focus test things because they are bloated with non-important and non in-tune with the gaming industry individuals. This is my personal experience with the industry so I may just be a bit bitter, but you can also see how Microsoft handles all of their other divisions as further proof of my statement. And Sony, they just keep entrusting their own clueless engineers to direct how a product should be made.

That's not true.

You shouldn't treat something as large as a console design - something that may be the face of the brand for upwards of a decade to a group of engineers. You don't want to assume you know what customers want. The Vita wouldn't exist otherwise.

Things like what goes into the console, how every piece functions, what services they support and whatnot is all on the engineers. That's where they shine. They ask developers what they want and they take it into consideration. Developers wanted a single core CPU with high clock instead of a multi core. Developers wanted a narrowband modem in the Xbox. They do focus testing not to make the decision, but to HELP making the decision. It's just an idea of what the mindset of consumers. Microsoft still has to make the choice.

 

[Concept17]

The more time to get the console's name in the minds of the public the better imo. All I've heard about in 2013 thus far is PS4 this, PS4 that, and it looks to be staying that way until E3ish.

I think a lot more depends on how people respond to each unveil. Nintendo's unveiling hurt them, partially due to how it was represented as a 'new' console, and all the confusion surrounding the controller. Both unveils need to really excite people, and not leave them wanting or confused.

 

[Jack_AG]

Well for starters you'd be getting a hell of a lot better cable box, as they're one of the most underdeveloped pieces of tech you have in your house.

- PiP with games
- Skype while you watch TV
- Notifications across the platform from just about any source you could imagine
- Stream TV to your phonetablet
- Control your TV from your phonetablet
- There could be TV programs that you could interact with like a game.

The possibilities are pretty vast.

One box that can do everything, operating cohesively. That's going to be pretty cool. Who knows how it will be at playing games. We'll have to wait and see on that one.

The problem with the "all-in-one box" approach is that MS has to make people invest in ANOTHER everything box. People already have their cable/satellite boxes, GoogleTV, Apple TV, etc - trying to introduce into an already saturated market will be wildly difficult. XBOX is also synonymous with gaming - which will be hard to change to "everything box".

Personally - i'd rather MS focused on gaming first while everything else was secondary. I don't need the extra fluff.

I dont think their box will resonate enough to take over the living room. I could easily be wrong. Everything is still up in the air.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

Man E3 better be full of games if all these console announcements aren't coming there.

 

[SneakyStephan]

The focus groups picked the best shell of the prototype choices imo. These were awful looking:

Is this real? The third one looks like one of those bio degradable containers a hamburger comes in, the second to last looks like a modem/switch and the last one looks like a GI Joe lunchbox.

 

[Baconsammy]

The more time to get the console's name in the minds of the public the better imo. All I've heard about in 2013 thus far is PS4 this, PS4 that, and it looks to be staying that way until E3ish.

What public? Us? Gamers? We already know about them both. The rest of the world won't give a shit about either console until they're released, and many probably won't care much at that point either. Announcing early doesn't do much of anything except hopefully free up the third parties to start showing what they're working on.

 

[DopeyFish]

What public? Us? Gamers? We already know about them both. The rest of the world won't give a shit about either console until they're released, and many probably won't care much at that point either. Announcing early doesn't do much of anything except hopefully free up the third parties to start showing what they're working on.

Just to bring up an example: Wii-U

Look at that lead time to differentiate itself and let that name soak into the spongey brains of the puppet public

 

[Gamer @ Heart]

I hope skype is built in as the voice chat. It may mean cross platform/pc party chat.

 

[Karak]

I hope skype is built in as the voice chat. It may mean cross platform/pc party chat.

Lync.

 

[Razdek]

The problem with the "all-in-one box" approach is that MS has to make people invest in ANOTHER everything box. People already have their cable/satellite boxes, GoogleTV, Apple TV, etc - trying to introduce into an already saturated market will be wildly difficult. XBOX is also synonymous with gaming - which will be hard to change to "everything box".

Personally - i'd rather MS focused on gaming first while everything else was secondary. I don't need the extra fluff.

I dont think their box will resonate enough to take over the living room. I could easily be wrong. Everything is still up in the air.

People have multiple TVs and usually save the best box for their living room or game room. If someone has a regular cable box but find out the new Xbox can do more then they move it to another TV.

 

[Baconsammy]

Just to bring up an example: Wii-U

Look at that lead time to differentiate itself and let that name soak into the spongey brains of the puppet public

Yep. And also Vita. Vita got announced a full year before it released in the US. How'd that work out?

 

[Doffen]

Lync.

My man!

 

[Vamphuntr]

The problem with the "all-in-one box" approach is that MS has to make people invest in ANOTHER everything box. People already have their cable/satellite boxes, GoogleTV, Apple TV, etc - trying to introduce into an already saturated market will be wildly difficult. XBOX is also synonymous with gaming - which will be hard to change to "everything box".

Personally - i'd rather MS focused on gaming first while everything else was secondary. I don't need the extra fluff.

I dont think their box will resonate enough to take over the living room. I could easily be wrong. Everything is still up in the air.

This is what I'm wondering as well. The product you listed above weren't all smashing success either.

My personal guess is that their cable box/services box approach seems like the new reason they will try to get people pay for Xbox Live. Maybe they could strike deals with cable providers or Amazon or Netflix so that you actually get something for subscribing.

If all the rumours are true and if it includes all of the patents we are reading in the other thread it seems like MS is concentrating more on firmware/services/All in one box than on having a powerful machine. Let's see how that will work out if it's all true.

 

[FordGTGuy]

Sony has MS on the run.

Mind games and playing it like a game of Chess.

Kaz is going for the kill! My guess is that Sony will unveil the PS4 this month but hold back stuff for later to ruin the MS party. MS unveiling later also runs the risk of being overlooked when Nintendo show off what they've got.

Looks like Sony has won this one!

Obligatory.

 

[ChanDangle]

Can't wait to hear stories of kids explaining to their parents why they need to sign a contract to purchase a system.

 

[Pistolero]

Best gif ever! Hahahaha...

If all the rumours are true and if it includes all of the patents we are reading in the other thread it seems like MS is concentrating more on firmware/services/All in one box than on having a powerful machine. Let's see how that will work out if it's all true.

The two aren't mutually exclusive. Compromises have to be made, duh!, but let's not forget that Sony's been facing the same dilemma when conceiving its console.

 

[Shrennin]

Kaz: We won't announce anything before MS

*MS delays announcement

Kaz: Announce it now now now!

I actually think announcing later is better, honestly. Announcing later and launching later are two completely different things - if Microsoft could somehow announce later and launch first (or around the same time frame) then I would give the advantage to Microsoft. Microsoft's marketing team is also drastically better than Sony's as well.

Even still, I think Sony or Microsoft will be in the top two this upcoming gen, with Nintendo coming in last. It's still too early to tell either way, but that's just my relatively worthless prediction. I honestly can't tell who will come out on top between Microsoft and Sony, but I think Nintendo has squandered a lot of their early lead and I believe they also made more than a few mistakes that could cost them their dominance.

 

[PopeReal]

well hopefully at least one of them is focusing on their box being a game console

 

[FordGTGuy]

Can't wait to hear stories of kids explaining to their parents why they need to sign a contract to purchase a system.

You have to sign a contract(technically) to have a account so it isn't going to be that far-fetched. Also it's up to the parents as to which way they want to buy it.

well hopefully at least one of them is focusing on their box being a game console

The ignorance of this statement gives me a headache, the largest selling point for the PS3 was that it was a Blu-Ray player that could play games. Just like the Xbox 360 lots of people watch movies and tv shows not to mention listen to music and podcasts on their PS3 and the same will go with the PS4. If Sony were to take away all of the Playstations multi-media capabilities they might as well tie their own noose.

 

[TGO]

What public? Us? Gamers? We already know about them both. The rest of the world won't give a shit about either console until they're released, and many probably won't care much at that point either. Announcing early doesn't do much of anything except hopefully free up the third parties to start showing what they're working on.

Yeah......So 3rd Party's will start showing what they are making for PS4, thats great
People will hear about it too, Moden Warfare 4 on PS4! etc, etc
And MS will come out and go "Hey guys heres our console and
we have those games too......hey hello? Shit! Sony is showing more games people haven't seen before"
I'm sure MS will have plenty of games of their own but they don't want a me too for their reveal do they
The less games shown for PS4 before MS reveals the New Xbox the better
I'm sure you get what I mean

 

[Meelow]

Is this real? The third one looks like one of those bio degradable containers a hamburger comes in, the second to last looks like a modem/switch and the last one looks like a GI Joe lunchbox.

I was trying to find "The making of Xbox 360" on Youtube and it did show these.

 

[EightBitNate]

Obligatory.

Heh I like this gif

 

[PopeReal]

You have to sign a contract(technically) to have a account so it isn't going to be that far-fetched. Also it's up to the parents as to which way they want to buy it.



The ignorance of this statement gives me a headache, the largest selling point for the PS3 was that it was a Blu-Ray player that could play games. Just like the Xbox 360 lots of people watch movies and tv shows not to mention listen to music and podcasts on their PS3 and the same will go with the PS4. If Sony were to take away all of the Playstations multi-media capabilities they might as well tie their own noose.

I like the PS3 and 360. I think they both focus on gaming. I just don't need my console to do too much, I would just be paying for extra stuff I won't use. I am just speaking for me, not for a smart business model.

 

[statham]

Having this much faith in either console is a sure set up for disaster. Microsoft doesn't know shit and having to focus test their stuff is disgusting like Sony's trust in their engineers to know what to do.

wow. please continue.

MS just went from 24 to 75 million and climbing without japan. but MS doesn't know shit. okay.

someone is mad.

 

[Colonel Nasty]

I can't believe people hate the multimedia idea, being able to switch from watching the Rockets, to HBO Go, to Halo, to Minecraft and back while staying in chat with my friends is awesome. People hate this because they didnt put out more first party games instead?

 

[FordGTGuy]

My console does too many things!!!!

Next time I drive my car I'm going to harass it for having a radio, cd player and a heater!

 

[Big Takeover]

The problem with the "all-in-one box" approach is that MS has to make people invest in ANOTHER everything box. People already have their cable/satellite boxes, GoogleTV, Apple TV, etc - trying to introduce into an already saturated market will be wildly difficult. XBOX is also synonymous with gaming - which will be hard to change to "everything box".

Personally - i'd rather MS focused on gaming first while everything else was secondary. I don't need the extra fluff.

I dont think their box will resonate enough to take over the living room. I could easily be wrong. Everything is still up in the air.

People don't really have cable/satellite boxes though, they rent them. $20 a month for a dvr one. People wouldn't be interested in replacing that with a partially subsidized 720 and a modest monthly hike to their bill? I think they would. If I had a rental dvr and wanted a 720, I'd go that route.

Should they just stick with games? We could debate that all day. I hear you though.

 

[Sean]

Is this real? The third one looks like one of those bio degradable containers a hamburger comes in, the second to last looks like a modem/switch and the last one looks like a GI Joe lunchbox.

Yup they were revealed on some BBC program back in 2005. Here's two much better/larger pics of the various 360 console shells that were under consideration:

Really demonstrates how much Microsoft's hardware design has improved over the past few years.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

My console does too many things!!!!

Next time I drive my car I'm going to harass it for having a radio, cd player and a heater!

Everything is amazing and nobody is happy.

 

[Doffen]

Yeah......So 3rd Party's will start showing what they are making for PS4, thats great
People will hear about it too, Moden Warfare 4 on PS4! etc, etc
And MS will come out and go "Hey guys heres our console and
we have those games too......hey hello? Shit! Sony is showing more games people haven't seen before"
I'm sure MS will have plenty of games of their own but they don't want a me too for their reveal do they
The less games shown for PS4 before MS reveals the New Xbox the better
I'm sure you get what I mean

Microsoft started that game, they know how to play it. Or have you forgotten what Microsoft filled their conferences with the last 2 years?

A:

Spoiler

3. party games.

Btw, when was the last time Activision showcased the main Call of Duty game at a PS event?

 

[artist]

I actually think announcing later is better, honestly. Announcing later and launching later are two completely different things - if Microsoft could somehow announce later and launch first (or around the same time frame) then I would give the advantage to Microsoft.

Based on what logic?

Honestly, it doesnt matter as to who announces first. It all comes down to execution - if they market their console well, launch library is decent, price it well, availability is good etc.

 

[Officerrob]

Microsoft started that game, they know how to play it. Or have you forgotten what Microsoft filled their conferences with the last 2 years?

A:

Spoiler

3. party games.

Btw, when was the last time Activision showcased the main Call of Duty game at a PS event?

I would be shocked if the next CoD was shown at a Sony event. I'd place by money on a CoD logo at best and Battlefield 4 getting the time at a Sony presser.

Based on what logic?

Honestly, it doesnt matter as to who announces first. It all comes down to execution - if they market their console well, launch library is decent, price it well, availability is good etc.

This is 100% true, people are making too much out of who announces first. If it mattered that much, Sony or Microsoft would have announced these things far earlier than now. The other things you list are far more important to the successful launch to a console.

 

[shinobi602]

Console wars are in full bloom on GAF.

E3 is going to be a battlefield lmao.