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Rumor: Microsoft Working On Digital Entertainment Handheld

camineet said:
It's about time Microsoft releases that long-rumored 'Xboy', an Xbox-branded handheld dedicated game platform.
Click to expand...


'Long-rumored'? Seriously? I thought the Xboy was just a daydream of Shogmaster's.
 
Well, I was due to get a new iPod for my bday next week from my gf but now I'm inclined to wait a little longer, just incase something awesome (unlikely) is on the horizon.
 
Oh my god if this turns out to be true it's over for Nintendo. Think about it- Microsoft is the world's most magnormous company and there is no way Nintendo could compete. Halo on the Xboy? I think so! Mountain Dews for all!
 
evilromero said:
Oh my god if this turns out to be true it's over for Nintendo. Think about it- Microsoft is the world's most magnormous company and there is no way Nintendo could compete. Halo on the Xboy? I think so! Mountain Dews for all!
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Is this suppose to be funny? It's pretty clear that it's Apple that MS is scared of.
 
This sounds as believable as PSP Go and Wii HD. I'm really liking the sound of this sky service although I don't see why they wouldn't just call it Live Marketplace... After all that is their unifying branding.
 
If it plays the xbox live arcade games, I wonder how they will map all the buttons from the xbox controller to a portable.

Unless it's a subset of games that are friendly for a simplified interface. Part of the reason the iPhone and DS are successful with non hardcore gamers is the stripped down touch interface.
 
bearcatjosh said:
If this theoretical device plays all XBLA games, then it's an instant-buy for me.
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You think this theoretical device would have two analog sticks, 4 face buttons and 4 shoulder buttons?
 
dyls said:
You think this theoretical device would have two analog sticks, 4 face buttons and 4 shoulder buttons?
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I hope it does.

If MSoft is going to put out a handheld gaming device, I really hope they make an actual gaming device, and not just try to copy the iPhone.
 
Evander said:
I hope it does.

If MSoft is going to put out a handheld gaming device, I really hope they make an actual gaming device, and not just try to copy the iPhone.
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It probably will, I'm guessing a mix between the PSP and iPhone except much more powerful.
 
I doubt they are going to release a dedicated gaming device, the iPhone (and the PC) has demonstrated that you can have a device whose primary purpose is not gaming and still have a significant gaming population on it. I would guess, that if true, MS will be rebranding the Zune and releasing an MSPhone based on the same architecture (basically the MS versions of the iPhone and iTouch) with a Live integrated service providing games and media (MS iTunes/app store) and Live community features.
 
Microsoft doesn't need to become a third fiddle in the portable gaming space with this product. The inability for their windows mobile platform to gain marketshare and mindshare doesn't inspire confidence.

I would rather them make this a phone. Fewer fronts to fight, more effort on one product, and gadget consolidation.
 
poppabk said:
I doubt they are going to release a dedicated gaming device, the iPhone (and the PC) has demonstrated that you can have a device whose primary purpose is not gaming and still have a significant gaming population on it. I would guess, that if true, MS will be rebranding the Zune and releasing an MSPhone based on the same architecture (basically the MS versions of the iPhone and iTouch) with a Live integrated service providing games and media (MS iTunes/app store) and Live community features.
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They won't release a phone.
 
Why do people keep predicting ZunePhones/MSPhones?

it would be an incredibly stupid move on MSoft's part because they'd be competing with themselves.
 
This would be pretty awesome to have, especially if it integrated Zune/Xbox/Windows functionality seamlessly.
 
dyls said:
You think this theoretical device would have two analog sticks, 4 face buttons and 4 shoulder buttons?
Click to expand...
Pretty please?!?!?! that's why I can't play full on iPhones only puzzles or simple control game.
 
Evander said:
Why do people keep predicting ZunePhones/MSPhones?

it would be an incredibly stupid move on MSoft's part because they'd be competing with themselves.
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Yeah, that strategy practically put Apple out of business. Unless you're talking about WinMo in which case I think Microsoft would be perfectly happy making this a platform where some Live-related features are exclusive to their own hardware.
 
Evander said:
Why do people keep predicting ZunePhones/MSPhones?

it would be an incredibly stupid move on MSoft's part because they'd be competing with themselves.
Click to expand...

I believe their going to release the software to other phone manufactures that way the evolution of the platform won't be tied to specific hardware, just the software.

For example, if Apple decided to license their iPhone OS to someone like Nokia, Nokia could develop their own hardware for the phone that runs all the Apple apps and has almost the same functionality as the iPhone plus whatever else Nokia wants to add as a differentiator.

MS can develop a Zune-like successor with all this capability, and then license the OS to other companies. MS's device will be their Ipod Touch and they'll let other companies build the iPhone. That's just my theory.

IMO, this is the evolution of Windows Mobile.
 
McHuj said:
I believe their going to release the software to other phone manufactures that way the evolution of the platform won't be tied to specific hardware, just the software.

For example, if Apple decided to license their iPhone OS to someone like Nokia, Nokia could develop their own hardware for the phone that runs all the Apple apps and has almost the same functionality as the iPhone plus whatever else Nokia wants to add as a differentiator.

MS can develop a Zune-like successor with all this capability, and then license the OS to other companies. MS's device will be their Ipod Touch and they'll let other companies build the iPhone. That's just my theory.

IMO, this is the evolution of Windows Mobile.
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Sounds logical and reasonable. I am sure MS would like WinMo to be as successful as its desktop counterpart. And this way they get a large chunk of software pie in additional to raking it in on the hardware front (that they aren't so good at yet). I mean this sounds so logical that I think the opposite will happen. If this device is real it'll probably be a DS/PSP competitor... sigh.
 
badcrumble said:
Unless you're talking about WinMo in which case I think Microsoft would be perfectly happy making this a platform where some Live-related features are exclusive to their own hardware.
Click to expand...

Why?

It is in MSoft's interest to allow all phone manufacturers equal access to the platform, to encourage the manufacturing of as many WinMo phones as possible.

If MSoft makes their own own phone, well, you ever notice how it's a bit harder to find core games on Nintendo consoles, because no one wants to compete with Nintendo first-party IPs...?
 
Trip Warhawkins said:
anuslogo.jpg

i am an innovation man
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First of all: Kudos for spotting that. Second: How the hell did you spot that?

Now I can't unsee it.
 
evilromero said:
Oh my god if this turns out to be true it's over for Nintendo. Think about it- Microsoft is the world's most magnormous company and there is no way Nintendo could compete. Halo on the Xboy? I think so! Mountain Dews for all!
Click to expand...

No. Not by a long shot. It just needs to get out and get exposure first before talking about rubbing competitiors out. Get a grip..
 
Dun, dun duuuunnnn.

If it's anything like a Zune I'm excited. And I mean a well thought out product.

EDIT: Whoops, I see Zune has already come up in conversation. And how.
 
dyls said:
You think this theoretical device would have two analog sticks, 4 face buttons and 4 shoulder buttons?
Click to expand...
...not to mention the entire 360 hardware for them to run on :)

There's no way this device will play existing XBLA games for obvious technical reasons. However, it'll be interesting (hypothetically of course) if future XBLA games get joint-releases across both platforms.
 
pswii60 said:
Well, I was due to get a new iPod for my bday next week from my gf but now I'm inclined to wait a little longer, just incase something awesome (unlikely) is on the horizon.
Click to expand...

Same scenerio, but my wife went shopping this morning : ( Hopefully she did not pick it up.
 
A German website has published media showing what they say is the ZuneX, compatible with Xbox Live Arcade and OnLive. It's most likely fake, but there is a possibility it's not.

zunex_final01.jpg
.

More on my blog, if you want to check it out.
 
Even if something like this isn't announced this year, it could come later. Mobile entertainment device market is getting bigger and bigger. Out of three, MS is only one without portable gaming device.
 
Trip Warhawkins said:
anuslogo.jpg

i am an innovation man
Click to expand...
You've gotta fucking be kidding me. :lol That's too perfect to be real!

Add another test for Microsoft's marketing department: backwards logos!
 
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