XBox 2 in game shots

[v0od0o]

Originally Posted by Buba

The Ps3s CELL chip is supposed to kick ass... 8 parallel cores clocked at 4 Ghz... Well, that should be sufficient for a while...

Buba

The PS3 will have 8 cells not just one And it's estimated that a single CELL performance is equal to 4 P4 processors at 3.5 GHz

And the XBox2 will not be a lame pc... It'll feature 3 PowerPC RISC processors running at 3.5GHz (or 3.4 can't remember)

So basically next generation consoles will both kick the PCs ass real hard, unfortunately.

[swek]

I don't believe the marketing jibberish at all. Remember when they announced that the PS2 can't be exported from Japan because it's processing unit is so developed, that you can use it to steer missles.

[v0od0o]

The XBox2 specs have been officially confirmed afaik but I dunno about the PS3's
Wait till October and I'll confirm with you about the XBox2 specs That's if it hadn't been out by then already

[swek]

But specs don't tell you the whole story. Theoretical the PS2 should have no problem with flickering but no devoloper managed to get completely rid of it till this day.
Even the Dreamcast had no problem with it.

[v0od0o]

Agreed, to an extent
The PS3 will not be easy to get the best out of. Same story as was with the PS2. Although Sony has recently said that they're going to adopt some APIs based on OpenGL so this should make life a lot easier for PS3 game developers
But the XBox2 may prove easier to program with after all, MS knows how to create APIs and gather developer support.
We'll wait and see, but consoles have never been more interesting than this

[swek]

I agree with you. The video game industry is unpredictable. Nintendo got overrun by Sony because they dismissed the SNES CD-Rom. Sega had a stable fan base until they launched the Saturn, which was too complicated to program and therefore lacked 3rd party support. The Dreamcast had the best games and the worst marketing ever.

Nobody believed that Microsoft could make a good console and they have prooven everyone wrong. They even have left Nintendo behind. And they did, well..they..I'm sure they work on some fantastic games like Mario Party 99 (Featuring two new evil characters called Wajoshy and Waluigi)

[zenon]

I'm really looking forward to this year's E3 (May 17th - 20th for those not in the know). The big 3 are all going to be making major major announcements - most likely revealing all of the technical specs of their future platforms.

Microsoft has really raised the bar by saying they will have a working xBox2 at E3 and will be launching it quite a few months before Sony and Nintendo. Sony and Nintendo will be forced to reveal just about everything to fight off any of the hype that will inevitably come with Microsoft's showing at this E3.

Throughout the whole video game industry the stakes are getting higher and higher. Expect to see some pretty incredible things in the next few months as each of the big 3 try to build the hype that will be necessarily for them to survive through to 2006.




And to discuss further the issue of future platforms being difficult to develop for - the rumor for Nintendo's next platform is that it will have a touch screen controller. Basically it will just be a blank screen and developers will be able to custom design a controller for each game. This could lead to incredibly creative and open game designs, but it could also scare away developers who don't want to throw money into designing a control interface. It will be really interesting to see what happens.

[v0od0o]

Agreed with all but the touch screen controller, I think it's one of those ideas that sound brilliant in theory yet fail in practice....
How will you be able to get pressure sensitive buttons on a touch screen controller.... How would it survive the bashing that you'd usually give it once immersed enough in a driving or fighting game....
And with every developer coming up with their own control interface you can never get used to a hand position or a controller layout....
Not a good idea I'm thinking.... Nintendo seem to be going over board with all the touch screen applications...

[MXM]

I hate touch screen. I hate touch screen tv remotes, I hate touch screen car stereos, I can live with touch screen in PDAs, because it's the only way to go there, and you actually watch at the screen when you use it (+ you have a stylo instead of a finger). But I hate to play any games on PDA. You're loosing a VERY important feel of the button with it. Any application, where you don't necessarily have to watch at what you're pressing is waay better with good old buttons in terms of ergonomics. And if you have a flat surface, you must watch where you lay your fingers, and constantly keep in mind their positions. It sux.

[jayjaya29]

The PS3 may have impressive specs, but as others said, Sony might have dug its own grave. I think that they are sortof rushing and taking a risk by putting the Cell into the console, but we shall see. No matter how good the PS3 is, I'm still going with Xbox, mainly becuase of Project Gotham Racing 3 and Forza Motorsport 2(dunno if this is real or not).

[zenon]

Realistically it is much too early to be making any predictions on the outcome of the next generation. It's all too popular to rant on your LiveJournal about how "OWnOZRs S0NY si TE DOOMED!!!!11" and "Nintendo is on crack", but there simply isn't enough information for an accurate call on who is going to fail and who is going to succeed.

Current touch screen technology may be problematic, but Nintendo may pull off something amazing. Sony might be trying too hard with their cell technology, but it may prove to be a major catalyst for innovation. Microsoft may be playing it too safe in terms of hardware, but developers may be looking for a platform that is easy to work with.

Ideally I would love to see each console succeed in the next generation and co-exist as with different focuses, strengths and weaknesses. Having a Microsoft console exist as a platform aimed at casual gamers with traditional games (like the current), a Sony platform aimed at enthusiasts that gives access to epic games and great import titles (also like the current), and a Nintendo platform aimed at both younger and older game players looking for core gameplay and quirky innovations (also like the current) would be ideal. The way the market is right now that isn't very realistic, but if things calmed down slightly that may well be a reality.

I currently own three consoles of the current generation - a PS2, a GameCube and a Dreamcast (although you could argue it's not part of the current generation) - and absolutely adore all three. I admit that my PS2 gets the most play out of the three, but I could never say that one is better than the other. Also I don't have any desire to own an xBox, but I definitely understand its role in the current market and think things are better off with it existing.

I'm going to wait until E3 to make any predictions at all, but again, I'd love to see all three succeed. I'd hate to see another company go the way of Sega.

[v0od0o]

^ Totally agreed. You wouldn't want a console monopoly. Even hardcore PS fanatics should realize that the XBox existence does them good, there must be competition.

[zenon]

I found an interesting post on my morning browse of the Penny-Arcade forums. These are all of the confirmed and speculative specificiations of the next generation consoles:

Originally Posted by Salvation122

I strive to be factual and precise in my language, and not to make unsupported assertions. To that end - and to encourage and aid others on the board to do the same - I am attempting to compile all known information about the next-gen consoles in a single, easily accessible thread.

Information will be split up by platform. Within each platform there will be another split, between facts, speculation, and uncertain. The "Facts" section will be comprised only of information gleaned from a documented, named, official source. Speculation is self-explanatory. Uncertain is information that I haven't placed yet, probably because my memory is hazy and I need to double-check the statement. Handhelds will not be covered, mostly since they've already been released.

For the moment, I'm not always citing sources, but I'll get to it when I can. I'm well aware that I'll miss things, quite possibly things that are extremely obvious; if you have information to add, please post it and I'll put it in the main list on the front page. If you have a fact to add, please cite and link a documented, named, official source or general press release.

[Edit: Note that this thread is intended as reference, not as a jumping-off point for discussion.]

Sorted by availible information on hand:

Xbox 2

FACTS

• All Xbox 2 games will support Live. (Source: Jay Allard GDC Keynote.)
• All Xbox 2 games will support custom soundtracks. (Source: Jay Allard GDC Keynote.)
• Current Xbox Live tags and games will be usable with the Live 2 architecture. (Source: Jay Allard, I believe in an interview on Gamespot, possibly from coverage of GDC. Help finding this exact comment would be appreciated.)
• Xbox Live DLC will focus on micropayment-based support. (Source: Jay Allard GDC Keynote.)
• All Xbox 2 games will support a system of "achievements," and achievements accomplished will be viewable by others through your Live profile. (Source: Jay Allard GDC Keynote.)
• Xbox 2 will run on a PowerPC core and a video chipset by ATI.
• Xbox 2 has a massively multiplayer persistant world FPS in development, titled Huxley. (Source: teamxbox.com)
• Developers have been supplied with Xbox 2 dev kits.
• Dev kits for the Xbox 2 are built heavily (entirely?) around XNA, a set of APIs, libraries and standards intended to make game development more streamlined.

SPECULATION

• Xbox 2 will launch Q4 2005.
• All Xbox 2 games will support HD resolutions with a minimum of 720p.
• Xbox 2 will not include a hard drive.
• Xbox 2 will ship in two or more versions, one with a hard drive and one without.
• Xbox 2 will ship in two or more versions, one with a hard drive and one without, but "Xbox 2 lite" will have the option of expanding through an official aftermarket hard drive.
• Xbox 2 will have an aftermarket harddrive that also functions as a VMU and/or MP3 player.
• Xbox 2 will include DVR and media center functions and will seamlessly integrate with XP/XP MCE/Longhorn, depending on which version of the rumor you read.
• Xbox 2 will not be backwards-compatible with Xbox.
• Xbox 2 will support wifi and wireless controllers out of the box.
• Xbox 2 will only have two controller ports.
• Xbox 2 controllers will bear a marked similarity to the PS2's Dual Shock.
• Some question as to the extent that all games will be required to implement Live - Live aware, DLC, Live multiplayer, etc.

UNCERTAIN

• Xbox 2 will feature a built-in webcam.
• Xbox 2 will allow end-users to create and distribute new content through Live, possibly for profit.
• Xbox 2 will not use HD-DVD or Blu-ray, remaining instead with the DVD-9 standard and using dual-layer media.

Nintendo Revolution

FACTS

• Nintendo Revolution will be backwards-compatible with Gamecube. (Source: Reggie, Gamespot GDC interview.)
• Nintendo Revolution will have wifi capability. (Source: IGN.)
• Nintendo Revolution will have a non-standard control format.
• Nintendo Revolution will feature connectivity to VGA and/or DVI devices out of the box (Source: IGN.).
• Nintendo Revolution will run on a PowerPC core and a video chipset by ATI (Source: IGN.).

SPECULATION

• Nintendo Revolution will act as a wireless access point.
• Nintendo Revolution will feature a free Live-like online service. (This one is kind of odd, because a free online service is confirmed for the DS, and it would be reasonable to carry that over to the Revolution. However, as the Revolution was not specifically mentioned as being included in this network architecture, I'm leaving this in speculation for the time being.)
• Nintendo Revolution will use mini Blu-ray DVDs.
• Nintendo Revolution will use touchscreen controllers. (FALSE. Source. Included for sake of completeness and to dispell this rumor.)
• Nintendo Revolution dev kits will be availible to third-party developers around E3.

PS3

FACT

• PS3 will use Blu-ray DVD.
• PS3 will use a chip named Cell, an extension of the PowerPC architecture.
• PS3 will use a GPU developed by nVidia. (Source: Ars Technica.)
• PS3 dev kits have been distributed to developers (Source: Gamesindustry.biz)
• Patents filed strongly support wireless connectivity between PS3 and PSP. (Source: Computer and Video Games.)

SPECULATION

• PS3 will be able to use the PSP as a controller.
• PS3 will include UMD functionality of one form or another, playing movies as a minimum.
• PS3 will be backwards-compatible with PS1/PS2.

Well, folks, that about does it.

Link.

From looking at the list I can see quite a few potential blunders (Microsoft's demand that all titles support Live and custom soundtracks, Sony's complex processor, and Nintendo's dedication to untraditional controller interface) but again, I don't really want to make any premature predictions. The thing I am glad about is that each company seems to be heading in very different directions.

[v0od0o]

^ Very interesting indeed

[jasonchiu]

wow thanks for the facts. i'm lookin forward to a ps3, hope it doesnt come out soon, i just got my ps2 in x'mas

[zenon]

Originally Posted by jasonchiu

wow thanks for the facts. i'm lookin forward to a ps3, hope it doesnt come out soon, i just got my ps2 in x'mas

I expect it will probably come out early 2006. Microsoft is launching their console in late 2005 (just before Christmas of this year I'd imagine) and I don't think Nintendo or Sony could wait too much longer after that to launch.

[Overheat]

well, the PS came out March 1995, and the PS2 March 2000, as far as I can remember, but I guess we missed the pattern for the PS3

[zenon]

^ The PSP fits nicely into the pattern though. March 2005. Maybe the PS3 won't be around until March 2010.