While the Consumer Electronics Show is the biggest trade show in the world, it has always been a big geek fest. It really is still a geek fest, but since the fall of E3, the show has become more attractive to game companies. While CES is far from being a game trade show, some companies have begun to show their wares there, and last year Microsoft had a pretty solid presence as a game company. They're back at CES this year, and it seems that they have some "important" Xbox 360 news in store for us.
The Seattle Times says that Bill Gates is set to make an "important announcement" regarding the Xbox 360 at the 2008 CES, which will take place January 7-10. Unfortunately, that's all that Billy G. and the gang give us.
The Times thinks that they may be announcing a new Xbox 360 SKU with HD-DVD playback. They also mention possible licensing of the Xbox 360 platform to other electronics companies.
"Microsoft may be preparing to license the Xbox gaming platform to consumer-electronics companies," says Seattle Times columnist Brier Dudley. "In particular, Microsoft could work with Toshiba to develop a digital video recorder with a hard-drive, high-definition HD-DVD drive and Xbox gaming capabilities."
"Microsoft could also make a splash by announcing plans to give the Xbox 360 an internal HD-DVD drive, putting it on par with Sony's PlayStation 3 that has a built-in Blu-ray drive."
These are fair guesses, but they bring me back to last where where we guessed similar things. What do you think Microsoft has in store for us?
Destructoid will be on the show floor, elbowing our way through 150,000+ attendees all next week to bring you news from Microsoft and others.
[Via CVG]
Contest:
8:48 AM on 01.02.2008
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My God a giant Corporation lied to me. But WHYYY?!?!?!?
Fuck all this Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, DVR bullshit. I bought a fucking VIDEO GAME console, how bout focusing on that fucking aspect. AND HURRY THE FUCK UP WITH IKARUGA ON XBLA.
GOD IM ANGRY TODAY! I'M GONNA GO TAKE A NAP!
Surfer girl, has been assasinated.
Actually, they are probably just going to take out software emulation of orignal 360 games and instead make you buy all of them on XBLMP.
That and since they discoverd the power of "overheating" there going to add two slots for some toast right where the fan goes, they don't fit bagels yet, but a patch should be released with the spring update.
Thats the one thing about ps3, it is literally SILENT, when compared to the 360.
You want HD and blueray? Go get a dual player that plays both, then get an A/b box for your lazy ass, then all will be well.
Discalimer: Not specificlly aimed at anyone indivdually based upon another persons personal choices....
Just kidding!
Actually, he'll say you have to keep them in for the next console's release, in early 2009.
/sarcasm
http://www.modchip.com/xbox360/x360usborder.php
Also, MGS4 coup would be awesome.
On the other hand, wasn't there rumor that Microsoft was going to announce motion sensing control for the 360?
http://www.modchip.com/xbox360/x360usborder.php/
Also, MGS4 coup would be awesome.
(sorry for the repost)
Run Finland, run.
How about making XBL free like the playstation network, Wii network, Steam, etc...
But I think it could be something with the whole IPTV thing that they were supposed to be launching. I wouldn't be surprised if they did something with cable companies with that. You know how cable companies lease the boxes with the service? Maybe they will start leasing out some box and a 360 that connect to eachother where the box has a huge hard drive and the input for the cable and then teh 360 can control it and what not. that way they would be have a higher chance of getting more 360s into more homes.
just a random thought.
Blu-ray movies outsell HD-DVD 3:1 because of the PS3. HD-DVD just can't compete with that install base. If MS puts HD-DVD in every 360, within a year that advantage would be largely gone for Blu-ray.
I hope to God that doesn't happen though, because at this point the writing is on the wall for HD-DVD. If something like this happens all it's going to do is destroy both formats, keeping them forever locked in a stalemate while movie fans need to have both in order to be able to get whatever movie they want.
I know people are fanboys of one format or the other but it isn't in anyone's interest for both formats to continue forward. I really hope the rumors about Warner going exclusive to one format or the other at CES are true. Even if they decide to go with HD-DVD, at least the war will be over.
Putting an HD DVD drive in the console and pricing it at, say, $450 doesn’t make any sense — they couldn’t use the damn thing for games, and it wouldn’t be fiscally prudent to come out with yet another SKU that’s priced higher than the PS3. If they set the price at $400, though, that would be a kick to Sony’s nuts...
Not only is it getting old reading about people that have had RROD's and multiple consoles, it's getting old hearing crud coming from MS about what they are doing.
All of it ends up being yet another lane into our wallets..
-- $100 wireless adapter
-- $170 120 Gig drive
-- $50/yr xbl membership
-- Defective steering wheel
-- can't use any other PC peripherals or older xbox controllers like on some other consoles...
Sorry, but for this 360 fan, the issues I've run into make me almost want to go back to PC gaming from whence I came not too long ago.
What I wish would be a slimmer totally silent 360 with the ability to add your own sata hard drive in the handy slot at the back.....if wishes were pishes we would all be soaked.
I wouldn't get all of your hopes up, these big hype announcements always end in disappointment.