So Natal is a big deal, or it hopefully will be for Microsoft's sake. But I bet you didn't think it could become an even bigger deal, did you? How big a deal? How about new console big. Rumor now has it that Natal won't just be an add on for the 360, but will launch with an entirely new Microsoft console as well. Yea, not a new SKU of the 360, a new console with new features and a new name.
The guys at 1Up have talked about what they've heard around the metaphorical water cooler and evidently this will be an upgraded system that will focus heavily towards the expanded crowd the Wii has claimed. It's not a major jump in technology like past console generation leaps, but instead something more like what the Wii did with a simple upgraded GameCube that sold not on new graphics, but creative control and design. The system is not intended to be a 360 killer though, with all games developed being for both the 360 and the Natal system, but some games using the extra muscle and features of the Natal system, much like games on the DSi will start using DSi only functions. The rumored system will be able to play games designed for both better on the new system than the 360 too thanks to the added muscle.
With developers complaining that they've maxed out the 360, and Nintendo still rumored to be releasing a Wii HD this could be a major move for Microsoft to truly try to catch up to the Wii. Then again it does lend a lot of credence to Sony's early claims that the PS3 was the long term system for gamers. Remember, before you go all crazy, this is a very, very big rumor, but that being said the system could be announced at GDC 2010.
Matthew Razak is Destructoid's Associate editor and co-founder of film site
Flixist. He began as community member "cowzilla" and was since sequestered to write brainy features material. He lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife.
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Contest:
3:00 PM on 06.13.2009
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If it's over 250, casuals won't buy.
I liked the sega Cd...
i think this could work well, b/c microsoft is the only company with only ONE console out, and has been for a long time
Nintendo always has a home console and a handheld
Sony caught on and did the PSP
Microsoft could do a similar thing, except with a hardcore console and a casual consol
i like this...ohhhhh boy! i cant wait to see how this works!!!
Oh wait, the DS already achieves this, and is portable! ;D
I am simply pointing out a company have never been truly successful supporting multiple systems.
nah i didnt mean it as a jab at you, i know what you mean
but maybe with the new technology this could work out X X fingers crossed
@Magnalon
Ain't gonna happen. If motion controls get there you can bet your ass that shovelware will follow. Maybe this time in the shape of poorly designed shooters but shovelware all the same (Shovelware isn't just minigames you know?)
possibility for HEY YOU, PIKACHU 2!!!
plx plx plx plx plx plxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
But Microsoft has infinitely more third party developers at their disposal. Sure, there will be tons of shovelware, but you can bet your ass there will be more quality titles. Case and point: The Nintendo DS. For every "Learn to Cook!" by Ubisoft, there's a "Knights in the Nightmare" by STING.
Way to rip off Nintendo, Microsoft!
Or something.
Also, maybe this new system will actually, I don't know, function this time around. :P
Also, backwards compability. It is one of the best things game consoles can offer ever.
That dream however, will remain a dream. But they made every other SKU, so why not?
If this rumor turn out to be true this is going to be the year of the 360!
Natal, a new console, and a shitload of exclusive good games...
Go MS go!
10 years from now we'll be paying $2000 + for a Holo-gaming console.
Yeah, it is, but it's not worth it compared to what you get in the Pro bundle. Plus, it only comes with a 256mb memory card, which you'll fill up in less than a day.
I guess this isn't impossible considering everyone hitting dvds limits, but is this console a replacement for the 360 or a casual console.
bah whatever I'm calling BS for now.
http://www.amazon.com/Mitsubishi-L65A90-65-Inch-LaserVue-Projection/dp/B001IAAD3K
"We'll release a new Xbox the day after Sony release a new Playstation" anyone remember that MS quote?
PS3 is long term, 10 year life cycle. Let alone 10 year hardware survival - a couple of things Microshaft could do with reading up on.
£150 for a console that's gonna last a year tops, and will be replaced by a new, waggle friendly, version in 5 years (after you've bought / had repaired 4/5 of them) or £300 for a console that will last 10 years?
Hmmmmmmmm.
I think this whole plan will fail, and not from a fanboy standpoint, from a consumer standpoint. Myself and a couple of buddies, we bought Wii's, enjoyed them for about a month, then got bored, gave them to parents / siblings and bought PS3's. Taking that into account, i can imagine millions of people bought Wii's and got bored of them, sure it still looks good on the Wii sales, but when MS release their "Wii60" they're not going to get the whole "ooh it's the new thing" sales that Nintendo did. They're going to suffer from "oh, it's like a Wii but a bit better? But i never play my Wii anymore" meh-ness.
Or even the casual gamers response of "i've already got a Wii, why would i need a Wii60?"
It's going to take some very very clever marketing to get people who bought the Wii to upgrade to a Wii60, specially as a whole lot of those people have probably lost interest in their Wii's.
"If i can get a 360 for LIVE Arcade games ONLY, NO DISC TRAY"
I don't know if this has been rectified in recent history, but I can recall when I bought my car stereo, a little line in the literature that came with it, something along the lines of: We recommend you make copies of your favourite cds to play in the car, as it has been shown that over time front-loading cd systems are liable to scratch the discs.
Don't know if this is still relevant, and front-loaders are nice asthetically, but I would prefer not to get the scratches.