E3 Gaming news!!! X-Box 2, PS3, Nintendo Revolution stuff [Archive] - The Orange Mane

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Pezman

06-17-2004, 12:59 PM

Cool...
Xbox 2 a Year before PS3?
Posted Thursday, June 17, 2004 by wraggster

Microsoft is faced with an important dilemma concerning its choice of release date for the XBox 2. According to developer reports and to a steady supply of leaked statements, Microsoft's next-gen console is the one that is nearest release and the company now has to decide if it will risk launching it by Christmas 2005.
According to several key industry sources, Microsoft is working towards a Christmas 2005 launch for its next Xbox console in US, with a European release likely to take place in early 2006. If XBox 2 does go down that route it will be a clear indication that Microsoft is attempting to pull a Sony on the next-gen console market by getting a clear lead in store-shelves. As is obvious there is an inherent risk in that strategy since rivals will be able to adapt their console designs in order to claim superiority to XBox 2.
US sources, including a major publisher claiming that Microsoft is definitely targeting Christmas 2005 with its next XBox, have been insisting that MS is willing to take that risk, especially when considering that PS3s launch may be pushed back as far as 2007. The first reports surfaced when developers begun revealing XBox 2 game release dates which were very close to the Christmas 2005 season.
Microsoft has suffered this round of the console wars, largely due to Sony's head start with the PS2 and the news coming from Sony itself can only be seen as encouraging with Sony's European chief David Reeves, already having claimed that the PlayStation 2 is only halfway through its life-cycle. There is also speculation that Sony's insistence to integrate high-end DVD technology into the PS3 may also lead to a delay.
If all these leaks and expert guesses prove right, Microsoft could end up with a one year jump on the PlayStation 3, with Nintendo's offering, currently codenamed Revolution, expected to appear half-way between the two.

Saulbadguy

06-17-2004, 04:31 PM

I'll buy em both.

Pezman

06-17-2004, 09:21 PM

Emu7atorz! K maybe not... but still, hopefully they will both launch with the success that the previous incarnations did

Pezman

06-23-2004, 12:20 AM

Not gonna be backwards compatible?

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=3645

Pezman

06-23-2004, 01:51 PM

And now the Xbox 2 specs leaked? If this is true, whoa! it might be a loooooong time til the X-box3 will be needed for an upgrade..

http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EplZAyukEVDWcUicJE.php

Xenon Docs Leaked?
>> Thanks to some people who bombarded my email account with this info. Wish I could give credit where credit is deserved.. but oddly enough their email addresses are from an anonymous remailer.

Some interesting quotes..

Basic Hardware Specifications
Xenon is powered by a 3.5+ GHz IBM PowerPC processor and a 500+ MHz ATI graphics processor. Xenon has 256+ MB of unified memory. Xenon runs a custom operating system based on Microsoft® Windows NT®, similar to the Xbox operating system. The graphics interface is a superset of Microsoft® Direct3D® version 9.0.

CPU
The Xenon CPU is a custom processor based on PowerPC technology. The CPU includes three independent processors (cores) on a single die. Each core runs at 3.5+ GHz. The Xenon CPU can issue two instructions per clock cycle per core. At peak performance, Xenon can issue 21 billion instructions per second.
The Xenon CPU was designed by IBM in close consultation with the Xbox team, leading to a number of revolutionary additions, including a dot product instruction for extremely fast vector math and custom security features built directly into the silicon to prevent piracy and hacking.
Each core has two symmetric hardware threads (SMT), for a total of six hardware threads available to games. Not only does the Xenon CPU include the standard set of PowerPC integer and floating-point registers (one set per hardware thread), the Xenon CPU also includes 128 vector (VMX) registers per hardware thread. This astounding number of registers can drastically improve the speed of common mathematical operations.
Each of the three cores includes a 32-KB L1 instruction cache and a 32-KB L1 data cache. The three cores share a 1-MB L2 cache. The L2 cache can be locked down in segments to improve performance. The L2 cache also has the very unusual feature of being directly readable from the GPU, which allows the GPU to consume geometry and texture data from L2 and main memory simultaneously.
Xenon CPU instructions are exposed to games through compiler intrinsics, allowing developers to access the power of the chip using C language notation.

GPU
The Xenon GPU is a custom 500+ MHz graphics processor from ATI. The shader core has 48 Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs) that can execute 64 simultaneous threads on groups of 64 vertices or pixels. ALUs are automatically and dynamically assigned to either pixel or vertex processing depending on load. The ALUs can each perform one vector and one scalar operation per clock cycle, for a total of 96 shader operations per clock cycle. Texture loads can be done in parallel to ALU operations. At peak performance, the GPU can issue 48 billion shader operations per second.
The GPU has a peak pixel fill rate of 4+ gigapixels/sec (16 gigasamples/sec with 4× antialiasing). The peak vertex rate is 500+ million vertices/sec. The peak triangle rate is 500+ million triangles/sec. The interesting point about all of these values is that they’re not just theoretical—they are attainable with nontrivial shaders.
Xenon is designed for high-definition output. Included directly on the GPU die is 10+ MB of fast embedded dynamic RAM (EDRAM). A 720p frame buffer fits very nicely here. Larger frame buffers are also possible because of hardware-accelerated partitioning and predicated rendering that has little cost other than additional vertex processing. Along with the extremely fast EDRAM, the GPU also includes hardware instructions for alpha blending, z-test, and antialiasing.
The Xenon graphics architecture is a unique design that implements a superset of Direct3D version 9.0. It includes a number of important extensions, including additional compressed texture formats and a flexible tessellation engine. Xenon not only supports high-level shading language (HLSL) model 3.0 for vertex and pixel shaders but also includes advanced shader features well beyond model 3.0. For instance, shaders use 32-bit IEEE floating-point math throughout. Vertex shaders can fetch from textures, and pixel shaders can fetch from vertex streams. Xenon shaders also have the unique ability to directly access main memory, allowing techniques that have never before been possible.
As with Xbox, Xenon will support precompiled push buffers (“command buffers” in Xenon terminology), but to a much greater extent than the Xbox console does. The Xbox team is exposing and documenting the command buffer format so that games are able to harness the GPU much more effectively.
In addition to an extremely powerful GPU, Xenon also includes a very high-quality resize filter. This filter allows consumers to choose whatever output mode they desire. Xenon automatically scales the game’s output buffer to the consumer-chosen resolution.

Memory and Bandwidth
Xenon has 256+ MB of unified memory, equally accessible to both the GPU and CPU. The main memory controller resides on the GPU (the same as in the Xbox architecture). It has 22.4+ GB/sec aggregate bandwidth to RAM, distributed between reads and writes. Aggregate means that the bandwidth may be used for all reading or all writing or any combination of the two. Translated into game performance, the GPU can consume a 512×512×32-bpp texture in only 47 microseconds.
The front side bus (FSB) bandwidth peak is 10.8 GB/sec for reads and 10.8 GB/sec for writes, over 20 times faster than for Xbox. Note that the 22.4+ GB/sec main memory bandwidth is shared between the CPU and GPU. If, for example, the CPU is using 2 GB/sec for reading and 1 GB/sec for writing on the FSB, the GPU has 19.4+ GB/sec available for accessing RAM.
Eight pixels (where each pixel is color plus z = 8 bytes) can be sent to the EDRAM every GPU clock cycle, for an EDRAM write bandwidth of 32 GB/sec. Each of these pixels can be expanded through multisampling to 4 samples, for up to 32 multisampled pixel samples per clock cycle. With alpha blending, z-test, and z-write enabled, this is equivalent to having 256 GB/sec of effective bandwidth! The important thing is that frame buffer bandwidth will never slow down the Xenon GPU.

Audio
The Xenon CPU is a superb processor for audio, particularly with its massive mathematical horsepower and vector register set. The Xenon CPU can process and encode hundreds of audio channels with sophisticated per-voice and global effects, all while using a fraction of the power of a single CPU core.
The Xenon system south bridge also contains a key hardware component for audio—XMA decompression. XMA is the native Xenon compressed audio format, based on the WMA Pro architecture. XMA provides sound quality higher than ADPCM at even better compression ratios, typically 6:1–12:1. The south bridge contains a full silicon implementation of the XMA decompression algorithm, including support for multichannel XMA sources. XMA is processed by the south bridge into standard PCM format in RAM. All other sound processing (sample rate conversion, filtering, effects, mixing, and multispeaker encoding) happens on the Xenon CPU.
The lowest-level Xenon audio software layer is XAudio, a new API designed for optimal digital signal processing. The Xbox Audio Creation Tool (XACT) API from Xbox is also supported, along with new features such as conditional events, improved parameter control, and a more flexible 3D audio model.

Input/Output
As with Xbox, Xenon is designed to be a multiplayer console. It has built-in networking support including an Ethernet 10/100-BaseT port. It supports up to four controllers. From an audio/video standpoint, Xenon will support all the same formats as Xbox, including multiple high-definition formats up through 1080i, plus VGA output.
In order to provide greater flexibility and support a wider variety of attached devices, the Xenon console includes standard USB 2.0 ports. This feature allows the console to potentially host storage devices, cameras, microphones, and other devices.

Storage
The Xenon console is designed around a larger world view of storage than Xbox was. Games will have access to a variety of storage devices, including connected devices (memory units, USB storage) and remote devices (networked PCs, Xbox Live™). At the time of this writing, the decision to include a built-in hard disk in every Xenon console has not been made. If a hard disk is not included in every console, it will certainly be available as an integrated add-on component.
Xenon supports up to two attached memory units (MUs). MUs are connected directly to the console, not to controllers as on Xbox. The initial size of the MUs is 64 MB, although larger MUs may be available in the future. MU throughput is expected to be around 8 MB/sec for reads and 1 MB/sec for writes.
The Xenon game disc drive is a 12× DVD, with an expected outer edge throughput of 16+ MB/sec. Latency is expected to be in the neighborhood of 100 ms. The media format will be similar to Xbox, with approximately 6 GB of usable space on the disk. As on Xbox, media will be stored on a single side in two 3 GB layers.

Industrial Design
The Xenon industrial design process is well under way, but the final look of the box has not been determined. The Xenon console will be smaller than the Xbox console.
The standard Xenon controller will have a look and feel similar to the Xbox controller. The primary changes are the removal of the Black and White buttons and the addition of shoulder buttons. The triggers, thumbsticks, D-pad, and primary buttons are essentially unchanged. The controller will support vibration.

Saulbadguy

06-23-2004, 02:32 PM

Haha. You are talking to yourself.

Pezman

06-23-2004, 02:56 PM

Saul you dork LOL...

TheManeMan

06-23-2004, 05:53 PM

Wow...could Halo 3 be on Xbox 2...the specs are sick...cant wait to see the model...or the controller...

Rock Chalk

06-24-2004, 02:44 AM

Dude that sucks it wont be backwards compat though.

Sideburn

06-24-2004, 05:00 PM

If Microsoft was smart, which they are, the specs would be leaked. Then, they'd up everything half a notch and release it 6 months before the PS3 is due out. That would set them up to easily have the most powerful system and not give sony anytime to upgrade above it.

Pezman

07-01-2004, 05:10 PM

http://xboxmedia.gamespy.com/xbox/image/xbox2_1088566129.jpg

http://xboxmedia.gamespy.com/xbox/image/darksectorxbox2_062904_002.jpg

Xbox 2 - Everything we know!

With the release last week of a white paper reportedly leaked directly from a Microsoft employee, speculation has begun anew over the state of the follow-up console to Microsoft's Xbox. For months, Xbox fans and industry wags have been putting their two cents in regarding the console, speaking up on everything from the name of the system to the detailed specifications to the possible launch titles, but it's hard to figure out who to believe. Well, we're here to tell you that we don't know who to believe either, but we're going to try to give you all of the details we could find on the new system.

Now, you've got to remember one thing when speculating on upcoming (and as-of-yet unannounced) new hardware: things change. In fact, things are almost guaranteed to change. It's a long time from the beginning of the development process to the end of manufacturing, and as companies see what their competitors are doing, or as they take feedback from fans, they'll tweak their plans accordingly. That's how it's always been, and how it will probably always be. So, please, don't be mad at us if we seem somewhat ambiguous at times, or if we turn out to be wrong about certain things. We're only human (as far as you know). With that said, let's take a look at some of the things we know about the next game console from Microsoft.

What's in a Name?

The first thing that needs to be sorted out is a name for the new console. People have been referring to the console by a lot of different monikers, but nothing has really stuck so far. Xbox 2 has been a popular (and logical) one, but there is a lot of speculation that the folks at Microsoft don't want people to look at the number and think that it's inferior to the PlayStation 3. A lot of people have also been calling it Xbox Next, or in some cases, NeXtBox. While this makes sense, it may be more appropriate for Microsoft to try to set the console apart from its predecessor, which didn't do quite as well as everyone had hoped.

So far, the leading candidate for the console seems to be Xenon. For anyone out there who might have skipped chemistry class, xenon is a noble gas, like neon, and it's pronounced with a Z sound, like xylophone and xenophobia. Of course, there has been no official word from Microsoft regarding this name, but a few internet news sites have posted screenshots of the launcher screen of the console's development kit, and the name Xenon is featured prominently on the top. This indicates that, at least for now, the codename for the system is Xenon, although that could change at any time.

The Power of X

Now, let's take a look inside the box. One of the biggest changes in the system is the CPU (central processing unit) architecture, which is moving from the x86 chipset found in many home PCs to custom processor based on PowerPC technology, not unlike the processors powering Apple's G5 computers. IBM has been developing the new chip with the Xbox team, and early word is that it will be made up of three independent processors, also known as cores, with each core running at a blazing 3.5 GHz. So what does this mean to you, the consumer? Well, basically, it means that your games will be able to run very fast while looking good. If these specs are correct, the processor should be able to issue upwards of 21 billion instructions per second, nearly 10 times the processing power of Intel's chip in the original Xbox.

The only possible drawback to putting this chipset in the new system is that it might make the new console unable to play games from the previous system. This backward compatibility was one of the major selling points for the PlayStation 2, although it is estimated that less than 10 percent of gamers actually played their old games on their new system. Still, that is 10 percent that Microsoft really can't afford to let go, so their internal Xbox team has been working on developing emulators that can run the older games flawlessly. There is a lot of reward there, but there is also a lot of risk, as creating and testing emulators can be incredibly time consuming, as well as expensive.

No matter what Microsoft decides to do in regards to backwards compatibility, it's almost set in stone that the new console will feature the PowerPC processor. In fact, the development kits being sent out to developers are reportedly little more than heavily modded Macintosh G5s, with software installed to emulate the new console.
While the previous Xbox utilized an Nvidia GPU (graphics processing unit), Microsoft's new console will be relying on a custom designed 500 Mhz processor from ATI, Nvidia's biggest rival. So what caused Microsoft to make the switch? Most industry analysts believe that the Nvidia/Microsoft partnership soured after Nvidia was left with a large stock of unusable chips following last minute hardware changes (as well as sales predictions) on the original Xbox, leaving Nvidia in the red. The matter was eventually settled in arbitration, but things have been chilly between the two ever since.

So it wasn't a huge surprise when ATI won the bid to create the graphics chip for the new console, though it is almost guaranteed that ATI demanded a better deal than Nvidia got. By all accounts, the chip that ATI is designing for the console will be much more powerful than the R400 chips that it is currently producing for use in home PCs. One interesting note: the most recently leaked specs noted that the ATI GPU will support the high-level shading language model 3.0 for pixel shading, although ATI's most recently released chips only support model 2.0. Does that mean that ATI's chip will be next generation?

When the original Xbox came out, a lot of people had issues with the industrial design. Many didn't like the size of the box itself, which was bigger than the other consoles, or the layout and size of the controllers, which were admittedly pretty huge. Microsoft managed to make a lot of their fans very happy when they released the S Controller, which was really their Japanese controller. Still, there were some complaints about the tiny black and white buttons on the right side, especially that they were hard to access without taking your fingers off of the main buttons.

Nearly all of the specs released thus far have proclaimed that the new controllers will not have white or black buttons at all, but will instead utilize shoulders buttons, probably along the lines of the ones on the PlayStation 2 controller. This will make it a lot easier for gamers to use those buttons in the middle of heavy action, although Microsoft must make sure that they aren't too easy to hit accidentally. There's nothing worse than dropping a grenade when you're trying to crouch.

The other element is the size of the console itself. Many people believe that the size of the Xbox was one of the reasons that the console never really caught on in Japan, where space is at a premium, while there were complaints on this side of the pond that the console didn't fit well into some entertainment cabinets. Nearly everyone agrees that Microsoft will try to make it's next console smaller, but that opinion begs one little question: what are they going to take out?

Sights and Sounds

We all want our games to look nice, but it doesn't really matter how good they look if your TV isn't up to the task of displaying them. More and more people are starting to purchase TVs with High Definition capability, so it's no surprise that Microsoft is planning on including High Definition output up to 1080i, which provides the sharpest, most colorful picture possible at the present time.

Between a Rock and a Hard Drive

Perhaps the most hotly contested (and divisive) issue surrounding the new console involves the hard drive … or more specifically, the potential lack of one. In March of this year, an Israeli newspaper ran an interview with Dov Moran, CEO of M-Systems, a manufacturer of high-capacity flash memory. According to Moran, Microsoft decided that they didn't want to include a hard drive due to a number of reasons. First of all, the hard drive is one of the most expensive, as well as largest, components in the current system, so removing it would allow Microsoft to make the box itself smaller, and increase their chances of making a profit.

Secondly, many developers either haven't embraced the Xbox's hard drive, or haven't figured out yet how to best utilize it. However, with the rise of online gaming in general, and Xbox Live in particular, it's quickly becoming apparent that gamers appreciate the inclusion of the hard drive. Without a large storage capacity, you wouldn't be able to download new levels of the latest Splinter Cell, save certain games (KoTOR saves can't fit on Xbox's memory card), or create custom soundtracks for supported games. There's also some stuff going on behind the scenes, and it all has to do with the hard drive. See, some of the developers that have begun using the hard drive to cache data, thus allowing the games to load images and objects much faster than if they were pulling them directly from the disc.

The final reason that Microsoft is considering shipping their next console is the rampant piracy. Since the Xbox is essentially a PC in a console's body, it wasn't long before hackers started to modify their Xboxes, installing a mod chip, new operating system, and a new, larger hard drive. This has allowed a lot of people to not only use their Xbox as a media center for photos and movies and arcade emulators, but also to rip games directly onto their hard drives. If people simply go to Blockbuster, rent a game, then rip it, they'll be able to play the game forever, and Microsoft won't see one red cent. You can understand why Microsoft might be leaning towards leaving the hard drive out.

Still, there's a chance the hard drive still might make the cut. A lot of developers have already come out in support of the inclusion of a hard drive, and, thankfully, Microsoft understands that it's the developers, not the company accountants, that will ultimately decide whether the next console succeeds or fails. And even if the hard drive isn't included, the latest leaked specs indicate that Microsoft might have bigger plans in mind.

According to the specs, the next console will allow games to access a myriad of storage options, from removable devices such as flash memory cards or USB storage to remote devices like networked PCs or Xbox Live. There is also a strong possibility that there will be a hard drive add-on released after the console, sort of like Sony did with the PS2 HDD. So, even if there isn't a dedicated hard drive out of the box, it sounds like Microsoft still might have a few tricks up its sleeve.

Just Say When!

So, when can we expect to get the next console in our grubby little hands? By all indications, it appears that we'll be getting something before the holiday season in 2005, well before Sony and Nintendo will have consoles ready. This is yet another issue that has divided the gaming community. In a lot of ways, Microsoft is blaming the relatively weak showing of the Xbox on the fact that they were the last console to make it to market, so they are pushing the development schedule forward in an attempt to be the first to market the next time around.

There are a lot of ways that this strategy could blow up in Microsoft's face. First of all, the first console to market usually ends up being the least powerful machine, and the fact that Nintendo's next console will feature a CPU by IBM and a GPU by ATI means that Microsoft and the big N will have more or less identical key components in their machines. However, if Microsoft's console comes out a year before Nintendo's, there's always the chance that Nintendo can take a look at what Microsoft is offering, then change their machine to trump all of Microsoft's features, essentially making the machine obsolete in the eyes of many hardcore gamers.

Finally, Microsoft has to consider the position of the developers. A lot of the developers that create cross-platform games are still raking in the profits from the current generation, and Microsoft will essentially be asking them to spend a ton of money to create games for one next generation console. If a developer is forced to make a choice between spending a few million dollars to create a game for all of the current generation of consoles (with an audience somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 million total gamers) or spending tens of millions of dollars to make a game for just the next Microsoft console (with an audience of a few million gamers at best), which do you think they'll choose? Some large publishers and developers can afford to develop games for both generations, but the majority of them will have a tough choice to make.

So, there you go folks, that's pretty much everything we know. There's sure to be more info coming forth in the next few months, and a lot of these points could be dead on or dead wrong. Only time will tell, right?

Another big rumored addition is the ability to output to VGA monitors, giving players the option to play on their TV or on their PC monitor. This could come in handy in one TV households (a rarity in today's wired world), or for people who simply don't have space for both a desktop computer and an entertainment setup. While you can purchase VGA adapters online, the video quality tends to degrade as you switch from one output format to another. Many gamers have been asking for VGA outputs for years, and it's looking like Microsoft (as well as Nintendo) is finally listening.

Sound plays a huge part in many of today's games, as hearing an enemy sneaking up behind you can be the difference between life and death. The original Xbox had the most impressive audio capabilities of the three consoles, utilizing Dolby's powerful Dolby Digital 5.1 technology to create immersive, multichannel soundscapes. Gamers have loved the Xbox's audio qualities since day one, so nearly everyone expects Microsoft to continue their partnership with Dolby. While there hasn't been anything more than speculation to date, you can rest assured that the audio capabilities will be even more impressive than they were in the previous console.

http://xbox.gamespy.com/articles/527/527245p1.html

TheManeMan

07-02-2004, 02:37 AM

the system looks great...thanks for the update Pezman...:thumbs:...good lookin'

Rock Chalk

07-02-2004, 05:16 PM

One thing I would comment on Pez.

Nintendo may have a similar and even more powerful machine than X-box, but they market an entirely different audience and have always done so. Nintendo goes after the younger kids, 13 and under usually. X-box targeted adults (and from what I understand, will continue to do so but try to grab some of the middle aged and older teenagers from Sony).

Sony is the only console that has targeted all the ranges and really only because they have had their system out longest (PS1 and PS2 backwards compatibility and all).

I do think X-Box will continue with the older gamers as the primary source of their revenue (since they have more money anyway). I just hope they can figure out a way to make it backwards compatible. I dont want to have H2 for a year and then not be able to play it on the new machine. It took too long for the damn thing to come out!

Pezman

07-12-2004, 11:47 AM

The first news about the PS3 is starting to emerge now.... :thumbsup:

New PlayStation set for May debut

Gamers will get their first glimpse of the next-generation PlayStation in May next year, Sony has said.
The electronics giant is planning to show off the console at the annual E3 video games trade show in Los Angeles.

But the chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment, Ken Kutaragi, did not say when the machine would go on sale to the public.

Rivals Microsoft and Nintendo are also working on new consoles, which could be unveiled at the same LA event.

Market leader

The PlayStation is the world's best-selling games console.

The PlayStation 2 (PS2) had sold more than 70 million copies by March this year, far ahead of Microsoft's Xbox and Nintendo's GameCube.

The new console from Nintendo is codenamed "Revolution"
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40373000/jpg/_40373739_console-nintendo203.jpg

The PS2 was helped by the fact that it went on sale a year head of its rivals, giving Sony a lead the others have not been able to claw back.

Its competitors are aiming to prevent a repeat of the same scenario and are racing to be the first to release the next generation of console.

Sony has now given its clearest indication yet of when its new machine will see the light of day.

At a briefing with developers, suppliers and media in Tokyo, Mr Kutaragi said it was planning to showcase its new console at next year's E3.

"There has been some talk that development is not going well, but we expect to have a playable version at E3," he said.

"We are pushing ahead with that schedule in mind."

He did not say when the console would be released. But the PS2 went on sale in Japan almost a year after it was first unveiled.

Nintendo has already indicated that it hopes to showcase its new machine, codenamed Revolution, at next year's E3, too.

And Microsoft is expected to follow suit with its successor to the Xbox to avoid being left behind.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3886991.stm

Pezman

07-12-2004, 11:35 PM

The Games of PS3

What PS3 games are coming out? What do we know about them? What do we expect from them?

July 12, 2004 - Despite all the hubbub, rumor, promise, hype, and unofficial "facts," PlayStation 3 is still as mysterious as systems get. While developers have been toying with emulated platforms and playing around with early specifications and tools for some time, consumers -- enthusiast and casual alike -- know virtually nothing of the system or its games. What is a games website to do?

To kickoff our ongoing push to deliver you as much PlayStation 3 info as is humanly possible prior to its unveiling next year, we're going to today roundup all the PlayStation 3 games we know of. This admittedly short list of titles will highlight those games confirmed to be in development, those that an inebriated developer or publisher let slip one fateful eve, and even some titles that are easy money bets (obviously we won't list every Electronic Arts sports game from 2006 onward as they're blatantly obvious additions to the eventual PS3 library).
Just because of the game-centric emphasis of this feature, we're not giving up on the hardware reports, mind you. We're currently working on indexing the ultimate compilation of PS3 data and are naturally assembling an easily referenced FAQ of all available information, but for today we've decided to focus on the games, since the games are of paramount importance to gamers. But, how the heck do we go about doing this?

While we might know of the existence of a few titles, it's uncharacteristically hard to acquire any real details about them. Developers are very tight-lipped when it comes to PS3 specifics, so what little data we have managed to wrangle out of the zipped mouths of those in the know, we've had to augment with a bit of speculation and a touch of hopeful optimism. As such, please enjoy the list but understand that it is not official and is in no way supposed to represent a PS3 launch lineup or the current or final states of any of the games mentioned.

DARK SECTOR
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/529/529778/the-games-of-ps3-20040712034545293.jpgPub: TBA | Dev: Digital Extremes | Release: TBA Originally a PC title, Dark Sector was to be a hybrid space combat / first-person shooter set within a persistent online world (sort of a cross between UT, Rogue Leader, and EQ). This was the original idea, anyway. The game dropped off the radar in February of 2000 only to resurface just prior to E3 2004, where it was unveiled in video format.
Exact details still remain sketchy, but DS is apparently a stealth / action title, something analogous to a futuristic Splinter Cell with a tad more shooting. It seems to also boast stylized, dynamically lit, normal-mapped environments and characters, lending more credibility to the assertion of developers at this year's Games Developers Conference that such tricks (those same tricks that make Unreal 3.0 look so wonderful) are PS3 norms.
Given Digital Extreme's track record (UT 2K3 and Unreal Championship), we expect great things from Dark Sector.

HALF-LIFE 2
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/529/529778/the-games-of-ps3-20040712060326917.jpgPub:Vivendi | Dev: Valve | Release: TBA
At the 2003 ECTS Valve's Director of Marketing, Doug Lombardi, confirmed that Half-Life 2 would appear on next-generation consoles. Valve also only recently announced that a release candidate of the highly anticipated PC first-person shooter would be sent off this August. This is real, kids.
The game boasts gameplay-centric physics used in puzzles and everyday combat. It also touts what's supposed to be one of the most advanced artificial intelligence schemes of any action title. Moreover, its multiplayer component (still under close guard) is supposedly just as good if better than the singleplayer game.
It's a package PS3 should no doubt be able to handle. But, will we be getting a straight port, some graphical upgrades, or perhaps even new content (like the PS2 version of Half-Life the original)? Time will tell.

MEDAL OF HONOR
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/529/529778/the-games-of-ps3-20040712050629187.jpgPub: Electronic Arts | Dev: EALA | Release: TBA Before Rising Sun was released, a prominent Electronic Arts bigwig accidentally spilled a few details about Medal of Honor PS3 to us. According to him, the game had been in the preproduction for some time.
Like all Medal of Honor titles, the game will focus heavily on scripted sequences and tight action to give the title that much wanted "movie-like" feel. However, this one is reportedly highly interactive -- more akin to Pacific Assault (the next PC Medal of Honor title). Of course, we don't know in what theater the game will take place, so there's no telling what kind of specific action to expect or what vehicles, if any, will be included.
While no release date has been announced, sources indicated that the game was intended to be ready for PS3 launch, but that information came many months ago, and much could have changed since then.

NEED FOR SPEED
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/529/529778/the-games-of-ps3-20040712060326730.jpgPub: Electronic Arts | Dev: Black Box (?) | Release: TBA So we know absolutely nothing about this one. All we know is that there is a Need for Speed title in development and that it will be for PS3. What is there to know, you ask? Well, is it going to be Hot Pursuit or Underground style? Will it be an open-ended world or a variety of preset tracks? Will it have licensed cars and parts? Will the vehicles be destructible? Will there be online play? When's it coming out? Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
The several month old rumor mill says it's Hot Pursuit 3, but we find this a bit hard to believe considering Underground's success and the current custom car street racing fad that's sweeping the nation. We're hoping for a combination of the two games mainly because we want to race on dry tracks during daytime.

SPIDER-MAN 3
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/529/529778/the-games-of-ps3-20040712043718874.jpgPub: Activision | Dev: Treyarch (?) | Release: May, 2007 Shortly after Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 in preproduction announcement, Activision announced that two new Spider-Man games were in development, one being this next-gen adaptation of the new film.
While getting any preliminary information on a title this far away from completion is near impossible, we do a know a few things. Like Spidey 2, the game will follow the Hollywood exploits of Peter Parker, but will take liberties when necessary. Furthermore, Activision and Treyarch are very happy with the GTA-like precedent set by Spidey 2, and the open-world trend is expected to continue.
Treyarch has a solid history of listening to feedback and improving their wares accordingly. A serious gripe of Spider-Man the first was a lacking swinging mechanism and a rather constricted game world -- both problems were fixed with Spider-Man 2. The third should then incorporate more invigorating boss battles and more diverse random missions.

Easy Money PS3 Games
FIFA *Fight Night *Final Fantasy *Gran Turismo *Grand Theft Auto *
Lord of the Rings Game X *Madden *Metal Gear *NBA Live *NCAA *NHL *
Rainbow Six *Splinter Cell *SSX *Star Wars Game X *Tekken *Tiger Woods *WWE

TheManeMan

07-13-2004, 12:05 AM

The Spiderman 2 game looks pretty sick...should be a fun game...especially how you can go wherever you please in the city...I just read about the PSP...looks like a nice handheld...http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040712/thumb.tok10907121122.japan_sony_playstation_tok109 .jpg

Sony to Unveil New PlayStation in May

Mon Jul 12, 7:06 PM ET Add Technology - AP to My Yahoo!

By MAY WONG, AP Technology Writer

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news) (news - web sites). says it expects to demonstrate a working version of its next-generation PlayStation video game console at a trade show next May.

Sony has been secretive about its next-generation consoles because of stiff competition from rivals Microsoft Corp. of the United States and Japan's Nintendo (news - web sites) Co.

To date, Sony has not specified a launch date for the follow-up to the popular PlayStation 2 (news - web sites), but company officials in Tokyo on Monday told reporters they'll unveil more details about the highly anticipated product by the end of its fiscal year, which ends in March, said Molly Smith, a spokeswoman for Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., based in Foster City, Calif.

"We wanted to let our business partners know that our development is progressing as planned on the future platform," Smith said.

Takeshi Kutaragi, president of Sony Computer, said the PlayStation Portable, dubbed PSP, would be on store shelves by the end of March but didn't reveal the product's specifications, Kyodo News agency said.

If Sony meets its targets, then the public will finally get a glimpse of the next-generation game console at the E3 convention in Los Angeles, set for May. Sony and other video game makers have used E3, which draws game developers, fans and industry officials, for major product launches.

Sony's PlayStation2 (news - web sites) game machine is the industry's best-selling console, though Microsoft's Xbox (news - web sites) and Nintendo's GameCube have been gaining some ground. Microsoft has not said when its next-generation Xbox might be available, while Nintendo announced last month that it would "show" its GameCube successor, code-named "Revolution," in 2005.

Kutaragi also said Sony will sell its PlayStation Portable — a handheld device with a color display, stereo speakers and wireless Internet for multiplayer games, music and videos — in Japan by the end of December.

PSP will be available in the United States and Europe by March 2005, Kutaragi said, according to Smith.

Officials at Sony's headquarters in Tokyo couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Pezman

07-22-2004, 05:33 PM

Halo 2's theatrical trailer is out! (linkies below)

Microsoft Game Studios has announed that it will start a movie-style promotional campaign to prepare for the launch of Bungie's highly anticipated Halo 2.

The Halo 2 theatrical trailer will run all the way through August, and will be shown in more than 1500 Loews Cineplex Entertainment movie screens in the U.S. before many of the hottest films of the summer; including Spider-Man 2, The Village, King Arthur, I Robot, Catwoman and Alien vs. Predator.

The trailer sets the stage for Master Chief's arrival on Earth to stop Covenant forces from destroying all mankind. Halo 2 lands on store shelves on November 9.

The cinematic Halo 2 trailer was created by The Ant Farm, known for their work on trailers for blockbuster films such as The Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man 2, Shrek, Kill Bill and the Harry Potter series.

Halo 2 Theatrical Trailer Woohoo! (http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=164795)

want2bAbronco

07-26-2004, 01:24 PM

Not gonna be backwards compatible? who really cares. 95% of people dont play there old games on the new system anyways. also you will still own your Xbox1, so play them on it. i would MUCH rather have a better system and not play old games, then to have a little less of a system and be able to play old games.

TD30

07-27-2004, 04:24 PM

It will be some interesting competition

Goobzilla

07-27-2004, 05:34 PM

TheManeMan

07-29-2004, 05:33 PM

Here is another Halo 2 trailer...its # 4 I believe...Halo 2, 3 days after my b-day...I cant wait!!!!!!

Scroll down a bit, and check it out...

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/halo2/media.html?gcst=halo2_xbox72304_ot4.asx

Sideburn

07-30-2004, 09:37 AM

That trailer is awesome! I will have to stock up on my ear patches. I get very motion sick from a lot of the FPS games but I love them too much to not play. It's going to be an awesome game.

Ron
If you liked that trailer you should dl the E3 2003 movie. All of the footage from that trailer is in that. It's longer and you get to see the use of new weapons, new moves "like jumping on a ghost and hijacking it". You can now use those light swords that some of the Elites carry. I also believe there a few new "species" of covenant. It looks like the new idea of being in a massive battle is going to pay off well. Instead of being by yourself, most of the game you are in the middle of huge battles. With marines everywhere. In the first game, the marines were there for personal enjoyment. Always fun to toss a frag nade in the middle of a group of marines and watch them fly through the air.

want2bAbronco

08-03-2004, 07:33 AM

Halo 2 is looking great for single / co-op mission mode. What I am really looking forward to is the LAN parties though! Looks like they did a lot of great work on mulit player. Where team work is demanded, to getting into the other teams bases etc.. Also duel wielding 2 weapons is great, being able to play as Master chief or the covenant is really cool!

Jens1893

08-05-2004, 01:49 AM

anyone on here on xbox live?

Rock Chalk

08-05-2004, 09:38 AM

Sideburn

08-05-2004, 11:09 AM

Dude, the best part of Halo 2 it looks like is the multi-player capability on CAMPAIGN mode.

Dueling is fun and all but it gets boring.

Full scale battles with other Master Chiefs will NEVER get boring.
Are you saying you don't like to assassinate the marines? I use to spend hours blowing them up just to watch them fly. If you haven't seen the warthog jump movie...go dl it. Great watch...funny

TD30

08-05-2004, 01:18 PM

anyone on here on xbox live?

I'm on Live Gamertag PvtKelly

Rock Chalk

08-05-2004, 02:04 PM

Are you saying you don't like to assassinate the marines? I use to spend hours blowing them up just to watch them fly. If you haven't seen the warthog jump movie...go dl it. Great watch...funny

They are worthless after normal difficulty but I never blow them up. Im a good guy, I root for the good guys. I rooted for the humans in Independance Day for god's sake. On Star Wars KOTR I always played a good jedi. I dont go around blowing up my pals.

On the harder difficulties, they die too quick for me to kill them anyway. I hope they can at least put a dent in the covenant on Legendary on H2. Christ, that difficulty is hard.

Sideburn

08-05-2004, 04:04 PM

They are worthless after normal difficulty but I never blow them up. Im a good guy, I root for the good guys. I rooted for the humans in Independance Day for god's sake. On Star Wars KOTR I always played a good jedi. I dont go around blowing up my pals.

On the harder difficulties, they die too quick for me to kill them anyway. I hope they can at least put a dent in the covenant on Legendary on H2. Christ, that difficulty is hard.
I'm an evil sadistic bastard. I rooted for Cobra during my G.I.Joe days. There are so many marines in the large battles in H2 that they have to put some kind of a dent in them. If not...a well placed bullet from a scoped pistol will do the trick...maybe a frag nade if there is a cluster of them pissing me off.

Rock Chalk

08-05-2004, 04:43 PM

pistols rock.

im in a halo tourney this weekend with the best 6 year old halo gamer I have ever seen. Now I dont mean to toot my own horn but Im bad ass at dueling in Halo....like really bad ass. And he beat me 15-4 (granted, it was late, I was tired and high and he was cheating looking at my screen but still).

I think we will do well Saturday.

Pezman

08-05-2004, 05:53 PM

So, I'm considering modding an X-box... I really, really want to play some sports games on the box and er... um... well lets just say I have access to some .iso files of certain games.... I just need to figure out how to mod a box... bad me.... bad , bad, bad...

Sideburn

08-05-2004, 06:05 PM

H4ck T3h P14n3t!!!

Pezman

08-05-2004, 06:25 PM

I've been checking out this site...

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gpm.powell/xboxdownloads.html

and this one for Xbox h4ckZ...

http://www.teamxecuter.com/qwixnero.htm

I am just tentative about getting into an X-box and screwing it up just to play a few games...

Sideburn

08-05-2004, 06:29 PM

Pezman

08-10-2004, 05:15 PM

I had a hard time opening mine up...it stopped working and I wanted to take it apart and clean it. I couldn't get it open...so I smashed the sh!t out of it with a 20lb sledge. It's buried in the backyard now. Oh yeah...why aren't you in the chatroom?

Well, I am debating whether or not to get an X via retail or a modded one that could be a junker on e-bay... hmmm tough call.

I finally got to see the Halo trailer at the theater the other nite... It was better than seeing the Evercrack trailer for the 50th time...

Goobzilla

08-11-2004, 08:38 PM

http://www.xbox-scene.com/

All the info on mods

I got mine modded before they came out with the LIVE on/off switch so I have 2 boxes 1 good and 1 evil.

Ron

Evenrude

08-11-2004, 08:43 PM

http://www.xbox-scene.com/

All the info on mods

I got mine modded before they came out with the LIVE on/off switch so I have 2 boxes 1 good and 1 evil.

Ron

I was just going to post that link..... of course I only frequent that site for "educational" purposes...... 8')

Goobzilla

08-11-2004, 08:46 PM

I was just going to post that link..... of course I only frequent that site for "educational" purposes...... 8')

Of course :wiggle:

Ron

RhymesayersDU

08-11-2004, 10:48 PM

I have no basis at all for this, but I think Nintendo is going to come back in a huge way this second go round. As Alec stated, they do target for younger people, but even so, I think it's fair to say the GameCube flopped. I expect them to do something huge.

Pezman

08-17-2004, 03:32 PM

Halo news is starting to pop up for X-box peeps...

http://www.msfn.org/images/news/logos/xboxlive.jpghttp://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39966000/jpg/_39966216_halo_203_2.jpg

Halo 2 details reportedly leaked

Details of the forthcoming Halo sequel have been reportedly leaked on an official Xbox gaming forum.
According to the post, Halo 2 allows four gamers to connect to Xbox Live on the same console at the same time.

Microsoft has not confirmed the information, but the posting, reportedly by a beta tester, have since been deleted.

The sequel to the best-selling Halo title is due to go on sale at the start of November.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2207229.stm

TheManeMan

08-17-2004, 03:42 PM

I cant wait...the game gets released a few days after my b-day...its going to be awesome...thanks for the update pez...:thumbs:

want2bAbronco

08-18-2004, 08:10 AM

Halo 2... if it has everything that i have read about it..omg. I just pray that they keep Co-Op missions like the first. It was TONS of fun staying up with my wife or friend playing the levels with another person. Hell if they could add 4 player would be amazing. I dont have live, but all the stuff i hear about LAN makes me want to die!

Forza Mortorsports.
This game looks so darn amazing. It looks like it "could" be 10x better then Gran Turismo. Over 1 million different ways you can make your car look. Not to mention more auto upgrades then GT, changing motors in and out, smoke from tiers *first time on any car game*, real damage when you hit something *if you hit a wall, you can see the paint everytime u come back or if you loose your bumper it will be in the same spot every lap*, and new learning AI * the AI will watch what lanes you choose and learn to adapted making new lines to pass you*. Not to mention its multi player, LAN, and Live. You can trade cars on live for other cars, and load up your cars to race *if you have a race with 5 RX7s, none will look the same!*. Also when you start a profile you will pick USA, Europe, or Japan. Then you get to buy cars from your area, and cars from other areas will be more expensive or you will have to trade for them *since they are hard to get or impossible to get without trade*. In short, this game makes me excited!

want2bAbronco

08-18-2004, 08:34 AM

Ok, here are some trailers to make you go mmmmmmmmmm

1. Star Wars Battlefront

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=4961&v=86691&bw=hi&level1=enushome&level2=media2&level3=starwarsbattlefront

2. Halo2 *7minute trailer. mmmm*

http://www2.mythica.org/halo/hbo/halo2_e3_rtdemo_hires_s3.mov

3. Unreal 2 Liandri

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=4827&v=84421&bw=hi&ltn=

4. Street Racing Syndicate

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=4948&v=86455&bw=hi&ltn=

5. Mech ssault 2 Lone Wolf

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=4816&v=84422&bw=hi&ltn=

6. Forz Motorsports

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=4811&v=84508&bw=hi&ltn=

7. Fable

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=4809&v=84672&bw=hi&ltn=

8. Call of Cthulu

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=4809&v=84682&bw=hi&ltn=

9. Conker Live and Reloaded

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=4259&v=84510&bw=hi&ltn=

10. Jade Empire

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xboxtv/default.htm?t=4824&v=84671&bw=hi&ltn=

Paulie Emm

08-18-2004, 10:07 PM

Has anyone played DOOM III yet?

RhymesayersDU

08-19-2004, 12:15 AM

Has anyone played DOOM III yet?
I haven't, but my boy who is a big computer game guy can't stop talking about it. He's absolutely nuts over that game.

TheManeMan

08-19-2004, 01:12 AM

Has anyone played DOOM III yet?

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=15328

want2bAbronco

08-19-2004, 05:42 AM

I hear Doom III isnt that great. Also when it gets ported over to Xbox it wont be Co-Op split screen, so I could careless.

Meck77

08-19-2004, 08:44 AM

Pezman

08-19-2004, 04:33 PM

Ok retarted gaming question. I just bought a ps2 and and xbox for the bus and now I see the thread that says ps3. Are you saying the ps2 is already outdated? I haven't played a video game since I bought a used nintendo 64 a couple years after they came out to give you an idea about how out of touch I am with this stuff.

I think I still have atari 2600 catridges packed in some of my childhood boxes in the garage.

Meck, I wouldn't worry too much about the PS3 or Xbox2... they are a year away at least from release. And when they do, the current systems will still be supported until 2006... You're fine with what you have in other words...

Now as for those 8 bit graphics on the ol atari... well, they might not be as fresh anymore... Got E.T.? Now there was a classic Atari game...
http://www.atariage.com/includes/scaleim.php?path=2600/carts/c_ET_Silver_front.jpg&nwidth=200

http://www.snopes.com/business/market/atari.asp

Did you know they even have a mod for E.T.? Its called

E.T. The Extra Testical - Now that is boredom to a T

http://www.atariage.com/hack_page.html?SystemID=2600&SoftwareHackID=26

TheManeMan

08-19-2004, 06:52 PM

Meck, I wouldn't worry too much about the PS3 or Xbox2... they are a year away at least from release. And when they do, the current systems will still be supported until 2006... You're fine with what you have in other words...

Now as for those 8 bit graphics on the ol atari... well, they might not be as fresh anymore... Got E.T.? Now there was a classic Atari game...
http://www.atariage.com/includes/scaleim.php?path=2600/carts/c_ET_Silver_front.jpg&nwidth=200

http://www.snopes.com/business/market/atari.asp

Did you know they even have a mod for E.T.? Its called

E.T. The Extra Testical - Now that is boredom to a T

http://www.atariage.com/hack_page.html?SystemID=2600&SoftwareHackID=26

Dude...I used to own that game...That Atari 2600 had some great games...My favorite was Pitfall...Meck maybe you should put that Atari in the bus as well...in the sh!tter maybe???

RhymesayersDU

08-20-2004, 12:33 AM

As much as I love my x-box, it's always fun to go back and play my 8-bit nintendo.

Meck, if you can, totally put that atari in the bus... The old games are definately still fun.

Pezman

09-13-2004, 02:23 PM

Xbox 2 design pics leaked?
http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/3463704370424561.JPG?0.5898756681936006

http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/6821595414083573.JPG?0.8816574834581683

"We’re not sure if these are legit or not, but an anonymous tipster who claimed to be a part of a focus group for the upcoming Xbox 2 sent us some questionable screengrabs of two of the “logos and console designs being considered for the next generation Xbox system” (that quote according to the focus group material we saw). We’d send ‘em back to the drawing board if it we were in that focus group, but supposedly they’ve got more cooking—it’d be pretty foolish if they didn’t—so we’ll see."

http://gaming.engadget.com/entry/9253838747326816

Nick C.

09-13-2004, 03:29 PM

missingnumber7

09-14-2004, 10:27 PM

I love my xbox...kinda sucks that they are talkin bout stoppin makin games for xbox after X2 is introduced. I'm lookin for a world of outlaws game for xbox...any word help me out here.

Nick C.

09-21-2004, 04:06 PM

http://www.engadget.com/entry/8413288107686276

http://www.engadget.com/entry/3744286874239486/
This looks dope!

http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/4351469613524447.JPG?0.9408224163062298

Nick C.

09-23-2004, 12:57 AM

I just found out today that GTA:3 will be coming out for Gameboy Advance. it is said to be based off of GTA:3 from X-box and PS2 witht he look of the early PS versions of GTA. could this mean we will be seeing GTA Tittles on Nintendos next system(tenativly tittled "Revolution") I am stoked to play GTA on GBA!

http://www.geizhals.at/img/pix/24825.jpg

bendog

09-24-2004, 08:14 AM

Ok retarted gaming question. I just bought a ps2 and and xbox for the bus and now I see the thread that says ps3. Are you saying the ps2 is already outdated? I haven't played a video game since I bought a used nintendo 64 a couple years after they came out to give you an idea about how out of touch I am with this stuff.

I think I still have atari 2600 catridges packed in some of my childhood boxes in the garage.

May I second that "retard" question? Little Girl Dog is bored with her horseback riding games on PC, and I see that there are PlayStation MaryKate and Ashley three day eventing and Barbie horserace games. Will PS2 play PS games, or do I need to just get PS, and if so, am I not sort of shooting myslef in one of my arthritic ankles, because PS is so like my ankles?

Ratboy

09-24-2004, 08:30 AM

I cant wait for the new Legend of Zelda. im gonna be one happy guy when it releases

Nick C.

09-24-2004, 11:13 AM

I cant wait for the new Legend of Zelda. im gonna be one happy guy when it releases
I am a huge Zelda Nut, I bought Gamecube just to get the Collectors Disk that has the old Zelda Games on it and bought a Game boy to play Zelda on the go.

I am so stoked for the next Zelda game glad they let Link Grow up and become a man!

RaiderH8r

09-24-2004, 11:32 AM

Two words Nick C......Resident Evil

Nick C.

09-24-2004, 11:50 AM

Two words Nick C......Resident Evil
yeah I just read a long article from Game Informer on that game last night! looks killer saying it really pushes the Gamecube to it's limits!

Lot's of games coming out soon.
The new Metroid is gonna be killer also

RaiderH8r

09-24-2004, 12:41 PM

yeah I just read a long article from Game Informer on that game last night! looks killer saying it really pushes the Gamecube to it's limits!

Lot's of games coming out soon.
The new Metroid is gonna be killer also
Zelda, RE, and Metroid are the reasons I chose the Cube. The delayed release date on RE was a bit disappointing but what the hell, it looks like it will be worth it.

Ratboy

09-24-2004, 12:59 PM

My uncle thinks Zelda is going to come out on the new nintendo system

Nick C.

09-24-2004, 01:07 PM

My uncle thinks Zelda is going to come out on the new nintendo system
I have been following it closely for the same fear, they keep saying no but givin Nintendos track recored and the need to regain there share of the market I bet your uncle is right :( oh well I will have to buy a nex-gen system and if they give me a dope Zelda Game on Launch that is fine by me! I just hope/Wish they would allow Rockstar to make games for them!

Hercules Rockefeller

09-24-2004, 02:01 PM

Will PS2 play PS games?

yes

bendog

09-29-2004, 07:15 AM

Thank you.

alkemical

09-29-2004, 09:41 PM

I got ShenTu (SP?) Return to darkness for xbox... i'm diggin it

Taco John

09-30-2004, 10:54 AM

I'll definitely buy an XBox 2. I'll definitely buy a Nintendo Revolution.

I doubt I'll ever purchase a Playstation.

Nick C.

09-30-2004, 10:55 AM

I'll definitely buy an XBox 2. I'll definitely buy a Nintendo Revolution.

I doubt I'll ever purchase a Playstation.
why not a PS?

Taco John

09-30-2004, 11:05 AM

I'll definitely buy an XBox 2. I'll definitely buy a Nintendo Revolution.

I doubt I'll ever purchase a Playstation.

Nick C.

09-30-2004, 11:07 AM

I'll definitely buy an XBox 2. I'll definitely buy a Nintendo Revolution.

I doubt I'll ever purchase a Playstation.
:saywhat: double post?

Taco John

09-30-2004, 11:14 AM

accident...

Nick C.

09-30-2004, 11:16 AM

accident...
but why not buy a Playstation?

Taco John

09-30-2004, 11:18 AM

why not a PS?

I think their gameplay is overrated.

alkemical

09-30-2004, 02:50 PM

freevo for xbox

TD30

09-30-2004, 03:14 PM

You gotta get one of these for your xbox.

Nick C.

09-30-2004, 03:16 PM

You gotta get one of these for your xbox.
what is that? one of those boards so you can just download games to your hard drive?

I am thinking of buying one already with a Mod chip that has NES and Sega games on it. yet I already have a NES and thinking of buying a Top load NES to last me for a few years. all the damn games I want for NES are very exspensive however.

sorry to get kind of off topic.

TD30

09-30-2004, 03:27 PM

Yeah it's a modchip get one of these and a bigger hard drive then just back up games, only one's you own wink, wink. :thumbs:

Nick C.

09-30-2004, 03:33 PM

Yeah it's a modchip get one of these and a bigger hard drive then just back up games, only one's you own wink, wink. :thumbs:
would it be feasable for me to have something to back up other game systems on the X-box or is that pretty hard to do?

TD30

10-01-2004, 12:15 PM

would it be feasable for me to have something to back up other game systems on the X-box or is that pretty hard to do?

I'm not sure if your talking about running emulator programs on your xbox (like nintendo etc.)? If so that can be done it just depends on what your trying to do. Theres all kinds of different things you can do and you dont have to get a modchip it's just easier. You will need a HD and unless you want to do a less stable soft mod you need to have the ability to sauder. Check out www.xbox-scene.com they have alot of info in the forums sections. Not sure if this helps, let me know if you have any questions.

Nick C.

10-01-2004, 12:45 PM

I'm not sure if your talking about running emulator programs on your xbox (like nintendo etc.)? If so that can be done it just depends on what your trying to do. Theres all kinds of different things you can do and you dont have to get a modchip it's just easier. You will need a HD and unless you want to do a less stable soft mod you need to have the ability to sauder. Check out www.xbox-scene.com they have alot of info in the forums sections. Not sure if this helps, let me know if you have any questions.
Cool thanks alot, I am pretty good with Electronics I repair my own systems and such so with directions I am sure I can do what ever I have to.

alkemical

10-03-2004, 01:57 PM

Has any one gotten NHL2k5 by ea yet? I'm going to end up getting it, i think NHL2k4 by EA sucks ass though, lots of stuff missing... (team reports, injury reports, etc) -

Nick C.

10-11-2004, 01:13 AM

Damn This month has to be the best month in gaming history without the release of a new system that is.

We got GTA Coming on PS2, Halo 2 for Xbox
SFII Anaverseary collection, MK:Dekapatation.

And to top it all off we have the second wave of Classic NES series games for the GameBoy Advance. and it is even better then the first.

http://www.gamestop.com/common/images/lbox/160603b.jpg
http://www.gamestop.com/common/images/lscreen/160603l2.jpg
Can't wait for that ****!

http://www.gamestop.com/common/images/lbox/160601b.jpg
http://www.gamestop.com/common/images/lscreen/160601l1.jpg

http://www.gamestop.com/common/images/lbox/160602b.jpg
http://www.gamestop.com/common/images/lscreen/160602l3.jpg

http://www.metacritic.com/media/games/platforms/gba/zelda2theadventureoflinkclassicnesseries/picture.jpg
Hot Damn!

We also have GTA:Advance droping the same day(10/26/04)

We have the long awaited follow up to "Paper Mario" in "Paper Mario 2:The Thousand year door"
http://www.gamestop.com/common/images/lscreen/220431l1.jpghttp://www.gamestop.com/common/images/lscreen/220431l3.jpg

TD30

10-11-2004, 09:53 AM

Has any one gotten NHL2k5 by ea yet? I'm going to end up getting it, i think NHL2k4 by EA sucks ass though, lots of stuff missing... (team reports, injury reports, etc) -

Just got it and it's alot of fun.

alkemical

10-11-2004, 12:02 PM

thx!

Pezman

11-11-2004, 02:58 PM

*Rumor Report*

Microsoft to release three versions of Xbox 2

A SLIDE from a non disclosure agreement (NDA) presentation seen by the INQ points towards Microsoft launching three versions of the Xbox 2, one of which is a fully functioning PC.

The presentation, understood to have been given to analysts and market researchers in the UK earlier this year, plots a timeline for the introduction of the systems. Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD are planned for Autumn 2005, whereas the Xbox Next PC is pencilled in for Autumn 2006.

The standard Xbox Next will not include a hard drive, which will allow Microsoft to cut costs on this basic unit. Xbox Next HD, as you might imagine, does include a hard drive and will offer increased functionality based on this. Xbox Next PC is, according to the presentation, an entry-level PC that runs Windows and all standard PC software. It also includes CD Burner, Wireless keyboard, mouse and controller and will work best connected to a high-definition TV or PC monitor. Media Center functionality - like movies, music and photos - is also included. The device will also play most available PC games.

System outline specifications note that internet browsing and instant messaging would be key applications, and that the entire unit will be smaller than the current Xbox, although it will not be possible to upgrade the shipping memory or processor.

The year-long gap between the mooted introductions of the two standard Xboxes before the Xbox Next PC is an interesting decision, which suggests that Microsoft realises the time that the market needs to acclimatise to TV media functionality. Since the Vole expects to ship Xbox Next before the Sony PlayStation 3, two versions of the console allow it to get the first wave out before PS3, but to also spoil the launch of Sony's flagship by concurrently announcing the PC version. µ

Pezman

11-11-2004, 03:01 PM

Playstation3 architecture revealed

SOURCES SAID that the architecture of the Sony Playstation3 is patently clear when you've found the US patent that it filed September 26th last year.

A reliable source close to Sony's plans explained the way the Playstation3 works to the INQUIRER.

He said that the computers are made of cells, each one containing a CPU, which will probably be a PowerPC, and eight APUs (vectorial processors) each with 128K of memory.

It will run at 4GHz, producing a not inconsiderable 256Gflops, with the cells connected to the central 64MB memory through a switched 1024 bit bus.

It's still not clear how many of these "cells" will be used in the Playstation3, but Sony reckoned some time ago it could be as many as one teraflop, probably making it a four cell architecture.

Optical links – perhaps even FireWire optical links – could be used to share computing power.

The Playstation3 architecture is similar to the Playstation 2 but with some improvements, such as a larger number of VPUs, each with more memory. The operating system, too, is much improved.

But Playstations will still be very complex to program well, although it's just as well that Sony doesn't want to take the Microsoft DirectX route.

This is a diagram of the system which is filed in the US Patents and Trademarks Office, and snapped from there, with acknowledgements

http://www.theinquirer.net/images/articles/playstation3.gif

TheManeMan

11-11-2004, 03:30 PM

*The standard Xbox Next will not include a hard drive, which will allow Microsoft to cut costs on this basic unit. Xbox Next HD, as you might imagine, does include a hard drive and will offer increased functionality based on this. Xbox Next PC is, according to the presentation, an entry-level PC that runs Windows and all standard PC software. It also includes CD Burner, Wireless keyboard, mouse and controller and will work best connected to a high-definition TV or PC monitor. Media Center functionality - like movies, music and photos - is also included. The device will also play most available PC games.

Sounds bad ass Pez...thanks for sharing...

TD30

11-11-2004, 04:01 PM

Yippee winblows on my xbox. I could care less as long as you can mod it. You can do all that crap now if you just add a modchip and a bigger HD. Hey Nick I remembered you asked before about emulators for nes on xbox. They have em for all the systems my buddy had anything you could think of from activision to n64 and now there working on the ps2 emulator. Not to mention cool cache editors for Halo and Halo 2.

Pezman

02-26-2005, 10:58 PM

Time to update this thread!

Now that the next-gen console rumors are running rampant, lets catch up on the latest scoop...

We'll start first with the latest onhttp://mxemu.com/img-news/nrevologo.jpg

Rumors have it that the future release from Nintendo could have a HDD? Hmmm... that would rock!

http://mxemu.com/news.php?newsid=1109199353

"In a press conference in Tokyo recently, Nintendo head Satoru Iwata confirmed that the next console will be titled 'Revolution', and, like the DS handheld device, promises to innovate in the field of entertainment. The 'new ideas' hinted at are not mentioned - Iwata fearing other manufacturers may steal their plans, however he did also reveal that the Revolution console will be far more than upgraded GameCube.

"What we need is not a next-generation machine but a next-generation way of playing games," Iwata commented. Iwata's words come just a day after European Nintendo head Dave Gosen slammed Microsoft for driving the industry towards new hardware too early, stating that the industry's cyclical nature is damaging and inflexible. The headline grabbing violence of GTA, the media's fascination with future hardware and ridiculously cheap game bundles also came under fire.

Hopefully we shall see some specs on this new Next-Gen console and hope for some early design diagrams. "

http://mxemu.com/img-news/n1.jpg

And in X-Box 2 News, some possible leaked photos have once again surfaced of what the new X-box could look like! Pretty freaking sweet if it is indeed the final product... Looks just perfect to kick around the house when losing at Ninja Gaiden

http://privat.bluezone.no/vassbotn/br/xbox45frontcd.jpg

And here is more from Steve Ballmer on his outlook for the next gen X-box

“Xbox 2 is an Amazing Innovation”
Speaking to high-school students at the company's campus in Redmond, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talked about the Xbox successor and the next generation console war, among other topics.

In response to the first question regarding the next Xbox, Ballmer said:

"When you see the new Xbox, you're going to think it's un… -- well, let me say it politely -- unbelievable. Just unbelievable. The graphics, what it can do, the way things look, huge innovation. Rumors are that we'll see that product sometime soon. I couldn't comment, of course, on those rumors. But it's an amazing, amazing innovation."

When asked about the next-generation war and how he thinks the Xbox successor will perform against Nintendo and Sony, Ballmer said:

"I think we’re going to blow by Sony with our next box. I absolutely think we’re going to kick their backsides, so to speak. I think Xbox 1 has been a fantastic product. We’re not market leaders yet. There’s Sony, there’s us, there’s Nintendo. When we get Xbox 2 in the market, there’s going to be Xbox and the other guys."

In what it is by now his trademark style, Ballmer raised his voice until he noticed he was pulling off a Jerry Maguire, as the audience laughed and applauded. "I'm feeling a little frisky on this topic right now!" said Ballmer and concluded his answer.

This is not the first time Ballmer goes on record about the Xbox successor. Last year, Ballmer said in an interview with C|Net News.com that "We've generated something brand new. I bet we can take Sony next generation. I am betting we can take Sony in the next generation."

Finally, the same person who made the previous question asked what would make the Xbox successor stand out over Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Revolution. Here is what Ballmer said.

"Why do people buy one game console over another? As we say around here, 'Duh, it's the games.' Partly they're great games because they have great graphics, they have great processing, they have great this, they've got great that, but it's about getting great games. So, there's two parts to that: Number one, we have to make sure we have a great environment, software environment for people to write games, games that connect to one another, games that are social, games that are hard-core. We've got to make sure we let people write great games. But then, number two, we, Microsoft, have to write a number of really great games to show it off. What is 'Halo 2?' It's the greatest video game ever written. It shows off Xbox 1, and we’ve got some more games coming that will be the greatest video games ever written, and they’ll show off Xbox 2."

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/7645/Xbox-2-is-an-Amazing-Innovation-Steve-Ballmer/

TheManeMan

02-27-2005, 03:11 AM

Wow...Nintendo is always on top of their sh!t...I definitely cant wait to hear more news on that...The X-box2 looks nuts...Thanks Pez for sharing, you da man!

Pezman

02-28-2005, 10:01 PM

TheManeMan

03-01-2005, 12:26 AM

I think its interesting that Nintendo will be rolling out such a different system considering the specs. I wonder if they are shooting for a more grown up market again, considering that the X-Box really found a nice demographic in the 22-30 year old console bracket

They have to because with the GC, they've missed out on that demographic BIGTIME...They lost all the loyal Nintendoites...The 22-30 bracket were guys that all grew up playing Nintendo...This should be interesting competition once both consoles are on the market...I know forsure I'm buying that Revolution...HD Gaming...:gimme:

Kid A

03-01-2005, 01:50 PM

Nintendo is going to have to work really hard to sway the older demographic from Sony and Microsoft. I fully expect the Revolution to be a sweet system, but almost everybody has it in their minds that Nintendo is for little kids thanks to the Gamecube.

Are the rumors that XBox2 won't play original Xbox games true? If so, that would really suck. But I'd still buy one anyway.

alkemical

03-02-2005, 05:21 AM

TheManeMan

03-10-2005, 03:57 AM

Man O man...do I have some new for you guys...I have a lot of info to share...but, trust me its awesome news...

First things 1st... Xbox 360 specs revealed (http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/microsoft-xbox/594331p1.html)

# CPU - Xenon's CPU has three 3.0 GHz PowerPC cores. Each core is capable of two instructions per cycle and has an L1 cache with 32 KB for data and 32 KB for instructions. The three cores share 1 MB of L2 cache. Alpha 2 developer kits currently have two cores instead of three.

# GPU - Xenon's GPU is a generation beyond the ATI X800. Its clock speed is 500 MHz and it supports Shader 3.0. Developers are currently working with an alpha 2 GPU. Beta GPU units are expected by May and the final GPU is slated for a summer release. The final GPU will be more powerful than anything on the market today; in game terms, it would handle a game like Half-Life 2 with ease.

# System Memory - Xenon will have 256 MB of system RAM. Keep in mind that this number should not be equated to typical PC RAM. The Xbox has 64 MB of system RAM and is a very capable machine.

# Optical Drive - As many have speculated, Xenon will not use Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. Games will come on dual-layer DVD-9 discs. While the media is the same as that of the current Xbox, the usable space on each disc is up to 7 GB. The drive is slated to run at 12X.

# Memory Units - Xenon will use 64 MB to 1,024 MB memory cards. 8 MB is reserved for system use, leaving a 56 MB to 1,016 MB for user data.

# Hard Drive - As many have speculated, Xenon's hard drive is optional. 2 GB of the drive will be used as game cache. The final drive size is still being determined.

# Camera - Xenon will have a USB 2.0 camera. It's capable of 1.2 megapixel still shots and VGA video. Photos can be used in-game and for gamer profiles. The camera can also be used for video chat. It's unknown if the Xenon camera will allow for EyeToy-like gameplay. Developers are currently using a simulated camera driver.

# Sound Chip - Xenon does not have an audio chip in the traditional sense. Decompression is handled by hardware, while the rest of the chores are handled by software. DirectSound3D has been dropped in favor of X3DAudio. The former was deemed too inflexible.

Raymond's Reaction - The Xenon is an extremely impressive piece of hardware. It will allow gamers to see things like complex lighting in gameplay, amazing details through high-level shading (impeccable clouds, fur, grass, cloth, water, marble, ground, etc.), incredible textures, and new post effects (increased motion blur, heat distortion, depth of field, light blooms, etc.).

While people have already been correctly speculating about the removable hard drive and the standard DVD media, I was surprised at the inclusion of the camera. I haven't heard a single rumbling about a Xenon camera prior to GDC. The optional hard drive is a bit understandable; the only gamers that care about it will buy it anyway, while casual gamers won't care about the performance and convenience gains a drive offers. The standard DVD isn't too surprising considering that HD-DVD drives will be too expensive for inclusion in a console system in 2005.

The Software

Microsoft is requiring developers to make all Xenon titles Live enabled. One of the key reasons for this will be revealed in the second part of this story.

Developers are being instructed to plan their games for high-definition. The baseline is 720p at 1280x720 for gameplay and video clips, 16:9 aspect ratio, 5.1 Surround Sound, and anti-aliasing. These features are the current minimum requirement.

All Xenon games can be played using custom soundtracks. Owners can also play their own music directly. Supported formats are MP3 and WMA. Files can be encoded up to 320Kbps CBR or VBR stereo. The system is branded a Music Player Service.

For gameplay movies, Xenon uses Xenon Motion Video (XMV). XMV is based on Windows Media 9 and uses the mandatory codec for HD-DVD. The goal for video is 720p running at 30 frames per second with 5.1 Surround Sound.

Raymond's Reaction - Mandatory Live "awareness" isn't a big surprise. Online is one area where Microsoft is trouncing the competition. Microsoft's progression with online console gaming has progressed wonderfully (see Halo 2) and the future plans are even more interesting. (Again, see part two of this feature tomorrow for more information.)

It's nice to see that Microsoft is being aggressive with HD performance. Having all games run at 720p (potentially) makes for an incredibly engrossing experience -- particularly owners of HDTV sets. Users with standard televisions needn't worry; 16:9 content will be letterboxed to fit within a 4:3 aspect ratio by default. Developers are being instructed to make sure that any critical text will fit into and look good in 4:3.

Part II of this article (http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/microsoft-xbox/594355p1.html)

TheManeMan

03-10-2005, 03:59 AM

GDC: Xbox 2's High Def future trumpeted (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=58189)

Microsoft executive J Allard today ushered in a new era of 'High Def' (HD) gaming, and used his keynote address at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco to assert that Microsoft's next generation console was in a postion to be at the very centre of driving this new "HD Era".

Advertisement
Allard refused to reveal any direct information relating to Xbox 2, insisting that the big unveiling would be saved for E3. The XNA boss instead focused on the bigger picture of the important role that high definition TV displays would play and how the "Remix Generation" wanted to personalise every aspect of their entertainment experiences. He noted that the games industry was in the perfect position to take advantage of the apparent consumer thirst for customisation in every area of their lives.

"In the HD Era the platform is bigger than the processor," Allard said. "New technology and emerging consumer forces will come together to enable the rock stars of game development to shake up the old establishment and redefine entertainment as we know it."

Embarrassingly for Microsoft, the keynote announcement was leaked several hours before his address by Dutch PR firm Citigate today and detailed all the major points of Allard's keynote. In the address, Allard stated that Xbox 2 is designed to make life easier for developers - supporting familiar tech "such as DirectX, PIX, XACT and... XNA Studio", and wresting control of key Xbox functions like voice chat, Friends lists and custom soundtracks out of their hands in order to ease the production process and let them "focus on creating games, not developing for technical certification requirements (TCRs)."

In other words, things like voice communication, in-game Friends list management, custom soundtracks and the like will become standard features of the console - controlled, we're told, "at chip level" - and apply to every game regardless of whether or not the developer would have included them otherwise. During the keynote Allard used the soon-to-be released Forza Motorsport to give a fair indication of what to expect in the next gen, with new features such as in-game alerts providing instant feedback to new challenges from friends, and asserted that the whole user interface would be standardised to make it an easier, more intuitive experience for end users.

Meanwhile, with yet more reference to the "HD Era" the official release from Microsoft stated that Xbox 2 will represent "a significant leap to high-definition graphics" - reflecting reports that the console will shoot for HDTV/progressive scan support as standard - as well as "multichannel, positional audio fidelity so clear and precise that players will be able to hear the faintest enemy footsteps sneaking up behind them" and "an abundance of on-demand content for game consoles".

Allard also promised Xbox 2 would deliver "more than a teraflop of targeted computing performance" thanks to "a multicore processor architecture co-developed with IBM" providing "developer headroom and flexibility", and mentions the custom graphics chip from ATI which Microsoft has itself already announced.

That ties in with a second report that emerged earlier this week claiming to confirm that Xbox 2 will feature optional hard disks, dual-layer DVD-9 discs as standard, memory cards ranging from 64MB to 1GB, and 256MB of system RAM. Microsoft said it would not comment on "rumours and speculation" when confronted with those details.

Xbox 2 will also feature a central "Marketplace" resource where user and developer-made bonus game content is sold for sums as little as 99 cents, doing away with the clunky Downloadable Content facility currently used by Xbox Live titles, as well as "Gamer Cards" - essentially expanded Xbox Live profiles storing game preferences and other personal information input by the user to help people track down like-minded opponents, today's release declares.

Meanwhile, the continual reference to the "HD Era" by Allard throughout his keynote was expanded upon as a clear move out of the "3D era" into a whole new one. He also talked of the "guide", described as an "entertainment gateway that instantly connects players to their games, their friends and their digital media".

Allard's unveiling elements of Xbox 2 today somewhat mirror the way Microsoft announced the original Xbox at CES in 2001 rather than the traditional platform of the Electronic Entertainment Expo. However, it's now 100 per cent clear that E3 will be the platform for the console's full unveiling, ending months of frenzied rumour and guesswork.

The full text of the official press release issued follows:

SAN FRANCISCO — March 9, 2005 — Today at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. announced the first details of its next-generation Xbox® video game system platform, highlighting how hardware, software and services are being fused to power enhanced game and entertainment experiences.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Chief XNA™ Architect J Allard further outlined the company’s vision for the future of entertainment, citing the emergence of an “HD Era” in video games that is fueled by consumer demand for experiences that are always connected, always personalized and always in high-definition.

“In the HD Era the platform is bigger than the processor,” Allard said. “New technology and emerging consumer forces will come together to enable the rock stars of game development to shake up the old establishment and redefine entertainment as we know it.”

Building on 10 years of innovation with the DirectX® API, the Microsoft® Windows® and Xbox platforms will enable ground-breaking game experiences in the HD Era. Illustrating what that means for gamers, Allard shared the first details about the next-generation Xbox guide. Persistent across all games and media experiences, the guide is an entertainment gateway that instantly connects players to their games, their friends and their digital media.

Features of the guide include these:

Gamer Cards. Gamer Cards provide gamers with a quick look at key Xbox Live™ information. They let players instantly connect with people who have similar skills, interests and lifestyles.

Marketplace. Browseable by game, by genre, and in a number of other ways, the Marketplace will provide a one-stop shop for consumers to acquire episodic content, new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins and new community-created content.

Micro-transactions. Breaking down barriers of small-ticket online commerce, micro-transactions will allow developers and the gaming community to charge as little as they like for content they create and publish on Marketplace. Imagine players slapping down $.99 to buy a one-of-a-kind, fully tricked-out racing car to be the envy of their buddies.

Custom playlists. This feature eliminates the need for developers to support custom music in games. The guide instantly connects players to their music so they can listen to their own tracks while playing all their favorite next-generation Xbox games.

Typifying the HD Era game experience, the guide requires hardware designed with software in mind. System-level features of the guide such as custom playlists, the Xbox Live Friends list and voice chat are enabled at the chip level, liberating developers to focus on creating games, not developing for technical certification requirements (TCRs).

To support consumer demands for the HD Era, the next-generation Xbox is designed around key principles that let developers maximize real performance, using concepts they are already familiar with.

The next-generation Xbox hardware design principles include the following:

A well-balanced system that will deliver more than a teraflop of targeted computing performance

A multicore processor architecture co-developed with IBM Corp. that provides developer “headroom” and flexibility for the HD Era

A custom-designed graphics processor co-developed with ATI Technologies Inc. designed for HD Era games and entertainment applications

In addition, familiar software technologies such as DirectX, PIX, XACT and the recently announced XNA Studio — an integrated team-based development environment tailored for game production — complement the new hardware to help game developers unlock increasingly powerful and complex silicon.

The HD Era gaming platform will strike an elegant balance of hardware, software and services to power the new experiences consumers demand. Games and entertainment features such as the next-generation Xbox guide represent a shift toward more immersive and integrated consumer experiences. This shift will be further illustrated by a significant leap to high-definition graphics, where character movements and expressions are intensely vibrant and nearly indiscernible from real life; by multichannel, positional audio fidelity so clear and precise that players will be able to hear the faintest enemy footsteps sneaking up behind them; by richer online communications; and by an abundance of on-demand content for game consoles

TheManeMan

03-10-2005, 04:02 AM

XNA Home (http://www.microsoft.com/xna/)

XNA is Microsoft's game development platform. Its mission is to enable developers to help contain costs while allowing developers to create better games, faster and across consumer platforms. By integrating the best innovations from across Microsoft with the best innovations in game development from across the industry, XNA is targeted to help contain the skyrocketing development costs and allow developers to concentrate on the unique content that differentiates their games.

Strategically, XNA covers three synergistic areas: Content Creation, Production Processes and Game Technologies. XNA is a long term commitment from Microsoft to partner with the game industry; expect to see familiar technologies improved and new technologies created in each of the three areas as we continually address the needs of game development in the HD Era.

Demand for high definition content and richer more involved game worlds will bring increased complexity to the process of creating next generation games. Game teams are already wrestling with the challenges of growing content requirements, larger and more specialized teams, and globally distributed resources. XNA Studio is the major new product in the XNA game development platform targeted at overcoming these challenges.

XNA Studio will enable enhanced collaboration between content creators, programmers, management and QA staff to speed the game production process. Based on Microsoft's Visual Studio 2005 Team System, the latest innovation of the flagship development platform, XNA Studio is the "Visual Studio" for game development; an integrated, team-based development environment tailored for game production.

XNA Studio will provide robust versions of key production tools such as asset management, defect tracking, project automation and work lists. These tools will work together seamlessly to automate common development tasks and present interfaces tailored to the different functions within the team. XNA studio will allow team members to collaborate quickly and effectively using familiar techniques and tools, even when elements of the team are distributed geographically, an increasing trend in game development. This all adds up to more developer time generating unique content and less time running the content process.

A core tenant of XNA continues to be strong partnership with the industry and we are gaining excellent support. Many companies throughout the game industry are thinking along the same lines. We are finding that developers from all areas of game production see the need for XNA and particularly XNA studio. Microsoft is in a unique position to partner with the industry to deliver solutions that address the challenges of next generation game development and unlock the opportunities in the HD Era.

"Software will be the single most important force in digital entertainment over the next decade. XNA underscores Microsoft's commitment to the game industry and our desire to work with partners to take the industry to the next level."
- Bill Gates, founder and chief software architect of Microsoft

TheManeMan

03-10-2005, 04:08 AM

Microsoft Reveals First Details of Next-Generation Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/press/gdc05/0309-gdc.htm)

Company’s Chief XNA Architect Shares Vision for HD Era of Gaming

SAN FRANCISCO — March 9, 2005 — Today at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. announced the first details of its next-generation Xbox® video game system platform, highlighting how hardware, software and services are being fused to power enhanced game and entertainment experiences.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Chief XNA™ Architect J Allard further outlined the company’s vision for the future of entertainment, citing the emergence of an “HD Era” in video games that is fueled by consumer demand for experiences that are always connected, always personalized and always in high-definition.

“In the HD Era the platform is bigger than the processor,” Allard said. “New technology and emerging consumer forces will come together to enable the rock stars of game development to shake up the old establishment and redefine entertainment as we know it.”

Building on 10 years of innovation with the DirectX® API, the Microsoft® Windows® and Xbox platforms will enable ground-breaking game experiences in the HD Era. Illustrating what that means for gamers, Allard shared the first details about the next-generation Xbox guide. Persistent across all games and media experiences, the guide is an entertainment gateway that instantly connects players to their games, their friends and their digital media.

Features of the guide include these:

Gamer Cards. Gamer Cards provide gamers with a quick look at key Xbox Live™ information. They let players instantly connect with people who have similar skills, interests and lifestyles.
Marketplace. Browseable by game, by genre, and in a number of other ways, the Marketplace will provide a one-stop shop for consumers to acquire episodic content, new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins and new community-created content.
Micro-transactions. Breaking down barriers of small-ticket online commerce, micro-transactions will allow developers and the gaming community to charge as little as they like for content they create and publish on Marketplace. Imagine players slapping down $.99 to buy a one-of-a-kind, fully tricked-out racing car to be the envy of their buddies.
Custom playlists. This feature eliminates the need for developers to support custom music in games. The guide instantly connects players to their music so they can listen to their own tracks while playing all their favorite next-generation Xbox games.
Typifying the HD Era game experience, the guide requires hardware designed with software in mind. System-level features of the guide such as custom playlists, the Xbox Live Friends list and voice chat are enabled at the chip level, liberating developers to focus on creating games, not developing for technical certification requirements (TCRs).

To support consumer demands for the HD Era, the next-generation Xbox is designed around key principles that let developers maximize real performance, using concepts they are already familiar with.
The next-generation Xbox hardware design principles include the following:

A well-balanced system that will deliver more than a teraflop of targeted computing performance
A multicore processor architecture co-developed with IBM Corp. that provides developer “headroom” and flexibility for the HD Era
A custom-designed graphics processor co-developed with ATI Technologies Inc. designed for HD Era games and entertainment applications
In addition, familiar software technologies such as DirectX, PIX, XACT and the recently announced XNA Studio — an integrated team-based development environment tailored for game production — complement the new hardware to help game developers unlock increasingly powerful and complex silicon.
The HD Era gaming platform will strike an elegant balance of hardware, software and services to power the new experiences consumers demand. Games and entertainment features such as the next-generation Xbox guide represent a shift toward more immersive and integrated consumer experiences. This shift will be further illustrated by a significant leap to high-definition graphics, where character movements and expressions are intensely vibrant and nearly indiscernible from real life; by multichannel, positional audio fidelity so clear and precise that players will be able to hear the faintest enemy footsteps sneaking up behind them; by richer online communications; and by an abundance of on-demand content for game consoles.

http://www.xbox.com/media/system/gdc05/sim-guide-001.jpg

http://www.xbox.com/media/system/gdc05/sim-guide-002.jpg

http://www.xbox.com/media/system/gdc05/sim-guide-003.jpg

http://www.xbox.com/media/system/gdc05/sim-guide-004.jpg

TheManeMan

03-10-2005, 04:19 AM

Saved the best for last...This is a link to 4 clips of the new Unreal Engine 3...Not the best quality of video, but a MUST SEE...A little taste of next-gen capabilties...check out all the clips...but make sure you see clip # 4, if anything...

:alghh:

zowie!

:o

Yikes!

!Booya!

:crazy:

:gossip:

:militia:

:~ohyah!:

Epic Games - Unreal Engine 3 Demos (http://www.1up.com/do/download?cId=3138759)

Pezman

03-23-2005, 11:03 PM

Time to update the page yet again! This time with new "looks" for the PS3... I have a feeling that this one is bunk but the mock-up is worth a look... The buzz around the net communities says that this is a "fake" but since Sony neither has denied, nor approved this one, I guess we can speculate whether its the real deal.

http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/6832739961761474.JPG?0.08821396278700544

http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/8031584371537815.JPG?0.14480621272804983

TD30

03-24-2005, 08:54 AM

That thing is hideous, it has to be a bad photoshop.

Pezman

04-25-2005, 11:15 PM

Well, the latest "unofficial" mock of the XBox360 has hit the net. This one seems more official than most we have seen so far...

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/attachment.php?attachmentid=40792&stc=1

http://media.teamxbox.com/dailyposts/xbox360/rumor/xbox360.jpg

If the picture above is a photo of the exterior of the Xbox 360, then the following picture, seen a few days ago, might showcase the innards of the new console:

http://media.teamxbox.com/dailyposts/xbox360/rumor/insidethexbox360.jpg

And here is the latest rumored memory card

As you can read in the front of the memory card, a 64 is followed by a shape that resembles an M, of MB (Megabytes). This is also a strong indication that memory card might come in different sizes, or if not, what would be the purpose of indicating the size of the card if there’s only one model?

http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/1141/1114401745.jpg

Pezman

04-27-2005, 10:31 AM

X-Box360 to be backwards compatible?

A QUESTIONNAIRE being taken online by Xbox Live users appears to give the final confirmation that Xbox 360 will be backwards compatible - at least, if you buy it with the optional hard drive.

The questionnaire deals with Xbox Live and says subscribers through the original Xbox will be able to play against gamers on Xbox 2 -- as long as they are playing a current generation Xbox game.

"Xbox Live is an online gaming service that works across both the current Xbox system and the future Xbox 2. You will be able to play online and compete against others across both consoles. If you are playing an Xbox game on Live you will be able to compete against people playing that same game on Xbox 2".

So XBox games will run on "XBox 2".

The hard drive comes in because the original Xbox had one and the games are written to use one.

INQUIRER reader, Epobirs suggests that the hard drive could be used to house an optimisation library of Xbox 360 native binaries to run the first-generation games, thus increasing performance.

This sounds like a pretty good idea to us, and one that has had some use previously, with FX!32 on the DEC Alpha, utilising translations of code it produced previously to optimise the next time an application ran.

It is unlikely that Xbox games running on the Xbox 360 will look any better, although it's possible that they could be anti-aliased using spare graphics power.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22839

TD30

04-27-2005, 11:17 AM

Damn now I know I will spend the money on one. Thats one thing Nintendo Always screwed up.

TD30

05-05-2005, 03:50 PM

MajikMan7

05-12-2005, 02:42 PM

Tonight at 8:30 central time MTV is airing a special Next Gen Xbox preview.

Pezman

05-12-2005, 02:54 PM

Should be interesting to see how they interpret the new shell.

The rumormill has been running so rampant for so long with the x360's capabilities, its starting to feel like every rumor is essentially vapourware.

I am geeked...

TD30

05-12-2005, 03:35 PM

I'll tune in, how many of you guys play on xbox live. I know Garcia and Alec do

DBroncos4life

05-12-2005, 06:52 PM

A couple things here. Nintendo isn't just marketed for the US. Its huge in Japan. When you think about it thats where I would market a system for as well. A girl I used to work with was a game system expert. It was her job to keep up with this stuff. She believes that PS3 will be the better system out of the three just by looking at the early specs. My other friend that is a HUGE Xbox fan agrees with her. He went to ITT for computers and he thinks that Microsoft will have a hard time keeping up with Sonys chip. Just my little tidbits for the thread.

TD30

05-12-2005, 07:32 PM

I've heard the same thing but untill ps2 carries Halo I'm going to get the xbox

Pezman

05-12-2005, 09:43 PM

I'll tune in, how many of you guys play on xbox live. I know Garcia and Alec do

I have not in a while. Slacker boy me has been to invovled with my PC gaming lately. Well, that and the fact that my mod chip is useless now on my X-Box ;D

Steve Shields

05-12-2005, 10:51 PM

Did anyone else here see that XBOX 360 show on MTV? XBOX 360's Madden 2006 LOOKS AWESOME! Im gonna have to check that out in November!

Steve Shields

05-12-2005, 10:57 PM

Did anyone see Madden 2006 on XBOX 360, it looks awesome! I will own it! The graphics are outrageous!

TD30

05-12-2005, 11:13 PM

I had to tivo the program I'll watch it tonight

Steve Shields

05-12-2005, 11:18 PM

mtv.com has video of the new Madden for XBOX 360! You have got to check it out!

TD30

05-13-2005, 12:05 AM

Looks good but I'd imagine most of what we saw was cut scenes. Don't look for it to better than today's highest end pc's. Consoles are always behind when in comes to graphic's. I never heard a release date but I found this:

http://www.talkxbox.com/article1114.html

News: Xbox 360 Release Date and Logo

MTV accidentally revealed the launch month of the Xbox 360 with their On-Air schedule featured in MTV.com . The scheduleâ€™s description reads

â€This special highlights the exciting new generation of XBOX. Packages include: Tours of the design labs Interviews with the designers Behind-the-scenes and inside scoop Never-before-seen footage of new videogames. Trailers of the newest games that are due out in November for the new XBOX. The next generation will be revealed at an event at the Avalon club in LA, hosted by Elijah Wood and featuring performances by The Killers and Snow Patrol.â€

This occurs following Bill Gatesâ€™ announcement at the Society of American Business Editors and Writers yearly meeting that the console will ship this year.

Also, MTV has released the Xbox 360 logo. The new logo, replacing the green orb with a metallic looking sphere that has the X inserted into it. The font has been changed to more traditional characters.

TD30

05-13-2005, 12:09 AM

That raises the question is Madden 2006 being slotted for the new consoles or are they going to be released on the existing platforms. I'm still bitter about the ESPN 2K series. I hope the gameplay in Madden looks that good, it would be tough to not get it....

Pezman

05-16-2005, 12:45 PM

TD30

05-16-2005, 01:21 PM

I don't know about you guys but I'm not sold on the white/gray console look. They are obvioulsy pc motivated but my electronics for the most part are black or silver. How about making something that looks likes it belongs in my entertainment center. I'm excited about the new consoles but the cell phone and mod scene influence is in my opinion silly. Come on I can switch the face plate of my xbox, stupid. This isn't modding it's a Nokia.

RaiderH8r

05-16-2005, 01:26 PM

New Nintendo Revolution photos?

With E3 coming up, the rumormill will be smoking hot this week... These following pictures are possibly the Revolution's hand controller device and the main box

http://www.ausfx.com/images/revcontrol.JPG

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/venom209/rev020ps.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/venom209/revo28vf.jpg
And the rumor mill continues to spin with reports that Nintendo will hold off unveiling the prototype of the Revolution until after E3. However it seems the new system will feature backward compatability and be wireless internet ready out of the box. AMPED...this system is going to rule.

TheManeMan

05-16-2005, 02:10 PM

Those controllers look cracked out...thanks for sharing the pics Pez...

Pezman

05-17-2005, 10:16 AM

At last! The real info is starting to come out about Sony's new console

Last night at E3, Sony threw their hat in the ring with the latest on the PS3

Playstation 3 Official Specs:
# Backwards compatibility with both PSone and PS2 games.
# Will use Blu-Ray discs for media; also supports: CD-ROM, CD+RW, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R
# Cell processor at 3.2GHz
# 2.18 teraflops of performance
# 512MB total: 256MB XDR system RAM at 3.2 GHz; 256MB of GDDRVRAM at 700MHz
# Slot that supports a detachable 2.5in HDD
# Six USB ports; Memory Stick Duo, SD and Compact Flash support
# 2 HDMI outputs, 1 A/V output, 1 SPDIF optical output, and a 1 gigabit ethernet port Video chat, Internet access, digital picture, audio, and video viewing
# Capable of handling seven Bluetooth controllers

Graphics:
# Chip is called RSX "Reality Synthesizer" by nVidia
# 128 bit pixel precision and 1080p support
# 300 million transistors; 90nm process
# Said to be more powerful than two GeForce 6800 Ultras

Here are some photos!

http://www.jaygoland.com/anothercastle/ps3-2.jpg

http://www.ausfx.com/images/full%20ps3.jpg

http://www.ausfx.com/images/e3-2005-ps3-official-20050516052424806.jpg

Pezman

05-17-2005, 10:24 AM

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. to Launch Its Next Generation Computer Entertainment System, in Spring 2006
Monday May 16, 7:30 pm ET
Unrivaled Performance With the Introduction of Cell Processor and Many Advanced Technologies, and Backwards Compatible With PlayStation(R) and PlayStation(R)2

LOS ANGELES, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- At a press conference held in Los Angeles, California, today, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) revealed the outline of its PLAYSTATIONÂ®3 (PS3) computer entertainment system, incorporating the world's most advanced Cell processor with super computer like power. Prototypes of PS3 will also be showcased at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the world's largest interactive entertainment exhibition held in Los Angeles, from May 18th to 20th.

PS3 combines state-of-the-art technologies featuring Cell, a processor jointly developed by IBM, Sony Group and Toshiba Corporation, graphics processor (RSX) co-developed by NVIDIA Corporation and SCEI, and XDR memory developed by Rambus Inc. It also adopts BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc ROM) with maximum storage capacity of 54 GB (dual layer), enabling delivery of entertainment content in full high-definition (HD) quality, under a secure environment made possible through the most advanced copyright protection technology. To match the accelerating convergence of digital consumer electronics and computer technology, PS3 supports high quality display in resolution of 1080p(*) as standard, which is far superior to 720p/1080i.

With an overwhelming computing power of 2 teraflops, entirely new graphical expressions that have never been seen before will become possible. In games, not only will movement of characters and objects be far more refined and realistic, but landscapes and virtual worlds can also be rendered in real- time, thereby elevating the freedom of graphics expression to levels not experienced in the past. Gamers will literally be able to dive into the realistic world seen in large screen movies and experience the excitement in real-time.

In 1994, SCEI launched the original PlayStationÂ® (PS), followed by PlayStationÂ®2 (PS2) in 2000 and PlayStationÂ®Portable (PSPÂ®) in 2004, every time introducing the latest advancement in technology and bringing innovation to interactive entertainment software creation. Over 13,000 titles have been developed by now, creating a software market that sells more than 250 million copies annually. PS3 offers backward compatibility enabling gamers to enjoy these enormous assets from PS and PS2 platforms.

PlayStation family of products are sold in more than 120 countries and regions around the world. With cumulative shipments reaching more than 102 million for PS and approximately 89 million for PS2, they are the undisputed leaders and have become the standard platform for home entertainment. After 12 years from the introduction of the original PS and 6 years from the launch of PS2, SCEI brings PS3, the newest platform with the most advanced next generation computer entertainment technology.

With the delivery of Cell based development tools that has already begun, development of game titles as well as tools and middleware are in progress. Through collaboration with world's leading tools and middleware companies, SCEI will offer full support to new content creation by providing developers with extensive tools and libraries that will bring out the power of the Cell processor and enable efficient software development.

Preparations are under way for launch of PS3 and new generation software in the spring of 2006.

(*) 1080p/720p/1080i: "p" stands for progressive scan method, "i" stands
for interlace method. 1080p is the highest resolution within the HD
standard.

"SCEI has continuously brought innovation to the world of computer entertainment, such as real-time 3D computer graphics on PlayStation and the world's first 128 bit processor Emotion Engine (EE) for PlayStation 2. Empowered by the Cell processor with super computer like performance, a new age of PLAYSTATION 3 is about to begin. Together with content creators from all over the world, SCEI will accelerate the arrival of a new era in computer entertainment."

Ken Kutaragi, President and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc..

Supporting comments from third party developers and publishers
(In alphabetical order of company name)

"With the new generation PlayStation platform, we can create "GUNDAM WORLD" with the quality no one has ever imagined. The philosophy, connecting millions of Cell together, makes reality get closer to the world of SF films. We are delighted to share the vision of Ken, ARCHITECT, Kutaragi."

Shin Unozawa, Managing Director, Leader, Game Software Group, President, Video Game Company, BANDAI CO., LTD.

"The PLAYSTATION 3 has us really excited! So much so in fact that we are already working our hardest to get Devil May Cry 4 out for this new platform. New hardware always yields more options for developers to create exciting and fresh gameplay experiences. I believe that the PS3 is one piece of hardware that will test the mettle of our development team and help us to create some of the most amazing games, limited only by our imagination."

Keiji Inafune, Managing Executive Officer, Research & Development Division,Capcom Co., Ltd.

"Each generation of PlayStation has made a dramatic improvement in how we create and play videogames. PLAYSTATION 3 will be a breakthrough in how the world experiences entertainment. EA is fully aligned with Sony Computer Entertainment -- we share their vision and applaud their success."

Larry Probst, Chairman and CEO, Electronic Arts

"President Kutaragi has thrown down a gauntlet. That gauntlet is called the PLAYSTATION 3. We here at Koei have gladly taken up the challenge, and are striving day and night to take full advantage of all the PS3's new possibilities. Our goal is to combine cutting-edge technology with a full range of artistic expression to deliver the ultimate form of entertainment, and please people everywhere."

Keiko Erikawa, Chairman & C.E.O., KOEI Co., Ltd.

"With the arrival of the next generation computer entertainment system PLAYSTATION 3, I believe it will be possible for graphic expressions, more beautiful than before, to coexist with more deep and evolved game play which utilize the Cell architecture. I also have high expectations for the evolution by the online features that will be enhanced. We will utilize the features of the new platform and will strive to create contents that will bring new excitement for our users world wide, so please have high hopes for Konami."

Kazumi Kitaue, CEO, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc

"Each time SCEI launches a console, the video games business moves to the next level. With PLAYSTATION 3 it looks as if it might be time for interactive entertainment to become, finally, the world's dominant artistic medium."

Sam Houser, President, Rockstar Games (Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.)

"We at Namco have used and will continue to use the advancements in audio- visual technology to deliver games that are not only appealing to the eyes and ears, but that stir emotions, speak to the heart, and remain in players' minds for years to come. We are confident that the PLAYSTATION 3 is an entertainment system that will enable us to do just that."

Shigeru Yokoyama, CT Company President, Namco Ltd.

"Next-generation hardware platforms will enable SEGA to create new game concepts that offer more immersive interactive experiences. SEGA continues to pursue the fusion of creativity and technology by publishing only the best, more innovative content to gamers around the world."

Hisao Oguchi, President and Chief Operating Officer, SEGA Corporation

"Square Enix is extremely honored to have had the chance to provide you with this technical demonstration of what the Cell processor can bring to the PLAYSTATION 3 and the world of gaming. We are committed to fully backing SCEI's new computer entertainment system and plans to bring the FINAL FANTASY series to the PS3 are just beyond the horizon."

Yoichi Wada, President, SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.

"Ubisoft was one of the first major international developers to have its teams start focusing on next generation consoles. We are looking forward to developing outstanding games on Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.'s new system. Its powerful features will help take the industry to an even higher level in the very near future."

Yves Guillemot, President and CEO, Ubisoft

PLAYSTATIONÂ®3 Specifications
Product name PLAYSTATIONÂ®3
Logo PLAYSTATIONÂ®3
CPU Cell Processor
PowerPC-base Core @3.2GHz
1 VMX vector unit per core
512KB L2 cache
7 x SPE @3.2GHz
7 x 128b 128 SIMD GPRs
7 x 256KB SRAM for SPE
* 1 of 8 SPEs reserved for
redundancy
total floating point
performance: 218 GFLOPS
GPU RSX @550MHz
1.8 TFLOPS floating point
performance
Full HD (up to 1080p) x 2
channels
Multi-way programmable parallel
floating point shader
pipelines
Sound Dolby 5.1ch, DTS, LPCM, etc. (Cell-
base processing)
Memory 256MB XDR Main RAM @3.2GHz
256MB GDDR3 VRAM @700MHz
System Bandwidth Main RAM 25.6GB/s
VRAM 22.4GB/s
RSX 20GB/s (write) + 15GB/s
(read)
SB 2.5GB/s (write) +
2.5GB/s (read)
System Floating Point Performance 2 TFLOPS
Storage HDD Detachable 2.5" HDD slot x 1
I/O USB Front x 4, Rear x 2 (USB2.0)
Memory Stick standard/Duo, PRO x 1
SD standard/mini x 1
CompactFlash (Type I, II) x 1
Communication Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
x 3 (input x 1 + output x 2)
Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
Controller Bluetooth (up to 7)
USB2.0 (wired)
Wi-Fi (PSPÂ®)
Network (over IP)
AV Output Screen size 480i, 480p, 720p,
1080i, 1080p
HDMI HDMI out x 2
Analog AV MULTI OUT x 1
Digital audio DIGITAL OUT
(OPTICAL) x 1
Disc media CD PlayStationÂ® CD-ROM
* read only PlayStationÂ®2 CD-ROM
CD-DA CD-DA (ROM), CD-R,
CD-RW
SACD SACD Hybrid (CD
layer), SACD HD
DualDisc DualDisc (audio
side), DualDisc
(DVD side)
DVD PlayStationÂ®2 DVD-ROM
PLAYSTATIONÂ®3 DVD-ROM
DVD-Video DVD-ROM, DVD-R,
DVD-RW, DVD+R,
DVD+RW
Blu-ray Disc PLAYSTATIONÂ®3 BD-ROM
BD-Video BD-ROM, BD-R,
BD-RE

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufacturers, distributes and markets the PlayStationÂ® game console, the PlayStationÂ®2 computer entertainment system and the PlayStationÂ®Portable (PSPÂ®) handheld entertainment system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a new portable entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

* Storage media (HDD, "Memory Stick", SD memory card, and CompactFlash)
are sold separately.
* "Dolby" is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
* "DTS" is a trademark of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
* "CompactFlash" is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation.
* "HDMI" is a trademark of HDMI Licensing LLC.
* "Blu-ray Disc" is a trademark.
* "Bluetooth" is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
* All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

* "Memory Stick" and "Memory Stick PRO" are trademarks of Sony
Corporation.
* "PlayStation", the PlayStation logo and "PSP" are registered trademarks
of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050516/sfm178.html?.v=2

Pezman

05-17-2005, 10:25 AM

And here is more of the new Nintendo Revolution...

http://www.ausfx.com/images/nrev.JPG

RaiderH8r

05-17-2005, 10:33 AM

Pezman

05-17-2005, 10:36 AM

IGN.com is currently doing a live report on the Roll out of the Nintendo Revolution and the word is that it will be backward compatable and able to download all Nintendo games back to the original NES. 20 years of content....shawiinnggg.

Kickass! That is great news for the emulation scene too! Not to mention all the sweet ass Zelda versions that can be played!

By the way... here is a screenie of Killzone for the PS3

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/killzone_ps3.jpg

mmmmm fraglicious

RaiderH8r

05-17-2005, 10:42 AM

This next-gen gaming will revolutionize the scene. Months ago when Iwata was interviewed about Nintendo's next-gen console he said that graphic content was about maxed out and would obviously improve. But that the real selling point of the Revolution would be the extras that would attract casual gamers, hard core gamers, and the general public in what he called "all access gaming". One downside to the Revolution so far is that you have to purchase the DVD compatability piece separate. But I'm already loving the prospect of wireless internet ready and downloading all the classics. I'm hoping (hope, pray, wish..) that ported games, like Madden, from 3rd party producers will provide online gaming for all platforms to expand the options of who can play whom. So if my buddy has the PS3 and I have the Rev, I can still whoop his fancy boy Vikes with the Broncos.

RaiderH8r

05-17-2005, 10:43 AM

Pezman

05-17-2005, 04:06 PM

10:27 am: Iwata: Convinced game development on Revolution will be easier and far less costly than for other machines. "Big idea can prevail over big budget." Revolution is a solution to help maximize creative freedom. Iwata then talks about backward compatibility. "Redefining term of backward compatability." It's a virtual console, able to download 20 years of Nintendo content. You will be able to Download NES, Super NES and N64 games. You can get every Nintendo game ever made. "Revolution shares a vision with DS. The machine is just a tool for software."

(drools) I am getting more and more geeked every minute...

broncolife

05-17-2005, 06:13 PM

10:27 am: Iwata: Convinced game development on Revolution will be easier and far less costly than for other machines. "Big idea can prevail over big budget." Revolution is a solution to help maximize creative freedom. Iwata then talks about backward compatibility. "Redefining term of backward compatability." It's a virtual console, able to download 20 years of Nintendo content. You will be able to Download NES, Super NES and N64 games. You can get every Nintendo game ever made. "Revolution shares a vision with DS. The machine is just a tool for software."

I was thinking about buying my nephew a nintendo ,super nintendo, and 200 games but the lot went for waaaaay too much on ebay. I think it went around $700. Thank goodness I didnt get caught up in that bidding war. Now I can just get the Revolution when it comes out and download the games I want. Hilarious!

RhymesayersDU

05-17-2005, 11:29 PM

E3 is the big video game convention deal. X-Box360, PlayStation3, and Nintendo Revolution, the new consoles from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, have been unveiled.

Which one are you getting? (Or if you're one of those people who gets them all, which one are you most excited for?)

Clockwork Orange

05-18-2005, 12:15 AM

I'll get a PS3 and eventually a Nintendo Revolution.

Kaylore

05-18-2005, 12:18 AM

Depends on the games, but probably X-box and playstation.

TheManeMan

05-18-2005, 12:50 AM

I want to buy the 360 but, I think i'll stick to Nintendo...since I've bought every single console they've made...

Besides how bad ass would Metroid and Zelda look?

MajikMan7

05-18-2005, 06:23 AM

bronco militia

05-18-2005, 07:33 AM

I'll buy a new x-box and then have to buy a Revolution for the kids Mario fix...I still haven't figured out what's up with the plumber and the little dinosaur? My kids can't get enough.

TD30

05-18-2005, 01:20 PM

Here is a link and pic of the upcoming Madden 2006. Looks nothing like the cut-scenes being shown by EA. Again I have to say it ESPN 2k5 is in my opinion a better game graphically speaking. Oh's here's a link this pic came with a funny little Ron Mexico caption.

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/sports/maddennfl2006/preview_6122845.html

TD30

05-18-2005, 01:24 PM

Have any of you seen the demo for killzone on the ps3, holycrap. If the game plays like that it will be insane. I will look for a link

TD30

05-18-2005, 02:41 PM

E3 footage http://207.61.132.68/7/1153/5372/1/gamespot.download.akamai.com/5372/netshow/gslive/2005/05/2stream_sonypress_e305_hi.wmv?MSWMExt=.asf

Check out Fight Night on the Ps3 @ 1:12:00, That is suppose to be actual gameplay.

Kill Zone 2 footage @ 1:33:13 if this is the way the engine plays and not rendered footage this may be the best game coming out...

TheManeMan

05-19-2005, 12:43 AM

:alghh:...Perfect Dark Zero...

Perfect Dark Zero E3 2005 Multiplayer Impressions

One of the first game's we saw when E3 opened its doors this morning was Rare's Perfect Dark Zero for the Xbox 360. We weren't allowed to get our hands on the game, but after being given some tidbits of information about the single-player game (including the fact that Zero is a prequel rather than a sequel to the original N64 game, set some three years earlier), we were treated to a lengthy demonstration of some of the multiplayer features you can look forward to.

The first thing we noticed when the multiplayer demo got under way was just how customizable the game will be, with options that will allow you to change the bot count, bot difficulty, points limit, spawn type, base configuration, and weapon types. Another feature we noticed, that will certainly be welcomed by fans of Halo 2, is one that allows you to determine whether or not players can join or leave a game that's in progress.

The first area that we were shown was one of the team spawn rooms that will be a feature of all team-based multiplayer modes in Perfect Dark Zero. The idea is that your team will spawn in a safe room, where they can decide which weapons they want to take onto the battlefield (you'll have four weapon slots available, but powerful weapons will account for two or three), and then they'll warp into the action. Each map will feature multiple warp points that can be used once your team has captured them. When you're on the battlefield, warp points being controlled by your team will appear on your radar in green, uncontrolled ones will be white, and those being used by your enemies will be red.

Intriguingly, the green-versus-red theme is used throughout the entire game, meaning that all other players and vehicles from your team will appear in green, while all of your enemies--even if they are from multiple teams--will appear in red. Another interesting feature of Perfect Dark is that every player on a team will use a different character model, which will be determined using their online ranking. So, if you're the highest-ranked player on your team, for example, you'll be playing as the star of the single-player game, Joanna Dark. We also noticed that if you capture an enemy vehicle, its color will change from red to green.

Vehicles in Perfect Dark Zero will include motorcycles, hovercraft, and jetpacks. The only vehicle that we got to see in action was the jetpack, which actually functions both as a flying vehicle and a bipedal walker armed with a cannon. The jetpack model was extremely detailed, and the vehicle's land/air transformation was nicely animated.

When you're not riding or flying around in a vehicle, you will be hunting your enemies on foot, and we're pleased to report that Rare is looking to innovate as much with that area of the game as it is with the red-versus-green mechanic and map designs, which we'll talk about shortly. When you're on foot, the game will play a lot like a garden-variety first-person shooter for the most part, but you'll be able to roll along the ground when you want to get from A to B without making yourself an easy target and seek cover behind walls in much the same way that you'd expect to in a stealth action game. When you back up against a wall in Perfect Dark Zero, the camera will switch to a third-person perspective that affords you a decent view of your immediate surroundings. It'll switch back to first-person when you lean around a corner, though, so that you can aim at any enemies you spot just as accurately as you would during the course of regular gameplay.

One of the other aspects of Perfect Dark Zero that will help to distinguish it from other first-person shooters is its arsenal of futuristic weapons and gadgets, many of which will be familiar to fans of the N64 original. Weapons that we got to see for ourselves included the laptop gun, which is essentially an automated turret you can deploy; a cloak, which will let you make yourself invisible but which we noticed wasn't particularly effective if you move or if a cloud of dust blows past you; and the X-ray gun, which turns the whole screen blue and allows you to see (but not shoot) enemies through walls. The visual effect that accompanied the use of the X-ray gun was really neat, since all of the enemies (and even your own hand) will appear as skeletons.

We got to see two of Perfect Dark Zero's six multiplayer levels this morning, one set in a desert and one in a subway. Both of the maps looked pretty stunning and were far too big for the measly two players that were showing us the game. The size of multiplayer maps shouldn't ever be an issue for you, though, since all of the maps are designed in a way that allows you to open up or close off certain areas according to how many players are in the game simultaneously. The two players who were showing us the game did manage to find each other, though, which gave us an opportunity to check out the solid-looking character models and, impressively, the way that pieces of their body armor will fall off when they get shot.

The build of Perfect Dark Zero that we were looking at was eight weeks old and running on alpha development kits that, we were told, have only a fraction of the power that will be available on the Xbox 360. The game still looked really great, although the frame rate was a bit choppy at times. In the final game, Rare is shooting for a solid 30 frames per second, whether you're playing solo or with three other players on the same screen.

Rare wouldn't confirm exactly how many online players it intends to support in Perfect Dark Zero, but we were told that the team is definitely shooting for more than 50. We'll bring you more information on Perfect Dark Zero as soon as it becomes available

TheManeMan

05-19-2005, 01:04 AM

Halo 3 parrying PlayStation 3 launch

Time quotes Bill Gates saying that Sony's next-gen console will "walk into" the Xbox 360 follow-up to the best-selling sci-fi shooter.

For months, the Web was rife with rumors that Microsoft would ship the sequel to Halo 2 for the Xbox 360 simultaneously with the launch of the PlayStation 3. Now, that has been confirmed--by none other than Bill Gates himself.

In next week's issue of Time Magazine--which features Gates holding the Xbox 360 on the cover--Gates mentioned plans for the release of the much-anticipated follow-up to the best-selling console shooter. In a parenthetical sidebar in the article, Time says the following:

"Note to the hard-core faithful: the next version of Halo will not, repeat not, be ready in time for the launch of Xbox 360. It will be part of the all-important second wave next spring. 'It's perfect,' Gates says, radiant with bloodlust. 'The day Sony launches [the new PlayStation], and they walk right into Halo 3.'"

While Microsoft reps were not available for comment as of press time, Gates' comments appear to confirm the theory that Microsoft will release Halo 3 either simultaneously or near the release of Sony's next-gen console. It also marks further official confirmation that a third Halo is indeed in the works and will be released for the Xbox 360.

Although such statements might be interpreted as grandstanding, such a maneuver definitely would have an impact. Halo 2 sold more than 6.5 million copies to date and is credited with doubling the subscriber base of Xbox Live from around 750,000 to more than 1.5 million. It is also credited by industry-watchers as one of the main reasons for boosting sales of the original Xbox last holiday season.