E3 Gaming news!!! X-Box 2, PS3, Nintendo Revolution stuff

[Pezman]

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.

[TD30]

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

[Pezman]

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






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:



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?

[Pezman]

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]

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

[TD30]

[MajikMan7]

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

[Pezman]

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]

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

[DBroncos4life]

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]

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

[Pezman]

Originally Posted by TD30

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

[Steve Shields]

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]

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

[TD30]

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

[Steve Shields]

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

[TD30]

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 schedule’s description reads

�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.�

This occurs following Bill Gates’ 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]

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]

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

[TD30]

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]

Originally Posted by Pezman

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

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]

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

[Pezman]

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!

[Pezman]

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 PLAYSTATION®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 PlayStation® (PS), followed by PlayStation®2 (PS2) in 2000 and PlayStation®Portable (PSP®) 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


PLAYSTATION®3 Specifications
Product name PLAYSTATION®3
Logo PLAYSTATION®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 (PSP®)
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 PlayStation® CD-ROM
* read only PlayStation®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 PlayStation®2 DVD-ROM
PLAYSTATION®3 DVD-ROM
DVD-Video DVD-ROM, DVD-R,
DVD-RW, DVD+R,
DVD+RW
Blu-ray Disc PLAYSTATION®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 PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the PlayStation®Portable (PSP®) 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]

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