Xbox 2 codename confirmed – Xbox TV and more revealed by MS
Job page exposes latest console truth
The Xenon lives, thanks to a job posting on Microsoft’s website, with an advert for a software engineer confirming the development name for the Xbox successor for the first time.
“Want to help create a new feature for Xenon not available on any other platform? Microsoft Game Studios Publishing is looking for an SDET with server experience to…” Cool.
And there’s more dumplings in the stew, with all manner of revelations emerging. Check this – the successful applicant will create, “a spectator mode for many Xenon games, Xbox TV - with tickers at the bottom of the screen featuring recent high scores and game highlights, a tournament system, and tradable trophies.”
Meaning that the Xbox 2, or Xenon, or whatever it will be called when it finally rolls onto shelves, will have a load of cool online features on an uprated Live service.
We contacted Microsoft this morning for clarification on the somewhat mysterious Xbox TV mention in the advert, but received a flat 'no comment' off the bat. Indeed, SPOnG believes that someone at Microsoft’s recruitment seriously dropped the ball in posting the information available to the public, given the startled reaction of the firm’s press office.
To reveal a massive range of new features at this stage of the R&D of the planned Xbox Live overhaul, to the public and, more pertinently, to Sony Computer Entertainment, will no doubt result in a certain amount of panicked shouting at Microsoft Towers.
We are scheduled to be contacted with an official comment on exactly what Xbox TV is later today. If we get anything more than a ‘no comment’ we’ll let you know.
“Want to help create a new feature for Xenon not available on any other platform? Microsoft Game Studios Publishing is looking for an SDET with server experience to…” Cool.
And there’s more dumplings in the stew, with all manner of revelations emerging. Check this – the successful applicant will create, “a spectator mode for many Xenon games, Xbox TV - with tickers at the bottom of the screen featuring recent high scores and game highlights, a tournament system, and tradable trophies.”
Meaning that the Xbox 2, or Xenon, or whatever it will be called when it finally rolls onto shelves, will have a load of cool online features on an uprated Live service.
We contacted Microsoft this morning for clarification on the somewhat mysterious Xbox TV mention in the advert, but received a flat 'no comment' off the bat. Indeed, SPOnG believes that someone at Microsoft’s recruitment seriously dropped the ball in posting the information available to the public, given the startled reaction of the firm’s press office.
To reveal a massive range of new features at this stage of the R&D of the planned Xbox Live overhaul, to the public and, more pertinently, to Sony Computer Entertainment, will no doubt result in a certain amount of panicked shouting at Microsoft Towers.
We are scheduled to be contacted with an official comment on exactly what Xbox TV is later today. If we get anything more than a ‘no comment’ we’ll let you know.
Companies:
Microsoft Game Studios
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Comments
DoctorDee 28 Sep 2004 12:19
1/11
It's exciting stuff, to be sure. But it's hardly that innovative, Quake III Arena had a spectator mode... Microsoft are just taking a good idea and running with it.
It certainly is a logical feature for an on-line gaming community. It gives player the chance to evaluate apponents before taking them on in competiton, and it introduces the whole idea of computer games as a spectator sport, which in time, it must surely become. But looking over someones shoulder at a monitor, or even sitting around a huge projections screen clearly isn't the future for the concept. Xbox TV might be.
It certainly is a logical feature for an on-line gaming community. It gives player the chance to evaluate apponents before taking them on in competiton, and it introduces the whole idea of computer games as a spectator sport, which in time, it must surely become. But looking over someones shoulder at a monitor, or even sitting around a huge projections screen clearly isn't the future for the concept. Xbox TV might be.
TigerUppercut 28 Sep 2004 12:23
2/11
Perhaps someone at MS, when contacted about this, said, ""Oh no, f**king hell! They are such f**king t**ts! Oh my god..."
Perhaps...
Perhaps...
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config 28 Sep 2004 12:34
3/11
DoctorDee wrote:
It's exciting stuff, to be sure. But it's hardly that innovative, Quake III Arena had a spectator mode... Microsoft are just taking a good idea and running with it.
If Xbox TV were a satellite/cable channel showing spectator mode of the latest Live tourneys (tickers and all), where pressing the "red" button gives you further viewing angle option, team stats and the like, that would be very interesting and pretty innovative.
Certainly better than the so-called gaming TV channels that actually spend the majority of their air-time broadcasting rancid tarts who are trying too way too hard to sound horny over some gawky 14 year old's txt msg.
Anyway, back on topic...
The next best would be a spectator mode that streamed video off the Live system - mucho bandwidth needed at the server, though. How much would MS charge to watch, considering the BW requirements? Premium subscription, perhaps?
Of course, it could just be a rehash to the Q3 model, with spectators having to actually own copy of the game to view. That would be s**te.
DoctorDee 28 Sep 2004 12:40
4/11
config wrote:
If Xbox TV were a satellite/cable channel showing spectator mode of the latest Live tourneys (tickers and all), where pressing the "red" button gives you further viewing angle option, team stats and the like, that would be very interesting and pretty innovative.
Innovative - yes, but logical brand extension for Xbox - no!
If Microsoft is trying to create an XBox on-line gaming community, it makes sense for them to require (at least) a user to have an Xbox, and a dowloadable non-playable game engine. And at most, the whole game.
Of course, this could be complemented with a satellite/cable channel showing highlights of tourneys etc, but as a more passive experience...
config 28 Sep 2004 12:55
5/11
DoctorDee wrote:
Innovative - yes, but logical brand extension for Xbox - no!
If Microsoft is trying to create an XBox on-line gaming community, it makes sense for them to require (at least) a user to have an Xbox, and a dowloadable non-playable game engine. And at most, the whole game.
Of course, this could be complemented with a satellite/cable channel showing highlights of tourneys etc, but as a more passive experience...
But what better way to grow the "community" - and let's face it, MS wants hardware, software and Live sub sales, not a cuddly gaming family - than to show those without Xboxes or who only play offline just what they are missing. The channel could be a huge great commercial screaming "look just what you're missing!"
Hell, if folks are willing to go down to their local cinema to watch a big tourney, MS could certainly sell pay-per-view for the big events on XBTV.
Kaxxx 28 Sep 2004 13:15
6/11
Another thing is that with the huge money behind microsift we wouldnt have to sit through tons of advertising which other stations have to do in order to survive.
I think its quite a novel idea.
I think its quite a novel idea.
DoctorDee 28 Sep 2004 15:51
7/11
Kaxxx wrote:
Another thing is that with the huge money behind microsift we wouldnt have to sit through tons of advertising which other stations have to do in order to survive.
If Microsoft are so pure of heart, why did they just add a "Windows Catalogue" item to my start menu? Nah, any channel they have they'll exploit however they can.
Brown Force 28 Sep 2004 18:42
8/11
I like it. I'd definatly pay for Xbox TV. If it showed big torniments and previews of upcoming games for their console why the hell not?
I'm actually shocked Sony or Microsoft haven't done this yet. There definatly is a game shaped hole in the whole TV market and they wouldn't need to spend loads or try and persuade companies to get their games on it.
I hope this is true and it is a cable channel...however it seems unlikely.
I'm actually shocked Sony or Microsoft haven't done this yet. There definatly is a game shaped hole in the whole TV market and they wouldn't need to spend loads or try and persuade companies to get their games on it.
I hope this is true and it is a cable channel...however it seems unlikely.
Pandaman 28 Sep 2004 22:38
9/11
Alright! Sega TV 2!
Kaxxx 29 Sep 2004 07:20
10/11
Doctor Dee wrote:
If Microsoft are so pure of heart, why did they just add a "Windows Catalogue" item to my start menu? Nah, any channel they have they'll exploit however they can.
]Sorry, i meant as in ads containing 'ring this number 'and 'text in' b******s. Should have made myself more clear.
DoctorDee 29 Sep 2004 08:08
11/11
Kaxxx wrote:
Sorry, i meant as in ads containing 'ring this number 'and 'text in' b******s. Should have made myself more clear.
Ah, yeah. I get you know. And if only we could have a games TV channel where all the presenters didn't lose their clothes and stop talking about games after 21:00.