Microsoft’s Handheld Game Console – More Details
J Allard leading ‘PSP/iPod-killer’ project.
Respected San Jose Mercury gaming news journalist Dean Takahashi has unveiled some interesting details about Microsoft’s forthcoming handheld gaming device, which he uncovered in the reporting for his forthcoming book The Xbox 360 Uncloaked: The Real Story Behind Microsoft's Next-Generation Video Game Console.
Rumours have persisted for some time now that Microsoft is planning to leverage the Xbox gaming brand in the handheld sector - designing a product that combines video games, music and video in one handheld device – the so-called ‘iPod-killer’.
It seems that Microsoft apparently has some of its top gaming brass working on the project, with the ever-popular J Allard leading the project, Greg Gibson (system director on Xbox 360) in as project director, and Bryan Lee looking after the financial side of the business.
Greg Gibson is a 35-year-old electrical engineer who joined Microsoft in 1997 and in 2002 became the system designer in charge of the overall design of the Xbox 360.
Allard needs little introduction to regular SPOnG readers; a 36-year-old progammer who has commanded much of the hardware and software teams who put together the Xbox 360. Lee joined Microsoft as finance chief for the Xbox a few years ago.
Details on the project are still pretty thin on the ground, but the fact that Microsoft has assembled this dream team to head up the project clearly tells SPOnG that this is a key aspect of their strategy for the future of the Xbox brand.
Microsoft considered making an 'Xboy' game player a few years ago but shelved the idea. The Redmond-based behemoth also considered making a handheld videogame console at the same time it devised plans for the Xbox 360 in 2002 and 2003, but again decided to delay its entry into the handheld gaming market.
As SPOnG reported back in January, Peter Moore had said in a Business Week interview that the device, "...can't just be our version of the iPod'' and that the Xbox brand "...is an opportunity'' if and when Microsoft decides to enter the handheld market.
Microsoft unveiled the handheld Windows computer Project Origami last week, but that device is not being positioned as a portable entertainment centre.
According to Takahashi, Microsoft is still figuring out which strategy to pursue in music technology. 'Alexandria' is currently the code name for its music service, currently being mooted as the equivalent of Apple's world-ruling iTunes software.
Takahashi also states that: “One benefit of waiting longer is that the handheld will likely have sufficient technology in it to run a lot of original Xbox games from a few years ago. Hence, it wouldn't be hard to create a new library of games for the handheld.”
What with the recent announcements of PS1 games being made available for users to download onto their PSP, it’s not really hard to imagine a handheld running Xbox games being a technical and commercial reality in a relatively short space of time.
Takahashi also notes that Transmeta, a maker of low-power chip technology used in handheld devices with long battery lives had assigned 30 engineers late last year to work with Microsoft on a secret project.
All that remains to be seen, according to Takahashi, is when Microsoft will launch the device: “It could be 2007 before the device hits store shelves. That gives rivals such as Sony, Nintendo and Apple considerable time to consolidate their position and come up with their own new gadgets in the meantime.”
Rumours have persisted for some time now that Microsoft is planning to leverage the Xbox gaming brand in the handheld sector - designing a product that combines video games, music and video in one handheld device – the so-called ‘iPod-killer’.
It seems that Microsoft apparently has some of its top gaming brass working on the project, with the ever-popular J Allard leading the project, Greg Gibson (system director on Xbox 360) in as project director, and Bryan Lee looking after the financial side of the business.
Greg Gibson is a 35-year-old electrical engineer who joined Microsoft in 1997 and in 2002 became the system designer in charge of the overall design of the Xbox 360.
Allard needs little introduction to regular SPOnG readers; a 36-year-old progammer who has commanded much of the hardware and software teams who put together the Xbox 360. Lee joined Microsoft as finance chief for the Xbox a few years ago.
Details on the project are still pretty thin on the ground, but the fact that Microsoft has assembled this dream team to head up the project clearly tells SPOnG that this is a key aspect of their strategy for the future of the Xbox brand.
Microsoft considered making an 'Xboy' game player a few years ago but shelved the idea. The Redmond-based behemoth also considered making a handheld videogame console at the same time it devised plans for the Xbox 360 in 2002 and 2003, but again decided to delay its entry into the handheld gaming market.
As SPOnG reported back in January, Peter Moore had said in a Business Week interview that the device, "...can't just be our version of the iPod'' and that the Xbox brand "...is an opportunity'' if and when Microsoft decides to enter the handheld market.
Microsoft unveiled the handheld Windows computer Project Origami last week, but that device is not being positioned as a portable entertainment centre.
According to Takahashi, Microsoft is still figuring out which strategy to pursue in music technology. 'Alexandria' is currently the code name for its music service, currently being mooted as the equivalent of Apple's world-ruling iTunes software.
Takahashi also states that: “One benefit of waiting longer is that the handheld will likely have sufficient technology in it to run a lot of original Xbox games from a few years ago. Hence, it wouldn't be hard to create a new library of games for the handheld.”
What with the recent announcements of PS1 games being made available for users to download onto their PSP, it’s not really hard to imagine a handheld running Xbox games being a technical and commercial reality in a relatively short space of time.
Takahashi also notes that Transmeta, a maker of low-power chip technology used in handheld devices with long battery lives had assigned 30 engineers late last year to work with Microsoft on a secret project.
All that remains to be seen, according to Takahashi, is when Microsoft will launch the device: “It could be 2007 before the device hits store shelves. That gives rivals such as Sony, Nintendo and Apple considerable time to consolidate their position and come up with their own new gadgets in the meantime.”
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Comments
malakaai 20 Mar 2006 16:21
1/10
lol, seems like that time of year is fast approaching us, april 1st yaaayyy.
I'll Eat Your Soul 20 Mar 2006 16:46
2/10
I say good luck to them... if Sony screwed up their entry into the handheld market despite their serious home console clout, I'm not convinced Microsoft have what it takes.
The one thing they have to consider above everything else is the type of games that are suitable when you're on the move. Games that take forever to load or large quantities of time are out.
The one thing they have to consider above everything else is the type of games that are suitable when you're on the move. Games that take forever to load or large quantities of time are out.
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majin dboy 20 Mar 2006 17:09
3/10
will be very interesting to see what direction microsoft go with this. Also,it will be equally interesting to see how they market it.
so what are we looking at here? a portable machine powerful as the XBOX,with huge music storage,operating system and suberb battery life?
il be suprised if they pull it off from a tecnical stand point and considering combined DS and PSP have sold over 20 million world wide.
so what are we looking at here? a portable machine powerful as the XBOX,with huge music storage,operating system and suberb battery life?
il be suprised if they pull it off from a tecnical stand point and considering combined DS and PSP have sold over 20 million world wide.
daCuk 20 Mar 2006 18:23
4/10
It sounds like an DRM-filled, only WMV-WMA playing, only-for-Windows-Vista OS, and just for FPS and RTS games turd of device....
DEFINITELY NOT A CHALLENGER, to the mighty handheld king (Nintendo)
DEFINITELY NOT A CHALLENGER, to the mighty handheld king (Nintendo)
OptimusP 20 Mar 2006 19:05
5/10
Woohoo!! MS is really delivering the most funny things this generation, first with a second season of "Xbox in Japan: we're really going to crack it now!!", it comes up (potentially... doesn't really seem official though) with this new bright idea to make gamers laugh their pants off... like the DSvs PSP sales in Japan aren't funny enough already... cheers MS!
seriously, counting R&D costs and everything how the crap is mister "hey look i'm on MTV, i must be so cool!!" Allard going to be profitable by 2007? stock holders are going to demand to pull the plug out of the xboxproject if he doesn't...
seriously, counting R&D costs and everything how the crap is mister "hey look i'm on MTV, i must be so cool!!" Allard going to be profitable by 2007? stock holders are going to demand to pull the plug out of the xboxproject if he doesn't...
Joji 20 Mar 2006 21:04
6/10
MS aren't gonna trump Sony or Nintendo on this front. I feel MS are now biting off more than they can chew. The handheld market is a different kettle of fish to the home one. Is the trouble Sony are having with PSP now a battle cry for MS?
An attack against Apple might seem like enough of an excuse for MS to push their own brand of DRM laced crap on us all. However I just don't see it happening for MS. Sony products, like Apple's stuff, are a lot more trendy to have or be seen with (not that I care about such nonsense but the masses do).
For one MS products bomb in japan, handhelds need simple forms of game where graphics take a back seat. I'll bet MS won't get this just like Sony. MS are also reluctant to create their own software apart from Halo series etc..
Three home consoles and two handhelds I can juggle for games and attention, but adding a third handheld means less games for me and I only have so much I can spend on games.
Bad Idea MS, stick to 360. An already overcrowded market could well lead to an industry nail in the coffin. If it happened before it could easily happen again. That and you can't match Nintendo (or Sony even) on the games front.
(A potential April Fool's joke, go figure.)
An attack against Apple might seem like enough of an excuse for MS to push their own brand of DRM laced crap on us all. However I just don't see it happening for MS. Sony products, like Apple's stuff, are a lot more trendy to have or be seen with (not that I care about such nonsense but the masses do).
For one MS products bomb in japan, handhelds need simple forms of game where graphics take a back seat. I'll bet MS won't get this just like Sony. MS are also reluctant to create their own software apart from Halo series etc..
Three home consoles and two handhelds I can juggle for games and attention, but adding a third handheld means less games for me and I only have so much I can spend on games.
Bad Idea MS, stick to 360. An already overcrowded market could well lead to an industry nail in the coffin. If it happened before it could easily happen again. That and you can't match Nintendo (or Sony even) on the games front.
(A potential April Fool's joke, go figure.)
Ditto 20 Mar 2006 21:10
7/10
I must admit, that I think you guys are being a little stupid.
When the Xbox was first announced, I though "nah, no-one in their right mind would buy a console from Microsoft and give them a chance to monopolise another market with crap products".
Lo and behold we now have the Xbox as the second best-selling conole, beating Nintendo and a variant leading the current generation. And people love M$.
If Microsoft release this thing, then it will be a success. There are too many stupid people in the world for it not to be, Microsoft have too much money for it not to be, and in the end Microsoft will produce a reasonable loss-leading product at a reasonable price, allowing them to get a foothold for further monopolisation.
Get ready for another Microsoft success. And beware Sony and Nintendo.
When the Xbox was first announced, I though "nah, no-one in their right mind would buy a console from Microsoft and give them a chance to monopolise another market with crap products".
Lo and behold we now have the Xbox as the second best-selling conole, beating Nintendo and a variant leading the current generation. And people love M$.
If Microsoft release this thing, then it will be a success. There are too many stupid people in the world for it not to be, Microsoft have too much money for it not to be, and in the end Microsoft will produce a reasonable loss-leading product at a reasonable price, allowing them to get a foothold for further monopolisation.
Get ready for another Microsoft success. And beware Sony and Nintendo.
Joji 20 Mar 2006 21:36
8/10
I don't think I'm being stupid at all, Adam.
Just what would you like to play on a possible MS handheld on th move? Please bless us with you genius. If you think Halo is gonna be enough here you are losing a few marbles.
Fact: Home games and handheld games are two DIFFERENT kinds of gaming animal.
Can you not see the big difference between the PSP and DS libraries. If not go have a look and tell me why the mighty Sony (with all that marketing and so called sexy PSP) are still losing out to Nintendo DS and I'll tell you why MS will do the same.
MS will do the same because they can't sell in japan (do you really think the japanese will buy into a handheld Xbox after the previous two?) Other territories might buy it, but not there.
Feel free to try so we can laugh at you MS, and prove me wrong.
Just what would you like to play on a possible MS handheld on th move? Please bless us with you genius. If you think Halo is gonna be enough here you are losing a few marbles.
Fact: Home games and handheld games are two DIFFERENT kinds of gaming animal.
Can you not see the big difference between the PSP and DS libraries. If not go have a look and tell me why the mighty Sony (with all that marketing and so called sexy PSP) are still losing out to Nintendo DS and I'll tell you why MS will do the same.
MS will do the same because they can't sell in japan (do you really think the japanese will buy into a handheld Xbox after the previous two?) Other territories might buy it, but not there.
Feel free to try so we can laugh at you MS, and prove me wrong.
tyrion 21 Mar 2006 09:04
9/10
Adam M wrote:
Lo and behold we now have the Xbox as the second best-selling conole, beating Nintendo and a variant leading the current generation. And people love M$.
Lo and behold, we now have the XBox as the joint second best-selling console, the sales figures for XBox and GameCube are so close as to make no difference. However, Nintendo actually made money, not only through games, but on the hardware and through their whole operation. Microsoft threw money at the XBox and their home entertainment division and ended up so firmly in the red it's a joke.
The XBox 360 is the only console released in the so-called "next" generation. Due to supply issues and Japanese failures its not really blazing a trail yet. I honestly can't see the 360 "winning" this generation with numbers sold unless Sony monumentally screw up the launch and lifetime of the PS3. Even more than they have done so far anyway. Give it at most three years after the launch of the PS3 and Sony will have better sales figures than Microsoft.
And people don't love Microsoft, they love Live, Halo and Live Arcade. If Killzone 2 works out better than its first iteration, Sony have a chance of unseating all three of Microsoft's core strengths. Not a huge chance with their network infrastructure, it sounds a bit distributed and may not work as well as Live does, but I think that it could work and it may be more attractive to developers.
If all that is a Microsoft success, please let them succeed as well in the OS and office software markets.
Eric S 5 Feb 2008 00:04
10/10
I really don't think Playstation's online will ever come close to rivaling Xbox Live, and I don't think any developer in their right mind would find that attractive. Until Sony starts charging for their online multiplayer service and making it something worth having Xbox Live will always be better. Sony apologists always say, "Yeah, Xbox live has more stuff, but Sony online is free." Yeah....exactly. That's why Xbox live has more stuff and is more fun to play games online. They charge a fee. Customers expect a return for something they've paid for. Sony just throws some crap at their system and says, "There you go. Now you can play PS3 games ONLINE!! Oh yeah...by the way, you'll get nothing extra, no support, and it really won't be much fun. But hey!!! It'll be FREE!!!" No thanks.