World Plays Catch-up. Xbox 2 to Hit Q4 This Year

As revealed exclusively here, when was it now…?

Posted by Staff
World Plays Catch-up. Xbox 2 to Hit Q4 This Year
As you may have read across the Internet, the Xbox 2 will be hitting in Q4 of this year. Though regular SPOnG readers will have known this for some time, given that we exclusively revealed the news back on January 17.

However, various sources have revealed, often “exclusively”, the exact same information three weeks later. What does purport to be new is UK trade mag MCV's assertion that the European release will follow within weeks of the US launch.

Here at SPOnG, we especially liked a certain Eurogamer piece doing the rounds that not only has “…senior American and British development, publishing and retail sources speaking under conditions of strict anonymity”, but also reveals that there will be launch party thrown to mark the release. In central London no less. Can you imagine...?

Still, as ever, for all the important news first, ensure SPOnG is your bookmark of choice.

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Comments

Showing the 20 most recent comments. Read all 25.
SPInGSPOnG 12 Feb 2005 08:09
6/25
Autobot wrote:
Cute article Spong, its almost equivalent to puffing your chest out prancing around with a big grin (you go boys!).


You know... pride is a sin.

But so is driving too fast, taking drugs, f**king your neighbor's hot trophy wife, or getting blown by a ten-dolla whore.

And all of those things are more fun than playing Halo.
kid_77 12 Feb 2005 11:42
7/25
Rod Todd wrote:
Autobot wrote:
Cute article Spong, its almost equivalent to puffing your chest out prancing around with a big grin (you go boys!).


You know... pride is a sin.

But so is driving too fast, taking drugs, f**king your neighbor's hot trophy wife, or getting blown by a ten-dolla whore.

And all of those things are more fun than playing Halo.


Along with every other videogame, Rod.
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shearDS 13 Feb 2005 02:24
8/25
Autobot wrote:
Now for the "news" I find it that the NeXtXbox or Xenon has been the most secretive console ever to be released. Usually console makers place there new technology on an alter and say "look at what I did!" then we go ooooh and aaaaaah for about a year then when it comes out, the hype is so sickening that we hate the system before it even comes out. Then when the dust settles we go oooooh and aaaaah again because of the quality games.

Most ooohs and aaaaahs are from the fact the XBOX division actually became profitable. Very weird indeed.


Actually i think the revolution is more secretive because we don't even know how the games will be played! with xbox 2 we will most likely just recieve the same thing with upgraded spec!

And xbox division profitable lol don't make me laugh! they have been losing millions a year on the xbox. One quarter near the end of the xbox life doesn't make xbox division profitable they still have to make up for the hugh amount they lost before then!
SPInGSPOnG 13 Feb 2005 06:52
9/25
shearDS wrote:
One quarter near the end of the xbox life doesn't make xbox division profitable


And can they repeat it in a quarter without Halo2 release and without the marketing/guilt-powered Christmas buying frenzy?
fluffstardx 13 Feb 2005 08:36
10/25
Alan is my first name wrote:
I mean, seriously...it honestly is the most obvious minimal upgrade of concept and design I can recall in recent memory. I wouldn't be surprised if at E3, Microsoft touts the X-Box 2 as a superior system because they upped the graphics and made the casing smaller.


Big jumps aren't made any more; look at Sony re-releasing a smaller version of their consoles at the end of the lifespan, and how little innovation the PS2 had. The Cube's biggest innovation was a carry handle...

I can't help but feel that whatever Microsoft call this damn thing, the biggest innovation it'll have is moving closer to being a PC. Heck, i wouldn't die of shock if it had USB2, keyboard and mouse ports, and a port for an LCD monitor.

Still, i can't wait to see what it can handle, and what they're doing with Live et al...
auzdafluff 13 Feb 2005 17:26
11/25
fluffstardx wrote:
Alan is my first name wrote:
I mean, seriously...it honestly is the most obvious minimal upgrade of concept and design I can recall in recent memory. I wouldn't be surprised if at E3, Microsoft touts the X-Box 2 as a superior system because they upped the graphics and made the casing smaller.


Big jumps aren't made any more; look at Sony re-releasing a smaller version of their consoles at the end of the lifespan, and how little innovation the PS2 had. The Cube's biggest innovation was a carry handle...

I can't help but feel that whatever Microsoft call this damn thing, the biggest innovation it'll have is moving closer to being a PC. Heck, i wouldn't die of shock if it had USB2, keyboard and mouse ports, and a port for an LCD monitor.

Still, i can't wait to see what it can handle, and what they're doing with Live et al...
Exactly, if we want to get onto the aspect of innovation, the PS2 had f**k all innovation, F**K ALL. Bet you lot who are responsible are bitching are only doing it because of the company behind it.

The Xbox 2 might not end up being the most innovative console but with multi-threading expected, HD-TV support and a tentitive step towards ending incompatabilty of formats (XNA and compatability with PC's over live) i'd say thats pretty innovative.

Oh and I know that the PS3 will probably have these things but they are only innovations when they come out in the first product, and that will be the Xbox 2.

It really gets on my tits that people will bend over backwards to have a go at Microsoft because of their other operations. The Xbox team has been amazing compared to Sony's complete and utter arrogance and their irritating complacenty.

People bitch that Microsoft is this all encompassing megalith that wants to buy everything and control it. Well what do you think every businesses motivations are? You think if Sony weren't in the same position Microsoft they wouldn't abuse it.

If anything Sony are worse, I bet most of you wouldn't be able to name its president. OK so, Bill Gates ain't the most attractive guy in the world, ok he might be one of the least, but at least he is prepared to be the figurehead of the company, the same with Iwata and Nintendo.

Kutagari is the closest Sony has ever had and he was an arrogant and stubborn man, something that made the original Playstation such a success and brilliant machine.

I mean, I am going to make reference to spongs forums in my independant study for university on fan cultures within video games as an example of unbased anti-fans. The hatred of Microsoft stems not from its Xbox console but from the whole, its so cool to bash Microsoft mentality.

I mean, so many people make the point of Microsoft having no basis to enter the console industry, they were making games back in the early 90's. Sony had the disasterous MSX way back in the 80's, back before the Famicom was big in the US.

Its as immature as the people who use religion as an excuse to fight.

And as for your information, I might hate some Nintendo fans but thats because they are arrogant to**ers on the whole, I have nothing against the company or its games. With Sony its their 'Its like plugging into the Matrix' bullsh*t hyping of their products. Sure the PS2 was special at the time but it was no where near that good and never will be.

Thats enough of a rant for now...
DeepFraught 13 Feb 2005 22:57
12/25
Ben Furfie wrote:
The Xbox 2 might not end up being the most innovative console but with multi-threading expected, HD-TV support and a tentitive step towards ending incompatabilty of formats (XNA and compatability with PC's over live) i'd say thats pretty innovative.

man I've seen you froth your blind lust of xbox on this forum before, and I've put it down to fanboyism, brand loyalty or a microsoft kickback. Do you even have the smallest clue about how multithreading is (or isn't) going to make a huge difference for gaming, or are you just sucking down and sicking back up the diahrrea spooned onto your plate by the boys in marketing (or other forums)?

hdtv support? pc cards have supported hdtv output for quite a while now. my clunky old ati even spits it out.

The online gaming incompatability between pc and xbox games is joke. There's no good reason for pc games not to be live enabled other than a strategic decision within microsoft.

ben. none of what you've offered is even close to being innovative. The only interesting thing coming in the next cycle is cell but, just as sony's wunerkind emotion engine's turned out to be an ephemeral marketing jape, this may well end up an expensive and difficult-to-program mistake.

until then, let's take it easy with the "facts" we seem way too happy to drink down.
tyrion 13 Feb 2005 23:10
13/25
Ben Furfie wrote:
It really gets on my tits that people will bend over backwards to have a go at Microsoft because of their other operations. The Xbox team has been amazing compared to Sony's complete and utter arrogance and their irritating complacenty.

Designed completely new hardware vs put a PC in a box? OK, cheap shot, but why are the XBox team so much better than Sony's Playstation team?

Ben Furfie wrote:
People bitch that Microsoft is this all encompassing megalith that wants to buy everything and control it. Well what do you think every businesses motivations are? You think if Sony weren't in the same position Microsoft they wouldn't abuse it.

If Sony were in the same position as Microsoft, then they would get as much bitching as Microsoft does. However, they aren't, so they don't.

Ben Furfie wrote:
If anything Sony are worse, I bet most of you wouldn't be able to name its president. OK so, Bill Gates ain't the most attractive guy in the world, ok he might be one of the least, but at least he is prepared to be the figurehead of the company, the same with Iwata and Nintendo.

So Sony is evil because we don't know who the company head is? That makes sense! Do you know the head of Amnesty International? Greenpeace? OK, easy one, Save the Children? No? Then they must be evil too! What are you trying to say here?

Ben Furfie wrote:
I mean, I am going to make reference to spongs forums in my independant study for university on fan cultures within video games as an example of unbased anti-fans. The hatred of Microsoft stems not from its Xbox console but from the whole, its so cool to bash Microsoft mentality.

Why do XBox fans have this fanatical desire to try and separate Microsoft's gaming division from the rest of the corporation? Just because the Nazis gave Germany the motorway, VW Beetle and trains that ran on time, we should ignore that messy war thing?

S**t, I've just invoked Goodwin's law, we'll never get this finished! :-)

Sure the XBox is a competent console, it's a snapshot in time of the PC, it has an easy to program architecture, great graphics and very good sound. It's also made by the company that has lied, cheated and stolen its way to the top of the PC industry, crushing, buying or copying every innovation that has come along to try and dethrone it and is trying to do the same in every other market it enters.

Gaming does not exist in a vacuum!

Notice very few people attack the XBox its self, or the gaming experience it supplies. Some people don't like the controller (I'm one of them), but a lot of the games are great, Live is the best online service out there and many, many people get a load of enjoyment out of their XBoxes.

The problem is the people who made it work for a corporation that not only lusts after "world domination", but is almost there and has more chance than any other corporation of going the distance. The XBox could quite easily be used as a means to further that end, indeed it could be the lynchpin.

However, the kicker is that even the government of the country that the corporation is managed from can't, or won't, do anything about its continued, proven, criminal practices.

Ben Furfie wrote:
Thats enough of a rant for now...

Yeah, same here, I need to get some sleep.
fluffstardx 14 Feb 2005 09:48
14/25
Microsoft are only in the lead for one market, though...

Now Sony, they want your entire electronics setup. PSX was an attempt at that, as by what they're saying is Cell.

And the only real innovation in the next round we still don't know, because Cell really isn't that innovative. Seriosuly, server tech companies have been attempting it for years. Heck, from the rumours spewing from the pit known as internet, the new Ninty's controller will probably be it...
kid_77 14 Feb 2005 10:00
15/25
"There is the theory of the Mobius...a twist in the fabric of space where time becomes a loop"

"where time becomes a loop"

"where time becomes a loop"

"where time becomes a loop"

"where time becomes a loop"

"where time becomes a loop"
fluffstardx 14 Feb 2005 10:29
16/25
Yep, the same arguments, recycled for your pleasure!

Yeah, maybe we should all just stop now. They BOTH want your soul.
kid_77 14 Feb 2005 10:48
17/25
LOL. That wasn't directed just at you, fluffstardx.

Basically, I can understand XB owners defending against these M$ attacks, because it seems (at least to me) that it's a slur on the console... that in some way it's not as valid as PS2 or GC, which is BS (acronyms a go-go!).

And I can understand why the conscious-minded (??) have concerns about M$ convergence. But I'm a selfish w@nker, and I've bought an XB and modded it because I was convinced it would improve my life... and it has. So when M$ own everyone's soul, go ahead and blame people like me.
tyrion 14 Feb 2005 11:34
18/25
kid_77 wrote:
So when M$ own everyone's soul, go ahead and blame people like me.

How could anybody blame you with such a cute avatar?
kid_77 14 Feb 2005 11:43
19/25
But how can I compete with an original animation sequence of a lemming? It's off the cute-omitor.
config 14 Feb 2005 12:39
20/25
shearDS wrote:
Autobot wrote:
Now for the "news" I find it that the NeXtXbox or Xenon has been the most secretive console ever to be released.


Actually i think the revolution is more secretive because we don't even know how the games will be played!


What about ps3?
There's no announcement about the control system, whether it will be a joypad or a clit-stim educational device.
We don't know which games will be available for it (other than NfS: Moist Wanked)
We don't know anything about it other than it will contain a Cell, of come sorts, at its heart.

And we don't even know if Cell will ever see the light or day and, if it should, whether it will be any good.

So you see, we know bugger all about PS3.

The one big thing we do know about Revolution is that it will be doomed to failure if Nintendo continues the way it's been doing for the last two generations...
tyrion 14 Feb 2005 14:16
21/25
kid_77 wrote:
But how can I compete with an original animation sequence of a lemming? It's off the cute-omitor.

Aw, shucks! You know all the lines!

However it's not an original, I had to piece it together from about 12 screen grabs of the original game and then re-draw it by hand. The Christmas one was much easier! I may look into getting some others together, some of the skills animations were quite nice.

Now there's a though - Lemmings Smileys!!
LUPOS 14 Feb 2005 15:44
22/25
config wrote:
What about ps3?
There's no announcement about the control system, whether it will be a joypad or a clit-stim educational device.
We don't know which games will be available for it (other than NfS: Moist Wanked)
We don't know anything about it other than it will contain a Cell, of come sorts, at its heart.

And we don't even know if Cell will ever see the light or day and, if it should, whether it will be any good.

So you see, we know bugger all about PS3.

The one big thing we do know about Revolution is that it will be doomed to failure if Nintendo continues the way it's been doing for the last two generations...


i do know that the ps3 wont be out in japan for atleast a year and it wont be out here for probably another 6 months to a year after that... on the other hand the xbox2 will be out in less than 9 months and all we know about it is... its better than an xbox... considering its a new console... that is the most important thing

as for the ps3... if sony keeps to form... it should have an optical disc drive... 2 controler ports... 2 memory card slots(that stuff hasnt really chnaged)... but it will also have... soem fire wire and usb2 ports... the controller will include such inovations as the analog start and select buttons... and it will be able to be played laying face down!

oh... and it will have better graphics than a ps2... so basically it will be an xbox1 minus some of those frivalities(spelling?) like controler ports and networks support and a hard drive.

i know the ps3 will look better than an xbox... its an exageration... just so we are clear.
LUPOS 14 Feb 2005 16:34
23/25
TigerUppercut wrote:

Hey, we might be able to blag in some of our regular readers. Worth a shot anyway!
If you were to contribute to the site, it'd even be legit!


i would gladly contribute a kidney to go to such an event... any need for one of those... how about insane hipocritical rants... i can do that... you let me know.. im your man!
Newtynho 16 Feb 2005 11:16
24/25
A lot is being said about Xbox 2 and PS3 being mere technically upgraded versions of their former selves; but seriously, haven't all consoles ever released been just that? What kind of huge innovation should we expect from the proper console itself? Innovations come from accessories and originality in software development.

Every now and then we get stuff like the EyeToy, voice-controlled games, connectivity, fishing rod controllers, maracas, ripped music listenable in-game, Steel Battalion controllers, VMUs etc. I know that some of these are quite specific, and other more universally adopted "innovations" could be interesting, but what exactly would they be?

Even if the console itself has built-in innovative features, how many developers would be willing to fully explore them? How many DS games will be like the new Yoshi, in which you can draw clouds and interact with them by blowing in the mic? Time will tell.

If only we knew what the hell the Revolution is... I guess we'll just have to hope for new games that are as revolutionary in content and gameplay as the original metal gear was in 1987, until Nintendo enlightens us.





fluffstardx 16 Feb 2005 20:56
25/25
config wrote:
So you see, we know bugger all about PS3.


This sums up beautifully what i said on another thread: when PS fans get vague promises from Sony, they froth at how good it'll be; the Ninty fans have to translate from toddler; the Xbox fans get... pelted with eggs.

It's like politics: Labour and Conservatives make vague promises and everyone says they will/won't vote for them, the Lib Dems put forth valid ideas and everyone acts like a mouse farted.
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