Xbox 360: Global Pre-E3 TV Outing Confirmed
New console goes mass market, employs a hobbit.
Microsoft’s US marketing wing has confirmed a pre-E3 showing of the next generation of Xbox, with the machine set to be unveiled on May 12 this year.
A half-hour special entitled MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed, will unveil the machine, software and other pertinent information, and is slated to air on MTV, synchronised across all global stations:
North America: Thursday, May 12, at 9:30 p.m. (21:30)
Japan/Asia: Friday, May 13, at 11:30
Europe: France: Friday, May 13, at 19:00
Germany: Friday, May 13, at 19:00
Italy: Friday, May 13, at 23:30
Netherlands: Friday, May 13, at 19:30
Poland: Friday, May 13, at 21:00
Portugal: Friday, May 13, at 20:00
Romania: Friday, May 13, at 20:00
Scandinavia: Friday, May 13, at 22:00
Spain: Friday, May 13, at 21:30
U.K.: Friday, May 13, at 20:00
Australia: Friday, May 13, at 19:00
According to MS, "Viewers will get an exclusive look at the Xbox vision for the next generation - one that ensures that the user experience is always connected, always personalized and always in high definition. The special will feature never-before-seen, action-packed gameplay of future Xbox games, a peek into the future of the Xbox Live online gaming service, backstage celebrity interviews and exclusive insider footage on the making of the next-generation console."
"It doesn't make sense to unveil the product behind a closed door, at a trade-only event. We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first," said Peter Moore, Corporate VP-Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for Microsoft Xbox. Moore also stated that the whole campaign would stress themes of optimism and community. Kind of like Moore’s Dreamcast launch campaign. Just different, somehow…
It was also made clear that the Xbox project’s US-centric image would be addressed, with Microsoft expected to make a heavy emphasis on the support it has been drumming up in Europe and especially Japan.
There has also been talk of the possibility of Microsoft landing the first blow in its convergence race with Sony, with a team-up with MTV mooted. Pundits are happily speculating on an announcement that will see an MTV channel come aboard Xbox Live with music on demand offered, underpinned by some kind of micro-payment structure. MS has already stated that micro-payments for online content does make up an aspect of its revised business plan for Live. Surely a deal with MTV would be the perfect starting point.
No further details were revealed, though as they trickle forth, we’ll be sure to let you know.
A half-hour special entitled MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed, will unveil the machine, software and other pertinent information, and is slated to air on MTV, synchronised across all global stations:
North America: Thursday, May 12, at 9:30 p.m. (21:30)
Japan/Asia: Friday, May 13, at 11:30
Europe: France: Friday, May 13, at 19:00
Germany: Friday, May 13, at 19:00
Italy: Friday, May 13, at 23:30
Netherlands: Friday, May 13, at 19:30
Poland: Friday, May 13, at 21:00
Portugal: Friday, May 13, at 20:00
Romania: Friday, May 13, at 20:00
Scandinavia: Friday, May 13, at 22:00
Spain: Friday, May 13, at 21:30
U.K.: Friday, May 13, at 20:00
Australia: Friday, May 13, at 19:00
According to MS, "Viewers will get an exclusive look at the Xbox vision for the next generation - one that ensures that the user experience is always connected, always personalized and always in high definition. The special will feature never-before-seen, action-packed gameplay of future Xbox games, a peek into the future of the Xbox Live online gaming service, backstage celebrity interviews and exclusive insider footage on the making of the next-generation console."
"It doesn't make sense to unveil the product behind a closed door, at a trade-only event. We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first," said Peter Moore, Corporate VP-Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for Microsoft Xbox. Moore also stated that the whole campaign would stress themes of optimism and community. Kind of like Moore’s Dreamcast launch campaign. Just different, somehow…
It was also made clear that the Xbox project’s US-centric image would be addressed, with Microsoft expected to make a heavy emphasis on the support it has been drumming up in Europe and especially Japan.
There has also been talk of the possibility of Microsoft landing the first blow in its convergence race with Sony, with a team-up with MTV mooted. Pundits are happily speculating on an announcement that will see an MTV channel come aboard Xbox Live with music on demand offered, underpinned by some kind of micro-payment structure. MS has already stated that micro-payments for online content does make up an aspect of its revised business plan for Live. Surely a deal with MTV would be the perfect starting point.
No further details were revealed, though as they trickle forth, we’ll be sure to let you know.
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Comments
Showing the 20 most recent comments. Read all 30.
Mendez 12 Apr 2005 17:41
11/30
Ben Furfie wrote:
Microsoft have become the dominant console.
He's at it again!
Ben, sweetie, Sony still dominates. PS2 has a larger installed user base, and "owning" well over 50 percent of the unit sales of the "current gen" software.
It may well become the dominant force in the battle for next gen, but at present, its an also-ran.
neocarrillo 12 Apr 2005 17:52
12/30
Mac wrote:
Doesn't Peter Moore's head look shiny?
Anyways I shall definately be tuning in to see what microsoft have made of the 360
(I'm sure our old neocarrillo will have something to say on this topic)
Anyways I shall definately be tuning in to see what microsoft have made of the 360
(I'm sure our old neocarrillo will have something to say on this topic)
Mac you called me out on this one. Well your old buddy neocarrillo has some light on this topic. I was flabbergasted by the announcement about xbox 360 being shown on mtv. What the hell is microsoft trying to do, are they that desperate to win. If anything this will kill the buzz for xbox 360, why? Since everyone will see the xbox 360 first it will get old first, especially
after people see the playstation 3 and nintendo revolution.
The fact is that a smart consumer would realise they would get a longer product lifespan from sony or nintendo, look at the xbox it didn't even make 4 years. The ps2 has lasted 6 years and will continue because of backwards compatibility, the same thing for the gamecube since revolution is also backwards compatible.
The new xbox will sell but only because they will be the next gen system out first. Once revolution and ps3 are out, the momentum of the xbox 360 will collapse. I have heard rumors that microsoft wants halo 3 to come out on the same day as ps3, so they can kill ps3 sales. Microsoft should realise they can't stop the jaugernaut that is ps3. If micorsoft want's to play that hand then sony will play the hand of the next gen gta. Now that would be a sight to see to amazing games on separate consoles, which would win? I say gta since gta san andreas sold more than halo 2.
The mere sound of the name ps3 makes microsoft tremble, for they know they will only have a window of one year to sell a substantial amount of xbox 360's before ps3 and revolution hit. I say xbox 360 may go the way of dreamcast, a next gen system that was out first but died soon after that.
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neocarrillo 12 Apr 2005 17:56
13/30
Mendez wrote:
Ben Furfie wrote:
Microsoft have become the dominant console.
He's at it again!
Ben, sweetie, Sony still dominates. PS2 has a larger installed user base, and "owning" well over 50 percent of the unit sales of the "current gen" software.
It may well become the dominant force in the battle for next gen, but at present, its an also-ran.
You right about that buddy. Ps2 it still number one and xbox is a faaaaaar second place. The fact is xbox 360 will sell alot of units at first but if there are no good games other than halo 3 xbox 360 will fail. You also said "PS2 has a larger installed user base", and it will be that same user base that will lead sony and the ps3 to the top again.
Pandaman 12 Apr 2005 17:58
14/30
There is nothing I don't like about Microsoft using a watered down, mass media outlet to premier their mass marketed watered down console!
I don't see how any bad for the gaming market could possibly come of this!
I don't see how any bad for the gaming market could possibly come of this!
Pilot13 12 Apr 2005 21:53
15/30
Mendez wrote:
Ben Furfie wrote:
Microsoft have become the dominant console.
He's at it again!
Ben, sweetie, Sony still dominates. PS2 has a larger installed user base, and "owning" well over 50 percent of the unit sales of the "current gen" software.
It may well become the dominant force in the battle for next gen, but at present, its an also-ran.
You right about that buddy. Ps2 it still number one and xbox is a faaaaaar second place. The fact is xbox 360 will sell alot of units at first but if there are no good games other than halo 3 xbox 360 will fail. You also said "PS2 has a larger installed user base", and it will be that same user base that will lead sony and the ps3 to the top again.
Ben Furfie wrote:
Microsoft have become the dominant console.
He's at it again!
Ben, sweetie, Sony still dominates. PS2 has a larger installed user base, and "owning" well over 50 percent of the unit sales of the "current gen" software.
It may well become the dominant force in the battle for next gen, but at present, its an also-ran.
You right about that buddy. Ps2 it still number one and xbox is a faaaaaar second place. The fact is xbox 360 will sell alot of units at first but if there are no good games other than halo 3 xbox 360 will fail. You also said "PS2 has a larger installed user base", and it will be that same user base that will lead sony and the ps3 to the top again.
er he was being hypothetical, you know setting the scene at the end of the next generation waiting for the consoles after that. Sony may be on top now, but who knows what Timmy may want come christmas?
auzdafluff 12 Apr 2005 22:42
16/30
Mendez wrote:
Ben Furfie wrote:
Microsoft have become the dominant console.
He's at it again!
Ben, sweetie, Sony still dominates. PS2 has a larger installed user base, and "owning" well over 50 percent of the unit sales of the "current gen" software.
It may well become the dominant force in the battle for next gen, but at present, its an also-ran.
capbo 12 Apr 2005 22:47
17/30
bill gates is not that clever really he just buys every company he can and with his wealth he can buy alot. however i shall be watching mtv with great interest as the xbox 360 sounds quite an amazing machine and must be good but i get this sneaky feeling that sony must have a bombshell to drop as they have`nt really made any noise about the ps3 just yet. anyway competition is good and gamers will be the winners in the end.
Joji 13 Apr 2005 01:11
18/30
Well my take on the whole situation is this. I'd rather have a japanese company like Sony or Nintendo lead us. MS stand for everything that is wrong with this planet, the strong crushing the weak. No offence to any yanks but american culture is consuming this planet, so I think it's nice that th balance can be tipped in favour of the small nation of japan. Be it anime, manga or games.
I love the fact that it was the japanese minds that bought this industry back from the brink of death after Atari fooked up. MS have bought some good ideas to the party but they want the birthday cake too. They can play but when they want to dominate all I have a problem with that.
I'm not anti american. I'm just tired of seeing small companies disappear into the jaws of EA and the like. MS are no better for buying up Bungie who MS didn't even look at when they were making Myth series on PSone. Now Bungie are slaves to Halo and have done little else. Meanwhile smaller developers are shutting shop because they can't compete. I also feel in japan here is more of a level playing field for new and small developers since I rarely hear of japanese developers shutting shop like in the west. What are we doing wrong?
Long live Sony and Nintendo, gaming would be crap without them both.
I love the fact that it was the japanese minds that bought this industry back from the brink of death after Atari fooked up. MS have bought some good ideas to the party but they want the birthday cake too. They can play but when they want to dominate all I have a problem with that.
I'm not anti american. I'm just tired of seeing small companies disappear into the jaws of EA and the like. MS are no better for buying up Bungie who MS didn't even look at when they were making Myth series on PSone. Now Bungie are slaves to Halo and have done little else. Meanwhile smaller developers are shutting shop because they can't compete. I also feel in japan here is more of a level playing field for new and small developers since I rarely hear of japanese developers shutting shop like in the west. What are we doing wrong?
Long live Sony and Nintendo, gaming would be crap without them both.
neocarrillo 13 Apr 2005 02:07
19/30
Joji wrote:
Well my take on the whole situation is this. I'd rather have a japanese company like Sony or Nintendo lead us. MS stand for everything that is wrong with this planet, the strong crushing the weak. No offence to any yanks but american culture is consuming this planet, so I think it's nice that th balance can be tipped in favour of the small nation of japan. Be it anime, manga or games.
I love the fact that it was the japanese minds that bought this industry back from the brink of death after Atari fooked up. MS have bought some good ideas to the party but they want the birthday cake too. They can play but when they want to dominate all I have a problem with that.
I'm not anti american. I'm just tired of seeing small companies disappear into the jaws of EA and the like. MS are no better for buying up Bungie who MS didn't even look at when they were making Myth series on PSone. Now Bungie are slaves to Halo and have done little else. Meanwhile smaller developers are shutting shop because they can't compete. I also feel in japan here is more of a level playing field for new and small developers since I rarely hear of japanese developers shutting shop like in the west. What are we doing wrong?
Long live Sony and Nintendo, gaming would be crap without them both.
I love the fact that it was the japanese minds that bought this industry back from the brink of death after Atari fooked up. MS have bought some good ideas to the party but they want the birthday cake too. They can play but when they want to dominate all I have a problem with that.
I'm not anti american. I'm just tired of seeing small companies disappear into the jaws of EA and the like. MS are no better for buying up Bungie who MS didn't even look at when they were making Myth series on PSone. Now Bungie are slaves to Halo and have done little else. Meanwhile smaller developers are shutting shop because they can't compete. I also feel in japan here is more of a level playing field for new and small developers since I rarely hear of japanese developers shutting shop like in the west. What are we doing wrong?
Long live Sony and Nintendo, gaming would be crap without them both.
Yo man your right, but dude how are the yanks culture consuming the world when our stuff comes from japan and other countries. I apologize for the post's on the ds forum though, you rule dude.
ann0uk 13 Apr 2005 13:14
20/30
This is true, a day when there is no Nintendo in the market will be a sad day indeed. They are an essential part of the industry and their innovative outlook has brought so much to the market which other companies have used. Where would the industry be without Nintendo?
I hate the way that companies in the industry have turned their back on Nintendo and the ammount of Anti Nintendo people who are out there. You know the Gamecube has some pretty fantastic games, most people will not even play because they are too stubborn.
Microsofts xbox live is good, but their mission in this industry stinks of greed.
I hate the way that companies in the industry have turned their back on Nintendo and the ammount of Anti Nintendo people who are out there. You know the Gamecube has some pretty fantastic games, most people will not even play because they are too stubborn.
Microsofts xbox live is good, but their mission in this industry stinks of greed.
OptimusP 13 Apr 2005 19:38
21/30
Let's have put some facts togheter here (sorry for bad english spelling, i'm from Belgium).
1)This is Microsoft= maker of bad OS'en who possess the nice bug of crashing?
2) Whenever Microsoft uses a huge show to promote their product the big blue "press CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot"screen appear (windows 98, xbox).
Conclusion: something is going to crash at this MTV-show, i can feel it. And be honest, everyone has this scenario in the back of their heads (would make a good laugh anyway).
1)This is Microsoft= maker of bad OS'en who possess the nice bug of crashing?
2) Whenever Microsoft uses a huge show to promote their product the big blue "press CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot"screen appear (windows 98, xbox).
Conclusion: something is going to crash at this MTV-show, i can feel it. And be honest, everyone has this scenario in the back of their heads (would make a good laugh anyway).
kid_77 13 Apr 2005 20:09
22/30
OptimusP wrote:
Conclusion: something is going to crash at this MTV-show, i can feel it. And be honest, everyone has this scenario in the back of their heads (would make a good laugh anyway).
Pff. "Xbox 360 has caused an error in MTV.DLL"
** Chopper ** 14 Apr 2005 11:39
23/30
lol I remember the same thing happen at the CES show 2005. http://www.g4tv.com/videos/index_pg2.html
Look for Bill Gates' Keynote Address
Look for Bill Gates' Keynote Address
EvanR 16 Apr 2005 03:03
24/30
Keep in mind guys that this is probably a pre-recorded show. I don't think M$ is dumb enough to f**k that up.
Ditto 16 Apr 2005 08:42
25/30
Joji wrote:
MS stand for everything that is wrong with this planet, the strong crushing the weak. No offence to any yanks but american culture is consuming this planet, so I think it's nice that th balance can be tipped in favour of the small nation of japan. Be it anime, manga or games.
Long live Sony and Nintendo, gaming would be crap without them both.
Long live Sony and Nintendo, gaming would be crap without them both.
Totally agree, 100%.
My ultimate hell would be an M$ in the same position in gaming as it is in the PC market now. At least in the PC market MS brought plenty of benefits and made computing accessible to many more people. However in gaming I personally can't see they've brought anything to the industry.
fluffstardx 16 Apr 2005 10:36
26/30
And this is why the Sega vs Nintendo era (16bit) was the most vivid for many: in genuity, innovation, and lots of great games. If MS did gain control, it'd just make it like the PC gaming industry, where the same game will run differently due to the same machine having all sorts of different specs. Easy to program, but a nightmare to run.
But would Sony do any better? The PS brand has promoted repeated use of the same tired ideas, and the sequel fever. Although there have been some amazing and innovative games, they have been drowning in poorly made tosh. For every Katamari Damacy, there has been at least 7 new EA sequels, all of which feature stat updates and the like. Add in all the other shameless sequels (Crash Bandicoots, Spyros, Ratchet and Clanks, Twisted Metals, and so on) and you get quite the poor gaming choice.
Nintendo have the opposite problem: original games shine through, but they're the only games. Very little came out for the Cube, and as such people needing a "new fix" looked elsewhere- usually "that PS thing".
Now, the balance was Sega. Unfortunately, they're dead, dead as can be. Now Sammy practically own them, the chances of ever seeing hardware from them again is pretty much nil. The innovation's dying out too; Super Monkey Ball and Billy Hatcher were fun, but they were rarities in their catalogue. Sonic Heroes was dire, and the Mega Collection the equivalent of one of those plug-in TV game things. Shenmue 3 seems to be canned, as well; nobody's heard anything of it in years.
The games industry needs to go through an era of radical change, and Nintendo are hoping the Revolution and the DS can be part of it, through their innovations. Unfortunately, I just don't see it happening.
But would Sony do any better? The PS brand has promoted repeated use of the same tired ideas, and the sequel fever. Although there have been some amazing and innovative games, they have been drowning in poorly made tosh. For every Katamari Damacy, there has been at least 7 new EA sequels, all of which feature stat updates and the like. Add in all the other shameless sequels (Crash Bandicoots, Spyros, Ratchet and Clanks, Twisted Metals, and so on) and you get quite the poor gaming choice.
Nintendo have the opposite problem: original games shine through, but they're the only games. Very little came out for the Cube, and as such people needing a "new fix" looked elsewhere- usually "that PS thing".
Now, the balance was Sega. Unfortunately, they're dead, dead as can be. Now Sammy practically own them, the chances of ever seeing hardware from them again is pretty much nil. The innovation's dying out too; Super Monkey Ball and Billy Hatcher were fun, but they were rarities in their catalogue. Sonic Heroes was dire, and the Mega Collection the equivalent of one of those plug-in TV game things. Shenmue 3 seems to be canned, as well; nobody's heard anything of it in years.
The games industry needs to go through an era of radical change, and Nintendo are hoping the Revolution and the DS can be part of it, through their innovations. Unfortunately, I just don't see it happening.
OptimusP 16 Apr 2005 21:46
27/30
Now if i was a bookie, this is wat the betsheet would look like.
Xbox-presentation will feature a error screen: 2/1
Sony presentation will be as boring a shell due to overkill off unrealistic performance numbers: 2/1
Nintendo presentation will start off with the crowd cheering "Reggie Reggie Reggie": 2/1
Steve Balmer doing a Xbox-version of his "I LOVE THIS COMPANY!!" speech in a Master Chief suit: 3/1
Reggie appearing on the Sony and Xbox presentation kicking the ass of both spokespersons and then taking their names: 4/1
A bit more objective
Nintendo winning E3: 3/1
Microsoft winning E3: 4/1
Sony winning E3: 5/1
Now this is based on the times that each company won E3 and how... not on any expactations of the coming one.
Xbox-presentation will feature a error screen: 2/1
Sony presentation will be as boring a shell due to overkill off unrealistic performance numbers: 2/1
Nintendo presentation will start off with the crowd cheering "Reggie Reggie Reggie": 2/1
Steve Balmer doing a Xbox-version of his "I LOVE THIS COMPANY!!" speech in a Master Chief suit: 3/1
Reggie appearing on the Sony and Xbox presentation kicking the ass of both spokespersons and then taking their names: 4/1
A bit more objective
Nintendo winning E3: 3/1
Microsoft winning E3: 4/1
Sony winning E3: 5/1
Now this is based on the times that each company won E3 and how... not on any expactations of the coming one.
DoctorDee 17 Apr 2005 07:20
28/30
OptimusP wrote:
Now this is based on the times that each company won E3 and how... not on any expactations of the coming one.
Not quite sure how it could be? Since E3 is not a competition, so it cannot be "won". And even isf you accept that it is a compeition, there is no "official" judge, so who "won" it will be wildly subjective at best... with Xbox fans claiming that Microsoft "won" it in the same years that Nintendo fane will claim that Nintendo "won" it.
And finally, you have Sony in with least chance, based on past performance - but they have shown at E3 for twice as long as Microsoft, so cannot possibly be in "last place" in any objective evaluation of past performance.
fluffstardx 17 Apr 2005 12:29
29/30
If this competition is about the speeches and presentations, that's pretty damn accurate. Last year's presentations led me to buying an Xbox, due to the amount of good stuff on the way. I regret nothing.
Nintendo won last year by having Zelda and the ultra-charismatic Reggie's DS speech. Microsoft talked the talk and walked the walk, but with a little less charisma. The Halo 2 multiplayer presentation and the The Apprentice spoof were damn funny, however. Sony's... was boring. It was like, well, a press conference with Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley. It was like Sony were so smug about their market position they didn't have to bother.
This year, they may even make it worth me downloading all 3 vids. Nintendo will follow up on last year with more Zelda, possible GBA2 and Revolution details, and probably some big surprises. Microsoft have their new console to show off, and probably some launch details and shots of in-game graphics. Sony will hopefully do something a little more exciting than talk tech about CELL by spilling some beans on the actual PS3 design and specification. The smart money's on it being similar to last year, though.
Nintendo won last year by having Zelda and the ultra-charismatic Reggie's DS speech. Microsoft talked the talk and walked the walk, but with a little less charisma. The Halo 2 multiplayer presentation and the The Apprentice spoof were damn funny, however. Sony's... was boring. It was like, well, a press conference with Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley. It was like Sony were so smug about their market position they didn't have to bother.
This year, they may even make it worth me downloading all 3 vids. Nintendo will follow up on last year with more Zelda, possible GBA2 and Revolution details, and probably some big surprises. Microsoft have their new console to show off, and probably some launch details and shots of in-game graphics. Sony will hopefully do something a little more exciting than talk tech about CELL by spilling some beans on the actual PS3 design and specification. The smart money's on it being similar to last year, though.
OptimusP 17 Apr 2005 19:18
30/30
Maybe i should have put a time-span. I'm basing myself on E3 2001-2004 (the ones that we're all about next-gen consoles) and on the general thought of the gaming rpess about the E3 and yes i know that E3 isn't a competition, but sometimes some company pops a great surpise out of the head and bam the thought of "they won E3!!" pops in the head, thats how Nintendo "won" most E3's ,by popping out quite some surprises out of their hat while Sony and Microsoft showed playable versions of games they had trailers and screens roaming around for months (or some allready played for preview reasons).
And for all the rest of it, it's just meant to be fun.
And for all the rest of it, it's just meant to be fun.