FINALLY! A New Xbox360

[Luke122]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/14/slim-xbox-360-gets-official-at-299-shipping-today-looks-angul/

Here it is, slim and angular, it's a mean looking S.O.B.

Leaked accidentally in Italy last night, this is an official announcement, and the real deal.

Let's hope they fixed the RRoD problem.

[BuzzKillington]

still no web browser? :(

[x88x]

Let's hope they fixed the RRoD problem.

Well of course. You wouldn't expect them to release a product that would create horrible RRODs again, would you? Obviously they've now replaced the error lights with blue LEDs. :P

Seriously though, anyone more familiar with 360 sizing, does it look like this one is actually any smaller? Or did they just add 802.11n, make up a different proprietary HDD interface, put in a quieter fan, slap it in a shiny new case, and jack the price up?

EDIT:
On another note, I love the new name for Natal..."Kinect". Just the right blend of movement and misspelling to drive the 'edgy young crowd' wild. :rolleyes:

[BuzzKillington]

I think it would have been way sexier in the flat black with chrome. I despise piano black on that case and if I ever end up buying one (probably wont since I already have a wireless N adapter, 120gig hdd and a silent fan upgrade) it will definitely have to be changed.

[Zephik]

I don't like it. Its lazy. All they did was make the original case without any rounded corners and then they angled it inwards a bit on each side, made it glossy and gave it some faux-chrome. It just looks toy-ish and lazy. Even the venting system is lazily done. I think I'd dislike it even more on it's side, too, which is how I'd have it.

It's just too glossy and plastic-y looking. I mean, it's REALLY plastic-y looking. Make it flat black (you know, like how stealth designs are supposed to be?) and I'd say get rid of that cheap vent system, but then again, they have such a massive problem with RRoD's that I'd say they're kind of forced to keep it. It just looks so cheap that way. Every cheap device has those giant grills directly over the source of heat, because they're cheap and designing a complex and efficient venting system isn't cheap. It makes the design look so much less solid, too, imo.

Talk about a surprise though. Has everyone known that there was a new one coming out? I didn't even know! I must be pretty far out of the loop. lol


EDIT:
On another note, I love the new name for Natal..."Kinect". Just the right blend of movement and misspelling to drive the 'edgy young crowd' wild. :rolleyes:

Kinect = Connect. I'm almost positive that they did this for the same reason why I don't like Natal. There's no controllers. It's all hand and body gestures. Talk about a DISconnect from the game? Most people need something in their hands to make them feel more apart of the game. That's what I think anyways, what about you guys?

Edit: I just thought of a GREAT name though! The Xbox 360-S. The "S" stands for "Stealth". So you could call it either, actually.

[Luke122]

Kinect = Connect. I'm almost positive that they did this for the same reason why I don't like Natal. There's no controllers. It's all hand and body gestures. Talk about a DISconnect from the game? Most people need something in their hands to make them feel more apart of the game. That's what I think anyways, what about you guys?

I also think that branding Natal as Kinect has something to do with their moving towards a more connected brand, since the new phone technology is called "Kin".
http://www.engadget.com/product/microsoft-kin

[x88x]

I stumbled across another article that shows the two side-by-side..tbh I'm not really impressed with the new smaller size.
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/06/xbox-360-redesign-official-small-wifi-300-shipping-now.ars



Kinect = Connect.

Exactly the misspelling I was referencing. And come to think of it, you have a point...it has nothing at all to do with what the product actually does. The only thing I can think is what Luke pointed out; that maybe they're referencing the Kin project.

[slaveofconvention]

I don't like it - I imagine it'll be even harder to get into than the original :p

[altec]

The new console is cool. I might get one, and start carving my current 360. :twisted:

Honestly, I'm mainly worried about games that are coming out. :D

Dead Space 2
FEAR 3
RAGE
Doom 4 (Whenever it comes out)
Metal Gear Solid: Rising
Test Drive Unlimited 2
Pokemon Black/White (Went the other way there...)

Slave- You mean take the console apart? The 360 is easy to take apart. Lol, I've taken them apart two at a time. Never bothered with those odd ball tools either to make it "easier." :up:

[Zephik]

I stumbled across another article that shows the two side-by-side..tbh I'm not really impressed with the new smaller size.
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/06/xbox-360-redesign-official-small-wifi-300-shipping-now.ars

I'm impartial to it. It doesn't look too big or too small or anything. It just looks like it simply is. I can't see any negatives with the size, anyways.

But it is making me feel more attached to it's bigger and more adult feeling brother, the original 360. If I had to buy one... I'm not sure which I'd choose. I like the insides of the new one, but I like the look and feel of the older one. The older one just seems like a much more professional device. The new one looks like a toy.

They should have made it flat black, with no giant grill, much more angular to go with the stealth theme, and make it not look like the older one as much as it does now. It really just kind of looks like it's broken or something. Like someone dented it.

Why does it even need to be smaller anyways? I really don't think that it does and the bigger version could be upgraded quite a bit with all that extra room. Maybe they should do that and call it "Xbox 360 Professional". lol that seems like a Microsoft thing to do. Maybe they'll call the small one the "Home Edition"? Oooh, then they can add blu-ray and call it "Media Center Edition"! XD

[x88x]

I'm impartial to it. It doesn't look too big or too small or anything. It just looks like it simply is. I can't see any negatives with the size, anyways.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. What I meant is I'm not impressed with the size difference compared to, say, the size difference that Sony made with the PS2 Slim and PS3 Slim. Though, I suppose maybe that's why they didn't actually call this the XBox 360 Slim. :P

[altec]

I didn't really think they were selling a size. But new hardware in the form of the Chipset, and new features. Built in WiFi, HDMI (Again...), more connectivity in general, bigger hard drive, lower Db, whatever the buttons have to do with it, and whatever I'm missing.

The size I think just has more to do with a new look. Like Sony did with the Ps2, Ps3, and PSP. And how Nintendo has done with the NES, SNES, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, and DS. Just a new look for a changed system.

I myself know if I saw the new 360 scaled up to be the same height as the original 360 I would be scratching my head. Simply because the Xbox 360 is almost on its fifth birthday! Now, I'm no rocket surgeon, but I know that technology has moved forward since 2005. So why shouldn't things be a bit smaller then before? Not only smaller, but with more features? That has been what the computer, and general tech world has prided it self on since forever. No reason to stop now...

[Spawn-Inc]

its nice that they finally changed it, but the old one is better looking imo. i do like the new power button and cd tray, but otherwise it looks dumb.

[Luke122]

I dont think this one is ugly, but it's certainly not the huge refresh that we expected. I think it looks good in its own right, and I wouldnt mind one. The built in Wifi is a nice touch!

[billygoat333]

the built in wifi, and of course, they FINALLY included optical out on the console instead of on the stupid cord. for those of us with HDMI hookups through the tv and older surround receivers that don't separate the audio from the HDMI signal, this is perfect. too bad I already have a 360 and cant justify buying a new one... when it really isnt that special. now a 720, that would be nice. cmon microsoft, its been 5 years already, time to release a new console ya think? stop dicking around with old tech. ;)

[Luke122]

Chances are that they are still trying to make a profit from this technology. I personally dont think we'll see a new Xbox for at least 2 more years.

You can quote me on that when I'm wrong. ;)

[x88x]

Chances are that they are still trying to make a profit from this technology. I personally dont think we'll see a new Xbox for at least 2 more years.

It makes sense. I think 2008 was the first year that the PS2 dropped from being the best selling console in Japan.

[crenn]

This is the reason I hate consoles and love my good old 'expensive' PC. If better looking graphic cards that perform better without increasing the power consumption and actually lowers the TDP, I can get it. Consoles are fixed for so long, this isn't such a bad thing... unless you consider the fact that you're so limited by a console's hardware. This new XBox 360 is pretty much a die shrink, but instead of 2 discrete chips, they've integrated the CPU and GPU onto a single die.

[Luke122]

That should help the heat and power requirements, shouldnt it? (The single die)

As for the limitations of the console hardware, it's hard to believe that some of the games coming out now are only starting to really push the limits of the console's abilities. It also forces devs to keep their code as efficient as possible.

[crenn]

That should help the heat and power requirements, shouldnt it?
Yes, but it's still technically the same hardware.

[knowledgegranted]

Damn it someone beat me to it.


There is nothing new about it, just some changed plastic. There is no new cooling solutions either!

[Zephik]

There is nothing new about it, just some changed plastic. There is no new cooling solutions either!

Well, there's the added wireless-n (Finally, no more expensive adapters!) and new proprietary hard drive that kind of screws the old generation over. Then of course there is Natal which some people will buy and then never use. A bit more of hard drive space. 45nm processor, which from the sounds of it is new? I thought it already was. Apparently not. Uh... touch sensitive button? So you know, you don't have to push it, you can just like... swipe it... or something. And it's glossy as heck with a bit of faux-chrome to bring you back to the turn of the millennium. oh and of course that ginormous grill on the side, so now it won't over-heat. (I bet you it'll still get the red ring one way or the other, though.)

But yeah, don't you just love all those features?? This thing is awesome! /s

I'm glad I don't like Halo all that much. I'll be buying a PS3.

[BuzzKillington]

I'll wait for the xbox 720. lol

[Luke122]

According to Engadget, the Xbox Arcade bundle will be $149 this weekend (for fathers day), and you get a $50 gift card back, so it's basically $99!!!

Snap.. if I had the money, I'd grab one for that price! Or two..

[knowledgegranted]

Just did a little research, there are some minor changes. Nothing big, sorry for the last update. Just wanted to correct my ignorant self.:D

[Luthien]

I have an old Xbox 360, and it's working just fine. I have a PS2, but don't have a PS3. I don't have a Wii. If I were going to spend money on a new console, I'd buy either a PS3 or a Wii. I can't see buying a new 360 with the the few changes they've made to it.

[slaveofconvention]

Slave- You mean take the console apart? The 360 is easy to take apart. Lol, I've taken them apart two at a time. Never bothered with those odd ball tools either to make it "easier." :up:

*bites tongue n grins* You know, you should really look at the front page a little more often heh...

[altec]

*bites tongue n grins* You know, you should really look at the front page a little more often heh...

Yes, it is a great home page, what am I looking for?

[Luke122]

SoC's guide on how to open an Xbox360
:)

[altec]

SoC's guide on how to open an Xbox360
:)

Are you sure? I figured he was talking about something with the new console? He posted his guides on the 360 very early this year.

But yes, my original comment was hopefully a spark into a great debate between two people who have worked on Xbox consoles, and what might be up with the new S model.

I simply never found the 360 hard to take apart. So discussing the matter with someone else interested me.

Oddly, working on DS systems makes me want to pull my hair out...

Seeing the solomods guide on the S leaves me very optimistic about taking it apart. Seems straight forward. The internal USB for the Wireless unit is interesting to say the least.

[chaksq]

I don't hate it and design wise I like it way better than that old white box that clashed with the rest of my A/V components completely. No it's not some new console that all the console gamers should run to the store and buy, but it does correct a number of deficiencies from the old version that will make a better experience for people new to the platform. The 5x USB is definitely a good thing and so is integrated wifi. I did notice that the new Kinect controller requires a port that the old version don't have, so if you want to use it then you'll need to upgrade.

Also would you all really want a new console? I haven't really heard anyone complaining about console graphics or performance lately, I'd rather stick with a platform developers are familiar with for a few more years and hopefully they will keep making worthwhile games without having to figure out how to program a new console again (each new console gets harder and harder to develop for).

I also see the Kinect as attracting a new segment of gamers to the XBox base, like it or not the Wii is a huge success with casual/party gamers. If you're a "hardcore" gamer get over it, it's not like you're stuck with the Kinetic for all games. Hardcore gamers will have games they like and casual gamers will get games they like. Plus having more people into casual gaming gives you guys less of a loser image. Gaming is becoming something everyone does, not just the stereotyped loser living in their mother's basement. Attracting more customers to the platform will only increase the number of developers making games for it.

[x88x]

each new console gets harder and harder to develop for

Too true. Though, I think MS is trying to alleviate that by making the DirectX API even more universal across their console and OS. Also, if they would just actually make each console backwards compatible, it wouldn't be as much of an issue... *glares at MS and Sony*

[chaksq]

Also, if they would just actually make each console backwards compatible, it wouldn't be as much of an issue... *glares at MS and Sony*

I meant to make that point to. If M$ and $ony made new consoles they probably wouldn't make them backwards compatible and we'd have to buy all new games or hang onto our old ones. They killed backwards compatibility before so I have no reason to believe they won't do it again. It is profitable for them.

[x88x]

Yeah, and it's obviously not a technical problem since both the PS3 and the 360 had 'limited' backwards compatibility..ie, the most popular games for the previous gen are compatible..meaning the consoles actually are backwards compatible, the manufacturers are just purposely crippling them.

[Luke122]

The Kinect port is not required for the Kinect to work, it just gives you the option of one cable for power and data, instead of one usb, and a power brick. Kinect is 100% compatible to the regular Xbox360.

:D

[Diamon]

Is it just me that think all these features should've been in the original 360 and not something you'd have to buy a new console for?

[Zephik]

Is it just me that think all these features should've been in the original 360 and not something you'd have to buy a new console for?

Yeah pretty much. They should have just updated the older console. But I think they were just trying to revive the brand a bit while also addressing the over-heating issue that plagues the original xbox 360.

I honestly just can't see myself buying one of these. It's so... teenage looking. The original felt like an adult's console. But, their demographic IS mostly teenagers.

Maybe I'll just stick to PC's. or... hmm. Maybe I'll just mod one or buy a case for it? I wonder if those Lian Li's work with this one?