Xbox 2 to Break E3 Embargo – March Showing Mooted
Senior sources claim hardware and software within 30 days.
SPOnG believes that Microsoft is set to surprise the gaming world by showing its Xbox 2 console well before this May’s E3 show, slated for mid-May in Los Angeles.
According to two independent sources, the Redmond software giant has an Xbox 2 conference of ‘significant importance’ slated for some point in March 2005, which SPOnG has been led to believe will include software and hardware being displayed to the public for the first time.
On contacting Microsoft this morning, we were told, “…that at this time, we have no announcement to make regarding the next-generation Xbox,” making a refreshing, perhaps even telling break for the 'we don’t comment on rumour or speculation'. line.
So we must ask ourselves, does the news stack up? Certainly, the timelines for the roll-out of Xbox 2 break all the rules. The successor coming so soon after the original is illustrative of Microsoft’s refusal to follow the industry norm. There will also have been considerable investment into market trends regarding product acceptance. With all three consoles being unveiled at E3, there is a significant risk that much of the coverage in the mainstream press will focus on the market-leading PlayStation brand and the highly mysterious headline-grabber that is Nintendo’s Revolution.
If Microsoft show Xbox 2 next month, it will have a free run at the media, snatching attention away from the PSP and the DS and be in a position to capitalise on a product that will already be a tangible next-generation home console in the eyes of gamers and the press.
We hope to bring you updates on this intriguing news story as it unfolds.
Let us know what you think here.
According to two independent sources, the Redmond software giant has an Xbox 2 conference of ‘significant importance’ slated for some point in March 2005, which SPOnG has been led to believe will include software and hardware being displayed to the public for the first time.
On contacting Microsoft this morning, we were told, “…that at this time, we have no announcement to make regarding the next-generation Xbox,” making a refreshing, perhaps even telling break for the 'we don’t comment on rumour or speculation'. line.
So we must ask ourselves, does the news stack up? Certainly, the timelines for the roll-out of Xbox 2 break all the rules. The successor coming so soon after the original is illustrative of Microsoft’s refusal to follow the industry norm. There will also have been considerable investment into market trends regarding product acceptance. With all three consoles being unveiled at E3, there is a significant risk that much of the coverage in the mainstream press will focus on the market-leading PlayStation brand and the highly mysterious headline-grabber that is Nintendo’s Revolution.
If Microsoft show Xbox 2 next month, it will have a free run at the media, snatching attention away from the PSP and the DS and be in a position to capitalise on a product that will already be a tangible next-generation home console in the eyes of gamers and the press.
We hope to bring you updates on this intriguing news story as it unfolds.
Let us know what you think here.
Companies:
Microsoft Game Studios
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Comments
schnide 25 Feb 2005 20:34
1/6
Not being a fan of Microsoft whatsoever and unashamedly wanting them to fail, I'd love it if they show the Xbox 2 before Nintendo and Sony reveal their next steps.
Remember how the Dreamcast tried to steal the lead on the Playstation 2? People just said well, hey that's nice, but we'll wait for the Playstation thanks.
And besides, it'll only show the other two where and how they need to improve on what they've got up their sleeves.
Not that I'm biased or anything.
Remember how the Dreamcast tried to steal the lead on the Playstation 2? People just said well, hey that's nice, but we'll wait for the Playstation thanks.
And besides, it'll only show the other two where and how they need to improve on what they've got up their sleeves.
Not that I'm biased or anything.
Jayenkai 25 Feb 2005 22:07
2/6
Agreed.
Anything that comes before PS3 is going to have the same fate as the Dreamcast did. It's not that the Xbox 2 won't be good, or even that the PS3 would be better. Just that people will wait.. Then people will buy the PS3, basically BECAUSE they waited.
And I'm not exactly an Xbox fan. I was at first, when they had decent games, but then, of course... 99% PC re-hashes.. We all knew it was coming!
Anything that comes before PS3 is going to have the same fate as the Dreamcast did. It's not that the Xbox 2 won't be good, or even that the PS3 would be better. Just that people will wait.. Then people will buy the PS3, basically BECAUSE they waited.
And I'm not exactly an Xbox fan. I was at first, when they had decent games, but then, of course... 99% PC re-hashes.. We all knew it was coming!
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LUPOS 25 Feb 2005 23:25
3/6
schnide wrote:
Remember how the Dreamcast tried to steal the lead on the Playstation 2? People just said well, hey that's nice, but we'll wait for the Playstation thanks.
Yea totaly!!! remember how the ps2 tried to steal the lead on game cube and xbox... we all know how that worked out... oh.. wait...
no to mention the dramcast sold by the ton in the US... it was the japanese who couldnt be bothered with it...
Jayenkai wrote:
And I'm not exactly an Xbox fan. I was at first, when they had decent games, but then, of course... 99% PC re-hashes.. We all knew it was coming!
ok there is doom3 and... uh... jade empire!... no... oh, how bout conker! no... thats an n64 rehash... well... theres unreal! oh wait... that a completly original game developed by digital extrems for the console... and of course the big chritsmas game... halo2 ... and mechassault... those are both bearly connected to pc gaming in some way... oh yea... and splrinter cell chaos theroy... a sequal to a game that came out on the xbox first and was sported to pc... (or developed congruently)
yea... blind claims are fun and all... but id liek to know exactly where this deluge of pc ports is... sure there are some... not exactly A title to begin with... but no more than a ps2 has...
oh... and far cry.... so 2
schnide 26 Feb 2005 12:39
4/6
LUPOS wrote:
schnide wrote:
Remember how the Dreamcast tried to steal the lead on the Playstation 2? People just said well, hey that's nice, but we'll wait for the Playstation thanks.
Yea totaly!!! remember how the ps2 tried to steal the lead on game cube and xbox... we all know how that worked out... oh.. wait...
Yeah that's right, the Dreamcast is dead and Sega virtually with it, Nintendo look like the next company to lose the console wars and Microsoft are second and have lost a s**tload of money on Xbox. The Playstation 2 is by far the dominant console is every major region.
no to mention the dramcast sold by the ton in the US... it was the japanese who couldnt be bothered with it...
Cool! What are the latest releases for Dreamcast in the US then? I'm really excited for you to tell me so I can rush out and buy them!
Jayenkai wrote:
And I'm not exactly an Xbox fan. I was at first, when they had decent games, but then, of course... 99% PC re-hashes.. We all knew it was coming!
ok there is doom3 and... uh... jade empire!... no... oh, how bout conker! no... thats an n64 rehash... well... theres unreal! oh wait... that a completly original game developed by digital extrems for the console... and of course the big chritsmas game... halo2 ... and mechassault... those are both bearly connected to pc gaming in some way... oh yea... and splrinter cell chaos theroy... a sequal to a game that came out on the xbox first and was sported to pc... (or developed congruently)
yea... blind claims are fun and all... but id liek to know exactly where this deluge of pc ports is... sure there are some... not exactly A title to begin with... but no more than a ps2 has...
oh... and far cry.... so 2
I can't be bothered to translate the rest of what you actually said, but I'm sure you enjoyed writing it.
LUPOS 28 Feb 2005 14:19
5/6
so not only can you not be bothered to make a valid argument for your porrly thought out comments but you also cant be bothered to read the names of a few games i listed that pointed out how the comments of some one else are wrong...
yes, you certainly are very snide... enough so that it prevents you from needing to make a point... lucky you... rag on my grammar and forgo the actual topic... how is the weather up there on the high road?
_____________
yes, you certainly are very snide... enough so that it prevents you from needing to make a point... lucky you... rag on my grammar and forgo the actual topic... how is the weather up there on the high road?
_____________
Ditto 28 Feb 2005 17:17
6/6
While I think that the release time is important, I don't think that there is a set right time to release a console. If you release too early, then people may wait for competitors, if you wait then you will lose sales to the early risers especially if they have marketing momentum.
Let's just wait and see what M$ decide.
Let's just wait and see what M$ decide.