Xbox handheld coming...eventually
Summary
Topics
The ZuneX was purported to be a gaming handheld that integrated with Xbox Live Arcade and "ZuneX originals" and featured mobile-phone capabilities. That's a marked contrast from the current generation, which offers only a half-dozen games despite promises of titles that would be transferable from the Xbox 360.
The Xbox 360 may soon have a small, sleeker sibling.
With that rumor quickly marginalized as a phony by many industry watchers, Microsoft has now once again signaled that its portable gaming ambitions may extend beyond the struggling Zune. In an interview with gaming site Kikizo, Microsoft executive Shane Kim said that the Xbox brand is destined for the mobile platform.
"For us, it's a matter of focusing on 'when,'" said Kim, who transitioned from his role as head of Microsoft Game Studios to a strategic development position within the Interactive Entertainment and Devices division last year.
As for what's been holding up that "when," Kim said that the division has been focused on fleshing out the core Xbox 360 and Xbox Live experiences.
"If we chased after a mobile or handheld opportunity, we would not have the resources and ability to do things like instant-on 1080p HD, Facebook, Twitter, Project Natal," he said. "And so we've chosen to focus on the living room experience from a hardware standpoint, if you will, but we're building a service in Live that will...will extend to other platforms." [Emphasis in original.]
One other question facing the company is what form a mobile gaming device would take. "How do we enter into that market," pondered Kim. "Do we do our own device, do we create our own phone--that's a question for the company itself--do we continue to go down the Windows Mobile path, which is the path that we're on today, etcetera, etcetera."
Kim concluded by reemphasizing Microsoft's desire to be a player on all relevant platforms, whether that be consoles, desktops, or mobile devices.
This article was originally posted on GameSpot.com.
Talkback Most Recent of 15 Talkback(s)
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A Little Late, Don't You Think?
Another FLOP.
itanalyst2@...21st Jul 2009 -
A flop???
Just like the global failure of Xbox??????
I think it is about time someone gave Nintendo a run for it's money as Sony's offering just cannot compete. It might have the technical advantage but the sales figures speak volumes!
Parassassin23rd Jul 2009 -
Late and as always a little short.
Don't get me wrong, I like my Xbox 360, but I like my PS3 more. The definition and shear power of my PS3 runs circles around the 360, not to mention all of the extra's that are included on the PS3, that for Xbox 360 are at an extra cost, like playing online- Xbox $50 per year vs PS3 free, or Wireless Gaming adapter for Xbox 360 $100 and no WPA2 support, PS3 built in. Plus I can add as much storage to my PS3 as I want, and I am not limit to using a Proprietary hard drive.
Project Natal of course looks interesting, but I wonder how much MS is going to rob from its users to get that addon.
And of course if MS does ever produce a handheld, true to MS form it will be limiting in some way in comparison to another existing device, that or they would provide lousy service like they do with the Zune. DRM anyone?
xXSpeedzXx21st Jul 2009 -
Really?
Don't know where you are getting your data from!
Amazon:
PS3 + 160GB HDD + 1 controller + 1 game = $479
Add one HDMI cable ($42) + 1 extra game ($40) = $561
360 Elite + 160GB HDD + 1 controller + HDMI cable + 2 games = $399
Add WiFi adapter ($79) = $479
Whether or not you choose to join XBoxLive (free) or Gold ($45) is a personal choice. Some don't, many do.
XBox is moving to offer more and more downloadable games. Sony won't be as aggressive here because they have to recoup SOME money to pay for their BluRay debacle.
Personally, I prefer the instant gratification of downloadable games, XBox' far bigger and (IMHO) better games. I prefer the future opportunities born from Natal.
FWIW, PS3 is *much* harder to develop for and because it has less RAM is much harder to fill with textures. Several PS3 ports/games suffer because of this.
And until you've tried both the XBox Live experience and the PS3 experience, you have no idea just how rudimentary Sony's live experience is. Don't knock it until you've tried it.
If you're happy with your PS3 then great, but give the whole "Microsoft is robbing its customers" crap a break: MS have completely redefined what consoles are and do and have completely out-done Sony in the 3rd-generation console market.
de-void-2116559065030180600283633778702321st Jul 2009 -
Portable = FLOP
They are not going to win on this one...it's not going to be anything like a portable XBox, I doubt it's going to have any use at all....PSP and Nintendo DS for the win.itanalyst2@...21st Jul 2009 -
And your opinion is slanted ...
By your obvious disdain for anything MS. So why even comment?
CrashPad21st Jul 2009 -
I Have Two XBox 360s
Try again fool.itanalyst2@...21st Jul 2009 -
PSP is terrible
and is really only purchased because of how easy it is to hack and use pirated games on. No one in their right mind would pick the PSP as a gaming option over the DS or DSi.
And your post sounds just like the posts when MS first released the XBox. And guess what, the PS3 is playing second fiddle to the 360. And they're both dusted by the Wii. In fact, combined the 360 and PS3 can't match Wii sales.
LiquidLearner21st Jul 2009 -
I Agree On The PSP
But Microsoft is coming late to the market, they did this with Zune, and aren't going to make it to the game with their own phone....they have a habit of showing up late to the game when it comes to outside things. Granted, they have done relatively well with the 360, but their downfall is making things difficult like not including built-in wireless, being able to use an outside hard drive hooked to the system for game storage. I have two 360s and love them, and Microsoft should stick to games and operating system, and not try to waste money on other things...that's where their bread and butter is.itanalyst2@...21st Jul 2009 -
Uh.
Why do people think wireless gaming is the way to go... wireless g has severe limiations... i dont want my connection to lag on me in the middle of the game...
and both machines were designed by ibm... and both machines do roughly the same work.. no one has been able to porgram the ps3 to take advantage of the cells..
but i agree that ms should not get into the portable business...
dave@...21st Jul 2009 -
From experience, I can say wireless works fine.
In my experience, wireless online gaming has been on par with wired.
When the PSP first came out, I played Twisted Metal online a lot and it worked perfectly. That was a launch title even. And that's the type of game that lag would destroy. Oh, and the PSP is 802.11b!!! I'm sure it takes some solid net code, but it proves that it's more than possible.
I used to insist on using my PS3 wired, for the optimum connection speed and reliability, but I kept moving it around and got tired of routing an Ethernet cable to it. So I've been using it over wireless for the last year and it's been just perfect.
Not sure what this has to do with anything:
"and both machines were designed by ibm... and both machines do roughly the same work.. no one has been able to porgram the ps3 to take advantage of the cells.."
But since you went there... that's completely wrong. There's been many projects that have snatched up PS3's just because of its extremely powerful processor.
Maybe you're thinking from a gaming perspective, which I agree, the visual fidelity has only been marginally better than the 360 so far. Gears of War 2 is a great example that the 360 can compete against the PS3, but it's not quite as visually impressive as Uncharted or Killzone 2. However, many developers have stated that they've hit a wall with the 360 and have barely tapped into the potential of the PS3. I'd wager that in the next couple years you'll see the PS3 noticeably ahead of the 360 in the graphics department.
My 2 cents are that graphics impressive and all, but as long as a game is fun I don't care what it looks like (as long as it doesn't look completely awful).
Larsix21st Jul 2009 -
Who is the top selling gaming console and has the most games ?
Xbox 360.
Who has he best graphics (for the moment) between consoles (PCs own both of them when it comes to graphics, but cost more) ? Xbox360
NeoGeneration21st Jul 2009 -
RE: Xbox handheld coming...eventually
I've been hearing this for years & it's still just a rumor. I don't get why MS drags their feet on these things. The Zune should have been a phone in the 1st place to make it different than the iPod. Microsoft's bad decisions on Zune basically destroyed any chance for it to compete with the iPod or iPhone.
step6921st Jul 2009 -
RE: Xbox handheld coming...eventually
that's so wonderful
mugwangas22nd Jul 2009 -
Course
Think about it. To really compete in the market they have
to at least match the iPhone. That means they are going
to have to take the Zune, the Xbox 360 and mash it
together with a mobile phone. That's what the iPhone
pretty much does.
The Fuzz
www.thefuzznetwork.com
beerfuzz@...22nd Jul 2009
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