RUMOR: Xbox 360: multiple versions planned

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Microsoft's is still planning to ship two different versions of its Xbox 360 console at launch, according to sources close to the company - while reports suggest that the high-end version may feature the firm's WebTV system. It's long been thought that Microsoft plans to ship two different Xbox 360 bundles, one with a hard drive and one without, and give users the option of upgrading the low-end system with a hard drive accessory.

Sources close to the firm have confirmed this week that there's much talk of two distinct price points, which seems to indicate that this is still the plan for launch - while a report on well-connected gaming blog Kotaku gives an indication of how the two different models will be differentiated. The site reports that the basic edition of Xbox 360 - the version without the hard drive - will not have backwards compatibility, while the "premium" version with the hard drive will ship with Microsoft's WebTV functionality built-in.

News source: GamesIndustry.biz

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(2 replies) #1 virtualmadden on 19 Apr 2005 - 18:48

Another money whore for the wad of cash I don't have.

#1.1 reKoiL on 19 Apr 2005 - 23:51

i absolutely agree

#1.2 slang123 on 20 Apr 2005 - 02:03

What?!?!? They are offering a harddrive free version for those who cant afford it. I fail to see how this news brings you to that conclusion? I think you need to think more carefuly before posting

(8 replies) #2 eilegz on 19 Apr 2005 - 19:00

well the backward compatibility sounds interesting at least lets hope that ms put a affordable price

#2.1 .:Neo.X.WinFreak:. on 19 Apr 2005 - 19:19

a backward compatiblity is soooo STANDARD and shouldn't be sumfin "premium" i think...
still... i want a HDD, backward compatiblity, and i want it to be a mini PC (just as it was planned too actually)... else i wont buy it

-fm

#2.2 Netrack on 19 Apr 2005 - 21:49

your lookin at 500$ i bet for all that

#2.3 MrXBob on 19 Apr 2005 - 22:24

Wow. Neo.X.WinFreak - you're obviously a PS2-only gamer

You clearly know nothing.

The only home console system ever to have backwards compatibilty up to now has been the PS2. Yet you say it's "soooo STANDARD". Get a grip on reality - PS2 does not = everything. It is not standard, it doesnt HAVE to be on every system. New systems are for new games - if you wanna play your old games, keep your old systems. No need to put pressure on console developers to put backwards compatibility in their new systems, it wastes time that could be better spent elsewhere in the console.

#2.4 kaffra on 20 Apr 2005 - 00:52

i not see anything about backward compatibility, i just read cheep version doesnt have it, and premium has webtv

#2.5 DJLunacy on 20 Apr 2005 - 02:43

QUOTE

Wow. Neo.X.WinFreak - you're obviously a PS2-only gamer You clearly know nothing.

The only home console system ever to have backwards compatibilty up to now has been the PS2. Yet you say it's "soooo STANDARD". Get a grip on reality - PS2 does not = everything. It is not standard, it doesnt HAVE to be on every system. New systems are for new games - if you wanna play your old games, keep your old systems. No need to put pressure on console developers to put backwards compatibility in their new systems, it wastes time that could be better spent elsewhere in the console.

Wow I musta been high when I was playing an original gameboy game on my gameboy SP

#2.6 tehas2230 on 20 Apr 2005 - 03:23

If I'm not mistaken, he did say "home console". I wouldn't place a Gameboy, Gameboy SP, PSP, etc in the category of "console" I'd put it somewhere like... oh, I don't know... how about um... Portable.

Sorry, I really don't mean to be so harsh. It's been a long day at work (And I might be high as well

)

#2.7 GBUASH on 20 Apr 2005 - 11:38

Actually The Atari 7800 was the first backwards compatible Home console.

#2.8 Kushan on 20 Apr 2005 - 16:44

Lets not forget the megadrive could play master system games (At least the re-release of the Mega Drive (Genesis if you're an american) could) and you could get an adapter for the SNES to play NES games if I recall correctly.

#3 beardly on 19 Apr 2005 - 19:05

Interesting, but I like the choice of having a hard drive shipped with it.

#4 RonXdude on 19 Apr 2005 - 19:46

My choice to buy it on Boxing Day shopping 2006, remains the same.

Nothing exciting, I expected the HDD to come anyway.

(3 replies) #5 russ0943 on 19 Apr 2005 - 20:19

who the hell uses webtv?

#5.1 shao on 20 Apr 2005 - 14:00

the question should be, who wants a cheap, fully functional web browsing, and media viewing appliance that plugs into your tv. And the answer there is 'quite a lot of people'. If it's a choice between not having this functionality, and having it then i'd rather have it.

http://www.webtv.com/pc/

#5.2 blueorder on 20 Apr 2005 - 18:28

I'd actually wouldn't mind being able to surf through the Xbox to look up something quickly without having to unpark my butt from the couch...

#5.3 Jeebus McChrist on 20 Apr 2005 - 22:03

Human beings.

If no one used WebTV, why would it still be around?

Think of that before you say something so ignorant.

(5 replies) #6 deiong15 on 19 Apr 2005 - 20:21

well we know how well ms did with webtv before. wonder why they would even bother bringing that pos out from the depths of death.

#6.1 toadeater on 19 Apr 2005 - 20:52

That's precisely why they are trying to bring it out. They are using the same strategy they used with Windows and its associated software and services. M$ uses one product to dump their other products onto the market. This is completely illegal and the US DOJ has their heads up their a**es if they don't realize this yet.

The truth is, they do realize it, but they refuse to do anything about it because M$ is one of America's biggest cash cows.

So much for capitalism.

#6.2 M2Ys4U on 19 Apr 2005 - 21:29

Is it possible to LAY OFF THE CRACK for 5 mins?

How on earth is bundling THEIR OWN product with another one of THEIR OWN products illegal?

#6.3 supersaiyanjericho on 19 Apr 2005 - 23:13

cause the EU said so! (even though they have nothing to do with the Xbo

#6.4 mcb on 20 Apr 2005 - 00:44

thats why there are multiple versions..each customisd to be legal in different markets

#6.5 M2Ys4U on 20 Apr 2005 - 16:32

And who else sells software that allows you to connect your XBox 360 to the web like webTV does...?
Let me think, nobody.

(1 reply) #7 on 01 Jan 1970 - 00:00

#7.1 rogerroger on 19 Apr 2005 - 20:37

The use of my likeness is copyrighted by me for the private use of my audience. Any other use of this image or of any like pictures, descriptions, or accounts of me without the my consent is prohibited.

LOL

(1 reply) #8 generalnewbie on 19 Apr 2005 - 20:43

whats the webtv feature?

#8.1 M2Ys4U on 19 Apr 2005 - 21:30

It's web through the TV.

#9 mcwilliams132 on 19 Apr 2005 - 21:13

stupid...why support 2 boxes when you loose money on them? Unless MS thinks it'll make up the diff in service fees....

#10 robpears on 19 Apr 2005 - 21:14

Sounds quite good

#11 SkaterAustin on 19 Apr 2005 - 21:51

so hmm go microsoft on this deal, u gotta start paying for xbox live content though u already pay the yearly subscription or 3-4-6 month, and ull have to buy levels, characters, and what not. To upgrade to a hdd u gotta buy it seperate.. wow this is gonna be totally an awesom console

#12 emel on 19 Apr 2005 - 21:54

I will just get the basic one.. Both systems will use same chips, mobo's and everything.. just watch and see, after 2 months the release of xbxo2.. there will be modchips and you will be able to add your own cheap hard-drive instead of buying a 40gb HD for $100.. and all the contents from xbox2 ( premium) version will be already out in *internet*.. just geat the mod.. add the HD and copy over the contents.. and you will get their premium system without paying much to those moneywhores.. I am quite sure this will happen seeing that the sony slim PStwo has unactivated IDE port in its mobo.. there is already mod that will allow you to activate that IDE port and you will be able to add a HD just like old PS2's ..

#13 seafirex on 19 Apr 2005 - 22:11

ya but even before bying i will wait and see who will be able to mod it first. if no one can for a long time well sorry but i dont buy just yet. Of course it is possible that another linux fan will do it before others.....lets hope so !!!

(1 reply) #14 Firen™ on 19 Apr 2005 - 23:28

WHO the hell (unless prices are too high) would buy the standard version if the premiums has backward compatibility....

#14.1 Stef Nighthawk on 20 Apr 2005 - 07:20

psssst, the article didn't say that the premium has backward compatibility. Read very carefully, it is a tricky sentence.

The site reports that the basic edition of Xbox 360 - the version without the hard drive - will not have backwards compatibility, while the "premium" version with the hard drive will ship with Microsoft's WebTV functionality built-in.

It does say that because of the hard drive it will have WebTV functionality. It says nothing about the premium being backwards compatible.

#15 HummerT30 on 19 Apr 2005 - 23:52

There is going to be three versions.... 1. with a hard drive....2. without a hard drive....3. a media center XBOX 360

#16 dannymp3 on 19 Apr 2005 - 23:56

What happened to the fully working computer version?

#17 Liquid on 20 Apr 2005 - 00:14

Wow, so now to play live I bet you are going to need the HDD.. (patches) Or to saves games, HDD. Bleh good think I always get the most expensive packs

#18 nav_uno on 20 Apr 2005 - 01:42

IS it me, or are gaming systems really alienating themselves from gaming? First the PSP has all the media stuff, and now the XBOX is basically a scaled-down PC with web TV features and what-not. I would rather buy or upgrade a PC rather than buy that, since the XBOX for starters doesn't even have that many exclusive titles.

#19 Rahul on 20 Apr 2005 - 03:37

i think they should sell the standard system for abt 250-300$ & should allow us to use our own hard drives with third party support , otherwise i can see that this thing is gonna have some real rough time , btw

WHO THE FU©K USES WEB TV ????

(1 reply) #20 DomFel on 20 Apr 2005 - 03:57

I can't believe people here is complaining about the price (around 300$) for a shiny new freakin awesome box, when years ago people in Europe paid 7-800euros for a PS2, and til now they pay double of the price for the Xbox without complains.
From my point of view it's very hard MS will allow us to use our own hard drives: Xbox 2 won't be then a console, but it would just be a bloody miniATX to mess up with. I don't want that. I'll be more than happy to pay +400$ for a very good console. If you can't afford it, then just wait for the price to drop down (like I did for my Xbox an year and a half ago).
Who uses WebTV? Me: Xbox Media Center -> OnlineStreams script ->BBC Live every morning before leaving home (it's nice to hear a nice british accent instead of the crappy american one here in Orlando...! ;-) ).

Last edited by 60760 on 20 Apr 2005 - 04:02

#20.1 Kushan on 20 Apr 2005 - 16:47

Who the **** paid that amount for a PS2?

#21 Chanser on 20 Apr 2005 - 04:20

Wow it's 1970 below me

. Heck MS can release many different console versions and the company still won't die

#22 Yazoo on 20 Apr 2005 - 10:39

lol, WebTV is used by more people than you think.

Anyway its become par for the course that people will moan and groan before a release of a popular gadget. End result they will become sheep and buy it anyway.

#23 smashguy on 20 Apr 2005 - 11:41

#24 SeMz... on 20 Apr 2005 - 11:53

is webtv like linksbox for the xbox?

#25 Kushan on 20 Apr 2005 - 16:49

I wonder how long it'll be before the Phantom guys come along and sue Microsoft for the online-ness of these 2 consoles XD

#26 trailjedi on 21 Apr 2005 - 02:33

Am I the only one who sees the MS strategy here. They don't like hardware, and yes they lose alot of money on it, but it's a necessary evil in this particular market FOR A SHORT TIME! The 1st gen xbox was necessary to establish a foot hold, and I bet they're actually quite tickled that it did as well as it did against Sony. What they have done, from what I can tell, is built a GREAT next gen PLATFORM (and i stress platform). Yes, they need to push the bleeding edge of the hardware NOW but they could give a rats ass if they make money on hardware, as long as they have a large developer base, as demand will drive the sales and licensing of their platform (direct X/webTV/mediaPC - the HD era baby).

I'll bet my left thumbstick thumb that in 2 years time you will be able to order your DELL xBox and your HP xbox and that the competition there (as was the case with PCs) will drive prices even lower on the hardware with MS spending $0 on hardware and raking in fat OS/platform licensing fees from both the hardware guys and the game devs. They're a software company! Please correct me if i'm wrong Bill... they're the best, no question!

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