Title: Next-generation Xbox more like a media hub
Clearday-TRForce - May 4, 2005 03:26 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| Video game players want to be able to chat, know when others are online, and access music and photos FRANK BAJAK SEATTLE - Associated Press Microsoft Corp.'s next-generation Xbox gaming console will be more of a digital entertainment hub than its predecessor, making it even more of a PC hybrid than ever, Bill Gates told a meeting of business journalists. The console, code-named Xenon, is due to be previewed in a half-hour special on the music cable channel MTV later this month. Gates, Microsoft's chairman and co-founder, was vague on specific features of Xenon but said the company's consoles would be evolving to include improved communications tools for making multiplayer online gaming more convivial. He told the annual meeting of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers that Xenon's software menu would be similar to that of the company's Media Center edition of Windows, which is designed for computers meant to be located in the living room. "If you're used to that menu, when you use this Xenon you'll see a menu a lot like that, which will allow you to get photos, TV, music and all those different things." Video game players want to be able to chat with their buddies, know when others are present online, and will want to access their music and photos on their consoles in an interface already familiar to them, Gates said. At a convention of hardware engineers last week, Gates said the company's investments in Windows Media Center software have paid off, with more than a million copies sold since the launch of the operating system's second version in October and a total of 2 million since the initial system shipped three years ago. Gates also called the Web log phenomenon fantastic and joked that it's become more difficult than ever to provide a single company message to the public given the number of Microsoft employees who are now blogging publicly. "I keep thinking about when am I going to start doing a blog," he said in answer to a question. "My rate (of posting) has proven to be irregular so far. When I turn out at least two a month they'll put me online," he joked. The Microsoft chairman also drew guffaws when he took a dig at Apple Computer Inc. in response to questions about the rave reviews the competitor's newest operating system, Mac OS X "Tiger," received upon release last week. The overwhelming consensus was that Tiger was far and away the best consumer operating system available now, with Microsoft not expected to match it in features in Windows until the end of 2006 at the earliest in its "Longhorn" system. Gates said he was pleased that the media was getting excited about computer operating systems. And then he took his jab at Apple, whose share of the consumer market is nearly 4 percent. "You can always tell if you're working on a Mac or a PC. Just take your applications and stick them in there and see if they run," he said, moments after calling Apple "the super-small market share guy." |
regards.
U-BOOT - May 4, 2005 04:42 PM (GMT)
What i can't stand in all consoles ,are the gamepads they use.I ve used keyboard for 98% of the games since i was a kid,and i like it.In the first days joysticks were also good,they had a stick and fire buttons.Simple things.Now they have these weird levers on that you are supposed to guide with your thumb in 8 directions (up,down,left,right and diagonals)!How do you do that?!Plus use 4-5 buttons at the same time.I don't know how people can play on that things.
Good old joystick
vs
Crappy thumbstick:
Why did they change it ,i will never understand...The first one ,is more precise cause you use all your hand to do only one thing,guide the stick while the other hand is occupied only with fire buttons.
Duh!Maybe the only advantage is that gamepads are more prone to malfunctions so they earn more money.
I ll never buy a game console sinply because of the "thumbsticks".
Good old joystick
vs
Crappy thumbstick:
Why did they change it ,i will never understand...The first one ,is more precise cause you use all your hand to do only one thing,guide the stick while the other hand is occupied only with fire buttons.
Duh!Maybe the only advantage is that gamepads are more prone to malfunctions so they earn more money.
I ll never buy a game console sinply because of the "thumbsticks".
Cid - May 4, 2005 05:03 PM (GMT)
I will stick to the PS3, the playstation stay the best consoles ever, it has the best games available.
UB, the PS controller isnt that hard to use. It fits very well into the hand and easy to use.
UB, the PS controller isnt that hard to use. It fits very well into the hand and easy to use.
U-BOOT - May 4, 2005 07:37 PM (GMT)
Not for me Cid.Suppose i put my thumbs on the 2 sticks i see there.How on earth am i suppose to press those buttons too?Duh!
Look at the joystic beauty!you didn't even had to hold it.It had those things underneath that made it attach like with glue to any flat surface.Aah,thank God there is still the keyboard for me!
Look at the joystic beauty!you didn't even had to hold it.It had those things underneath that made it attach like with glue to any flat surface.Aah,thank God there is still the keyboard for me!
delenda_est_carthago - May 5, 2005 08:39 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (U-BOOT @ May 4 2005, 09:37 PM) |
| Not for me Cid.Suppose i put my thumbs on the 2 sticks i see there.How on earth am i suppose to press those buttons too?Duh! Look at the joystic beauty!you didn't even had to hold it.It had those things underneath that made it attach like with glue to any flat surface.Aah,thank God there is still the keyboard for me! |
the playstation controller design is the best available design in the market today, IMHO..
But I think that even the best controller design cannot match the mouse-keyboard combination
Cid - May 5, 2005 10:23 AM (GMT)
U-Boot, often the games producers will make the control easy. Often you wont need to control both the left and right stick. Often the left stick is enough for controlling the character/object, while the right one is only for controlling the camera. But often there is also an automatic camera lock on button in one of the four shoulder buttons.
The Playstation controller is the best design on the market, its really easy and confortable to use, you should try it :lol: ;)
The Playstation controller is the best design on the market, its really easy and confortable to use, you should try it :lol: ;)
U-BOOT - May 5, 2005 11:45 AM (GMT)
Nah,i ll stick to my keyboard...I have a Microsoft Sidewinder gamepad for my PC and never use it.Maybe you youngsters haven't used an old joystick,that's why you think these things are so good :lol:
Spartan - May 9, 2005 02:29 PM (GMT)
I have an old joystick that is built like a tank. All HEAVY metal parts with commercial contacts. I think it cost me over $200.00 about 15-18 years ago and it has endured all andrenalin rushes without complaint.
I wonder how the plastic "fantastic" joy sticks would last?
I wonder how the plastic "fantastic" joy sticks would last?