Xbox 2 specs revealed (subject to change, based on alpha kits)

[directhex]

complex architectures DO make for less improvement, though - the Playstation 2 took a VERY long time to come close to the Dreamcast for graphics, since the dreamcast's simple architecture made it easy to get good results

[directhex]

True. I have a problem with imagining the average Joe Bloggs being able to afford a console with that specification. It'd be the same price as a PC, and that is just bloody stupid.

I don't even think Sony/Microsoft mass selling these new consoles with such high specifications would reduce the price enough to allow the average gamer to buy it.

think you underestimate the degree to which consoles a) sell and b) cost-cut. plus, it's common to take a loss on hardware to sell more software - the xbox has always been a lossmaker, it's the games that recoop the costs. that said, the gamecube hardware was profitable from day 1, and £130 for a 500mhz mac with a radeon 4 years ago is pretty fair

[Kumagoro]

I dont agree with that if something is easier its better. I play Socom 2 online which isnt rally a FPS its a 3rd person. Using a joypad makes for a whole different kind of game and makes it far more enjoyable. variety is good.

[Xaneden]

Well, I suppose we can't make a real judgement as to whether a console will be successful until we get a confirmed specification, and more importantly, a confirmed price.

[directhex]

Well, I suppose we can't make a real judgement as to whether a console will be successful until we get a confirmed specification, and more importantly, a confirmed price.

console success is more based on marketing than anything else.

[Xaneden]

Yes, thats all very well directhex, but I think regardless of Microsoft's large advertising brigade working their magic, selling an extremely expensive console to the masses will be improbable.

Oh, and how are Microsoft going to justify that price to parents?

"We see your child's potential... We see great accomplishments in their future..... And thats why you must buy this console. Yes...."

[Knoxville]

Most consoles are launched at over £300, now first you've gotta take into account that mosta the components will be being produced in far larger numbers than normal, especially when you consider the ati cards at that level are a pretty niche product tbh. So not only will they get a discount for the HUGE (and it will be huge no matter how much they create the illusion of a shortage on release) number they'll be ordering but as hex says they will sell them at a loss. Say it costs £500 to produce and launches at £350, you're not just gonna buy the console are you? Of course not you're gonna get a couple of games a memory card an extra controller etc.

So they're gonna recoup nearly £100 straight away of your average bloke that goes out to buy one on release date. Then of course they've got him hooked, he's gonna buy more games, 4 controllers for multi player, a dvd remote and all the other stuff you buy over the first year of owning a console. Selling an expensive halo product at a loss is nothing new, both sony and microsoft are brilliant at it.

[Xaneden]

I remember I bought my N64 for £400 from Dixons wayyyyyy back in 1997.

I somehow think the specification posted earlier in this thread will cost more than £400.

[Knoxville]

Thats why they'll loose money on it to begin with, and thats hardly an official release spec, more of a general idea.

[Xaneden]

Oh, lets all just buy PCs. That'd make things a whole lot easier.

[fathazza]

bah, the xbox 2 looks great, as long as i can chip it and run xbmc2 on it

[directhex]

I remember I bought my N64 for £400 from Dixons wayyyyyy back in 1997.

I somehow think the specification posted earlier in this thread will cost more than £400.

£400 for an N64? the launch price was £250. consider what kind of PC you could get for £250 in 1997 (hint, it wouldn't play Turok very well)

[Xaneden]

Lol, I was a young noob at the time, and my parents were conned into buying 4 years insurance on it.

[Platinum]

Sounds like that would cost a bomb, 3 3GHz CPU's thats £00 so far, a X850 odd class vid card thats £300 minimum, memory ect brings it to about £700 - £800, sounds impossible to me.

[Xaneden]

Exactly my point Platinum. And lets face it, mass production and selling won't decrease that kind of price sufficently enough for the general public to buy it.

Also, people say that because of mass selling, the price can be reduced. However, that means the first buyers will get the full price, and there aren't going to be enough people prepared to shell out that much in the first place.

[XA04]

Xbox2 live