RUMOR: HDMI 360 On The Way
Funny, just as Tiny and I were bitching about our displeasure with VGA cables (we’re sticking with the components for the time being) on the Xbox 360, this rumor comes to the surface. This time, with a pretty solid looking photo. Engadget says they received this photo from their Xbox insider and that he “seemed happy to let us know we’d be able to get them ‘soon.’”
Nice, but we still do not know if this, bearing the codename Zephyr, is reality or not. At any rate, there are three major changes coming. The addition of an HDMI output and a massive 120GB hard drive. Will it be equipped with a built-in HD-DVD drive? It’s possible and I would not put it past them, but there’s nothing definite about that (or anything, for that matter), right now. A third possibility is the installation of the new, and cooler, 65nm processor they have been working on.
Let me say this, I’ll be kind of pissed if this comes out and let us hope the mighty Microsoft puts some ‘exchange’ program in place because I refuse to pay the full price for being an early adopter.
On the upside of this rumor, should it prove true, it would be pretty nice. The existing hard drive really is tiny, HDMI would be great for full 1080p deliciousness and a cooler processor would alleviate those over-heating issues. Now, let us just wait and see what happens.
What are your opinions about this? What will you do if the Zephyr becomes a reality?
The second Xbox 360 revealed: codename Zephyr [Engadget]
Super Timsy
Posted to Video Games on 5 January 2007
· Comments (9)
Other stuff like this: 1080p, hd dvd, hdmi, microsoft, xbox 360, zephyr
Exchange? You’ve got to be kidding. Like they are going to exchange 8 Million units because everybody wants HDMI now. That is what you get for being an early adopter, and it happens to all of us once in awhile.
Heck, I’m not much of an early adopter myself, not having a next-gen console at all yet, but I’ve had my share of nasty dead-ends with the Tapwave Zodiac and whatnot. That’s the price you pay for being the first to have something.
On the topic: I will absolutely adore my new, silent 360 in the summer. Yay!
Agree with Tek Guy. Its the same machine with some improvements; I sold my 360 because it was INCREDIBLY noisy (not to mention a lack of any interesting games in the racing / rpg departments). It was (and is) impossible to watch any film DVDs on it. Plus contrary to some sources, it does NOT upscale video to 720p over component; I have a upscaling Panasonic DVD player and the difference was very noticeable.
I may get this new machine if it includes the HD-DVD – but only if its price is below 450 euros (dollars, more or less, 550).
I have to say this, though: I am not enjoying next-gen as much as I thought I would be. Nintendo Wii looks good on my living room and it is fun, but graphics DO matter and Nintendo should have invested a bit more on the machine (and why force people to buy their own component cables over internet? that sucks. I did and am still waiting for the order – one month later.)
Playstation 3 promises much, with only passable excuses for next-gen games, so far.
wanna know what my favorite machine is? the Dreamcast. Bought a brand new boxed one last month and got all the games I wanted from eBay.
Cheers
Happy 2007 every1
T.
Mmmmmm I think we really should have seen this coming….I was not a really early adopter (with the shortages in the UK after the Nov launch we got new stock in Feb…though only of Core systems…I upgraded with my Hard-Drive only recently). I personally will upgrade to this new bigger HD & (hopefully) quieter system if the price is right (also by selling on my current 360) methinks MS will use this to combat the Euro launch of the PS3..we may have the long rumoured price drop…..this system will replace the current deluxe package and the core pack will be replaced with the current 20GB system?....either way MS get one over on Sony (I’m not bashing them here!) by having a larger HD system also the second hand market will be flooded with the older systems which people will then purchase at used prices….then of course they will then buy MS software….good move (if it works!)
so, booo to msoft
really?
what about optical sound?
who wants a dvd player without REAL surround sound?
why dont any of the “NEXT GEN” consoles have true 5.1
but to be honest i can barely switch the hdmi on my tv from region free dvd to my cable, and a hdmi switcher is like 600 bucks, so its component for my wii and 360 and honestly its fine cause i havent picked up the controller but to play music on my stereo. where are there any good games for the 360 for someone who doesnt give a——about army and gta games. gta was better when it was——graphics and an over the head shot looking at little ants stealing cars.
about graphics for the wii, get over it, the games are so fun,
i just beat elebits last night. i mean really a zap game? who would have thought, elebits. and it was awesome.
yes the motion makes every game more exciting, also the room for human error makes it more like picking up a controller for the first time everytime. so who cares about graphics. id much rather a company that focuses on gameplay then graphics. or making money, cause their last console was a FAILURE so maybe this time they will keep making games, maybe when MORE people have hidef tvs they will make a better console, but on a regular tv you couldnt see any better than vga
that being said on an hd tv in vga the wii looks like garbage, compared to the 360 or if i owned one a ps3
um what games are good for dream cast?
i’ve never played one
how much did you pay for all that?
I’m sure the optical output will remain in some form. My receiver has a few HDMI outputs so i can run it through that to my TV, and, if I am correct, the HDMI outputs sound to surround equipment.
Graphics matter. Gameplay matters.
Story matters.
Characters matters.
Audio matters.
Level design matters.
Everything matters!
Sure, I’d take a shittier looking game if it had amazingly awesome gameplay. But all the time while I’m playing it, I’d probably wish it looked better.
You need a fair balance of all things to have a really good game. A GREAT example of this is Gears of War. It introduced a few great new innovations to a stale genre and re-invented and refreshed other gameplay mechanics . It had stunning HD visuals, the best on any console anywhere. It had a great level design with a solid art design. Graphics do matter, maybe not to the same degree as gameplay but they do matter. :D
As for this new HDMI 360? Another nail in the coffin of the PS3 amirite?
Yeah, I’m pretty sure the only people crying over the Wii’s graphics are the 10% of gamers who actually have an HDTV. (It just happens there’s more of you online than in the gaming world at large.)
But I saw nothing wrong with the PStwo (bought one myself) and I see nothing wrong with the prospect of video upgrades for the 360 or the Wii for that matter. I’d be more critical of the PS3 because part of their marketing was “come on, spend the extra money, it’s futureproof!”
Ugh, that would be “there ARE more of you”, and I forgot to bring up Okami, proof positive that it’s not the size of the CPU but how you use it.
I would seriously consider buying my first 360 if this is all true.
In the meantime, my Wii is very playable with component cables hooked into my hi-def screen. (BTW, I ordered component cables from PlayAsia for $9 and had them within days.)