Xenon Specs

Yeah, be afraid of the price.

Yeah, I've been wondering how they will keep the prices down with all this hardcore hardware. But the next gen of consoles is going to be really cool techwise, I just hope they exploit that and make great games with it. It may convert me to a console gamer. Naaah...I don't think so.

meh, the cost of a console with these specs is nothing compared to the cost of getting a computer system to support new games nowadays. and frankly, the justification that a computer can do more is just not there. what kinda comp do u need to run word processing? videncoding? watching a movie? burning dvds? surfing the net? compared to a comp that needs to be maintained to play new and upcoming games, i think the cost of a nextgen console is a bargain (i mean, no upgrading for 5 years!).

That is totally what I had in mind D.D. And besides, a console is made to play games and sure as hell does it good. The only games I play on my computer are console games via emulation.

D.D. said:

meh, the cost of a console with these specs is nothing compared to the cost of getting a computer system to support new games nowadays. and frankly, the justification that a computer can do more is just not there. what kinda comp do u need to run word processing? videncoding? watching a movie? burning dvds? surfing the net? compared to a comp that needs to be maintained to play new and upcoming games, i think the cost of a nextgen console is a bargain (i mean, no upgrading for 5 years!).

Click to expand...

But console and PC games are pretty much completely different. Each is geared to a certain audience and certain kind of games. I find that PC games fulfill my taste in gaming more than that of consoles. But that doesn't mean console games suck, there are plenty of great ones.

The cost of PCs is something I can live with because it's a hobby of mine and does more than plays games.

But I am very intersted in finding out how much profit (if any) each console maker will make on the system. But I remember Bill Gates saying something to the effect that one day hardware will be free (or really cheap) and we will pay more for software. Kind of like razors and blades. The Mach 3 razor itself is really cheap but the pack of blades that are need are quite pricey. MS may be slowly drifting towards this philosophy starting with the XBOX2.

Somehow I'm doubting this story. Like all pre-launch spec rumors, the xenon just seems a bit impractical in terms of being a competitive console.

So many companies have done this that I think it's rather pointless to be mesmerize with these so called "specs".

Anyone remember when the PS2 spec's were released? Didn't they say it can render FF8 cinema level graphics? Or that the Emotion Chip can compare with 8 Pentium 2's? I sure don't see either of those.

Take the PSP for a more recent example. There was alot of talk going on when its specs were release. PS2 level graphics on a handheld. Looking at the games, I'd say a cost between PSX and N64 level, not even Dreamcast yet. Most Pocket PC's can beat the crud out of the PSP in terms of specs alone and they're about the same price.

In conclusion I think anyone "wow" by so call pre launch specs are oblivious to company's deceptive marketing tactics.

So consoles are just going to be PCs now...

What happened to the "natural progression" of consoles from 8-bit to a possible 256-bit? Just cheaper to make PC products is it?

It's true though, the way in which Sony promoted "teh Emotion Engine" was that it could do anything from rendering FF8 dances, FF:SW scenes to even getting peace in Chechnya (maybe not the last thing...).

I'm not impressed with specs, I'm impressed by games.

well, thx for sharing your thots everyone

part 2 of the editorial:

http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/microsoft-xbox/594355p1.html