Xbox 2 info hotting up!

[mark_in_2k]

It seems like the new name will almost definately be Xenon (http://spong.com/detail/news.asp?mode=news&type=n&cid=&pid=&vid=&prid=8426&n=Allard%3A+Xenon+User+Interface%2C+Specs+and+Live +II+to+Show+Tonight) .

Here's part one (http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/microsoft-xbox/594331p1.html?fromint=1) of Gamespy's coverage...

and part two. (http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/microsoft-xbox/594355p1.html?fromint=1)

Seems like they're not going to use the newer HD-DVD / Blu-ray which is kind of a bummer. Going to have to buy another separate DVD player for the HD movies. Still, when you think about, no game really needs 25GB of data. Just have to look at PC games for that.

I like the option of choosing to have a hard drive or not. Can't wait to see what apps will become available for it ;)

[JayPatel]

Company’s Chief XNA Architect Shares Vision for HD Era of Gaming

SAN FRANCISCO — March 9, 2005 — Today at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. announced the first details of its next-generation Xbox® video game system platform, highlighting how hardware, software and services are being fused to power enhanced game and entertainment experiences.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Chief XNA™ Architect J Allard further outlined the company’s vision for the future of entertainment, citing the emergence of an “HD Era� in video games that is fueled by consumer demand for experiences that are always connected, always personalized and always in high-definition.

“In the HD Era the platform is bigger than the processor,� Allard said. “New technology and emerging consumer forces will come together to enable the rock stars of game development to shake up the old establishment and redefine entertainment as we know it.�

Building on 10 years of innovation with the DirectX® API, the Microsoft® Windows® and Xbox platforms will enable ground-breaking game experiences in the HD Era. Illustrating what that means for gamers, Allard shared the first details about the next-generation Xbox guide. Persistent across all games and media experiences, the guide is an entertainment gateway that instantly connects players to their games, their friends and their digital media.

Features of the guide include these:

· Gamer Cards. Gamer Cards provide gamers with a quick look at key Xbox Live™ information. They let players instantly connect with people who have similar skills, interests and lifestyles.

· Marketplace. Browseable by game, by genre, and in a number of other ways, the Marketplace will provide a one-stop shop for consumers to acquire episodic content, new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins and new community-created content.

· Micro-transactions. Breaking down barriers of small-ticket online commerce, micro-transactions will allow developers and the gaming community to charge as little as they like for content they create and publish on Marketplace. Imagine players slapping down $.99 to buy a one-of-a-kind, fully tricked-out racing car to be the envy of their buddies.

· Custom playlists. This feature eliminates the need for developers to support custom music in games. The guide instantly connects players to their music so they can listen to their own tracks while playing all their favorite next-generation Xbox games.

Typifying the HD Era game experience, the guide requires hardware designed with software in mind. System-level features of the guide such as custom playlists, the Xbox Live Friends list and voice chat are enabled at the chip level, liberating developers to focus on creating games, not developing for technical certification requirements (TCRs).

To support consumer demands for the HD Era, the next-generation Xbox is designed around key principles that let developers maximize real performance, using concepts they are already familiar with.

The next-generation Xbox hardware design principles include the following:

· A well-balanced system that will deliver more than a teraflop of targeted computing performance

· A multicore processor architecture co-developed with IBM Corp. that provides developer “headroom� and flexibility for the HD Era

· A custom-designed graphics processor co-developed with ATI Technologies Inc. designed for HD Era games and entertainment applications

In addition, familiar software technologies such as DirectX, PIX, XACT and the recently announced XNA Studio — an integrated team-based development environment tailored for game production — complement the new hardware to help game developers unlock increasingly powerful and complex silicon.

The HD Era gaming platform will strike an elegant balance of hardware, software and services to power the new experiences consumers demand. Games and entertainment features such as the next-generation Xbox guide represent a shift toward more immersive and integrated consumer experiences. This shift will be further illustrated by a significant leap to high-definition graphics, where character movements and expressions are intensely vibrant and nearly indiscernible from real life; by multichannel, positional audio fidelity so clear and precise that players will be able to hear the faintest enemy footsteps sneaking up behind them; by richer online communications; and by an abundance of on-demand content for game consoles.

[Carpe Diem]

Company’s Chief XNA Architect Shares Vision for HD Era of Gaming

SAN FRANCISCO — March 9, 2005 — Today at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. announced the first details of its next-generation Xbox® video game system platform, highlighting how hardware, software and services are being fused to power enhanced game and entertainment experiences.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Chief XNA™ Architect J Allard further outlined the company’s vision for the future of entertainment, citing the emergence of an “HD Era� in video games that is fueled by consumer demand for experiences that are always connected, always personalized and always in high-definition.

“In the HD Era the platform is bigger than the processor,� Allard said. “New technology and emerging consumer forces will come together to enable the rock stars of game development to shake up the old establishment and redefine entertainment as we know it.�

Building on 10 years of innovation with the DirectX® API, the Microsoft® Windows® and Xbox platforms will enable ground-breaking game experiences in the HD Era. Illustrating what that means for gamers, Allard shared the first details about the next-generation Xbox guide. Persistent across all games and media experiences, the guide is an entertainment gateway that instantly connects players to their games, their friends and their digital media.

Features of the guide include these:

· Gamer Cards. Gamer Cards provide gamers with a quick look at key Xbox Live™ information. They let players instantly connect with people who have similar skills, interests and lifestyles.

· Marketplace. Browseable by game, by genre, and in a number of other ways, the Marketplace will provide a one-stop shop for consumers to acquire episodic content, new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins and new community-created content.

· Micro-transactions. Breaking down barriers of small-ticket online commerce, micro-transactions will allow developers and the gaming community to charge as little as they like for content they create and publish on Marketplace. Imagine players slapping down $.99 to buy a one-of-a-kind, fully tricked-out racing car to be the envy of their buddies.

· Custom playlists. This feature eliminates the need for developers to support custom music in games. The guide instantly connects players to their music so they can listen to their own tracks while playing all their favorite next-generation Xbox games.

Typifying the HD Era game experience, the guide requires hardware designed with software in mind. System-level features of the guide such as custom playlists, the Xbox Live Friends list and voice chat are enabled at the chip level, liberating developers to focus on creating games, not developing for technical certification requirements (TCRs).

To support consumer demands for the HD Era, the next-generation Xbox is designed around key principles that let developers maximize real performance, using concepts they are already familiar with.

The next-generation Xbox hardware design principles include the following:

· A well-balanced system that will deliver more than a teraflop of targeted computing performance

· A multicore processor architecture co-developed with IBM Corp. that provides developer “headroom� and flexibility for the HD Era

· A custom-designed graphics processor co-developed with ATI Technologies Inc. designed for HD Era games and entertainment applications

In addition, familiar software technologies such as DirectX, PIX, XACT and the recently announced XNA Studio — an integrated team-based development environment tailored for game production — complement the new hardware to help game developers unlock increasingly powerful and complex silicon.

The HD Era gaming platform will strike an elegant balance of hardware, software and services to power the new experiences consumers demand. Games and entertainment features such as the next-generation Xbox guide represent a shift toward more immersive and integrated consumer experiences. This shift will be further illustrated by a significant leap to high-definition graphics, where character movements and expressions are intensely vibrant and nearly indiscernible from real life; by multichannel, positional audio fidelity so clear and precise that players will be able to hear the faintest enemy footsteps sneaking up behind them; by richer online communications; and by an abundance of on-demand content for game consoles.

That's a Hole-Lot-A-Nothing.

[dvdvideo]

I wouldn't take gamespy's unnamed inside source as the be all of wether the final version will have a hard drive or hd-dvd. These are things ms could still go with that would not affect development much of the first titles.

[chdude3]

It seems like the new name will almost definately be Xenon (http://spong.com/detail/news.asp?mode=news&type=n&cid=&pid=&vid=&prid=8426&n=Allard%3A+Xenon+User+Interface%2C+Specs+and+Live +II+to+Show+Tonight).I thought that was just the internal codename for it.

[JayPatel]

Its the first time they've gone on record, which amounts to at least something other than rumours.

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20050309/msdev03.jpg

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20050309/msdev05.jpg

J Allard is doing his keynote currenty. Expect more information out soon

[sleepyguy]

I'm very surprised MS isn't trying to push out a handheld device to complete with the DS and PSP instead.

Xbox2 looks very promising on paper... but of course all that matters is the GAMES!

[Barton03]

I'm very surprised MS isn't trying to push out a handheld device to complete with the DS and PSP instead.

Xbox2 looks very promising on paper... but of course all that matters is the GAMES!

If you read the book "Opening the Xbox" By david? taraki? it mentions that Bill wanted to make a handheld called the Xboy(!!) but J Allard and gang said 'not yet' until they have established market ground and gained consumer confidence..and at the time, nintendo was kick serious ass and by making Xboy, it would truly kill M$'s gaming division. Plus, now that sony is in, perhaps there is a larger market now catered for 'mature' gamers looking for handheld video games? wait and see...

[SAS-1]

I'm very surprised MS isn't trying to push out a handheld device to complete with the DS and PSP instead.

Xbox2 looks very promising on paper... but of course all that matters is the GAMES!

With the developers they've got lined up things are looking good for Xbox 2. It'll be interesting to hear the PS3 specs.

[jerryhussain]

I thought that was just the internal codename for it.
Same here, I doubt it will be named Xenon. Besides SponG has been wrong many many times before :cheesygri

[vonteego]

With the developers they've got lined up things are looking good for Xbox 2. It'll be interesting to hear the PS3 specs.

Dare I predict that PS3 will be backwards compatible with PS2 (but not PS1)?

Seems like the big selling point for PS3 will be PSP connectivity and Blu-Ray DVD movie playback....just like the PS2's original selling point was DVD playback. So many people bought their original PS2 for $449 justifying the purchase as being their first DVD player as well!

[Carnage]

Dare I predict that PS3 will be backwards compatible with PS2 (but not PS1)?


All the rumours I've read have been pointing away from backwards compatibility with both Xbox2 and PS3.

[rilhouse]

Dare I predict that PS3 will be backwards compatible with PS2 (but not PS1)?

Seems like the big selling point for PS3 will be PSP connectivity and Blu-Ray DVD movie playback....just like the PS2's original selling point was DVD playback. So many people bought their original PS2 for $449 justifying the purchase as being their first DVD player as well!

could be bad for xbox if they don't include HD-DVD. i read a rumor saying sony was hiring emulation programmers for PS3. would make sense since PS3 would have the power to emulate PS2/1 via software.

[Headhunter]

This could be a huge mistake for Microsoft; the system specs are very impressive...and unless they're going to eat another huge loss on the sale of every console (think it was over $100 US per X-Box at launch in 2001), also prohibitively expensive.

I hope all 3 of the big players make out well in the next generation, but MS is taking the kind of risk that can kill them.

[springroll]

"hotting" up?!

[Super strokey]

im no xbox fan but i really hope the dont name it xenon cause thats a really terrible name for a console

[SAS-1]

This could be a huge mistake for Microsoft; the system specs are very impressive...and unless they're going to eat another huge loss on the sale of every console (think it was over $100 US per X-Box at launch in 2001), also prohibitively expensive.

I hope all 3 of the big players make out well in the next generation, but MS is taking the kind of risk that can kill them.

There's no doubt it my mind that MS will purposely take a BIG hit on these consoles, much like it did with the Xbox, in an effort to grab marketshare from PS3. We all know MS has the pockets to do this. If they can even come close to tieing PS3 in the next round, then that would be a success IMO. It would also mean more marketshare for the launch of the Xbox3.

[JayPatel]

http://www.xbox.com/media/system/gdc05/sim-guide-001.jpg
http://www.xbox.com/media/system/gdc05/sim-guide-002.jpg
http://www.xbox.com/media/system/gdc05/sim-guide-003.jpg
http://www.xbox.com/media/system/gdc05/sim-guide-004.jpg

[JayPatel]

GDC 2005: MICROSOFT CHOOSES UNREAL ENGINE 3 FOR NEXT-GEN
By Quinton Miles

Epic Games and Microsoft Game Studios announced this afternoon that all in-house next generation Xbox titles will be developed by Epic's Unreal Engine 3. By using the highly touted engine, Microsoft Game Studios claims they will truly be able to exploit the hardware features of the new console and harness the power at their disposal.

"We only work with the best partners and utilize the best technologies, and Epic and the Unreal Engine 3 hit the mark on both those fronts," said Shane Kim, General Manager, Microsoft Game Studios. "Our teams are creating incredible games and content for the next generation Xbox platform, and by integrating Unreal Engine 3 into our development infrastructure we are able to really maximize our teams' performance and deliver the quality content and creativity that the market has come to expect from us."

"We are hugely excited that Microsoft Game Studios have selected Unreal Engine 3 for its next generation Xbox platform games," says Mark Rein, vice president at Epic. "It's an opportunity for us to show the industry the true capabilities of our tools and technologies and is a testament to the incredible amount of hard work by our teams here to deliver tools and technologies that are 100% tuned into the needs of next generation development. It further demonstrates our ability to deliver the most flexible, most productive tools and technology in the market today."

Microsoft Game Studios is the second developer to publicly announce using the Unreal Engine 3, with Midway being the first.

[Carpe Diem]

Your not blowin up my skirt....Is there no hard data or info on Xbox2?
This is fluff.

[chdude3]

im no xbox fan but i really hope the dont name it xenon cause thats a really terrible name for a consoleDid you not read the first page? That's just the codename for the console. The final retail release name has not been revealed.

[JayPatel]

Your not blowin up my skirt....Is there no hard data or info on Xbox2?
This is fluff.

Wait till E3.

[vonteego]

All the rumours I've read have been pointing away from backwards compatibility with both Xbox2 and PS3.

Yeah I've heard that too, until I read that Sony Computer was hiring emulation programmers for its "next generation console". Sony's Kutaragi mentioned last year at E3 that backwards compatibility was a huge selling point for 3rd party developers and consumers alike for PS2.....but of course didn't explicitly say that it would be for PS3 ;)

[ledorky]

That's a Hole-Lot-A-Nothing.
Hear hear! Schmoooring. Basically out of all that, we know just one thing: it's officially a digital media hub. Probably PC-centric too.

[wanted]

Well, no use of Xbox 1 anymore.

[ElvishMerchant]

There are a lot of interesting tidbits of info here on the Xenon (or whatever the hell they call it). I'm really looking forward to the next-gen systems as they will all be VERY different and it should make for a lot of good exclusive games.

Comparing the three:

Xbox 2 (Xenon) = All about "Live". From the info available, it will be pointless to use this system without a high-speed Internet connection. It will be cheaper (at least by the time PS3 rolls out - presumably late 2006) because of the lack of HD-DVD, etc. and overall I think it will be great for hardcore gamers that are all about Online play and customization.

PS3 = Everything I've heard points to a "Media Center" type setup focussed on games, music, video (possibly Tivo or pay-per-view style), etc. Will definately have the best graphics, but the next-gen systems will all look so good that most won't know the difference. By the time this system hits the shelf, the hardcore gamers will have Xenon, and the casual gamers will have the Revolution (see below)... Sony will need to bank on "multiple system" purchasers and people who want it as their first "Media Center" just like they did with PS2's DVD playing ability.

Nintendo Revolution = New ways of playing... and from what I've read it will blow your mind, but it might turn off third-party developers. May not have as great of an impact on hardcore gamers, and most likely will not have "Media Center" abilities, but supposedly will bring "fun" back to gamers that have left since games got "too complicated". It's a system that will appeal to ages 4 - 40... where the focus is on fun addictive games rather than top-of-the-line specs.

All in all... I think a lot of people will own multiple systems this time around... I know I probably will. Fortunately the releases will be so spread out that it won't be too expensive.

[poppa]

if Nintendo decides to leave out the "convergence of media centres" theme to its new console, that will spell the end of their console days. That IS the trend, and what most people want.

It sounds like a cheap excuse. "Gamecube is the only system dedicated to gaming so we can avoid distractions and focus on games." That was how they promoted the GC. Well good job. They come up with a controller that is geared towards ONE genres and alienates others. Well done. Nintendo really needs to stop using euphemisms.

Nintendo is going the Apple route where they are trying to survive in their own created market. Not gonna happen when the video gaming market is so much smaller.

[JayPatel]

apparently M$ gave away a free HDTV to all the attendees.

http://datavisioncomputer.com/images/DGTV/036725223806XL.gif

[jb22]

apparently M$ gave away a free HDTV to all the attendees.

http://datavisioncomputer.com/images/DGTV/036725223806XL.gif

No, only1000 people got the free TVs.

Any way, am I the only one who finds it a bit odd that MS is calling the next era of gaming the HD era, and is pushing for HD support yet they aren't going ot use a HD media like HD-DVD or Blue-Ray DVD? So MS wants to appeal to everyone who bought a HDTV yet they are going to have support for the next gen HD formats, so doesn't that kind of kill off the idea of using the next X-Box as am HD media center device? I know that the player will support HD Windows Media, but I'm not sure how much HD Windows Media content will be available, and if even a HD Wndows Media format movie will fit onto a regular DVD.

[sfu_lifer]

No, only1000 people got the free TVs.

Any way, am I the only one who finds it a bit odd that MS is calling the next era of gaming the HD era, and is pushing for HD support yet they aren't going ot use a HD media like HD-DVD or Blue-Ray DVD? So MS wants to appeal to everyone who bought a HDTV yet they are going to have support for the next gen HD formats, so doesn't that kind of kill off the idea of using the next X-Box as am HD media center device? I know that the player will support HD Windows Media, but I'm not sure how much HD Windows Media content will be available, and if even a HD Wndows Media format movie will fit onto a regular DVD.
What if the drive's upgradable?

[chdude3]

They come up with a controller that is geared towards ONE genres and alienates others. Well done.What are you talking about? It's all personal preference, but I think Nintendo's got the best controller, this gen.

[mark_in_2k]

Well, no use of Xbox 1 anymore.
My Xbox will always be part of my home theatre setup as long as there's XBMC.

[(Bean)]

What are you talking about? It's all personal preference, but I think Nintendo's got the best controller, this gen.

I agree a lot of my friends like the PS2 - but for me GC got the best most comfortable controller. I think the Xbox S is alright the old one was AWFUL - I would never have played xbox ever with it.

[numb555]

I agree, have all 3 system and the GC just feel a lot more natural. Too bad its sucks for classic fighting games..than again, GC doesn't have any.

[ledorky]

The first Xbox controller (which Microsoft absolutely stupidly stubbornly defended even though everybody dissed it) was suited for folks with Shaq sized hands. That's probably one of the worst controllers ever.

[dvdvideo]

The first xbox controller is awesome, of course, I have shaq sized hands. Though not everyone though with small hands hated it.

PS3 = Everything I've heard points to a "Media Center" type setup focussed on games, music, video (possibly Tivo or pay-per-view style), etc. Will definately have the best graphics, but the next-gen systems will all look so good that most won't know the difference.

There is no way anyone at this point can pick one console and say "will definately have the best graphics" when the specs haven't been finalized on any machine. Jeez....

[divx]

They come up with a controller that is geared towards ONE genres and alienates others.

which genre is gear toward? platform mario alike? or racing mario kart alike? or action soul calibre 2 alike? or action adventure resEvil 4 alike?

[jb22]

What if the drive's upgradable?

You mean as an option from MS or a kind of do it yourself thing? I really doubt MS would want people opening up their X-Box's and doing stuff to it, it'll void the warrant for sure.

Also, if you did do it yourself that doesn't mean the rest of the X-Box hardware will support thedrive or even reading the HD content on the disc.

[poppa]

which genre is gear toward? platform mario alike? or racing mario kart alike? or action soul calibre 2 alike? or action adventure resEvil 4 alike?

I'm not talking about how it feels, but how the buttons are mapped out. Yes, IMO, the GC controller is more suited for platform games. I tried playing NHL 2004 (maybe 2k3) and it didn't feel the same as on Xbox/PS2.

[ElvishMerchant]

There is no way anyone at this point can pick one console and say "will definately have the best graphics" when the specs haven't been finalized on any machine. Jeez....

The PS3 will run Multiple "cell" processors (look it up if you want). These are the same processors that will be used to create Hollywoods best special effects, so where the other systems will be downsampling & re-creating the visuals, PS3 developers will use the actual effects to make it so realistic that it looks like you're playing a Hollywood Blockbuster. Not to mention the fact that this system is expected a year after Xbox Next, which gives Sony enough time to guarantee better specs.

[t10]

so where the other systems will be downsampling & re-creating the visuals, PS3 developers will use the actual effects to make it so realistic that it looks like you're playing a Hollywood Blockbuster.


BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


You have no idea do you ?

[GunnerX]

I hear they're going to ban the sale of the PS3 in China and Korea because it can be used to launch nuclear missiles.

[jb22]

The PS3 will run Multiple "cell" processors (look it up if you want). These are the same processors that will be used to create Hollywoods best special effects, so where the other systems will be downsampling & re-creating the visuals, PS3 developers will use the actual effects to make it so realistic that it looks like you're playing a Hollywood Blockbuster. Not to mention the fact that this system is expected a year after Xbox Next, which gives Sony enough time to guarantee better specs.

Are you sure you don't mean it will be a multi-core cpu? Any way, I really doubt that any console will be able ot recreate Hollywood visual effects in real time during gameplay anytime soon. I mean when you consider that high end effects are done on specific hardware to be done in real time, like Flame or Inferno machines that can cost $300 000 to $1 000 000 I really doubt that any sub $500 console will have that much power in it so soon.

[poppa]

Are you sure you don't mean it will be a multi-core cpu? Any way, I really doubt that any console will be able ot recreate Hollywood visual effects in real time during gameplay anytime soon. I mean when you consider that high end effects are done on specific hardware to be done in real time, like Flame or Inferno machines that can cost $300 000 to $1 000 000 I really doubt that any sub $500 console will have that much power in it so soon.

Agreed. I still remember promises of "Toy Story" like graphics on the PS2.

[balou911]

I hear they're going to ban the sale of the PS3 in China and Korea because it can be used to launch nuclear missiles.


hahaha, now thats funny.

good one.

[SwiZz]

Not sure if this info is already mentioned somewhere, but saw this on an MSN article:

Xbox Next Details Emerge

Microsoft uses Game Developers Conference to outline its next generation console plans.

Todd Mowatt

Earlier today at the Game Developers Conference being held in San Francisco, Microsoft Corp. announced the very first public details about what gamers and developers can expect from the successor to the Xbox.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Chief XNA Architect J Allard outlined the company's next generation vision for the future of entertainment as they see it.

Allard cited the emergence of the High Definition (HD) Era in video games fueled by consumer demand for new gaming experiences and how they are connected and will be highly personalized moving forward.

‘In the HD Era the platform is bigger than the processor,’ Allard said. ‘New technology and emerging consumer forces will come together to enable the rock stars of game development to shake up the old establishment and redefine entertainment as we know it.’

Microsoft hopes to help developers building on 10-years of innovation that they have pioneered with the DirectX API, the Microsoft Windows and Xbox platforms.

Illustrating what that means for gamers, Allard shared the first details about the next-generation Xbox guide. Persistent across all games and media experiences, the guide will be an entertainment gateway that instantly connects players to their games, their friends and their digital media.

Features of the guide include will include: Gamer Cards. Gamer Cards will provide gamers with a quick look at key Xbox Live information. They will let players instantly connect with people who have similar skills, interests and lifestyles.

Microsoft plans on creating an online Marketplace that will be browseable by game, by genre, and in a number of other ways. The Marketplace will provide a one-stop shop for consumers to acquire episodic content, new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins and new community-created content.

Microsoft is also hoping to be able to break down barriers of small-ticket online commerce, micro-transactions will allow developers and the gaming community to charge as little as they like for content they create and publish on the Marketplace.

Gamers will be able to purchase new content. The possibilities are endless, but think of being able to buy a one-of-a-kind, fully tricked-out racing car to be the envy of your gaming buddies for as little as 99 cents.

The next-generation Xbox platform will allow gamers to build custom play lists. This feature will eliminate the need for developers to support custom music in games. The guide instantly connects players to their music so they can listen to their own tracks while playing all their favorite next-generation Xbox games.

Typifying the HD Era game experience, the guide requires hardware designed with software in mind. System-level features of the guide such as custom play lists, the Xbox Live Friends list and voice chat are enabled at the chip level, liberating developers to focus on creating games, not developing for technical certification requirements (TCRs). To support consumer demands for the HD Era, the next-generation Xbox is designed around key principles that let developers maximize real performance, using concepts they are already familiar with.

The next-generation Xbox hardware design will offer gamers a well-balanced system that will deliver more than a teraflop of targeted computing performance.

The core of the system will feature a multi-core processor architecture co-developed with IBM Corp. that provides developer headroom and flexibility for the HD Era -A custom-designed graphics processor co-developed with ATI Technologies Inc. designed for HD era games and entertainment applications.

Microsoft is hoping to create some momentum with gamers and to deliver unprecedented game play experiences with a new console that will deliver a leap in high-definition graphics, multi-channel, positional audio fidelity so clear and precise that gamers will be able to hear footsteps and ambient noises in front of them as well as behind them as they play their favorite games.

To enhance the services and experiences offered by its Xbox Live service, the next-generation Xbox will build on the online component that Microsoft has created with its games. Gamers will be able to enjoy richer and a more robust online communications system on the new platform.

As always there are a lot of things floating around about the Xbox Next, but we will keep you posted and deliver you the facts on all of the new platforms as information becomes available.