E3 2006: Takahashi Book Hints at Xbox Portable
11 May, 2006
Is it finally coming, the answer to the prayers of Microsoft fanboys worldwide? It just might be, according to Dean Takahashi (right), who says in his book, The Xbox 360 Uncloaked, that half of the Xbox 360 team is working on a portable system. If that's true, then Microsoft could be launching a portable system within the next few years.
SpiderWorks Press recently announced that The Xbox 360 Uncloaked has released. The Dean Takahashi book details Microsoft's latest console, and the philosophy behind the multi-billion dollar investment. He wrote a similar book about the Xbox called Opening the Xbox: Inside Microsoft's Plan to Unleash an Entertainment Revolution. Printed softcover editions and eBook versions are available on SpiderWorks.com.
"The Xbox 360 Uncloaked is the result of more than a hundred interviews, many at the highest levels of Microsoft, as well as countless months of independent investigative reporting," said the release by SpiderWorks. "This unique book goes beyond the official story to deliver a true insider's perspective on the creation of Microsoft's Xbox 360."
While The Xbox 360 Uncloaked contains a great deal of information about the release of the Xbox 360, mentions of Microsoft's long rumored portable game system are also noteworthy. Supposedly, half of the Xbox 360 hardware development team has been moved onto a project for a competing system to Sony's PSP and the Nintendo DS. The remaining half of the Xbox 360 hardware development team is reportedly working on ways to reduce the price of the hardware.
According to Takahashi, the portable Xbox system will launch in the middle of the Xbox 360's lifecycle, similar to what the PSP did for Sony compared to the PS2. It has been long rumored that Microsoft would be fielding a portable system and enter the highly lucrative and contested portable market. The recent "Project Origami" was suspected to be Microsoft's entry into the portable field, but it turned out to be something to do with mobile PCs quite different than portable game consoles.
Source: http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=12674
Portable Xbox 360?
Aaron Azerad
With all the news that has thus far been revealed at the E3 gaming conference, there are still some who feel that the whole story has not been fully unraveled. Rumors are currently speculating on Wii’s launch price and how Sony will fair with their abundantly expensive sales package. One rumor that has caught my eye however is pictures that have recently surfaced on the internet of the apparent portable Xbox 360.
Author Dean Takahashi speculating in his new book that approximately 50% of Xbox’s hardware team has moved to design a portable gaming system that will compete on Microsoft’s behalf against Sony’s PSP and Nintendo’s DS. After the initial split of the team, one half of Xbox’s developers were left with the task of trying to minimize production costs, while the other half was left to incorporate the same technology using smaller hardware to build a portable device.
In addition to photos a promotional video allegedly released by Microsoft shows a clip of Halo 2 running on its portable layered screen. Takahasi's book further acquaints readers with the entire Xbox team, with details on the specs of the Xbox 360 and Microsoft’s initial reaction to Sony’s announcement that the PS3 would run a cell processor. Although none of these pictures have been verified by Microsoft as being property of their authorship, the pictures do provide insight on the possible approach Microsoft may be using.
Source: http://www.dlmag.com/1553/portable-xbox-360.html
Microsoft Shoots Down Xbox Handheld Rumors
Leo Chan
May 15, 2006
No plans for Microsoft-branded portable gaming console
The rumors of Microsoft developing some soft of portable console to rival Nintendo's handheld lineup, Sony PlayStation Portable and even Apple's iPod have been persistent over the past year. They've only become stronger since author Dean Takahashi has claimed in his latest book, The Xbox 360 Uncloaked, that such a device is indeed in the works.
However, Neil Thompson, Xbox Head for Northern and Eastern Europe, has recently denied his company is working on any sort of portable Xbox this year. While gaming on mobile phones remains one area of focus at Microsoft, a true-blue portable console itself appears out of the question:
"We’re not even thinking about that at the moment. Handhelds, in the way you would think about a handheld like a PSP? No.
Source: http://www.neoseeker.com/news/story/5742/ |