XBOX to become more "PC-like"

[GG7]

Effectively what they are saying they want to do is something that Commodore did all those years ago with the Amiga...

Ladies & gentlemen we are heading into the 80's!

I.e. something like this:

http://www.bigbookofamigahardware.com/bboah/product.aspx?id=60

Which updated added a far more powerful Motorola 68020 processor to the A500 & 4Mb of RAM by simply plugging it into the expansion port on the side of the machine. No updates or extra power cords necessary.

I suppose something along similar lines could be used on versions of the XB1 & plugged into an expansion port...

Or maybe they will go Sega's way i.e the Mega CD & 32X...

Nice & easy to do for consumers but damn ugly to look at in both cases!

Perhaps using the KINECT Port? We also have USB 3.0, which is pretty fast. Fast enough to run an "external" GPU/CPU box? The Kinect port would probably be their interface if the original XB1 becomes upgradeable. Another point against any kind of "internal" mods would be the heat dissipation system in the current XB1.

I know MS spent a lot of time designing the XB1 chassis to avoid all the overheating problems of the 360, so I doubt they would attempt to install more powerful and "Hotter" components inside the chassis.

 

[MickyG1982]

If only I could photoshop an XBox in here...

Spoiler

View attachment 106003

Yes I know it's not quite the same thing, but in effect it was the grandfather to what the Xbox (& PS4) is now. It could be upgraded (in effect it was simply an A500). Most A500 upgrades could be attached to it or modified for it. And, it could be made into a fully fledged A500. It could also be upgraded with faster processors, more RAM, no graphics upgrade though (but this was released in 1990).
Ironically, it was partly killed by the A570 (a CDROM drive that effectively made the A500 into a less pretty, less expensive CDTV). But mostly killed off because when it was released nobody knew what to do with it nor why they needed it, it was a perceived market that didn't materialize until the XB360 & PS3 came out.

In many ways Microsoft is trying to ape the things that Commodore was trying to achieve in the early 90's, the difference is that they (unlike Commodore) know what they are doing. The market for a central media center is there now & both the XB1 & PS4 fill it so I guess the CDTV's grand children might well be going in the right direction (this time).

 

[Momo Velia]

If only I could photoshop an XBox in here...

Spoiler

View attachment 106003

Yes I know it's not quite the same thing, but in effect it was the grandfather to what the Xbox (& PS4) is now. It could be upgraded (in effect it was simply an A500). Most A500 upgrades could be attached to it or modified for it. And, it could be made into a fully fledged A500. It could also be upgraded with faster processors, more RAM, no graphics upgrade though (but this was released in 1990).
Ironically, it was partly killed by the A570 (a CDROM drive that effectively made the A500 into a less pretty, less expensive CDTV). But mostly killed off because when it was released nobody knew what to do with it nor why they needed it, it was a perceived market that didn't materialize until the XB360 & PS3 came out.

In many ways Microsoft is trying to ape the things that Commodore was trying to achieve in the early 90's, the difference is that they (unlike Commodore) know what they are doing. The market for a central media center is there now & both the XB1 & PS4 fill it so I guess the CDTV's grand children might well be going in the right direction (this time).

I'm sure there's more, but why are the Y and Z keys in the wrong place..

 

[brokedeaddog]

I to think everyone has misunderstood this article, assuming in the future, the option to upgrade their x1 with new parts.
How I read it is that this will be an advanced version of what they did with x360.
First came the original, then came the HDMI version, then the black elite version, that was followed by the slim edition etc. Each version was an improvement on the last but it was still a new unit, you couldn't buy the HDMI mod. I think what will happen is every so many years a new upgraded version of the x1 will be released with new graphics card, CPU/GPU etc so ten years from now you'll have a console that can play both GTA v, and GTA vii, just so long as you've got the newest version of the console.
As far as I can tell, all this does is solve the problem of backwards compatibility that so many people were complaining about when x1 was first released and people realised they still needed to keep their old 360 if they wanted to play their old games

 

[madbruiser]

The biggest fear I have in that regard is that FD might shelve the whole XB1/Horizons project and just wait until this new stuff comes out. Much less work for them! Would totally SUCK for us! Likely add a year or more to us getting Horizons.

lol i seriously think at this point frontier understands how the xbox community feels left behind and left out. i really dont think this is a thing to fear, if anything i see positive in this discussion before panic.

 

[Asp Explorer]

I'm sure there's more, but why are the Y and Z keys in the wrong place..

They aren't

Not all keyboard layouts are the same

 

[Stealth Gamer92]

The biggest issues here is that Microsoft really has no idea how to communicate. A buddy of mine on twitter (and a writer for windows Central) just told me that what we have now is nothing more then "doubt/speculation/fears"


They bring something big, but the same time they stay fuzzy, and unclear. Lots of console gamers think now.. "what the hell are we going to do with this half information."


Though, my educated guess:

I dont think this will be a annual thing, those hardware upgrades wont come in monthly basis. I honnestly think those upgrade stay optional, and i think it will be around a 4 year cycle. And i think, this will be cheaper then buying a new console in a whole.

But what i also think, is that we console gamers, must keep in mind, that eventually we wont have a dedicated games console form Microsoft after the next console, or after the one that comes after.

I always said that eventually XboxOne will be merged in to the PC gaming world, with the same ease of acces we have now, but modulair like the PC is now aswell. Cheaper, less powerfull, easy to use like the X1 now. But with the same games, you buy one Windows10 game, and you will be able to play it on a windows10 pc, and on a XboxOne.

All i can say is we should not panic now, we got a littlebit of info, and if i know Microsoft a littlebit, they wont force dedicated Console players with 6 monthly hardware upgrades. they just wont.

I think regarding games, that the game will have some sort of graphics slider, or that the game it self will detect that you have extra hardware installed in your console, so it enables "advanced graphics" but you will still be playing over XboxLive, and you will still be playing with the same friends.


One thing is for sure, i am not worried ànymore that the XboxOne wont be able to play Elite Dangerous season 3 and 4 ect ect.. Cus, it will after upgrades.

This was exactly my thoughts. No idea if I'd upgrade though, depends on if certain friends stay Xbox or move to PC since I have both but can only really keep one going well.

 

[esxste]

The biggest fear I have in that regard is that FD might shelve the whole XB1/Horizons project and just wait until this new stuff comes out. Much less work for them! Would totally SUCK for us! Likely add a year or more to us getting Horizons.

Slightly over the top.

Given Gary and Zac have been quite concious about not promising something they cant deliver; I'm willing to take it on trust that Horizons is coming as promised.

My question is, will this make it easier for them to develop for XBOX? Will it mean we can have expansions the same time as PC players because the dev will be easier? Will we be able to play cross platform? (And if so, what does that mean for those of us that have accounts on both PC and XBOX with the same CMDR/Gamertag name)