Geekpulp reports that some interesting things have come up during their attempts to schedule Microsoft appointments for E3 (note to self: schedule Microsoft appointments for E3). According to Geekpulp, Microsoft's appointment list is headed up by two slots for "Surprise Games" and a third slot listed simply as "Surprise Thing." We have to admit, we're really not sure what these surprise games are. We'd like to thing one could be Alan Wake -- it certainly would be a surprise to see it come out of hiding -- but we get the feeling they will be unannounced titles (Lips perhaps?). As for the surprise thing, that could be Avatars, Microsoft's answer to Nintendo's Miis.The article also mentions an EGM rumor that Microsoft will soon begin allowing third parties to manufacture 360 hardware. In other words, companies other than Microsoft could cram 360 hardware into their products. Similar rumors were swirling around late last year, saying that a new "standard chassis system" had been created that would allow 360 hardware to be added to HDTVs. Could Microsoft be shooting for the Trojan Horse strategy of the PS3, getting consumers to buy their game console because it's built into another piece of desirable hardware (in the PS3's case, a Blu-Ray player)? Gasp! is that where the Blu-Ray 360 rumors keep coming from, a Blu-Ray player that just happens to play 360 games, too? The head reels at all the possibilities. Whatever Microsoft's new "thing" is, we're definitely intrigued.
Source - Geekpulp: Two New Microsoft Titles (and more) to be Announced at E3
Source - 1UP: Will Microsoft allow other companies to make 360s?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-26-2008 @ 11:49AM
Arnon said...
Hmm.. I really want to see the year's E3.. Has me in more anticipation than any other.
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6-27-2008 @ 12:16AM
bboston7 said...
I know, this years E3 looks great.
I don't think that microsoft will allow 3rd party xboxes, sounds like someone would make an xbox that is easy to mod (not that they aren't already).
6-26-2008 @ 11:55AM
elmersglue said...
Interesting take on it... it would explain why Microsoft has no problem denying the whole bluray thing, cuz if these rumors are true, it wouldn't be them implementing it. And since rumors about microsoft having a hard time getting the rights for bluray from sony, i'm assuming a move like this would mean they wouldn't have to deal with that anymore..
I have a feeling if that happens though, it won't be cheap. Maybe they can get Toshiba involved in the Bluray market with this. And man, can you imagine all the potential issues with two corporations having to deal with "bluray player's" red ringing?
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6-26-2008 @ 11:56AM
I DeX I said...
The XBOX 360 built into a TV sounds silly considering that the next NEXT GEN Box will be out in a couple of years.
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6-26-2008 @ 1:02PM
Arno said...
You have to think low tech. Yea the next gen Xbox will be it's own thing but think about it in the way that PS2 are now dirt cheap. Essentially 360 would down the line become one of those items you will just own, be it integrated into your TV or perhaps into your next desktop PC. Assuming all this is true, Microsoft's strategy undoubtedly will be to make money on the software. Going back to the PS2, the hardware is dirt cheap now and everywhere and certain people don't care for the latest and greatest which is why so many games are still sold on it. In effect that's what would happen to the 360 if this rumor is true. 360's everywhere for everybody, it won't be the latest and greatest as the next Xbox will be around the corner but it sure will move software units.
6-26-2008 @ 2:13PM
andyg8180 said...
Red Ringed Plasma of Death... shyeaaahh... and monkeys will fly out of my butt!!
Imagine calling micrsoft to tell tehm your ENTIRE TV just red ringed?? awww man...
6-26-2008 @ 2:27PM
guidedbyvoip said...
If RRoD was due to bad MS GPU design as rumors would have us believe, then newer generations of "360-Certified" units won't have this problem. I think this a great opportunity for MS and gamers alike. Samsung 360 + Bluray Player with 120GB HDD!!! I'd buy.
6-26-2008 @ 12:04PM
Magic Whiskey said...
My only concern for this would be the regulation of standardized (?) play-ability for each 360 hardware bit a company makes.
Let's say Toshiba, RCA and Samsung all make 360 players. Who is to say one of the three may not have standard, 'play by the rules' tech under the hood? What if, say, the Samsung 360 can run cooler, read off the HD faster and also play Blu-ray movies? Wouldn't that ultimately hurt the gamers at-large?
This could feasibly make 360 units cheaper, and handled by companies that actually MAKE hardware (we know MS isn't really the first best choice for it), but come on. This is what happened to PC gaming; each computer on the market can't handle every new game. Some can, some can't.
I don't know about you, but I find a sense of comfort in that whether or not the game is a sack of crap, at least I know my 360's hardware is up to spec to PLAY it. I'd hate to have a third-party 360 and wonder, "Can my RCA 360 player play 'COD 6:Tech Wars' or not?"
Oh, and also it confuses the already muddled consumer. We're a world of consumers that enjoy and buy into icons; the Wii, the iPod, the Nike Swoosh logo. We like our brands branded. If the Xbox 360 (or 720, etc) isn't uniform, then the consumer might really opt not to deal with the options and choices presented to them. Instead, they'll go for the tried-and-true competitor's consoles they at least recognize by brand name.
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6-26-2008 @ 12:11PM
elmersglue said...
I think the concern with compatibility should be pretty much nonexistent. I'm pretty sure microsoft isn't THAT stupid. It's not pc gaming, it's a 360, thats the whole point. Therefore there would likely be a "standard chasis system" like the article mentions, pretty much meaning it doesn't matter who's manufacturing the bluray players, they'll have the same 360 components in them and should function exactly the same way..
with that said, I still don't think this is going to happen. It seems too out there.
6-26-2008 @ 12:16PM
JerkfacedFed said...
i disagree with almost all of your points!
the hardware regulation is going to obviously be there. microsoft owns the IP to its chips and is going to be selling those directly to whoever wants ot include them on their motherboards. all of the games will be designed with the minimum xbox 360 spec in mind as they have from the start.
if there is going to be added functionality that will work WITHIN THE DASHBOARD, it will have to be designed by microsoft.
anything that is a proprietary technology will have to be done in a separate OS. for instance, if toshiba creates a tv tuner service that records to hard drive, it will be booted from toshiba's interface if microsoft does not create an interface to this tech from within the xbox 360 dashboard. (think of it the same way as media center mode)
i dont see this decreasing the price of the xboxes in any way. it will increase the 3rd party devices. microsoft subsidizes the cost of the 360 by selling software. toshiba cannot make up money from selling xbox games
this is a great idea. just let the idea of branded consoles go and realize opening up something is always for the better.
6-26-2008 @ 12:05PM
JerkfacedFed said...
awesome, now the xbox platform will be like the windows platform, just a software solution. great idea since it has such a great interface and following already.
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6-26-2008 @ 12:07PM
TekTro said...
I dont think they will do it. Microsoft are too greedy, if a third party had a very good xbox design idea then everyone would buy that and not the official Microsoft one. Surely they would lose money if they let third party company's make xbox's even if they get a share of the profit.
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6-26-2008 @ 12:08PM
Arnon said...
If MS is allowing this, then they get the majority of the profits from any XBOX sold (considering they own the franchise).
6-26-2008 @ 12:26PM
Johnny said...
What profits? Only the wii makes a profit on the hardware. The profits come from the games.
6-26-2008 @ 1:29PM
Ian said...
Incorrect. 360's have been sold at a profit for the past year or so.
6-26-2008 @ 1:37PM
Sean said...
@Johnny
You are wrong. The 360 has been making a profit for a while now. At launch, it did lose somewhere between 50-100 dollars each box but they reduced the cost with newer chips and econmies of scale losing about
@TekTro
Actually, Micrsoft would still make a lot of money. Microsoft gets a cut of every piece of software sold that runs on the Xbox. For games at 60 bucks, Microsoft takes a $12 cut (It's a license to run on the system). Sony and Nintendo both do the same thing.
This fee is reduced or waived if they are trying to lure a game to exclusivity (or out of exclusivity). I'm sure for instance that GTA IV did not have to pay the full fee.
So either way Microsoft makes money.
6-27-2008 @ 10:21AM
Miguel said...
Well what Microsoft may be doing here is a restructuring of their business plan. They may be deciding that they arent fit to create the whole hardware solution. So far, with the rampant problems of RRODs, returns, exchanges, repairs, etc., the hardware solution may be hurting them. Doing this would be similar to the "Intel Inside" approach. If Microsoft feels that other manufactures can create and support the hardware more efficiently they may end up abandoning the hardware business altogether. Couple this with the rumors of the 360 price drop and it furthers this theory.
Now, I still think its a huge longshot that any of this will happen, especially msft abandoning hardware completely but if it happens I see these theories as the reasons thereof.
6-26-2008 @ 12:07PM
Magic Whiskey said...
...If the next 'Call of Duty' game is called 'Tech Wars', I want residuals. :)
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6-26-2008 @ 1:11PM
Deezul said...
I think William Shatner would step up first and ask for his cut.
6-26-2008 @ 12:17PM
Helloimbob said...
360 in a TV will only really work is Sony decides to make 'em because Sony make such great T.V.s but that's very unlikely so I don't think the XboxTV will ever happen...
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