Xbox Hardware Production Ceases

[Dave Long]

It's Spong, so it's about as good as rumor at this point, BUT, it's certainly plausible...

http://news.spong.com/detail/news.asp?prid=8507

There's also a quote from Tim Schaefer in the newest issue of Play that says the reason MS dropped Psychonauts is because they could not support any Xbox 1 games coming out in 2005.

So basically, the first Christmas Microsoft was somewhat successful with the console (2004) will be its last hurrah. If backwards compatibility really isn't in, this is a big ol' shaft to those rather new Xbox owners.

--Dave

[mouselock]

How in the hell would this work? If they quit production, and someone else decides they need to replace the one they just bought last week, they're supposed to just suck it up? I'm failing to see how the successor could possibly be backwards compatible considering it's missing at least one fundamental piece of hardware that the current generation has by all accounts (the hard drive).

I mean, I guess it's possible, but it would seem to me to be pretty indicative of Microsoft getting pretty much the entire wrong idea after 5 years in the console business about how to manage your consoles. How long into the PS2 lifespan was the PSOne finally nixed?

[Naked]

Ah Spong...

If I could hazard I guess, I'd say MS has shut down X-Box production at some, but not all, of their factories, in order to convert them over to the X-Box 2 pipeline, and others will follow suit as we get closer to the machine's release date. That'd make a whole lot more sense than what Spong is reporting.

[Linoleum]

How in the hell would this work? If they quit production, and someone else decides they need to replace the one they just bought last week, they're supposed to just suck it up? I'm failing to see how the successor could possibly be backwards compatible considering it's missing at least one fundamental piece of hardware that the current generation has by all accounts (the hard drive).

They'll have a unit and component reserve for warranty issues and the legally required availability period (can never remember if it's 5 or 7 years). That's a requirement whenever they end production.

[Dave Long]

Ah Spong...

If I could hazard I guess, I'd say MS has shut down X-Box production at some, but not all, of their factories, in order to convert them over to the X-Box 2 pipeline, and others will follow suit as we get closer to the machine's release date. That'd make a whole lot more sense than what Spong is reporting.

It's really hard to say. I know it's Spong, so I try hard to discount it entirely, but they've been marginally right on some things lately and this could be one of them. With only Jade Empire, Forza and I guess Conker left to fill the slate from Microsoft themselves, there's not a whole lot of reason to really push Xbox in 2005. Plus as you say, they need production for the new system.

If they make a clean break from the first (no backwards compatibilty) system and they leave the original system twisting in the wind, they really do run the risk of Sega-izing their current ownership. Unless the new box costs the same or just a bit more than the old one ($199 new), then they're asking everyone to pony up $300 or more to continue buying new games. That seems illogical so hopefully that's not the plan, but it sure does seem like a real possibility.

The guys in Play Magazine are pretty hard on MS for ditching stuff like Psychonauts and Phantom Dust among others. Schaefer also says in the interview that the changes at the top were part of that decision making. So apparently the people running the show now have a different view of the first box, and maybe it's one of just letting it die?

--Dave

[Gary Whitta]

I don't know if it's feasible from an economic or engineering standpoint, but could MS steal a card from Sony's deck and bring out a scaled-down, cheaper Xbox along the lines of the PSOne or the new slimline PS2? Seems like that'd be a pretty cool way to keep the existing generation alive...

[Dave Long]

I don't know if it's feasible from an economic or engineering standpoint, but could MS steal a card from Sony's deck and bring out a scaled-down, cheaper Xbox along the lines of the PSOne or the new slimline PS2? Seems like that'd be a pretty cool way to keep the existing generation alive...

They've repeatedly said that will not happen. They have no interest in it. Given the architecture of the current box, it seems like it would be unlikely anyway. They're really strapped into a PC architecture that isn't easily shrunken without considerable expense. The current box is made from stuff that's more like off the shelf parts whereas PS2 is largely proprietary and Sony does all the building of chips themselves.

--Dave

[Kevin Grey]

I don't know if it's feasible from an economic or engineering standpoint, but could MS steal a card from Sony's deck and bring out a scaled-down, cheaper Xbox along the lines of the PSOne or the new slimline PS2? Seems like that'd be a pretty cool way to keep the existing generation alive...

I'm sure someone knows more about this than me but the gist is that due to the licensing deals MS initially made, the Xbox is still very expensive for them to manufacture (I think they might still be losing money on each console sold). Supposedly one of the reasons for the early Xbox 2 push is that the design of the Xbox 2 is supposed to make it easier for MS to profit on the hardware sooner.

[spooie]

Just so I can be sure with timezones and whatnot... April Fools is still TWO days away in the US, right?

:P

[Quaro]

Maybe the rumours about the optional hard drive adding backwards compatibility are true, this wouldn't be that bad.

[mouselock]

Maybe the rumours about the optional hard drive adding backwards compatibility are true, this wouldn't be that bad.

This is true. I can't imagine them abandoning the previous console completely so abruptly. (Or rather, I can, but I see it as a huge, colossally stupid blooper.)

However, they could probably much easier get away with reducing a next-gen console that could be made backwards compatible for, say, the cost of buying a USB hard drive in addition to the console itself.

[bago]

I'd guess it's one factory. They epect major sales for Foraza to sell like hotcakes. This might increase the attach rate, requiring a certian number of consoles. However, it is not a launch, so it's not operating at full capacity.

[awdougherty]

Maybe the rumours about the optional hard drive adding backwards compatibility are true, this wouldn't be that bad.

I hope this proves to be the case. I would pay extra for backwards compatibility myself.

[RickH]

I'd guess it's one factory. They epect major sales for Foraza to sell like hotcakes. This might increase the attach rate, requiring a certian number of consoles. However, it is not a launch, so it's not operating at full capacity.

It's going to be a tough sell to launch a realistic driving-sim within 3-6 months after GT4 has been released. Id' be surprised if it outsells PGR2, which I understand was a disappointment.

[Backov]

I'd guess it's one factory. They epect major sales for Foraza to sell like hotcakes. This might increase the attach rate, requiring a certian number of consoles. However, it is not a launch, so it's not operating at full capacity.

It's going to be a tough sell to launch a realistic driving-sim within 3-6 months after GT4 has been released. Id' be surprised if it outsells PGR2, which I understand was a disappointment.

GT4 runs like shit on the XBox though.

[RickH]

I'd guess it's one factory. They epect major sales for Foraza to sell like hotcakes. This might increase the attach rate, requiring a certian number of consoles. However, it is not a launch, so it's not operating at full capacity.

It's going to be a tough sell to launch a realistic driving-sim within 3-6 months after GT4 has been released. Id' be surprised if it outsells PGR2, which I understand was a disappointment.

GT4 runs like shit on the XBox though.

You got me there, I guess I was assuming that the hardcore driving-sim crowd already bought a PS2 for GT3 or 4. Really, does anything that's not sports or Halo or shooter-related sell that well on the Xbox?

[Talisker]

If there's a way to connect up my Logitech driving wheel (spiffy one that works with GT4) to the XBox and use it with Forza, I'll pick it up. Not holding my breath, though.

[Backov]

I bought a PS1 for Gran Turismo 2..

When the PS2 came out, I rented a PS2, bought a memory card and rented GT3.. Pretty much hated it.

Have just about every significant racing game for the XBox now (or have rented them) - and like a lot of them, but even though I now own a PSTwo, don't even feel inclined to rent GT4.

But, I am going to try Forza when it comes out. I'm hoping they got it right.

[Justin Fletcher]

Really, does anything that's not sports or Halo or shooter-related sell that well on the Xbox?
KOTOR and Fable did fairly well, if I recall correctly.

[VegasRobb]

I guess it's getting really close to the time to pick up an Xbox. I'd hate to wait till the prices start going up.

[Qenan]

Really, does anything that's not sports or Halo or shooter-related sell that well on the Xbox?
KOTOR and Fable did fairly well, if I recall correctly.

But both are (or will be) out on the PC... which is why I haven't bothered picking up an Xbox.

[Justin Fletcher]

Many Xbox games, including sports and Halo and shooters, eventually end up on PC. It's just a matter of how long you're willing to wait. Of course, exclusives, such as Ninja Gaiden, will never make the transition.

[Jason Cross]

You got me there, I guess I was assuming that the hardcore driving-sim crowd already bought a PS2 for GT3 or 4. Really, does anything that's not sports or Halo or shooter-related sell that well on the Xbox?

That assumption might be true, but even if it is: it's the hardcore driving sim crowd. They tend to buy more than one hardcore driving sim. I wouldn't be surprised to see them pick up Forza as well, and maybe even buy an Xbox for it (these are guys who buy a steering wheel that costs as much as the console, after all).

[Dave Long]

I think Forza is going to bomb to be honest.

I also wouldn't get too concerned about Xbox becoming MORE expensive when they stop making them. Almost all consoles lose value over time except something like the top loading NES and the Neo Geo.

There are so many Xbox systems out there now that no one need worry about getting gouged on one or something.

--Dave

[Rob_Merritt]

Any chance to drag out this image..

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rcmerritt/images/web/hindenbox.jpg

[Talisker]

(these are guys who buy a steering wheel that costs as much as the console, after all).
I have no idea what you're talking about.

Actually, I bought the Driving Force Pro 'cause my PS2 was all jealous of the Steel Battalion controller :P

[spooie]

Wasn't Brute Force supposed to be the highest selling game ever on Xbox, about a month or so after the launch? Or fastest selling game to reach XXX amount... or something like that? Of course... I think it died down a little.

:P

Now I'm really torn... do I buy an Xbox now knowing it's probably going to be my last chance this year, do I wait and hope it drops in price first, or do I hope and pray the Xbox 2 will be BC?

[bago]

It depends on how much you are willing to pay for the 20 dollar a game classic hits, which include a lot of great titles, such as Phantom Dust and many other non-halo games.

[Justin Fletcher]

The common thinking seems to be that if backward compatibility happens with Xbox 2, it will come at a cost premium anyway. If you don't want to risk no BC or if you just don't want to wait out the year to play all those swell titles, see if you can pick up a used Xbox for less.