Xbox Done Discussion - 2016's #1 Master Race Bottom Bitch

[Correction]

Lots of insiders have confirmed the yield issues, so I don't personally believe it is a rumor. No real way to confirm it as Microsoft would never come out and admit it.

Yeah I believe the rumor, just saying that this is corroboration; low production yields = constrained supply, therefore they're not shipping to their weakest markets.

[6souls]

Rejected names for Microsoft's first console

Microsoft’s ‘naming guys’ wanted to call the company’s first games console 11-X or Eleven-X, but were overruled by Seamus Blackley and his launch team.

Blackley was part of the team that built and launched the first Xbox, and in an excerpt from an archive Edge interview published online for the first time, he revealed to us the long list of suggested acronym-based names for what eventually became the Xbox.

“First, there were our code names, which were WEP – ‘Windows Entertainment Project’ – designed to make Microsoft executives comfortable, Midway – ‘Midway between a PC and a console or ‘Battle of Midway’ – you decide – and DirectX Box, which was shortened to xbox in email very early on.”

“When we got the first approval, Kevin [Bachus] was told we had to get a new name, because ‘xbox’ wasn’t legally sound, so against his judgment he did so, and got the phase two, or ‘car’ names. These were so bad we didn’t even save them, but I remember making fun of one of them by calling it the ‘Microsoft Bunduss’. Then we got the ‘acronym’ phase from the naming geniuses.”

Blackley was sent a huge list of potential acronym-based names, which were all “crap,” he says. The team decided to stick with Xbox. “Phase four was a battle between us and the naming guys, when we decided we just wanted to risk it and go with Xbox – since that’s what everyone called it anyway – and they wanted, for some unknowable reason, to call it ‘11-X’ or ‘Eleven-X’. Finally, we told them no, but still had to decide: X-Box, xBox, XboX, Xbox, X-box…”

You can read the complete list of the ‘naming guys’ various suggestions below, and read more from Blackley in our recent The Making Of: Xbox interview.

- MAX (Microsoft Action Experience)
- AIO (All In One)
- MIND (Microsoft Interactive Network Device)
- FACE (Full Action Center)
- MITH (Microsoft Interactive Theatre)
- XON (Experience Optimised Network)
- MVPC (Microsoft Virtual Play Center)
- TAC (Total Action Center – discs/games could be called TACs)
- MARC (Microsoft Action Reality Center)
- LEX (Live Entertainment Experience)
- M-PAC (Microsoft Play and Action Center)
- RPM (Real Performance Machine)
- MOX (Microsoft Optimal Experience)
- E2 (Extreme Experience)
- MTG (Microsoft Total Gaming)
- VIP (Virtual Interactive Player)
- PTP or P2P (Powered To Play)
- VIC (Virtual Interactive Center – disks/games could be called VICs)
- MARZ (Microsoft Active Reality Zone)
- TSO (Three, Six, Zero)
- EHQ (Entertainment Headquarters)
- O2 (Optimal Ozone or Optical Odyssey)
- MIC (Microsoft Interactive Center)
- R&R (Reality and Revolution)
- MEA (Microsoft Entertainment Activator)
- AMP (Active Microsoft Player)
- VPS (Virtual Play System)
- MAP (Microsoft Action Play)
- MEGA (Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Attendant or Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Assembly)
- CPG (CyberPlayGround)
- VERV (Virtual Entertainment & Reality Venture)
- OM (Odyssey of the Mind)
- P2 (PowerPlay)
- IS1 (Interactive System In One)
- MET (Microsoft Entertainment Technology or Microsoft Entertainment Theater)

http://www.edge-online.com/features/...first-console/
http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-xbox/

[Shenrien]

These names, my god what the fuck.

[Elcura]

That O2, lol. P2 would've gone down well also!

[Gustave]

What do you guys think about the Illumiroom?

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/...ts/illumiroom/

[Minions]

What do you guys think about the Illumiroom?

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/...ts/illumiroom/

I think it is going to be expensive, and not really supported by many games. I don't think it will work very well since most people have tons of shit everywhere and no blank wall space (where it looks best).

I'd love for all of this to be wrong, as I think it's cool though.

[Gustave]

A couple of guys from work went to a Tech convention a few months back. They said the Microsoft presentation had a lot to do with their Kinect and Illimuroom technology but in the corp work space.

[Kaisha]

and not really supported by many games.

This is what I'm expecting. If the majority of good looking PS4 games are only going to run 30fps, I doubt Xbox One's more popular games will be capable of drawing 2x+ of the amount of geometry while maintaining a decent frame-rate without sacrificing the resolution or model/texture detail of both what's on the TV, and the projected screen.

[6souls]

Mattrick negotiated Zynga buy-out while at Microsoft in 2010

Zynga CEO Don Mattrick is said to have opened negotiations for a Zynga buy-out while at Microsoft in 2010, according to fresh reports.

Bloomberg cites several sources close to the issue that have said Mattrick entered discussion over a potential acquisition of Zynga with then-CEO mark Pincus as early as 2010.

While the discussions failed to bear fruit, they began a long-standing friendship between Mattrick and Pincus, and the pair first coined the idea of Mattrick becoming Zynga’s CEO in March of this year.

Mattrick left Microsoft to become Zynga CEO last week, and is said to make $19.3 million this year, and as much as $50 million over the next three years if certain parameters are met.

http://www.vg247.com/2013/07/08/matt...osoft-in-2010/
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...microsoft.html

Xbox’s Soho Productions hires Channel 4 business manager Jen Topping

Microsoft has hired Channel 4′s Jen Topping to be business manager of its UK studio Soho Productions. The company is geared towards creating on-demand video content for Xbox platforms, including Xbox One. It is a key component of Microsoft’s IPTV and bespoke content strategy.

GI.biz reports that Topping has video on demand experience from her tenure at Channel 4, during which she worked closely in developing the 4oD platform. Topping’s expertise will be applied to Microsoft’s Xbox programming moving forward.

In a statement, Topping said of the move, “I’ve had a great time at Channel 4 working across lots of different projects, and have learned a huge amount about how technology is changing the way audiences watch and engage with TV programmes..

“This is such an exciting time to be joining Microsoft with the launch of Xbox One as the new generation all-in-one home entertainment system. I’m looking forward to being part of the team building amazing TV content experiences for Xbox’s millions of users.”

http://www.vg247.com/2013/07/08/xbox...r-jen-topping/
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ho-productions

XB1 not launching in Japan because it's geared towards the Western lifestyle

Xbox One is geared towards western gamers, so releasing it as it stands in Japan would prove difficult Microsoft’s Japanese president and CEO Yasuyuki Higuchi has said.

Speaking with 4Gamer, Higuchi said, “Xbox One is geared towards a Western lifestyle, and we’re looking at whether or not to launch it ‘as is’ in Japan. We’re still figuring out how to deal with things like music and video services in each country. To be honest, [releasing it in Japan] as is would be difficult.”

The comments follow Microsoft’s uphill battle to boost the Xbox 360′s popularity across Japan, with console sales trailing the likes of PS Vita, 3DS, Wii U and PS3. It’s not uncommon to see only a few hundred consoles sold across the country each week.

When it comes to content, Higuchi admitted that Microsoft has to be wary of what will and will not work in Japan. “We have to prepare content that is relevant to Japan,” he continued. “‘What is the best, what will today’s consumers in Japan respond to? What content is in demand?’

“We’re considering these questions now. There’s no point in a solution that does not match the market. Even if we bring NFL [on board for Japan], haha… Japan is difficult. I’m almost tempted to ask for ideas.”

Microsoft has confirmed it will return to Tokyo Game Show this year, following an absence at the event.

http://www.vg247.com/2013/07/08/xbox...ays-microsoft/
http://www.oxm.co.uk/57836/xbox-one-...kyo-game-show/
http://www.4gamer.net/games/990/G999025/20130702068/

[Correction]

Speaking with 4Gamer, Higuchi said, “Xbox One is geared towards a Western lifestyle, and we’re looking at whether or not to launch it ‘as is’ in Japan. We’re still figuring out how to deal with things like music and video services in each country. To be honest, [releasing it in Japan] as is would be difficult.”

In other words, NHK/FNS/etc wouldn't play ball with their set-top strategies, and almost every Japanese home is incompatible with Kinect, so fuck it.

[archibaldcrane]

Xboxone

Not for Asians

Also it's the first time in history someone is telling an Asian they wouldn't be able to use electronics properly.

[Mizango]

"Western lifestyles.."

See also: Nigga, you fat.

[Day]

they sound mad as hell they ain't make it tbh

[Gryffes]

Some bad rumours, that they might up xbone ram from 8gb to 12gb, which would do.... not much.

Xbone reserves 4gb for os, ps4 reserves 1gb, so right now ps4 has 7gb for games, and xbone has 4gb, even if they up it to 12, it'll then be 8gb of shittier ram vs 7gb of way faster ram and still a better gpu.

[Day]

Yeah that's fucking awful news. The travesty.

[Gryffes]

By "bad" I meant unreliable/not good sourcing. ( yet ).

It would help the xbone out in the longrun to not fall as far behind, good news for xbone buyers if true.

[Day]

I see, color me dickish. Apologies.

[Tajin]

Some bad rumours, that they might up xbone ram from 8gb to 12gb, which would do.... not much.

Xbone reserves 4gb for os, ps4 reserves 1gb, so right now ps4 has 7gb for games, and xbone has 4gb, even if they up it to 12, it'll then be 8gb of shittier ram vs 7gb of way faster ram and still a better gpu.

That they are considering switching specs so close to release, M$ has pretty much gone "fuck research and planning", lucky for them the people with eat this news up and likely result in increased sales.

[Rokku]

They're releasing in November, and probably already knee deep in production. Does anyone really believe they're going to bring everything to a screeching halt and make a massive hardware revision without pushing their release back until after the new year (read: suicide in the current market)? I wouldn't put any stock in that supposed rumor, it's pretty ridiculous considering the timetable they're working on, and the fact that they've already secured contracts and the like for all of the system's components.

[Gryffes]

They changed the xbox 360 spec closer to release than this, from 256 to 512mb of ram.
They can easily do it.