XOS Technologies and EA SPORTS Declare “Game On!”
Team Xbox :: Tuesday, May 01, 2007
XOS Technologies announced today it has licensed the technology used by Electronic Arts in EA SPORTS football video game franchises to develop a training simulator for collegiate and professional football teams.
New Gears of War Multiplayer Map Pack
Xbox 360 Games :: Tuesday, May 01, 2007
On Thursday, May 3, at 9 A.M. GMT, ready your weapons and prepare for battle as Gears of War, rated M for Mature, releases four new action-packed multiplayer maps in the thrilling “Hidden Fronts” Multiplayer Map Pack.
Oblivion Content Guide
Xbox 360 Games :: Tuesday, May 01, 2007
One stop shopping for the low down on every available content download for the The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Some Xbox360 Elite Consoles have BenQ DVD-Drive
Xbox-Scene :: Tuesday, May 01, 2007
While we’ve already seen reports (http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEZZpupVlkRKDCPmxj.php ) of Hitachi-LG (v78 or v79) DVD-drives found in Xbox360 Elite consoles, apparently Microsoft is also using the new BenQ VAD6038 ODD on some of their Elite production lines. Earagon22 posted a picture of his Xbox360 Elite console with BenQ drive on the xbox.com forums (http://forums.xbox.com/12056843/ShowPost.aspx ). (http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/elite/IMG_1727.jpg )
DFC Intelligence: Is Elite an Error?
Xbox-Scene :: Tuesday, May 01, 2007
From next-gen.biz (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5410&Itemid=2 ): [QUOTE] With the launch of Xbox 360 Elite, Microsoft is now chasing Sony for the high-end market. But will this strategy alienate mass-market consumers? In this excerpt from its new report, DFC Intelligence weighs up the arguments… When video game systems are priced in the $200 range and lower a small price change can really move product and consumers tend to be very price sensitive. However, in the $300 and up range consumers tend to be a little more careful with their purchase. Consumers don’t want to spend $400 on a piece of hardware and be told they are not “elite” and only getting second best. At that range the tendency is to want to spend the money on the best or else wait until you can afford the best. The biggest problem with the Xbox 360 Elite is probably the issue of HDMI output. Consumers can understand what a bigger hard drive means and can also feel comfortable knowing that they can always upgrade their hard drive. However, it is a safe bet that the vast majority of consumers aren’t quite sure what an HDMI port means. You can be sure that the sales clerks in your average retail store will probably be telling a lot of different stories. Of course, this ignores the fact that a year ago Microsoft was arguing that you don’t need HDMI to do high definition and for the vast majority of consumers regular component cables will in fact work just fine. However, in the average consumer mind they don’t know that. All they know is that one day they may want a high definition system and if they are spending this kind of money they better go with the high-end system. Or maybe, they should just go home and play with their PlayStation 2 while they research the issue some more and let the market shakeout. [/QUOTE] Full Story: next-gen.biz (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5410&Itemid=2 ) (2 pages)
Semiconductor Insights Looks Inside Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Elite
Xbox-Scene :: Tuesday, May 01, 2007
From eetimes.com (http://www.eetimes.com/rss/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199202543&cid=RSSfeed_eetimes_newsRSS ): [QUOTE] Semiconductor Insights got hold of the just-released Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite and kept the cameras rolling as they popped the lid and dove inside. The teardown is a follow-on to the company’s teardown of the Playstation 3 (view video (http://www.techonline.com/product/underthehood/194400657 )) and Nintendo Wii (view video (http://www.techonline.com/product/underthehood/194500380 )) last year and provides insight into what Microsoft is doing to remain competitive in a hotly contested three-way market. There has been considerable speculation regarding the lithography of the IBM processor. Some sources have claimed that it uses a 65-nm processes lithography, while other claim that it’s 90 nm. Semiconductor Insights (SI) performed a cross section of the device, measuring the transistor length, and confirmed that it’s the same as that used by the original XBox 360. “The CPU in the Xbox 360 Elite seems to be assembled in Canada whereas the CPU in the previous Xbox was marked ‘Taiwan’,” stated Rob Hilkes, a lead technology analyst at SI. “This may indicate that while the previous CPU was built on Chartered’s Fab7 in Singapore and assembled in Taiwan, the CPU of the Elite may be built in IBM’s Fab B323 in East Fishkill, New York and assembled at IBM’s assembly facility in nearby Bromont, Quebec.” IBM and Chartered share design data at the 90-nm node. “We seem to have evidence now that Microsoft is indeed using both sources for the XBox CPU.” Concern about the original Xbox 360’s power consumption may also have been addressed. “Microsoft has redesigned some aspects of the power architecture, resulting in a lower component count.” [/QUOTE] Full Story: eetimes.com (http://www.eetimes.com/rss/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199202543&cid=RSSfeed_eetimes_newsRSS )
Penny Arcade LIVE feature: Call the Fucking Police
Xbox-Scene :: Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Here’s Penny Arcades (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/04/30 ) latest web comic … they suggest a new feature for Xbox LIVE ;) Who knows what Microsoft will add in the spring 2007 update (hitting your Xbox360 the week of may 7th). (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/04/30 )
