> -----Original Message----- > From: Won Lee [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 3:07 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Next Gen Gaming Systems > > Have any of specs been realized for PS3 or Xbox2? If so, can anyone > point me to a website that has this info?
Nothing definite at all. For Sony: The PS3 is almost definitely going with the Cell Processor (there's been some talk that IBM wouldn't be ready in time, but that's rumor at best). Although the nature of the Cell chip (a highly concurrent networked chip) means that the PS3 could ship with multiple Cells - the current guess (based on a 2002 Patent application) is four, but as many as eight have been rumored. The nature of the Cell architecture actually means that the code doesn't have to run on the system itself - if it finds another cell chip out in the world with time on its hands it can offload processing to that as well. Good idea in theory, but probably won't be practical any time soon (although Sony is planning to include the Cell chip in lots of home electronics like DVD players, TVs and stereos). The networked nature of the chip and the current market place make it almost certain that Sony will include broadband capability (Ethernet) out of the box this time through. Sony and nVidia also announced that the system's GPU would be an nVidia core. I have to guess that it will be something like the 6800 or whatever will follow that. Many sources (too many to ignore) have also hinted liberally that a next generation Eyetoy will come standard on the PS3 as well. Less likely some source have hinted that Sony might include TWO eye toys allowing the system to have binocular (depth perceptive) vision. Very cool sounding, but I think unlikely - however the designer of the Eyetoy has already done demos of the tech so it's a possibility. The system is rumored to be backwards compatible via emulation (so we might expect more titles that can't be played in backwards compatibility mode). Most pundits seem to think that Sony will make their first bug announcement about PS3, with gameplay footage and initial hardware specs, at this year's E3 (March or May I think). That's about all I know at this point. Microsoft is the favorite to make it to market first however. Many are still saying that XBox Next (or whatever they'll call it) will be out at the end of 2005. If so then you should definitely see a big splash at E3 - if you don't see something at E3 then the chances for a 2005 release are pretty slim I think. But the XBox Next is going to be using a PowerPC chip and ATI graphics (both changes for XBox). The big question here is if the underlying OS will change (since XBox runs on a Windows 2000 core will MS produce Windows for Power ISA?) The XBox Next will almost definitely dump the hard drive as too costly (the XBox is still a hardware loss leader after four years). I've heard nothing about controllers or pack ins. One of the big questions is backwards compatibility. MS has all but said that it won't be compatible with older games. They claim, rightfully so, that this is only a major selling point in the first 6 mos to a year. However that's exactly the time when you want to sell the most consoles to attract the software. I'd also be surprised if MS doesn't leverage their investment in Virtual PC to emulate XBox on XBox Next. The big question there is the graphics (Virtual PC is great, but currently emulates 10 year-old graphics technology). An inability (or an unwillingness to spend the time) to emulate the current nVidia solution might put a stop to the whole idea. But the hardware in the VBox Next should be able to handily do the emulation if they bother to write it. I could also see MS making the truly boneheaded move of releasing XBox emulation later as a separate product requiring two disc shuffling. It does seem like MS is focused pretty exclusively on simply beating Sony to market and are dropping features to do that. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Special thanks to the CF Community Suite Silver Sponsor - RUWebby http://www.ruwebby.com Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:141181 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
