Official Press Release

[gekko]

I dissected it for you, because it's long. To read it in original form, wait for the next post. Keep in mind, I didn't take anything from the MTV special or rumors, only what was in the press release.

Hardware

• 3 Core PowerPC CPU
• Over 1 teraflop of floating point performance
• More than 512MB memory (expect 512.0001)
• Wireless controllers
• Detachable HD
• Interchangeable faceplates
• All games minimum of 720p
• Progressive-scan DVD playback (no up-conversion mentioned)
• Audio-CD playback
• Photo playback
• Stream music and photos via USB 2 port from cameras, MP3 players, and Windows XP PCs
• Windows Media Center Extender allows you to access content on Windows Media Center PCs, and can stream HD movies and TV from the PC

Release Date

• Launching this holiday season
• North America, Europe, and Japan
• Promises greatest launch lineup in history

Announced Games

• NBA 2K6
• Call of Duty 2
• QUAKE 4
• Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
• Madden NFL 06
• Need For Speed: Most Wanted
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06
• The Darkness
• Perfect Dark Zero
• Kameo: Elements of Power
• Project Gotham Racing 3
• Gears of War
• Saint’s Row
• Ghost Recon 3

Controller

• Xbox Guide Button, connects gamers to games, friends, and music

Developers

• BioWare
• Bizarre Creations
• Bungie Studios
• Rare Ltd.
• 2KGames
• Activision Inc.
• Capcom Co. Ltd.
• Electronic Arts Inc.
• Tecmo Ltd.
• Namco Ltd.
• Rockstar Games
• SEGA
• THQ Inc.
• UbiSoft Entertainment

Free-level Xbox Live

• Gamer Profile—comprised of user-generated information such as Achievements (rewards players have earned in games), Gamerzone (style of play), and a custom-created Gamertile (a visual icon to represent the gamer online)
• Send and receive text and voice messages to friends, as well as engage in Xbox Live voice chat anywhere, anytime, even if one person is playing a game while the other is watching a progressive-scan enabled DVD movie.
• Xbox Live Marketplace, a one-stop shop to download demos and trailers, new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins, community-created content, and more
• Receive invites when playing music or watching movies

Xbox Live Premium Service

• Subscription-required
• "Xbox Live members who subscribe to the premium service can experience the thrill of multiplayer online game play." --> Does that mean no gaming for free accounts? I leave it for you to decide.
• Gamer Profiles used for intelligent matchmaking of players of similar skill levels and interests
• Xbox Live Camera peripheral will let gamers add their own faces into games and see their friends while they play.
• Video messaging
• Online tournaments and ladders
• Exclusive, original programming such as playing with celebrities online and joining sponsored tournaments to win prizes.
• One free month