EGM Rumor Mole (January)

[Angrist]

Originally posted by Shiz
ps2 sold alot at the start cause everyone was like "i dont wanna wait a long time to get a next gen console, so lets get ps2!"

I thought everybody got it for the DVD-player. There were barely any good games for it. Tekken Tag was , it took a few months before GT3 was released...

This time around everybody will have a DVD-player so ppl will look at the games.

HD, internet, 4 ports, DVD-playback... add a microphone to that.

And Bond, you really should move it to fight club now...

[Bond]

Here are some of the highlights:

Xbox 2 Before Playstation 3
Not terribly surprising comes word that the Next Box (that's a play on word, ya see) will supposedly show up before Sony's Playstation 3 debut (still a few years away - 2005 or 6 at current estimates). This news came direct from the main man Ed Fries over at Microsoft. Just remember, folks, the earliest bird doesn't always get the worm (otherwise we'd still be Dreamcastin').

2003: Year of the MMORPG
MMORPG! No, it's not some word I pulled outta Webster's Zebulonese Dictionary. It's an acronym for Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, and if The Q's Magic 8-Ball is correct, "it is decidedly so" that you'll see loads of them for Xbox by Microsoft and others in the new year. You already know about True Fantasy and Star Was Galaxies, but there's a total of four or five of these babies in development for 2003 (some may slip to 2004). Even Rare is producing their own (I can already see it - create your character by sticking googly-eyes on everyday household items. Fun!).... Also on the MMORPG front (but not Xbox) is Final Fantasy XI. Good news: It's "outlook good" on a U.S. release. Bad News: It may still be a long wait before we see it....

That's it for what QuarterMann had to say about the Xbox, I'll add in this interesting GBA tid bit though:

The Hot Q: New GBA or Not?
Would Nintendo divide the handheld market and alienate gamers who bought a GBA just one year ago by introducing a new, more powerful version of the hardware, just to incorporate cell-phone technology? That's the question now, with buzz circulating that the Big N has such a device in development (which I mentioned during last month's visit), and some even reporting it will happen next month in Japan! Lemme just say this: Nintendo's not one to push the technology envelope so soon after a launch. Years separated previous versions of their handheld hardware...

I think they'll stick with the GBA for a few more years... anyone else have thoughts on the subject(s)?

[Bond]

Originally posted by Dyne
Shouldn't this be in "Fight Club"? =P

I don't think so... I just typed up all the Xbox stuff I could find. Added in the GBA article because I was feeling generous.

Most consoles are 'rushed'. I mean, nothing is ever perfect, so everything is always rushed. Or at least you could look at it that way. I'm pretty sure Xbox 2 will come out before Playstation 3 though, maybe only a month gap or. I doubt it will be a year or more, Sony would never allow that. Also, I think the Xbox will again be the most technologically advanced system. Simply because Microsoft has the most money to spend on it and the most access to new technology in my opinion. It's also a great debating and advertising option. Early reports have indicated the Xbox 2 chip is more advanced than the Playstation 3 chip.

3) Although Microsoft really can't avoid this, the XBox 2 will lose an edge on the competition. Built in hard drive and ethernet ports will be standard with the PS3.

Sony is a generation behind Microsoft (hard drive, ethernet port, 4 controller ports)... by the time the PS3 has a hard drive and ethernet port standard Microsoft will have already moved on to something else on the Xbox 2. Xbox 2 will have everything standard that the Xbox has and more... you can quote me on that.

[Shiz]

well i guess it depends on how u look at it

sony will have learned more and the graphics will probably be better than xbx 2's, but they wont have that hype of it being released early

ps2 sold alot at the start cause everyone was like "i dont wanna wait a long time to get a next gen console, so lets get ps2!"

now thats how xbox 2 will be. and if sony gets it right the graphics will be a bit better than xbox 2's

on the other hand, everyone will still remember ps and ps2 and wait and not buy xbox 2 and get ps3. theres a few more but i dont feel like typing :\

[Shiz]

i totally forgot about that null, thanks for reminding me. that makes a huuuuge difference

[Shiz]

Originally posted by TheGame
All in all, they could possibly release an easier to develop for console, with better graphics, games, and a completed online gaming service before Sony even comes to North America!

i dont understand why u think that they could possibly develop a system with better graphics games and online gaming service better than the others. every other company has as just a good chance dont they?

btw, nice read justin, thanks

[Dyne]

Shouldn't this be in "Fight Club"? =P

I agree with Gekko on the first subject. 100%. If rumours are correct about Microsoft's Sony-thirsty sales, we'll definitely see a change in quality in both of them. And.... Aha.... a Rare MMORPG.... sounds enticing. Microsoft must have pushed the envelope on them as soon as they bought them for one of these. I wonder if they'll make a completely new series or exploit an older Rare franchise? That shouldn't be the case though, because we know their philosophies right now--and they could change for all we know.

GBA 2... yes, I've been hearing a lot about this lately, and I have not believed one. Nintendo knows the score when it comes to handhelds--they've been number one since the beginning and have the largest known fanbase known to the non-PC game market. Plus, they've been there since the beginning, and I honestly don't think they'll rush something like this at all what with the Gamecube Game Boy Player and the suggested "online" functions along with it. There's no way in hell that they'll do anything drastic like a completely different handheld for another year or so. What Nintendo said directly to everyone has been "All games all the time--no filler!" since the early years. Who knows, maybe they'll get hitched with Panasonic *starts to make funny noises* and start to get jiggy with the industry. That I'd like to see.

Oh... yes. Panasonic's blood thirsty revenge on Sony is great, and I think it's even with Nintendo's. Them combined... well.... and Microsoft ready to rumble with them with the new Sony console... well... I'd hate to work for SCEA in the coming years now that it's going to be a whole new ball game.

[PuPPeT]

Originally posted by TheGame
Also, like I said before, all thier first and second party developers are based here... so what will they do? Complete the games in english, then port to japanese and release4 it there first for the hell of it?

Umm No there not Microsoft has quite a few teams based in Japan well ok they only have 5 but it's a start! Most of the teams have been outsourced to other developers in Japan for the last year (To try and get more games) but they have at lest 3 in house games being made as we type in Japan.

[PuPPeT]

Originally posted by TheGame
Ok, then the "majority" of them are here (better?)

Why Thank you!

[.hack//]

If Xbox 2 comes out before PS3, does that mean it will have inferior hardware?

We know absolutely NOTHING about either Xbox 2 or PS3 as far as the hardware goes (any numbers you may have read are rumors). Until some official specs/numbers are released, you cannot say which one will be techinally superior.

It will be at least a couple of years before Microsoft or Sony reveal their follow up consoles methinks...