#1) MS started out promising FULL HDTV support at 1080i with the XBOX but reduced their specs (admittedly so did all the consoles at the time) after they saw the production unit PS2. Thus the XBOX architecture could not handle a game, like HALO for instance, in full 1080 or 720. (Not Tony Hawk H-A-L-O) #2) MS promised a progressive scan output for the DVD function. Zip, nada. #3) Although MS is one of the wealthy companies in the world, they could not get their tuff together when it came to attracting top shelf games. Their in house division produced the game that gave gamers THE reason to own an XBOX. Please don’t any TRY and deny it. Only on game sold one to one with the unit across the majority of it lifespan, at full price I might mention. No, not FEVER! The accidental masterpiece that was HALO. (Queue music): Ooooo OoAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! sorry. Recently the MS library (absent sports titles) has been lean on the top selling console games (which I need no list for this crowd). It is true you could list many other legitimate reasons that MS lost this round of the console wars, like it was their first attempt, or they got out the gate second. However, we are now moving towards the next generation of machines. The gaming community is aging. Gaming itself is growing into the mainstream and attracting an older audience. The market 3 major groups: - Kids age 0-11 (Nintendo FBs (& True Gaming Die-hards:-) -HARDCORE Dudes & Dudettes (XBOX, PS2, & the PC (Not EXCLUSIVELY StarCraft) -Nubs (Which one is the best?, Does it play those CD games?, Can you use email on it?, I'm lost. Can you help me find my mommy?) Now, the XBOX2 (Good)/ XBOX Next (OK)/ XBOX 360 (Totally _ay) needs HD support to: 1) Stay at the same level as Sony, in regards to selling features, and attracting 1.5-2 of the afore mentioned groups. 2) To attract more developers (as mentioned before). 3) To justify the upgrade. Meaning, HALO which was obviously designed on emulated XBOX Next hardware and "ported" back to the XBOX, had a C- story (as presented), unacceptable level of post production bugs. Just visit one of the Halo2 sucks web sites for the rest. And YES, I do still play it). I brought up halo 2 because I believe, based on insider reports (every where around the internet), and RATION THOUGHT that MS, in their stated effort to conquer the universe.. I mean living room, decided that they had to have a killer launch title for the new XBOX. They went down hall to Bungie HQ and they did like what they heard... The scene: Two Microhard Vice Presidents enter Work Area 13-Alpha: MS Employee 78455621 Earth (Software Division) - Dan Sellout: "I'm sorry Sir, but we just don't have the manpower and/ or time to create a HALO 3 launch title." Microsoft VP - Lata Semagyalptnodi: "Ok then." "What are you working on now?" MS Employee 78455622 Earth (Software Division) - Bill Wheresthemony Bes: "Halo 2 Sir." Microsoft VP - Michael Buttmunch: "No, no, no, you mean GALO 2.5" And the moral of this story? Why sell’em what they want in a timely fashion, when you can feed them what YOU want and increase you profit margin? So this begs the question: Why should I buy (what "new" features are you offering) a new XBOX? Read on. ************************************************************************ XBOX 360 Light Specs: No HD, DVD-ROM, NIC! Only $150-$199! Launch Titles: Unreal 3, HALO 2.5, Need for Speed 20 Release Date: November 23, 2005 Kids: Ages 0-1: “No Mario?� True GMDHs: “No/ Zelda?� 4-30% Buy it. HC G&G: “Nah I'll pass (.)� Nubs: “Does it play those CD games?:/� 0-15% Buy it ************************************************************************ XBOX 360 Medium Specs: HD, DVD-ROM, & Wireless NIC, HALO 2.5 Palladium Edition - Embedded Only $299-$199! Special Offer: trade in your XBOX for a discount! XBOX Generation 1 (easiest to mod): $50 In INSTANT SAVINGS! XBOX Generation 2-X: $20 IN INSTANT SAVINGS! *Caveat*: If your XBOX has been modded using a unlicensed chip, your LIVE! account will be disabled and your Gamer Tag banned. Also, the used any non-MS third party adapter is considered modding. Launch Titles: Unreal 3, Need for Speed Underground 20, The SIMS LIVE! Edition Release Date: November 23, 2005 Kids: “Yeah Mom! Git me one for Christmas, pleezzzzzzzzz. I wanna own some sum Nubs with by SMG tyranny of death? 4-10% of Moms Buy it HC G&G: “Ummmm… Yeah I guess I'll Buy it. I’ve always wanted to play HALO 2!� “Besides, I’ll just sell it when the next one or PS3 comes out next year (.)� 70-99% Buy it Nubs: “Does it play those CD games?� 5-30% Buy it ************************************************************************ XBOX 360 Hard Specs: HD, HD-DVD-ROM, & Wireless NIC, HALO 2.5 Palladium Edition - Embedded Only $599-$699! Special Offer: Trade in your XBOX for a discount! XBOX Generation 1 (easiest to mod): $0 This Item no longer supported by LIVE! XBOX Generation 2-X: $5 IN INSTANT SAVINGS! *Caveat*: If your produce an outlawed unit (XBOX Generation 1), your LIVE! account will be disabled and your Gamer Tag banned. Also, you could face jail time. In addition, running any modified version of the HALO 2.5 Palladium Edition software, which allow HALO 1 players to use skill rather that the Ultra cheesy weapons lay out of the MS approved version, is considered cheating. Bonus Offer: Free Wireless Headset (Logitech) and mouse (MS). Keyboard not included. *NOTE* The MS Wireless Radical 360 Gaming Keyboard is required for the Headset and Mouse to work. Any use on modded MS Intellitype Keyboard *blah!* *blah!* *blah!* Launch Titles: Unreal 3.5, Need for Speed Underground 21, Malice LIVE! Edition, the Entire MS PC Library Release Date: One week prior to the PS3 Launch, 2006 Kids: “Nah, Ill get an iPod Dash instead. Plus, Kenny (the rich{READ SPOILED} kid down the street) got one and said “all the games looked the same on his TV.� 2% Buy it HC G&G: (10-50%) “Yes period.� OR “How is this different than my PC now? Oh MS owns what I can do on this one, II see. I'll pass (.)� 10-50% Buy it Nubs: Is this the XBOX 3? :-) 0% The XBOX 360 BUY OR DIE! *** This all just in fun. No offense to anyone. ***