Author Topic: XBOX 360 LAUNCH INFO + DETAILS (56K friendly) (Read 144 times)

Black_Smoke · « **on:** October 25, 2005, 11:50:50 AM »

XBOX 360

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20050712/Xbox%20360%20-%203qrtr%20copy.jpg
http://www.sachsreport.com/The%20Xbox%20360%20and%20the%20PS3%20late%20bloomers%20or%20complete%20failures.jpg

http://www.toysnjoys.com/xbox360/xbox360_4.jpg

http://www.infuzemag.com/gallery/albums/xbox360/xbox360_controller.jpg

SPECS
IBM PowerPC-based CPU 3 symmetrical cores running at 3.2 GHz each
2 hardware threads per core; 6 hardware threads total
1 VMX-128 vector unit per core; 3 total
128 VMX-128 registers per hardware thread
1 MB L2 cache

CPU Game Math Performance 9 billion dot product operations per second

Custom ATI Graphics Processor 500 MHz
10 MB embedded DRAM
48-way parallel floating-point dynamically-scheduled shader pipelines
Unified shader architecture

Polygon Performance 500 million triangles per second

Pixel Fill Rate 16 gigasamples per second fillrate using 4X MSAA

Shader Performance 48 billion shader operations per second

Memory 512 MB GDDR3 RAM
700 MHz DDR
Unified memory architecture

Memory Bandwidth 22.4 GB/s memory interface bus bandwidth
256 GB/s memory bandwidth to EDRAM
21.6 GB/s front-side bus

Overall System Floating-Point Performance 1 TFLOP

Storage Detachable and upgradeable 20 GB hard drive
12X dual-layer DVD-ROM
Memory unit support starting at 64 MB

I/O Support for up to 4 wireless game controllers
3 USB 2.0 ports
2 memory unit slots

Optimized for Online Instant, out-of-the-box access to Xbox Live features, including Xbox Live Marketplace for downloadable content, Gamer Profile for digital identity and voice chat to talk to friends while playing games, watching movies or listening to music
Built in Ethernet Port
Wi-Fi Ready: 802.11 A, B and G
Video Camera Ready

Digital Media Support Support for DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, WMA CD, MP3 CD, JPEG Photo CD
Stream media from portable music devices, digital cameras, Windows XP PCs
Rip music to Xbox 360 hard drive
Custom playlists in every game
Windows Media Center Extender built in
Interactive, full screen 3D visualizers

HD Game Support All games supported at 16:9, 720p and 1080i, anti-aliasing
Standard definition and high definition video output supported

Audio Multichannel surround sound output
Supports 48 KHz 16-bit audio
320 independent decompression channels
32-bit audio processing
Over 256 audio channels

System Orientation Stands vertically or horizontally

Customizable Face Plates Interchangeable to personalize the console

OVERVIEW

Hardware, software, and services: Unveiled to the world on MTV on Thursday, May 12, 2005, Xbox 360 represents a dramatic leap forward in high-definition gaming and entertainment experiences. Fusing powerful hardware, software, and services, Xbox 360 fully engages you in a gaming experience that is more expansive, dramatic, and lifelike, where the possibilities are limitless and your imagination knows no boundaries. The next generation is here.

Industrial design: A merger of form and function, Xbox 360 wraps powerful technology in a sophisticated exterior. Two of the most innovative design firms in the world—San Francisco-based Astro Studios and Osaka, Japan-based Hers Experimental Design Laboratory Inc.—came together to craft a sleek, stylish system that conveys the very essence of Xbox 360.

Xbox Gamer Guide:The Xbox Gamer Guide is an entertainment gateway that instantly connects you to your games, friends, music, movies, and downloadable content. Available at a touch of the Xbox Guide Button, the Xbox Gamer Guide gives you instant access to the experiences and content you want, from the gamer card of the player that just invited you to play online to new downloadable content for the game currently running.

Personalized interface: Xbox 360 lets you create your own unique system and experience. With interchangeable Xbox 360 Faces, it's easy and fun to change the appearance of your console. Switch on your system and customize the look and feel of the Xbox Gamer Guide and Xbox System Guide with unique "skins." From sleek and sophisticated to fun and funky, pick the Faces and skins that show your personality.

Ring of Light and Xbox Guide Button: Divided into four quadrants, the glowing Ring of Light and Xbox Guide Button visually connect you to your games, digital media, and the world of Xbox Live, the first global, unified online console games service. Featured on both the wireless and wired controllers, the Xbox Guide Button puts you in control of your experience. In addition to bringing up the Xbox Gamer Guide and the Xbox System Guide, the Xbox Guide Button lets you turn the system on and off without ever leaving the couch.

Xbox Live: Xbox Live is where games and entertainment come alive, the only unified place where you can play with anyone, anytime, anywhere. And the best just got better. Connect your Xbox 360 to your broadband connection and get instant access to Xbox Live Silver. Express your digital identity through your Gamertag and gamer card, talk with others using voice chat, and access Xbox Live Marketplace—all right out of the box, at no extra cost. Upgrade to Xbox Live Gold and enter the exciting world of multiplayer online gaming. With intelligent matchmaking, access to all your achievements and statistics, video chat and video messaging, and an enormous selection of games, Xbox Live Gold delivers your competition, on your terms.

Xbox Live Marketplace: Keep your favorite games fresh with instant access to new content. Xbox Live Marketplace is a one-stop shop to download new game trailers, demos, and episodic content, plus new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins, and more. Accessible to everyone who establishes a broadband connection with their Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace lets you personalize and extend your experience, on demand.

Games: Xbox 360 redefines what games look like, sound like, feel like, and play like to engage you like never before. With Xbox 360, epic worlds are alive with detail, from thunderous skies rumbling over a mountain range to tiny blades of grass rustling together in the breeze. Vibrant characters display depth of emotion to evoke more dramatic responses, immersing you in the experience like never before. You’ll see all Xbox 360 titles at 720p and 1080i resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smooth, movie-like graphics and multi-channel surround sound.

Digital entertainment: Amplify your music, photos, video, and TV. Watch progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. Rip music to the Xbox 360 hard drive and share your latest digital pictures with friends. Make the connection, and Xbox 360 instantly streams the digital media stored on your MP3 player, digital camera, Media Center PC, or any Microsoft Windows XP-based PC.

CORE VS Premium (there are 2 versions of the xbox 360, the core and the premium, the core is $299 while the premium is $399, highly recommended u get the premium version,heres a list of what comes with what )

CORE

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-Everything you need to start playing Xbox 360 games right out of the box at great value
-Expandable--Add key accessories to take full advantage of the power of the system
-Xbox Live Enabled
-Enjoy your movies with progressive scan DVD playback
-Stream your music and digital photos from a wide range of portable music players and digital cameras
-Connect to your Windows XP or Windows Media Center PC.

PREMIUM
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-Everything you need to start playing Xbox 360 games right out of the box at great value
-Expandable--Add key accessories to take full advantage of the power of the system
-Xbox Live Enabled
-Enjoy your movies with progressive scan DVD playback
-Stream your music and digital photos from a wide range of portable music players and digital cameras
-Connect to your Windows XP or Windows Media Center PC.

+

Xbox 360 hard drive (20 GB):
The detachable hard drive allows gamers to store their games, music, downloaded trailers, levels, demos and community-created content from Xbox Live Marketplace.

Xbox 360 wireless controller:
Hassle-free high-performance precision wireless gaming features the Xbox Guide Button for quick access to digital movies, music and games libraries. The controller has a range of 30 feet and battery life of up to 30 hours of life on two AA batteries.

Xbox 360 faceplate:
The removable Faceplate comes in stylish white and can be swapped out with custom faceplates to reflect gamers’ personalities or room decor.

Xbox 360 headset:
This lets gamers form strategies with team-mates or trade banter with opponents while playing games on Xbox Live.

Xbox 360 component HD-AV cable:
This connects gamers to the world of Xbox 360 games and graphics through high-definition and standard-definition connections.

Xbox Live silver membership:
With this, gamers can chat with friends online, send and receive voice and text messages, and access new content from Xbox Live Marketplace such as trailers, demos and casual games from Xbox Live Arcade.

A bonus Media Remote
Included for a limited time, the integrated control centre lets consumers play DVDs, movies and music, as well as access their Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based PC’s controls with a single remote.

XBOX LIVE

1. What new features will Xbox 360's Live service have?

It will have several new features and a much improved interface. With the help of the Xbox 360 Guide and the integrated Xbox Live features in every game , Microsoft has created an online service unlike any other before seen in the video game industry – and so far, is unrivaled by any of the competitors (Sony or Nintendo). Xbox 360 Live is always on, always connected. On the Xbox 360, Xbox Live will have multiple levels of service. First is the Xbox Live Silver service, which is absolutely 100% free and included with every Xbox 360 console. The Silver level of service provides the following features (once again, completely free! ):

A unique online gamer profile
Access to the Xbox Live Marketplace
Voice and text messaging
Receive video messages from Gold level members
Access to massively multiplayer online games ( note: the Xbox Live Silver level of service will not allow you to play online multiplayer games [aside from MMO's]. Microsoft may offer events such as free Xbox Live weekends where Silver members may play for free, but that has yet to be decided)
The Gold level of service will require a subscription (like the current Xbox Live service) and will offer the following features:

All the features found in the Xbox Live Silver level of service
Online multiplayer gaming
Video chat
Multiplayer online tournaments
Participate in Xbox Live online programming such as “Game with Fame”, “Play and Win”, and “Primetime” activities

2. How much will Xbox Live cost on the Xbox 360?

Xbox Live's Silver level of service will be completely 100% free. However, Gold level membership will require a subscription fee. That fee will be exactly the same as Xbox Live in the current generation - $50 per year. In addition, currently active Xbox Live accounts will carry over to the Xbox 360 – billing and all.

3. Will Xbox Live be backwards compatible as well? In other words, will I be able to play original Xbox games online on my Xbox 360 with gamers playing on an original Xbox?

Yes. For example, if you were to play Halo 2 on your Xbox 360, you would be able to play online with gamers playing on their Xbox. Both the Xbox Live and Xbox 360 Live service run on the same network, so you be able to see what your friends are playing on their Xbox/Xbox 360, even if you are on your Xbox 360/Xbox.

4. How do I control Xbox Live on the 360?

Xbox Live is controlled on the Xbox 360 through the use of the Xbox 360 Guide and the Xbox 360 Guide button on the wireless controller (the round, silver button). Because the Xbox 360 Guide is built into the processor of the Xbox 360, it will be available at any time, even in-game (in any game). Pressing the Xbox Guide button will bring up a menu containing your Gamer Profile and other Xbox Live information such as your friends list, etc. Notifications involving Xbox Live (such as friend or game invites) are also controlled via the Xbox Guide button – more specifically, the ring of light around the button. If you notice on the controller, the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are located around the Xbox 360 Guide button, each in a separate quarter. During gameplay, if you are player 1 and you receive a game invite, your quadrant of the ring of light will light up, telling you that it is you who is receiving the invite. It will operate likewise with players 2, 3, and 4, should they be using their own gamertags.

5. What is the Gamer Profile?

One feature you will hear mentioned frequently while talking about the Xbox 360's live features is the Gamer Profile. This unique profile contains many features relevant to you, and is seen by anyone on the Xbox Live network. The features include (according to www.xbox.com):

Gamer card: Get a quick look at the key stats for your friend or that new player who just challenged you to a multiplayer match. Like a personal identification card, the gamer card gives you a quick overview of other personalities on Xbox Live : their Gamertag, Gamerzone, Achievements, Reputation, and Gamerscore. Gamer cards let you instantly connect with people with similar skills, interests, and lifestyles, as well as maintain bragging rights over your achievements and scores.
Gamerscore: A cumulative score of all achievements allows you to quickly compare profiles between other gamers.
Reputation: A rating provided by the community indicates how you are perceived by other players. Think of it as the Xbox Live equivalent of a reliability rating.
Gamerzone: Your Gamerzone indicates your style of social gaming. The choices are R&R, for those who just want to hang out and play without undue competitive stress; Pro, for those who are fiercely competitive and must win at all costs; Underground, for those who take an alternative approach to gaming; and Family, for those who want to make sure the environment they play in is kid-friendly.
Achievements: Whether offline or on, you can earn achievements and accolades in all Xbox 360 games to indicate progress, skill, and accomplishment. Taking achievements online lets you compare what you've accomplished with your friends, or use them as indicators of skill to new friends. Achievements are bragging rights redefined.

6. What is the Xbox Live Marketplace?

Accessible to anyone (whether Silver or Gold members), the Xbox Live Marketplace provides a “one-stop shop for consumers to download new game trailers, demos, and episodic content, along with new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, “skins,” and other types of new content on demand.” Pricing for online items has yet to be determined. Thanks to the Xbox 360's bundled 20 GB hard drive, any downloads can be saved directly onto your console.

7. How will voice chat work on the Xbox 360?

In games, voice chat will work just the same as it did on the original Xbox. However, one feature that has been seriously downplayed by the press is the ubiquitous voice chat. What is that? That is the ability to talk with anyone on Xbox Live, anytime, anywhere, regardless of the activity they're doing. For example, you can start up a voice chat conversation with someone, even if you are playing different games. In another scenario, you could be watching a movie on your Xbox 360 while voice chatting with a friend who's playing Halo 3. Video chat will work the same way, but will only be available to Gold level members.

8. How will the matchmaking service work?

Matchmaking on the Xbox 360 will be even more advanced and reliable than it was on the original Xbox. We started to see more advanced matchmaking in later Xbox Live games, such as Halo 2. However, on the Xbox 360 this is taken to a whole new level. With information such as your Gamerzone, reputation, location, and Gamerscore, matchmaking is more efficient than ever, and is almost guaranteed to find you an enjoyable match with gamers similar to you.

9. What is “spectator mode”?

Spectator mode is a new feature being introduced with the Xbox 360. In compatible games, this will allow you to actually watch other gamers play. While this may sound like a boring, or useless feature, imagine this scenario. Say that Project Gotham Racing 3 (which will support this, through GothamTV) is hosting a tournament, available to any Xbox Live subscriber. Slowly, millions of gamers are narrowed down to eight excellent racers. Every PGR3 player will be notified of the final championship race, and, by use of GothamTV, they will be able to actually sit in and watch the race, rooting for their favorite player. In addition, spectator mode is available on a lesser scale, allowing to watch in on any player, where you might even learn tips and tricks from more advanced players.

10. Will Xbox Live still have a “feedback” option?

Absolutely. Actually, the feedback part of Xbox Live is the backbone of the reputation and matchmaking system. If you play with a player and give them good feedback, then they earn a better reputation and Xbox Live remembers your encounter with that person – meaning that if you're both available online at the same time, you will have a better chance of being matched with them. If you give them bad feedback, they get a lower reputation and you most likely won't play with them again.

11. What about the friends list and messages?

Your friends list is now enhanced, providing not only information about the game they're playing, but also giving you access to their Gamer Profile and Gamer Card, and even your friends' Friends Lists! All messages – whether text, audio, video, notifications, or even system- or service-based communications – will be found in one location, your Message Center

Peripherals

Xbox Live Camera
http://www.ccfx.net/nextbox/images/x360/images/xbox360_hw2_camera_final.jpg

The Xbox Live Camera for Xbox 360 opens up a new world of gaming and entertainment on Xbox Live, the world’s premier online video games service. With the Xbox Live Camera, video chat and video messaging with your friends becomes more than just a feature set; it is an integrated part of the Xbox Live experience. Connect and communicate while playing the same or different games, watching movies, listening to music, and more.The Xbox Live Camera also takes personalization to a whole new level and allows you to customize your gaming experience by putting your face on characters in your games, all while being able to video chat with your friends as you play online. And with next-generation online motion-detection-enabled games, the Xbox Live Camera puts you entirely in the game and in control of the on-screen characters over Xbox Live.

-High-end online camera supports up to VGA 640x480 video at 30 frames per second and takes 1.3-megapixel still photos.
-The camera includes a microphone that connects to the controller, so everyone in the room can chat online with their friends.
-The camera supports built-in video chat and video messaging on Xbox Live.
-Your face can be imported into games and can also be placed next to your name on leader boards for even more recognition or fame.
-Chat with your friends while you play online in Xbox 360 games as well as in the Xbox Live Arcade.

Xbox 360 Headset
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The Xbox 360 Headset heightens the experience of the unprecedented online gaming community, Xbox Live, allowing you to strategize with teammates, trash-talk opponents or just chat with friends while playing your favorite games. You can record and leave short voice messages for friends or family through the free Xbox Live Message Service or connect with buddies online using the headset in place of the phone. Turn it up or turn it down, and experience the most intense gaming experience possible.

-Boom microphone can be adjusted for optimal sound quality.
-In-line volume control and mute switch let users adjust the headset volume or switch mute on and off easily.
-Noise-canceling microphone improves game response to voice commands, and provides crisp and clear voice communication.
-Lightweight, over-the-head design enables comfortable use.
-The headset plugs directly into either the Xbox 360 Controller or Xbox Wireless Controller for easy use.

Xbox 360 Memory Unit
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Further enhancing the gaming experience, Xbox 360 Memory Units allow you to save your in-game achievements and unique gamer profiles. The Memory Units are easily portable and enable quick and easy access to previously established benchmarks, putting you in control of your games and your lifestyle. You can save your games, your Xbox Live™ profile, and more with Xbox 360 Memory Units

Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote

http://www.xbox3sixty.co.uk/i/acc/xbox360-remote.jpg

The Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote was engineered to serve as your integrated control center for the entire Xbox 360 experience. Enter a new world of digital entertainment with the touch of a single button. Play DVD movies and music, plus control your TV and your Media Center PC with one controller. The centralized, glowing Xbox Guide Button gives you quick access to your digital movies, music, and games library, and backlit buttons make the keypad easy to see in a darkened home theater. So kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

-Power your Xbox 360 system on or off without leaving the couch.
-The Xbox Guide Button allows for easy navigation of the Xbox Gamer Guide.
-The Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote includes control buttons for your music, pictures, and more.
-The Xbox 360 supports progressive-scan for DVD playback functionality, including a control for opening and closing the tray.
-The remote supports universal TV and console functionality, including volume and mute buttons and up-and-down channel changing.
-Windows XP Media Center Edition Button and Media Center Edition functionality are featured.
-A, B, X, and Y buttons are included for basic control of your Xbox 360 system, even without a controller.
-Numbered and backlight keypad gives you full functionality, even in the dark.

360 WIRELSS ADAPTOR

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-Play head-to-head wirelessly on Xbox Live, or on your home network.
-Dual band 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz Wireless A/B/G home network compatible
-Compact, high performance design
-Powered by Xbox 360 to eliminate adaptor clutter
-Streams photos and music from Microsoft Windows XP and recorded TV, movies and videos from your Microsoft Windows XP Media Center based PC.
-Easy setup and installation
-Collaborates with Xbox 360 authentic wireless accessories for worry-free integration
-802.11a allows stepped-up data transfer for enhanced video streaming

Props to Anth411 from the ign boards for postin this,thought id post it here for ne one thats interested