Rumour: Next Xbox console won't include disc drive, due in 2013

[VladG]

Sweet. I really like paying 10 times the PC price for an Xbox hdd. All that dowloading and installing is going to clear up a lot of time too.

But don't worry, if you don't like it, I'm sure you will be happy to pay 10 times the PC price for a usb disk drive too.

 

[hutchy27]

My transaction from console to PC has been officially finalized. -___-

 

[Weaver]

Weren't games in cartridge days were like 90$ each?
Fuck, considering the state of the industry 120$ would become the new standard.

In the N64 era I recall them only being around 50 or 60 dollars.

 

[RustlessPotato]

Meh, it's probably not true, why would microsoft do that? I'm a PC gamer but i do own and xbox because i like both. And if it's true, then i'll just build my own console ! With Blackjack ! And Hookers !

 

[Epona]

Weren't games in cartridge days were like 90$ each?
Fuck, considering the state of the industry 120$ would become the new standard.

No they were $50.

 

[Cpu46]

Sounds like it is gonna be downloads and some form of physical storage other than CD's. Perhaps something USB (or variation of USB to try and prevent pirating) based? That would be awesome seeing as I am alway worried that I am gonna break my CD's whenever I take them out of their cases and I miss the old cartridge days. So much more satisfying to hear the click of the cartridge sliding in than the whir of the CD drive.

Now if you excuse me I will be in the fetal position with my original game boy and a copy of pokemon yellow wishing I had never sold my Nintendo 64.

 

[babinro]

Then I honestly don't see why people would get that over a PC?

First things first you can upgrade your PC if you want the quality of your games graphics/smoothness to keep increasing as the quality of those things in games increases over time, with the Xbox you'll be stuck to the release day hardware.

The one thing the Xbox had is that you could have as many games as you want on discs, with ease of access and no downloading, whereas most PC games you have to install/download and take up space on your hard drive/wait for games to download.

If this is true then it will be just a very limited PC imo, I'll stick with steam for all my gaming needs

Using a disc was never a defining benefit of a console. What you're buying is essentially a PC that will not require upgrades for the next 4-8 years. Because games are directly made for the console they will continue to improve in graphical quality and output while remaining 100% compatible.

So long as your PC is capable of running games to your satisfaction though...I see little reason beyond console exclusives to buy a console whose games will (probably) be far more expensive to those found on steam.

While I actually encourage this change in the future consoles. I must admit to relying on a console as my DVD/Blue Ray player for my t.v as well. It'll be unfortunate to lose that functionality.

 

[Fijiman]

This is the third or forth thread about this rumor in the last two months and I'm still calling bullshit. I wouldn't be too surprised if it was a couple of PC gamers who started this rumor in the first place to get more people off of consoles.

Also captcha: chuck norris. Awesome.

 

[ResonanceGames]

If this is true then i give up on gaming . I dislike digital download ( although i very well understand why people love it). I just like having a physical copy of my games , once this is no longer possible i am throwing in the towel and buying old games to keep myself contente.

Guys, try clicking on and reading the article. No disc drive =/= no physical media. Obviously the world isn't quite ready to stop putting games on shelves. It says that games will ship on solid state storage devices ala the Vita.

While who knows if any of this is true, it does seem like a given that that would be the next step for physical media.

I wouldn't be too surprised if it was a couple of PC gamers who started this rumor in the first place to get more people off of consoles.

Yep, it's a conspiracy. Totally.

 

[Batou667]

If true, I won't be buying the next Xbox.

You hear that, Microsoft? I hope you buggers are listening!

 

[Something Amyss]

If this is true then i give up on gaming . I dislike digital download ( although i very well understand why people love it). I just like having a physical copy of my games , once this is no longer possible i am throwing in the towel and buying old games to keep myself contente.

Since the rumour says they're going to use a solid state card, you would still have a physical copy of the game.

however comma, it's just a rumuor, like the one where the next XBox would have BD, or the rumour that the last gen would be online only.

Just saying, though, this is horribly unlikely (SSD would be prohibitively expensive for large games).

 

[Griffolion]

http://www.strategyinformer.com/news/16979/rumour-next-xbox-console-wont-include-disc-drive-due-in-2013

I guess the digital age begins for consoles too, if this is true.

Should that be true (I personally am hedging my bet on it not being, for a multitude of reasons), then Microsoft will be taking a bigger gamble on their console division than they are on Windows 8. Despite it's increasing prevalence and the slow increase of internet capability, DD is not ready for complete and utter prime time on a market leading gaming device like the Xbox. Regarding the solid state cards, they are a decent idea, but NAND prices are still massively pricey compared to a DVD so i'm not sure what they're thinking here.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Well, I like the fact that I never have to worry about unreadable discs
But getting rid of discs entirely just seems silly.

 

[ResonanceGames]

Does anyone here actually read articles before they shift into full-on complain mode? Or do you guys just read headlines?

No one is saying that it will be cloud/online only. Again, the rumor is that they'll be switching to solid state, like the Vita. Also, SD cards have huge markup before they hit store shelves. They would not be a significant cost factor for the publisher.

 

[Qitz]

Does anyone here actually read articles before they shift into full-on complain mode? Or do you guys just read headlines?

No one is saying that it will be cloud/online only. Again, the rumor is that they'll be switching to solid state, like the Vita. Also, SD cards have huge markup before they hit store shelves. They would not be a significant cost factor for the publisher.

Read the article? Pffft, the hell would people do that for?

I remember a thread before that had some sensational title and a link with some quotes from the article and people, even a mod, jumped up and down about it.

The link was to a goofy music video and the "quotes" were complete bullshit. Best. Troll. Ever. If I could remember the name, or bother looking through my history, I'd link it here.

Edit: FOUND IT! Zanga to sue DC over the name SmallVille. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.316122-Zynga-to-sue-DC-over-the-name-SmallVille]

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Does anyone here actually read articles before they shift into full-on complain mode? Or do you guys just read headlines?

No one is saying that it will be cloud/online only. Again, the rumor is that they'll be switching to solid state, like the Vita. Also, SD cards have huge markup before they hit store shelves. They would not be a significant cost factor for the publisher.

What is this source article of which you speak?

 

[Hunter65416]

I heard they're going back to cartridges..I hope they're going back to cartridges as long as they have decent storage space and are the same price or less as the games are now, ive got a quality bluray/dvd player setup anyway.

 

[Naeras]

Maybe the DS cards would be a good next step. The DS was basically a handheld SNES but seemed strong enough to play higher quality games years ago (like Super Mario 64). That was just on the DS too: the 3DS uses the same cards of the same size and Samurai Warriors looked like something that could have been on home consoles. There's no reason I can see to scale that technology up and implement it into a home console.

...aaaaargh
The GameBoy Advance was a handheld SNES. The DS actually packed more power than the N64 if I recall correctly ._.

 

[Something Amyss]

Well, I like the fact that I never have to worry about unreadable discs
But getting rid of discs entirely just seems silly.

Of course, anyone who lived through the NES era of gaming is familiar with the problem with cards....

Also, SD cards have huge markup before they hit store shelves.

You mean like just about everything else in the world?

They would not be a significant cost factor for the publisher.

Yeah, they kinda would.