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A report from Bloomberg.com says that a J Allard-produced “iPod rival” will be out by this Christmas; Next-Gen asks Xbox expert and journalist Dean Takahashi and Microsoft itself about any possible videogame capabilities.
ImageRumors of a portable Xbox-branded multimedia/gaming device have been circulating the Web for several months now. Today’s Bloomberg report claims that a “portable music and video player” headed up by former Xbox bullhorn J Allard would be made available by this Christmas.
The article doesn’t refer to any videogame capabilities of the supposed iPod-killer. However, because of J Allard’s prominent role in the past with the Xbox brand and prior rumors of his involvement with an Xbox portable device, the story deserved a second look.
Microsoft went ahead and gave Next-Gen the following rather predictable response: “The story you reference was based on speculation and rumors and, as such, we didn’t participate. We don’t have anything to announce at this time.”
San Jose Mercury News’ Takahashi, who has made a name for himself in the games industry by digging deep into the inner workings of the development of the Xbox and Xbox 360 (see his most recent book, The Xbox 360 Uncloaked), offered the following: “I think [Microsoft has] been prepping the music industry about a launch, but they have not been talking to the game industry. That may mean that this product is aimed just at the music industry. What I don't know is if there is any game functionality, or if downloadable games are part of it. And I don't know if they would try to do something else for the games industry.”
While not 100 percent certain of Microsoft's plans, in Uncloaked, Takahashi said that a team of Microsoft engineers is working on a handheld entertainment platform.
Xbox chief Peter Moore and even Microsoft chairman Bill Gates have both hinted at Microsoft’s desire to get into the portable gaming space.
In addition, earlier this year, analysts at The Diffusion Group said that it expects Microsoft to launch a PSP and DS rival in late 2007/early 2008.
Also of interesting note in the Bloomberg article, accompanying Allard in this new hardware venture is Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, the division that houses Xbox and Games for Windows operations.
Microsoft is keeping a tight lid on its portable plans, but judging by teaser comments made by Microsoft executives and those in the know, the question of a handheld Microsoft games system isn’t a matter of “if,” but “when.”
Industry watchers can also speculate on the possibility of two serious portable entertainment platforms from Microsoft--one with gaming capabilities and one without.
this looks cool but i think i'll just stick with my PSP and Ipod. link
ImageRumors of a portable Xbox-branded multimedia/gaming device have been circulating the Web for several months now. Today’s Bloomberg report claims that a “portable music and video player” headed up by former Xbox bullhorn J Allard would be made available by this Christmas.
The article doesn’t refer to any videogame capabilities of the supposed iPod-killer. However, because of J Allard’s prominent role in the past with the Xbox brand and prior rumors of his involvement with an Xbox portable device, the story deserved a second look.
Microsoft went ahead and gave Next-Gen the following rather predictable response: “The story you reference was based on speculation and rumors and, as such, we didn’t participate. We don’t have anything to announce at this time.”
San Jose Mercury News’ Takahashi, who has made a name for himself in the games industry by digging deep into the inner workings of the development of the Xbox and Xbox 360 (see his most recent book, The Xbox 360 Uncloaked), offered the following: “I think [Microsoft has] been prepping the music industry about a launch, but they have not been talking to the game industry. That may mean that this product is aimed just at the music industry. What I don't know is if there is any game functionality, or if downloadable games are part of it. And I don't know if they would try to do something else for the games industry.”
While not 100 percent certain of Microsoft's plans, in Uncloaked, Takahashi said that a team of Microsoft engineers is working on a handheld entertainment platform.
Xbox chief Peter Moore and even Microsoft chairman Bill Gates have both hinted at Microsoft’s desire to get into the portable gaming space.
In addition, earlier this year, analysts at The Diffusion Group said that it expects Microsoft to launch a PSP and DS rival in late 2007/early 2008.
Also of interesting note in the Bloomberg article, accompanying Allard in this new hardware venture is Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, the division that houses Xbox and Games for Windows operations.
Microsoft is keeping a tight lid on its portable plans, but judging by teaser comments made by Microsoft executives and those in the know, the question of a handheld Microsoft games system isn’t a matter of “if,” but “when.”
Industry watchers can also speculate on the possibility of two serious portable entertainment platforms from Microsoft--one with gaming capabilities and one without.
this looks cool but i think i'll just stick with my PSP and Ipod. link
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