The upcoming free Microsoft console

Reply Agree 12 Disagree 3

Omegasyde6508d ago

It is about a totally new machine. A totally new sort of machine.

A Machine that is free because it runs off recycled parts. A machine that is eco-friendly that runs off no electricity. Requires no Television, with games that are fully rendered by user created content. A totally new sort of machine that you CAN NOT play by yourself.

This Machine is called Tic-Tac-Toe.

Comes Free with state of the Art "No. 2 P3nc!1" with rumble "3raser".

(Bruce try harder)

Reply Agree 18 Disagree 1

Genesis56508d ago

I don't think you can say Microsoft and anything free in the same sentence. If they did do this I'm sure they would find a way to over charge for it.

JsonHenry6508d ago

So if server based gaming has grown FASTER than console gaming in the past couple of years... wouldn't that make the whole "the PC is in trouble" theory dead in the water?

uie4rhig6508d ago

"Microsoft offers free Windows Vista with purchase of every new computer.."

oh wait..
hmm
*thinks*

"Microsoft is a free compa..."
meh

*thinks further*

'Microsoft Loves free open source stuff'

erm naah.. still not

*thinks even more*

'Microsoft... Free..'

well there ya go!!

Reply Agree 7 Disagree 3

Tomdc6508d ago

they would to make more money in the long run! With MS Dos they practically handed it away free just to get a foothold in the OS market and charge them more when they want there OS for new systems... I watched a documentry about microsoft yesterday =P

Reply Agree 3 Disagree 0

Genesis56508d ago

OMG You did it. Good work. Now say toy boat 5 times fast.

shine13966508d ago

how did this get through?
I don't want site censorship but this isn't news for gamers or anything like it...

Reply Agree 5 Disagree 2

xhairs96508d ago

That was basically Microsoft prior to having any money.

Reply Agree 2 Disagree 1

player9116508d ago

They say free because there isn't any hardware to buy on the client side. Basically they have servers setup running virtual environments (multiple concurrent OS's running simultaneously) each able to play games.

So what you would do is remote desktop into this virtual OS and run the game from there. The local controls are sent to the server, which streams back the real time video of the game output.

So basically the hardware is all at a central location. The software is in place. What lacks is the required bandwidth to do such tasks currently.

Think of it as being able to control a streaming video game, live.

This is the same as remoting into another PC and playing solitare on it... except the remote PC in this case will have graphics cards and are beefier systems.

ravinash6508d ago

Remember when MS killed off Netscape by first releasing Internet explorer for free and then making it part of windows so your forced to use it.

The Mikester6507d ago

lol now that was a funny thing to say

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 6507d ago

psycho3606508d ago

Bruce wants hits, bruce got hits /jk

Ok back to topic. Did anyone here, hear about phantom console? Wasn't that supposed to do some of these things ? I just dont think it will work out in reality, just look at how much was the thin client pc concept successful and how much useful is it for average person? THis free will work in 3rd world countries but unfortunately they dont' have necessary bandwidth or infrastructure to pull it off.

Reply Agree 2 Disagree 0

Meresin6508d ago

"This article is totally speculative."

Okay then, I won't waste my time reading it. :P

Reply Agree 3 Disagree 2

Coke-a-Cola6508d ago

Reply Agree 5 Disagree 2

Reply Agree 11 Disagree 3

titntin6508d ago

This is what happens what an accountant thinks he understands games hardware.

The model of a huge central server serving 'dumb terminals' is so very 1970's. It still existed back when I worked for IBM, but was gradually replaced by 'distributed processing' as the concept of personal computers took hold and the economics made it viable.

There are a million disadvantages to centralized processing, which is why the entire business world moved away from that model, and whilst I'll concede that technology has moved on, there is nothing that suggests a move back to central processing would ever become the concept to aim for.

When Brucey Boy says "Server based gaming has grown very rapidly in the last few years", hes talking about online bingo and poker! The sweeping generalization shows a real disregard for the reality of the situation, with regard to gaming as we understand it.

I only read this stuff now for a laugh, the amusing thing is he takes himself so seriously! If he had a sly grin and a the mischievous air of someone who knows they are milking the net for hits, then I'd almost admire him. Be he genuinely believes he's an intellectual visionary, which is really very sad...

Reply Agree 5 Disagree 19

Bruceongames6508d ago (Edited 6508d ago )

The Microsoft project for this is called "Media Galaxy" and last year they spent 94 million Yuan buying a stake in a Chinese TV manufacturer as part of it.

There are server based games other than Bingo and Poker. There are lots of very sophisticated 3D Flash games. And browser based MMOs like Runescape and Ikariam, both of which are excellent.

Many in the industry think that we have no option but to go to server based gaming. With increasing bandwidth and hardware compression you can play very sophisticated games.

If you look at the comments on the blog itself you can see that industry professionals agree with what the article says and one of them gives a very good example of what can already be done.

Ju6508d ago

That's kind of interesting. Server based will be expanded in the future in the Casino market to support video slots as well. Internet gaming is something to come, too (allowed in Europe but not quiet there yet in the US). Interesting because that's a project I am working on (or with). Server based gaming for us means complete new machines. Machines, which are even faster then anything we have on the market now.

What Bruce fails to see, is, that the application still runs on the client. For Casino gaming, there are various thoughts how to connect to a server, one way is to have the math on the server and distribute rng results only (IMO I don't think this will work efficiently), the other solution is to download the whole game and content (couple of 100+MB per game). Bingo and others are easier, because different rules apply to those games, slots are way more difficult and restricted compliance wise.

If Bruce thinks, because now the games are hosted (- and no, they will actually never directly run on the server -) the "thin" client is a toned down pc, well, then he's wrong. Not only do you need a new high performance network infra structure (faster internet) you also need a faster client machine. An 360 or PS3 could probably do it. You could save some costs in removing the DVD/BD drive, but you'd need bigger HDDs instead (even the new slot machines have HDDs these days, dual core, 2Gig RAM, etc).

Reply Agree 3 Disagree 2

xhairs96508d ago (Edited 6508d ago )

Lol, I like how he calls them, "industry professionals". They are random people who comment on your crap of a post. That's ok though keep on submitting your own blog for more comments that's a tad bit ridiculous. What happened to the 360 polygons vs the ps3 polygons during the interview with all those developers on Sony's E3 saying that they just didn't understand the cell and now they do and can pull off the most amazing graphics ever? I believe you were wrong and should sit in a corner with a sock in your mouth.

Shut Bruce Up! Shut Bruce Up! Shut Bruce Up!

Reply Agree 7 Disagree 5

Omegasyde6508d ago

2 things:
1-Internet gambling may be come soon illegal. There is 0 control over it and no country can subsidize tax rights/laws or cashflows. There are lobbyist around the world whom are trying to combat internet gambling.

2-A server Side machine would not work in this day and age or for the foreseeable 10 years. The amount of content required in getting games too the next level is increasing disc space. You can't really stream a game or download one lickity split. Unless you want a console with PSN-XBL quality games.

IF thats the case Bruce, the gaming industry would be actually de-evolovling in which is bad for the current fans of gamings.

Also what happens if the console breaks? Since the system is free how would faulty hardware come into play? Would people "HAVE TO" require to buy a warranty? That would challenge the concept of free as well. I highly doubt a company would break even with just selling it's online service and offering free hardware that is capable of producing the amount of quality in today's games. They would have to bombard their service with so many Ads that it would be difficult to actually find the :download game button:.

Reply Agree 2 Disagree 1

titntin6508d ago (Edited 6508d ago )

Well kudos to Bruce on not rising to my bait, despite blatant provocation.

In reply:

Flash runs on the client machine though, so its not an example that demonstrates what your article is proposing at all.

The fact that you can find people who will agree any assertion on the net is really not much of a supporting argument. You can find people all over the net who will go to great lengths to show you that the moon landings never happened, that the US blew its own twin towers up, or that the British royal family are actually lizards. As someone who's worked 16 years in the industry myself I've met all kinds of weird and wonderful people who believe all sorts of stuff. Most of the time, they are proven to be very wrong, so having two posts from people who've probably worked less time in the industry than myself, is not gonna convince me the hypothesis will ever reach fruition.

Ignoring the real issues, problems and general daftness of running the calculations on central server for a minute, the issue of connectivity is one that firmly puts closure on this suggestion for the foreseeable future.
To be successful, this strategy would need to be able to be taken up by the vast bulk of consumers to whom its aimed at. Mega fast stable reliable broadband is still dream for most. Speeds have been static here in the UK for ages, with extreme usage limits imposed for most, and 'line profiling' occurring for those on so called unlimited deals, which seriously hampers speeds. As Broadband penetration increases, the demands on the bandwidth mean that even in the states they are starting to impose limits and introduce ever more vigorous line profiling to reduce load. The days of super fast unlimited broadband enjoyed by the majority are still a very long way off.
Consider: The 360 is widely considered to be a 'hardcore' machine which you really need to have online to get the most from. Yet a third of users are not even online with it. Now thats a core audience. Any new proposition needs to be able to reach a broad casual world wide demographic, and it will be a very long time before the infrastructure exists that could support this.

So no, I just don't see any possible future for this in the near term. Once we're talking about 15 years or so, its will be quite possible to give away machines with the power of a 360 or a PS3 as they will be dead cheap, and a subscription model would easily pay for the hardware (think of the mobile phone hardware model).
So by the time an infrastructure might exist to support it, the hardware for rendering decent HD titles in your home can almost be at give away prices anyway. Which means the bulk of calculation and processing will occur at the client end, free from the issues of server overloading ,where it belongs.
Moving away from distributed processing is like trying to turn back all the progress we've made in IT since the 70's, and I've not heard a single technical reason why you would ever want to do it, it simply doesn't make sense.

Reply Agree 6 Disagree 2

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 6508d ago

edhe6508d ago

this could be where live anywhere might be headed - a gaming platform that has no physical platform, but standards on performance of devices.

Sure it won't change the model that we currently enjoy but imagine picking up all your arcade releases, psn games and vc titles on any phone you have, or any device that could do it.

doesn't the ps3 do something similar with remote play?

Reply Agree 1 Disagree 0

juuken6508d ago

...Microsoft give out a free console?

...Uh...

Reply Agree 3 Disagree 3

CrazyOrange6508d ago

stupid article

Reply Agree 5 Disagree 2

SPECTRUX6508d ago

yea like greedy microsoft would give anything away for free. it is more likely with sony or nintendo but doubtful because companies like making money. but microsoft least of all

Merritt6508d ago

Spectrux:

I'm afraid you're wrong Microsoft loves to make money. As does Sony and Nintendo, if you don't think they do and Sony isn't a big gargantuan company that bought up most of the entertainment industry for profit then you're mistaken.

Nintendo didn't release a cheap mass producible console with a control gimmick to make money then you're wrong there as well.

If you think the presidents of either Sony or Nintendo donate as much money to charity as Bill gates does you're mistaken there.

So, while yes MS may be the bad guys because it's slick to bash them do some research on who you're supporting as well.

Reply Agree 1 Disagree 2

SPECTRUX6507d ago

let me clarify. by saying microsoft least of all i meant microsoft is the least likely to give away free stuff because they are the greediest. thats not to say that i think sony and nintendo are saints either.

Destroyer2296508d ago

hmmmmm why on earth would Microsoft give anything away for free look at the xbox 360 controllers they cost about $10 to make and they sell them for around $40 a pop. it could cost Microsoft $1 to make the little box but they would sell it for $20 i garuntee this will never ever happen Microsoft doesn't give anything away for free. And plus why would you need to speed up the bandwidth when most people have Broadband? and it is required for xbox live it doesn't make much sense in my opinion.

Pain6508d ago

Cuz when u do M$ like the World dose its Free , since when did anyone in any-other country aside from US ever buy a M$ OS for $$$?

Reply Agree 1 Disagree 1

Fart In Your Mouth6508d ago

You think that only Americans buy Windows? Its the number one OS in the world...are you saying that most computers are in the US only? You're an idiot...its that simple.

Enjoy your Mac idiot: http://www.thebestpageinthe...

Reply Agree 1 Disagree 3

n00bzRtehgey6507d ago (Edited 6507d ago )

be careful or this emo queer will cut himself again.

=
=
=-
-
-
-
——————/´ ¯/)
—————--/—-/
—————-/—-/
———--/´¯/'--'/´ ;¯`·_
———-/'/--/—-/—--/¨¯ \
——--('(———- ¯~/'--')
———\————-'—--/
———-'\'————_-·´
————\———--(
————-\———--\

Reply Agree 0 Disagree 2

vickers5006508d ago

Microsoft......free.......? Sorry, but 2 words have never been used in a sentence before.

Reply Agree 1 Disagree 3

darthv726508d ago

Odd that he uses that name to describe the xbox720. Thing is that name has been thrown around before by sega. Meaning that is the rumored name given to their next console (if they did another one). I wonder if MS and sega are teaming up on the "phoenix" project?

Reply Agree 1 Disagree 0

6508d ago

Ps3Fanboy7776508d ago

What a stupid article this guy has no idea.

Reply Agree 1 Disagree 3

Spydiggity6508d ago

WHY THIS IS AN APPROVED ARTICLE???

there is nothing news worthy about this. I don't get it. and the comments are nothing but a buncha idiot ps3 fanboys lining up to criticize a system based on an article with no facts.

notice there aren't articles on this site about ps3s where it's nothing but 360 fanboys runnin their uninformed mouths.

GROW UP!

Reply Agree 1 Disagree 2

rawd6508d ago

Hey its Bruce the Deuce with his regular dose of MS diarrhea

Reply Agree 6 Disagree 1

zapass6508d ago

RAM MAGNUMS6508d ago

gears of war2 cost $500 dollars.
or 245678443577647532677 ms points
or your soul
or your first born
or your gamer credibilty
or a signed document stating you can never touch
a ps3 again.

Reply Agree 2 Disagree 0

mithril6508d ago

Yes... Free.
and for 129.99 add Hard Disk
for 99.00 add wireless
for 199.23 add CPU and receive free 3 Mb Ram
for 189.56 512 Mb Ram
for 89.99 add 2 controllers

yes, it's free

Matpan6508d ago

Lets see... A central mega machine able to render... say... 1000 (to put a number) Gears of Waresque (graphically wise speaking)games at the same time. the machine would receive the commands imput, process the position, camera angle and therefore what you are seeing. That machine would then output the final frame at 1080p resolution (let´s think of this as the all set standard for the next gen, right?). That image, in a somewhat compressed state(add the compressing agorythm to the overall process for each frame to that megamachine), probably, would travel to your "decoder" which would do the job of translating that into a visible image in your monitor.

Now picture that at a steady 30 times a second. Not only we are speaking of a niiiiice bandwith there... but a really sweet rig should be set in order to receive and process 1000 x 30 = 30000 frames per second...

Oh... and that assuming that only 1000 people would be playing that game at a time... Imagine at peak hours... what a steady 3 million player?... that would be 90 million frames per second... of (at least) this gen graphics... I don´t see how this could be more cost effective for companies... Let´s assume that building an UBBER PS3 or 360 capable of doing what 20 million sistems can do at a time is less costy than building 20 million separate consoles... But companies still get some money for each console, while they would be investing on a total 0 revenue for this mega machine, receiving what... 20 dollars a months from each gamer... 50?

Man they should build something probably several times more powerful than the norad to support real time next gen graphics for a user base as big as the one nowadays...

Surely an hybrid system could be another way out, a console that does some part of the work while a central server does some other part of the processing, therefore aiding each other for a better result...

In both cases I see it hard to happen in the near future. All this goes for a ver Ghost in the shell esque picture of the future... Processing cities, where there is nothing but mainframes working for the sole purpose of gamers elsewhere. Earth magnethism altered, climate shifted due to the static voltage generated in this cities. Servers crashing because of mini-storms artificially born in this processing hives... :P

but... who knows :P

Reply Agree 1 Disagree 0

Ballistic Jay6508d ago

this article fails. hard.

Reply Agree 6 Disagree 1

Percy6508d ago

Free = Microsoft does not compute. They cant even give their current live away for free. While i believe this will happen sometime im not sure it will ever replace games for the hardcore crowd. Bruce in his comment says browser based games like ikarium lmao thats fine they can keep their box if that whats going to be on it.

The biggest best games are always gonna have graphics and tight controls with no lag and fast action. Most of the united states still doesnt have access to anything higher that a 2meg connection and rarely ever will you find higher than 10meg. Those kinds of speeds simply are not fast enough to support hard core games. Crappy games like ikarium or all those browser mmo pieces of trash maybe.

pow3r of t3h c3ll6508d ago

M$ sure must be desperate if they are gonna start giving consoles away just so they can achieve victory HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

StrboyM6508d ago

ill buy one...wait..doh!!

Julia Bond6507d ago

F A I L

Surfman6508d ago

Bruce on games: Microsoft and Nintendo loves.
This dude is just so stupid. Everything he say is crap.

Reply Agree 2 Disagree 1

feejo6508d ago

Come on, they charge you for xbox live and give you a free console.

DevonTheDude5356507d ago

Microsoft, Free, what are you smoking? That's like Apple not being smug assholes. And what is up with XBOX 720 they would never name it that, more likely Xbox 3. The original is not the Xbox 120 so why would the 3rd be 720?

DevonTheDude5356507d ago

Philips already had a console you morons it was called the CDi and was a complete flop.

FAQS6507d ago

Q: What the hell was it?
A:...one of the most trashier things I ever read in my life!...