XBox 360: What's in a Name?

[bapenguin]

The latest edition of OXM (http://www.officialxboxmagazine.com/) has a bunch of 360 Info in it. While most of the info is already known, there is a few tidbits of new information like where the name came from that are interesting.The Name capitalizes on the XBox equity. It signals change; it communicates the expierence; it's globally appropriate and easy to use.

Well that doesn't tell us much does it? So how did they come up with the name?The concept behind the name goes a little something like this: You are the hero in the next-generation of gaming, putting you at the center of the universe. Microsoft emphasizes its desire to help developers create dynamic content that enhances this expierence via its powerful next-gen console. And the customizability of XBox 360 also means you're able to get your gaming experience to reflect your own unique persona, attitude and friends. Therefore, if you are the center of the universe, you'll be able to spin in all directions (hence 360) and see yourself and your tastes, experiences, etc in everything around you. Voila! 360 is born!

Deep man...deep. A few other tidbits

The DVD playback only needs one processor, the other 2 will shutdown assuring whisper quiet operation
The faceplates may come with a memory card that contains the same visual style for the XBox 360 UI

[Zurik]

Nice on the DVD player, my ps2 isn't exaclty quiet, although its a first gen one.

[shpanky]

Sounds to me that's marketspeak copy after the fact "Oh, X-Box 2 sounds like it's not as fresh and new as Playstation 3 so we're going to have to go with a higher number....how about..360?"

Stay tuned for Playstation infinity plus 12

[LikeTheRazor]

The real reason: 360 confuses the average dumb consumer into thinking the Xbox 360 is better than the PlayStation 3 because the number is higher. Xbox 2 just doesn't cut it.

[Vulpes]

The real reason The Xbox is called the 360: Microsoft execs are paranoid and think that the everyday consumers of video games are morons. Which, to be fair, is probably right on the money.

'Hmm... well we're up against the PlayStation 3. Our console is called the Xbox 2. People are going to look at these and think "clearly three is a bigger number than two. It's obviously better." So we'd better just skip the Xbox 2 and move straight onto the Xbox 3. We don't want to look like a bunch of idiots!'


Edit: great minds clearly think alike, and also post on the same forum at exactly the same time.

[StoneGut]

The real reason: 360 confuses the average dumb consumer into thinking the Xbox 360 is better than the PlayStation 3 because the number is higher. Xbox 2 just doesn't cut it.

From my experiences the average consumer is more than dumb.... sad but true.

[Murtaug]

Instead of including a memory card with the faceplate that changes the UI of the machine and probably increases the price of a more then likely already overpriced piece of plastic; how about just include a card with a code that you can put in and download the updated style from live?

[kokyunage]

Instead of including a memory card with the faceplate that changes the UI of the machine and probably increases the price of a more then likely already overpriced piece of plastic; how about just include a card with a code that you can put in and download the updated style from live?

Because people are more likely to buy something that they can hold and see. Also, it's a decent "impulse" buy for the parents. Don't want to spend the 60 bucks on a video game for Tommy? Get him a new faceplate for 20!

[TrackZero]

Instead of including a memory card with the faceplate that changes the UI of the machine and probably increases the price of a more then likely already overpriced piece of plastic; how about just include a card with a code that you can put in and download the updated style from live?

<shocker>Because not everyone is on live.</shocker>

[outontheporch]

360 degrees is not a change, you end up facing the same direction

[commodus]

The above analyses are spot on. An "xbox 360" is something you'd expect to see performed in the x-games. How hard is it to come up with a name that at least suggests innovation (like "revolution" or "genesis")? Or better yet, an acronym that actually tells what the system does ("PC" comes to mind)?

[falak]

Therefore, if you are the center of the universe, you'll be able to spin in all directions (hence 360) and see yourself and your tastes, experiences, etc in everything around you. Voila! 360 is born!Are they trying to tell me that the Microsoft Experience is flat? Nice work, idiots.

[joruussuun]

*Talking about the UI changes coming with faceplates...*
Wouldn't it be cheaper to but it on a CD? It can read CDs... and those things are cheap as hell now... granted not as cheap as the piece of paper idea, but I opened some new mouse pads at work the other day and they came with CDs! What the hell use does a mouse pad need with a CD? WARNING: Please Install this Software or Your Mouse Pad may Work Incorrectly. :D

[Morrolan]

Between this bullshit, and the infamous 'inhale' it's obvious that the XBox team has really gone to the business school rejects. Oopse, I mean 'marketing specialists.'

[bobbler]

Revolution should be renamed NES360 !

[LikeTheRazor]

Revolution should be renamed NES360 !
No no. It must be 460. 4 is greater than 3.

[Sinistar]

From my experiences the average consumer is more than dumb.... sad but true.

Totally disagree.

The average consumer has a life and views videogames as simple entertainment, just like TV, playing cards, going fishing...etc.

[Worldcrafter]

They could just go with 1080 and make the system last for several generations.

[Taco]

Heh, I was going to post the same thing Razor. I 100% believe the driving power behind the thought process for naming it was they needed something marketable that was higher than three, yet less than four so that people still made the mental connection.

Everything on top of that is just trying to get the peg to fit.

[B_Money]

Sounds to me that's marketspeak copy after the fact "Oh, X-Box 2 sounds like it's not as fresh and new as Playstation 3 so we're going to have to go with a higher number....how about..360?"

Stay tuned for Playstation infinity plus 12

My Playstation goes to infinity plus 13.

[kizke]

This deserves the award of most stupid commentary ever.

[mister_slim]

Using the 'ring of light' metaphor, when playing offline multiplayer we will be but a fraction of the center of the universe.

Anyone feel like calculating the philosophical depth of of this concept, using as the unit of measure matrixrevolutionseters?

[Liquidize105]

Whoa..what's it take to cut through all that bullshit without getting soiled myself?

That's the most retarded P-R pitch ever!!!!

[Heretic Machine]

That's the most retarded P-R pitch ever!!!!

It's pretty bad... but it's still not worse than "REAL 3D NOT LIKE FAKE 3D."

BTW... I think the UI thing wouldn't be such a bad thing if you didn't have to buy the friggin memory card with it. What use would I have for a memory card when the damn thing has a removable hard-drive?

[Savok]

360 degrees is not a change, you end up facing the same direction

*snicker*

In Australia, we'd call Don Hall a massive wanker. This is as bad as that whole inhale thing, too many fucking lattes MS.

[Savok]

It's pretty bad... but it's still not worse than "REAL 3D NOT LIKE FAKE 3D."

BTW... I think the UI thing wouldn't be such a bad thing if you didn't have to buy the friggin memory card with it. What use would I have for a memory card when the damn thing has a removable hard-drive?

Moving your old Xbox save games to the XB360 most likely. If it's all compatible anyway, haven't taken much notice of the hardware on the new consoles yet.

[StrifeSnake13*]

The concept behind the name goes a little something like this: You are the hero in the next-generation of gaming, putting you at the center of the universe. Microsoft emphasizes its desire to help developers create dynamic content that enhances this expierence via its powerful next-gen console. And the customizability of XBox 360 also means you're able to get your gaming experience to reflect your own unique persona, attitude and friends. Therefore, if you are the center of the universe, you'll be able to spin in all directions (hence 360) and see yourself and your tastes, experiences, etc in everything around you. Voila! 360 is born!
haha anyone with half a brain wont buy that bullshit, they obviously called it 360 because when the time comes for a kids parent(s) to buy him/her a x-mas or birthday gift; they will see playstation 3 and xbox 2; the parent will pick up the playstation 3 mainly because it's a higher number. The 360 is just to counter that problem. Give me a break Microsoft, xbox 360 is a incredibly lame name, at least when Nintendo came out with the N64 it had something to do with the console, O yea and the ring of light doesn’t count.

[mister_slim]

StrifeSnake13, where's the damn footnote?

Yeah, asterisks confuse me.


I'm easily confused.

[Paranoia]

At the end of the day, no one is dumb enough to not buy the 360 just because of some lame/cool NAME!

[Wraith]

The DVD playback only needs one processor, the other 2 will shutdown assuring whisper quiet operationDoes this mean whisper quiet operation under normal use is too much to hope for? Well, I guess it's better than letting it run full blast while watching movies. (My current Xbox could certainly be quieter.)

[Bushi]

Somebody wake me up when it dose DVD upscaling. The inability of a 3 CPU monster not being able handle what is becoming a standard feature is a joke. Especially amusing given all the touting of HD function they are trying to claim.

[Murtaug]

<shocker>Because not everyone is on live.</shocker>

Xbox360 will have a two tier live system, a free stripped down service and a pay service with all the bells and whistles. Where have you been?

I see now reason why they could not allow the free users to download it if they've already bought the faceplate.

[DeadPixel]

XBOX $360, $180 used x 2 (including your broken one)!

[thecrazyd]

Xbox360 will have a two tier live system, a free stripped down service and a pay service with all the bells and whistles. Where have you been?
Didn't they say free users could only play on weekends, or something retarded like that? Well, I'm not gonna buy it. Five bucks says it will be nothing but multiplatform games and down graded PC ports. Like the XBox.

[AbinSur]

Somebody wake me up when it dose DVD upscaling. The inability of a 3 CPU monster not being able handle what is becoming a standard feature is a joke. Especially amusing given all the touting of HD function they are trying to claim.

Interestingly enough, Microsoft and Toshiba today announced that they would jointly develop HD-DVD players (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050627/tc_afp/japanusitmicrosofttoshibacompany/nc:1209;_ylt=ArhlWNFz0tTzSG0Xrl1qDF3w7rEF;_ylu=X3o DMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl). I wonder if we'll soon hear that XBox360 will have an HD-DVD drive.

[TrackZero]

It's pretty bad... but it's still not worse than "REAL 3D NOT LIKE FAKE 3D."

BTW... I think the UI thing wouldn't be such a bad thing if you didn't have to buy the friggin memory card with it. What use would I have for a memory card when the damn thing has a removable hard-drive?

Just because a harddrive is removeable doesn't mean it's meant to be portable. I'm not going to lug that thing around with me everywhere, constantly worrying about it taking too big a shock, getting wet or too hot and being destroyed.

Though it will be useful if I ever want to upgrade my drive or transfer it over to a new 360 later in the systems lifespan. Memorycards still have their place even with a removeable harddrive.

[TrackZero]

Xbox360 will have a two tier live system, a free stripped down service and a pay service with all the bells and whistles. Where have you been?

I see now reason why they could not allow the free users to download it if they've already bought the faceplate.

I'm well aware of the two-tier system.

Maybe it's just not clicking in your head, not everyone has broadband. You didn't have to take 'Live' in the specific sense of just a service, but just being able to use that service is outside at least 75% of people's capacity.

[Deadend]

I curse sony and their using the term playsation 2, or maybe it's nintendo and the nintendo 64.

Every other console has a name, PSX just had sequalitis, and we all know the 3rd one is the worst.

People are dumb, they buy the next gen console, but don't buy numbered sequals, which is why fewer and fewer games have numbers in them, just subtitles as people go (oh, I never beat Ratchet and Clank 1 but now 3 is out! oh no! I shall just never play it then).

the new burnout is Burnout : Revenge, not Burnout 4 : Revenge. Prince of Persia : Sands of Time and Prince of Persia : Some other one. Ratchet : Deadlocked. Starfox : Assult.

Expect to see the end of numbers in sequals within a couple years, as EA doesn't use numbers besides the year.

Expect to see all game consoles just have numbers. The Revolution may be called NES 5 just to bitch slap Sony and MS.

[KDups]

Well this seems right in line with blast processing, FX Chip, Mode 7, "multimedia", and Emotion Engine. C'mon, nothing new in the world of gaming PR.

Alright, well at least it's more entertaining to read about than adding a Super, CD, 64, 2, or 3 to your brand and calling it a day.

[Opty]

I curse sony and their using the term playsation 2, or maybe it's nintendo and the nintendo 64.
Well, those numbers actually make sense. Nintendo 64 because it had a 64-bit processor, Playstation 2 because it was the second Playstation. 360's just plucked out of the aether just to increase the console's marketability, which is why it's such a joke.

[Eon]

I have to be honest, had I been at the meeting where some asshat spouted that line of drek as a serious suggestion I would have been forced to whip a coffee cup at him.

Would have been rough, with only marketing position papers and donuts to staunch the bleeding.

[Rommel]

The faceplates may come with a memory card that contains the same visual style for the XBox 360 UI

Yay! More plastic to lose!

[MrMeatshake]

what a load of bollocks.

[bapenguin]

I'm well aware of the two-tier system.

Maybe it's just not clicking in your head, not everyone has broadband. You didn't have to take 'Live' in the specific sense of just a service, but just being able to use that service is outside at least 75% of people's capacity.

Except now, broadband is available to more than 80% of the United States. (http://www.howtoweb.com/cgi-bin/insider.pl?zone=3414051)

[saran_js]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Hall
The Name capitalizes on the XBox equity. It signals change; it communicates the expierence; it's globally appropriate and easy to use.

Quote:
Originally Posted by OXM
The concept behind the name goes a little something like this: You are the hero in the next-generation of gaming, putting you at the center of the universe. Microsoft emphasizes its desire to help developers create dynamic content that enhances this expierence via its powerful next-gen console. And the customizability of XBox 360 also means you're able to get your gaming experience to reflect your own unique persona, attitude and friends. Therefore, if you are the center of the universe, you'll be able to spin in all directions (hence 360) and see yourself and your tastes, experiences, etc in everything around you. Voila! 360 is born!

OMG, they make it sound like some women's sanitary napkin commercial.

[Savok]

OMG, they make it sound like some women's sanitary napkin commercial.

LMAO

So true, now to explain the "inhale".

[Shifteh]

"The XBox 360 - Instead of Going Forward - We Went Full Circle!"

[Cha-Ka]

"but..this one turns up to 11"

[Achilles]

All of this makes some strange amount of sense. Some hardware designers really get into their jobs. It’s like when I read that the PS2 was designed to simulate man’s ascension into space, or some crazy thing. That’s why the controllers are black with glittery stars in them and the stand is the color of the upper atmosphere.

People are dumb, they buy the next gen console, but don't buy numbered sequals, which is why fewer and fewer games have numbers in them, just subtitles. Got any numbers to back that up, going around calling people dumb and all? Final Fantasy seems to sell just fine and the ones that are titled instead of numbered sell worse, and it’s not like Resident Evil 4s sales were lower than the REmake, they were higher actually. Expect to see the end of numbers in sequals within a couple years, as EA doesn't use numbers besides the yearWhat’s up with Battlefield 2, Sims 2, Burnout 3, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2, SSX 3 and 4, Need for Speed Underground 2, and DefJam Vendetta 3?

[Stryfe01]

Right. As if the PS3 or "Revolution" sounds any better. Yeah naming it "Revolution" really suggests innovation...please. Stop arguing these dumb ass points and judge all three consoles on what counts. The quality of the games.

[Savok]

We don't have any games to play, so we'll go on about the names, thanks.