Xbox Handheld idea? Send it to this guy
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Aug 21st 2006 at 12:30PM }
Inspired by the Team Xbox article "Xbox Portable Explored," reader Curtis Baker has created a blog devoted solely to the much anticipated Xbox handheld -- which will likely tie in with the new Zune brand. The site basically serves as a public repository for user created designs for the mystery device. It looks like the site only opened a couple weeks ago, and, as such, the entries are a little thin so far. So, send this guy some designs and let's get this party started. If you've got a great design, send us a link and we'll feature it right here on X360F. Hint: UMDs are out, QWERTY keyboards are in.
Our dream device: WiFi, touch screen, analog sticks, microphone, Live Anywhere, and 30 gigs of delicious hard drive. Please, somebody out there with mad design skillz, make it happen.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
aragorn @ Aug 21st 2006 1:03PM
I'm not entirely sure why anyone really cares about the handheld market. I mean... I mean... it's secondary to the console market. Because these games are aimed at a specific demographics (people on the go), you usually get only the more underwhelming games (or two-bit ports).
Not to be a hater... but ummm... yeah... does anyone actually care? That's not a rhetorical question, I'm actually asking people.
I guess I can understand that it's good during commutes... but personally i always prefered reading material, and music.
jc @ Aug 21st 2006 1:12PM
I have no interest in gaming on small screens. In fact I find it hard to game on my 27" after picking up a grand wega HD.
Did the PSP make enough to justify itself? Is there enough of a market left for a 3rd party?
joba @ Aug 21st 2006 1:34PM
Good points posters 1 & 2. I believe a well designed handheld, software and hardware wise, is what could send this market soaring! MS is in a position to really show how a strong handheld can actually support mobile lifestyles through XBOX Live Anywhere and Zune. Creating proprietary formats to realize a handhelds full potential is not the way to go. By letting the user determine how best to use the built in potential IS the way to go. MS I think is in full support of that if the XBOX 360 is any indication.
Two bit ports will become a thing of the past. Please read the Teamxbox article in-depth. Especially the section concerning processors and you'll see what I mean. --CB
jc @ Aug 21st 2006 2:13PM
I understand what you are saying joba... Sure, an XboxPortable that looks like an OQO would be a nice little gadget. Finding a nice balance between power and price wouldn't be that much of a challange, expecially when you consider the resolution needed for a 4"x6" screen.
Personally, games mostly fall into one of two catagories for me... 1) fun & 2) enveloping
1-Fun games are usually simple and addictive. They usually can be produced without a huge production company and can run on less powerful processors with less resources (cheaper hardware).
The nintendo DS seems to understand this model well, and have captured the majority of this market.
2-Enveloping/Engrossing games are usually very detailed and somewhat complicated. They take a long time to develop/program/tweak. The controllers have to be more complex and there is usually a higher requirement on resources (RAM/Processor/GPU. All of this means there is a higher cost everywhere... games cost more to make, hardware costs more to manufacture and we pay more as a customer.
Personally, I like the engrossing games. Right now I spend 20+ hours/week playing GRAW online. The level of detail is what makes this game amazing (seeing enemies running behind trees 1/2mile away while me and some buddies work together to take them out)... I wouldn't enjoy this game on a smaller screen, at least not to the level I do now, and definately not enough to entice me to buy an XboxPortable.
I think MS could make a cool portable, I think they could even make it affordable and fun... but I don't think they can get enough of a market to make it worth their while.
Grimm @ Aug 21st 2006 2:37PM
Ok, I love that guys design though I think it's perfect if they made one just like that I'd buy it. Also I just thought of something kool to add to his idea...why not make it a cell phone to? Imagine you just select your service provider and phone number (which it authorizes via text message) and plug in your communicator and bam handsfree talking. It could even be programmed to have speech dialing and have a dash mount. Also another good reason to give it a touchscreen.
x cram x @ Aug 21st 2006 3:16PM
or those little memroy cards people use already in their cell phones could be inserted...bam theres you service provider and phone book
John @ Aug 21st 2006 3:23PM
I like how the "dream device" has 10 more gigs than the next generation console it would be modeled after.
jOEfRO @ Aug 21st 2006 6:19PM
hey jc
of all my friends online and offline including myself, we find it easier to play on a smaller screen, our reason: you see enemies much more quickly and your reaction will be much faster than any of your opponents.
i play on a 19 inch sdtv and my rank in halo is a 34 go look it up, gamertag j0efr0
Murc @ Aug 21st 2006 6:44PM
I haven’t owned a portable gaming system since the Gameboy (the original)...I almost bought a DS...But I thought to myself...When & Where am I really going to use this...And I didn't have an answer...so I didn't buy it.
However, If they make this, and have good games, and give it a BIG HDD, then I will seriously consider it. I want to be able to put videos on it to watch on road trips and stuff, So this would have to have at least 20gb for me to seriously think about buying it...any lower, and I'll pass.
BTW #7......I think everyone agrees that the 360 has a puny hard drive...I'm waiting for the hackers out there to make it accept larger hard drives.....I would like to put a 500gb drive in it, and have DVR capabilities.
Footlong! @ Aug 21st 2006 7:27PM
my biggest fear is a half-assed halo knockoff. im a support all microsoft is trying to do and I support Bungie even more so. but a halo port would practically be guarenteed. and a shooter on a handheld is practically guarenteed to suck. now an action or rpg title themed in the halo universe.. ..there's something im interested in
zune @ Aug 21st 2006 8:18PM
I hope it has the following:
HDD
Zune branding
Lots of Games
Integration with console
DannyOB@360insight @ Aug 21st 2006 8:26PM
currently i can't see a market for another major handheld games player. i mean, look at what we've got already, a solely games playing machine, the DS, and the multimedia 'powerhouse' (wheres the HDD??), the PSP, i think if microsoft were to hit the sweet spot between those two, then they would have a major product on there hands. But then again, with all these features microsoft has at its disposal, i think they will either end up swamping the 'XP' (for those that read the article) with tons of features - overwhelming the average consumer, or miss out several features (i'm talking software) that the community wanted or that the mass market would find appealing, but i really, really do want them to produce a portable xbox, because right now, i'm so tempted to get a DS lite. Give me something to wait for microsoft, please.
aragorn @ Aug 21st 2006 8:41PM
The only way I'd even begin to consider a handheld console... is if it dispensed with all the extra features crap. I mean, the one thing that kept me from getting a PSP (aside from the price tag) was all the extra features that I’d make no use of. I have no interest in watching movies on the go, I already have an ipod, I don’t want to browse the internet on a screen smaller than 13’, and for the love of god, if I wanted to message someone, I’d use my god damn cell phone.
The only feature that may be necessary is wi-fi, cuz that does suddenly make it a multiplayer experience… but otherwise… it’s a portable game console. Not a god damn GPS.
Though, if Sony did release a dumbed down version of the PSP, I might re-assess a purchase.
Well… assuming if a good game comes out between now and rapture.
KingOfGods @ Aug 21st 2006 9:30PM
Two words....Live Anywhere. Think about it, purchase and download GeoWars, Street Fighter, or any arcade game on my 360 and download it again free of additional charges to my portable Xbox via WiFi.
Being able to play Pool, Frogger, Street Fighter on any multiplayer arcade games on Live over WiFi against 360 players would be incredible. That's something that hasn't been done by the two handhelds available today.
joba78 @ Aug 22nd 2006 7:12AM
@ aragon...I totally agree. I didn't purchase the PSP for the same reason...Too much going on under the hood! With my design of the XPX, its intent with video is not full-length movies. It is the same offerings as XBOX Live on the 360...quick commentary videos, movie trailers, etc. Your messaging point can't be counter-pointed...but to be competitive in this market the functionality has to be there.
@ KingofGods...You are spot on! Your statements reinforce my response to aragon. Except with all types of media outside of games. Imagine the possibilities! You're @ work, on a business/family trip and the demo for Gears of War just dropped! No warning of this anywhere on the net. The XPX could remotely confirm the download for you to have your 360 start the dl while you're away! You are simultaneously connected to both devices are each are independent in terms of storage space. But both can adequately enjoy the XBOX Live experience.
@ DannyOB...The sweetspot for the handheld market is ridding the devices of hardware proprietary formats. The DS/PSP both have such. The delivery of content has changed the software market. Xbox Live is taking advantage of this now and should consider a handheld device to take advantage also. Thus making the online service the software proprietary format! However, I do not see a Xbox branded handheld as open as say a GPX with emulators an such. The business model for these type systems were flawed. I call it "legitimate theft" and the industry will never take hold of such devices.
If anyone knows of ways to get an actual production model of my XPX made, shoot me an email to portablexbx@hotmail.com. Thats how strong I feel about this design! --CB
LordOf @ Aug 22nd 2006 8:33AM
Wow there are best game players?!?!?
aragorn @ Aug 22nd 2006 6:28PM
Joba: I'm not sure why you would say that you need a messaging feature in order to stay competitive... I mean, the DS is beating the Tar out of the PSP, and the only advance feature of that portable is the wi-fi.
In regards to the idea of creating a portable, my general baseless assessment is that consumers tend to err on the side of affordability, and I imagine for the same reasons that I'm not wild about the market... because are all these features worth all the dough, on a product you're only gonna use once in a while? This is of course, completely the polar opposite to the console market, where the motto is "everything but the kitchen sink."
Furthermore, to my knowledge, the portable gadgets market has never really taken off, or at least until the cell phone became feature-full, and inexpensive. And that's kinda the problem with the idea of releasing a portable game device... you risk turning into a handheld gadget.
As for Live Anyway... for the first time in a long time, I agree with the creators of Penny-Arcade. Why would I care? Your own example of the gears of war demo... ummm... I can check that when I get home. I'm pretty sure the end result will be the same: that being that I won't be able to play it anyways until I'm home.
I guess you can call me a hater, but I'd like to think of myself more as a skeptic. I understand that we're on the same page, in that 'too much' and 'not enough' are not interchangeable, but still... I'm having a hard time buying the idea that a handheld console could revolutionize how we 'game', even with the idea of live anywhere... which I can't imagine to be anything but a short lived novelty.