Ziff-Davis survey hints at MS handheld

by Xav de Matos { Feb 15th 2008 at 7:45PM }

Ziff-Davis media, the company behind the 1UP Network website and it's related print publications, recently distributed a survey to subscribers of their various brands (1UP, EGM and Games for Windows Magazine). Question 8 of the survey asked whether or not the subscriber was interested in an Xbox handheld gaming device, asking them to rate it from Very Likely to Not at All and Don't Know for the indecisive bunch.

While we've heard rumblings of a Microsoft branded handheld device (Read: Not the Zune) and even Shane Kim won't "say never," we wonder how well anyone could do in a market dominated by Nintendo. Now we're not saying that the Z-D survey is confirmation that it could happen, there is a likelihood that Microsoft is looking for information on the acceptance of such a device. According to a poll on our Mama Bear site Joystiq, they should stick to the Xbox 360.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: portable-xbox, xbox-handheld-gaming-device, xboy

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Skyfire360 @ Feb 15th 2008 8:08PM

I wouldn't get one for at least a year after it came out. Microsoft doesn't exactly have a spotless hardware reliability record.

Zeus.:God @ Feb 16th 2008 10:06PM

Neither does Sony. The only reliable company is Nintendo...

bs6268d @ Feb 15th 2008 8:11PM

if it had better graphics then Psp and have xbox live I would buy

webster1990 @ Feb 15th 2008 8:27PM

i would deffinately buy IF it:
- featuered xbox live intergration, use the same gamercard as 360
- had cheevos
- 2 analaogue sticks
- had good games (portable halo, gears ftw)
- had sync with the 360, ala "remote play" with the psp and ps3, (The ability to port xbla games to the device would be awesome, and not too demanding of a handheld)

Larry @ Feb 15th 2008 8:50PM

I like your "Pox", portable Xbox, Webster 1990. Now, give me a SSD built in and I'm there.

webster1990 @ Feb 16th 2008 10:52AM

i made a mock up Xbox Handheld this morning on photoshop. Its only rough, but its a basic design.
It is on my blog if you want to have a look
http://www.bitofageek.blogspot.com/
(y) cheers

Tony @ Feb 15th 2008 8:39PM

If these were hints to anything, the ones I filled out about Nintendo would have led to a ton of games and ideas we've never even seen.

Steve @ Feb 15th 2008 8:41PM

I would love to see this. I would buy it at launch if I could transfer my Xbox Original and XBLA games to it.

dishwasher @ Feb 15th 2008 9:05PM

I have been saying forever MS just need to release a XBLA handheld. Download games you have already paid for on your 360 and play them remotley agains people on live wherever you have a wifi connect.

They also need to do this with windows. So I can download the games I have payed for play them on my PC, 360, or my new Xboy all over live.

KFelon @ Feb 15th 2008 9:25PM

I got this survey over a year ago, and just recently got it again... it's not new. It was posted on the internet the last time as well.

Trekster_Gamer @ Feb 15th 2008 9:28PM

The comment in the above article "wonder how well anyone could do in a market dominated by Nintendo."

The PSP may not sell as much as the childish DS but its what 26 million strong??? Why POS ds sells escapes me. I have been a PSP owner and fan since it's release, it so far is the only console quality portable out there. It would be great to see MS put another choice out there.

Give it features like:

Xbox Live
Touchscreen
Keyboard
(close to 360 in power)
A port that would allow you to use your controller plugged into the hand held as well as dual analog controllers built in.
Tv Out
Portable full fledged version of IE

soul899er @ Feb 15th 2008 10:10PM

i think the should take ppls advice and stay out of the handheld business, Microsoft will fail, handhelds is not their thing, fix the damn RROD problem or else we will have a 3 red lights portable

David W. @ Feb 15th 2008 11:48PM

Only reason the 360 has such a big quality problem is they rushed release, I doubt they would make the same mistake twice

Trekster_Gamer @ Feb 16th 2008 12:25AM

PS3/Sony TROLL ^^^^^^^

cranium @ Feb 15th 2008 10:39PM

Don't anyone kid themself. Microsoft is without question looking into the portable market. Whether or not they ever make the plunge, or if said plunge would be nothing more than games a la Zune can't be determined yet. i doubt itll happen anytime soon though. my wager is it wouldnt be decided on until after sony releases the next iteration of the psp

soul899er @ Feb 15th 2008 10:56PM

Agreed ^_^

David W. @ Feb 15th 2008 11:51PM

I'd pick it up...if they do it right

-Ability to play arcade games bought on your 360
-No physical game media, all games bought through your 360
-Large amount of flash (or a decent amount plus a SD slot)
-Nice big, bright screen
-WiFi
-Cheap, removable, rechargeable battery
-Halo, Gears of War, PGR, COD4 portable versions, etc...

Teabag @ Feb 16th 2008 4:20AM

"Now we're not saying that the Z-D survey is confirmation that it could happen, there is a likelihood that Microsoft is looking for information on the acceptance of such a device."

Not rough up with the new guy (congrats, btw!) but really, how is this news? Do you really think MS will ask 1up for research work? MS is a multi-billion dollar company and i am sure they have a huge and extremely competent R&D department. Just because a site had a 'poll' merely asking their readers their opinion on a Xbox hand-held doesn't make it news. If you had posted this 'as your opinion' kinda article, it would have been okay.

Btw, i wouldn't digg a hand-held from Xbox. But that's just me.

Benjamin09 @ Feb 16th 2008 8:50AM

Sure they would, we use 3rd parties to get us information all the time in my line of work. it gives us a chance to get an opinion from a much broader market then just the people with our product already.

MS might say, Hey will buy some ad space if you get a little information for us.