XBox 2 and N5 the same platform?

[Combaticon]

Take this rumor with a TRUCK LOAD of salt.

From what I've been reading on various boards, it seems XBox 2 and
Nintendo N5
*might* be the same platform. I stress MIGHT.


from Dave Baumann of Beyond3D:

Quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"ATI have previously said that the West Coast team is the fastest
growing element of ATI - with the recent move to larger offices and
the influx of people that i know of, this certainly seems to be the
case. I'm increasingly of the opinion that the West Coast team will
now be primarily for desktop PC designs, while the East Coast team
will do special projects and stuff like chipsets/integrated at
othertimes.

As for R500, i think it will probably share the same basic platform as
the xbox, in terms of ALU design philosophy, but its design will be
more tailored to the diversity of pc titles, while the xbox chip will
be configured very closely to the requirements of a closed box system.

WRT Nintendo I'm increasingly getting suggestions that it may be the
same platform as xbox2. I floated this past someone who follows this
industry very closely a year ago and he didn't warm to the suggestion
then, curiously he seems to be getting a little convinced by it now."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
source: http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11022&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=140


other quotes which you will find in that thread, or that board

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Headstone
Member

Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 7:32 am Post subject:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There were rumors to this end last fall. Something about secret
meetings at Comdex IIRC. I believe the jist of it was a sort of end
around Sony. Share resourses and have a one two punch possibly with MS
aimed at the hardcore and Nintendo at the family gamer. Or with MS
doing a media center unit with Nintendo doing the standalone.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As for R500, i think it will probably share the same basic platform as
the xbox, in terms of ALU design philosophy,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WRT Nintendo I'm increasingly getting suggestions that it may be the
same platform as xbox2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


more quotes, these are from Gaming-Age:


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
gman

Joined: 2002-11-07
Location: Tokyo, Japan

User Profile Subject : Microsoft's Ace up their sleeve
Posted : 2004-03-15 10:38 PM


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A friend of mine who is in the know claims MS has something up their
sleeve that will turn the industry upside down. He says it will be
announced within 6 months. I'm very skeptical but it still got me
thinking, what could MS do to win the next generation battle
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MrSingh
Member
(03-24-04 01:12:26 PM)

EA will provide a full array of launch titles for xbox2, with xbox2
being their lead platform going into the next gen.

next GTA title will arrive on xbox2 first.

mario and zelda will be xbox2 titles.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://forums.gaming-age.com/showthread.php?threadid=84664 is the url
for last several quotes.



Now, I myself do *not* believe XBox 2 and Nintendo N5 will be the same
console, even though they'll both have CPU from IBM and graphics from
ATI.

 

[Beck]

Take this rumor with a TRUCK LOAD of salt.

From what I've been reading on various boards, it seems XBox 2 and
Nintendo N5
*might* be the same platform. I stress MIGHT.

I have seen this rumour before in various incarnations the last 6 months or
so. I think its a feasible option, but I am unsure as to whether Nintendo
would have too much pride to team up with a non japanese company.

 

[El Guapo]

I have seen this rumour before in various incarnations the last 6 months or
so. I think its a feasible option, but I am unsure as to whether Nintendo
would have too much pride to team up with a non japanese company.

I wonder whether or not they would trust Microsoft enough to do any kind of
partnership with them. History indicates that it probably isn't a good
idea.

 

[PowerPC 603e]

I wonder whether or not they would trust Microsoft enough to do any kind of
partnership with them. History indicates that it probably isn't a good
idea.

I tend to think that as well.

 

[JLC]

I tend to think that as well.

I sure don't see Nintendo opening their doors to MS. I think they are way to
smart to let Uncle Bill in, because once he's in, he tends to take over. JLC

 

[Aaron J. Bossig]

I wonder whether or not they would trust Microsoft enough to do any
kind of partnership with them. History indicates that it probably
isn't a good idea.

I agree. It does sound vaguely plausible. On one hand, I think it'd
be the best way for both companies to see some increased market share,
because as of now they're both fighting for Sony's leftovers, rather than
combatting Sony directly. If they went into a system together, they
could pool their resources, and (I think) push Sony out of 1st place.

Having said that, I agree that both companies would rather work
as competitors. They're both in the console market, but their goals
aren't compatible, and I think that would end up driving the partnership
apart. Oddly enough, I think it could be very similar to the original
partnership between Sony and Nintendo.



--

Aaron J. Bossig

http://www.GodsLabRat.com
http://www.Daily-Reviews.com

 

[Zul]

From what I understand: They will be on similar platforms but catered to the
each of the companies specifications. Microsoft is actually adopting
Nintendo's philosophy and out-sourcing the parts of the console design to
ATI (GPU design) and IBM (CPU design). It was clear to Microsoft that the
GCN was making money whether it was in the number 2 or 3 position on the
home console charts - due to the GC's low production cost.

Keep in mind that Nintendo still has a very specific architecture in mind: A
platform solely for games. The question for me is: Will Nintendo swallow
their pride and enter the online gaming market for their next iteration of
the system. I think they will. Mario Kart (along with the LAN adapter) is a
small indication that have tasted the success of multiplayer games. Here
is an idea that I would post to the management of Nintendo. Miyamato I hope
you're reading this: Metroid - MMORPG.

The overall layout of the system will still come from each company. GPUs
and CPUs are important but consoles are more than just that. Memory,
Storage and IO are other factors.

The Challenges ahead:
Sony:- none - I assume - ; or should I say: maintaining their lead.
MS: Cheaper console design for nextgen console, and getting a good grasp of
the home market with it's current system.
Nintendo: Convincing developers the GCN is a viable system for making money
and the same challenges that MS also has.


Zul

 

[Combaticon]

couldn't agree more.

From what I understand: They will be on similar platforms but catered to the
each of the companies specifications. Microsoft is actually adopting
Nintendo's philosophy and out-sourcing the parts of the console design to
ATI (GPU design) and IBM (CPU design). It was clear to Microsoft that the
GCN was making money whether it was in the number 2 or 3 position on the
home console charts - due to the GC's low production cost.

Keep in mind that Nintendo still has a very specific architecture in mind: A
platform solely for games. The question for me is: Will Nintendo swallow
their pride and enter the online gaming market for their next iteration of
the system. I think they will. Mario Kart (along with the LAN adapter) is a
small indication that have tasted the success of multiplayer games. Here
is an idea that I would post to the management of Nintendo. Miyamato I hope
you're reading this: Metroid - MMORPG.

The overall layout of the system will still come from each company. GPUs
and CPUs are important but consoles are more than just that. Memory,
Storage and IO are other factors.

The Challenges ahead:
Sony:- none - I assume - ; or should I say: maintaining their lead.
MS: Cheaper console design for nextgen console, and getting a good grasp of
the home market with it's current system.
Nintendo: Convincing developers the GCN is a viable system for making money
and the same challenges that MS also has.


Zul