Xbox problems?
News from bank shareholders of the Xbox's development companies rumours that the Xbox is flawed and the one/only problem noticed is one with the Intel motherboard, and the machine may be delayed. BUT Microsoft deny that there's any problems, not least with Intel, and that the machine is still steaming ahead for its November 8th release date. However, console shortages are more likely.

Microsoft deny internet rumour
There's a rumour floating around on the internet that Microsoft won't be able to meet demand for Xbox on release or are stuggling to make units. Microsoft deny this and say that they will have between 600,000 and 800,000 units to ship and be bought from launch date November 8th.

Xbox set for March 15th 2002 for Europe
That's about it really; the Xbox will be out in Europe from March 15th 2002, with the Autumn release still set for the US and Japan. Opinion: if Japan aren't interested in the Xbox much but Europe is, WHY don't Microsoft release it in Europe first and delay it for Japan? Microsoft are in talks with all retailers worldwide on how it will be marketted and sold.

US release date
Microsoft have revealed that the Xbox will be released in the US on November 8 for $299 (and around £270 for Europe),...

Xbox release dates for Mexico, Brazil & Argentina
As you'd have guessed, Microsoft have set the release date for their Xbox machine for Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, and it is March 2002 (same as the European release). The USA/Japan date stands at this autumn.

Xbox delay? - Sega developing for it, won't be online until 2002
Rumours (denied of course) are going around that the Xbox will be delayed as Microsoft took a long time to release the development kits to games developers.
Sega have said that they are working on a large number of games for the Xbox, as a sign to the Japanese that it is a good machine. ALSO, details about the Xbox have been leaked over the web, revealing that the console will NOT be playable online until its second year available...

Xbox losses predicted (I'm sure they can afford it ;-)
Microsoft have revealed that they expect to lose a lot of money for when the Xbox is released, and are said to lose £100 for every Xbox sold when it is released. They're also ambitious that 5million will be sold within a year of release. As Japan are unintersted in the machine right now, it seems possible that Japan's date will be put back even further from Autumn (no word as to is this will affect Europe's spring release, who're rally looking forward to the machine).

Copyright problems
* There's a possibility that the Xbox may be delayed because a Florida-based comapny named "Xbox Technologies" claims to have copyrighted the name 'Xbox' seven months before Microsoft did, and may sue them. Microsoft have denied, though, that this will delay the machine.

Dreamcast compatible?!?
* Rumours are circulating that the Microsoft Xbox will be Dreamcast compatible and will incorporate the Dreamcast chipset straight from the console's launch later this year. The chipset is supposedly already incorporated into the Xbox. Predictably, Sega and Microsoft have both denied any of these reports.

Won't be out in Europe until spring 2002 - US/Japan remain later this year
* Microsoft have announced that the Xbox will not be released in Europe until spring 2002. The reason is because MS don't want to suffer shortages risks in the same way the PS2 did. The US and Japan release remains at later this year, though they are likely to be released a month apart.

Non-torrential?....
* There's rumours flying around that the Xbox will be the world's first non-torrential console. This means there's no PAL version or NTSC version etc. so games and conoles work internationally, much like the PC in fact.

Little coverage in Japan
* Strangely, the Xbox is not getting very much coverage in Japan except for official press releases, but hopefully it should change once its released. It is the first major console to come outside of Japan for a long time.

DVD rip-off scheme?
* Contrary to reports, it is believed that DVD will be standard format, BUT you will need to purchase a separate remote control in order to use it.

 

 

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