Two Boobs Good, Four Boobs Better!

No, I haven’t seen a prototype yet, no one has.  No one round these parts anyway.

But from what we’re hearing on line, the new Xbox (Xbox 720, or the NeXtBox depending on who you want to believe) is shaping up to be a rather swish piece of kit.

Sure it’ll probably be bigger than an MRI machine when it first comes out, and cost twice as much, but until we get those details we do know two things about the new design:

1.  The Next Xbox will have 3D capabilities.

Microsoft Israel have advertised a job listing for someone to come on board to help with developing 3D technology for their new machine, and game releases.

While films have more than embraced the current fad that is 3D, the games industry have yet to even come close to beginning to get a start on it.  Especially with TV manufacturers already on the bandwagon when it comes to the new way of being entertained, it seems only a natural step to move towards it.

And with Apple threatening to launch an actual iTV (Not just that little box that you can buy, but an actual iTV) you can bet that the likes of Microsoft will want to be on board with the Android developers and tv makers to ensure that it’s not left behind.  TV manufacturers are turning more and more to Android to ensure compatibility with their other devices (Samsung being the biggest culprit so far).

The job listing is below and for people in the know you can read into it in more detail than I can.

If I was to turn up to this thing, I’d just whinge that I didn’t like the latest Dashboard update.

Just in case you qualify!

2.  The New Xbox will probably feature Touchscreen controls

Yes, the new Wii will have a touchscreen controller and everything from your fridge to your condom box will soon have a touchscreen panel on it.

But I’m intrigued as much as I am confused about this one.

Why would Microsoft bother with a touchscreen when they keep trying to shove Kinect down our throats?  It hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire, which is a pity really because it should have.  That could be because game developers haven’t really embraced the technology yet, or that you need a football pitch sized living room to get it to work.  But surely by the time the new Xbox comes out (which will have Kinect integrated like it or not too) then the action of waving your arms about like an epileptic seminar speaker would be the way to instead of (taking a step back to) touchscreens?

Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox will use controllers that have “an HD screen surrounded by the traditional 360 buttons and sticks,” according to Xbox World Magazine. The magazine claims Microsoft’s tablet-like controller will have shape closer to Sony’s PS Vita than Wii U’s “bulky unit”. The next Xbox “will be a matte-black media hub with a mission to bring games to life in your living room with augmented reality, directional sound, and a four-player, finger-tracking Kinect.”

The new controller will apparently also be used as a remote control when watching TV, a browser for the Internet or for extra buttons while playing a game. Earlier rumors suggest that the next generation console may be six times more powerful than the current Xbox, however it is not expected to launch this year. The publication speculates that the console could be priced over $600. “Microsoft are playing it safe with the CPU and GPU but running wild with the functions that will change how you play, but it won’t be cheap,” the site claimed.

Yeah, they may reveal a prototype or at the very least a mock up of the console design at this year’s E3, and when they do you can expect the Xbox fanboys to jizz everywhere with excitement.

I’ll just wait and see how much it’s going to cost.

I’ll also be waiting to see if Sony reveal the PS4 at the same time, or if they’ll wait to see what mistakes Microsoft make before doing anything!

Either way, someone better start saving because I want one.