The Xbox 360? Looks like it…

Until Microsoft makes their official announcement on it, this one is still firmly in the rumor category, but we've gotten word from one of our trusted sources that Microsoft has pretty much settled on a name for the next Xbox: the Xbox 360 (let that sink in for a moment, because you're probably going to be hearing it a lot for the next several years). Our source, who has worked on several projects involving the Xbox and the Xbox 360, has seen the proposed packaging and other design elements for the new console, and says that as of right now the console is being branded as the "Xbox 360." That's definitely not that first time we've heard that mentioned as one of the possible names for the next-generation Xbox; last year a marketing firm conducted a survey where they asked people whether they thought Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or Nintendo N5 sounded more "next-gen" (apparently Microsoft was worried that calling their new console the "Xbox 2" would make it seem older or less "cutting-edge" than the PlayStation 3).

UPDATE: Get your Xbox 360 pics here

[Diggiti @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I GOT IT ! ITS $360.00 !!

[Amen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Quoting #29:
""What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet."

--From Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)"

"not if you called it stench blossom"
--From The Simpsons

[Sam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I think X2 is the proper way to go.

[Matt Cox @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I used to work at a website called Xbox 360 when Xbox was first coming out. I think we had xbox360.com - but it just redirected to 360net.com

It shut down and the owners moved onto XenGamers. Which, I think shut down too - or got bought out by someone.

Well, there was a little useless information for you.

[Yosh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

XiliveinaBox

[zs450 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Xbox 3 processors
6 USB ports
0 Sega ESPN NFL 2K games *gritting teeth*

[Crazyglues @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Why not just call it

Next Gen Xbox X3

since it has 3 processors

is it really that hard to give the thing a real nice name.. come on' microsoft.

[ScreamingMe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Super DreamVision Xbox Colour Trinatron - with Anthony!

"quote thy Stern!"

[austin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

X2.

[Photoboy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I've seen this name before, about 4 months back I had an email from a GameSpot affiliate doing market research for an unnamed company (it was blatantly for MS based on the questions though).

The questionnaire had several names including Xbox FS, Xbox 247 and the above Xbox 360. The logo above is the same one as was in the questionnaire so this is either somone who has ripped the logo from the questionnaire and is claiming it's the final thing or MS have chosen their name.

[Jablome, Heywood @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

seXbox!

[Carmi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

This is another prime example of Microsoft trying to change the rules of the naming game.

Calling something 1.0, then 1.1 wasn't enough, so MS tried to lead the industry into year-based names (Windows 95, 98, etc.)

Well, that didn't stick very well, so they reverted to letters: NT, XP.

Now we're supposed to buy this "360" ridiculousness as the ultimate game of numeric one-upmanship.

If they spent as much time hashing out the hardware instead of fretting about the name, perhaps the platform would be more competitive than it is.

Carmi
http://writteninc.blogspot.com

[Chinchilla @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

THIS IS BS, there is not gona be a nvidia grapix chip in the xbox 2 or w/e. Its going to be supplied by ATI, so, so far your story is crap

[John P. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

How about the Xbox 180? http://www.ururk.com/index.php?p=24

Now THAT is a bit more reasonable.

[dean @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

They should really one up Sony and release the Xbox 360 as a nanochip only system that is injected into the body. you go to a clinic to buy new games that are also injected and you play the games in your head with no hardware.
Or MS could just start selling acid...

[Robert @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I'm still trying to figure out the logic behind the name "Xbox", much less "360". What the hell was that about? How does that even vaguely convey gaming? Makes me think of the X = Unknown idea, like Malcolm X or even Gen X. Whatever...it's still lame. That's the one thing that the Playstation has going for it--a clear, identifiable brand name that instantly tells you what your getting. I mean, "Xbox" could be the name for some sort of packaging system for glow-in-the-dark rubber weiners and no one would know the difference...

[Pancake @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I am sure that when the specs and features of the xbox 360 is realesed...it will all come together...

I would say to just expect something cooler and dont get to worked up over nothing quiet yet... if they announce a piece of crap system.. go ahead.. then get worked up ;)

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

"Now we're supposed to buy this "360" ridiculousness as the ultimate game of numeric one-upmanship."

Uh, yeah, because it's not like we never had the Atari 2600, 5200 and 7800 before!

They're just console names. They're marketing. Often they start out by accident (like the name "Xbox" to begin with) but then they take on a life of their own. The 2600 was just the production number of what was originally called the VCS, but when Atari decided they wanted a name to let people know their new system was twice as powerful, they renamed the VCS the 2600 and named the new machine the 5200. The 7800 kept the convention going.

The point being it's not like 1, 2, 3, 4 is some sort of "standard" in the video game world. Most successive consoles aren't even named the same thing as their predecessor at all; some have odd numbering schemes, some have other marketing weirdness to impress you with their newfangled power. This is nothing new.

"I'm still trying to figure out the logic behind the name "Xbox", much less "360". What the hell was that about? How does that even vaguely convey gaming?"

Think DirectX, dude... it's really pretty simple.

The real story is that Bill Gates said in a meeting at one point that he was envisioning a "DirectX box" to play DirectX-based games without a computer. The two guys he put in charge of it, Seamus Blackley and Kevin Bacchus, just kept calling it the "DirectX Box" whenever they talked about it in meetings after that, and eventually the name was just shortened to "Xbox". It was originally an internal codename but they liked it and kept it for the final release. But it just stands for DirectX box, which is about as descriptive a name for any console ever.

[Blog @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I agree I think 360 sounds better than 2 :) Who cares though, the only thing that matters is how it plays.

[Trejkaz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Why don't they just call it the GameCube Wannabe and be done with it? ;-)

[Zing @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

1. XBOX is spelled all in uppercase. Its name is not Xbox.
2. The XBOX does not technically run DirectX in the first place.

[w00d @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Why not just call it the SeXboX, i know i'd buy it.

[Lovemoose @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

If the first x in xbox was named for a mathematical unknown (as in x*2=n), then shouldn't they replace the first x with another mathematical unknown symbol?

How about the ybox?

[cmlp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Mr #38 et al,

Clearly, based on the current progression, the XBOX 3 will be the XBOX 1.296E5.

Kinda catchy. Like syphilus.

cmlp

[INSider @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

The 360 stands for 3.60Ghz, If I told you how I knew Id have to "cover it up" ...wink wink stab stab.

[Trejkaz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

YBOX would have been an awesome name for it I think.

It would be as Y Windows is to X Windows, representing an improvement so big that it can't even keep the same name anymore. :-)

[John Beeler @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

This is another prime example of Microsoft trying to change the rules of the naming game.

Since when are there rules? What rules did Nintendo follow when they went from Super Nintendo to Nintendo 64 to Gamecube?

I think Xbox 360 is pretty smart myself. It retains the Xbox brand, unlike Nintendo's Gamecube. It has a three in there, so it seems on par with the PS3. No doubt we'll hear more on the whole 360 thing.

Of course, this assumes people have an incredibly basic understanding of geometry, which is probably a mistake.

The PS3, frankly, is kind of boring, and sounds like Sony had nothing else to think of save a 3.

What I'm sad about isn't the name. It's that there aren't really any visionaries in charge at Xbox anymore. This will be a very different war than round 1.

[skiz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

i think mirosoft can come up with a better name then that.what about XX.i think 360 is very corney.

[idlebrain @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Does MS Marketing think that the people buying these consoles are stupid enough to get taken in by something as rediculous as this fancy name change? I hope that consumers ignore this BS and base their purchasing decision on what matters to them, be it performance, available titles, etc.

[Uchendu NWachukwu @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Well, let's face it, videogame devices are getting pretty awful names these days. Nintendo DS? Couldn't you call it 'TwinView' or something? PlayStation Portable? Why not PocketPS or something?

I blame Nintendo. Ever since they named the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the whole industry has been in decline.

At least it's not Microsoft XB-2366TX4L or something.

[Russell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

There is no way I'll end up calling it XBOX 360. At most, it will be called X2.

[Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

74.: Yes people buying these consoles are that stupid. The PlayStation 2's initial success and Dreamcast's failure was due in large part to consumers getting taken in by the PlayStation name.

[Eric Pobirs @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Actually Zing, DirectX is the core of the Xbox development tools supplied to every developer. While it isn't a requirement the vast majority of Xbox games use the Win2K derived mini-kernel and DirectX API suite, incorporating those portions needed by the game in question. The full kernel and suite acomes in at a little under a megabyte. It's a hell of a lot of functionality for the memory used.

[Xavier Sued @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I think that this whole thing is getting out of hand,especially when calling it"360", They should call it "X2" its Simple and If they want o give it a more futuristic feel to it the why no change its appearence and not a simple "X". But You guys have to admit the graphix are SICK,"Just look at the Game Morrowind IV!"Besides once the playstation 3 hits the market you know its going to be caled back for sometime of issue that it would always have....

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Does anyone recall thinking "Playstation" sounded rediculous when it first came out? I mean the very first time you heard it...sounded like a piece of crap to me. And it obviously didn't affect their success. I think whoever it was that said these systems need a catchy, sexy name to increase sales through word of mouth is a little off. Who is going to drop $300 on a system just because it's name is cooler? Who spreads the good word about a system just by saying "well it's got a pretty sweet name..."?

Anyhow I really doubt it matters what the name of the new system is.

[Sphillips @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hum.. 360 Sounds like what you do to get right back were you started, Not such a good name Microsoft.

[diego @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

How about they call it: Xbox 9.9*10^500. That way, they're sure that their number is bigger than everyone elses, which undoubtedly guarantees the console success.

"Bah! Playstation 3?! Our number is so much bigger. We win."

[Stu @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

What a stupendous lack of marketing imagination.

Any old timers remember the IBM AS/360 series mainframes? Called the '360' for exactly the same reason I recall ('full circle' etc. etc.). Of course the next in the family was the AS/400...doh!

[juliuss @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Halo3Box

... then DustyBox

[Marian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

They should call it Xbox Longhorn :-))

[Alex K. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

i say call the next xbox....

super xbox

[Jonboy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

You know, given the general video game industry's 'badder & radder' approach to next generation machines, it only makes sense to me that the next Xbox would have a simple, yet cool name. I suggest: X� (X with a superscript 2, as in Xbox to the second power). ;-)

[mm3 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

XBOX .NET !

[ruckus @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

360.. hmmm, nah
It should be

XBoxen Deux! The bastard child of the video game industry :)

[Brad @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Registrant:
Gaming360 Limited (XBOX360-COM-DOM)
Gaming360 Limited
5 Jupiter House Calleva Park
Reading Berks, RG7 8NN
UK
020 8926 2569
open('http://XBOX360.COM');
[e-mail]

Domain Name: XBOX360.COM

Administrative Contact:
Adrian Judson [e-mail]
5 Jupiter House Calleva Park
Reading Berks, RG7 8NN
UK
020 8926 2569

Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
Adrian Judson [e-mail]
5 Jupiter House Calleva Park
Reading Berks, RG7 8NN
UK
020 8926 2569

Record last updated on 31-Jan-2005.
Record expires on 27-Jan-2006.
Record created on 27-Jan-2004.

Domain servers in listed order:

Name Server: NS51.WORLDNIC.COM
Name Server: NS52.WORLDNIC.COM

Someone obviously found out before we did. Look at the registration date.

[Herman K @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I cant believe it. so many posts and nobody noticed it...

360 is written in l33t speak means: "EGO"

if you see the B carefully is also made in l33t |3=B

The name is:


X |3 0 X 3 6 0 == X B O X E G O

Dont worry we understand j00.
www.megatokyo.com

[Zaag180 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Well, it's simple:
XBOX
Super XBOX
X64
GameBox

I still think Playstation is a weak name...

[Darkshot @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

It should be the Xbox 2pi. Less syllables and flows better. Also just all around cooler.

[my name @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

how about XXBOX? signify a new improved product with a silent X and retain all the brand recognition.

[danielgary @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Just so everyone knows, and it may be old news, but xboxnext.com is registered to microsoft and blank....