Gray 360 appears in Microsoft E3 rehearsal photos

[Weapon 117]

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/07/360s.jpg

We don't know exactly what this means ... heck, we don't know what it means at all, but we thought it was too cool to not pass along to you. Eagle-eyed (and quick screen-grabbing) reader Rickard Gudbrand sent us a screen capture he took while looking through Gamerscore Blog's flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gamerscore/) photos of Microsoft's E3 rehearsal. The image shows the three Xbox 360 SKUs we all know and love, in addition to a mysterious fourth wheel that appears to be a gray 360. Making the whole thing even weirder, after Gudbrand commented on the photos' four boxes, the pic (and others showing the stage) appear to have been removed.

So ... what is it? As you can see in the image, the box seems to be on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Elite, which maybe indicates that it's at the opposite end of the pricing spectrum too. We heard about some new, cheaper production methods (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/microsoft-cuts-costs-analysist-predicts-price-drops/) for the 360, could this be a low-priced model taking advantage of that? We'll hopefully find out tonight.



Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/10/gray-360-appears-in-microsoft-e3-rehearsal-photos/

[Rocket]

It could also be the "newest" one that I have heard of...build in HD DVD Drive already, even largeer HD, faster processor chip and better cooling fan...I guess we will find out tonight tho...

[ThePolishCookie]

In the comments under the article users are debating whether it's a normal white Xbox under dim lighting or a new gray Xbox.

It looks gray to me.

[P1NSEEKER]

Notice who posted the first comment ;)

Its definately a white xbox that is set infront of the others and as such is lit differently making it appear gray.

(im gonna look such an ass if it is gray!)

[Rocket]

Notice who posted the first comment ;)

Its definately a white xbox that is set infront of the others and as such is lit differently making it appear gray.

(im gonna look such an ass if it is gray!)

Thinking and looking at it more...it could also be just a new casing on what we have...might not even be a "newer" model...could also just be the lighting too...

[codedigital]

It could also be the "newest" one that I have heard of...build in HD DVD Drive already, even largeer HD, faster processor chip and better cooling fan...I guess we will find out tonight tho...

I'm pretty sure it's not a "faster" processor. They're just sizing them down to a 65nm architecture.

[Rocket]

I'm pretty sure it's not a "faster" architecture. They're just sizing them down to 65nm.

I don't know, my buddy was reading me the article about it in last months/this months (not sure which) OXM...was talking all about it. Just speculating on the info that I heard...

[EBIL CHICKEN]

That definatly looks grey, I really don't think that is due to lighting, there is a very clear difference in colour compared to the other three. I wonder what this new box (if it is actually a new box) will do? Or what it will hold inside?

On another note i'd laugh if they got red lighted during the presentation. :D

[Zef]

Maybe someone cross-bred an Elite and a regular 360 and it made an unholy Grey60 machine.

Since they have a little line going with the Elite on the end, maybe it is just a sort of timeline showing the progress of the 360. The grey one could just be a pre-announcement prototype that happened to be grey, the second on is the launch model, the third an improved machine and the fourth is the beloved yet expensive Elite.

[Comon ST]

I think the grey one is an even CHEAPER one then the rest of them, as Microsoft said in a OXM interview, that they wanted to make a system for all types of people, weather your poor or rich. And I think the order goes...

Cheappy - Core - Premium - Core

I guess we will find out soon enough...

[Drednaught X]

cant wait for tonight, wonder what it could be

[highpass]

It could also be the "newest" one that I have heard of...build in HD DVD Drive already, even largeer HD, faster processor chip and better cooling fan...I guess we will find out tonight tho...

I doubt we'll ever see one with built-in HDDVD. It's plausible, but could be a big loss for MS if HDDVD goes the Betamax route, and will obviously never be used for gaming this generation.

Faster processors? The likeliness of this is almost 1%. It'd adversely affect development in some areas. A 65nm revision is almost definite though, as is the new heatsinks as a standard.

We all know grey is mediocre, so this model will surely be one priced under the Core; scart video out, mono 3.5mm audio out, 78rpm vinyl drive instead of DVD9, 1024KB of RAM and a 486 CPU. Rocking.

[DaKing240]

Very good find Weapon, and to think I skipped over that image last night, it didn't even occur to me that it was grey.

[x McGrim x]

I'm pretty sure it's not a "faster" processor. They're just sizing them down to a 65nm architecture.
Correct. That's also what I heard. I think that they had an article about this on qj.net If I remember correctly, it's called something like "Project Phoenix".

[italianstallion]

I figured we would see a halo 3 addition 360.

[bplayak]

I doubt we'll ever see one with built-in HDDVD. It's plausible, but could be a big loss for MS if HDDVD goes the Betamax route, and will obviously never be used for gaming this generation.

Faster processors? The likeliness of this is almost 1%. It'd adversely affect development in some areas. A 65nm revision is almost definite though, as is the new heatsinks as a standard.

We all know grey is mediocre, so this model will surely be one priced under the Core; scart video out, mono 3.5mm audio out, 78rpm vinyl drive instead of DVD9, 1024KB of RAM and a 486 CPU. Rocking.

OR blu-ray could go the Betamax route and this could be a big gain for MS ;) I've read some articles in entertainment magazines and some analysts believe that DVD will still be the standard platform for at least a few more years to come. The whole HD-DVD/Blu-Ray war is going to last many many years now until the market shift goes to whoever buys the majority of the certaing type of player. So for now I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a 360 with the HD-DVD built in. The gambles as far as money lossed/gained are going to come in the next generation of consoles.

[Clipse 2]

Why go the HD-DVD or Blu-Ray way when you can do both? We have next generation players that play both formats and they're dropping in prices. MS could cut Sony's feet out from under them by slapping a combined drive in. It'll never happen, but how cool would that be?

As for the photo, man thats pretty hard to determine whether its gray or just a white box thats out of the light spectrum. I'm going to have to say its white though, you can see the pedestal its on is closer to the front and side of the stage than the one next to it pushing it out of the light.

[Guamon]

Cool!!! I can't wait for tonight to see microsoft's press confrence :D

[SengIV]

so, i think my 360 needs to burn up when this comes out...

[Rand al Thor 19]

Apparently that grey looking 360 is just an Elite under halogen lighting. At least, that's what Frankie from Bungie said.

[Jdm7399]

It could be the lighting, but it's possible that it may be a "Grey" 360, but if anything...it's just the casing M$ changed. M$ has said numerous times that they will only keep 3 models of the 360 on store shelves. The Core, Premium, and Elite. There has even been rumors about M$, that one day they'll phase out the Core and the Premium consoles and only manufacture the Elites. I don't think M$ would be stupid enough to put out another edition of the Xbox 360 on the market. OK, M$ said that the Elite was to bring in new consumers. So if this Grey 360 were another edition to the already Big 360 family...what is the purpose of this one???:confused:

I stand by my theories...

1. Lighting on the stage.

2. M$ changed the color of the casing.

3. M$ releases a standard "Grey" colored 360.

[Wolf]

Maybe someone cross-bred an Elite and a regular 360 and it made an unholy Grey60 machine.

Since they have a little line going with the Elite on the end, maybe it is just a sort of timeline showing the progress of the 360. The grey one could just be a pre-announcement prototype that happened to be grey, the second on is the launch model, the third an improved machine and the fourth is the beloved yet expensive Elite.
Yeah, this is kind of what I was thinking. I could be wrong, but I think I remember a Grey 360 as a prototype from a while ago.

[Cyrex]

it would be really sick to find out if it is really a gray console. My friend is looking into getting a 360 and if it is that cheap then he could get it quicker

[299]

Great find. I was watching AOTS and they said something about "codename falcon" maybe that is it.

[Tussell]

I have a feeling it wouldn't be gray. Notice how the Elite is offset from the others. I think this one is just another white one. I would assume if it was gray it would be offset to one side.

[bplayak]

The infamous Gray Xbox has now been confirmed as a special edition Halo 3 console/w Halo 3 art and a special edition Halo 3 controller. It seems like the crowd reaction wasn't very good. Hush of silence and some sparse laughter.

P.S. Beat ya to this one Clipse:woop:

[Clipse 2]

The infamous Gray Xbox has now been confirmed as a special edition Halo 3 console/w Halo 3 art and a special edition Halo 3 controller. It seems like the crowd reaction wasn't very good. Hush of silence and some sparse laughter.

P.S. Beat ya to this one Clipse:woop:
LOL but its not gray, its a "Spartan" green. Remember that post I put up a few weeks ago with the Halo 3 accessories being released in September? Its the same color as that. But it's still not the one shown in that photo. The Halo console has an orange disk tray cover and border around the hard drive.

[x McGrim x]

LOL but its not gray, its a "Spartan" green. Remember that post I put up a few weeks ago with the Halo 3 accessories being released in September? Its the same color as that. But it's still not the one shown in that photo. The Halo console has an orange disk tray cover and border around the hard drive.
And it's ugly. :(

[Adam Miller]

Im not a huge fan of this idea and i dont know many people having already owned a 360 would then go out and get this one. Is there a way i can watch the press conference?

[kvant]

Either it is clue about the future, or might just be dirty. o.O

Switching x0 to the 65n technology makes sense if you think about the heat issues which it would probably solve.

[TheMollywhopper]

Im not a huge fan of this idea and i dont know many people having already owned a 360 would then go out and get this one. Is there a way i can watch the press conference?

IGN insider? If not I don't know.

[Clipse 2]

Im not a huge fan of this idea and i dont know many people having already owned a 360 would then go out and get this one. Is there a way i can watch the press conference?
You don't have to be an IGN Insider, its now posted HERE (http://media.xbox360.ign.com/articles/614/614983/vids_1.html).

[JoeHacker90]

dont know if anyone noticed but one of the people used a gray 360 controller.

[J Lo]

Now we have 4 different colors for Xbox: White, Black, Green, and Gray. :)

[DisturbedDan]

it could be that gray one is actually green instead. Seeing as they announced nothing with a gray.

[Clipse 2]

it could be that gray one is actually green instead. Seeing as they announced nothing with a gray.
Its a white Xbox that is out of the lights glare. If it were the green Halo 3 edition console you would be able to make out that ugly ass orange they have on it. ;)