Following an unholy flood of tweets and the immediate pursue of EDGE online and the other tech- and gadgetblogs, it became crystal clear what to make of project Natal and the redesigned 360.
First things first (man, you’re *ing with the worst)
One year ago, out of nowhere, Microsoft introduced its Project Natal and showcased some possible uses of it. They now came out with a new name for this hardware add-on: Kinect, alongside a slight redesign. Now, I’ve always kinda liked MS’ approach to the entertainment circus: They seemed to tell themselves to not be afraid, to go for the straight-up nerdy, to first of all embrace science fiction and its aesthetics. Hence the design of the first XBOX – by many means the ugliest console ever made, with a butt-ugly controller, and the giant letter X designed into the machine’s top (y’know, “X”, as in… Xbox.) – endearing, heartbreaking even, given the tough and iconic design of the almighty PS2. EDGE themselves wrote in print issue 206′s editorial, “…a console whose appearence seemed to be designed for fans of cheap sci-fi TV series featuring an over-abundance of alien make-up.” With the introduction of the 360, and maybe a bit unnoticed by many, the design became actually quite a clever one. Only a few hints to the old design, an exterior that still reminds you of an X, but from the front as well as from the side, and the new controller, they altogether left one with the impression of a learning progress, a little culture building there, a slick image, without ever givin up completely MS’ stance on console-design. And spinnig the concept around, and building a platform for skateboard games, is a clever turn in itself, dear 360. Now, from this point of view, you’ll sympathize a little with their attempt to create a new brand, and combining the words “kinetic” and “connect”. And maybe you can actually get used to this. But it’s still a very not-cool name, and it doesn’t evoke passion on any level. This must be coming from the same team that thought of the truly original name of “XBOX”. Bummer.
Slight touches? But I am sure right now.
I liked the original design of the Natal. The new one, not so much. It has become full of edges without a reason, and leads a little bit back to the days where I wouldn’t have thought of buying a Microsoft console: The original XBOX-design. It looks as if this had been redone by Jonathan Ive’s little cousin, you know, as if talent doesn’t necessarily extend to the whole of your family. Or, they simply had a year of too much time to tinker with the device’s exterior.
A little bit of pain
And I so based my assumptions on a new, quiet, and brilliant design for the rumored 360 Slim. But then they came up with this.
No comment would be best. But I am writing this right now, and I will have to decide at precisely this instant, so I’ma go with the comments included. Some called it “Alienware-design”, some called it names…so the little touch of magic featured in the original 360′s design was just a mistake, this is what you truly like to say? Making a console you will have to hide in your living room, maybe put it next to your home server in the closet, you know, down in the cellar. Where you will have to go every time you change a disc. OK. Maybe over time it will aquire a certain kind of geeky cool, just like the first batch of Zunes, where they really had a brown model. I liked that. What I find a little bit disturbing is the fact that MS obviously doesn’t realize what came out good and what went, well, not so well, and just randomly travel back in time, to those very rare bad old times. And the most annoying talk of corporate reps the likes of “new era in entertainment” oder even worse “this is your living room, more social than ever before” doesn’t help. And to think of the fact that those people get paid for saying this. But put it this way: They are now in the perfect position to make an inspiring jump in exterior design by the time they plan the next gen of consoles.
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On the shoulders of giants:
Kinect logo and redesign pic from Edge online, who sum up the event – http://www.edge-online.com/features/analysis-microsoft-press-conference-0
Picture of the 360 slim – http://www.flickr.com/photos/majornelson/
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…übersetzt ins Deutsche. Wie auch die gesamten Inhalte der beiden bis jetzt erschienenen Spiele. Das liegt natürlich ausschließlich daran, dass man ja den österreichischen Markt im Sinne hat, die Schweiz, Liechtenstein, Norditalien, Luxemburg, Teile Belgiens und der Tschechei nicht zu vergessen. Vielleicht soll das auch ganz einfach heissen, dass sich Qualität durchsetzt? Wir forschen weiter. Let’s move out!
