Your Next Game Console Could be By... Lenovo
The eBox looks to utilize similar technology used by Kinect while reaching out to the Nintendo Wii's audience.
Friday Lenovo spokesperson Jay Chen revealed that the company is entering the video game arena with the launch of a motion-sensing console. Called the eBox, the device will be the result of a spin-off company named Beijing eedoo Technology Ltd., and is expected to hit retail shelves in China first. The name may eventually change however, as it may cause confusion with the open source unified network server for SMEs with the same name.
According to Chen, the new gaming console was first developed internally by Lenovo. "We saw game consoles as an area with growth potential," he said. A team of 40 software engineers was created to develop the initial prototype using motion-control technology similar to Microsoft's Kinect for the Xbox 360. The group was then was sectioned off to become the separate, dedicated company.
With that said, Beijing eedoo Technology's upcoming eBox isn't slated for drug store discount shelves (as in those lined with the "As Seen on TV" products, the Zone 40 and Xtreme Fit "consoles"). Instead, it intends to compete with the big boys--namely Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony. Still, the eBox will set its sights on the casual player rather than hardcore gamers--similar to Nintendo's Wii console.
"Our product is designed for family entertainment," said Beijing eedoo Technology president Jack Luo. "eBox may not have exquisite game graphics, or extensive violence, but it can inspire family members to get off the couch and get some exercise."
The new console is expected to hit China in November, and then go mainstream sometime in Q1 2011. The eBox is also slated to cost higher than the Nintendo Wii, but may possibly be slightly lower in cost than the Xbox 360 (retailing at $299.99). The eBox will also have around 30 free games when it finally hits the market.
"I expect more than 1 million eBox's may be sold annually after the first two to three years," Luo said.
- Apple Sends Invites for September Press Event
- Use Google Voice from Google Phone Booths
- Tomb-bot to Scope Out Pyramid Secrets
- The Future of Tattoos is Coming: Interactive Ones
- Best Buy Now Accepting Used Games Trade-ins
- Android App Developer: The OS is 'Hideous'
- The Winners of the Back to School Gear Contest
- Sony: PS4 Won't Be "Digital Only"
- Netflix Finally Lands on iPhone, iPod Touch
- Ghosts 'n Goblins NES Cart On eBay for $5,000
- Kinect Beta Info Leaked with Screens, Video
- DROID X Wins Victory in Android Battery Shootout
- Garmin Recalling 1,250,000 GPS Over Fire Hazard
- Nike Patents Shoes That Tie Themselves
- Forget Farmville, Playboy is Making Poisonville
- Better Audio Coming to Xbox Live in November
- Gmail Users Make 1,000,000 Phone Calls in a Day
- Microsoft Investing Billions in Windows Phone 7
- Logitech Launches Creepy Ad for Google TV Box
can't wait to not buy it.
*Christmas Morning all across America*
"Honey, don't you like the new gaming console Santa Clause brought for you? I hear its all the rage with the younger crowd these days."
"That's the Xbox mom.. not the Ebox".....
Yeah.....
They could have come up with a different name.
The new console is expected to hit China in November, and then go mainstream sometime in Q1 2010.
So it went mainstream months ago? Guess it failed hard and I missed it :-P
I hope Lenovo doesn't install a bunch of bloatware on their game console like they do their laptops.I
I'm all for competition in the marketplace. If it's decent I might pick one up, especially with 30 free games.
It's high time Nintendo enter the hardcoremarket again.
I think Apple or Google would have a bright future in consoles.
I miss SEGA!
Wonder if this is going to turn into another Phantom.
And their mascot? Jumpman! Later to be named fat tony.
Great to see these console companies(MS vs Sony vs WII VS Lenovo)kill each other for market share.
So...it's a Wii named after the Xbox. Great marketing plan Lenevo.
lets just call it "Lenny" instead!
Come on, eBox? They couldn't have come up with something more original than that? The fact there is another product in the console world called the "X-Box" leaves little room for such a crappy unauthentic title and probably will lead to the eBox getting crushed out of the market.
i always though x box was a rip off of a box, amiga power.
thought, thought. : |
"But you said you wanted EX-Box tree sixty."
They could have come up with a different name.
They ripped off the concept from the Xbox, why not the name too.
This is just another rip off like the Pop station.
If it's to compete against wii, it better lowers its price.
30 free games? That may constitute a purchase for many people, especially if they are good games.
30 free games? That may constitute a purchase for many people, especially if they are good games.
I'm not really expecting them to be any good. I am curious as to how they turn out though.
Leave it to the Chinese to rip off others IP.
No shame at all in ripping off of other people's designs. Absolutely disgusting. They should be shot.
Come on, eBox? They couldn't have come up with something more original than that? The fact there is another product in the console world called the "X-Box" leaves little room for such a crappy unauthentic title and probably will lead to the eBox getting crushed out of the market.
Worse, Microsoft and Asus both might have some ground to sue due to it being a bit confusing. Asus'S eeeBox, and the Xbox. There might be some confusion.
Hopefully this is just an early name like Nintendo Revolution or something.
I hope Lenovo doesn't install a bunch of bloatware on their game console like they do their laptops.I
As someone in the industry, I can say most of that is because they can't/won't build the laptop so cheap to hit lower prices, and thus have to make up the price gap on the cheap laptops with bloatware subsidies. Every laptop companyX puts a piece of software on is usually a bit of cash they can use to make it cheaper and hit those cutthroat price targets.
That's also why I don't buy cheap ass laptops. Too low quality or too many strings attached somehow for the company to make their money somehow.
The above attitudes are a great example of why we only have the big 3 producing consoles, we don't hear anything about specs or support for the console and everyone is already bashing it.
Really, they (Sony, Nintendo & Microsoft) just need to give up the whole console thing. It's time. It was fun while it lasted. PC gaming is the way to go.
Is it me, or is it full of rip-off? For god ake, just look at the name... ebox... why not the Zii....
Of course, motion control...
no exquisite game graphics, and wii-like excercise-genre. like you do stationary jogging and the console will project onto the TV a road to nowhere. at least you don't get mugged or maybe a little only as the game doesn't have extensive violence.
So, it's basically a Wii. Well, they admitted that the graphics will suck... that's more than I can say about Nintendo...
Anyway, I predict this will fail, as does everyone else. And not just fail, if that... fail HARD. This thing is going to crash and burn...
So, after they crapped out the IBM PC line, they are supposed to churn out a crappy console that croaks after 6 months?
i wonder if it's equipped with the red ring feature