Star Ranger4: you are correct for the original Xbox. It was pretty much nothing more than a custom PC, and even used (no joke) a bog-standard DVD drive that you could yank and slap into a normal PC if you so desired.
The Xbox 360, on the other hand, has pretty much given up on that idea. While it is still based in part on PC architecture, it's been loaded down with so much custom gear that it really is its own platform now. Granted, the software developed for it can still make standard DirectX calls to get everything done, which in theory means an easy port to PC, but in practice it's supposedly not quite so trouble-free. (I have not developed for the 360, but I've talked with some people who have...)
And then there's the mindset, as well. Microsoft *wants* 360-only titles, because they need to turn a profit on the blasted thing. If someone already has a PC, and the title is coming out on PC, then they *probably* won't buy a 360 to get the game.
This is why I'm half-seriously boycotting Bioware. I love their stuff, I've bought ALL of it until now (I even own KOTOR, though I don't have an Xbox!), but dammit, I've been waiting for Mass Effect since it was first HINTED at (I've even got the CGW issue that broke the story), and it wasn't until relatively recently that it was stated it would be a 360-only title.
Bastards.
Same deal with Bungie, now, too. Grr.
--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs
The Xbox 360, on the other hand, has pretty much given up on that idea. While it is still based in part on PC architecture, it's been loaded down with so much custom gear that it really is its own platform now. Granted, the software developed for it can still make standard DirectX calls to get everything done, which in theory means an easy port to PC, but in practice it's supposedly not quite so trouble-free. (I have not developed for the 360, but I've talked with some people who have...)
And then there's the mindset, as well. Microsoft *wants* 360-only titles, because they need to turn a profit on the blasted thing. If someone already has a PC, and the title is coming out on PC, then they *probably* won't buy a 360 to get the game.
This is why I'm half-seriously boycotting Bioware. I love their stuff, I've bought ALL of it until now (I even own KOTOR, though I don't have an Xbox!), but dammit, I've been waiting for Mass Effect since it was first HINTED at (I've even got the CGW issue that broke the story), and it wasn't until relatively recently that it was stated it would be a 360-only title.
Bastards.
Same deal with Bungie, now, too. Grr.
--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs