First glance at an Xbox 360 kiosk?
Microsoft's Xbox 360 won't be available until November, but a picture circulating the Web may reveal what gamers can expect at their favorite retail store.
An example of the kiosk shows a deluxe interactive model... apparently for larger stores such as Best Buy, Toys R' Us or Target. Microsoft has supplied retailers with similar interactive consoles in the past and this one is plausible. Microsoft and EB Games inked a deal earlier this month to produce custom-made Xbox Live game kiosks in 25 EB Games locations across the United States.
Microsoft executives were not immediately available to verify the source of the photo.
The most interesting design feature is that the futuristic looking stand has a built in port so gamers could potentially plug in a high-capacity memory card, download and purchase a game or preview and take it home.
The interaction could let Microsoft to highlight the latest releases, gather instant sales data, target specific demographics and perhaps reduce the number of jewel boxes on store shelves.
If the kiosk in the picture is accurate, the kiosk is expected to come with a 23" LCD HDTV monitor; illuminated header, trim and consol base; and expansion slots to accommodate future accessories like a video camera for live in-store demonstrations and perhaps security purposes.
The other benefit for retailers is that the power cord and other wires tucked away for security reasons naturally but also to give off the appearance of wireless.
