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Leaked Ads Show Xbox 360 Revision, New Natal Name

They were right about one thing.

In just a few hours Microsoft will be putting on a show that will serve as the official Project Natal reveal event for the masses. It's expected, at some point between the clown car and tight-rope acts, that the hardware manufacturer will bust out the official name of the motion-control device (see update) and announce the slimmer, sexier Xbox 360 we've been hearing about for a bit. But it looks like we won't have to wait, as a few ads on a website may have just spoiled the surprise.  
 

No Caption Provided
The fine folks over at the NeoGAF (via Game Informer) recently spotted a flash ad, as well as a banner, for a supposedly smaller Xbox 360. The flash ad in particular is the more important, as it details what this new-Alienware-tower-looking piece of hardware has in its techno-tummy: a 250 GB HDD, integrated Wi-Fi functionality, and compatibility with Kinect--the new name for Project Natal, as we discovered tonight.

== TEASER == Here's a YouTube video of the flash ad: 
  
  
If I may get real for a moment: there's no way to confirm if that the Xbox 360 "slim" leak is fact or fiction at the moment. Microsoft, understandably, doesn't comment on rumor or speculation. But if this event is legit, we'll know soon enough.
 
UPDATE:
Microsoft has formally announced Project Natal's new name: Kinect. Read about it here
UPDATE 2: User Berkie is sharing this cool set of high-resolution images from the ad.

310 Comments

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BradNicholson

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Edited By BradNicholson

In just a few hours Microsoft will be putting on a show that will serve as the official Project Natal reveal event for the masses. It's expected, at some point between the clown car and tight-rope acts, that the hardware manufacturer will bust out the official name of the motion-control device (see update) and announce the slimmer, sexier Xbox 360 we've been hearing about for a bit. But it looks like we won't have to wait, as a few ads on a website may have just spoiled the surprise.  
 

No Caption Provided
The fine folks over at the NeoGAF (via Game Informer) recently spotted a flash ad, as well as a banner, for a supposedly smaller Xbox 360. The flash ad in particular is the more important, as it details what this new-Alienware-tower-looking piece of hardware has in its techno-tummy: a 250 GB HDD, integrated Wi-Fi functionality, and compatibility with Kinect--the new name for Project Natal, as we discovered tonight.

== TEASER == Here's a YouTube video of the flash ad: 
  
  
If I may get real for a moment: there's no way to confirm if that the Xbox 360 "slim" leak is fact or fiction at the moment. Microsoft, understandably, doesn't comment on rumor or speculation. But if this event is legit, we'll know soon enough.
 
UPDATE:
Microsoft has formally announced Project Natal's new name: Kinect. Read about it here
UPDATE 2: User Berkie is sharing this cool set of high-resolution images from the ad.
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palmettobling

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Edited By palmettobling

Nice

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Dizzyhippos

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Edited By Dizzyhippos

Still dont care about the natal

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diablochicken14

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Edited By diablochicken14

nice

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ApuZ

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Edited By ApuZ

woah

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Sil3n7

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Edited By Sil3n7

Hot.

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Daveyo520

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Edited By Daveyo520

Hmm, not a bad design and the old ones will be cheaper. Also Wave is a better name.

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Ben_H

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Edited By Ben_H

Kinect makes sense since there's those stupid Kin phones.  Cross-branding video games and phones because they're both considered social network devices?

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lucas_kelly

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Edited By lucas_kelly

That thing looks fucking ugly.

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zombie2011

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Edited By zombie2011

looks great.

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Sharpshooter

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Edited By Sharpshooter
@lucas_kelly said:
"That thing looks fucking ugly. "

I wasn't going to say anything but yeah I totally agree.
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nrain

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Edited By nrain

Do not like, nad it makes no sense for their market. Natal is supposed to be something of a wii killer, this design really isn't something my mom would like. Neither do I also it's ugly just like alienware's stupid designs.

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Rebirth1337

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Edited By Rebirth1337

Looks kinda ugly.

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Dan_CiTi

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Edited By Dan_CiTi

I guess they had to give up good looks for functionality.

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wolf_blitzer85

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Edited By wolf_blitzer85
@lucas_kelly said:
" That thing looks fucking ugly. "
It doesn't look that much slimmer either. 
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goudaj

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Edited By goudaj

It's real folks, USA Today just confirmed that Natal is now "Kinect" .
 
 http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2010-06-14-vidgame14_ST_N.htm
 
Kinectimals will surely be GOTY.

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blair

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Edited By blair

I don't know whether I like the redesign or not.  Kinect, however, is a weak name that doesn't stick very well.

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DonutFever

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Edited By DonutFever

I might just pick up a 360 now.

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MrKlorox

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Majkiboy

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Edited By Majkiboy

So I need a new 360 in order to use natal/kinect? They are at least implying so...

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kyelb22

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Edited By kyelb22

That is not a pretty piece of hardware, but it has to be better than my three year old white one. Hopefully it's doesn't sound like there's something dying inside of it.

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dvorak

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Edited By dvorak

I don't know why anyone cares what a console looks like. It's not like that aspect changes the experience at all.

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landon

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Edited By landon

Ahhhh...about time we had an E3 leak.
 
Also, I thought we were done buying VCR's.

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Bones8677

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Edited By Bones8677

Doesn't look that much slimmer. Kinda reminds me of an Alienware product.
 
I like it, those vents seem to make the console super cool. Hopefully it won't be so freakin' loud with those possibly larger fans.

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MooseyMcMan

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Edited By MooseyMcMan

"Kinect"? What kind of a lame-a** name is that? If the idea is that it doesn't use a controller, then nothing is being connected, thus it doesn't even work as a pun.

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Joshakazam

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Edited By Joshakazam

i heard abot this about 5 seconds before i came here.
 
News travels fast.

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Jensonb

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Edited By Jensonb

lol It's hideous.

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babylonian

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Edited By babylonian

This is just me, and I could totally be wrong, but that looks way fake to me. It reminds me of all those "next-gen" system concepts amateur 3D modelers kept creating when guessing what this generation of consoles would look like.

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Wick

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Edited By Wick

Fuck yes Kinectimals clearly what we all have been waiting for


Kinectimals lets you train and play with 20 different virtual cats, including a lion, cheetah and tiger.

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ddensel

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Edited By ddensel

Oh, at first I thought it was going to be called the "Oggi"...

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Chubbaluphigous

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Edited By Chubbaluphigous

That looks like it is designed to stand on end.  Bad things happen to xboxes that are standing.  Bad Things.

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Winternet

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Edited By Winternet

usatoday already leaked some games to go with this. kinectanimals and such. so kinect seems a reliable name.

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Kajaah117

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Edited By Kajaah117

So now that the "Kinect" name is confirmed... we're getting that shitty looking 360 for sure? It looks like it buckling under it's own weight. Or it's the result of keeping your 360 in a hot car for too long. 
 
I hope the images don't do it justice because it looks kind of awful.

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Noremakk

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Edited By Noremakk
@Ben_H: I'm pretty sure Kinect is a pun off of "Kinesthetic" and "Connect".
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halberdierv2

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Edited By halberdierv2

i notice it looks very much like the PS3...

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Grayvern

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Edited By Grayvern

I'm left with the thought why couldn't my third 360 have died now not last November.

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Orange

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Edited By Orange
@Sharpshooter said:
" @lucas_kelly said:
"That thing looks fucking ugly. "
I wasn't going to say anything but yeah I totally agree. "
I was just about to say it, lol. And as another member just mentioned... it doesn't look much slimmer. Maybe it will fix all of the RROD errors and heat problems instead.
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Vorbis

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Edited By Vorbis

I hope it doesn't sound like a jet engine.

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Edited By WEGGLES
@Bones8677 said:
" Doesn't look that much slimmer. Kinda reminds me of an Alienware product.  I like it, those vents seem to make the console super cool. Hopefully it won't be so freakin' loud with those possibly larger fans. "
Larger fans would make it quieter. They wouldn't have to spin nearly as much to get proper airflow.
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Milkman

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Edited By Milkman

Is this event being streamed anywhere and when does it start?

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Jesus

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Edited By Jesus

Wow that thing looks hideous. I'll stick to my elite, thanks.

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Rhaknar

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Edited By Rhaknar

fuck, i think im already used to the name Kinect because of Kinectimals >_>

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Afroman269

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Edited By Afroman269
@Jesus said:
" Wow that thing looks hideous. I'll stick to my elite, thanks. "
this. I hope that's not what it looks like.
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Dany

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Edited By Dany

Looks odd in the promo, weird angles and slanted weirdly.

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lordofultima

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Edited By lordofultima

UGH that looks ugly.

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MJHAYLETT

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Edited By MJHAYLETT

um Slim? Looks bigger than the original 360.

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Milkman

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Edited By Milkman

Oh and also, that new 360 looks pretty bad.

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MAN_FLANNEL

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Edited By MAN_FLANNEL

Unlike what some people are suggesting, the bottom isn't any wider than the top.  It just looks that way. 

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Godlovesugly

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Edited By Godlovesugly

No Caption Provided
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dvorak

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Edited By dvorak