So rumor has it that the next gen Xbox (Xbox 720 as the fans are calling it) will be announced and debuted at CES 2012. Here is an interesting question to all you Xbox’ers out there: What in the way of features are you looking for in the next Xbox or series of consoles in general? Our executive manager at Pittco asked me that very question.

“With the recent speculation that the next version of the Xbox will be announced at CES 2012, what should gamer’s expect to see in Microsoft’s latest console? Secondly, with the quick dismissal of the original Xbox after the launch of the Xbox 360, do you feel that Microsoft will continue to support the Xbox 360 to the extent that Sony did with the PS2 after the launch of the PS3? Why or Why not?”

One thing I can tell you for sure is that I’m expecting: Fast. Fast menus, fast response, and fast controllers. In my humble opinion, the 360 is running on an out dated and dead processor and it is simply killing it. The console is so far behind on the times in the way of graphics that it is insulting, at times, to say that you own an Xbox. So the graphics have to be improved right off the bat. Bottom line: BLU RAY. Microsoft backed the wrong horse as far as the HD medium market was concerned and made HD DVD drives available for all of their units. Problem: Porn backed Blu Ray, so the industry backed Blu Ray (Many product analysts feel that the HD format war was really determined by Disney). When HD DVD died off as did the ability to really play anything other than DVDs in your 360. Games will be able to be bigger, requiring less discs for your experience and a better overall presentation. Blu Ray is a must.

As far as the Xbox 360 dying when the 720 hits… I whole heartedly expect it. While it has been around for quite a while, the lifespan of the 360 has been marred with problems. Everyone is well aware of the ‘red rings of death’ and the problems caused by overheating the box. 1 in 5 people you ask about their Xbox will tell you that they have had their console shipped back to Microsoft for repairs (Game Informer Magazine did a study back in August of 2009 sampling 5000 Xbox owners and found that 45.8% of them experienced the “Red Ring of Death”). I expect that within 6 months of the 720’s release, the 360 will be all but extinct, especially if the timing is right.

With the rumor being an announcement at CES, that will time it just right to be released around the holidays of 2012… what else is usually released in the holidays season as far as gaming? Three words folks: Call… of… Duty…

How else would you help to market the biggest gaming launch of the year(assuming that Activision keeps with its trend of releasing 1 CoD game a year) but by coupling it with the launch of the next generation Xbox? The guys in the PR department for either company would cream their pants at the opportunity to dual release.

All in all, it is time. There was a period in the past couple years when the Xbox was the system to have. Now, outside of the Kinect, it is starting to fall behind and Microsoft needs a boost to keep it in the forefront.

The biggest question not asked? How many of you PS3 players will switch to Xbox if the new one is better? BLASPHEMOUS!

Will we see the 720 added to this timeline?