Xbox Reveal

[Icemage]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Ok, I've been at work all day and missed the reveal, but mostly caught up now.

Impressions:

* They showed a box. I'm not sure I like the design, but I don't hate it.

* First half hour focused on TV applications? I can't imagine what people in Europe tuning in came away with either (ESPN? Madden? Hah.) Guess Microsoft is doubling down on North America.

* Sony got trashed for not showing a box, but Microsoft shows zero actual gameplay and gets away with it? Ok.

* Used games effectively no longer exist on the Xbox One. Apparently you have to buy the game again if your disc is already used to install to another account, so you can't loan out a game. I'm going to assume for the sake of my sanity that Microsoft at least lets you use the game if you've got multiple consoles by signing into the XBL account that the game is registered to, but if so, hello online requirement for DRM check at startup.

* Not much in terms of specifics on the internal hardware aside from "5 billion transistors" and "8GB RAM". The latter tells me that the rumors about 8GB DDR3 + 32MB ESRAM are probably correct, and 5B transistors is just marketing-speak for "it's got a CPU".


Icemage

[Malacite]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Oh, seems the install also requires an online connection to check and make sure you're totally legit as the first installer.

So that's a DRM with a fee for secondary installations. And the line in the sand as now been drawn with retailers.

This a week after EA says online passes are a thing of the past and they have no Wii U games in development, then have a special partnership with exclusives for Xbox One. I also don't seem to recall as many specifics about the PS4's installation specifics, either. Hopefully the press will get them to start being more specific.

Well, my plans for next gen remain unaltered - 3DS, Vita, Wii U, PC/Steam Box and I'm done. If I'm going to put up with one-time activations and DRM, I can at least do it with the least invasive service, best community options and best value with the least bullshit - Steam. That we're even hearing talk about DLC exclusives before the system is even out just goes to show the downward spiral that began this generation hasn't reached the bottom yet.

Barring all the other shit, this is honestly the most offensive part to me of all. Honestly, I would rather a game be exclusive entirely to one platform than to have split DLC which effectively punishes people for buying a game on the "wrong" console.

E3 is 19 days away...

My personal predictions? Xbox One will outsell PS4 in North America but it'll still be close, while Sony dominates Japan and probably the EU as well. PS4 is looking more like the platform for the hardcore gamer crowd while Xbox One is trying to appeal to the average consumer in general; they're more or less trying to steal Nintendo's thunder and it's likely going to work. Wii U is just dead in the water IMO - it's not a complete write off but close to it.

[Icemage]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Too early to write off Wii U. Save the shovels and coffins for this holiday; Nintendo's still got a little time left to bring something of a userbase to their system.

I don't know about Xbox One outselling PS4 either, even in North America. You just have to imagine GameStop is sharpening their knives to stab Microsoft in the back at their earliest opportunity. Without used games, they have no reason to sell or stock Xbox One product. While GameStop is almost a dead man walking, it still has a lot of market presence, and this reveal is going to drastically change their stance.


Icemage

[Malacite]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Well that's the big question isn't it? How much is this fee going to be? It has to be high enough to at least partially deter people from just buying 1 copy and then sharing it with all their friends - but if it's effectively the cost of the game itself, then that will effectively kill used game sales entirely which is going to make Gamestop and others very, very unhappy.


Also, I want it noted that people were shitting on the PS3 very early on for mandatory installs, but no one is raising a peep about Xbox One doing the same thing?

EDIT: Idk if Gamestop is that close to being done, I mean they are the largest specialty retailer in North America (or so sayeth Michael Pachter) and yeah it'll be amusing to say the least if some kind of boycott happens as a result of this.


Like I said, we've got just under 3 weeks until E3 and so we'll hopefully have the full picture then. I honestly just don't see Nintendo being able to compete this time around. The Wii basically took the world by surprise, and combined with its low price point made for a winning recipe. I sincerely doubt lightning will strike twice. There's always going to be that assured level of sales from the really dedicated folks like BBQ, but I honestly don't see them making any major gains this generation. Xbox One is basically offering a similar but better experience (minus the tablet) plus a whole whack of other awesome features, and PS4 is looking like the go-to platform for really hardcore gamers - nevermind the ever dwindling 3rd party support for Nintendo; Mario & Link aren't going to be enough.


EDIT:


http://kotaku.com/xbox-one-does-requ...ay-o-509164109

And here's the bombshell:Kotaku: If I’m playing a single player game, do I have to be online at least once per hour or something like that? Or can I go weeks and weeks?
Harrison: I believe it’s 24 hours.
Kotaku: I’d have to connect online once every day.
Harrison: Correct.
So the system is built to work even if your Internet connection goes down, but you still have to be connected at least once a day to use it, according to Harrison. We're not sure exactly what would happen if you don't connect once per day—and that timeframe could change—but this doesn't sound good for anyone who was hoping to use Xbox One without an Internet connection.

WOW that's some epic bullshit. It probably won't be a huge issue for too many people, but it's really going to hurt sales in rural areas etc.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Too early to write off Wii U. Save the shovels and coffins for this holiday; Nintendo's still got a little time left to bring something of a userbase to their system.

I don't know about Xbox One outselling PS4 either, even in North America. You just have to imagine GameStop is sharpening their knives to stab Microsoft in the back at their earliest opportunity. Without used games, they have no reason to sell or stock Xbox One product. While GameStop is almost a dead man walking, it still has a lot of market presence, and this reveal is going to drastically change their stance.


Icemage

Its not just Gamestop they need to worry about, but Fry's, Best Buy and every mom'n'pop game store, too. Anyone who's wallet is about to get lighter will not stock this thing.

MS doesn't seem to understand that about 40 to 50% of their users don't even connect to the internet. Hell, I live in the city and that estimate might be lowballing it in my area.

[Icemage]

Re: Xbox Reveal

WOW that's some epic bullshit. It probably won't be a huge issue for too many people, but it's really going to hurt sales in rural areas etc.

You missed this bit in EDIT: another article:

Here's how the system works: when you buy an Xbox One game, you'll get a unique code that you enter when you install that game. You'll have to connect to the Internet in order to authorize that code, and the code can only be used once. Once you use it, that game will then be linked to your Xbox Live account. "It sits on your harddrive and you have permission to play that game as long as you’d like," Harrison said.

Other users on the console will be able to play that game as well, Harrison said. So you don't need to buy multiple games per family. "With the built-in parental controls of the system it is shared amog the users of the device," he said.

But what if you want to bring a game disc to a friend's house and play there? You'll have to pay a fee—and not just some sort of activation fee, but the actual price of that game—in order to use a game's code on a friend's account. Think of it like a new game, Harrison says.

"The bits that are on that disc, you can give it to your friend and they can install it on an Xbox One," he said. "They would then have to purchase the right to play that game through Xbox Live."

"They would be paying the same price we paid, or less?" we asked.

"Let’s assume it’s a new game, so the answer is yes, it will be the same price," Harrison said.

So if you loan a disc to a friend and he has to pay the full price just to install it, why do you need to loan the disc to him when he could just buy it digitally for the exact same price?


Icemage

[Malacite]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Well, GG used games >_>


Oh I can not WAIT to see Gamestop & others' reaction to this.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Xbox Reveal

This is some hilarious shit. I can't wait to see the fallout of this.

[Malacite]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Yep, everyone get out your lawn chairs and popcorn because the fireworks will be starting shortly.

[Icemage]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Yep, everyone get out your lawn chairs and popcorn because the fireworks will be starting shortly.

That's when you know next gen has finally arrived, right?


Icemage

[Nestama]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Save me some popcorn, would you? I might be asleep when the festivities occur.

[Firewind]

Re: Xbox Reveal

[Etra]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Xbox One Reveal 2013 Highlights - YouTube

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Xbox Reveal

[Icemage]

Re: Xbox Reveal

Holy... Microsoft, does your incompetence with the Xbox One know no bounds?

Xbox One: live TV available in US only at launch, requires separate device | VG247

A release sent to VG247 this evening confirms that Live TV with Kinect navigation, Live TV with One Guide, Trending, and NFL on Xbox will only be available in North America at launch.

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As shown in the Microsoft reveal stream, and confirmed in the release, “Live TV will require a supported receiver device with HDMI output,” which is sold separately.

What this means is that the Xbox One has to connect to a set top box (Dish, cable, DirectTV, whatever) via HDMI or via it's IR blaster. Since you're still using the set top box commands (even if remotely from the Xbox), why exactly do you need the Xbox to do any of the things you're already doing now - and will be doing regardless?

Even if it works right (doubtful), this being a US-only feature, along with NFL focus just makes zero sense for a console planned to launch worldwide. Has their entire marketing team just been smoking illegal substances for the past seven years? The US is an important market, sure, but this sort of feature abandonment outside of the US means Sony will dominate EU (and will undoubtedly win Japan for however much that may be worth in the coming generation).


Icemage