Despite being a Playstation guy, I followed the Xbox One reveal.

I think Microsoft may have made a serious blunder here. The emphasis seems to be on almost everything apart from being a games console. Much of these hyped features I already get via my PC and TV, and with a "fee to play" a game bought by someone else, they've practically killed the 2nd hand/rental markets.

As for gamers, hyping it up with "exclusive content" doesn't hack it. I don't know anyone who bought a PS3 'cos Mortal Kombat 9 had a Kratos exclusive.

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Weyland Yutani Corp. Bio-Weapons Division - "Superior Weapons through Superior Genetics"

I wont be buying one. I know the price point is going to be way high off the bat, but also its very "big brother". The camera is reportedly so perceptive that it knows if your smiling when you play the game and can measure you heart rate. That same insane camera is reportedly able to send this info back to the game developers ("for research" they say, so they can know if their games are enjoyable or not). It also can not be turned off. If there is power to the sytem, there is a running feed from the camera to any number of 'watchers'.

What if I want to strut around my living room nude?!

But in all seriousness, even if the Microsoft themselves have no evil intent, its only a matter of time until a hacker figures out how to tap into the feed/info. How can the potential good POSSIBLY be outweighed by the potential bad?

Maybe some of what I have come to learn will be proven false or be addressed later and change my mind, but I couldnt care less when this thing is actually available because as it is an EASY "pass" for me right now.

Let's be honest- I'm a ways away from this getting to be a concern of mine.

Until the 'next gen' consoles have been out in the marketplace long enough to basically crimp my 360's game output to next to nothing, I'll start to consider what to buy next....that normally equates to 18-24months if PS2 and Xbox are anything to go by. By that time my current game system will normally be wearing/worn out and then it comes down to what type of package deal I can get: What swung the 360 last time was I was getting more for the beer tokens compared to the bare bones PS3 (at the time)

All this shiney gubbins and malarkey is proposed....What'll pan out is what sells- and what doesn't will quietly die on the vine (Anyone remember the expansion slot in the back of the PS2 for the keyboard? Because we were all going to use it instead of a PC?....Yeah, right)

I've never been a 'Mk1' purchaser of anything- though I salute those brave souls willing to surf the hype-wave and queue around the block on opening day for a product they've never laid eyes on in real life

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2nd Lt Jon "Jaylo" Lopez
A11/TQ1.0.72144E1
USCM Quality Assurance Division- Aerospace and Space Products- Earth
"Checklists Save Lives- No Service Stations at 30,000ft"

Demon, I've been the same, never bought a new console Day One. The fact remains that despite any testing, kinks always appear once the public uses them, I think all of us remember the 360 rush-job problems.

Microsoft were always aiming for an "all-in-one" device, but I think the problem here is that most of the added features are already provided for. Most 360 owners bought it to game on, the same as PS3 owners, and this core demographic is what Microsoft must appeal to.

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Weyland Yutani Corp. Bio-Weapons Division - "Superior Weapons through Superior Genetics"

The gaming side of the launch will be at E3, which MS have said all along.

However, it appears that with all the extra DRM and region locking, if the PS4 stays true to the PS3 basics, I'll be dumping my 360s and getting a PS4.

Also, my living room is too small and the wrong layout for the current Kinect to work, so unless it'll work at a distance of less than 450mm from the TV/console and at an angle to the screen, the new one won't be usable in my house anyway.

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

They did say that details of the exclusive games would be at E3.

Most 360 owners I know said they aren't interested in the One. Now, I don't know if something at E3 may change their minds, if the Xbox exclusive titles are awesome enough.

There's also concern that a 500 gig hard-drive may not be enough if you have whole games loaded on it in order not to need the disc, along with perhaps needing to be online to play. Be a bit of a pain if you lose the broadband for a week, and be unable to play anything.

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Weyland Yutani Corp. Bio-Weapons Division - "Superior Weapons through Superior Genetics"

Well, it looks like it's time for me to finally upgrade my PC and become one if the "consoles suck" brigade.

As for the camera "watching you and reading your facial expressions"; If your that worried about it = COVER THE BLOODY LENS!
Or be a rebel and don't plug the fucking thing in...

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AKA: Simon

1/2" square of gaffa tape= Problem solved

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2nd Lt Jon "Jaylo" Lopez
A11/TQ1.0.72144E1
USCM Quality Assurance Division- Aerospace and Space Products- Earth
"Checklists Save Lives- No Service Stations at 30,000ft"

Unless, if rumours are to be believed, the console won't operate without a recognised face and the console won't work if Kinect is unplugged.

But that could just be MS testing the water to see if they can get away with it, rather than how it's shipped.

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

I knew about the Kinect always having to be on thing, but never heard about the "won't work if don't recognise you" bit.

Knowing how reliable technology is I can't see that being an option, I'm pretty sure that's just a rumour.

I mean, you don't want the thing to shut down just because you moved to grab your drink, and 'cos your faced moved, it doesn't know who you are any more!

Unless of course, they're really hitting the 2nd hand market, by deciding you can't sell on the console either!

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Weyland Yutani Corp. Bio-Weapons Division - "Superior Weapons through Superior Genetics"

I'm even suprised the Kinect comes with it (if indeed it does), Microsoft normally make you pay for everything and anything they can.

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AKA: Simon

NEW EXCLUSIVE XBOX ONE NEWS: the Xbox One's camera is monitored 24/7 by Microsoft Stasi who detect from your facial expression when you are thinking about Linux and send a mild electric shock through the controller. You will only be able to play second hand games if you promise your first born son to the eternal service of Bungie to use his brain as a human memory stick for Halo PvP teabagging videos. If you try to take your copy of a game to a friend's house, the console dials into the US Military Satelitte network and redesignates the house as a Taliban Bomb Factory with a standing kill order. Then they come round, key your car and make you write out "Bill Gates has fabulous hair" 100,000 times.

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2nd Lt Jon "Jaylo" Lopez
A11/TQ1.0.72144E1
USCM Quality Assurance Division- Aerospace and Space Products- Earth
"Checklists Save Lives- No Service Stations at 30,000ft"

Yeah, I think I will stick to my PS2 and my complete Nintendo console collection for now...

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viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12784
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12917

Well this is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDWILxMELiI

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Weyland Yutani Corp. Bio-Weapons Division - "Superior Weapons through Superior Genetics"

My biggest issues with both new consoles is apparently there is ZERO backwards capability...like really?

Yep, that is what happens when you change chip architecture. Backwards compatibility is always done by re-purposing the old console's CPU in another manner in the new console, like the CPU of the Sega Master System becoming the sound processor in the Megadrive/Genesis. Or just bunging the chip in the box at increased manufacturing cost.

xbox/360 backwards compatibility was done by re-compiling the application and dedicated emulation. It sucks because my first game was made for xbox, but our publisher went bust, so never had a chance to be made available on 360. It's why I still have an original xbox.

But one element of the lack of backwards compatibility annoys me. Every game that was released the 360 that had a PC port... that means there is a version of the game that works on x86 architecture. Hell, the X1 even has a version of Windows 8 in it's OS.

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A11/TQ1.0.32150E1 Murphy, J - Covert recording headcam. There is no flashing red light when you are on Kona-Cam
Weyland-Yutani: Their projects are intentionally full of bugs. Avoid!

Welcome to the club!!!!!

TBH, I prefer a PC partly because it already does everything else (emails, surfing, TV, movies, files, music) as well as playing games (with better graphics and performance on top), and partly because every console controller I have used was fecking awful!
I use M&KB on a daily basis, so gaming with it is easier... plus you get wicked gaming peripherals with lights and buttons and macros and stuff!!

I don't have a gaming PC, but I understand from friends that do that it's easier to "downgrade" the operational options to play older games, whereas a PS3 or 360 just goes "Dude, what you doing? Get that old piece of crap out the disc tray NOW!"

Even some of the HD ports of older games have been abysmal, my daughter complains of the obvious line that marks the end of the fog in Silent Hill, and that in high-def, some hidden edges that were covered by the fog can now be seen (fences and walls that just stop dead etc).

There's always a possibility that some of the 360 games may be made as downloadable ports for the Xbox One, but of course, that will never be the entire library, as some developers just aren't around anymore, while some just can't be changed without huge costs that in this day and age companies may not be willing to risk, especially if a niche market game.

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Weyland Yutani Corp. Bio-Weapons Division - "Superior Weapons through Superior Genetics"

Am I the only one that wants a console to play games, TV's to watch TV and phones to phone people??

Why does everything have to do the same thing??

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AKA: Simon

One console to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them!!

Fact is, the idea of a 'does-everything' console isn't bad, it's just that replacing a games console to do it is the problem.

Microsoft's dream is that the Xbox One will be the only thing in your living room, replacing the DVD/Blu ray and set-top box. But, most people who own a PS3 or Xbox360 don't actually have it in the living room though.

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Weyland Yutani Corp. Bio-Weapons Division - "Superior Weapons through Superior Genetics"

We've been playing computer games on the TV for decades, if ever you had an Amiga, Atari, Spectrum, etc.
Fact is that a PC can do all that pretty much as standard. I use mine for files and games, with media, phone and sometimes internet a secondary consideration. With multi-tasking capabilities like that, it'd be stupid for me to buy a house phone, television, cable subscription, DVD/BluRay player and whatever else. I get amazing sound from comparatively much cheaper PC speakers and if I really want a stupidly large screen, I can connect to one with HDMI. As is, my existing monitor will soon swing on the mounting arm into the centre of the room for Cinema Mode and have a remote control bay mod for sofa viewing!
The electronic storage also means I'm slowly reducing the space taken up by all my books, CDs and DVDs.

Smart Phones now fill the market niche for those who still require a Laptop/Netbook but only for occasional use. I use my Netbook quite often and rarely need connectivity, but my phone is easier to carry around so I'm favouring that for daily features.

I haven't actually used a television since maybe 1998, when PCs had pretty cheap DVD playing capability. We have one active TV in the house, an old 24" CRT and only because Claire watches Sky TV. I have a 14" VHS-combo TV in my den simply because I still watch video cassettes on it... and occasionally connect up the PS2 to remind myself why console controllers are so crap!



So Microsoft are basically creating a 'special' PC, roughly small HTPC case size, that does some (but not all) of what a normal PC already does with the only added feature being the Always On and the subsequent control that may bring?

Consoles standardise things for a few years, until the 'Next Gen' stuff hits, which allows for easy game dev but also stagnates hardware development something chronic! IMO, that's the main reason not to get a console - Like driving a slow, small car with no seat adjustment while all the people around you have custom-build Aston Martins!

Yeah that's pretty much it, which is why I think Microsoft may well come unstuck - most people already have all the above capacities for skype, TV, lovefilm/netflicks etc. Why would they feel the need to buy an extra console that simply duplicates 90% of what they already have access to? Would the fact that these features are voice-activated make it worthwhile?

And as you said, the PC is superior for gaming, as no matter how good a console it just wouldn't cope with many of the larger PC games, and it's been that way for years. Hell, I used to play Jurassic Park Operation Genesis on the PS2, and the PC version gives you a lot more stuff (more sites to unlock, larger park, more facilities etc), and that's the same game.

When you get to the real-time strategy games, then it's a PC, no contest.

One thing console game developers need to do though is learn to be innovative. How many Call of Duty games, or FIFA, or a multitude of others have claimed "groundbreaking new" features for their new release, but if you play the latest version, apart from maybe graphical tweaks and a bit of gameplay, there really isn't anything different? This is partially the blame of purchasers, who buy millions of copies of the newest version, sometimes months in advance of release due to the pre-sale bonuses - most of which actually become available as DLC normally a few months later.

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Weyland Yutani Corp. Bio-Weapons Division - "Superior Weapons through Superior Genetics"

Why would anyone buy the new iPhone 26, when it does the same as the iPhone 3?
It's a 'thing' and the thing about consoles is that they cater to the culture of the "casual-gaming couch-lover who cannot abide having to get up and go sit at a desk to play games"... that's actually a self-description from a console-playing game dev friend of mine.

But yeah, consoles are Plug & Play games machines, for those who don't care to learn about using PCs, even though they probably use them at work already, or still think it's too geeky. Ten or so years ago, computers were purely a geek thing, with gaming for sad single virgins who still live with their parents... Consoles have turned gaming into a cool casual thing for people who just want to blow shit up, play Wii sports or something, with the primary target market being 20-30 year old single males with disposable incomes.

How would you feel if, to play a game, you needed to know what terms like interpolated DPI, return rate, macros, scripts, drivers, lift-off and anti-ghosting all meant?
Now what about altering all these and creating different custom profiles for each different game?
Now what if the game used 69 keys for all the basic commands, trebled up with use of CTRL and ALT (except TAB, of course) and then strung together into custom scripts and macros for rapid response? Or simply had so many commands that you *need* the 18 extra function keys on the side of the keyboard?
A game like that would take weeks just to learn the basic commands and require a master pianist's left hand just to get to grips with.
Finally, I give you complete control over which keys are assigned to which command, with just the configurator to look up and remember what the controls are... and yes, there have been a couple of games with 200+ basic commands. They weren't very popular!

Or you can just limit it to one of four primary buttons on one thumb, with a combination of up to four others under the index and middle fingers... not that I know of any games that do this, anyway.
Consoles are simple and designed for hassle-free gaming, with media features easily accessible (if not force-fed to you) and self-organised.

In fact, I organised about 4GB of music onto my phone the other week, all in the folders and playlists I wanted. It then re-self-organised everything according to what the Internet decided was the album name and song title, rather than the precise filenames I'd purposely given them, so I had no fecking idea where anything was!
More concerning is that some of the songs were my own recordings of me playing, so I don't know what album the Internet thinks those tracks are on!!


My PC and Netbook are both voice-activated anyway. It's fucking cool!!
However, unless you have Accessibility requirements, it's FAR quicker to just click on something than verbally convey the five or six steps to complete the action via the gimmick.


RTS, Flight sims, MMORPGs, most graphic-intensive stuff.
The thing that gets me is that these are mostly written on a PC, so the PC version is free dev, yet either the publishers won't release the PC version or they put it out as an afterthought with crappily ported controls (don't really understand that one as user-defined is surely the easiest option) or the requirement for a console controller plugged into your machine.
The main reason (apparently) is the ease of piracy on PC games. Something like 12%.


Innovation = Risk.
There have been some amazingly awesomely wicked-bad developments in gaming, from peripherals to machines to tech, but the problem is that such things need backing and those with the money to back them won't risk the loss on a new product without proof of profitability.
How many people bought the Nintendo gun, even though it only worked for Duck Hunt and a couple other games? How many people are playing serious games like Mass Effect or WoW on the Wii?


Depends on the game and what you'd consider innovation.
I'm told the i7 processor is THE one to have, yet most games do better on an i5 due to not needing the 'innovative' virtual cores and pseudo-lag or whatever that the i7 actually suffers from.
My techie bod actually went from i5 to i7 and his machine was a mere 1.3% faster in general use, but naff for gaming and media.


Young single men with disposable income. Those and the type who buy any old phone app, simply wanting to play Angry Birds or whatever and not giving a damn that the app puts all their personal data online.
Don't care, just want to blow shit up. Gimme console. Plug, play, happy.


Not saying all console players are like this, by any means, but that's honestly the mentality such things are targeted at.

I agree with the plug and play mentality in a lot of people. I know for a fact that just like people who HAVE to buy the latest iphone, there are many who have to buy the latest COD or WWE game. Mere weeks later, just look at the numbers of each that are sitting on the 2nd-hand shelves. Played for a while, then cast aside when the next uber-kewl game comes out.

As you said, innovation is a risk, and a company won't take that chance when they can simply shout "Hey, get the new version! The graphics of the arm hairs are better! We shoved a couple of new guns and sights in it! Look, it has the latest team-strip for the Outer-Mongolian 5-a-side team!", and people will just rush out and buy it. I honestly think that a company could just do an ad campaign saying "Buy the new game! We put some more stuff in it!" and still sell millions of copies.

I dunno, maybe the 2nd-hand market dying may change these attitudes, as they'll have to make damn sure they'd like to KEEP playing that new game, or all they've done is bought themselves a £40 coaster!

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Weyland Yutani Corp. Bio-Weapons Division - "Superior Weapons through Superior Genetics"

I don't know who the people are that sell games on, but despite buying some 2nd hand myself I've never known anyone who sold one. I still have all my older games like Thief, still frequently play many like Freelancer and even have a load of cassettes for the Spectrum!

But yeah, with the digital download (50-200gb), there is no real market for 2nd hand unless you swap whole HDDs between consoles and even then I believe you need to purchase another full price activation key for the new machine.