Xbox thread

[MKJ]

SmartMatch sounds cool;
have the console do matchmaking for a game while you're playing another game. then, once a match has been found you can instantly jump in without having to boot the other game and go through all disclaimer screens, menu's, mp options, etc.
handy for the less populated online games.

[DTS]

SmartMatch sounds cool;
have the console do matchmaking for a game while you're playing another game. then, once a match has been found you can instantly jump in without having to boot the other game and go through all disclaimer screens, menu's, mp options, etc.
handy for the less populated online games.

Everything Microsoft is uncool. Had to tell you.

[GONNAFISTYA]

[Don Carlos]

Pah - Xbone is obviously Thyron Greyjoy

[MKJ]

I would've thought Joffrey, with it being evil for the sake of being evil.

[U4EA]

Leaked Microsoft internal "Q&A" about the Xbox One: http://pastebin.com/TpuMDSjv

[MKJ]

Holy shit
http://kotaku.com/microsoft-is-removing ... -514390310

Citing multiple sources, GiantBomb says Microsoft has decided to remove a laundry list of Xbox One restrictions that customers considered negative:

No more always online requirement
The console no longer has to check in every 24 hours
All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360
Authentication is no longer necessary
An Internet connection is only required when initially setting up the console
All downloaded games will function the same when online or offline
No additional restrictions on trading games or loaning discs
Region locks have been dropped

didnt see that coming. fair play by MS. prolly cost them quite a load of cash, too.

[MKJ]

this puts them back as a serious contender for nextgen akshually, especially if they keep that Family Sharing thing active. a feature rumoured to be implemented in Steam soon by the way.

[GONNAFISTYA]

only a complete moron would accept this proverbial bouquet of flowers and slump straight back into the yellowly stained sheets with an XBone.

You would not believe how many complete morons there are and, for some reason, a large percentage can actually hold down a job and buy the XBone. In fact, I'm pretty sure "complete moron" is the target demographic of the entire XBox brand.

BTW...this announcement pretty much proves my theory about the XBone: Microsoft had no plans and no direction regarding "next-gen" consoles....they were quite content to rake in the cash from their already-existing XBox 360 install base for the next several years. The only reason they announced their "new" console is because they felt they had to to stay relevant and, more importantly, to stop all the buzz about the PS4. I'd bet my entire next paycheque that Microsoft's business plan for the next several years included XBox 360 revenues, not "next-gen console" revenues. If they can completely do a 180-degree turn on many of their policies, especially technologies specifically designed to piss people off, it's quite clear they actually had no polices to speak of until the PS4 announcement.

[MKJ]

this puts them back as a serious contender for nextgen akshually

not so much when their hottest marketing ammunition consists of 'we're now gonna do what sony were doing all along'.
.

point, but on the other hand Sony didn't change anything at all, save for the unwanted Share button. if MS didnt fuck up so badly this would have not been considered a good thing.

regardless of what I think of any of the competitors, I say kudos to MS for actually listening and totally changing their game plan.
something tells me a certain project lead is gonna get canned tho. rofl

[MKJ]

official statement

Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.

For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future.

Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One.

You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world.

So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:

An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games– After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console -- there will be no regional restrictions.

These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.

We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.

Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year.

no word on the region locks.. so that Witcher3 scenario might still actually be reality.
day1 GoD is cool enough. the reason GoD on 360 sucks so much now is because theres at least a 2 month delay between retail release and download release, but without the pricedrop. this might remedy that.

[U4EA]

no word on the region locks..

wat? It's right there in the official statement you quoted:

Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console -- there will be no regional restrictions.

[MKJ]

oh right, oops

[Don Carlos]

That's good news but I'm still going to plump for the PS4 if I feel inclined to buy next gen

[U4EA]

Also, let's not forget that despite all these reversals, the Xbone is still $100 dearer than the PS4 and comes bundled with useless garbage [Kinect] that you may not wish to use.

edit: Not to mention their shitty policy when it comes to indie game developers:

http://bgr.com/2013/06/17/microsoft-xbo ... criticism/

[Mogul]

True U4EA. But at least now there's a dialogue that has to happen about which console has better games, exclusives, etc. Prior to today, it was completely obvious that PS4 had the upper-hand and there was no question which console I was going to buy. Now I actually have to consider other factors than awful DRM policies and principles.

I will say that, as a pretty big Halo fan, I'm excited... bro.

[U4EA]

Sony have the image of a company that ..

Additionally, let's also be mindful of the fact that ..

Sony has the image of a company that surreptitiously installed rootkits on people's computers as a form of music DRM / copy protection.

Sony has the image of a company that went hard with lawsuits against people who circumvented their measures of blocking custom software on the PS3 [e.g. running Linux OS on PS3 hardware], despite initially having an open and welcoming stance towards the homebrew community.

Sony has the image of a company that failed to adequately protect the data and privacy of its customers, resulting in a fairly serious network breach.

Or do we all have such short memories here? Not saying this to you specifically Memphis btw.

[U4EA]

In truth, we are all merely serfs, suffering at the whims of our feudal lords.

[Tsakali]

wow, so the people have spoken and have been appeased. that's a beautiful thing... now can we do this with things that actually matter?

[MKJ]

Just that MS charge a fee to release a patch that would potentially fix a broken or bugged game, stopping the frequency and quantity of said patches is enough reason to bite one's thumb at them.

The same policy is enforced by Sony and Ninty as well good sir. This is simoly put in place to make sure devs don't out out broken games and forces them to test the fuck out of their software.
That said, the first patch is free on both PS and Xbox.

[MKJ]

Sony have the image of a company that ..

Additionally, let's also be mindful of the fact that ..

Sony has the image of a company that surreptitiously installed rootkits on people's computers as a form of music DRM / copy protection.

Sony has the image of a company that went hard with lawsuits against people who circumvented their measures of blocking custom software on the PS3 [e.g. running Linux OS on PS3 hardware], despite initially having an open and welcoming stance towards the homebrew community.

Sony has the image of a company that failed to adequately protect the data and privacy of its customers, resulting in a fairly serious network breach.

Or do we all have such short memories here? Not saying this to you specifically Memphis btw.

Or releasong a mandatory firnware updatevthat bricks your device. Yesterday even.
http://kotaku.com/dont-update-your-ps3- ... -514213464

Or bricking them all for a few weeks.. also a result of an update I think? 2 years ago I think, can't remember.

[Don Carlos]

I have a warm feeling about the PS4...still might not buy one, though.

[U4EA]

[Eraser]

lol, I can imagine there's a bunch of DRM software engineers over at Redmond going "aaaarrrrghhhhnnnggghhnnnn" right now.

[Eraser]

Microsoft pulled an Xbox One 80