Xbox One

[Cronozilla]

Yeah, except on Steam, it's built to allow you to go to other computers and still play your games just as long as you sign in.

I would imagine there's some hardware ID business going on with the Live stuff on this machine ... that is pretty standard Microsoft protocol.

[ZenErik]

The point is that they want to replace your cable box.

I have Verizon FiOS and am able to watch SOME TV on my 360 because Verizon has some sort of deal with Microsoft. Without paying for a HD box in my room. Granted the selection is limited, and I have to have XBL Gold to use it.

Not really worth it to me right now. But if the Xbox One gets all FiOS channels and if I actually had friends with X1's to play online with, thus making XBL Gold almost worth it, then I could certainly see the value in that. I think Verizon charges something like 12 - 15 a month for each HD box.

I guess this all doesn't matter since I am more likely to get a PS4, but I certainly see the potential value in the X1 as a media hub.

No, the point is to augment your cable box. None of this stuff will work without a cable box attached. What it's really doing, is trying to establish Xbox as the new smart-tv standard. I wouldn't be surprised if their long-term goal is to license this stuff to tv manufacturers in the future to build into their tvs as all-in-one boxes.

Works on the 360 without a cable box attached. If it DOESN'T work on the X1 without a cable box attached then I am not really in favor of it.

[MrEco]

You misunderstood what Dave was saying. You apply a code once to your account and install the game, and now that code is invalid for any other user. That's what it sounds like the Xbox is doing, and it's what Steam has done for all the games on its service.

Ah alright. Yeah, I got messed up by the wording of it.

[Stark]

I won't be going anywhere near the Xbox One. I'm always excited by console launches and usually buy them on launch or close after but the new Xbox just isn't jiving with me. I do NOT want an always on camera in my home. Most important, I want freedom to do what I want with the physical media that I purchase. I will not support Microsoft's vision to control the second hand market.

Just get a camera cover. Like they make for Web cams.

Several internal documents leaked from microsoft talks about auto-pause features associated with Kinect. when it can't see you, it assumes you aren't there and pauses what you're doing for you. So if you're playing a game and you walk away, it self-suspends. If you're watching a movie and you go to the bathroom, the system halts until you return.

This means that covering the Kinect to make it not see you likely isn't an option.

Well I assumed, like you would with a webcam, that if you were using the system you would take the cover off and just cover it when you're done.

[Krejlooc]

I also got an email today from gamestop saying that the Xbox One's vibrating triggers were "high definition".

That's not incorrect. You measure analog precision and range as definition. By "high definition" they're saying that it measures fidelity at a much higher precision. We're not privvy to the exact numbers, but if the xbox 360 had, say, for example, a range of 240 to -240 precision along its x1-axis, and the new xbox has a range of 720 to -720, then it's not inaccurate to call it high definition.

[dsheinem]

The vast majority of PC games sold in the past decade have A) been sold via a digital distribution platform like Steam which has a one time install code

It does? Since when?

I've already reinstalled all of my Steam games multiple times when I got my new computer I'm currently using. I mean, I only own about a hundred+ Steam games so maybe I just lucked out and haven't bought the ones which utilize this one time install feature that supposedly exists?

You misunderstood what Dave was saying. You apply a code once to your account and install the game, and now that code is invalid for any other user. That's what it sounds like the Xbox is doing, and it's what Steam has done for all the games on its service.

Yeah, I could have stated it better but this is what I meant.

[marlowe221]

You know for a while there I was really torn about how to spend my money this console generation. But every time there's a press conference it gets easier.

Right now I am leaning heavily towards Wii U + PC. There is a slight chance of a PS4 but I need a lot more information before committing to that....

Thanks Microsoft - The Xbox One is already making my life easier!

[Jmustang1968]

See, I have a Wii U, and while it is decent, nothing about it really screams about it being so much better than the XB1 or PS4.

The XB1 is basically a PC with set specs, running a closed MS Xbox OS, that has media hub applications and a camera input interface.

While you lose the freedom of a PC, you get assurances you have compatible hardware and your software is optimized for the hardware. You install games sure, but you don't need any of the technical knowledge to troubleshoot errors/drivers etc to get your games to work. For some people this is perfect.

[Ack]

Late to the party. I had meetings at work.

So, from what I've seen, there were a lot of features that simply didn't interest me. And the games which were announced either don't interest me, or I'd rather play them on a PC if at all. (Yes, I'm one of those keyboard and mouse PC-only FPS curmudgeons.) So as far as hardware is concerned, I'm not interested. Now if some games are announced during E3 that interest me, I may pay more attention to it. But Microsoft will face an uphill battle for my money, after my poor personal experience with the 360 and a focus that simply doesn't seem geared towards me as a customer.

Part of the issue I have here is what I want out of a console. I enjoy both console and PC gaming, and I appreciate both for having distinct trade offs. PC games allowed me to use a more complex setup in games via my mouse and keyboard or joystick and greater direct control over the game through access to its core files, as well as the possibility of mods, the ability to make dedicated servers, large control over input, visual, and audio configurations, etc. The trade off was that I had to endure long installs and potential conflicts with hardware or other software. For a console game, I generally had less access to the game's core, fewer configuration options, less ability to modify and manipulate games, etc., but I had (generally) universal controls, no installation times, the ability to pick up and play without worry over conflicting hardware.

Now over the years we've seen both markets change a fair bit and in some ways come closer together, though not without issue. Seeing a PC release not include configuration features normally associated with the format because it was simply easier to favor a quick and dirty port of a console game, watching console games gain installation times, etc. Some of this hasn't been bad, per say. But some of it has frustrated me.

It seems we have now reached the point where the two are crossing over into a realm where there is no difference, which makes me question why I want a console. I've lost many of the pick up and play features which interested me in the machines in favor of a mutlimedia experience that I can actually already get on my PC. Let's break the two down a bit:

Xbox One (I still want to call it Microsoft Pippin) pros:

Easy access to Internet and search engines, interfaces which can work with my telephone, digital distribution network to purchase games without leaving the house, access to live television as well as media services such as Netflix and Hulu, web-cam based interfaces, access to communication tools such as Skype, ability to consume a physical hardware format, hooked into my television for a large screen, lack of hardware conflicts

PC pros:

Easy access to Internet and search engines, interfaces which can work with my telephone, digital distribution networks to purchase games without leaving the house, access to live television as well as media services such as Netflix and Hulu, web-cam based interfaces, access to communication tools such as Skype, ability to consume physical hardware formats, can hook into my television for a large screen, massive configuration options available for games and programs, ability to modify games, access to indy markets not necessarily linked to digital distribution networks, ability to easily physically customize machine to adapt for new hardware, media formats, improved software performance, etc.

Xbox One cons:

Installation times, limited access to indy markets, limited configuration options, limited ability to switch out hardware, potentially invasive web-cams, poor customer service (based on my past experiences with Microsoft), potentially non-existant used game market, potentially requires steady internet connection

PC cons:

Installation times, potentially invasive web-cams, hardware/software conflicts, potentially poor piecemeal customer service, relatively non-existant used game market, some distribution networks or DRM systems require steady internet connection

Yes, certain positives and negatives are still endemic to a particular format, but these lists are quite similar. And also consider how many Xbox 360 games ended up on PC or on PS3, meaning if the trend continues then a large portion of the Xbox One's library will become available through other means. And to top this off, I already own a PC, so I don't see a reason as of right now to be interested in an Xbox One. This may change, as it is still quite some time until the console's release. But for now, I'm just not interested. Nor am I necessarily the target audience.

[fastbilly1]

And to top this off, I already own a PC

While you do own a PC it is debatable if it is ready for gaming.