Xbox One

[ZenErik]

I don't really do PC gaming. Just the occasional doujin game. And I use a Mac laptop. I have a VM and Bootcamp, but I prefer to stay on the Mac side when I can.

IF the X1 were capable of running full Windows and at least playing doujin games that would be AMAZING. I am not expecting that option, but if it is there that would sell me on the X1.

[dsheinem]

I never picked up a 360 until they had a critical mass of exclusives that interested me (mostly shmups and a few first party franchises). I will likely do the same with the Xbox One, although if they announce enough exclusives for launch I may be on board then.

The PS4, on the other hand, I KNOW will have exclusives that interest me due to the developers they have under contract with Sony. Unless something major happens to change my mind, the PS4 will likely be a launch day purchase.

[marlowe221]

Now, I'm not one of those "PC Master Race" guys at all but the PC has a lot to offer these days and it may be a bigger competitor for gaming dollars than the PS4 or Wii U going forward.

The simple fact of the matter is that the PC can deliver a console gaming experience these days with very little trouble on the side of the end-user.

Want to play in your living room? Your TV can handle that. Want to use a controller? Virtually every console style game on PC supports it.

Incompatibility is one of the biggest cons most people bring up when PC gaming is mentioned. But let's be honest here - it's a WAY smaller problem than it used to be back in the 1990s. Hardware architecture has undergone a lot of standardization in the last 10-15 years in the PC world. Hardware incompatibility is just NOT a huge problem these days and it's getting smaller all the time.

Besides, console gaming is hardly the "put-game-in-and-play-immediately" experience it used to be. It hasn't been since the PS2/Xbox/GCN generation.

And don't give me "Well my Windows Vista machine can't...." Vista is the problem. Get Windows 7 and watch problems disappear like money on Xbox Live. Pro tip: Windows 7 is cheaper than an Xbox One will be. The hardware is less expensive than it used to be relative to consoles too.

Point being: The barriers to entry for PC gaming have largely fallen. Gamers should consider PC gaming under the conditions in which it currently exists - not those of 20 years ago.

[Krejlooc]

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.

Well in the same internal leak, microsoft provided some examples of marketing and monetization benefits that such a camera could provide that were definitely anti-consumer. One example they gave, for instance, was that when you are watching a bluray movie or whatever, the kinect can look at the room and determine how many people are watching. You may not be aware, but the license that comes with purchasing a film doesn't include audience assembly - you're legally only supposed to allow like 2 o3 people max to watch a film under the license you purchase with any movie. So, if you had, say, 5 friends over and watched a movie on the Xbox One, the kinect would look in the room and halt the playback, demanding either people leave the room you purchase additional licenses. Try to cover up the kinect and the video won't play.

Another example is that the kinect could constantly watch your room even when you're gone to note, say, the clothes you're wearing to figure out what sports teams you pull for to direct marketing towards you better.

Things like that. The Kinect camera and once-every-24-hours internet requirement makes me incredibly nervous.

[Krejlooc]

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.

No offense, but you don't seem very well versed on this subject, at least with the most up-to-date information. For example, both the Playstation 4 and Xbox One allow for instant playback during installation. You begin to install a game, and you can play off the disc while it installs. Install times aren't a con for consoles.

Similarly, there is no operating system or applications that require you to have a webcam on a PC. "Invasive" webcams are optional, and their nature will make them always optional. There is also no gaming DD system on windows that requires a steady internet connection. There are certain games, but not any DD systems.

[fastbilly1]

For example, both the Playstation 4 and Xbox One allow for instant playback during installation. You begin to install a game, and you can play off the disc while it installs. Install times aren't a con for consoles.

For now that is how it works. I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that in time there will be games that require install before playing.

Well in the same internal leak, microsoft provided some examples of marketing and monetization benefits that such a camera could provide that were definitely anti-consumer. One example they gave, for instance, was that when you are watching a bluray movie or whatever, the kinect can look at the room and determine how many people are watching. You may not be aware, but the license that comes with purchasing a film doesn't include audience assembly - you're legally only supposed to allow like 2 o3 people max to watch a film under the license you purchase with any movie. So, if you had, say, 5 friends over and watched a movie on the Xbox One, the kinect would look in the room and halt the playback, demanding either people leave the room you purchase additional licenses. Try to cover up the kinect and the video won't play.

Can you provide a link to this leak?

[Krejlooc]

For example, both the Playstation 4 and Xbox One allow for instant playback during installation. You begin to install a game, and you can play off the disc while it installs. Install times aren't a con for consoles.

For now that is how it works. I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that in time there will be games that require install before playing.

I'm willing to bet that, for at least the PS4, this will never be an issue, mainly because they are invested in streaming-gaming options. The outright purchased Gaikai specifically for this reason.

Well in the same internal leak, microsoft provided some examples of marketing and monetization benefits that such a camera could provide that were definitely anti-consumer. One example they gave, for instance, was that when you are watching a bluray movie or whatever, the kinect can look at the room and determine how many people are watching. You may not be aware, but the license that comes with purchasing a film doesn't include audience assembly - you're legally only supposed to allow like 2 o3 people max to watch a film under the license you purchase with any movie. So, if you had, say, 5 friends over and watched a movie on the Xbox One, the kinect would look in the room and halt the playback, demanding either people leave the room you purchase additional licenses. Try to cover up the kinect and the video won't play.

Can you provide a link to this leak?

http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Pars ... 0120278904

1. A method of distributing content to a user, comprising: providing a selection of content available to the user; for each content, presenting a licensing option comprising associating a performance of the content with an individual user's consumption of the content at a display device; receiving a selection of one of the content and a license display option for said content; presenting the content to the display device if a number of user performances allowed for the content is equal to or less than the license option for which the selection is received; and monitoring the presentation of the content at the device to determine the number of users consuming the content during the performance.

2. The method of distributing content of claim 1 wherein the license comprises an absolute limited number of user performances.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the license comprises a limited number of user performances within a period of time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the license comprises a limited number of user performances per device.

5. The method of claim 1 further including continuously monitoring a number of users at a display device during the performance of the content.

6. The method of claim 5 further including determining whether a number of users at a display device exceeds the license option during the performance of the content.

7. The method of claim 6 further including presenting the user an option to change the license if a number of allowed user performances in a license is exceeded during performance of the content at the display device.

8. A computer implemented method for distributing limited play content to a user, comprising: transmitting a selection of audiovisual content to a display device, each content having one or more associated license option, each license option allowing a specified number one or more presentations to one or more users on the display device; receiving a selection of one of the content and a selection of a licensing option for said content; determining a number of users at the display device prior to presenting the content; presenting the content on the display device if the number of users at the display device is equal to or lower than that specified in the licensing option; and monitoring the presentation of the content to determine a number of viewers of the content during presentation of the content at the display device.

9. The method of claim 8 further including continuously monitoring a number of users at a presentation device during the presentation of the content.

10. The method of claim 9 further including determining whether a number of users at a presentation device exceeds the license option during the presentation of the content.

11. The method of claim 10 further including presenting the user an option to change the license if a number of allowed user views in a license is exceeded during performance of the content.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the license option comprises a limited display of user views of the content.

13. The method of claim 12 further including determining a user view by determining at least a number of users within a display area of a display device for a duration of the presentation exceeding a threshold.

14. The method of claim 12 further including identifying specific users within a display area of a display device and associating a duration of the presentation with each user, and determining a user view when performance of the content to an identified user exceeds a threshold.

15. A computer readable medium including instructions providing a processing device to perform the steps of: providing a selection of display content, each content having one or more associated licenses allowing a limited number of user views of the content; receiving a selection of one of the content and a license display option for said content; scanning a display area of a display device selected for performance of the content; determining a number of users capable of viewing the performance at the display device; determining if the license display option is met; presenting the content on the device if a number of user views allowed for the content within a specific time period is equal to or less than the selection of the license display option; continuously monitoring the presentation of the content to determine the number of users consuming the content during the performance.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further including determining whether a number of users at a presentation device exceeds the license option during the presentation of the content.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further including determining a user view by determining at least a number of users within a display area of a display device for a duration of the presentation exceeding a threshold.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further including identifying specific users within a display area of a display device and associating a duration of the presentation with each user, and determining a user view when performance of the content to an identified user exceeds a threshold.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further including presenting the user an option to change the license if a number of allowed user views in a license is exceeded during performance of the content.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the license comprises a limited user views within a display period.

Lots more details at the link.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I always had a feeling I would reach a point where I said "Screw new game consoles, I have enough retro stuff to last me decades." I think I'm reaching that point.

[J T]

I remember Steam used to advertise that you could play games while they installed, but I don't recall ever being able to actually do that. I don't usually attempt it though. I just install overnight and play the next day.

[elmagicochrisg]

I always had a feeling I would reach a point where I said "Screw new game consoles, I have enough retro stuff to last me decades." I think I'm reaching that point.

I already reached that point this generation.

I remember buying a 360 game on a flea market for a friend of mine who likes race games. Turned out he had to pay a €10 fee to unlock the online capabilities because he was not the original owner. So all this bullshit is not new. It's just getting worse. That's when I completely gave up on this generation...

I already started giving up when they started selling incomplete games with 'extra' download content...