Microsoft (Sorta) Addresses Big Xbox One Questions [UPDATED]

MS just handled over the next gen to Sony.

What a fucking joke.

So the name makes me think this is just an original Xbox remake. So that also means there's another Perfect Dark and Conker coming for the launch period, right?

It's gonna be like steam, every game will be attatched to your profile. I'm hoping to see some awesome games at E3 and more 3d models of dogs maybe even cats.

"Your Privacy Is Our Priority"- Microsoft

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/showcase/details.aspx?uuid=f53d789e-81d4-47f7-963f-92fcd20c27a9

Oh, by the way, leave your mic/video Kinect on and stay connected to the internet 24/7 so we can track everything you watch/play/listen to and feed you the most targeted ads possible.

(Link probably doesn't clicky, so copy paste)

Oh wow, I just watched a live demo of the new Kinect, and it's actually pretty amazing. It can now see in the dark, allowing it to not be reliant on different lighting for how well it functions. Whether the lights are bright or completely off, it can see everything the same. Very nice.

Plus, it can still keep track of you even if you get three feet in front of it and a big room's distance away from it. With that 1080p resolution, as well, it really seems to be what Kinect was promised to be.

Yeah I can't even begin to parse that statement about always-online. What?

EDIT: Uh oh, http://kotaku.com/xbox-one-does-require-internet-connection-cant-play-o-509164109

Ok now I'm really confused. First Microsoft are saying there will be a pre-owned fee, then there won't be a fee, then the original purchase will be deleted on secondary install, then it won't, that they can understand the confusion, and that they will issue more information on the subject later. I may not know everything about running a marketing drive, but I reckon the best way to not have conflicting messages swirling around is maybe to allocate 2 minutes to it during the hour long press conference you just held. Just a thought.

A: Xbox One hardware is not compatible with Xbox 360 games. We designed Xbox One to play an entirely new generation of games—games that are architected to take full advantage of state-of-the-art processors and the infinite power of the cloud. We care very much about the investment you have made in Xbox 360 and will continue to support it with a pipeline of new games and new apps well into the future.

OUR NEW XBOX IS SO POWERFUL THAT IT CAN'T PLAY YOUR OLD GAMES.

Who does that pre-owned fee go to?

BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY PORTING BETWEEN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SYSTEM ARCITECTURES WORKS, RIGHT?

There's a reason that PCs still struggle emulating many PS1/N64 era games, and are all but incapable of playing Xbox/PS2 games.

BUT WE CAN USE KINECT TO WATCH TV!!!!!

Indeed.

Infinite power (from the cloud!) is not enough to run 360 games. :D

Wow, from that Kotaku article, Microsoft's used game system sounds gross. It's basically them ending used games and game trading as we know it and replacing it with a system where Microsoft controls the game disc swaps and trades, forcing you to pay them for a new game licenses for getting a disc from a friend, or swap licenses through their game trading system - likely giving them a big cut.

We'll see the details and pricing schemes, but for now it seems super shady. Hopefully more money goes back to the developer, but there are now essentially digital "used game trades" which will still hurt new game sales for developers. Only Microsoft kills off Gamestop and takes their place as the middleman who takes a big cut.

What it probably means is that most of the "entertainment" apps would probably be dependent on having an internet connection (e.g. Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, Telemundo, Bing Search, Xbox Music, etc.) so those wouldn't be usable when the internet goes out but those that don't require it such as playing games on disc or on the HDD or watching Blu-ray movies or TV, it wouldn't be a problem, kinda like how the current Xbox works (except for the Blu-ray and TV part ofcourse). Also I think that's what the two HDMI cable are for, one HDMI (in) is connected to the HD receiver from the cable box and the other HDMI (out) is for projecting from the Xbox to the TV. I also have a feeling that the voice commands only work when you are connected to the internet.

Da hell are you talking about. I can run PCSX2 Just fine for PS2 games and Dolphin runs Wii and Gamecube better than they did on their own hardware.

Can't wait to see the surely comical "trade used games" system they put in place. If you think Gamestop rips you off on trade-ins, wait until the company making the console starts in on it.

Guess we're getting XBone'd. Or you are if you buy the console, anyway. Love the 360, but looks like that's what I'll be sticking with for at least a few more years.

That doesn't appear to be the case. Kotaku has quoted Phil Harrison saying that the Internet connection is needed for single player games / Blu-ray / downloaded content. They're accessible offline only if your Xbox checks in at least once a day. So it's not SimCity dropping your connection and kicking you, but there is a requirement.

Actually, shortly after posting that, I saw this article which drops the following bomb:

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.

Both of you are not very smart.

It probably doesn't spew out a cloud of tear gas whenever you open up the Bluray drive. Also, it looks heavy enough to be used as an effective bludgeon if you're stuck in a Best Buy during a zombie attack.

@haruko: An example is the Cell Processor. It's just so damn unique that it's not worth investing the moolah

@faroon:

architected

Adj. An object or building with interesting or clear design aspects. Something that it looks like someone went to great pains to design, with great results.

Man that pencil holder is architected. That podium sure was architected!

@crosstheatlantic: Ah so that's probably their version of the DRM. They should probably address that since that is very arbitrary and inconvenient if it's 24 hours. There might be some funny/sad stories that comes out of this such as somebody hooking up their Xbox in a coffee shop when the internet in their house goes out. Thanks for the clarification. At the very least it's not always online but it's now online once a day.

EDIT: I predict a "XBOX ONE-A-DAY" meme influx in the next few days.

Xbox! Xbox 1? Xbone. So it's the original xbox? No, it's the Xbox One except it's also the third.

Also included: sports you don't understand, American cable channels you can't watch and motion captured dogs. 500 Dollars. No backwards compatibility. Voice recognition that doesn't understand your stupid Irish accent. Maybe a video game too, once the kinect has decided it likes the look of you.

This is all the worst.. PS4 anyone?

The console is always online. They just set the server timeout to 24 hours. You have to connect Xbox One to the Internet once a day.

This used games thing sounds like a big mess.

The fact that they're COMPLETELY killing the second hand market is the nail in the coffin for me. It's completely obscene. It's actually gross

yup. all those TV features, never to be available in Ireland, just like everything else they promise.

Boy I can't wait to get my PS4!

I have a feeling that they're going to address that. Perhaps as an example, you'd be required to enter a code when you boot up the game in Xbox One that is provided by the second-hand retailer (e.g. Gamestop, Best Buy) instead of being asked to pay a fee. That's just speculation on my part though. I don't think Microsoft would risk pulling off something that would completely kill that market since that would also mean decreased console sales as well.

So, from the reactions on this comment section and probably from a lot of other places, the Xbox One is their PS3?

This.

Major Nelson has "cleared things up" about reselling in his blog

http://mjr.mn/11Wv9ZB

Except he didn't

Does this 500gb Hard Drive and mandatory Kinect mean there will only be one model?

@bourbon_warrior: I kind of want a fresh start but mostly because I have slight OCD about games with less than 700'ish points. At least give me the options to delete some games from my list!

so if my friend wants to borrow my game he has to be logged into my account on his console and be online once a day. hmmmmmm

Actually, I think it has to be your console though since different accounts on the same console can still play the game for free but what you mentioned though I think would still work since the game is also tied to one account.

Microsoft just helped me decide which platform I'm gonna buy first. Not theirs.

@tourgen: Steam and clouds are different, yo. But cute. And disappointing(if xbox1 was the steam box i'd be :D)

Welp, maybe I was wrong. Maybe Microsoft will beat Nintendo to the grave after all!

Right back into the business. That's not uncle Sam's money.

On used games, here is how I have a feeling they will handle it. They will never say "used games" when mentioning having to pay a fee. But there will be some kind of online pass you will need to have to either get online or download the disk to your hard drive that will only be useable once. However, much like with the Catwoman DLC in Arkham City, Game Stop (and maybe other retailers with used games) will come to some kind of payment to Microsoft deal that will give them codes to place in their used games they sell. So, there will be no "fee" to the consumer to buy a used game, as long as you buy it from a business that has thrown a kickback to Microsoft for the online codes.

OMG Xbox One Im so hyped after the review and and the specs, omg Im totally gonna have to get a PS4!!!!, There is no way in this world that Im gonna pay for a system that I have to pay extra for used games! I love my Xbox 360 but to be honest I dont feel like paying Microsoft for every little thing. internet $40 per mth, plus live yearly $60+, controllers that are fawed $60+, batteries $24, charger, and now Used games!!! $$$$ NO WAY!!!!!!!! PS4 = controller $50 better overall pad, $0 batteries, psn 0, cost to buy used games 0 I kinda like those odds, and now Defiance levels the playing field.

Actually what I'm worried about is when next-gen fighting games would come around if games would be tied to one account and if it also requires you to be online once a day. What if the venue doesn't have reliable wi-fi for example? Sure your only required to be logged in once a day but I can see something like consoles not being able to run the game during a certain day in the tourney. Also this would require that the consoles need to be pre-installed with the games but on a positive note, maybe you would not be required to swap discs now if you only need to install the game and not have the disc in the drive all the time.

EDIT: In hindsight, I don't think the account lock thing would actually be a problem. I'd assume that the guys playing in the tourney would already have the game at home and already tied to their account so during the tourney one of them can just log-in with their account on the console.

According to Harrison, youwill have to pay a fee if you borrow a game disc from a friend, a fee that, at least for new games, will be the same cost your friend probably paid

What...? Let me pay $60 for borrowing my friends game rather than pay $60 to get it new for myself. What the fuck is the point?

"We are designing Xbox One to enable customers to trade in and resell games. We’ll have more details to share later."

Valve. Sony. Make notes. This could be big if we are in fact talking about digital copies of games.

"According to Harrison, you will have to pay a fee if you borrow a game disc from a friend.."

My question is who benefits the most from this fee - MS, the publisher or the dev?