Xbox Done Discussion - 2016's #1 Master Race Bottom Bitch

[Qalbert]

http://www.dualshockers.com/2014/05/...ming-and-more/

Phil Spencer, the recently appointed head of the Xbox department at Microsoft, went all out in responding to questions from the fans about E3 on Twitter tonight.

Some of the points he made were quite interesting, and below you can read a summary:

Spencer doesn’t think Microsoft will introduce a dedicated handheld gaming device. Instead they’ll work on Windows Phone and tablets, maybe with controller support some day.
Spencer wants to make E3′s show more focused on the fans and he’s looking for ideas to make them feel like the conference is for them even if they aren’t in Los Angeles.
The main focus will be on hardcore gamers.
There was an idea to make Cortana the voice of the show, but Spencer didn’t like it. He likes the Windows Phone feature but doesn’t want to overdo it.
Fans won’t have to wait for Tokyo Game Show to see Japanese Xbox games (possibly meaning that we’ll see them at E3).
This year Microsoft will show “stuff we are committed to, from top studios, for this year and future.”
We’ll get a “couple of things” announced before E3. May “Should be a good month for news.” It took Spencer a month to get the plans set.
Spencer has strict orders not to talk about any 343 industries IP before E3.
Both new IP and sequels will be announced at this year’s show.

Speaking about Japanese games, Spencer also talked about Lost Odyssey, mentioning that “Rights on that one are a bit complicated,” but that he’d like to see it on Games on Demand. He also stated that there may be opportunities to publish IPs that Microsoft owns but has neglected as digital games.

Finally, he mentioned that what stopped Rare from doing a new Battletoads game is just time. All of their teams are full at the moment, and they have a long list of what they’d like to do next.

One thing is for sure: Phil Spencer has been a busy bee, and it’s hard not to be intrigued about seeing the result of all that work in June. We’re just a little over a month away, and the hype is definitely building up.

[-Zer0-]

Lost Odyssey on demand would be tits. Make it happen, Microsoft!

[Qalbert]

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/0...-netflix-hulu/

We can report that multiple sources within Microsoft have been briefed on plans to make a long-awaited change to the Xbox Live Gold paywall for streaming media services. According to our sources, Xbox 360 and Xbox One users will soon no longer need a paid subscription to Xbox Live Gold to access Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming media apps.

Additionally, we've been told that Xbox Live Gold may put other services behind the paywall to make up for this shift, though those sources could not confirm whether that includes existing services or if that only includes upcoming content like TV series from Xbox Entertainment Studios.

The information has come to light thanks to ongoing discussions about the company's announcements at June's E3 games expo. At this point, it's important to note nothing is official, and Microsoft may change its mind before the company's June 9 keynote. Either way, we've been told that the possible change in policy is directly linked to a changing of the Xbox guard after Don Mattrick left the company to become Zynga's CEO.

Microsoft's major console rivals, Nintendo and Sony, have never charged a monthly fee for access to streaming media apps on their systems. Popular media boxes like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV have also increased the pressure on Microsoft to follow suit.

We have reached out to Microsoft requesting official comment on the story and will update this post if there's a response.

[Qalbert]

http://news.xbox.com/2014/05/xbox-de...g-more-choices
New SKU
No Kinect
$399
BOOM

Since the beginning, we have focused on delivering great games and entertainment experiences for you. Your feedback matters to us and it shapes the products and services we build. Your feedback showed up in the Xbox One console we launched back in November and in the monthly updates we’ve delivered since.

Today, we’re excited to share more ways your feedback is impacting the products we build.

First, beginning on June 9th, in all markets where Xbox One is sold, we will offer Xbox One starting at $399*. This is a new console option that does not include Kinect. For $399, our new Xbox One offering will continue to deliver access to the best blockbuster games like “Titanfall,” “Call of Duty: Ghosts,” “Forza Motorsport 5,” “Dead Rising 3,” and the upcoming “Watch Dogs,” “Destiny” and "Sunset Overdrive." You will also be able to access popular entertainment apps, such as Twitch, YouTube, and Netflix, as well as watch live TV and use OneGuide. Finally, you will continue to be able to use many of the unique features of Xbox One including the ability to get game invites while you watch TV, switch between games and entertainment apps, enjoy Twitch broadcasts, and upload your favorite gaming moments.

Next, we’re bringing more value to Xbox Live Gold members and offering all Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners access to entertainment apps whether or not you have an Xbox Live Gold membership. In early June, here is what you can expect from the new generation of Xbox Live:

Free games with Games with Gold**. Since Games with Gold launched on Xbox 360 a year ago, over 12 million people have enjoyed great free games, resulting in nearly 200 million hours of free fun playing Games with Gold titles. We’ve been learning from your feedback and have focused on making improvements each month to the selection of titles. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of Games with Gold for Xbox 360 and as a thank you for helping shape this program, members will receive an additional free Xbox 360 game in June. The Games with Gold titles for Xbox 360 in June are “Dark Souls,” “Charlie Murder” and a bonus game of “Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition.” We’re pleased to bring Games with Gold to Xbox Live Gold members on Xbox One in June. Members will have subscription-based access to free games ranging from top hits to breaking indie stars. The program will launch on Xbox One with “Max: The Curse of Brotherhood” and “Halo: Spartan Assault.” A single Gold membership will get you access to the free games for both Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Exclusive Discounts. Deals with Gold will also launch for Xbox One in June, delivering discounts for great games each month, with significant savings for Xbox Live Gold members. The first titles offered in June will include “Forza Motorsport 5,” “Ryse: Son of Rome,” and a few other surprises. In the coming months, we will offer significant savings of up to 50 – 75 percent off certain titles. This program will continue to be available for Xbox Live Gold members on Xbox 360. And new on Xbox One, we will launch a virtual VIP room exclusive to Xbox Live Gold members where we will feature free games, monthly deals, and other great benefits.

Popular entertainment apps will be available for all Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners. Xbox 360 has been a leader in delivering entertainment experiences for years, with over 170 global entertainment apps and experiences available today. We’re constantly adding new partners and experiences to the growing catalog on Xbox One. Coming in June, anyone with an Xbox will be able to access popular entertainment experiences – whether or not you have an Xbox Live Gold membership. This includes great gaming apps like Machinima, Twitch and Upload, popular video services like Netflix, Univision Deportes, GoPro, Red Bull TV and HBO GO, sports experiences like the NFL app for Xbox One, MLB.TV, NBA Game Time, NHL Game Center and more.*** Microsoft experiences including Internet Explorer, Skype, OneDrive and OneGuide will also be available to all Xbox customers.**** You can find a full list of apps and features that will be available below.


We’ve heard that you want more choices from Xbox One. You want a wide variety of options in your games and entertainment experiences and you also want options in your hardware selection.

To be clear, as we introduce this new Xbox One console option, Kinect remains an important part of our vision. Many of you are using Kinect for Xbox One every day. In fact, more than 80 percent of you are actively using Kinect, with an average of 120 voice commands per month on each console. Some of the most popular voice commands include “Xbox On,” “Xbox Broadcast” and “Xbox Record That.” We will continue to offer a premium Xbox One with Kinect bundle to deliver voice and gesture controls, biometric sign-in, instant personalization, instant scanning of QR codes, and enhanced features only available with Kinect in games such as “Kinect Sports Rivals,” “Just Dance 2014,” “Project Spark” and more.

If you buy Xbox One for $399 and later decide you want to have all the experiences Kinect enables, we will also offer a standalone sensor for Xbox One later this fall. We’ll share more details about the standalone Kinect for Xbox One in the coming months.

Phil
@XboxP3

Games with Gold, and Gold Deals start in June

http://news.xbox.com/~/media/files/1..._final_620.jpg

[Qalbert]

also reminder
http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/1...one-is-kinect/

21st Aug, 2013
VP Phil Harrison is sure of one thing: the Xbox One will always be bundled with Kinect.

Why is he so sure? For Microsoft, the two pieces of tech are inseparable.

“Xbox One is Kinect. They are not separate systems. An Xbox One has chips, it has memory, it has Blu-ray, it has Kinect, it has a controller. These are all part of the platform ecosystem,”

lol

[Callisto]

I wonder if Capcom is going to be upset about the GWG selection, or if there's some sort of reimbursement deal planned.

[AvidLoki]

They're basically imitating the Sony strategy at this point, not that in complaining since most of these changes were severely long overdue.

[octopus]

I wonder if Capcom is going to be upset about the GWG selection, or if there's some sort of reimbursement deal planned.

I'm sure they have a deal in place, something similar to when they had AE as the PS+ game a while back.

[Callisto]

I'm sure they have a deal in place, something similar to when they had AE as the PS+ game a while back.

Yeah, but that didn't happen the exact same month that a new version was launching. Anyone who didn't previously have a version of SSF4 who might have paid $40 for USF4 is now only paying $15; I'm guessing unless a lot of people are reeeeeaaallly interested in the new character costumes there's not really any sense in people not canceling their preorders.

[Deader2818]

I dunno if this will be enough. Seems like all they have been doing since before launch is try to play catch up with Sony and in the process go back on a lot of things.

Honestly, whats to say that Kinect doesnt keep being a big apart of the system and now they change you 150 for it while 400 for a X1? Whats to stop them from just reversing DRM stance?

[Dominico]

It's definitely a huge step in the right direction, Kinect should have always been optional from day 1. They'd better bring their A game to E3, they're gonna need to absolutely kill it to catch up to Sony.

[Waraji]

Their A game will probably consist of a bunch of kinect compatible titles sprinkled with glass. ie trying to shove as many Microsoft peripherals down your throat.

[Salodin]

Hahaha.

Hahahahahaha.

Took em long enough but haha, thanks for the historical quote Qal, that only makes this even funnier.

[Dominico]

I'm assuming all these changes are due to the new guy running the Xbox dept at MS. I just hope he's learned from all the past E3s and realized that the people who actually watch the conferences don't give a rats ass about Kinect.

[Insanecyclone]

And in the video they're still trying to sell the kinect version

[Qalbert]

Whats to stop them from just reversing DRM stance?

idk maybe the fact that the backpedaling and changes so far have been in the consumer's favor in an attempt to sell more systems so suddenly taking a giant shit on customers' faces would make no fucking sense whatsoever?

[Deader2818]

idk maybe the fact that the backpedaling and changes so far have been in the consumer's favor in an attempt to sell more systems so suddenly taking a giant shit on customers' faces would make no fucking sense whatsoever?

So, Because Microsoft?

[Qalbert]

it would be shooting themselves in the foot and killing any small momentum they're regaining, if you think they would risk that you're retarded

[Deader2818]

it would be shooting themselves in the foot and killing any small momentum they're regaining, if you think they would risk that you're retarded

Do I think they would do it right now or anytime soon? No. Do I think its possible they do it within the life of the X1? Maybe.

[Skidz]

so how would kinect-less ones record game clips? i know you can snap the dvr to record longer clips, but being able to say 'xbox, record that' is pretty much the only reason i like kinect.