Okay, I know this is a very sensitive subject, whether you're an avid Xbox fan, a PlayStation fan, or you just don't give a shit and just want to play Pikmin 3 on your Wii U all day. The announcement of the Xbox One and all it's...ahem...accoutrements is the most controversial thing that's happened in the gaming world since PSN got hacked in 2012. I hoped so hard that when the announcement of the new platform from Microsoft came I'd want to jump online and preorder it right away. I hoped for a smaller body. Built-in Kinect. No more expensive subscriptions to access Netflix and Hulu from my dashboard. What I did not ask for was a lot of what I got. And although Microsoft has made some necessary changes after hearing our screams of horror and disppointment, I find I'm still on the fence about Xbox One.
10. All in one technology...do I need it?
I love having Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube on my dashboard. It's awesome being able to access all my favorite movies and shows on my big screen, not to mention youtubing the latest GameGrumps epsiode whenever Zach and I need a laugh. But honestly, that's really the only non-gaming thing I use my 360 for. The Xbox One features a multi-tasking processor: flip back and forth between chatting with your friends, watching a movie, and playing your favorite game. Maybe I'm different from most others, but if I'm playing Skyrim and you won't stop messaging me or inviting me to your "Netflix Movie Party" you are no longer my friend and I hate you. Needless to say, I don't need or want this feature. Also, 500 gb? Really? Do you think I'm going to use that? At this point, I think the number of GB companies put on the box is just a gimmick for us to say, "What a great deal! Look at all that GB!".
The point is, I can't see myself using most of the features the Xbox One is offering, because I hardly use most of the features the 360 currently offers.
9. Mixed signals: Stop playing with my emotions, Microsoft!
Can you guys just make up your minds already? First you make all these announcements that are just awful, then you're RUDE to us for complaining, then you fire the guy who was being rude and change every feature you already announced at E3, some of which I'm still REALLY not clear on. I mean, did you run those initial plans by any sort of consumer panel? Because I'm pretty sure if you had, you would have saved yourselves a lot of trouble before your E3 disaster. Now when I visit the Microsoft Store online to get some answers, I'm distracted by a barrage of green advertisements promising the all-in-one console of the future, but no real clarification as to WHAT I'M ACTUALLY PURCHASING. If you changed the always-on policy, then tell me. If you changed the internet check in policy, then tell me. If I can buy a game and let my friend borrow it, then PLEASE TELL ME. Because seriously, I'm really confused.
Luckily Marc Whitten, Chief Xbox One Platform Architect sat down with IGN to answer some questions from fans. Unfortunately, they were hand-picked by Microsoft, so none of the questions have anything to do with what any of us are confused about.
8. I'll have no choice but to use kinect. Is this good or bad?
Part of Xbox One's new streamlined technology is the integrated use of the Kinect. Voice activation, custom avatars, and games that work seamlessly with the motion-activated system are all selling points of the new platform. Since Kinect comes bundled with the Xbox One, no one will have to worry about the system not living up to it's full potential.
But do I really care?
Not only are there not any real exciting titles that use Kinect (I'll get more into that later), but I don't feel the need to talk to my Xbox. I think it might be best for it's sentient soul if it doesn't absorb and understand the string of
horrible profanities aimed at it when it inevitably lags.
At any rate, Kinect has never appealed to my desires, and still doesn't. But if I choose to buy the Xbox One, I'll be forced to not only purchase the Kinect (since it's bundled) but to use it as well. Not sure I'm ready for that.
7. No more red ring of death! Probably.
Apparently you can turn your Xbox One on, not turn it off for ten years, and have zero issues. Now, first of all, this is a stupid idea. Do I need to list why? (I feel I need to address that it's a HUGE waste of energy, in case you didn't realize.) Second, I highly doubt that's true.
The Xbox one comes with a large (reportedly quiet) fan and a monstrous heat sink, which will solve any overheating problems that you may have previously experienced with the Xbox 360. I am impressed that they addressed that issue despite all of the flack they've taken for the dreaded Red Rings of Death over the years. Microsoft doesn't want to deal with the headache of warranties and replacements any more than we do, so this is one subject I am on board with as far as changes in the new platform go. I am, however, hesitant when it comes to any new bugs the One may run into in it's first year on the market, as any smart consumer should be.
6. I need more exciting titles at launch.
Short and sweet. I need the promise of new and exciting titles!
Give me Skyrim with a badass sword controller! Mass Effect with an Omni-Blade! ANYTHING BUT HALO AND ASSASIN'S CREED!
5. The Cloud. Do I trust it?
Well? Do I? I mean...all my info, just floating around in space? Not safely stored in my hard drive? I don't know how to feel about that. If I'm considering my music, movies, pictures, and videos...I want them stored somewhere solid. Somewhere I can physically pick them up and take them with me. Maybe I'm old fashioned. But something about the Cloud makes me feel a little nervous.
4. Visually beautiful! But so is the Ps4.
1080p gameplay is a beautiful thing. Which is why it's been done before. So what else has Microsoft come up with to gently caress our eyeballs and make us go, "Oooh, yeah, I like that."?
Well, according to their website, they promise "the perfect balance of power and performance. In addition to Xbox One’s revolutionary architecture, the combination of its CPU, GPU and ESRAM is like having a supercomputer in your living room. But raw power is nothing without speed. So the Xbox One uses its power more effectively, creating lightning fast experiences unlike anything you’ve had before.". So less lag, less glitching, smoother, faster performance and gameplay. No complaints here.
3. New features! Are they worth it?
As you may have read in the Q&A with Marc Whitten, we can look forward to a few new features on our Dashboards. Full-body HD Gamerpics are here, and in 1080p! Load up on makeup and photoshop, because your friends are going to see every detail of your disgusting face on their big-screen.
Next is Game DVR, which is a really cool concept: "With Game DVR and Xbox Live, it’s easy to capture your greatest game moments. Xbox One keeps a rolling record of your most recent gameplay, so you can go back and share replays with your friends on social networks and Xbox Live. And if you want to see what your friends have been up to, check out replays of their best moves, too." I feel as though they should have implemented it to it's fullest extent and gone the full 1080p/60fps with it (it only captures at 720p/30fps). Unfortunately, it also only captures five minute replay shots instead of 15 minutes like PlayStation. The clips save to "the cloud" in your own personal DVR collection.
2. Internet check-ins could make a comeback. Do not want.
"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. " -By Don Mattrick, President, Interactive Entertainment Business
Okay, okay, sounds good. But how did you disable that feature on such short notice? I find it difficult to believe you didn't just leave it in there to be activated at a later time. And before you guys get all mad at me about my conspiracy theories, read the forums! I'm not the only one suspicious of a future "update". source: http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/update
1. Too God Damn Expensive
Dude, I am not Tony Stark. If I was, I'd buy Microsoft and make some damn changes myself. In fact, Tony Stark would probably just rip the One apart and rebuild it to make the world's best console (he'd call it the TonyOne). All in all I cannot afford this console, so when my 360 finally kicks the bucket I'll just end up buying another 360.
What are your thoughts on the new Xbox One? Will you be buying it? Are you horrified? Thrilled? Let me know in the comments!
-Rachel
2 comments:
Your blogs are amazing. And I feel the same exact way about The Cloud. It’s kind of got a “Library of Silence” creep factor to it….
I still very much like things to be tangible! I like the convenience of the Cloud, but I want the assurance of holding something in my own hands.
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