XboxOne official box art!
I’m big on box art so this is a cool reveal ahead of the actual release of the console.
Daily Archives: May 25, 2013
XboxOne Boxart Cover Revealed For Forza 5. Green Colored Boxes Remain
XboxOne Powered By Skype. Big Time. Kinect 2 Voice And Video Chat, Party Chat, Audio Processing All Improved. Remote Play Sessions Possible?
Skypping on Xbox One will be a snap.
Both in-game and dashboard voicechat and Party Chat will be powered by Skype, in both audio and video molds (no microphone or headset required, as the mic is build into the Kinect 2 that ships with the system. Surely you can use a headset if you want to however, I assume), and Skype has vastly improved the audio quality, audio processing and microphone configuration settings available, as well as the voice options available to gamers when it comes to voice and video chat.
And all of this Skype goodness is seamlessly integrated into XboxOne and Xbox Live, allowing you to chat at any time, either audio or video chat, as well as do so while using multiple apps.
And in a very big deal, XboxOne Remote Play Sessions via Skype where you can see the screen (and gameplay?) of your friends whom you’re chatting with may be possible as well on the XboxOne just like on the PC. Although that hasn’t been confirmed.
To quote Microsoft on Skype in an interview with Polygon:
“Skype technologies are used in Xbox One which improves voice quality during multiplayer game sessions. Skype can also be used to call any of your Skype contacts for voice or video chat exclusively or while playing a game. Additionally, we have improved the Kinect hardware, from microphone configuration to dedicated audio processing, which contributes to providing a high-quality voice experience whether you are chatting in a game or through Skype.”
All of these develops are great ones. Unless, of course, you don’t play multiplayer games or do voice chat like me! :P
Xbox One Used Games. No Fee To Play Say New Reports. Game Discs Encrypted. Retail-based Azure System Transfers And Tracks Used Games Tied To XboxOne Consoles
There will be used XboxOne games at stores.
Reportedly, at a retailers conference where Microsoft briefed retailers on the new system ahead of its reveal, it was divulged (according to Polygon) that there will be no fee associated with playing used games. As has been speculated.
However it also confirmed that, although the system will not be required to always be connected online, it will periodically check online for authenticity and ownership rights of game discs. Each XboxOne game will include a DRM on-disc encryption code. Once that game has been sold or traded to someone else and that code has been activated on another console, then the periodic online checks will transfer all the installed content from the previous owner to the new owner automatically.
Does this mean you’ll lose all DLC you’ve purchased if you sell a game? It sounds like that may be the case… As always though, take this news with a grain of salt until we learn more from Microsoft themselves.
Microsoft did release this official statement:
“Xbox One is designed to support the trade in and resale of games. Reports about our policies for trade in and resale are inaccurate and incomplete. We will disclose more information in the near future,” said Major Nelson.
Previous reports have stated that Microsoft will be employing the “Azure” Pre-owned Technology system to all retailers who want to do business with the XboxOne. Using this system, games sold are then registered to an XboxOne system that has gone online, and all games sold are tracked by Microsoft if the title has left the retailer. Additionally, you can only trade games into retailers who have accepted Microsoft’s new system. When you trade a game and its registered as in someone else’s ownership, all “data files” will be transferred to that new owner (whatever exactly that entails is unclear). Reports say that the XboxOne will “check-in” with Microsoft’s servers once every 24 hours, thus the outrage at the “always online” requirement. It’s still unclear however what happens if you never take your system online.
Microsoft insists that you can still play games offline and that they will not penalize you for not going online. However they insist that you will miss out on online features and other functionality if you never take your system online. And let’s face it, everyone is online in this day and age. EVERYONE. Amount of people I know who don’t go online to use Facebook or don’t use their cellphones online can be counted on one hand and are almost exclusively old people. So to a degree all of this makes a lot of sense.
Another big part of Microsoft’s Azure system is in regard to developer/publisher royalty. Using this system, the developers and publishers themselves will get a cut of ALL used game sales (whereas in today’s world, the retailer keeps the entire cut of all used game sales. Which is why GameStop pushes used games to such an extent), as long as Microsoft getting it’s own cut. The rest, and a much smaller amount, goes to the retailer. After a game is traded back in to the retailer and everyone else gets their cut, the retailer can then set the price of the used game at whatever price-point they desire.
As you can see, this would dramatically shake up the used games industry if not partially destroy it altogether, especially if GameStop doesn’t play along and/or refuses to sell XboxOne games or decides to drastically cut the amount of space they’re going to offer to the XboxOne in stores. It’s worth noting that GameStop’s stock price plummeted after all this hubbub boiled over.
Adding confusion to all this however is the fact that early reports stated matter-of-factly that Microsoft would require a used game activation fee of $52 (£35) dollars, but that has sense been debunked.
Microsoft for its part has told people to wait until E3 2013 or a later date, at which point it will reveal full details.
To quote,
“Our goal is to enable our customers to trade in and resell games at retail. We know there is some confusion around used games on Xbox One and wanted to provide a bit of clarification on exactly what we’ve confirmed today. While there have been many potential scenarios discussed, today we have only confirmed that we designed Xbox One to enable our customers to trade in and resell games at retail. Beyond that, we have not confirmed any specific scenarios.”
What’s interesting about all the hate Microsoft has received in the wake of the XboxOne is the fact that Sony has also dodged clarification on how used games will work on the PlayStation 4.
While they are playing up the fact that their system will not be as intrusive as the XboxOne and will focus on the games, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the PS4 as well. And things are anything but clear.
What Game Developers Think of XboxOne
Just the XboxOne system itself. All by its lonesome!
* Stewart Gilray of “Just Add Water” (Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD, Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee HD, Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee – New N Tasty, Gravity Rush (PSP), Upcoming Oddworld: Hand of Odd Online RTS)
— “Microsoft is attempting to be the one device in the living room, but at the same time as doing that you have to have a secondary device, like a TiVo, to HDMI into the Xbox One to be able to use the TV side of it, which to me defeats the entire purpose. It’s very confusing. The only real positive for always-on is the concept of instant booting. You come into your room and just say ‘on’, and on you go. But I can do it already on the PS3 and Xbox 360. You just press the button on the controllers. I personally don’t see what an always-on system will do for us, other than background downloading when you’re not around, which will be a massive plus. I wonder if bundling Kinect with it and the fact it’s always-on is going to put a lot of people off. They’re saying, even if the system is turned off or on stand-by, you come into your living room and say, ‘Xbox On’, so Kinect is going to be watching all the time. How many people will that put off? It’s not something that sits well with me, frankly.”
* Adrian Chmielarz formerly of People Can Fly (Bulletstorm, Gears of War: Judgment, Duty Calls: The Calm Before the Storm, Gears of War 2, Painkiller series)
— “I don’t want to talk to my TV, I don’t want to wave my hands in front of my TV, and I don’t want to Skype with a friend when I’m engaged in a game. That’s not to say that Kinect 2.0 is useless (I’m curious about that heartbeat thing, for one), but for now I don’t see it as anything too exciting. It’s very hard for me to stay objective here. For example, with all due respect to Mr. Spielberg, a Halo TV series is not the reason for me to buy a $400 (or whatever) box. I got way more excited when I saw Jonathan Blow on the PS4 stage. Not because of his game, but because of the message that Sony was sending this way. But look, I could go on forever about this or that feature and about this or that element of the ecosystem. At the end of the day I think the problem is not necessarily with the hardware or features, but with the unveil strategy itself. It’s fine to start with the non-gaming stuff, then please gamers at E3 2013, but I wish Microsoft was more clear and vocal about it and set the expectations right. Because we all wanted to see the future of gaming, and we got almost none of that, and what we got were weak pre-rendered movies that looked worse than some of the games I have on my PC right now, or a dog and fish AI. I have no reason to prefer any console over the other, hell, I want them both to succeed – more platforms for our games, yay! But, to be honest, I don’t think anyone from Sony lost any sleep.”
Capcom Arcade Cabinet Complete Collection Includes 17 Retro Games In One Digital Bundle (XBLA, PSN) For $30
If you haven’t been following the retro releases for the Capcom Arcade Cabinet, you’ll be happy to know that Capcom has released a new collection bundle that includes all 17 of the games that have been released for the Capcom Arcade Cabinet so far.
When you purchase the bundle which cost $30 ($29.99/€29.99/£23.99/2000MSP), you’ll get the following:
1. Black Tiger
2. Avengers
3. 1943: The Battle of Midway
4. Ghosts n Goblins
5. Gun.Smoke
6. Section Z
7. Side Arms
8. Legendary Wings
9. Trojan
10. Commando
11. The Speed Rumbler
12. Exed Exes (Savage Bees)
13. 1942
14. SonSon
15. Pirate Ship Higemaru
16. 1943 Kai
17. Vulgus
Cool stuff! I’ve never played virtually any of these classic titles. I definitely gotta get on that eventually.
Huge Xbox 360 Videogame Announcement Coming At E3 2013. What Could It Be?
Oooo. Very cool piece of art by snstyles.
To quote,
Question: “So presumably you anticipate there being sort of a lot of support for the Xbox 360 in terms of new XBLA releases and stuff…”
Answer: “I think the Xbox 360 is going to be very vibrant for many years. In fact, we have a huge, I think it’s huge, Xbox 360 announcement for E3 2013 that I keep wanting to talk about, but I can’t. I think it will surprise people. I loved what we did with Minecraft; bring Minecraft to the box; six million units later it’s kind of a beast. I think there’s a lot of life in the Xbox 360 for years to come.”
What ever could this major Xbox 360 E3 2013 announcement be?
Will Microsoft Stop Supporting Xbox 360 After Xbox One? No. MS Plans 360 Support For Next Five Years With 25 Million More Systems Sold
Keep your Xbox 360 system around. Microsoft plans to support it another 5 years!
This means that the original plan for the Xbox 360 to live and breath for a full 10 year system cycle will actually take place. That is, assuming that Microsoft’s plans to support the system for another five years actually happens in reality. Of course, no one knows whether that will actually happen or not once the new system launches. Time will tell.
Microsoft says they plan to support the Xbox 360 for the next five years and sell an additional 25 million Xbox 360 systems!
As already reported however with my article Can I Play Xbox 360 Games On Xbox One? No. Backwards Compatibility Not Supported. The Answer Is No., you will NOT be able to play Xbox 360 games on the XboxOne. Because of this, Microsoft is actively encouraging people to keep their Xbox 360 around even after the XboxOne comes out so that they can continue to play their vast collection of both hardcopy and digitally downloaded retail Xbox 360 games and digital Xbox Live Arcade titles that they have purchased (none of which will transfer to XboxOne as I reported with my article, Xbox One GamerScore Achievements Will Transfer From Xbox 360. Xbox Live Arcade Games Won’t Transfer. Only your GamerScore Achievements and Live Account will transfer).
To quote Microsoft from a GameSpot interview,
“Downloaded Xbox Live Arcade games will continue to run on your Xbox 360 for as long as your Xbox 360 runs. The box is not backward compatible and we think for somebody who invests in a large digital library that you want to keep your Xbox 360. Keep that as a vibrant part of the ecosystem. That’s why we’ve made sure that your identity, your friends, are constant between both platforms. You don’t have a separate identity on Xbox One or Xbox 360; it’s the same, you are you. My friend’s network is the same on both boxes, my achievements are the same. So we think that service component is an important component to keep constant across both devices.”
It makes a lot of sense for Microsoft to continue supporting the Xbox 360 even after XboxOne, as the Xbox 360 has a huge install base and is an extremely successful platform, particularly in the United States. The Xbox 360 has routinely been the best-selling system over the last several years (especially since the release of Kinect, which truly reinvigorated the platform in terms of sales) and recently become the best-selling console of the month for the 28th time in a row! Quite an amazing feat! This is in the United States, where the Xbox 360 has been beating the PS3 and Wii in terms of sales for a long time now. Wii sales actually trump both systems in all territories. However in Europe the PS3 is the best-selling platform out of the two non-Nintendo systems. It’s also the best-selling platform in Japan of the two. Even so, the United States is considered the biggest territory and having the Xbox 360 system top sales here domestically over the PS3 is still a huge win for the American company.
However sales of the Xbox 360 have indeed slowed significantly, as they have for all of the soon-to-be old consoles (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DSi, PSP). That of course is to be expected as the next-generation transitions into the current-generation and the console/handheld lineup changes to: XboxOne, PS4, WiiU, 3DS, PSVita.
We’ll learn more about Microsoft’s continued and future support for the Xbox 360 at the big E3 2013 show on June 11-13th.
Tippi Real Life Wild Child Girl Pics. French White Girl Tippi Degre Grew Up In Africa Among Wild Animals. Riding Elephants and Ostriches, Sleeping With Lions, Hugging Bullfrogs. Wrote Book Called Tippi of Africa. Claims She Can Communicate With Animals
She’s riding a freakin’ ostrich! :O
She was born into a world that lives amongst wild animals as if they were domesticated. And as such, she learned how to play and interact with them on a level regular humans can never realize. The photos of her are stunning, and she claims that she can speak to animals and hear them, and that they understand her. It is known that animals have a language all their own, and the Bible says they will bow to Christ and know who He is. I find that a fascinating fact. Some quotes of her, a little girl in most of these pictures but now 23-years-old (you can see a few adult photos of her too), quotes her saying things like, “I don’t have friends here. Because I never see children. So the animals are my friends.”
Enjoy the photos and definitely check out her book. I definitely will.
Tippi’s sleeping with a lion cub!
Tippi Frog hugging! So cute!
Xbox One Games Are Plenty. 15 Exclusives Promised In First Year. 8 Are New Franchises (All-New IP)
All-in-one Xbox One! HEY THAT RHYMES! :P
Of course, the real question is whether or not any of these 8 new Xbox One games will be compelling software or of the Kinectimals/Kinect Star Wars mold. That is, games that will not satisfy the hardcore.
However Microsoft is banking big on the Xbox One, so while one or two games may be casual, I’d be surprised if the majority are not games that appeal to hardcore gamers.
– Thanks to Techland.Game for the image.
Pokemon FPS Would Look Like This. New First-Person Pokemon X & Y Screenshot of Pokeball Throwing
So THIS is what a Pokemon FPS would look like!
Seeing this however fills people with hope… The hope that ONE DAY, we will see a Pokemon FPS!
Come on Nintendo, make it happen! :D
Watch Us Play Games 