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by Published on April 15th, 2013 21:09- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
I still outright refuse to believe that Microsoft will enforce an "always-online' policy for the next Xbox.That's not to say that Edge, Kotaku and Paul Thurrott reports are shoddy - all three clearly have inside contacts and, no doubt, have taken care before publishing their information.But there still remains the fundamental problem that "always online" - or at least the interpretation we have of that ambiguous phrase - would be a catastrophic and fundamentally deal-breaking curse of any games console.There's no hyperbole there. Stable and swift internet connections do not blanket the earth, and Microsoft would only be able to effectively sell its next gen system in select regions.That isn't just a haymaker on the chins of Xbox sales team in Redmond; it'd also hurt Microsoft's relationships with publishers and developers who, understandably, want to sell to the biggest global install base possible.Microsoft is simply too smart to let this happen. If there's one thing that defined the Xbox business of the past thirteen years, it is how dazzlingly fast this company learns best practices.By the time the 360 arrived, Microsoft had already understood that going first is immeasurably crucial, that superior system specs are not fundamentally important, that online identities and communities would define a generation, and that ease of use for customers and developers is paramount.If there's one thing that defines the Xbox business, it's how fast this company learns best practicesMicrosoft was overtly cognisant of such conventions just five years into its business. That's incredibly quick considering it was still venturing into uncharted territories. In fact, it took Sonyanother eight yearsto show it had learned these lessons the hard way.This is why I don't expect the next Xbox will feature "online only" restrictions. Execs at Redmond are too perceptive and shrewd; they know this would split its customer base in even the most net-connected regions.Only this weekend, Xbox Live went down for about ten hours - a moment that gave everyone with an opinion and a Twitter account a chance to remind Microsoft that even the most internet-connected company in the world needs to go offline every now and then.Sunny-side up
For those who don't live in the UK, allow me to explain: It's been bloody horrible weather for about five months. But it looks like it's finally coming to an end!You know what this means; increased guilt for staying indoors playing video games on a bright and warm day. Seriously though, get some of that fresh air and vitamin D while you have a chance!Oh, also, over the weekend CVG received separate confirmation that May 21 is the date for the next Xbox event. We'll dedicate the entirety of our resources to the event when it happens, as you can imagine.In other matters, this week we'll also be providing a first look at two new games - which I believe we're not allowed to mention just now. You'll find out soon enough....
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...online-future/by Published on April 15th, 2013 20:49- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Yannis Mallat, the CEO of developer Ubisoft Montreal, has claimed that the market IS ready for an always-on next-generation of consoles.
“That's a question you should put to Microsoft and Sony,” he told The Guardian when asked if the world is ready for always-on consoles. “I would say that a lot of people are already always online through other devices – I would suspect that the audience is ready.”
So how on earth can Microsoft convince the obviously very sceptical public that the time is right for an always-s on Xbox?
“As soon as players don't have to worry, then they will only take into account the benefits that those services bring,” Mallat added, speaking of course generally and not specifically about any upcoming hardware.
“And I agree, these services need to provide clear benefits. It's important to be able to provide direct connections between us and our consumers, whether that's extra content or online services, a lot of successful games have that.
“We used to say that we're not competing against other games, we're competing for leisure time. We have to craft our experiences around the way people are now consuming entertainment. For example, with the online multiplayer aspects of a game, we can say – and this is true already of Watch Dogs – that the next generation will help us to blur the lines between on and offline play and between single and multiplayer. It will be a totally new way to play.
“I think we showed that last year with the Watchdog trailer and also the live demo we did in February at the Sony PlayStation 4 event. Essentially it will be possible for friends to jump in and out of each other's games without completely changing the experience or becoming an essential part of the storyline that players craft for themselves.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ubiso...nsoles/0114102 ...by Published on April 15th, 2013 15:56- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Many UK and American players were left unable to log into Xbox Live over the weekend.
"We are still hard at work fixing the issue members are having signing in to Xbox Live,” a statement read. “Rest assured we have every available resource working on fixing the problem."
It also meant that players of games like Minecraft were unable to access some of their saved content.
Added Microsoft: "If you're an Xbox Silver member having problems using existing or newly-created saves in Minecraft, please know we're working hard to fix this issue! We'll update you as soon as we have more information.”
The issue has since been resolved and Xbox Live is now fully operational, but the news serves as a timely reminder for Microsoft of the perils of internet connected consoles.
This, of course, is more pertinent than ever as rumours of the new Xbox requiring a constant internet connection continue to swirl.
Retail has pleaded with the platform holder to distance itself from the rumours. Indeed, Microsoft exec Adam Orth has by the looks of things lost his job over his public defence of “always on”.
Don’t forget though that these rumours remain exactly that – rumours. Recent reports have questioned their validity. The truth is we won’t know until May what Microsoft has planned for its next machine.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/xbox-...perils/0114087 ...by Published on April 13th, 2013 22:31- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
More of the same isn't enough - and always-on could be the prelude to an utter disaster
Microsoft
microsoft.com
Sony
Sony's had the first of its big reveals - we still haven't seen a box, much to the consternation of people who clearly spend a lot more time staring at the space under their TV than I do, or a price tag, much to the consternation of everyone else - so now all attention has turned to Microsoft. After the longest hardware generation in console history, it's coming up to time for the next gauntlet to hit the floor. Having made enormous strides and gains during the past seven or eight years (although it may be pipped at the very end by Sony's installed base), Microsoft's next Xbox enters the fray with a weight of expectation on its shoulders.
Yet the next Xbox also faces a problem its predecessor didn't have to deal with - namely the fact that Sony actually has its act together this time, or so it seems. Microsoft got a lot of things right with the Xbox 360 - great controller, great online service from the outset, good developer tools - but what gave it its real head-start, papering over major cracks like the shocking hardware failure rate of the early years, was not of the company's own doing. Rather, the Xbox 360 confidently strode past every stumbling block because its major rival, the PS3, was tripping over its own feet and pratfalling off the track entirely. Arriving a year later to market, the PS3 was dogged by a ludicrous price point, daft, developer-unfriendly hardware, an anaemic approach to online services and a sense of corporate arrogance and entitlement that was soon to come painfully back down to earth.
This time, Microsoft will not enjoy the advantage of its rival shooting itself in the foot every few paces. Sony's overall corporate position may not be the healthiest it's ever been, but the company's approach with PS4 thus far has been intelligent, purposeful and has even, in a sense, felt quietly apologetic regarding the excesses of PS3's early years. There's a long way to go yet and plenty of rough ground to cover, and it's still entirely possible that Sony will trip over some obstacles (price point, price point...) but early signs are promising.
"This time, Microsoft will not enjoy the advantage of its rival shooting itself in the foot every few paces"
This begs an important question for Microsoft to answer - how will it differentiate itself? We've already seen a handful of leaked and highly credible specifications for the Microsoft box, so we know that it's not going to be more powerful than Sony's system (in fact, existing specs are less powerful, but it's unwise to rule out an eleventh-hour specification bump along the lines of Sony's surprise inclusion of ultra high-speed memory modules). Sony has effectively caught up in online services, and services like PlayStation Plus and the video integration offered by Gaikai technology give it a number of new strings to its bow. As for backwards compatibility, both PS4 and Microsoft's next Xbox are going to be based on hardware platforms so different from their previous efforts as to render backwards compatibility deeply unlikely at best.
In short, despite its success in the present generation, Microsoft is going to have to do a whole lot better than simply "the next Xbox - more of the same but better" if it wants to repeat or better its market share performance. With Xbox Live, it showed a fantastic ability to leverage its experience and knowledge of the PC and online markets in order to effectively "skate to where the puck will be, not where it is" (as NHL legend Wayne Gretzky memorably described it) - launching an online service and pushing it hard just in time to catch the rising waves of online gaming and social networking as they reached critical mass. Microsoft needs to repeat that feat in some form; at the very least, it needs to offer a vision of console gaming that's different enough from Sony's to make it distinct, memorable and appealing.
There are reasons to be concerned about that. One of them is the company's seemingly unwavering focus on Kinect, which seems set to be built in to the next generation of Xbox consoles. That's fine in itself - a motion sensing component is a handy feature to have for developers - but it had better not be pushed as the console's Big Thing. Kinect, like PlayStation Move, is great tech - but it only ever existed commercially as a response to the success of the Wii. With Nintendo's home consoles foundering at present, focusing on motion tech feels very much, to borrow Gretzky again, like skating to where the puck used to be, not where it will be in future.
"With Nintendo's home consoles foundering at present, focusing on motion tech feels very much like skating to where the puck used to be"
Then there's the heavily rumoured always-online aspect of the console. I remain in the "I'll believe it when I see it" camp on this - I simply can't believe that Microsoft is prepared to look at the significant percentage of Xbox 360 owners who never connected their devices to a network and ...by Published on April 12th, 2013 00:47- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
A new report now claims that the new Xbox WILL be able to play games when not connected to the internet.
Instead, the often-reliable VGleaks claims the ‘always-on’ rumour stems from a second Xbox console that will be launched at the same time as the Durango-based machine.
The site says that an Xbox Mini will be launched in tandem with Durango. Crucially, unlike its bigger cousin it WILL offer Xbox 360 backwards compatibility and NOT have a disc drive.
MCV first broke the news of a disc-less new Xbox in March 2012, although a report earlier this month appeared to debunk the claims.
This new Xbox Mini WILL require an always-on internet connection and WILL run Xbox 360 games that have been downloaded over Xbox Live. It will also be designed for use as a TV box and is being pitched to compete directly with Apple TV.
And here’s another surprise – it will link up to Durango to offer owners of that machine backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 software, albeit only digitally. When connected both devices will function on a single display and can be controlled with a single controller.
However, those without an Xbox Mini attached to their Durango will be frozen out of the Xbox 360 back catalogue.
Durango has been designed to be permanently connected to the internet but will apparently NOT stop users from playing Durango games when offline. If true, the news will come as a huge relief to the trade which has warned Microsoft against such a requirement.
Nor, VGleaks claim, will the new console block pre-owned software.
Those who insert an Xbox 360 disc into Durango will be prompted to connect an Xbox Mini.
Part of the strategy, it is claimed, is to give consumers the option to reduce the upfront price of the new console, but spend more should they choose on 360 compatibility.
Xbox Mini is said to retail at $149 or less while Durango will retail for something along the lines of PS4 - £300, £400, £500, £1,000,000, who knows…
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/fresh...-again/0113921 ...by Published on April 10th, 2013 23:19- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
While the world waits to find out the facts about Microsoft's next videogame console, new rumors have popped up suggesting what its plans to go all-in on the Xbox-as-media center concept entail. According to The Verge, multiple unnamed sources suggest the plan is to include an HDMI passthrough and guide overlay, similar to the method used by Google TV. There's no word on any possible IR blaster (or IRGamePad, Wii U-style) integration, but thanks to Microsoft's partnerships with cable TV providers, it's trying to provide integration that goes a "step further" than what we've seen so far. That includes Kinect control, with next generation hardware that can recognize when viewers have turned their heads away and pause video automatically, with additional features rolling out after launch. There's no confirmation of controversial always-on requirements for gaming, but it will apparently need to be logged on for streaming (of course) and controlling incoming TV signals.
A collection of rumors posted on Kotaku includes references to an "XTV", and a LinkedIn post that connects tagging of video to the project, similar to Shazam or IntoNow's features. Also dug up on various job profiles are mentions of a "cloud-driven, voice-optimized experience" and the next generation of SmartGlass.
Microsoft had great success with an evolving media approach to its console business with the Xbox 360 -- apps and original content are in, with Mediaroom and Media Center pushed to the side -- and even if these rumors are true, we wouldn't be surprised if what exists in a few years ends up changing just as much. Still, given the (lack of) response to Google's overlays and gesture control integrated by Samsung, LG and others, it will be interesting to see if a similar approach attached to an Xbox finds different results.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/10/x...i-passthrough/ ...by Published on April 9th, 2013 22:52- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Microsoft to ditch backwards-compatibility with next-gen console
Microsoft will be switching to an AMD manufactured combined CPU/GPU processor for its next console, claim sources.
These sources tell Bloomberg that Microsoft is planning a move to the x86 architecture currently used in PCs, making the new console incapable of running game disks formatted for the Xbox 360.
Sony's PS4 runs on similar hardware, with a combined x86 CPU/GPU. This chip is also manufactured by AMD.
Rumors circulated today that the next Xbox, codenamed Durango, would appear at aMay 21st event, and this seems to be corroborated by three sources who said Microsoft would either unveil the console at E3 in June or a separate event in May.
Two sources claimed an April unveiling was deemed unnecessary because the company didn't feel enough competitive pressure from Sony's PS4.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...box-to-use-AMD
...by Published on April 9th, 2013 00:16- Categories:
- PS3 News,
- PC News,
- Xbox 360 News,
- Wii U News
Batman Arkham City: Armored Edition, the Wii U version, is $20 at Best Buy as part of its weekly deal offer. Also on sale are the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions ofFar Cry 3 and Assassin's Creed 3 for $30, or PS3, Xbox 360 and PC editions ofBlack Ops 2 for $40 each.
We found the Wii U version of Arkham City to have some cool features, such as the WiiPad audio function whenever Batman picks up a conversation on his earpiece. Otherwise, it's definitely not the prettiest way to play a Batman game.
https://deals.bestbuy.com/#!/winning+home+entertainment ...by Published on April 8th, 2013 21:16- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Tech writer sets May 21 as reveal, says it will require an online connection
Microsoft
microsoft.com
Tech journalist Paul Thurrott has revealed some all important details about Microsoft's next console, currently known as Durango, setting a price and a release date for the highly anticipated machine.
"Durango is going to be expensive - $500, $300 with a subscription - that kind of thing," Thurrott told What The Tech's video podcast.
"Originally, they were going to announce this thing on April 24. Now they're going to announce it on May 21. We know there are events occurring this year where we're going to learn more about Durango. E3 is going to occur, Build is going to occur in San Francisco in June when they're going to talk about the developer story because it's a Windows 8 device. It's going to have the same, or basically the same, developer tools and developer APIs."
Those interested in the technical side of the console can check out GamesIndustry International's breakdown of its leaked specs here.
Thurrott also revealed that according to his notes, the console would require a constant internet connection, a topic that has fired up the gaming community recently, and that a cheaper, $99 Xbox 360 would also be released this year, and was codenamed Stingray.
Thurrott is well known for his reporting on Microsoft systems and runs Supersite For Windows, where he recently commented on the "always online" controversy.
"Folks, the next Xbox is going to require an always-on internet connection. I don't know the specifics of what that means," he wrote.
"This piece of information had been communicated to me, along with some other relevant tidbits, in January. It's true."
"Will Microsoft change this requirement in the wake of early outrage? Frankly I think we're too far along in the development process of the next Xbox, codenamed Durango, to make such a change. More to the point, I think that an always-on Xbox is directly in keeping with Microsoft's strategy for all next-generation platforms."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...iced-at-USD500
...by Published on April 8th, 2013 21:09- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Established technology blogger Paul Thurrott has made several claims about the new Xbox – and chief amongst them is the scrapping of a second disc-less SKU.
"We have talked for a while about this notion that there might be another version of the Xbox that was just aimed at entertainment – a non-gaming device,” he said on the What The Tech podcast, as subscribed by All Games Beta.
“That device was code-named 'Yumo' and they're not making it. They may make one in the future, but it's not happening this year.”
News of this disc-less console was first broken by MCV in March of last year.
Thurrott also made claims about the name of the new machine, as well as suggesting it will not be backwards compatible and that a new version of Xbox 360 is also on the way
"So the new Xbox that comes out this year will [called] just be the Xbox,” he added. “And I mentioned before they're also going to sell a new Xbox 360 code-named 'Stingray' that will be $99.
“And you might look at that as two things: backwards compatibility, obviously, suggesting – I don't actually know this for a fact, but based on the fact that they're making one – I don't think that the new Xbox will play 360 games. But that I don't actually know.
“But, the other one is that, $99, that's a real cool price. And so we know that the Xbox 360 does Netflix, Hulu Plus, yada yada yada, and you can make the argument that's kind of a low cost entertainment device, too.”
But what of the Xbox 720 itself? Yes, Thurrott has heard it WILL require a permanent internet connection.
"Durango is going to be expensive – you know $500, $300 for the subscription model, that kind of thing,” he added. “But you know, Blu-ray, blah blah blah, but the thing that interest me, going back and looking at some of the stuff I got a long time ago, it actually says 'must be internet-connected to use' in the notes. And that's all I have, but it does say that.”
He also claims that plans to reveal the machine in April have been scrapped.
"Originally, they were going to announce this thing in April 24th, now they're going to announce it May 21st,” he said. “We know there are events occurring this year where we're going to learn more about Durango.”
Adding that a November release is on the cards, the blogger also lashed out at those who have been slating Microsoft’s plans online.
"So I think there's a lot information to come, but I look at all this stuff that I've seen about Durango and I think, 'it's all positive',” he argued. “I don't really see any bad news here at all. Like to me, everything I've seen about this is really positive.
“It's amazing to me that, based on like no information at all, everyone is like freaking out about everything. Aside from this online thing, by the way, the number one question I've gotten from people is, 'What does it look like?' Who gives a shit what it looks like?
"I've actually heard from, by the way not one or two people, several people who've said, 'based on what I've seen, Sony is going to blow them away.' Based on what you've seen? You've seen nothing. What are you talking about? No, but you've seen literally nothing from Microsoft.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/disc-...report/0113742 ...- Search DCEmu
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