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XBox (Games) Microsoft Games

Microsoft Unveils Xbox One 782

Today at a press conference leading up to E3, Microsoft unveiled its next-gen games/entertainment console, the Xbox One. Their stated goal for the Xbox One is to have a single device provide "all of your entertainment." One of the big changes is increased support for voice and and gesture input. You can turn the console on by voice, and it will recognize you and automatically login. Swiping to the side with your hand will browse through menu pages, and saying "Watch TV" will bring up the TV app very quickly. The same with music, internet, and movies. The new console also supports multitasking — for example, while watching a movie, you can bring up your web browser in a side panel and surf the web at the same time. There is also a built-in TV listings app that responds to channel names — saying "Watch CBS" will switch to CBS without giving it an actual channel number. By this point, you're probably asking: does it play games? Yes. Hardware specs: 8-core CPU/GPU, 8GB RAM, a Blu-ray drive, a 500GB HDD, USB 3.0, and Wi-fi Direct. (They didn't provide the CPU frequency, instead saying it had 5 billion transistors.) The Kinect sensor got an upgrade: 2Gbps of data capture has finer skeletal visibility, can detect minor orientation changes in hands and fingers, and can even calculate your balance and weight distribution. The new controller looks slightly bigger, and is designed to play well with Kinect. They've also updated Smartglass, the remote control software that runs on mobile devices, but they didn't explain much about it. The new Xbox Live will have 300,000 servers powering it, up from 15,000 this year — though, of course, no details were provided about server specs. The console will have native game capture and editing tools — essentially, a game DVR. Saved games will be stored in the cloud, and they have new matchmaking capabilities that operate in the background. Update: 05/21 17:50 GMT by S : Halo is getting its own live-action TV show, for some reason. They'll be collaborating with Steven Spielberg. Microsoft is also partnering with the NFL for live broadcasts and interactive experiences, such as split-screen Skype chats and fantasy league updates. Xbox One will be out "later this year." No price information. it will not be backward-compatible with Xbox 360 games.
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Microsoft Unveils Xbox One

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  • Please Slashdot, do your worst :)

    • by NatasRevol ( 731260 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:04PM (#43784229) Journal

      Not backwards compatible with Xbox 360 games?

    • If you have an XBox 360, why go with something 359 releases out of date?
    • by NatasRevol ( 731260 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:13PM (#43784333) Journal

      Always on, always listening.

    • How about product-induced ADD?

      I don't want to have a fucking Skype session while I watch football, I want to watch football when I want to watch football. I don't want to give up valuable real estate to a fucking web browser when I'm watching a movie, I want to concentrate on the movie.

      In fact, I would contend that the director did a shitty job of making the movie if you can only half-way pay attention for a few minutes while cocking about on the Internet and not miss something.

      I don't want my saved games

    • by MitchDev ( 2526834 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:56PM (#43784881)

      Don't want an overpriced box that does everything. I want a game console that plays games and doesn't need the internet to "check in" with the home office...

  • by kipin ( 981566 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:43PM (#43783973) Homepage
    A 1980's stereo receiver and a VHS player from the 1990's.
  • by BEI01 ( 567185 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:44PM (#43783977)
    It took them 30 minutes, half the duration of the entire presentation, before they started talking about games. It is not looking good as a next-gen "game" system.
  • I'm liking casual gaming more and more, and enjoying the computer-upgrade-cycle less and less. So I've increased the amount of console gaming a bit over the last few years.

    Personally, I had more fun with my XBox than the PS3. Part of it is I mostly like the XBox 360 controller more.

    So unless it's an utter failure, I'll probably get it.

    *mostly = I like the shape, but I tend to slightly disconnect the battery pack when I'm using a wireless one from time to time.

  • by 140Mandak262Jamuna ( 970587 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:46PM (#43783999) Journal
    What the hell is wrong with their numbering conventions? They went from Xbox 360 to Xbox 1? Are they starting all over again from version 1? Why? Is it because finally they have erased all the sunken costs and the franchise is finally in the black? On the windows they went DOS 3.1 to Win95, Win98, Millenium, Win2K, Vista and then finally discovered their first grade math, Win7,8,9...
    • by Black Parrot ( 19622 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:33PM (#43784567)

      What the hell is wrong with their numbering conventions? They went from Xbox 360 to Xbox 1? Are they starting all over again from version 1?

      No, they just switched to a mod 360 versioning system.

  • Xbox One? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Andrio ( 2580551 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:46PM (#43784007)
    Didn't that come out like 12 years ago?
  • by tekrat ( 242117 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:46PM (#43784009) Homepage Journal

    And it comes with Windows 8 (crickets...)

  • Cable integration? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by jandrese ( 485 ) <kensama@vt.edu> on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:48PM (#43784025) Homepage Journal
    I really hope this means every XBox will come with a Cablecard slot in the back, just so Microsoft can cause every Cable Company manager's head to explode at the same time when they announce the feature.
  • XBMC (Score:5, Interesting)

    by elzurawka ( 671029 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:49PM (#43784039)

    So basically all the features I have been using for the last 3 years on XBMC + Steam, except for Voice and motion input(which i think are silly and I don't want).

    • Well.. to sum it all up, check Sony's stock [google.com]. 18 minutes worth of conference on a game console, probably only something like 8 minutes concerning games, the rest is for gimmicks. What could I possibly say?
  • one (Score:5, Informative)

    by Ian 0x57 ( 688051 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:49PM (#43784043)
    before everyone jumps in on the "i thought this was version 3 not 1" bandwagon - it means ONE as in ONE tool to do it all. not ONE as in version 1 of the product line....
  • by JDG1980 ( 2438906 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:50PM (#43784055)

    Looks like the Xbox One is a home-entertainment center for which gaming is mostly an afterthought.

    That's not necessarily a bad thing (hardcore gamers aren't nearly as important of a demographic as they think), but a lack of focus could be a real problem. We already have general-purpose machines that are versatile enough to do what we want them to. Microsoft needs to make the case why this is better than a laptop or a tablet or a smartphone – especially as it is certain to be loaded down with DRM.

    • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:01PM (#43784183)

      I wonder what all the TV stuff is getting replaced with in countries that aren't the US.

  • Always on internet? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by gstoddart ( 321705 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:51PM (#43784071) Homepage

    So far I've not seen anything about the always-on requirement for the internet connection.

    That feature is make or break for me, because if it *needs* an internet connection to be always enabled, I can tell you now I won't buy this -- they had their chance, and they put ads into both my home screen and my games.

    Did anyone who actually watched the event see anything about this? I've checked several articles so far, and none of them have mentioned that part.

    • by frozentier ( 1542099 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:01PM (#43784187)

      So far I've not seen anything about the always-on requirement for the internet connection.

      If games ONLY save to the cloud, then that IS the always-on internet requirement. Otherwise you have to start a new game every time you put the disc in, and you can't save your progress.

    • by gmezero ( 4448 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:03PM (#43784217) Homepage

      Well, they said save game data will be stored on the cloud. That right there would be the needed internet connection... and that alone will prevent me from buying one. Period.

      • Well, then if game saves will go to the cloud and require an internet connection, I most definitely will NOT be buying a new XBox.

        I might buy another Xbox 360 as a spare for my current one and to keep playing the games I do. But if I can't run this thing purely as a game console with no internet connection, then I have no interest in it.

        A requirement for an internet connection doesn't benefit me personally, just Microsoft, the publishers, and the advertisers. And that's not my problem.

        • by N0Man74 ( 1620447 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:46PM (#43784745)

          Well, they said save game data will be stored on the cloud. That right there would be the needed internet connection... and that alone will prevent me from buying one. Period.

          Ability does not mean requirement. Many steam games allow you to save to the cloud, but still allow for local saving of games additionally.

          Though, I honestly expect that they are pushing to make it a requirement.. and yes, it will be a deal-breaker for me.

          Honestly, right now I don't even have home internet access aside from limited mobile tethering. I canceled in anticipation of moving (which got unexpectedly delayed) a month ago and because ComCast (only 1 of 2 carriers available to me in a city of population density of over 2,000/sq.mile) was being ridiculous.

          I rarely play on my 360, but if my cable TV and internet was out, playing single-player console video games would be among the things I might I might want to do during the outage.

          I guess that means Microsoft will just encourage me to read more rather than buy their console. Not so bad I suppose.

    • by drinkypoo ( 153816 ) <drink@hyperlogos.org> on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:44PM (#43784723) Homepage Journal

      So far I've not seen anything about the always-on requirement for the internet connection.

      that is because, shock amazement, you did not RTFA.

      [...] it also possesses a low-power standby mode, allowing Xbox Live and game updates to be pushed to the Xbox One overnight â" or whenever the box knows your usage is lowest â" without keeping the console all the way on. (Donâ(TM)t worry; you can still play a single-player game without being connected to the Internet.)

  • Does it have tv tunner? cable card? satellite TV?

  • Wait, what? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Plumpaquatsch ( 2701653 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:56PM (#43784137) Journal

    Does "You can turn the console on by voice" mean when "off" this thing is actually running a voice recognition system waiting for you to turn it "on"? Ignoring the "it's constantly listening to what is going on" part: what did they say the "standby" power use was?

    • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 ) * on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:17PM (#43784389) Homepage Journal

      Also what happens when more devices start to support voice control, or you have two XBOXs in proximity? You say "off" and and your XBOX, TV, hifi, laptop, phone, tablet, air conditioning and lights all turn off simultaneously.

      • Also what happens when more devices start to support voice control, or you have two XBOXs in proximity? You say "off" and and your XBOX, TV, hifi, laptop, phone, tablet, air conditioning and lights all turn off simultaneously.

        I'm starting to think that my voice controlled pacemaker was a bad idea!

    • It means Microsoft fully intends to spy on their customers all the time. Buried in line 4012 of the EULA of the first system update.

  • by Immerial ( 1093103 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:11PM (#43784297) Homepage
    It's always going to be on... you can walk into a room and say "Xbox, On." That means it's always going to be watching. It reports back what your watching ("See what your friends are watching."). They've increase the camera resolution enough that they can read your heart rate. Sorry... too freaky for me. It's like a LOTR Palantir... gonna have to cover it with a cloth. Or maybe another metaphor, like an Xbox Hal... me: "Xbox, Switch to Playstation 4" Xbox: "I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you do that."
    • by Hatta ( 162192 )

      Plug it into a power strip. Hit the master power switch on the strip when you turn off the console. I already do this for all my consoles (all 18 of them) anyway. Better to have them disconnected from main power during a lightning strike.

  • XBoner (Score:5, Funny)

    by ilikenwf ( 1139495 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:14PM (#43784341)
    Just considering that this will be abbreviated XBONE...so errors are XBONERS, and if you get an RROD, wouldn't that make you XBONED?
  • by MiniMike ( 234881 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:17PM (#43784377)

    You can turn the console on by voice

    Do you need to have a really sexy voice?

    Does it matter if you're male/female or will it work both ways?

    If you fail to turn it on the first time, will you ever be able to turn it on in the future?

    I just really need to know these things before I even think about buying one.

  • by bogie ( 31020 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @01:28PM (#43784519) Journal

    Any news on if it can play Xbox 360 games? The thing is if MS drops 360 Xbox Live support the 360 becomes an expensive boat anchor. Everything on the 360 revolves around Live including your profiles, Important game patches, Video content like renting movies and HBO GO, etc.

    I guess I can live without being able to play 360 games on the One but then Microsoft HAS to keep Live going on the 360 for as long as people are willing to pay for Live service. People have a ton of money invested in these systems and If MS says "Sorry buy the new one and all new games" that would be a big Fuck You to all of us. There is definitely something to be said for old cartridge and cdrom based gaming systems that were pre-internet. They all work now and will all work 15 years from now. The 360 probably won't.

  • Is it too much (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Libertarian001 ( 453712 ) on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @02:42PM (#43785473)

    to ask for a classic-style game console built with modern tech/processing power?

    Yes, I'd like to be able to play online with friends. That is the only other thing that I really want out of my console. I don't care if plays music or movies. I don't want it to be the center of my entertainment center. I sure as hell don't want it always on and spying on me.

    I just want to play games, and that includes used ones.

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