[Tech] Microsoft announces Xbox One- Mega breakdown Post
| Image Source: IGN |
This morning Microsoft announced their newest console; the Xbox One. Read on for more information.
Specs
Blu-Ray, HDMI, 1080p Kinect, 500GB HDD, 8GB RAM, 8 Core AMD Jaguar, USB 3.0, Wi-fi, 1080p, 4k Support, 7.1 Surround.
About
So there’s the spec sheet. What is the Xbox One really about? well to be honest its not just a gaming console.
This console is a Hybrid, Windows Device, TV Set-top Box a Gaming Device.
Lets first cover the gaming aspect. First, it is not always online gaming, but if the developer wants it to be it will, not to mention it sounds like all games will have a mandatory game install before you can do anything with it, and some installs will most definitely require an internet connection. Why the mandatory install? Well games are now connected to your Xbox One and are not available for you to trade/sell them in person or take it to another persons house, do so and the Xbox will inform you of a charge. That’s right take your game you bought over to a friends house and it won’t work unless you want to pay Microsoft more money. The second hand market has not been shunted entirely you will be allowed to trade games with other Xbox member online but that’s all Microsoft has said about the matter. Unfortunately the New Xbox is not backwards compatible either forcing many of us to keep our 360’s, something MS is aware of, this console is not a replacement yet.
| Image Source: Engadget |
Alongside a new version of its Xbox console today, Microsoft also debuted a new, far more sensitive version of its Kinect sensor. The new Kinect recognizes both the user and the controller and features a 1080P RGB camera, 30FPS sensing and ‘time of flight’ measurement that takes into account how long it takes for light to get from the Kinect to the user and back.
The new sensor can also measure things like heartbeat and recognize individual joints in more detailed fashion, leading to more accuracy and polish. The new camera also has an increased field of view, which should mean a less fidgety experience when standing closer, further away or close to the edges of the room.The Kinect will come with every Xbox One will allow you to control your Xbox sans the controller through the normal gestures and voice commands.
Simply say “Xbox On” or “Watch Tv” or “snap Internet Explorer” (snap means to have two apps on one window).
The controller also got an upgrade, although not as drastic as the other two. Some buttons have been moved around, the Triggers have built in vibration (haptics) in them for better response, the d-pad has been redesigned to a more traditional style and the battery compartment is smaller.
| Forza Screenshot courtesty of Engadget |
And where would we be without the games you will play on this console. MS announced today that the XO will have 15 exclusive titles with 8 of them coming from new franchises. Currently confirmed for the XO is
- Assassin’s Creed 4
- Battlefield 4
- Call of Duty Ghosts (will have a timed exclusive of DLC over the PS3/4)
- Destiny
- Fifa 14
- Forza 5
- Madden 25
- NBA Live 14
- Quantum Break
- Theif
- UFC
- Watch Dogs
Forza will be available on launch day (we don’t know when that is) and below e have a trailer from Joystiq
In addition to showing of its next-gen console, Microsoft also detailed changes that are coming to Xbox Live. The outfit has increased to 300,000 servers to power Xbox One users — up from 15,000 that handle the Xbox 360. Skype and Trending features offer social interaction while the online software will now feature a dedicated game DVR for uploading those Call of Duty exploits for all of your mates to see. In addition to being able to share highlights, searching for your next opponent has become that much easier. Music, movies, games and saved content are all stored in the cloud and devs will be able to leverage Live servers to offer more “living and persistent worlds.” Current Gold members won’t need to complete any extra steps as subscriptions will work on both the Xbox One and the 360. (source)
In addition to showing of its next-gen console, Microsoft also detailed changes that are coming to Xbox Live. The outfit has increased to 300,000 servers to power Xbox One users — up from 15,000 that handle the Xbox 360. Skype and Trending features offer social interaction while the online software will now feature a dedicated game DVR for uploading those Call of Duty exploits for all of your mates to see. In addition to being able to share highlights, searching for your next opponent has become that much easier. Music, movies, games and saved content are all stored in the cloud and devs will be able to leverage Live servers to offer more “living and persistent worlds.” Current Gold members won’t need to complete any extra steps as subscriptions will work on both the Xbox One and the 360. (source)
Everything NOT Games
Unfortunately this is what MS spent the majority of their time talking about, almost like you will be buying this for other reasons and gaming will be an after thought.
So the unit has 3 operating systems. It will have its own Xbox OS for the Games, Hyper-V for sub-visualization and Windows 8 RT for the bulk of the interface. You will be able to run and use many Windows RT applications, you will be able to use the Snap feature and use two applications at once, Skype is built into it and so is TV. The unit will support Live TV, Streamed TV and Set-top Box-in TV. Bear in mind that their focus is on the American populous and so we may never see Freeview support for this unit. for more info on TV visit CNET for their breakdown. Meanwhile all of these features can be controlled using voice.
Another non-gaming feature is their multi-year partnership with the NFL.The two are working on an optimized experience that better integrates fantasy football, including score displays, onscreen updates and Skype. They also promise exclusive content, naturally, including a lock on translating many of these experiences to tablets. The partnership will extend to the real arenas, too — among other technologies, Microsoft will bring Surface tablets to coaches and players to improve their communication and play calling. There aren’t many more details so far, but it’s evident that Microsoft wants to cater to football fans with a lot more than just its existing ESPN app. (source)
The Dashboard got a re-invent as well. It’s not a massive departure from the current one, but as you can see, the theme is a little plainer and cleaner than the Xbox 360 dash, while keeping the tile-like appearance also common to the Windows UI. The Home screen can now be personalized, and while you’ll recognize most of the tabs running along the top, “Trending” is fresh — this tab shows what TV’s popular amongst your friends, as well as what’s hot within the entire Xbox Live community. Also, “My Pins” now gets its own dedicated tab, rather than being a tile on the Home screen. How you use and navigate the dash is where the real innovations lie, like the next-gen Kinect voice control and Snap Mode multitasking.
What Kotaku is hailing as the only interesting thing out of today is the announcement that you can play as a Dog in the Call of Duty Ghosts game. Since then the Dog has become a bit of a meme, with its own twitter account popping up shortly after. @collarDuty
I can poop around multiplayer maps to stop people from camping. Nobody camps on poop.
— Call of Duty Dog (@CollarDuty) May 21, 2013
I would love to appear in an Animal Crossing game one day. But I’ve got wars to fight right now and terrorists to maul.
— Call of Duty Dog (@CollarDuty) May 21, 2013
They had to adjust the AI for my character, the first iteration kept fetching the flash bangs. #ouch
— Call of Duty Dog (@CollarDuty) May 21, 2013
Parting Thoughts
Its a step in a different direction. MS knows that the states is their core market but the majority of these new features may only be available to them at first which may alienate the non-american Xbox base camps (UK & Australasia). Even more so it hasn’t done anything to entice the Sony base camps (Europe and Japan) nor has it done anything to excite the hardcore gamer that buys all consoles, we may fnd the hardcore gamer as well as ignoring the Wii U might ignore the One as well and just stick with the PS4. The Gaming experience really feels like it has taken a back seat this time around with MS focusing on being the jack of all trades in your living room and master of none. As always time will tell the outcome, MS is already reeling from an under performing Windows 8 and dismal mobile operating system is Xbox suffers a bad year some heads might role and MS might move in another direction but unfortunately the technology giant has a lot of money so we may not see the right kid of change for a while.
