Microsoft Officially Unveils Xbox One For Holiday 2013

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Not really. Consumers are all about the service/license model today which is why premium digital cable and streaming pay services like Netflix are super successful. Like I said, if Microsoft can simply duplicate the Gamestop model and give people used games for $5-$10 below new and allow them to trade them in, the complaints will disappear from all but the few of us old-time collectors and gamers.

I don't know man, I'm about as pro-digital on consoles as you'll find here, I barely ever buy used games and even I'm REALLY shocked and concerned as to how they're going to change the intent of physical media all in one fell swoop, effectively changing what we buy at brick/mortar and why we buy it.

If you told me that the XBOX ONE would be a digital-download-only system I'd be LESS concerned than I am about the reaction of the non-core-gamer general public once this process is really and truly explained to them.

Now, I'm not saying that the ONE doesn't have a chance of survival IN SPITE of this, but I think this will be the single biggest growing pain for consumers to get over if they ever manage to come to terms with it.

And yes, license-locked content is nothing new on PCs and tablet/touch devices but we've never ever seen this on discs on consoles.

I don't want to see any of these companies fail in this next generation because when they succeed and flourish we all win ... but this, this has me very concerned.

[The 1 2 P]

This is where facial recognition comes into play and the Kinect being on and operational requirement. Kinect will know that you aren't at your friends house. People are going to have to make paper photo's of their friends faces, and try to make a mask to fool the kinect, lol.

On the current Kinect model facial recognition is spotty at best. Sure my Kinect recognizes me but sometimes it doesn't, even though I'm the only one that uses it 99% of the time. If they can get it(voice and gesture) to work 100% of the time I won't mind so much. I'm also hoping that it's just optional for core games, with Mass Effect 3, Halo: CE Anniversary and Forza 4 being good examples of that on the current Kinect.

I actually like the name now that it's been explained. It was either that or "Xbox AIO", the way HP names their printers. However, what really would have been an awesome name is if they titled it: "The Xbox One....2 P". Of course that would have only worked if they promised me royalties.

And then we have the system itself. I don't mind an all-in-one media player/box/console thingie. Thats how my 360 is used now. What I don't care about is plugging my cable into my console. Or anything to do with the NFL. Or....wtf are they actually doing with used games and the online requirements? Everyday another executive says something different than the last one. Theres obviously going to be some kind of fee for playing used games and you will have to connect online at the very least once a day(acccording to some execs) but I really wish they would reveal those details. Perhaps they'll hold them for E3 but they've been promising to use that for all their XB1 game reveals.

Right now I'm not sure when I'll be picking up this system, despite already being on three early info/preorder list. I need several more questions answered before I can commit at launch. But eventually I'll be getting a XB1. The fact that it plays blurays means that it might even take my PS3's spot of my entertainment center. It might even make me start buying blurays over dvds.....maybe.

Now we just need to wait and see how much they price this thing. Hopefully the $99 360 test proved well enough for them to do a subsidized $199 model of XB1. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they just did a $350 and $450 model. That would be disappointing but not surprising.

[RARusk]

I'll leave this here:

http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/21/435...box-one-reveal

[kupomogli]

I saw this. Pretty shady, Microsoft. IGN reported that they're pretty sure when he was saying for the Kinect to do something, since he had his hand in his pocket, he was switching stuff with that. Who knows if someone behind the scenes didn't manipulate the minimize/maximize effect as well.

[Zthun]

The problem with a digital-download-only system, like many others have said, is the price of the games.

Steam is successful. Very successful, and in fact, I'm one of the people that love Steam. But when I look at my library, I've noticed one major truth: my entire library is either a mix and match of the humble bundles, extreme steam discounts, or gifts from friends and family. I don't think anything on my Steam library ranges over $15. The price of games is everything. If I'm going to spend $40-$60 on a game, I go for a disc. This is simply because I want to keep the game and play it even after the generation is over. If the game can be had for only $2-$10, then it's a good Steam purchase. Of course, Amazon helps with finding cheap new games, but sometimes, you just can't beat the used prices at Gamestop. If Microsoft is solely allowed to control the used game market, then that cuts out Gamestop, eBay, and many other stores that sell them. Competition will be light. The fact that Microsoft can shut down the service whenever they want also makes it so your purchases won't last forever.

The only way I can see this work (for me and many other people that don't agree with this kind of policy) is a huge compromise on Microsoft's part. If they can offer 75% off sales like steam does, then I can see this working for people. However, I rarely see non-arcade titles go on sale for a major discount on xbl. Often, their digital downloads are more expensive than brand new copies on amazon; that includes the tax.

Overall, their used game policy is going to be the major deal breaker for many people.

[Ed Oscuro]

Since I started PC gaming again (2010), I've considered their restrictions right off the bat. I treat all my digital download purchases as if they were long term rentals. It's why I normally only pay $4.99 and $7.50 for the vast majority of the games I get. Anything more than that, and I feel like I'm paying too much for a RENTAL. Sure, it's an extended rental, that could last a pretty long time, but the actual ownership behind it is pretty lax. You're rights to play the game are pretty restricted.

Every once in awhile, I'll pay $9.99 for something, but it's just so hard to go above that. Take Skyrim for example. I'd really love to try that game, but it hasn't come anywhere near my desired price point. Lowest I've ever seen it is $19.99 and that was only temporarily. As great as that game might be, I'm not going to pay 20 bucks for a long term rental.

I think that's a very insightful and useful way to put it.

As far as the gaming historian is concerned, it's a crying shame because this means that someday the only remnants of many currently-beloved games will be pirated versions, if they exist, and YouTube gameplay videos. Not quite the same thing, is it? Few enough people are thinking about keeping the history going. Of course, someday some of the developers or at least the rights holders will wake up, as they periodically do, and compile some artbook or "anniversary" content, which we will be expected to pay more for, again. However, the actual preservation of games will be as far off as ever.

Perhaps they had the right idea from the start with the Disney model - Snow White wasn't intended to make all its money in the first run, but you have to say they were thinking more along the lines of future redistribution of the title, and television (before the home videotape recorder) was quite close to that. The possibility of "owning" a durable copy of a program is somewhat newer. However, it's easy to see the good of certainty in knowing that you will be able to use a program or view media in the future, at any time, and even without paying the copyright holder repeatedly. And that's more like how books have been, for a longer time than movies. Music arguably started out with a model more like books, too - there wasn't any prospect of giving people significant "value add" with high-def versions of the first music recordings, because the old Victrola was about as good as the recordings get - and the recordings were out before radio play was a possibility.

Ideally we will get a situation where rights-holders will be able to continue to sell their product to make profits in multiple arenas, even many years after it is produced, but to a point - there is a point beyond which the argument for continued copyright protections is very weak. And it should also be the case that once somebody has licensed media, at great cost to themselves, there should be some kind of mechanism to allow them at least to attempt self-servicing the platform it requires so they can keep using it in the future.

[JakeM]

I saw this. Pretty shady, Microsoft. IGN reported that they're pretty sure when he was saying for the Kinect to do something, since he had his hand in his pocket, he was switching stuff with that. Who knows if someone behind the scenes didn't manipulate the minimize/maximize effect as well.

Huh, well thats false advertising.

This is like a weird dream, how can Microsoft think theyll be able to sell more than a few hundred thousand of these things before the unknowing people catch on to the evilness of this console?

If Im in a store and I see a dad looking at one for his son then Ill tell him all about the negatives. Infact I wish I could get something like a PTA meeting about this at schools everywhere to tell the parents about all the negatives of the console.

[kupomogli]

It's not like we don't know why they did it. There's a lot of people in the conference and they wanted to make sure it actually accepted commands and didn't accept commands that it may have heard people in the audience give it. They could have atleast let people know what was going on during the event rather than pull this crap. But when we were told that the applause came from the employees in the back, I guess we shouldn't have expected any sort of legitimacy from the event.

Maybe something good will come from Microsoft's E3 event.

[Gameguy]

Overall, their used game policy is going to be the major deal breaker for many people.

I found their policy for how used games work, for anyone curious.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57...ne-game-sales/

It's not like we don't know why they did it. There's a lot of people in the conference and they wanted to make sure it actually accepted commands and didn't accept commands that it may have heard people in the audience give it. They could have atleast let people know what was going on during the event rather than pull this crap. But when we were told that the applause came from the employees in the back, I guess we shouldn't have expected any sort of legitimacy from the event.

Maybe something good will come from Microsoft's E3 event.

The whole gimmick with voice commands could have easily been faked, I watched part of it and all I could think of was someone in the control booth operating the console while the speaker gave voice commands. I wouldn't be surprised if it was true.

[TonyTheTiger]

"To deal in used games, retailers will reportedly have to agree to Microsoft's terms and use Microsoft's online Azure-based pre-owned system."

Yeah, this has trouble written all over it.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

"To deal in used games, retailers will reportedly have to agree to Microsoft's terms and use Microsoft's online Azure-based pre-owned system."

Yeah, this has trouble written all over it.

"Physical Media" in this next generation is going to be all but an illusion.

You're buying games on a disc that NEED to be installed and don't place the desired power of choice in the hands of the end-user that the core of this community desires/expects from "physical media".

Even your ability to "sell" the games is going to require doing it at a specific retailer that can handle Microsoft's game-key-monitoring system.

This isn't going to be pretty.

[RCM]

We should reserve judgement on Microsoft's used game policy until all the facts are clear. Change can be a bitch, but at least our discs will more than likely be pristine. If there's one gigantic positive I've heard it's that publishers/developers will get a piece of Microsoft's used game sales. GameStop has done nothing wrong in aggressively making billions from used games, but it has an effect not only on a publisher's bottom line, but potentially kills titles or franchises with mediocre new game sales. I don't fault M$ for trying to get in on the second hand market while combating piracy at the same time, but it shouldn't be an impediment to honest, paying customers either.

[Rev. Link]

As someone who works for an independent games retailer, I find the whole used game issue pretty troubling. In fact, between that and the required internet connection our store may decide not to carry the Xbox One at all.

But personally I find the whole Kinect thing to be a much bigger deal. Microsoft is trying to tell me that I have to have a camera and microphone active in my house at all times? Fuck. That. I don't mean to go all tinfoil here, but there's no way in hell I'm hooking that thing up. I don't have the links handy, but have you guys seen the articles floating around about how the new Kinect may possibly be able to tell if you have too many people over to watch a movie? As in, if it detects too many faces that it knows haven't paid for the movie, it won't play it!

I usually buy all the systems, but I will not buy this thing. Maybe if one day someone finds a way to hack it so that Kinect isn't necessary and used games will work, but not until then. If Sony stays cool and doesn't institute the same kind of practices I'll probably get a PS4, but for now I'm perfectly happy with my Wii U.

[WCP]

So, nobody will be able to sell a game on Ebay or Craigslist ?

If you can't sell it to anybody, then there is no ownership whatsoever. it's a FARCE

[RCM]

As someone who works for an independent games retailer, I find the whole used game issue pretty troubling. In fact, between that and the required internet connection our store may decide not to carry the Xbox One at all.

But personally I find the whole Kinect thing to be a much bigger deal. Microsoft is trying to tell me that I have to have a camera and microphone active in my house at all times? Fuck. That. I don't mean to go all tinfoil here, but there's no way in hell I'm hooking that thing up. I don't have the links handy, but have you guys seen the articles floating around about how the new Kinect may possibly be able to tell if you have too many people over to watch a movie? As in, if it detects too many faces that it knows haven't paid for the movie, it won't play it!

I usually buy all the systems, but I will not buy this thing. Maybe if one day someone finds a way to hack it so that Kinect isn't necessary and used games will work, but not until then. If Sony stays cool and doesn't institute the same kind of practices I'll probably get a PS4, but for now I'm perfectly happy with my Wii U.

That Kinect film rumor won't materialize. Kinect does have privacy settings, I believe, so you'll be pretty safe. What do you have to hide?!?!?! Heh.

[Rev. Link]

So, nobody will be able to sell a game on Ebay or Craigslist ?

If you can't sell it to anybody, then there is no ownership whatsoever. it's a FARCE

That's the whole point. You no longer own the games you buy. You own the right to play them.

That Kinect film rumor won't materialize. Kinect does have privacy settings, I believe, so you'll be pretty safe. What do you have to hide?!?!?! Heh.

Even if it doesn't, I still don't want an active camera in my home at all times. Why would anyone? Why would you be okay with letting a large corporation look and listen in on you whenever they want, collecting marketing data on you and selling it? It's one thing for cookies to collect internet data, quite another to have a camera in my living room or bedroom.

[WCP]

Even if it doesn't, I still don't want an active camera in my home at all times. Why would anyone? Why would you be okay with letting a large corporation look and listen in on you whenever they want, collecting marketing data on you and selling it? It's one thing for cookies to collect internet data, quite another to have a camera in my living room or bedroom.

Here's the thing...

When I first heard about being able to turn the unit on by voice, and then realizing that it will always be "listening", I did take a step back and think.... "Man, this is some real Big Brother type shit right here. For real... I mean, if the NSA could get control of Microsoft's servers and what not, they could pretty much spy on America like never before. I mean, talk about Conspiracy Theories."

Of course, thinking about it more, you gotta imagine there are going to be LOTS of people that aren't going to want this, so I have to imagine that you can turn this feature off. You will be able to go into the settings, and turn off voice recognition for boot up. This way, Kinect won't actually be listening at ALL TIMES. I also imagine that you could have a small black cloth that you can use to block the cameras when not in use.

This is a weird thing though... I mean really... Kinect when turned on, and facing you, and with the voice and facial recognition and everything, it could learn an amazing number of things about the average American family. Especially with all the TV stuff. Think about the Nielsen ratings. Microsoft's "secret" ratings will be much more accurate. It will know exactly when people get up and leave, and how many people are watching various shows, etc, etc. That data will be invaluable to advertisers. They will be able to sell that info for tons of money.

[RP2A03]

This is a weird thing though... I mean really... Kinect when turned on, and facing you, and with the voice and facial recognition and everything, it could learn an amazing number of things about the average American family. Especially with all the TV stuff. Think about the Nielsen ratings. Microsoft's "secret" ratings will be much more accurate. It will know exactly when people get up and leave, and how many people are watching various shows, etc, etc. That data will be invaluable to advertisers. They will be able to sell that info for tons of money.

And let's not forget about this useful patent application: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...DN/20120143693

1. A computer-implemented method to determine emotional states of users that receive advertisements on client devices, the method comprising: monitoring a user's online activity during a time period; processing the online activity to identify a tone associated with content that the user interacted with during the time period; receiving an indication of the user's reaction to the content; and assigning an emotional state to the user based on the tone of the content and the indication of the user's reaction to the content.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the online activity is stored in a log.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the online activity comprises browsing history, webpage content, search queries, emails, instant messages, and online games.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the user's reaction is identified from facial expressions of the user captured by an image capture device during the time period.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the user's reaction is identified from user speech patterns captured by an audio capture device during the time period.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the user's reaction is identified from gestures and body movements of the user captured by an image capture device during the time period.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising storing the emotional state of the user in a database.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the emotional state is one of: positive, happy, confused, neutral, negative, angry, or sad.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the emotional state is assigned a duration.

10. A computer system, the computer system comprising: an emotional state database configured to store the emotional states assigned to users; an advertisement database configured to store advertisements and targeting information; and an advertisement engine configured to receive the targeting information, wherein the targeting information includes the desired emotional states of users that advertisers intend to target, and the advertisement engine: processes a request for an advertisement, wherein the request includes an identifier for a user, checks the emotional state database having user identifiers and assigned emotional states to determine the assigned emotional state of the user associated with the identifier included in the request, if the user identifier is in the emotional state database, the advertisement engine retrieves the assigned emotional state of the user and selects from the advertisement database advertisements based on the desired emotional state and the other targeting criteria, wherein the other targeting criteria is related to the user or content, if the user identifier is not in the emotional state database, the advertisement engine selects an advertisement based on the other targeting criteria, and transmits the selected advertisement based on monetization value.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein if the user identifier is not in the emotional state database, determining the emotional state of the user.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the other targeting criteria include zip code, keywords, age, location, or language.

13. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the monetization value is based on advertiser bids.

14. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the advertisement database associates an advertisement and an emotional state of the advertisement as specified by the advertiser for the advertisement.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the advertisement database includes a length of time of users the advertisers intend to target is associated the desired emotional state.

16. One or more computer readable media storing computer-useable instructions to determine an emotional state, the method comprising: monitoring a user's online activity during a time period; processing the online activity to identify a tone associated with content that the user interacted with during the time period; receiving an indication of the user's reaction to the content; and assigning an emotional state to the user based on the tone of the content and the indication of the user's reaction to the content.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein the assigned emotional state is normalized based on the statistical average of emotional states assigned to users having processed online activity during the time period.

18. The media of claim 16, wherein the online activity comprises browsing history, webpage content, search queries, emails, instant messages, and online games.

19. The media of claim 16, wherein the indication of the user's reaction is identified from facial expressions of the user captured by an image capture device during the time period.

20. The media of claim 16, wherein the indication of the user's reaction is identified from user speech patterns captured by an audio capture device during the time period.

[TonyTheTiger]

GameStop has done nothing wrong in aggressively making billions from used games, but it has an effect not only on a publisher's bottom line, but potentially kills titles or franchises with mediocre new game sales.

Tough.

And I say that with as much love for the industry as I possibly can. Tough. Because it's not our job as consumers to understand their financial burden and accommodate them by changing how we do things. It's their job to manage their business in such a way that it's financially sustainable given the realities of the world around them. I'm sick of listening to sob stories about used games when Square Enix pumps $100 million into Tomb Raider and needs it to sell 10 million copies to be a success. It's dishonest.

[Tupin]

Tough.

And I say that with as much love for the industry as I possibly can. Tough. Because it's not our job as consumers to understand their financial burden and accommodate them by changing how we do things. It's their job to manage their business in such a way that it's financially sustainable given the realities of the world around them. I'm sick of listening to sob stories about used games when Square Enix pumps $100 million into Tomb Raider and needs it to sell 10 million copies to be a success. It's dishonest.

This. Maybe losing a bunch of money will teach them to conduct their business better next time.