Xbox One - Where Microsoft actually listens to consumers

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

I'll be honest, I don't see the gaming side when I look at the Xbox anymore. That is not to say that it doesn't matter to me, but... I know that both the Xbox One and the PS4 will deliver a stellar gaming experience as they have in the past. No question in my mind.

But what excites me is the potential for the technology built into the new Xbox One product, specifically Kinect.

Example from the last Kinect:
MIT hacks Kinect for a Wearable Map Generator for Firefighters

The new Kinect enables the device to detect details such as heart-rate. The camera can identify individuals from each other. Proper voice commands. Gestures that work within the interface itself. That is incredibly cool. I no longer look at this anymore as "how does this advance the gaming experience" but "how does this advance our potential to use technology", and I'm incredibly excited by how much has been accomplished.

As stated already, I'm sure the gaming experience (regardless of console choice) will be well taken care of. I've been lucky enough to meet some of the people on the Xbox team in my nearly two weeks spent on the Redmond campus... games are not a 'back-burner' issue, gaming still matters. But damn, does it ever push the envelope on tech. The potential for this to be used in other ways is huge.

See, I'm the opposite. The Kinect horrifies me for reasons like this:

A U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing by Microsoft reveals that the company is devising a means for your Xbox peripheral to count the number of people in the room and even identify who they are in order to assess licensing fees for content based on the number of people in the room.

http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/articl...harge-you-body

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

See, I'm the opposite. The Kinect horrifies me for reasons like this:
http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/articl...harge-you-body

Why is that bad?

[chemgear]

One thing that hasn't been brought up yet is the whole linking retail games to your account. So you MUST link this to your account and check for permission with Microsoft every 24 hours to play your retail games. Obviously people have brought up downtime on both sides, no internet connections, etc.

But what happens if you get banned or hacked? You would literally lose your entire retail collection/purchases. Okay, so "don't get banned" but their ignorance and lack of effort during the MANY annual FIFA hacks don't give much comfort. Heck, the difficulty of even just removing your credit card information seems to show their support isn't something I'd bank on too much. At worst, you could just buy a new 360 system right now and still be able to play the disks and games that you have - not this time around.

Just thinking out loud . . .

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Why is that bad?

Hmmm we can see that your eyes are not constantly looking at the screen while we run these trailers/commercials - so we will pause it for you. Nope, you can't forward through that. Yup, you have to sit through those for us to continue playing your content.

Oh, I see that there are 4 people in the room watching this movie. You have only purchased a license for 3 people - movie stopped. Wait, none of those 4 people we see are the account holder to which this content is tied to - movie stopped.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Why is that bad?

How much like 1984 do we want to become?

A camera in your home counting how many people are watching a show seems very invasive to me.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

How much like 1984 do we want to become?

A camera in your home counting how many people are watching a show seems very invasive to me.

That's okay, it's a private company, not the government.

[Burninator]

Companies are always applying for crazy patents like this. Apple applies for horrifying patents almost daily. It doesn't mean anything unless it makes into an actual product.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

That's okay, it's a private company, not the government.

Considering that massive companies are what's funding governing parties, it actually has more impact than you think. They'll have a lot of say in swaying legislation that could use your private information for their benefit.

But as is stated above, Google, Apple, Samsung, Facebook -- they're all doing it. If you have a smartphone or a facebook account you're already there.

The times are certainly getting more Orwellian, no doubt about that.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by igottago

considering that massive companies are what's funding governing parties, it actually has more impact than you think. They'll have a lot of say in swaying legislation that could use your private information for their benefit.

But as is stated above, google, apple, samsung, facebook -- they're all doing it. If you have a smartphone or a facebook account you're already there.

The times are certainly getting more orwellian, no doubt about that.

HALT Citizen!

I'm sure someone will tweak it to send a false signal loop, a la Speed.

That's how real life works, right?

And then Dennis Hopper will get all mad and go NO NO NO NO *smash*

[Ducay]

Thats basically the gist of it; if you're concered about Kinect or it counting you, don't buy it.

Now, you still retain the right to be angered when the gov't forces you to have one, or if somehow the gov't can get a warrant to watch your kinect or related info gathered....

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Thats basically the gist of it; if you're concered about Kinect or it counting you, don't buy it.

Now, you still retain the right to be angered when the gov't forces you to have one, or if somehow the gov't can get a warrant to watch your kinect or related info gathered....

Isn't Kinect going to be built directly into the console?

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

Isn't Kinect going to be built directly into the console?

I believe I've read it is required for the XB1 (I'm tired of writing it out) to function. I guess what he means is if Kinect freaks you out, don't buy the system. I agree with Ducay... it doesn't make sense to me to be scared of something that is a 100% optional entertainment purchase.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by Russic

I believe I've read it is required for the XB1 (I'm tired of writing it out) to function. I guess what he means is if Kinect freaks you out, don't buy the system. I agree with Ducay... it doesn't make sense to me to be scared of something that is a 100% optional entertainment purchase.

I prefer fear. I expect if I purchase the xbox, I will wake up one night with it's robotic tentacles wrapped around my neck, staring at me with it's single red lifeless eye as I slowly asphyxiate to death.

[To Be Quite Honest]

I've already decided not to buy it. The more I learn about this Microsoft One reveal the more I believe that hikes in the mountains are better than gaming. They are banking on addiction here and I hope people can walk away. At the least there are a multitude of other options for your time that this POS.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Thats basically the gist of it; if you're concered about Kinect or it counting you, don't buy it.

Now, you still retain the right to be angered when the gov't forces you to have one, or if somehow the gov't can get a warrant to watch your kinect or related info gathered....

I think companies still should honor privacy. You are right, if the company is being 100% transparent on what it is doing, then you, as a consumer, are able to make an informed choice and decide what is important to you.

I hope this console will excite others to build an open source gaming solution. I'd jump on that.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by to be quite honest

i think companies still should honor privacy. You are right, if the company is being 100% transparent on what it is doing, then you, as a consumer, are able to make an informed choice and decide what is important to you.

I hope this console will excite others to build an open source gaming solution. I'd jump on that.

ouya!

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

ouya!

Yes everyone buy the Ouya, the underfunded, overpromised, behind on production, "(some) kickstarter donators get a beta version only, not retail", only plays cell phone games, open source gaming platform.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Yes everyone buy the Ouya, the underfunded, overpromised, behind on production, "(some) kickstarter donators get a beta version only, not retail", only plays cell phone games, open source gaming platform.

Yes, you can't over promise and under deliver. Lets just hope that the One engages the creators of the Ouya and the people who help fund it to rethink their model and start building something better that will compete with the restrictive privacy raping POS that we are offered today.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I'm extremely miffed with what I've read about the Xbox One.

I only game on my Xbox 360. I don't use if for Netflix, web browsing, YouTube, movies, music, etc. Those aren't important to me. I strictly use it for gaming. So when I heard about the reported gaming aspects of it, I was furious.

So far, here's a confirmed comparison chart of the two consoles:




http://ca.ign.com/wikis/xbox-one/PS4...mparison_Chart

As you can see, there are a lot of "TBA" on the PS4 side of the chart. The "TBA" under the Mandatory Game Install and Used Game Fees will be the decider for me. As it stands, I'm 100% going to buy a PS4. I've been loyal to the Xbox 360 since it came out and switched from the PS2 because I loved it so much, but I will have no qualms about switching back to Sony depending on those TBAs.

The "Used Game Fee" infuriates me the most. Eighty percent of my game collection has an EB Games sticker on it or some other pawn shop, rental store sticker on it. If I want to try out Borderlands 2, for example, to see if I like it, my options right now are: a) go rent it for $10 for the week, b) buy it used for $20, or c) buy it new for $30. Most of the time I'll pick option B.

I'm just really frustrated by the details of Microsoft's gaming aspect so far. Your move Sony. My $500 is riding on it.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

I only game on my Xbox 360. I don't use if for Netflix, web browsing, YouTube, movies, music, etc. Those aren't important to me. I strictly use it for gaming. So when I heard about the reported gaming aspects of it, I was furious.

same here. I simply want to play games, I don't care about that Kinect crap and all the other things.

I have had my 360 for a long time and I have always been happy with it. But based on what Microsoft is planning with the One, I won't hesitate to switch to the PS4.