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[Artorias]

Kinect isn't added value.

This. In fact, I'd gladly pay more for one that wasn't reliant on Kinect.

 

[Syphon Filter]

:lol

Not at all. Why would they just stay still with a price disadvantage?

 

[Opus Angelorum]

Kinect isn't added value.

My partner uses it three or four times a week to exercise, it was worth it for us.

 

[smallios74]

Is the $399 new price going to be part funded by the NSA?

 

[benny_a]

Throw out Kinect. Lower to $399. Put in 12 GB RAM and dual GPU. Make Titanfall a full exclusive pack-in. Switch the analog stick position. Buy Naughty Dog's independence from SCE. Done.

 

[intheinbetween]

This. In fact, I'd gladly pay more for one that wasn't reliant on Kinect.

sorry to disagree, but I doubt any sane person would pay more for less content in the box

 

[SpartanN92]

Kinect isn't added value.

I like Kinect.

 

[kitch9]

MS already said you can turn Kinect off, meanwhile using the console. I fail to see why it is required, again.

So because the lights off that means it's really off then?

 

[CrunchinJelly]

399 with Kinect - bad idea

399 without Kinect - good idea

They would gain a lot more customers with the latter and lose less money.

 

[FZZ]

Was anything clarified by CBOAT, or anyone in the know, or is the rumor still most likely bogus?

 

[Mr.Wreckless]

Kinect isn't added value.

So nice of you to determine what has value to the rest of us.

 

[GrizzledGrump]

Yet the market and media - mainstream and enthusiast - is not on board. Certainly not in the numbers you'd expect considering the dominant position of the 360 in North America. You can say it's integral as much as you'd like, but saying it doesn't make it so.

I'm not saying it's integral, MS is.

As to whether or not this is a successful strategy long term, the jury is still out. In the long run, the reaction of hardcore gamers is inconsequential to the success of both of these machines.

 

[fiyah]

If the price is lowered to $399 it will kill the PS4.

 

[Bsigg12]

For GAF... no.

Depends on how the masses perceive it and how good a job MS does of selling it.

As someone who has both systems preordered, this is all good.

This is exactly what needs to be brought out. For the majority of GAF, the Kinect is useless. There are pockets of us though that enjoy it. Marketed correctly, and with a price drop, Microsoft suddenly appeals to families way more than they did initially.

 

[SpartanN92]

Throw out Kinect. Lower to $399. Put in 12 GB RAM and dual GPU. Make Titanfall a full exclusive pack-in. Buy Naughy Dog's independence from SCE. Announce Halo 12 Done.

Fixed

 

[The Elite]

sorry to disagree, but I doubt any sane person would pay more for less content in the box

I have a friend who would be willing to pay more for an iPad with less features.

I don't understand these people.

 

[kitch9]

My partner uses it three or four times a week to exercise, it was worth it for us.

I'm sure the 4 people who do that find it excellent value.

 

[G17]

sorry to disagree, but I doubt any sane person would pay more for less content in the box

He said "reliant" on kinect. Kinect would still be in the box and you'd have the same content. It just wouldn't be mandatory to plug in.

 

[tycoonheart]

500 Error.

GAF killed Handy Tips. This is why we can't have nice things!

 

[AyaisMUsikWhore]

Yes it is, because overall they're still making the same amount in revenue and profits as before, but more importantly, and you keep ignoring it, the EDD (Xbox Division) is making $1b profit a year and $10bill+ in revenue.

I'm not ignoring anything. The Xbox division is not solely Microsoft top division as Playstation is for Sony. XBL services are, Office, SkyDrive, Azure, Outlook...Enterprise stuff..Those are what are really bringing in the money. Why do you think they are pushing for all these cloud services etc, because that's where the real money comes from. So since hardware isn't their forte, they are going to focus more on selling the software. Out of all this, I can see a subsidized Xbox in the works but a simple drop in price is not something they can just do. The surface took months before it finally dropped in price.

 

[BruiserBear]

It's strange something that's "integral" can be completely turned off, making it...err, not integral, yet still required.

This is my favorite thing about this whole conversation. The contradiction is hilarious.

 

[chadskin]

I wonder what happens if you break a Kinect unit at a party or however. Microsoft didn't announce a standalone Kinect so far, so do I have to buy a new Xbone?

 

[lionkitten]

My partner uses it three or four times a week to exercise, it was worth it for us.

It was worth the $129 I paid only for the voice commands for streaming content and managing my XBLA library. And we do use it for other things too.

 

[intheinbetween]

Is the $399 new price going to be part funded by the NSA?

here comes the trolling

He said "reliant" on kinect, kinect would still be in the box and you'd have the same content. It just wouldn't be mandatory to plug in.

sorry, my bad then.

 

[ekim]

Yet the market and media - mainstream and enthusiast - is not on board. Certainly not in the numbers you'd expect considering the dominant position of the 360 in North America. You can say it's integral as much as you'd like, but saying it doesn't make it so.

MS claims, they won't transfer the raw video/audio data out of the box - you can opt in to send metadata to MS (stuff like if you are engaged and if you are smiling) - so if they are lying you can easily catch them by checking the packets coming out of the box to your router. You should find the raw video/audio data this way. I doubt MS doesn't know that.

 

[CitizenCope]

Wow, this just keeps getting funnier.

There is only one chance for a first impression. I don't think we've ever seen MS in such a panic.

People in this very thread saying they would buy it for $399. Guess you get a second, third and even fourth impression.

 

[Captain Tuttle]

Are there people that actually make an effort to unplug their Kinect?!

That...that's just funny to me. The Kinect in our living room hasn't been unplugged since launch night.

Ours was plugged in to until the sensor started picking up words from the TV and would pause Netflix while the wife and I were watching (don't FUCK with my wife's Orange is the New Black sessions MS). Never did it before, wonder if they updated it or something?

Anyway, back on topic. A price drop to $399 would seriously make me consider a One, Kinect and all

 

[Parch]

MS has the money to subsidize this price.

Which is why it's possible. Ballsy move, but if Bill decides to wave around his grapefruits to help fix company rep, anything's possible.

 

[Artorias]

sorry to disagree, but I doubt any sane person would pay more for less content in the box

No need to be sorry. I'm just saying that cutting the price doesn't fix my major issue with this console.

If it is indeed Kinectless, and $399, I'd be there on day 1.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Is the $399 new price going to be part funded by the NSA?

Good one.

If so...THANKS OBAMA (for real)!!!

 

[The Elite]

This is exactly what needs to be brought out. For the majority of GAF, the Kinect is useless. There are pockets of us though that enjoy it. Marketed correctly, and with a price drop, Microsoft suddenly appeals to families way more than they did initially.

We shouldn't forget that Kinect sold very well.

Dropping the price down to $399 and giving the masses a reason to choose a "Kinect enabled" system over the other guys could be huge and at least pull them even in sales this holiday season. E3 would be a distant memory.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

I'm sure the 4 people who do that find it excellent value.

I wonder what the other 8+m people who bought Kinect are using it for.

 

[Rogue_Ledr]

So nice of you to determine what has value to the rest of us.

When the "rest of us" is 98% of gamers. I think he can speak for everyone.

.

 

[Markfly32]

Was this site always PS fanboys or did it become this way just after the next gen reveals?

 

[MarauderShields]

Throw out Kinect. Lower to $399. Put in 12 GB RAM and dual GPU. Make Titanfall a full exclusive pack-in. Switch the analog stick position. Buy Naughty Dog's independence from SCE. Done.

Gross

 

[Bomb-Threat]

Throw out Kinect. Lower to $399. Put in 12 GB RAM and dual GPU. Make Titanfall a full exclusive pack-in. Switch the analog stick position. Buy Naughty Dog's independence from SCE. Done.

Somebody wake this person up...

 

[Nags]

I probably wouldn't even buy a $100 XB1 with kinect.
That's how much it is effecting my decision.

 

[PhatSaqs]

Ours was plugged in to until the sensor started picking up words from the TV and would pause Netflix while the wife and I were watching (don't FUCK with my wife's Orange is the New Black sessions MS). Never did it before, wonder if they updated it or something?

Preferences, Voice, Mute Kinect. Its been there since day one.

 

[GamerTime]

Microsoft can shove Kinect up their ass. Not one thing proved Kinect was anything but a novelty. The best it could muster was Dance Central, and that will be another Dance Dance Revolution/Guitar Hero and fizzle out. Not many people want 10 versions of the same dance game.

Microsoft has yet to prove this new Kinect is even worth the mandating in the first place.

 

[Jb]

It wouldn't surprise me nearly as much as the DRM 180. But if they have a 399 SKU in November, it'll have to be without Kinect.

Which is really exciting.

 

[DrM]

Somebody wake this person up...

I think that you should invest some money into good sarcasm detector

 

[Orca]

Crazy, even after all the proof and leaks we've had come to light, people still refuse to believe the shady shit the NSA and probably every agency here pull.

Honestly, there's no way they're going to real-time monitor your living room. Anyone that believes that is paranoid to the extreme. If they do drum up some reason to start monitoring you, then the Kinect Skype chat they tapped into would be no more - and no less - secure than any other video chat you'd take part in.

This is my favorite thing about this whole conversation. The contradiction is hilarious.

You'll notice the articles about it also mention that if you're playing certain games or using certain apps, you'd have to enable it again.

 

[NIGHT-]

Sounds like fishy journalism to me, I highly doubt MS will lower the price.

Well.. No one expected them to drop drm and always online either

 

[FairXchange]

A $399 XBone would still be less value to a person like myself who is interested in raw graphics capabilities. As MS tries to resolve every single issue with the Xbox One in relation to the PS4, this happens to be one they can't change through policy.

I dumped the PS2 for the OG Xbox because of power difference, so my precedent has always been set.

 

[twobear]

I'd laugh if they dropped to $399 and Sony followed suit by dropping to $299

I, too, would laugh, at the management incompetence of a financially unhealthy company dropping the price on a desirable product to a point where they would make huge losses with every sale.

NB: 'laugh' is not really the right word.

 

[LQX]

Would be awesome if true. Only reason I'm really going with PS3 is because of the lower price but I much prefer the XB1 launch line-up.

 

[Bomb-Threat]

Was this site always PS fanboys or did it become this way just after the next gen reveals?

Yeah, the 10 or so PS fans are definitely the majority around here...

 

[Tom Penny]

They won't drop Kinect which is arguably the consoles best feature and ace in the hole.

 

[bishoptl]

I'm not saying it's integral, MS is.

As to whether or not this is a successful strategy long term, the jury is still out. In the long run, the reaction of hardcore gamers is inconsequential to the success of both of these machines.

The reaction of the hardcore gamer is integral (see what I did there?) to gaining positive word of mouth, generating momentum and more importantly, convincing casual friends that a new console is worth buying.

The Wii was an outlier that clicked immediately with casuals. The same folks who tossed it in the closet when they got bored. The WiiU clicked with neither, and is on life support. Do you really believe that the casual market that Kinect is aimed at will spend $500 on a new system? Hardcore gamers spend that money, and Kinect is anathema to that group.

 

[Trey]

People in this very thread saying they would buy it for $399. Guess you get a second, third and even fourth impression.

All that talk is mostly nonsense because what it always comes down to is value. If the value is there, people will buy, almost regardless of any other factors.