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[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Yep.

180 1: online check in relaxed, game selling/sharing etc to be like on the 360
180 2: indie game devs can self publish
180 3: headset included with every system
180 4: Kinect no longer mandatory for system operation

Two more and we'll have a full 1080.

Lol!

What a weird turn of events we have here. Microsoft unburying themselves from a sinking ditch. Looks like its working.

You fucking slaktivists!!!!!

 

[Miggytronz]

 

[Oemenia]

Clearly there was a lot of resistance to Mattrick, they are pretty much undoing his most controversial choices.

 

[Satchel]

Except it's not the NSA that concerns me..

Seriously what is the point of attacking me. I posted a positive post, saying I'll be getting an Xbox One if this is true.

I know you guys are jumpy...but seriously. No need to act like this.

I'm not attacking you.

You guys brought up spying. Who else is spying if not the NSA? Isn't that where all this shit started?

So as I said, if the NSA is people's GENUINE concern, you have far more devices than an Xbox to get rid off.

 

[The Flash]

So for the sake of argument/discussion, how feasible would it be for Microsoft to do a price drop before the launch? Has a similar thing happened before?

 

[Tashi]

I guess this is cool for people who don't have the space for the Kinect or just don't want it plugged in at all. This however doesn't really affect me at all

 

[KoopaTheCasual]

and I think that's where people are making a poor assumption. Kinect has already been on the market for a few years. This is just an improved version. We didn't see developers lining up to with amazing ideas for Kinect 1.0, so I see few reasons to believe Kinect 2.0 is going to be a completely different story.

Oh sure, we'll have a few cool games for it, and Fantasia already looks good (and it works on Kinect 1.0), but in the end I expect Kinect 2.0 to be quite similar to the first one in terms of it's genuine usefulness.

The only thing I can think of (it's a pretty big one tho) is Indie support. Weren't indie devs not allowed to develop games for the original Kinect? And now, thanks to one of MS 180s, indies can finally make games for it. Call it luck if you want, but I think that not only will letting indies have access to the hardware bolster the really lousy number of Kinect 2 titles, but it will also allow for a potentially innovative game. It only takes one. It's by no means a sure thing, but Kinect has slightly better chances of becoming a big success this time around.

However, I still think the impact of the Kinect would have been monumental if they didn't commercialize the original Kinect, and the Kinect 2.0 was the first consumer product of its kind.

 

[Yawnier]

This is like the anti Don Mattrick Xbox One now, they might as well change the name and look of the console while they're at it at this point.

 

[Dongs Macabre]

Cool, I wasn't going to use it anyway.

 

[Wickerbasket]

Obviously something good is going on with the leadership at the company.

Next up, a bundle without Kinect with $100 off the price. Thanks.

 

[RoadHazard]

This is good news for prospective XBO buyers. However, it also (along with the other 180s MS have pulled lately) makes it seem like they had absolutely no idea what the hell they were doing with the XBO in the first place. It feels like they're getting pretty close to having changed all of their original plans for the console. The hardware itself is just about the only thing about it that remains the same as it was at E3. I just don't get how they misjudged what the market wanted (or would accept) so badly. Now they're bringing the console closer and closer to the PS4 in consumer-friendliness, but the way they've been getting there doesn't make it seem like they're very confident in what they're doing.

 

[Guevara]

This is good news for prospective XBO buyers. However, it also (along with the other 180s MS have pulled lately) makes it seem like they had absolutely no idea what the hell they were doing with the XBO in the first place. It feels like they're getting pretty close to having changed all of their original plans for the console. The hardware itself is just about the only thing about it that remains the same as it was at E3. I just don't get how they misjudged what the market wanted (or would accept) so badly. Now they're bringing the console closer and closer to the PS4 in consumer-friendliness, but the way they've been getting there doesn't make it seem like they're very confident in what they're doing.

Actually didn't the hardware get a performance bump at some point (or was that a rumor?)

 

[CrunchinJelly]

Man I would love to have been a fly on the wall in Redmond since Mattrick left.

Hmmm, this logo reminds me of something else. Not sure if that was your intent.

 

[The Flash]

Clearly there was a lot of resistance to Mattrick, they are pretty much undoing his most controversial choices.

I remember reading a bunch of articles talking about a rumored civil war happening in Microsoft between the Xbox engineers and the executives. Engineers wanted it to be like it is now, executives wanted it to be like it was after the reveal.

 

[Bsigg12]

and I think that's where people are making a poor assumption. Kinect has already been on the market for a few years. This is just an improved version. We didn't see developers lining up to with amazing ideas for Kinect 1.0, so I see few reasons to believe Kinect 2.0 is going to be a completely different story.

Oh sure, we'll have a few cool games for it, and Fantasia already looks good (and it works on Kinect 1.0), but in the end I expect Kinect 2.0 to be quite similar to the first one in terms of it's genuine usefulness.

But how many devs looked at the Kinect for the 360 and saw less than half of the consoles have it. By having it with everyone single one from day one, you can invest time into coming up with cool ideas for it because you know it'll be there. I'm not talking just motion controls, but other things tha can use the IR emitters in the controller for certain 1:1 things. I'm not creative enough to come up with things though.

 

[Waveset]

Wow, can't keep up with the pace of change on this machine!
Got to give them credit, maybe there will be another Xbox in my living room.

 

[Liquidsnake]

You have to give them credit for responding to the backlash. Not all corporations would have done that.

 

[Amir0x]

Actually didn't the hardware get a performance bump at some point (or was that a rumor?)

yes, 53Mhz

 

[jaaz]

Um, don't give them too much credit. They were almost certainly responding to abysmal pre-order numbers.

 

[GoofsterStud]

I'm not attacking you.

You guts brought up spying. Who else is spying if not the NSA? Isn't that where all this shit started?

So as I said, if the NSA is people's GENUINE concern, you have far more devices than an Xbox to get rid off.

I didn't bring up the NSA.

These people are just attacking for the fun of it.

Talk to them about it.

1.) I don't want what's recorded to be used for marketing. I don't want meta data being sold. I don't data collected being used for advertising. I don't want what's recorded on my Kinect being used anywhere else.

2.) I don't want my kids Skyping with strangers. I don't want my children saying something stupid out of game rage "which happens to even the best of us at some point" and having it be used against them in school and taken out of context because some kid thought it was funny recorded it and posted it on twitter and some raging parent freaks out. I live in Colorado where a lot of kids are getting suspended for very stupid things after all the shootings.

Parents have many reasons to dislike the idea of an always required Kinect combined with integrated online video supported social media features in their house.

Either way... I'm happy if this change is true!

 

[Liquidsnake]

Um, don't give them too much credit. They were almost certainly responding to abysmal pre-order numbers.

Its true, I am sure they are. Although Abysmal might be a strong word.

 

[idrinkalone]

Looks like the only 180 left I'd like is a price drop. $450 and while I'm at it, hell throw in a game. Do that and I will be exclusively yours Microsoft. A timed exclusive till infamous comes out.

 

[PanicFreak]

No, we hate the concept of Kinect. Motion controls with no feedback.

It's not about gaming. Kinect is awesome for media features. I haven't put in a Kinect game in about a year but I still use Kinect every single day.

I would have picked up an Apple TV if it weren't for Kinect.

 

[Dunlop]

This is good news for prospective XBO buyers. However, it also (along with the other 180s MS have pulled lately) makes it seem like they had absolutely no idea what the hell they were doing with the XBO in the first place. It feels like they're getting pretty close to having changed all of their original plans for the console. The hardware itself is just about the only thing about it that remains the same as it was at E3. I just don't get how they misjudged what the market wanted (or would accept) so badly. Now they're bringing the console closer and closer to the PS4 in consumer-friendliness, but the way they've been getting there doesn't make it seem like they're very confident in what they're doing.

They told what they wanted to do badly and it was not well received.They are adjusting.

Sony is benefiting from this by doing the status quo, while managing to throw in a mp paywall and looking like heroes in the process.

I'm not entirely convinced there is a 10 year console market left for either of them

 

[DigitalDevilSummoner]

You have to give them credit for responding to the backlash. Not all corporations would have done that.

Give them credit for backing down on all of those things they so arrogantly gloated about for the past few months ?

 

[Finalizer]

IT'S HAPPENING

And I for one am totally okay with this. Definitely making it easier to consider an Xbone in the future.

 

[strideramc]

Um, don't give them too much credit. They were almost certainly responding to abysmal pre-order numbers.

I'm not sure they are abysmal, but definitely at a number low enough to force them to make this move.

Now if we can just get a price drop I may just pick one up at launch.

 

[Usobuko]

This is a very good step to address the NSA concerns which to be honest only escalate because its defenders. I am more inclined to think Kinect included on Xbox One is meant for advertisements than software supports, something to compensate the $100 price difference. After all, the ones that will go out their way to disable Kinect are the minority.

This is like the anti Don Mattrick Xbox One now, they might as well change the name and look of the console while they're at it at this point.

While I know you're not one, it seems like some fans are leaning towards Don Mattrick is the one responsible for Xbox One missteps. Another 180 through price for a kinectless system and I am expecting to see this narrative being pushed even further on this and multiple forums for the sake of good PR. His departure give Microsoft an avenue to manufacture good will for the system. A common enemy for people to come together.

 

[p3tran]

Looks like the only 180 left I'd like is a price drop. $450 and while I'm at it, hell throw in a game. Do that and I will be exclusively yours Microsoft. A timed exclusive till infamous comes out.

hahaha I loled

 

[BWJinxing]

I will wait for clarification on this. This is the last hurdle between getting a xb1.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Another delicious 180. Now sell it in a SKU without a kinect pls

 

[Aske]

I'm gonna need to see the exact details of what works and what doesn't before I'm thrilled.

Exactly. I can imagine a scenario in which, for the first couple of years, every thread detailing a new game announcement is met with "Looks good, but will it work without Kinect?" - kind of like "but can I fire with R1?" for every early PS3 game.

But I'm tentatively satisfied. After a couple of years, when the price is low enough and the library boasts some Gears-level exclusives, I'll definitely pick up an XBone; provided there are no more nasty surprises. If I can use the system like my 360 and enjoy some awesome exclusives without paying for Live and without talking to (or waving at) it, I no longer have any practical reason to avoid the box once the content is there.

 

[Penguins&PolarBears]

Their vision revolved almost entirely around how they could make more money, and everything else was second. They're clearly seeing signs their potential customer base has basically rejected most of these shitty ideas, which is why we're seeing them slowly remove each of them.

What is the audience they're chasing by copying PS4, people who hate Sony and Sony exclusive games?

Sounds to me like they're just regressing back to chasing after the Halo fanboys instead of actively pursuing an expanded market. The Wii, Wii Sports and Wii Fit cracked the industry wide open and Nintendo destroyed MS and Sony in sales by casting a wider net.

Microsoft is regressing back to catering to a 13-25 yr old male gamer niche. Core games like Killer Instinct are not going to attract a big audience. People here keep acting like the potential audience for these consoles consists of the same exact people who bought 360/PS3.

Most people here would probably call the Wii a shitty idea and the Wii balance board a shitty idea, but 100M consoles and over 20 million copies of a game sold hardly seems like a shitty idea in reality.

 

[SlipperyMoose]

 

[Bsigg12]

Those aren't worldwide trends. Those are your personal trends based off who you follow.

 

[NullPointer]

Most people here would probably call the Wii a shitty idea and the Wii balance board a shitty idea, but 100M consoles and over 20 million copies of a game sold hardly seems like a shitty idea in reality.

Well that may depend whether "most people here" are more concerned with shareholders than with their own tastes in games or how they'd like to see gaming develop.

And seeing how each one of these 180s is making the Bone a more flexible platform, inclusive of more consumer uses and scenarios, I'm not sure what the problem is.

 

[DietRob]

This is how I feel.

Seems like great news. It was really off putting to me that the console needed a highly functioning camera that was constantly looking at me and scanning the room. Maybe it was misinformation but I thought there was something about only allowing X number of people watch a bought movie or some such. I really don't know anymore there have been so many confirmations then reversals on top of straight out misinformation.

So again to my GIF that is how I feel I'm dizzy and I really don't have the slightest clue what the console actually needs and doesn't need, what it restricts and doesn't restrict, what you can do or can't do. Basically the only thing I know for sure are the specs since there is what I assume to be a set in stone spec sheet for it.

If I an informed consumer posting on a video game enthusiast message board has a hard time understanding what the system is and isn't I wonder how much confusion is present in the mass consumer market? I suppose it could be those who aren't trying to follow all of these changes will just get it and find out. But it's a real bitch trying to be an informed consumer regarding this product.

 

[Shady859]

Go ahead and announce it now: $400 no Kinect SKU and the game is officially changed!

I had already planned on waiting till 2014 to see if I for sure wanted to flip sides to PS4 and watch things play out.

 

[alr1ght]

Those aren't worldwide trends. Those are your personal trends based off who you follow.

Twitter needs to change these. Ignorant people get confused all the time by them

 

[RoadHazard]

Give them credit for backing down on all of those things they so arrogantly gloated about for the past few months ?

Yeah, MS shouldn't be celebrated for these 180s. They should still be booed for all the crap they wanted to pull (and still do, make no mistake). Them going back on that stuff because of bad pre-order numbers and a massive public backlash (they're not doing it to be nice) is nothing to praise them for, it's just something to be happy about if you're interested in getting an XBO.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

Lttp, but it'shappening.gif

Only a matter of time now.

 

[El_Fenomeno]

Xbox Won? All my friends will be flocking back to the xbox with all these reversals.

 

[Maximilian Kolbe]

Aside from the fact that Kinect is still bundled with every box, Microsoft has seemingly done a 180 on nearly every (major) complaint people had when it was first shown at E3. On one hand it is great that Microsoft is listening to feedback, despite some people saying the complaints are "unfair." But, on the other hand I can't believe Microsoft would have attempted so many of these things in the first place.

Well yeah,they changed pretty quick

Compare to their Win8,WP8,or even Sony's PS3,the change speed of Xbox One is really fast,it's still around 3 months left to release

 

[SlipperyMoose]

Those aren't worldwide trends. Those are your personal trends based off who you follow.

Worldwide

 

[Syphon Filter]

Im still waiting on that guy to show up that told me its impossible to remove the requirement,MS will get sued,etc. Show yourself ; )

 

[p3tran]

Most people here would probably call the Wii a shitty idea and the Wii balance board a shitty idea, but 100M consoles and over 20 million copies of a game sold hardly seems like a shitty idea in reality.

I bought a wii day1 , AND I also bought the balance board I even bought a kinect on 360.

But I would have bought none of those, if I felt that they operated in a non-user controllable way that I would not like.

 

[Bsigg12]

Worldwide

There ya go! That's how mine looks currently

 

[Shadow Ranger]

Good on them for actually changing things. I'm still not getting one too soon unless they magically have some great Japanese games to announce. Even PS4 hasn't got anything substantial on that front just yet. Knack is a SCEJ game, I guess.

 

[Syphon Filter]

There ya go! That's how mine looks currently

Revealing news in pieces seems to be a nice stragedy for MS. They have been trending each time WW on twitter.

 

[jhmtehgamr20xx]

I am very happy about all this. I was in rage mode at Microsoft circa E3, and pretty firmly on team PS4... but I don't want MS to fail. I want them to step up and make the Xbone a viable console. Competition and variety is a good thing.

They're pretty much killing the variety one reversal at a time, tho. At present, it's just shaping up to be a weaker PS4 with a couple genuine exclusives and mostly timed exclusives that'll be on either PC or PS4 shortly down the line.

Not saying all their decisions pre-DRM drop were gold, but some of them seemed like they had potential and added real variety to their platform; they should've been more confident and actually explained the benefits and ease the shortcomings. Instead they're dropping all of that like hot dynamite.

Here's hoping it doesn't ironically blow up in their face.