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Adam Sessler & Albert Penello on the Xbox One (Interview)
- Thread starter Bgamer90
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BruiserBear
Banned
I'm glad to see Sessler didn't do a fluff interview. He did ask some serious questions.
Albert isn't being totally honest when he says "we looked at what Steam was doing". No, you didn't. Steam does not have a 24 hour DRM check. That was the single biggest reason people got upset about your plans.
I also don't think Albert is being totally honest when he says things like "people got it in their heads we were being anti consumer, etc". You created the 24 hour check in, and we've already seen examples of how digital games can be handled without such arbitrary controls being put in place, so that leaves us one conclusion. Microsoft wanted total control, and that was what the consumers rejected. A power grab with minor upside for the customer.
The same story with Kinect. You've got some cute and small improvements for UI related stuff, controller recognition, etc. And THAT justifies an extra $100 cost? No, and frankly it only leads me to believe there are bigger reasons Microsoft wants that device included and plugged in at ALL times, because we clearly see no real gaming related reasons for it, and the UI stuff is minor. I won't use the word "evil" regarding your intentions, but there is clearly more to this than "we think the UI experience is so much better we want to make our console $100 more expensive than the competition". Data gathering/marketing purposes clearly played a part in the entire Kinect decision.
Albert isn't being totally honest when he says "we looked at what Steam was doing". No, you didn't. Steam does not have a 24 hour DRM check. That was the single biggest reason people got upset about your plans.
I also don't think Albert is being totally honest when he says things like "people got it in their heads we were being anti consumer, etc". You created the 24 hour check in, and we've already seen examples of how digital games can be handled without such arbitrary controls being put in place, so that leaves us one conclusion. Microsoft wanted total control, and that was what the consumers rejected. A power grab with minor upside for the customer.
The same story with Kinect. You've got some cute and small improvements for UI related stuff, controller recognition, etc. And THAT justifies an extra $100 cost? No, and frankly it only leads me to believe there are bigger reasons Microsoft wants that device included and plugged in at ALL times, because we clearly see no real gaming related reasons for it, and the UI stuff is minor. I won't use the word "evil" regarding your intentions, but there is clearly more to this than "we think the UI experience is so much better we want to make our console $100 more expensive than the competition". Data gathering/marketing purposes clearly played a part in the entire Kinect decision.
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
I dont get the sessler accusations, thats some crap guys
RedNumberFive
Banned
Almost. He still needs information about the benefits package, 401K company matching, and a start date.
UrAvgGuy
Member
Portugeezer
Member
There will be no difference between Xbox One and PS4.
10% CPU increase will make a difference for Xbox One.
10% CPU increase will make a difference for Xbox One.
Good interview overall
I really don't know how MN still has a job. Does anyone relate to him? He comes a across like such a sleazeball and is incredibly unlikable.
I really don't know how MN still has a job. Does anyone relate to him? He comes a across like such a sleazeball and is incredibly unlikable.
Colonel_Forbin
Neo Member
Penello needs to speak for the Xbox One more often.
PopcornMegaphone
Banned
You called Sessler a shill. If you watch the whole video I don't understand how anyone can come to the conclusion.
He's not totally wrong.
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
I tend to ignore those posts. Not that I agree with all his opinions. This was a good interview.
Are you putting words in my mouth? Think before you post and don't let yourself get rattled by the conversation. I guess I should have praised everything about this then I might not have got the response from you that I read.
90 pages of anger incoming
xXxDieselxXx
Member
Pennello has GAF diplomatic immunity in my books.
He has shown to be a very cool guy even when encountered the wrath of GAFers for the past few weeks/months.
He has shown to be a very cool guy even when encountered the wrath of GAFers for the past few weeks/months.
CambriaRising
Member
Yup, Just got to that part. Guaranteed my non-purchase of the Xbox One at any point in the future.
shinobi602
Member
He was talking about graphics. It's all subjective really but I think Forza 5 looks just as good as Driveclub, and a lot of people think Ryse is the best looking game so far on either system, even though I personally disagree.
If both Sony and MS are to be believed it shouldn't be any different from now, games install as you play and should start up as usual just with longer load screens, there is no pre-installation like say on the PS3 where it takes a number of minutes to install 5gb.
Any extra time before you can play should be the same as it is now, that is based on how the game handles it.
Summary:
*"We want to make an awesome next-gen box that will make the Xbox 360 immediately outdated."
*Xbox One Instant switching experience -- a way to modernize gaming; All games are loaded to hard drive; faster. Can play game before it's fully installed and/or do other things with the Xbox One's system features (like watch a video).
*"Loading screens will probably be up to the developer." -- But they overall want to see it reduced and/or gone.
*"(Sony's) doing things in their hardware to make it best that they can. We're doing things to our hardware to make it the best that we can. I don't believe the difference between these systems will be as significant as comparing individual components. How is it that a 400 HP Porsche can be faster than a 700 HP Corvette?" -- Overall it's balance and trade offs and it'll come down to the games.
*Putting something in/on the box = adoption. Developers ask questions involving support when you don't put the feature in/on the box.
*Kinect Features: More face recognition, more precision. Not have to worry about what controller you're holding and/or what side of the screen you're on during local multiplayer gaming sessions. Multiple users logged in at one time. Instant unique profile & saved game loading based on kinect recognition. We got to prove that (this) is worth it to the gamers.
*Some people don't fully know the features we are giving -- "Are you looking at the info we publish about our system?" Some people aren't doing that.
*If we could redo one thing, it would be giving the system's features a better translation. I think with time that people will continue to understand what we are trying to do. We want to give people a better digital experience in comparison to iOS & Steam. There's a certain point though in which you have to listen to the consumers and give them what they want. We'll see if the features we introduced pre-180 (e.g.: family sharing) will come back...
*We put the hooks in place for special digital download offers. It's up to how things go as well as what the publishers want.
*"We want to make an awesome next-gen box that will make the Xbox 360 immediately outdated."
*Xbox One Instant switching experience -- a way to modernize gaming; All games are loaded to hard drive; faster. Can play game before it's fully installed and/or do other things with the Xbox One's system features (like watch a video).
*"Loading screens will probably be up to the developer." -- But they overall want to see it reduced and/or gone.
*"(Sony's) doing things in their hardware to make it best that they can. We're doing things to our hardware to make it the best that we can. I don't believe the difference between these systems will be as significant as comparing individual components. How is it that a 400 HP Porsche can be faster than a 700 HP Corvette?" -- Overall it's balance and trade offs and it'll come down to the games.
*Putting something in/on the box = adoption. Developers ask questions involving support when you don't put the feature in/on the box.
*Kinect Features: More face recognition, more precision. Not have to worry about what controller you're holding and/or what side of the screen you're on during local multiplayer gaming sessions. Multiple users logged in at one time. Instant unique profile & saved game loading based on kinect recognition. We got to prove that (this) is worth it to the gamers.
*Some people don't fully know the features we are giving -- "Are you looking at the info we publish about our system?" Some people aren't doing that.
*If we could redo one thing, it would be giving the system's features a better translation. I think with time that people will continue to understand what we are trying to do. We want to give people a better digital experience in comparison to iOS & Steam. There's a certain point though in which you have to listen to the consumers and give them what they want. We'll see if the features we introduced pre-180 (e.g.: family sharing) will come back...
*We put the hooks in place for special digital download offers. It's up to how things go as well as what the publishers want.
Chobel
Member
I know he's talking about graphics, but really, did he see Infamous:SS?
PopcornMegaphone
Banned
I replied to teiresias then you replied to my post. In retrospect I have no idea what you are talking about.
My only point in this thread is sessler clearly isn't shilling for MS.
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
Good summary.
I never called anyone a shill though. I have every idea of what that implies. That's why I said, don't put words in my mouth. I don't think Adam is shilling. You should now know what I'm talking about.
soul creator
Member
Steam also doesn't support resale of disc-based Steamworks games. That was likely the only reason for the 24 hour check in, since if it was 100% digital downloads, or discs with no resale capability, no check-in would be needed (like every other digital service, including Microsoft's digital games on Xbox 360). Microsoft's problem was that they tried to still support the Gamestop disc trade-in audience, while also supporting the "you can play games without the disc inside" functionality. A textbook example of trying to please everyone, but ending up just pissing off everybody.
RedNumberFive
Banned
We're clearly too stupid to have understood their genius plan.
Every single thread with his name without fail.
Miles Quaritch
Member
Thanks, much appreciated.
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
One of the few parts I disagreed with. You can bet that they saw pre -order data and panicked a little. It might not be the ultimate deciding factor but we have the benefit of hindsight to see all the opportunities that MSFT had to change that policy long before their flip flop.
Who thinks that?
The dishonest comparison to Steam from the proponents of Xbox One's original DRM policies is beyond tiresome now.
PopcornMegaphone
Banned
Fair enough. I thought you were the person I initial replied to. I got a little confused. Mea culpa.
entremet
Member
It is. It happens in the background for both. It's not optional.
Evil Monkey DTT
Banned
Finally someone asks about load times! Thank you adam, my hero. Also this guy does a fantastic job actually selling the console. Looking how mishandled microsoft handled the whole thing this guy seems to be doing a fantastic job. Still never going to buy it though (don't trust them to not turn the drm back on)
MR BLACKMAGIK
Member
Can someone link to the Kinect video he's talking about.
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
No problema.
The problem I have is him saying these things but MSFT showing them behind closed doors. Meanwhile, Sony starts their show with a WIP but functioning OS and backs up the talk by walking it.
I believe it, see how easy they turned it off?
It can easily be turned on via patch again, making it an option for those that want the original XB1 vision.
It got tons of preorders when it was first announced, many were excited, so clearly it wasnt a big deal, problem was MS just didnt know how to sell it right. They will bring it back next gen with a better pitch.
BruiserBear
Banned
But who decided discs all had to install permanently? They did. They could have just handled discs how they are now. They install but require the disc to be played.
Then they could have also offered that all digital Steam like experience for digital download customers, and still not required a 24 hour check in.
To me that's the obvious answer, but I guess they thought they needed to make it more complicated than that.
Sessler a shill? Nah. But a bit MS bias, or trying to do anything to absolutely make it seem like that both consoles aren't that different (so that he doesn't get in trouble), I could see that.
Seen it in 3 different instances where when he was doing a price comparison, he would go PS4 + PS+ = $460, and Xbox One is $500, so the prices of both consoles are pretty much the same.
Seen it in 3 different instances where when he was doing a price comparison, he would go PS4 + PS+ = $460, and Xbox One is $500, so the prices of both consoles are pretty much the same.
rakkadakka
Member
It's telling that Neogaf seems to prefer a guy like Angry Joe to someone who manages to ask hard questions while remaining civil.
Come on guys, of course they looked at Steam as an example.. they just didn't get the whole picture.
Thanks.
Opus Angelorum
Member
Of course not, only one company can bankroll them...
ArkkAngel007
Member
To explain, people are upset that Sessler wasn't entirely critical of Microsoft outside of the DRM and took the 180 in stride, which is the opposite of how many people felt. He also didn't jump on board the PS4 hype train, stating that many of the features that won't be there at launch are in danger of being a disappointment given that a) Sony made similar promises with the PS3 before launch and b) that we haven't seen anything tangible of it at the time (and some stuff like Gaikai streaming we won't for a while). His point came down to that these are company's who are trying to sell us their product, and people should wait to see what happens closer to launch when hard information comes out before offering up their first born to either Sony or Microsoft.
He essentially took an objective standpoint, and that pissed people off. Because the evening out between the two lifted the Xbox One with a more positive connotation and lowered the PS4 with negative connotation, he was accused of being a Microsoft fanboy. With every Microsoft-related piece done (and this might have started with comments on Titanfall from E3, idrc), people began further twisting it to him being a shill.
And honestly, looking back, he was right. Microsoft is doing a far better job than what a lot of us thought they would when they first announced the console. The price point, excessive pay wall, region handling, and the general PR are bitter points still, but it's not going to be a bad system.
Tl;dr: Just another console war casualty.
shinobi602
Member
There's actually quite a bit of people here on GAF that have noted that, it's not that far out of an opinion, it does look stunning visually at least.
fi3rypho3nix
Banned
Might as well give up a reasonable argument here. Some members are past the point of reason. NSA argument made in 3...2...1
To me, it isn't just that. It's that on top of the exclusive games.
I mean, if these kinect features are going to give me more of an instant/fast experience when using my system in comparison to the competition then I wouldn't mind paying for that since I pretty much use a gaming console every day.
I see it similar to how iOS products are more expensive than the competition. iOS is known for being fast and quick and I want that in my everyday experience when I use a tech device. Therefore I don't mind paying more for an iOS device in comparison to a similar device that's say $100-200 cheaper but doesn't give me the same instant/fast experience.
But like I said, there's more than just kinect that makes the Xbox One different from the competition. All of those other differences (in their advantage) plus kinect will be how MS will try and justify the extra $100.
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