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[SgtCobra]

Until MS drops the price by $100 and somehow manages to fit in 8GB of GDDR RAM within the next few months, then no.

Well, I'm not saying MS are in the lead or something like that but look at the situation: Sony were proudly saying stuff like "look, we're embracing the indie scene! look we are DRM free!" at the E3 conference. They were in a pretty big lead back then. But now, MS seems to be catching up, and just by easily removing those restrictions. I won't be surprised if they announce a Kinect-less XB1 unit who is 100-150 bucks cheaper at gamescom. That would be a pretty big blow to Sony who are still in the lead imo, don't get me wrong.

Also, sorry for being off topic.

 

[CoG]

Be the first to get your XAML weather app on the Xbox One before the glut!

 

[Sendou]

This. They have not announced anything about their indies plans yet.

They have said before that "as of now" indies can't self-publish. But things can change! Like it did in this case.

 

[derFeef]

Too late MS.

How is it too late if the consoles aren't even out yet?
edit: Oh, it's you

 

[Cartman86]

It would be pretty amazing if they announced an app store model similar to iOS or maybe even Windows 8/Android. I know people here wouldn't give a shit. At least not right now, but when the One comes out I think people might see some of the benefits.

 

[Steverulez]

How is it too late if the consoles aren't even out yet?

Because Microsoft are doomed, at this point they should probably just cancel the Xbox One and forget about gaming altogether!!

 

[Ushae]

You wizard. I was just thinking the same. I'm almost sure they'll announce a kinectless SKU in the coming months.

This will never happen. MS wants Kinect to be a resource every developer can use. The best you can hope for, and I'm almost certain of it, is a price drop of $50-$100.

Honestly I can't why they should drop Kinect. It's designed to enhance the dashboard experience, some core games and primarily aimed at the casual market.

 

[Ghost]

Be the first to get your XAML weather app on the Xbox One before the glut!

What we really need is a NeoGaf app with Kinect voice to text so people can continue bitching about the Xbox One while playing Xbox One.

 

[JawzPause]

Competition really does drive the industry forward. Props to Sony.

 

[Pistolero]

Well, I'm not saying MS are in the lead or something like that but look at the situation: Sony were proudly saying stuff like "look, we're embracing the indie scene! look we are DRM free!" at the E3 conference. They were in a pretty big lead back then. But now, MS seems to be catching up, and just by easily removing those restrictions. I won't be surprised if they announce a Kinect-less XB1 unit who is 100-150 bucks cheaper at gamescom. That would be a pretty big blow to Sony who are still in the lead imo, don't get me wrong.

Also, sorry for being off topic.

Doesn't matter, really. It's about having positive mindshare, and Sony's acquired the lion share of it. It set the agenda and imposed the rythm, and MS is de facto considered to be reactionary to the fullest.

 

[Steverulez]

This will never happen. MS wants Kinect to be a resource every developer can use. The best you can hope for, and I'm almost certain of it, is a price drop of $50-$100.

I think what we'll see is Microsoft might put some stuff in the box to make it seem better value. I like the idea of a Day One edition, but an achievement and an engraving on the controller is not really what I had in mind.

360 came with the mini remote which was extremely cool but the Xbox One doesn't have a remote of any sort. Perhaps they might change their mind on the headset? Or put some other accessory in there, Xbox Live redeemable token for £15 or something, or maybe a download code for an Xbox Live game.

Plus they could do that and say that they just hadn't announced they were doing it yet rather than seem like they are backtracking on anything.

 

[iceatcs]

How is it too late if the consoles aren't even out yet?
edit: Oh, it's you

I dunno how much it work to putting the game on. No Xbox one SKU software for indie here yet, and way less than 6 months to go. I dunno if the indie stage will be full ready at launch. Of course it didn't mean it already gone.

 

[GoofsterStud]

This is great news for Indies if true!

Finally some good news for the Xbox One that excites me.

 

[MusicGangATL]

MS has never announced anything indie. If you look at the tweets, you would see this has been something in the works behind the scene for a while now. But whatever makes you feel good.

 

[dragonelite]

I do hope you can use your retail sku to debug for the hobby games programmer.

 

[Llyrwenne]

I don't think it would really fix the position of indie on Microsoft radically. In my mind, Microsoft has already fucked up by originally not having self-publishing as part of their plan, which is a clear indication that they didn't really care for smaller indie productions and are only going to do this because of pressure from Sony and angry fans. We'll see what happens. If they follow it up by revealing a slimmer box, pricecut and no-Kinect SKU, I might get one mid-cycle.

But they'll probably have something stupid in place like 'if you self-publish, you have to be exclusive to Microsoft products for at least one year.'. That might be just me being pessimistic though.

 

[QaaQer]

I'm guessing these games will only be available on PCs if you have Windows 8, and only via the app store.

I'm telling you guys, this part of their endgame play to make Windows software only available from the windows store. They will be starting with games.

 

[Haunted]

I'd rather have Microsoft keep chasing after the leader than continuing on their road to destruction.

That said, self-publishing means Microsoft has less control and less pressure to exert on indies to demand exclusivity from them - which is a good thing all around.

I'm guessing these games will only be available on PCs if you have Windows 8, and only via the app store.

Worked great for Skulls of the Shogun! I'm sure indies are scrambling to get that deal made.

 

[GoofsterStud]

I do hope you can use your retail sku to debug for the hobby games programmer.

That would be pretty cool.

 

[ciridesu]

If only they connected their app store to xbox

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

I don't think it would really fix the position of indie on Microsoft radically. In my mind, Microsoft has already fucked up by originally not having self-publishing as part of their plan, which is a clear indication that they didn't really care for smaller indie productions and are only going to do this because of pressure from Sony and angry fans.

We're 5 months from launch. Last month we didn't even know what the console was called.

 

[Blearth]

If only they connected their app store to xbox

The Windows 8 app store?

We're not missing anything.

 

[QaaQer]

I'd rather have Microsoft keep chasing after the leader than continuing on their road to destruction.

That said, self-publishing means Microsoft has less control and less pressure to exert on indies to demand exclusivity from them - which is a good thing all around.

Depends on the terms. Self-publishing can mean a lot of things. And I'm positive they will be using Windows 8 as an exclusivity carrot for XBO.

Just because the XBO power grab failed temporarily doesn't mean they won't be pressing ahead with all their other initiatives. That company oozes slime.

 

[Inversive]

Well, I'm not saying MS are in the lead or something like that but look at the situation: Sony were proudly saying stuff like "look, we're embracing the indie scene! look we are DRM free!" at the E3 conference. They were in a pretty big lead back then. But now, MS seems to be catching up, and just by easily removing those restrictions. I won't be surprised if they announce a Kinect-less XB1 unit who is 100-150 bucks cheaper at gamescom. That would be a pretty big blow to Sony who are still in the lead imo, don't get me wrong.

Also, sorry for being off topic.

Microsoft are a joke at the minute, Sony has the momentum and still have more things to announce at upcoming events.

 

[Hyun Sai]

Still waiting for the model without Kinect at 400$ Max.


I know people think that can't happen, but MS seems to be in panic mode lately...

 

[HocusPocus]

Kind of astounding that the company that was doing a lot of forward thinking stuff at the start of the current gen is now just catching up to the status quo. Did they have a change in leadership behind the scenes that we don't know about?

I believe that Microsoft is about to do a major internal restructure from what I've been reading. It wouldn't surprise me to see some major shack ups with the Xbox team with the way they launched this system.

 

[QaaQer]

I believe that Microsoft is about to do a major internal restructure from what I've been reading.

Links?

 

[amardilo]

Links?

Might be refering to this - http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/23/4457082/microsoft-reorg-expected-by-july-1st-rumor

 

[strata8]

Links?

http://allthingsd.com/20130623/upda...ring-nears-as-execs-top-fret-over-their-fate/
http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news...-as-ceo-steve-ballmer-finalises-restructuring

 

[GoofsterStud]

Links?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=580525&highlight=

 

[BrainZEROX]

If Microsoft changes its mind regarding self-publishing, I'm convinced pricepoint is next. I could see XB1 being sold 449$ with Kinect, that would even the playing field. I'm pretty sure MS looked into every single points Sony was praised for at E3 and they'll have an answer for each one of them. At least one that does not alienate every customers...

 

[amardilo]

It would be good if MS allowed for self publishing.

The keynote is on the 26th of June so I guess they may have had this planned as an announcement for then when MS focused developers would be following the news. But it seems kind of odd that they held this off until Build (after the console announcement and E3) as it keeps a lot of bigger/well known indie devs in the dark for longer (so they don't announce games for the Xbox One as they don't know about self publishing) and gives the likes of Sony to get some more positive PR before build.

The only issue would be that they need a way to showcase games without getting involved. They would need to better their recommendation technology and have a good store front.

 

[Striek]

Good. As I posted before I thought they would announce it before launch.
Gotta get rid of the negative talking points.

 

[Sidewinder]

What's next? Will they put a PS4 inside the Xbox One case and call it a day??

;-p

 

[Alx]

This will never happen. MS wants Kinect to be a resource every developer can use. The best you can hope for, and I'm almost certain of it, is a price drop of $50-$100.

Honestly I can't why they should drop Kinect. It's designed to enhance the dashboard experience, some core games and primarily aimed at the casual market.

I agree. Besides kinect can be one of the major points helping to differentiate from the competition. If people think it's cool to talk to your console, switch screens at a flick of the wrist, or just have finess apps and motion games, it will help MS sell the hardware.
They already removed their market model from the Xbox One, if they also remove kinect all that's left is another PS4.

 

[Harlock]

Apps will access to full power of xbox one hardware?

 

[ekim]

Keynotes will be streamed here:
http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Build/2013/1-001

 

[Opus Angelorum]

I like how some people suggest Microsoft are 'copying' Sony.

 

[PdotMichael]

I like how some people suggest Microsoft are 'copying' Sony.

Because they do?

 

[QaaQer]

It would be good if MS allowed for self publishing but it seems kind of odd that they held this off until Build (after the console announcement and E3) as it keeps a lot of bigger/well known indie devs in the dark for longer (so they don't announce games for the Xbox One as they don't know about self publishing) and gives the likes of Sony to get some more positive PR before build.

The wait is understandable if they plan on leveraging the xbox brand to drive Windows 8 store penetration in the PC space. Windows is still >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>xbox as far as revenue generation and customer base goes. So announcing this stuff at BUILD makes sense.

----------------

Thanks for the links guys. So no strategy/direction changes... :-( Microsoft as a devices and services company, uggg.

 

[travisbickle]

I like how some people suggest Microsoft are 'copying' Sony.

How about MS fucked up every concept for their new machine and are going to spend the time till launch rectifying everything about it to turn it into a semblance of a good games console.

Is that a more palatable suggestion?

 

[Oppo]

Wii U is actually very gentle to indies Rivals and exceeds PS4.

I doubt this is true. Nintendo's tool chain alone seems like a huge hurdle. And everyone has Unity support.

 

[Ghost]

I was going to say don't watch the keynotes because it's going to be all Windows 8.1 preview stuff but then I looked at the announcement website:

http://www.buildwindows.com/Announcement

and it does pretty clearly have the xbox logo on there so who knows maybe they do have something to show.

 

[Alx]

How about MS fucked up every concept for their new machine and are going to spend the time till launch rectifying everything about it to turn it into a semblance of a good games console.

Is that a more palatable suggestion?

Having the Xbox One support the Windows 8 marketplace is something that everybody has been expecting from them... It was clear from the beginning that they designed their console to run apps alongside games, and we know they made their API similar across all their platforms. I don't think they're "rectifying" anything on that aspect.

 

[Ushae]

I agree. Besides kinect can be one of the major points helping to differentiate from the competition. If people think it's cool to talk to your console, switch screens at a flick of the wrist, or just have finess apps and motion games, it will help MS sell the hardware.
They already removed their market model from the Xbox One, if they also remove kinect all that's left is another PS4.

Exactly my thinking. Stripping the Kinect sensor will only make X1 look even less appealing next to the PS4 which has a decent shader/graphical advantage over it. With the sensor and UI there's differentiation there. Remember the power gap is smaller than PS3/360 was, and software sells hardware .. as Nintendo demonstrated last gen.

Price drop is the best thing to do. Focus on great games and apps.

 

[ekim]

I was going to say don't watch the keynotes because it's going to be all Windows 8.1 preview stuff but then I looked at the announcement website:

http://www.buildwindows.com/Announcement

and it does pretty clearly have the xbox logo on there so who knows maybe they do have something to show.

I found this older quote:
http://kotaku.com/microsoft-vows-to-support-indie-developers-on-xbox-one-510129167

"We're going to have an independent creator program," Don Mattrick, Microsoft's head of interactive entertainment (read: he's in charge of the Xbox), told me last week. "We're going to sponsor it. We're going to give people tools. We're going to give more information."

I think we will hear something about this at Build.

 

[Feorax]

This is good news for indie devs, they shouldn't have to deal with these types of shitty roadblocks to deliver their games.

Very much doubt we'll see a pricedrop prior to, or even 6 months following, launch. MS have had a humiliating experience already, a price drop before the thing is on the shelves screams "we have no idea what we're doing".

 

[travisbickle]

Having the Xbox One support the Windows 8 marketplace is something that everybody has been expecting from them... It was clear from the beginning that they designed their console to run apps alongside games, and we know they made their API similar across all their platforms. I don't think they're "rectifying" anything on that aspect.

They shouldn't have stated that they weren't going to allow devs to self-publish on their console if that was their plan.

 

[derFeef]

I wanna see lot's of crazy Kinect indy games, make it happen MS.

 

[Visualante2]

I don't trust them, too many cooks. Just look at how bureaucratic they are with cert and release windows. Sounds like a nightmare even if you've got a publisher.. without? who knows...

I have doubts they will be treated on a level playing field with boutique titles or other games. As has been said, too late. It will be fascinating to see which indies flock back to Microsoft's bosom and sign timed exclusivity deals.