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Xbox One: Built for the future

https://www.youtube.com/signin?action_prompt_identity=true&next=/watch?v=rnQmvHsv5Tc&app=desktop

Credit to XboxUncut on Reddit.

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Higher fidelity game experiences – As I mentioned before, cloud compute can enable developers to offload computations for all sorts of environmental elements. In a typical game development scenario, the game creator needs to balance resource allocation across each area – world management, rendering, controls, networking, lighting, physics, AI, as well as networking and multiplayer. Balancing the local computing resources for all of these elements often results in developers making tradeoffs that result in more focus on core gameplay, and less on environments, NPC and other elements of world fidelity. However, when cloud compute is available to support the various computationally-intensive elements of the game, these kinds of tradeoffs become much easier for developers to make. Games can afford to provide higher fidelity worlds and deeply intelligent NPC AI all at the same time. These experiences could only be accomplished by leveraging the resources of servers.

Improved multiplayer game experiences – This is perhaps the most obvious example of what is possible with Xbox Live Compute – dedicated servers! If you have played a lot of multiplayer games, you know that playing on dedicated game servers has advantages over peer-to-peer gameplay. With server-based multiplayer gaming, not only can more players play the game (think hundreds of players simultaneously), the gameplay will be much more reliable for the players. No more host migration interruptions, suboptimal experiences for the host, home network NAT constraints, or player cheating! Additionally, Xbox Live Compute can be utilized to persist game state so that your squad can live to fight another day without losing any progress. A great example of a game that is using Xbox Live Compute for their dedicated server multiplayer experience is “Titanfall.”

Adaptive & evolving game play – Imagine the game you play every day improving each time you log in. Imagine joining a match in your favorite first person shooter to find new maps and game modes even though you never downloaded a game update. Imagine playing with your friend even when he/she is not online. When games are powered by Xbox Live Compute, they can be dynamically updated, tuned, changed, and improved continuously. Games will evolve and live on for greater periods of time, continually providing fresh content and new experiences. The flagship example of this application of cloud computing can be found with “Forza Motorsports 5, “and its Drivatar system.

On-demand compute improves game availability – With all of the potentially interesting things that can be accomplished with Xbox Live Compute, one of the most important things is that the resources (e.g. servers) are available when gamers need it most. It is the geographic availability of this service, and its elastic scalability that enables gamers to connect to an available server and play without experiencing busy or unavailable servers. This ensures that games meet the changing demands of their player communities for compute, and gamers experience optimal connectivity based upon their geographic location. Additionally, it means that game creators can be assured that the server capacity they need, in the appropriate geographies, will be there when they need it.
http://news.xbox.com/2013/10/xbox-one-cloud
 
I honestly believe that people would've taken much more positively to this feature if MS hadn't so horribly oversold it. This sounds a lot more reasonable and actually shows up potential and realistic implementations that we could see.

Not garbage about "unlimited power"
 
Still waiting for that magical sentence, Microsoft.

"All games on Xbox One will have dedicated servers."

Point 4 about the geographical adaptability of servers is the most interesting one. Would like to see if there's any tangible, noticeable benefits in regions where server availability is not strong for both Sony and MS.
 

Mindwipe

Member
Still waiting for that magical sentence, Microsoft.

"All games on Xbox One will have dedicated servers."

They can't give it, because ultimately it will depend on if EA want to pay for it.

I've no doubt they're giving devs very good deals for launch so they will, but the economic model isn't going to allow that in perpetuity.

I agree with the comment above - if they'd called this feature "better dedicated server support" everyone would have gone apeshit positive about it. The problem is they tried to sell it as if it was additional graphics power that it won't be.

I'm still curious to find out if Titanfall will have dedicated servers on the 360.
 

jond76

Banned
Still waiting for that magical sentence, Microsoft.

"All games on Xbox One will have dedicated servers."

Point 4 about the geographical adaptability of servers is the most interesting one. Would like to see if there's any tangible, noticeable benefits in regions where server availability is not strong for both Sony and MS.

They already said dedicated servers are available to all developers in their "tool box" if they choose to use it.
 

JaggedSac

Member
On-demand compute improves game availability – With all of the potentially interesting things that can be accomplished with Xbox Live Compute, one of the most important things is that the resources (e.g. servers) are available when gamers need it most. It is the geographic availability of this service, and its elastic scalability that enables gamers to connect to an available server and play without experiencing busy or unavailable servers. This ensures that games meet the changing demands of their player communities for compute, and gamers experience optimal connectivity based upon their geographic location. Additionally, it means that game creators can be assured that the server capacity they need, in the appropriate geographies, will be there when they need it.

Certainly the most important aspect of cloud services. That and the ease of use/setting up/procurement for devs. Plus, MS is giving a bit of free compute to devs.
 

chadskin

Member
So, they fooled the masses with the "infinite power of the cloud" claim at conventions first and then explain what the cloud really is able (and especially not able) to do in a comparatively silent blog post. Classy Microsoft, real classy.
 

boi

Neo Member
Just watched the video and this is the biggest bullshit there is. Microsoft is embarrassing themselves by keep stating that Cloud Computing will improve Xbox gaming while there is no game whatsoever that offloads core parts of the game (graphics or other stuff) now or announced for the Xbox One. This is a scheme, one of the worst I've seen in the gaming industry.
 

Quentyn

Member
They can't give it, because ultimately it will depend on if EA want to pay for it.

I've no doubt they're giving devs very good deals for launch so they will, but the economic model isn't going to allow that in perpetuity.

I agree with the comment above - if they'd called this feature "better dedicated server support" everyone would have gone apeshit positive about it. The problem is they tried to sell it as if it was additional graphics power that it won't be.

I'm still curious to find out if Titanfall will have dedicated servers on the 360.

Respawn already said they are using Xbox cloud servers for Xbox One, 360 and PC.
 

SEGAvangelist

Gold Member
"In fact, we even give them the cloud computing power for FREE so they can more easily transition to building games on Xbox One for the cloud."

Does this mean possible free dedis?
 
Using Kinect commands to record/save gameplay footage or snap a photo does actually sound like a good idea. One of the few times when Kinect voice commands actually make sense.

This is a good video series. Sony needs to start showing off the interface a bit more!
 

geordiemp

Member
Imagine the game you play every day improving each time you log in. Imagine joining a match in your favorite first person shooter to find new maps and game modes even though you never downloaded a game update.

As if you did not have to pay for DLC or have a season pass nowadays -

The only thing I read that makes any sense in article is dedicated servers - the rest is just poor
 
Does this mean possible free dedis?

I wouldn't count on it until we hear the magical sentence from MS. If they really hold such a core advantage, they wouldn't be using PR language with room for interpretation.

The way it's phrased, it sounds more like some compute resources are available for off-loading processing, like what Forza does for Drivatars, but not actual multiplayer dedicated servers.
 

Gowans

Member
I love the fact MS are giving us media now but I wish it was a little less format and off script.

My fave video yet was the casual interview with Albert just talking instead of the ones like these that are 'produced' and on script.
 

flkraven

Member
I'm genuinely curious how well this will work. And will it improve during the generation as internet speeds increase?
 

SEGAvangelist

Gold Member
I wouldn't count on it until we hear the magical sentence from MS. If they really hold such a core advantage, they wouldn't be using PR language with room for interpretation.

The way it's phrased, it sounds more like some compute resources are available for off-loading processing, like what Forza does for Drivatars, but not actual multiplayer dedicated servers.

It's hard to tell from this article since they list dedicated servers as a cloud computer feature. Maybe they are saving it for a rainy day.
 
I look forward to MS blowing everyone away with games that take this "cloud" advantage to heart in a reliable, functional fashion beyond something like dedicated servers.

Until then, it's all scripted ad-speak that means less than nothing.
 

ckohler

Member
That animated welcome screen looks sharp.

Also, being able to have up to six users automatically logged into the same box at once (and having their gamer pics listed along the top) is very elegant. As far as we know, only one user can be logged into PS4 at a time.
 
Just watched the video and this is the biggest bullshit there is. Microsoft is embarrassing themselves by keep stating that Cloud Computing will improve Xbox gaming while there is no game whatsoever that offloads core parts of the game (graphics or other stuff) now or announced for the Xbox One. This is a scheme, one of the worst I've seen in the gaming industry.

Sigh... the ignorance.

Don't worry.... if you build it, they will come. I have seen unreleased cloud powered games.
 

Bad_Boy

time to take my meds
even the mysterious cloud is behind a paywall?

i look forward to comparisons of single player games with and without internet. lol
 

PhatSaqs

Banned
This is one of those things that will have to be experienced and either thumbed up or down by users. Trying to sell this in video or writing, or many of the other features that look to be nice enhancements to Live, dont really seem to do them justice.
 

Wereroku

Member
That animated welcome screen looks sharp.

Also, being able to have up to six users automatically logged into the same box at once (and having their gamer pics listed along the top) is very elegant. As far as we know, only one user can be logged into PS4 at a time.

No yosp said it has support for up to 4 concurrent logins. Each controller can have a profile attached to it.
 
I thought the video was very well done. ( and that UI looked beautiful!)

I honestly think cloud computing will only grow in the future so it's nice to see MS really investing in it. I think they have an advantage because they dont have to rely on third party servers and because of the infrastructure they have been building the past few years.

Everyone who is crapping on this whole noting of cloud gaming and compute just need to look at what Sony is doing as well. I don't think they spent $600 million just to provide a little backwards compatibility for the PS4.

This is one of those things that will have to be experienced and either thumbed up or down by users. Trying to sell this in video or writing, or many of the other features that look to be nice enhancements to Live, dont really seem to do them justice.

I think this is kind of the problem though. Alot of the things MS have worked to improve are behind the curtain things that we may never really see, but will become normal parts of our gaming experience. That is part of the difficulty MS is having in marketing, I think. I could see myself in a couple of years turning on my tv, snapping NFL scores, or a skype call to a game or as I watch TV and not thinking anything of it because it's just become normal.
 

UNCMark

Banned
So, they fooled the masses with the "infinite power of the cloud" claim at conventions first and then explain what the cloud really is able (and especially not able) to do in a comparatively silent blog post. Classy Microsoft, real classy.

That's what a company should do. It's smart. The problem is when sites like IGN take the BS marketing-speak and present it as fact.
 
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