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[shinobi602]

I still don't buy that Microsoft listened to the fans. My guess remains that Microsoft listened to the pre-orders and when they saw that pre-orders were far below expectations they attempted to right the ship.

If pre-order sales had met or exceeded expectations, there is no way in hell they would have adjusted their policies.

That is listening to consumers though.

 

[Filthy Blood Junkie]

Okay, so its not about the quality of the games but rather your inherent biases. Got it.

Yep, you are right. You win. Thank you for your insight buddy.

 

[Amir0x]

I dont work for Sony but i can confirm that Kinect dos not need to be connected to the PS4 to make it work. I hope thats enough...

Hahah it's amazing, all Microsoft is doing is playing catch up to PS4 and it still manages reactions like that. I'm glad Microsoft is doing this, but give me a break lol

 

[Ovid]

The system can still send data over Ethernet or wifi.

Even if you disconnect it completely, it might be storing the info somewhere in the cache ready to be sent whenever the system gets online.

Don't be fooled by this.

Oh stop it already.

 

[BigDug13]

no, the xbox 360 had the superior online and the vast majority of multiplayer games had higher frame rates / resolution than the ps3 games.

Yet people still paid $500 to $600 vs $300-$400.

That was for the Sony exclusives and Blu-ray capability or simply Playstation's incredible worldwide brand strength. Are you saying the same will happen to Xbox this time as the weaker multiplat system for greater price? Because their first party exclusives are not at the same level.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

I think he means free-to-play games.

They are free to play.

Project Spark is free and you can buy extra items / brains for the game to use in your levels.

KI can be played online and through the entire campaign with Jago. You can buy characters either piecemeal or the entire game at once (it's not exactly free to play though as there's no mechanism to invest time to get points to unlock the other characters which is generally what exists in F2P games, but more of a complete demo)

World of Tanks is F2P in the traditional sense, but I thought it was coming to 360 only (maybe X1 port later?).

On top of that, devs like Warframe have talked about that they are now looking into publishing their games on X1 after the indie policy change.

 

[Wonder Cheese]

The system can still send data over Ethernet or wifi.

Even if you disconnect it completely, it might be storing the info somewhere in the cache ready to be sent whenever the system gets online.

Don't be fooled by this.

HOLY CRAP, PEOPLE. HOLY CRAP.

 

[ToyBroker]

I love all the people saying "your move Sony" as if Sony has to do anything.

All these "moves" by MS are just making them one step closer to parity with the PS4, lol.

 

[NullPointer]

Boy it's going to be a hell of a thread when MS finally throws Kinect under the bus

I can't imagine them ever throwing voice under the bus, even if they do kick the gesture capture to the curb.

 

[plagiarize]

Albert just said they aren't splitting the user base.

at launch, anyways.

 

[Speedy Blue Dude]

In the Wired article from back in May that said someone 6'4" could stand about 3 ft away, and it still recognized his whole body.

Sounds good, I only have about 2.6 FT of free room in my small room, but I'm only 5'11, so this gives me some reassurance that Kinect will work for me.

 

[Silky]

For the games. That is why some of us like to be multi-console owners.

Now, that's something I can agree with.

no, the xbox 360 had the superior online and the vast majority of multiplayer games had higher frame rates / resolution than the ps3 games.

Yet people still paid $500 to $600 vs $300-$400.

...but more people bought a Wii than a 360??????

 

[RedSwirl]

I part of me wants to wait until the new Kinect is released and in consumers' hands before I completely condemn it.

 

[Garrett 2U]

So kinect is still needed for the majority of the system. I don't know why you guys get so hyped about this, we've known about settings to turn off the kinect during games. But then you won't be able to use skype or whatever else is needed for kinect. I still believe Kinect is the system. Until they give us the option to completely not need kinect for anything, I'm out still.

Hahaha what? How can you use Skype without a camera?!
The Kinect is required for features that use motion/voice, how is that not understandable?

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

My guess is Gamescon.

MS is really coming back from the ropes swinging.

How insane would a $350-$400 Kinect-less XBO be before launch? The pre-order changes alone would be a nightmare for retailers.

This won't happen.

 

[FeiRR]

There are a lot of possible implementations for Kinect voice commands in core games besides "grenade!"

Which would work fine with that cheap headset they're including now with every console. You don't need an expensive camera for them. But that would be too user friendly for Microsoft.

 

[farisr]

So kinect is still needed for the majority of the system. I don't know why you guys get so hyped about this, we've known about settings to turn off the kinect during games. But then you won't be able to use skype or whatever else is needed for kinect. I still believe Kinect is the system. Until they give us the option to completely not need kinect for anything, I'm out still.

It's going to only be needed for Kinect games, and stuff like Skype (you know, the thing that required a camera and a microphone).

You can navigate menus on the xbox one, play regular core games, all with the controller. And TV would work as well, just no voice commands, so you'd have to use a controller to switch inputs, and to change channels use the remote for the cable box.

 

[fse]

aww yisss
ps4 and xbo for me

 

[Pop]

Hahaha what? How can you use Skype without a camera?!
The Kinect is required for features that use motion/voice, how is that not understandable?

So Kinect is the system? Gotcha

 

[Bgamer90]

How insane would a $350-$400 Kinect-less XBO be before launch? The pre-order changes alone would be a nightmare for retailers.

This won't happen.

If they made the price cheaper than the PS4, why would it still coming with Kinect be a negative?

 

[Riky]

More choice is good news. Mine is going to be plugged in anyway.

 

[ToyBroker]

It's going to only be needed for Kinect games, and stuff like Skype (you know, the thing that required a camera and a microphone).

You can navigate menus on the xbox one, play regular core games, all with the controller. And TV would work as well, just no voice commands, so you'd have to use a controller to switch inputs, and to change channels use the remote for the cable box.

You have no idea what Kinect is ONLY needed for so saying shit like this just comes off badly.

 

[farisr]

Which would work fine with that cheap headset they're including now with every console. You don't need an expensive camera for them. But that would be too user friendly for Microsoft.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Kinect itself have specific on-board sound chips that handle enhanced voice recognition.

 

[LowParry]

And you're still $100 too much. Get bent Microsoft.

 

[FinKL]

Great news, was worried this wasn't the case, but glad they came around to the "what if it fell and broke" scenario.

 

[shinobi602]

So Kinect is the system? Gotcha

I don't need it for games, Netflix, navigating the dashboard/internet, etc. So nope.

 

[KoopaTheCasual]

Boy it's going to be a hell of a thread when MS finally throws Kinect under the bus

Albert already said they have no intention of doing that, and CBOAT corroborates. I mean, it would a MASSIVE 180, but I just don't think it's in the cards.

 

[CaptainTiptop]

Yo move Sony.

Every week some news gets me more excited for the Xbone.

Wait, what move do they need to make?

Yeah, Sony, make that PS4 camera optio--oh, right.

 

[RPGamer92]

$400 Kinect-less Ones would do gangbusters and really threaten PS4.

 

[Quadraphonic]

Hahaha what? How can you use Skype without a camera?!
The Kinect is required for features that use motion/voice, how is that not understandable?

Skype was made famous NOT for video chat, but for VOICE chat. And all Xbox Ones come with a headset.

AND Skype works well for TEXT chat, too.

But yes, let's lock out Skype because ONE of the three means of communication is unplugged.

 

[Coolwhip]

That's an improvement. But you will STILL pay $100 extra for the damn thing.

 

[DBT85]

I dont work for Sony but i can confirm that Kinect dos not need to be connected to the PS4 to make it work. I hope thats enough...

Fake Twitter Kaz, is that you?

 

[HyperV]

We still believe in Kinect. We aren’t interested in splitting the development base. The more demos I’ve seen, the more I’ve used it – the more impressed I am. The team feels strongly about Kinect, and I hope we’re able to prove that when you use it.

We also have a ton of privacy settings to allow people to turn off the camera, or microphones, or put it in a state just for “Xbox On” and IR blasting – there will be a lot of user control for that.

The thing we all understood, and hence this change, is that there are some scenarios where people just may not be comfortable. We wanted people to be 100% comfortable, so we allow the sensor to be unplugged. And clearly the “it dropped” scenario is possible.

The most obvious thing is watching a DVD/BD, or streaming a movie, or HDMI pass-through, your experience isn’t impacted (except you miss voice and IR blasting)

There is no “gotcha”, but obviously, if there is a game that REQUIRES Kinect (like Rivals), or something where Kinect IS the experience (like Skype), those won’t work.

That said, for people who have privacy concerns there are user control settings, which we believe are great.

Thanks for the feedback, Albert, much appreciated. Please stay the course and keep Kinect in there! No 180's on that, please.

 

[Striek]

Nice.

The sales projections post-E3 must have been dreadful for MS with all these changes. This all but confirms a Kinect-less SKU will appear to me. Like 100%, no doubt about it. MS are seeing the Xbox One fail and they're taking step after step to avoid it.

 

[CosmicQueso]

I still don't buy that Microsoft listened to the fans. My guess remains that Microsoft listened to the pre-orders and when they saw that pre-orders were far below expectations they attempted to right the ship.

If pre-order sales had met or exceeded expectations, there is no way in hell they would have adjusted their policies.

Who do you think is pre-ordering these things? The fans, maybe?

 

[Guevara]

I can't imagine them ever throwing voice under the bus, even if they do kick the gesture capture to the curb.

But they just announced a bundled-in headset

Spoiler

:-O

 

[Dreamgazer]

Hahaha what? How can you use Skype without a camera?!
The Kinect is required for features that use motion/voice, how is that not understandable?

uhhhhhhh I do that on my pc EVERYDAY.

 

[MCD]

HOLY CRAP, PEOPLE. HOLY CRAP.

lol

I forgot my tinfoil hat there.

 

[slightconfuse]

Lol just drop the price already. Since they 180ed on everthing else

 

[Iced_Eagle]

How insane would a $350-$400 Kinect-less XBO be before launch? The pre-order changes alone would be a nightmare for retailers.

This won't happen.

Yeah, that won't happen.

Honestly, what I think is way more likely is they bring back the subsidized console plan that was rumored but never happened. $299 with a 3 year Gold subscription.

 

[vcc]

Hahaha what? How can you use Skype without a camera?!

There is this magical thing called a 'microphone' that you can use to 'skype'. This is in fact the most common way Skype is used.

 

[Alx]

More choice is good news. Mine is going to be plugged in anyway.

After all that noise, I wonder how many X1 owners will bother plugging it in and out depending on their needs... I'd bet that most people will just keep it always connected out of laziness.

 

[Kinyou]

Skype was made famous NOT for video chat, but for VOICE chat. And all Xbox Ones come with a headset.

AND Skype works well for TEXT chat, too.

But yes, let's lock out Skype because ONE of the three means of communication is unplugged.

you were really excited about skyping with your xbox one, huh?

 

[hydrophilic attack]

Good to hear!

Now offer a Kinect-less SKU for $399 and you might be able to compete.

 

[NullPointer]

They are free to play.

So you don't need Gold? If true then I'm more than happy to be corrected here.

Hell, I'm even flexible on this. But I think that if a Gold sub is required for a free-to-play game than those games should come with special starter packs that are more than you'd get if you started on a truly free multiplayer platform. So a Gold starter kit worth, what $10 of in-game currency items more than you'd get on PC? I could work with that.

 

[Fox Mulder]

I still don't buy that Microsoft listened to the fans. My guess remains that Microsoft listened to the pre-orders and when they saw that pre-orders were far below expectations they attempted to right the ship.

If pre-order sales had met or exceeded expectations, there is no way in hell they would have adjusted their policies.

Who cares why they did it. The console isn't out yet and they're improving it for the better. It took years for Sony to steer out of the shit they sailed into with the ps3 launch. Sony went from "lol, get two jobs" to the darlings they are seen as today.

MS is in business to sell things and make money, they laid out their plan and people said fuck off. Good on them for seeing this and making changes.

 

[Version 3.0]

Hahaha what? How can you use Skype without a camera?!
The Kinect is required for features that use motion/voice, how is that not understandable?

"Kinect" and "camera" are not the same thing. Skype works on other devices without Kinect. Neither are "Kinect" and "microphone". I don't expect (or care it) Microsoft ever allows normal cameras to be used with the Xbox, but obviously they could.

The Kinect requirement for voice commands, on the other hand, has been questioned since its inception, and rightfully so. It's exceptionally stupid on a system that already supported, and indeed shipped with, a microphone.

 

[farisr]

You have no idea what Kinect is ONLY needed for so saying shit like this just comes off badly.

Really? Albert's post spelled it out pretty clearly. Kinect is going to be needed for things like skype and kinect-only games. Regular games will not require it (again in his post), stuff like TV, Bluray/DVD will not require it (again in his post) and MS at E3 confirmed you can navigate the xbox interface only using the controller if you want.

So now, it's not shit. It's what's known. You just come off badly for making such a post.

 

[ToyBroker]

Hahaha what? How can you use Skype without a camera?!
The Kinect is required for features that use motion/voice, how is that not understandable?

For such a major Xbone fan, you sound ridiculous here.

Every hear of a microphone?

 

[Slayer-33]

Screw the hate MS keep Kinect 2 bundled! Distiguish yourself, K2 seems to be amazing, don't fucking cave in.

Skype and all your proprietary experiences will add a lot more prestige and perceived value to the X1 than the gfx difference people will see between you and your rival.

Don't lose focus! Don't cave, screw the kinect hate I want it!

IF you drop the price keep the fucking kinect! lol