Gaming One Step Closer (and I'm about to RROD): The Xbox One Discussion

I still find it amazing people are creeped out by the camera watching them even though it's off and isn't actually watching them. Then they go post incriminating stuff on Facebook.

 

Hopefully I'm probably just being pessimistic about future gaming. Its just interesting watching how things go up and down. A generation ago the PS2 was supreme and the Xbox was struggling, then the 360 took the lead with the PS3 playing catchup for years. Neither next-gen console has launched yet, but now the Xbox reputation took a big hit from the XB1 intro, while Sony has seemingly learned a lot of lessons from the PS3 launch.

Heh, I remember picking up a Donkey Kong N64 with its expansion pack, that seemed fancy back in the day. Now its all about future cloud computing (at least for the XB1). And oh yeah, the Super Game Boy, that was classic, although the Gamecube Gameboy Player was pretty neat too.

Speaking of connectivity, did they say if XB1 controllers ran on batteries or rechargable? Its one of the more minor details, but just curious. I'm paranoid by now about leaving batteries in any of my gadgets too long as sometimes I open them up after a few months and fine them corroded (probably from being careless from where I leave them). Both the Wii U and PS3 (hopefully PS4) at least both have rechargeable controllers, so hopefully the XB1 will follow that trend.

I never liked the Kinect, which is why hearing its included with every XB1 is a major reason for me not to bother with that system, especially as its driving up the cost too. At least Sony hasn't forced its motion controls on consumers and even the Wii U has moved away from it mostly. The camera thing is probably partially privacy (that NSA thing is still in the news) and probably annoyance at how there's no option to just throw the Kinect in a closet after buying an XB1. Though personally I would be more paranoid about the webcams many computers have installed these days, but I'm too lazy to care that much. Well, even if the camera can't be used that way, with how Microsoft was acting during the XB1 intro, with online connection required for installing games and 24-hour check-ins required for gameplay period, spying would seem like the next step. Well, it would actually be a huge step and they probably wouldn't go that far, but people were annoyed enough by everything else already so the required Kinect didn't help matters much and just made them more paranoid.

 

Batteries, bizarrely. I mean, how hard can it be? Rechargable controllers are hardly ground-breaking technology. The competition's had it as standard for 7 years, for crying out loud!

 

Wait, really?

That is bizarre. They've spent how many millions on R&D for the hardware and for the Kinect 2.0, but the controller still uses AA batteries?

 

I honestly prefer controllers with AA batteries - if they die, I swap out in a second. I mean, as a starving student I invested in a charge and play adapter for my 360, but really, the habit of buying AA batteries is already there for me.

EDIT: Actually, now that I think about it - why wouldn't they encourage AA battery use? That way each controller they sell can bring them added revenue when people get fed up and buy rechargeable packs.

 

What, really? Huh, how... old-fashioned. Another reason not to buy then. Its a minor hassle to keep controllers plugged in to recharge, but I barely use AA batteries for anything anymore. Everything else is rechargeable or wired or something like that. But then guess its another way for Microsoft to make more money, either people buy more AAs or they buy the optional rechargeable battery. I don't think Microsoft is even including a headset with the XB1? Not that I ever used one, but I've heard its a big thing for multiplayer.

 

Why would you need a headset when you've got a microphone in the Kinect?

 

As someone who does take part in in-game chat, let me be the first to say that having a Kinect is worse than having no way to communicate at all, and the ultimate way to get yourself muted. I will barely be able to understand a word of what you're saying, and will be getting a lot of useless background noise I could really do without. At least no mic lets the rest of us carry on without you.

 

They have said that you can turn Kinect off, unless it's actually needed for kinect features. I'll just have mine off and use a headset. I never did like the headset that came with the 360 as it's only one ear. I don't like have voice chat only in one ear and it muffles the game audio in that ear too. I have a nice one that does game and chat audio quite nicely. They're bringing out adaptors so I can still use it. As for why I'd rather use my headset? I'm going to use a headset for game audio and mine has a built in mic, plus it's easy to mute. I'm hoping the mute options will be easier to use though. I sometimes play with people I don't have added as friends so I can't really use the 'mute all but friends' option, and changing that means signing out and then signing in every single time. That's if I remember to do it before I start the game, otherwise I have to exit the game.

On the subject of the batteries, I much prefer it that it's not got a built in pack. I keep the charge cable in all the time and only use a battery pack when I want to use my mic. I'd rather be able to quickly swap out a battery pack than hunt down a cable in the middle of a game. It doesn't make any difference during single player as the 360 pauses the game, but you can't pause a multiplayer game. I also know that if I keep my controller plugged in with the battery pack in it'll ruin the pack. If that happens then I can just replace it, but if it's built into the controller then the whole controller has to be replaced. With the X1 I can just have an empty thing in the controller and only use the battery pack when I want and nothing gets ruined.

Also, if you only have one controller with built in batteries and you've just broken your cable, then you'll be stuck until you can replace the cable. If I break my cables I can just shrug and use AA batteries. The nearest shop that sells those is 2-3 minutes walk away, and the nearest gaming shop is an expensive day trip or a few days waiting for delivery from the internet. I'd still have to replace the cable, but I can save money and buy it on the internet and keep gaming in the meantime.

 

Has the tech spec for the new Kinect sensor been released? It might have noise cancellation built in?

But the Xbox headsets were terrible... I think MS are probably of the opinion that everyone who wants a headset has a headset rather than their crappy one...

 

I generally game mic-free when I do play online multiplayer, so either way it's not a big deal for me.

 

Penguinator: I'm the same, I'd rather be mic free. The only exception is when I'm playing with friends, and that's not often.

 

Mejor Nelson did an unboxing of, which I'll add below. It's not the most exciting of videos as there's nothing really new. It is good to see it next to someone though as it gives a better sense of scale. It looks like it's about the same size the the Xbox 360 S, which is fine. What's also worth noting is that he says the headset is included in both Day One and standard editions of the console. Not sure if that's a recent thing or not as I seem to recall them saying it wouldn't be in there. It's good news though.

 

I think it's hilarious that Microsoft thinks we're all waiting for an unboxing as opposed to, say, a release date.

 

I actually shook my head every time he said how beautiful that fugly VCR of a next green console looked.

 

I kinda like it. I would say it's beautiful but it's far from fugly. It looks a lot nicer than the PS4. That's just blech.

 

I think they're both hideous, actually. Good thing we'll be looking at the TV, not the consoles.

 

Yeah, they both look like... black boxes, except the PS4 is in italic.

Fortunately I don't care even a little bit about it's appearance. It's what's inside that counts.

 

Why the hell do folks even care about the appearance of the physical console? It'll get placed in some unobtrusive spot or in a home entertainment centre alongside the generic black DVD or Blu-Ray player you already own, not to mention your satellite box.

If it's plain and black, then it will be totally neutral in any room, regardless of decor.

 

It's a small detail in the grand scheme of things, but it helps if it looks nice. I wouldn't have bought the Halo 4 edition 360 if it didn't looks so good. It doesn't affect it in any way but it does look good on my desk where I put it. It's like a book in a way. The outside won't change the inside at all but you'd still want to design a nice cover for a book because that's what people see first.

The2ndQuest: yeah, the PS4 does have a headset but it's a one of those horrible ones that goes into your ear, like an old style phone handsfree set. Although, looking at it, it seems like it'll sit in the ear rather than going right in like a lot of earbuds do. The mic is still in the wire though. Like this:
http://themodernmage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/PS4-Mono-Headset.jpg

I think the reason why MS originally wasn't going to include one was because Kinect would be able to do voice chat. Turns out that people didn't want that and there was a lot of fuss because old headsets won't work so they've now added it to bundles. I still won't use it but it'll nice to have until I can get an adaptor for my Gioteck EX-05s or the Gioteck EX-06 headset.