The Official Xbox One Thread

[pathos]

and having happy consumers is how companies make the most money.

I have absolutely nothing to add to the current conversation, and this will be wildly off on a tangent, but this one little line actually got me thinking.

I don't really think that is the case anymore. It certainly used to be. Currently, I believe the business strategy, especially of larger corporations, is "let's release a product, convince the populace they must have it, and then we can treat them however we feel like". A captive audience, if you will.

And, I'm actually being at least half serious here (but only half)

How many times have I tried calling some customer service, having to wait for 30 minutes or more on hold, to finally get to talk to someone (seems half the time I don't get to speak to a live person, only a machine). Then, after speaking to someone who has trouble speaking english, because they've outsourced all their support to another country, and who hasn't had enough training to work my problem successfully, get promised a fix, and the issue never gets resolved? (are my sentences to long here?)

Well, to make it more topical, Hypothetically, say Microsoft makes this system knock it out of the park as far as being able to play fantastic games, and doing it well, as well as adding real well done multimedia features. Lot's of great games come out that can only played on the Xbox One. But, they go nuts adding things, and policies, that users just hate. Whether it be online requirements, killing the used market single handedly, or even requiring users to take a quick kick in the nuts before they can power it on.

When the system had gathered 5 or so games that only came out on that system, and people considered them "must play" games, would they really be "must play"? Would people still stick to their guns by and large, and forgo playing them, because it meant buying this system and getting kicked in the nuts? Or will we all be buying gym straps?

 

[benzylic]

Have they said if the codes are something you enter or something on the disk somewhere that's read automatically? I feel like it must be either a code stuck somewhere on the disc, or a bar code of some sort you scan with the kinect or maybe with the smartglass app on your phone.

If its readable by humans and able to be inputted manually like codes on Xbox Live now, couldnt you just buy a game, activate it, write down the license code, and then sell the game? Then enter the license code again whenever that poor guy who bought your game activates it on his.

 

[Aikouka]

there still 10 gb free on my 20gb HDD on my xbox360
i think ive used under 30gb on my 200gb PS3
that number is no where close to 95%

It's not really viable to use your 360's storage usage as a projection for the X1 because you're not required to install games on the 360.

 

[lupi]

Just like you said....except the part were there is a fee everytime the license is transferred which most likely kills the rental market.

 

[BladeVenom]

Xbox One: Microsoft aims for 1 billion lifetime sales,
I'm not saying they're out of touch with reality, but...

 

[gothamhunter]

Was this posted yet? Even if so, worth a repost:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbWgUO-Rqcw

 

[Aikouka]

hah being a developer i can't believe you are claiming that it is so simple. you of all people should know nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

I considered the same method, and the only negative aspect that I can think of is... what do you do now that the user has a valid code? Once he returns the game, he doesn't magically forget the code nor does it stop the person from writing it down. If those specific codes required a disc to be inserted to use it, they could always borrow a disc from a friend and wait until someone happens to rent the game again. All they have to do is enter the code before the other person does, and wham... free rental until it gets cleared up!

The best way that I figured to stop this is to use throw-away codes. I've never used a Redbox, but I assume that it gives receipts. So, simply write out the code on the receipt. Yet again, I don't know what sort of information there is with Redbox, so I don't know how much detail there is, but essentially... they store the code with some sort of identifier so they can retrieve it when you return the game. The return process would be the same as the other method mentioned, they would query the Microsoft service to remove the game from your account.

 

[Arkaign]

It's not really viable to use your 360's storage usage as a projection for the X1 because you're not required to install games on the 360.

Compound that with BD media vs. DVD Heheh.

Devs are prone to using less compression/efficiency when presented with more storage space. It's especially evident with PC software.

Acrobat Reader 11 takes 141MB on this notebook I'm fixing for someone. Even a quick check of the Foxit reader on this laptop I'm using right now is over 80MB. Pretty crazy contrast to Foxit 3.x, which takes less than 5MB installed. Sure there are a few new mostly useless 'features' to the newer PDF readers, but essentially you're not seeing quantum leaps in anything.

Bloat. We will see it en masse in console games now that both are on BD. Bloat + mandatory install = 500gb not so big really. As a PC gamer, 500GB is almost laughable. WoW + LoL + BF3 + D3 + a few other things = poof, no space. And that's not that much.

 

[BladeVenom]

Was this posted yet? Even if so, worth a repost:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbWgUO-Rqcw

Yes, but if you missed that one, here's another one that I liked, that too has already been posted before. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOxdMQhDMIU

 

[Arkaign]

I considered the same method, and the only negative aspect that I can think of is... what do you do now that the user has a valid code? Once he returns the game, he doesn't magically forget the code nor does it stop the person from writing it down. If those specific codes required a disc to be inserted to use it, they could always borrow a disc from a friend and wait until someone happens to rent the game again. All they have to do is enter the code before the other person does, and wham... free rental until it gets cleared up!

The best way that I figured to stop this is to use throw-away codes. I've never used a Redbox, but I assume that it gives receipts. So, simply write out the code on the receipt. Yet again, I don't know what sort of information there is with Redbox, so I don't know how much detail there is, but essentially... they store the code with some sort of identifier so they can retrieve it when you return the game. The return process would be the same as the other method mentioned, they would query the Microsoft service to remove the game from your account.

With the DRM-featured direction, I don't think they will have a rental setup at all.

Think about it, there's no way they want rentals to even happen now. Instead of $60 sale for a game, they see it as a lost sale every time. It's a lot like the movie industry freaking out back on VHS days.

So Microsoft could either create some convoluted system that will allow games designed to run with specific licenses to be rented (by X, Y, or Z method, sort of irrelevant),

or ....

They could simply eliminate the rental possibility entirely.

Which do you think is more likely?

Ditto any idea that being able to privately resale/loan games will be possible. Think about how many people get a big release title, beat it in 2 days, and decide to sell it/give it away. The publishers look at every single one of those situations as a lost sale. Again, do you think they'll work hard to create a system that ALLOWS you to revoke your license to GIVE to someone else? Hellllll no. No way on earth they will let that happen. Now that they have the architecture set up to lock the games up by XBL credentials, they will not want these 'lost sales' to happen at all. At best, you might see the ability to get some Microsoft points or something, just so they can say you have a way to trade.

 

[Arkaign]

Oh, and just as an example. I have Battlefield 3 for PC, by ... EA. Can I say to someone, hey pay me $10, and I'll give you my BF3 retail copy/key, and you can go install/use it? Not really, unless I want to give them my Origin account, in which case I lose all my other games as well. EA desperately wants this model for consoles as well, and I can't see Microsoft disagreeing.

 

[exdeath]

Yes, ideally. There should be consequences to breaking the law. Sadly, we don't have the technology or manpower to enforce such measures and people can get away with it.

And until you pay your outstanding fines, you should not be allowed to drive. We suspend drivers licenses to discourage drivers, who break the law, to discourage them from driving, which would then be illegal and get them thrown in jail.

Then there are people like me who will mod that shit out with a custom FPGA if need be. I will not be micromanaged and rack up whatever infinite cash grabbing victimless crimes they can come up with next.

 

[exdeath]

Its obvious MS and their co conspirators Activision and EA are going all in with the cash grab fuck the customer business model. Nintendo is lost. My bets are on Sony this round.

 

[Arkaign]

Its obvious MS and their co conspirators Activision and EA are going all in with the cash grab fuck the customer business model. Nintendo is lost. My bets are on Sony this round.

Mostly agree, though I don't think Nintendo is totally lost, the WiiU isn't that expensive to make, and it will be a viable 3rd wheel when the big ones start rolling (Mario/Zelda/Smash/etc/etc). I'd be surprised if they didn't end up with WiiU being profitable. On the other hand, it would not surprise me if the WiiU ended up being the last traditional home console from Nintendo.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Seems like all is well on the used game front. At least based on the latest rumor probably not supported by facts.

http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/5/24/4363732/xbox-one-spot-checks-used-game-authentication

 

[Fingolfin269]

Its obvious MS and their co conspirators Activision and EA are going all in with the cash grab fuck the customer business model. Nintendo is lost. My bets are on Sony this round.

Which cash grab are you referring to?

 

[Anubis]

Xbox One: Microsoft aims for 1 billion lifetime sales,
I'm not saying they're out of touch with reality, but...

lol i saw this at lunch and my buddy and I think MS has totally lost it
to put that in perspective only about 250 million iPhones have been sold total across all versions worldwide

 

[lupi]

Seems like all is well on the used game front. At least based on the latest rumor probably not supported by facts.

http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/5/24/4363732/xbox-one-spot-checks-used-game-authentication

there is absolutely nothing new in that that hasn't been available since the conference.

 

[Arkaign]

Its obvious MS and their co conspirators Activision and EA are going all in with the cash grab fuck the customer business model. Nintendo is lost. My bets are on Sony this round.

Hahaha :

http://www.destructoid.com/wii-u-sales-drastically-spike-after-xbox-one-presentation-254449.phtml

 

[Fingolfin269]

there is absolutely nothing new in that that hasn't been available since the conference.

Exactly!

 

[Arkaign]

I think I have a possible insight into MSoft's plans here.

Step 1 : 'Reveal' the console, tout some multitainment stuff, and let about half the cat out of the bag on the big negative changes (shutting down rentals/loaning games/etc) to get a lot of the negative reaction/flak out of the way.

Step 2 : Show off games, games, games at E3, get the fanboys on board 100%, and while that's going on, quietly let some more of the info slip out about licensing schemes/DRM/etc, but not so much to distract from the major positives, build some steam.

Step 3 : Launch with at least a handful of major seller titles, let final cat out of bag regarding the usage of the licensing model, judiciously manage distribution to create the image that supply is limited, build hype train as big as possible.

Step 4 : ....

Step 5 : Profit

I think that MS and EA/etc already have it in their heads that they want the traditional model of used games and rentals/loans to disappear, and they're not going to backtrack. They're just going to try to spin/obfuscate/gloss over/distract from the truth for an extended period until people start to accept it en masse.

 

[dagamer34]

Hahaha :

http://www.destructoid.com/wii-u-sales-drastically-spike-after-xbox-one-presentation-254449.phtml

And then they realize there are no games for Wii U. :whiste:

 

[Raduque]

who is "they" ? redbox is a machine, there is no people involved in the rental process. unless you are now saying that redbox is going to have to make software to do all that in order to rent games. again, losing the convenience that people love about consoles.



more convenience lost with the console experience. and go tell redbox that it isn't that hard to start changing licenses with games.

and that would now mean what, redbox needs my xbox live account and info so they can transfer licenses to/from my account? same with gamestop, they now also need my gamertag info?

Redbox never needs to know your name, much less your gamertag. Do they ask for your name now to match it to your CC# for rentals? No.
Hopefully, it works this way:

The game wouldn't be activated till you put it in your console. When you return it to the redbox machine, it reads the unique ID off the disk, checks it against the Microsoft db, sees it's activated, and sends the command to deactivate it. Microsoft internally checks the ID, matches it to your account, and then removes the license from your account.

Perhaps they even use special "Rental Only" copies that have license info stored on the disk itself and the redbox machine uses a drive to check the disk. Do they perform disk verification now?

 

[BladeVenom]

Hahaha :

http://www.destructoid.com/wii-u-sales-drastically-spike-after-xbox-one-presentation-254449.phtml

That is hilarious.

 

[blurredvision]

Hahaha :

http://www.destructoid.com/wii-u-sales-drastically-spike-after-xbox-one-presentation-254449.phtml

I like how they mention a price cut on it at the very end. Now we know the real reason the sales spiked.