SubJeff on 24/5/2013 at 05:29
Quote Posted by CCCToad
You won't miss out on all that stuff even with no console. It's called an HDMI cable.
That was my point.
Engage brain then mouth.
heywood on 24/5/2013 at 07:20
Quote Posted by Yakoob
Personally, though, I'd love to see less "all-in-one" devices and more "cloud" services. I constantly switch between my powerful PC, less-powerful-but-portable laptop, and ultra-portable iPhone, and stuff like Google Chrome bookmark / login synching, cloud drive, EverNote persistent notes has been a godsend compared to days of constantly manually copying files from one device to another.
I'm kind of the opposite. My home server is my cloud. I want to own my data.
I think your earlier point was on the money. The relative success of the next gen consoles will have more to do with their media hub functionality than gaming. I think console gaming is pretty much at its peak, with PC gaming making a resurgence at the high end of the gaming market and tablet gaming taking a big bite out of the low end. But there's still a lot of growth potential in media streaming & sharing.
jay pettitt on 24/5/2013 at 08:59
So we (and maybe Microsoft in particular) need to be asking, is the Xbox One the most amazing and best home theatre PC media centre thingy evar? And are EA sports exclusives really a super hot USP for such a device?
That could go wrong.
(oh and I like my data both at home and on the cloud - belt and braces)
faetal on 24/5/2013 at 09:28
Quote Posted by Yakoob
Again, you keep saying "for me..." but that's the point, they are no longer targetting you or the hardcore gaming demographic, but a far broader audience that simply doesn't want to mess with custom programs, extra peripherals or all that stuff. They want a simple box - One Box that "just works."
The reason I keep saying "for me" is precisely so I'm not claiming to speak for everyone. My opinion is only that.
I like the idea of one box that just works, but unless it was replacing my PC, I'd be spending a lot of extra money for it and since I work damned hard for my money, aren't I just displacing the effort saved from setting up the PC?
jay pettitt on 24/5/2013 at 09:46
'tother thing of course, re consoles as media centres, is Sony owns (in both senses of the word) media. Whereas (
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-23-halo-4-forward-unto-dawn-review) here is how Eurogamer just wrapped up it's review of Microsoft's foray into making Halo into a live action series...
Quote:
Think of Halo and you likely think of epic alien vistas, gangs of weird, colourful aliens dashing about, and sleek vehicles hammering each other in pitched battles. Forward Unto Dawn contains none of that. It's surprising the famously protective Microsoft signed off on it, let alone produced it. If the only way to render your blockbuster saga in another medium is to make it look this small and cheap, was it really worth the effort?
I suppose they could always dig up the old Barney the Dinosaur toddler's tv series.
heywood on 24/5/2013 at 09:53
Jay - It won't be the most amazing and best home theatre PC media centre thingy evar, because that would be too expensive and too complicated for most people (see: high end A/V receivers). But it might be the most amazing and best home theatre PC media centre thingy available under $500 and with a sane UI.
jay pettitt on 24/5/2013 at 10:00
Sure, but what's to stop someone else making a media centre for less than $500 bucks with a nice UI if folk see a market for such a thing? Why would consumers want Xbox One?
~edit~
to expand a bit - the only reason I can think for anyone to want an Xbox One in their house is because their teenage son (or inner teenage son) threatens never to let you have a moments peace otherwise. For that to happen you need all the gaming websites to have shiny pictures of men in spandex suits with laser guns looking cool jumping about in space ships. I'm not sure being the next water cooler is going to cut it if that's the market, or that Xbox One or Microsoft has got anything killer going for it as a media hub for all the family otherwise.
I think there's definitely room in the world for wondering how many devices you want in your home and the living room could probably lose a few. It's not a bad direction per se. But the last thing anyone needs is half a dozen multi-purpose devices trying to get in on everything.
faetal on 24/5/2013 at 11:30
There should be a way to bolt it on to a microwave oven.
PigLick on 24/5/2013 at 11:43
jay petit i am not sure you have a full handle on things there. I own an xbox360, mainly bought it to play RDR and the upcoming gta5, but you know what gets played the most? Minecraft by my 10yo son and 7 yo daughter, I mean some serious hours playing.
Microsoft dont really care about the "core" gamers whatever that is, I mean these kind of ppl are gonna buy the console anyway, and still bitch about it.
ffs I think the new xbox all sounds a little bit crap, but the teenage son market is long gone, they have their eyes on a whole new kinda player base.
jay pettitt on 24/5/2013 at 12:09
Quote Posted by PigLick
jay petit i am not sure you have a full handle on things there.
That's for certain.
Though I'm completely aware that there's markets beyond the teenage son and I'm sure Microsoft would love the biggest pieces of them there bits of pie. I'm just not seeing how Xbox One is going to appeal to any of them and how Microsoft think they're not going to lose out to tablets and phones and smaller, cheaper gizmos. Who is the Xbox for?
