Official Thread XBOX Hardware

[starlight777]

Wow, Sony explicitly said that the additional content will only be available for PS4. I know MS also does timed exclusives but I always remember them wording as "first on Xbox". Sony lies again, no surprise.

I agree with you. I posted this to see if I was not the only one to catch that difference. its extremely important to me
if I am buying a product to have some sort of trust with that company

last year H- was going to freeze over before I ever bought another Xbox.. I was so very angry. it took a lot to convince me. and was it hard to find launch day Xbox when I finally decided to go with it
this years E3 with Phil more than convinced me that I had, indeed, made the correct decision. I am happy with my product and will defend Xbox
like a mother bear with her cubs
in late 2012 I replaced my 360 with the halo 4 360 and my ps3 fat with the slim 500gb, just in case I was not going to be happy
with either company..

 

[starseeker]

Guys, keep to Xbox please.

 

[spid]

Behind the scenes look at the Microsoft pres briefing.

 

[Zcythe]

Behind the scenes look at the Microsoft pres briefing.

Yeah, I watched this yesterday. You can really tell that MS has the "fever" right now, and I really hope that it pays off for them. The focus on games and their consumers right now is contagious, and it is really great what they did for their fans at E3.

 

[Kvally]

Getting the [HASHTAG]#Xbox[/HASHTAG] version of Destiny no question then.

 

[Hammerclaw]

Well look at that. Sony does all kinds of promo tie ins and moneyhat partnerships, while MS does the same thing with the most obvious one being Activision's other big franchise with CoD DLC timed exclusivity every year. The companies aren't as different as people think they are.

Sony is putting focus into Destiny as they probably believe it will be a hit game and they don't have any other shooters in their library that gets attention. Love em or hate em Activision puts a lot of effort into many of their frachinses and Destiny is one of them. So the chances of failure with Destiny is low. MS has Gears and Halo, Sony's KZ dies off quick and all those Resistance, MAG, Socom franchises are dead.

They are going after the same target using games, media, entertainment, apps and whatever else at their disposal (for example YT and Twitch feeds). Yet somehow some gamers actually think their motives are entirely different.

Oh, no. When Microsoft does it, it's money hatting. When Sony does it, everyone knows that they are just "Reaching for Greatness". Really Telly, we must get our termanolgy straight.

 

[Hammerclaw]

I really have to wonder if that crappy music and and awful narration in the E3 trailer is going to be part of the finished product. It sounded more like an Indie game.

 

[theBADguy]

Oh, no. When Microsoft does it, it's money hatting. When Sony does it, everyone knows that they are just "Reaching for Greatness". Really Telly, we must get our termanolgy straight.

More like when Sony does it it's "funding" or my personal favorite "forming a relationship/partnership"

 

[Intellivision]

Oh, no. When Microsoft does it, it's money hatting. When Sony does it, everyone knows that they are just "Reaching for Greatness". Really Telly, we must get our termanolgy straight.

Perhaps, MS = moneyhatting, Sony = investing in content

or

MS = moneyhatting, Sony = strategic marketing collaboration

 

[David]

is the crew an exclusive? Is there a thread already on it?

 

[starlight777]

what I have been reading on those 'other' forums
is that some are indeed buying the Xbox because of phil... lol
I have heard he was a class act at E3 he congratulated sony and Nintendo
whereas sony took jabs at Microsoft


I give a coupla quotes but not link to the forum

for just being a class act at E3.While Sony was making pop shots at Microsoft, Phil was congratulating Nintendo and Sony on their success.

But I do know this, if it weren't for Phil Spencer I wouldn't of bought one.


The xboss has that effect on people


Ultimately though, what finally swung the pendulum back to the xbox camp was Phil Spencer's attitude / demeanor
feel like I can trust him in the driver's seat

He looks like a gamer. Casual guy who people can look at and not think of some corporate boss just wanting to make profits. He seems to genuinely care about gaming and that's why I am confident in Xbox.


Phil has done a fantastic job being very transparent with gamers, the primary focus of the product. With that transparency, he also opened a dialogue with us, proving that it is still the consumer that is in the driver seat. He's done some fantastic things, and I have high hopes for the future!




http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ph...-a-f-ing-million-miles-dev-says/1100-6419921/
Microsoft made the right, if not belated, decision of appointing 20-year company veteran Phil Spencer to the position of Head of Xbox earlier this year, according to Capybara Games (Super Time Force, Below) president Nathan Vella. Speaking with GamesIndustry International, Vella sung Spencer's praises through and through.

"Phil is the best case scenario for Xbox, by a f***ing million miles," Vella said. "To me it's inconceivable that he wasn't doing it before. I have a lot of respect for the guy and he's been a huge supporter of the studio."

Part of the reason why Vella, and gamers alike, seem to like Spencer so much is because he is known for his considerably candid comments and for his willingness to interact with fans on Twitter.

"He's a guy who will actually listen to people who tweet at him or message him on Xbox Live," Vella said. "He'll actually read it, and that's not that normal. But now it is normal for both Microsoft and Sony. And I think that's very interesting. That's them working in the present, living in the time we're working in. And I think that's going to be nothing but positive for both platforms... Both platforms have done way better than anybody expected. Part of that reason is because people are excited about new games, but the other part of it is that there are reasons for them to be excited. There are things they asked for that are in there, changes that got made when they asked them to be made."

 

[Hammerclaw]

He's Nintendo nice. He radiates good feelings and quiet enthusiam. Instead coming across like a Lord on a Leatherette, he makes you feel like he's working for you, and that he really enjoys his job.

 

[Frozpot]

The crew,so um is it like the entire US, so I could drive around in any city. Wouldn't mind checking out my hometown in Texas.

I wouldn't get too excited- they are not making 1 to 1 recreations. It a condensed version. Unless your hometown is a major city, I doubt it'll be there.

They showed a race up Pikes Peak( even that didn't look like it), but I'd be surprised if Colorado Springs is in there (the city at the base of the Mtn).

Where are you in Texas? I'm actually living in Abilene, atm.

 

[David]

I was

I wouldn't get too excited- they are not making 1 to 1 recreations. It a condensed version. Unless your hometown is a major city, I doubt it'll be there.

They showed a race up Pikes Peak( even that didn't look like it), but I'd be surprised if Colorado Springs is in there (the city at the base of the Mtn).

Where are you in Texas? I'm actually living in Abilene, atm.

born in perrington, moved to evansville when I was a kid

 

[Mcmasters]

what I have been reading on those 'other' forums
is that some are indeed buying the Xbox because of phil... lol
I have heard he was a class act at E3 he congratulated sony and Nintendo
whereas sony took jabs at Microsoft


I give a coupla quotes but not link to the forum

for just being a class act at E3.While Sony was making pop shots at Microsoft, Phil was congratulating Nintendo and Sony on their success.

But I do know this, if it weren't for Phil Spencer I wouldn't of bought one.


The xboss has that effect on people


Ultimately though, what finally swung the pendulum back to the xbox camp was Phil Spencer's attitude / demeanor
feel like I can trust him in the driver's seat

He looks like a gamer. Casual guy who people can look at and not think of some corporate boss just wanting to make profits. He seems to genuinely care about gaming and that's why I am confident in Xbox.


Phil has done a fantastic job being very transparent with gamers, the primary focus of the product. With that transparency, he also opened a dialogue with us, proving that it is still the consumer that is in the driver seat. He's done some fantastic things, and I have high hopes for the future!




http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ph...-a-f-ing-million-miles-dev-says/1100-6419921/
Microsoft made the right, if not belated, decision of appointing 20-year company veteran Phil Spencer to the position of Head of Xbox earlier this year, according to Capybara Games (Super Time Force, Below) president Nathan Vella. Speaking with GamesIndustry International, Vella sung Spencer's praises through and through.

"Phil is the best case scenario for Xbox, by a f***ing million miles," Vella said. "To me it's inconceivable that he wasn't doing it before. I have a lot of respect for the guy and he's been a huge supporter of the studio."

Part of the reason why Vella, and gamers alike, seem to like Spencer so much is because he is known for his considerably candid comments and for his willingness to interact with fans on Twitter.

"He's a guy who will actually listen to people who tweet at him or message him on Xbox Live," Vella said. "He'll actually read it, and that's not that normal. But now it is normal for both Microsoft and Sony. And I think that's very interesting. That's them working in the present, living in the time we're working in. And I think that's going to be nothing but positive for both platforms... Both platforms have done way better than anybody expected. Part of that reason is because people are excited about new games, but the other part of it is that there are reasons for them to be excited. There are things they asked for that are in there, changes that got made when they asked them to be made."

Is it me or is there a bit more of hostility lately from Sony fans about the XBO since E3? I think the dust is beginning to settle and their starting to realize that the price drop, kinectless SKU and top tier games coming this year and next, not to mention the Master Chief collection coming in at a value of $60 and a plethora of others things, will have a huge impact on XBO sales.

 

[consolewarz]

MS has done the "exclusive content only on Xbox One" for timed exclusive content before. They both do it.

will have a huge impact on XBO sales.

I think not. It will have an impact, but a relatively small one. All signs indicate that E3 2014 and Kinectless had little impact on hardware sales. There's going to be months when even Wii U outsells Xbox.

 

[Intellivision]

Is it me or is there a bit more of hostility lately from Sony fans about the XBO since E3? I think the dust is beginning to settle and their starting to realize that the price drop, kinectless SKU and top tier games coming this year and next, not to mention the Master Chief collection coming in at a value of $60 and a plethora of others things, will have a huge impact on XBO sales.

Since the beginning of this year, the hate and anti-MS articles really took a nose dive. Over the past maybe 3 months, MS has done a great job with reversals, OS updates, price drop and Phil Spencer is a much more likable guy than stoic suit and tie guy Don Mattrick.

Notice how almost all those pro-PS4 indie articles have pretty much disappeared? Last year, you'd think with all these articles X1 would get zero indie games. Well look at that, X1 is churning out lots with that ID@Xbox thing.

So media wise and article wise it's a more level playing field between MS and Sony.

Forum wise, it's come down to grasping at straws and resolution wars which is a farce as it seems most people can't even tell the difference. The latest is UFC. EA said it is a 1080p game yet for ages, yet DF did pixel counting and the demo is actually 900p on both consoles. I bet almost everyone didn't notice or care until DF said so.

Also, notice how no Sony fan ever wants to compare OS features? Yet how often do you see MS fans ragging on PS4 for missing features?

 

[Mcmasters]

Since the beginning of this year, the hate and anti-MS articles really took a nose dive. Over the past maybe 3 months, MS has done a great job with reversals, OS updates, price drop and Phil Spencer is a much more likable guy than stoic suit and tie guy Don Mattrick.

Notice how almost all those pro-PS4 indie articles have pretty much disappeared? Last year, you'd think with all these articles X1 would get zero indie games. Well look at that, X1 is churning out lots with that ID@Xbox thing.

So media wise and article wise it's a more level playing field between MS and Sony.

Forum wise, it's come down to grasping at straws and resolution wars which is a farce as it seems most people can't even tell the difference. The latest is UFC. EA said it is a 1080p game yet for ages, yet DF did pixel counting and the demo is actually 900p on both consoles. I bet almost everyone didn't notice or care until DF said so.

Also, notice how no Sony fan ever wants to compare OS features? Yet how often do you see MS fans ragging on PS4 for missing features?

All good points Intelli...

 

[MosquitoSmasher]

So when they showed The Division at Microsoft's show i didn't believe it would be footage from Xbox One itself, at the same time, there was aliasing visible and just things you otherwise wouldn't see in PC footage. Then i read stories from people that it actually was playable on the show floor and it was on Xbox One. My question is...did anyone go there? if so...was the controller connected to something you couldn't see or was it actually the Xbox One itself? Cause that would be quite cool.

 

[Rollins]

http://gamingbolt.com/directx-12-wi...ion-richer-scenes-xbox-one-cloud-is-promising

GamingBolt has covered Microsoft’s upcoming graphics API i.e. DirectX 12 quite extensively. Speaking to several developers over the past few months, the response has been extremely positive. But in all of those interviews, the developers had not worked on or bench-marked the API. Fortunately, GamingBolt got in touch with Futuremark, whose bench-marking tool 3D Mark was used to gauge DX12 at Microsoft’s build event a few months back.

Speaking to Futuremark’s President, Oliver Baltuch, GamingBolt were able to receive a few more details about the new API, such as improved collision detection and efficient algorithms.

“We were very happy when Microsoft chose 3DMark to show some of the benefits of DirectX 12,” explains Oliver. “In their demo, they showed two major improvements over DirectX 11 – a 50% improvement in CPU utilization, and better distribution of work among threads.”

“With DirectX 12 game developers will be able to create richer scenes with more objects. DirectX 12 also introduces a set of new rendering features that will improve the efficiency of algorithms used in rendering and collision detection.” However he thinks it’s too early to deliver a final verdict about its benefits since it is still more than year away from launch. “It’s too early to know the exact performance gains, but when DirectX 12 is ready we’ll be there with a 3DMark benchmark that shows the new possibilities,” he added.


Given that Futuremark are deep into bench-marking, we asked Oliver’s thoughts about Microsoft’s claim of making the Xbox One more powerful using the cloud. Oliver’s response was positive.

“It does look promising, doesn’t it? I imagine the challenge will be to use it in such a way that gameplay isn’t compromised if the console is offline, or has a poor connection. It will be interesting to see how developers make use of it,” he said.

Given that Microsoft showcased the cloud technology a while ago and will also be used in the upcoming Crackdown 3, we could be getting our first real taste at the so called power of cloud very soon.

 

[TDbank24]

So when they showed The Division at Microsoft's show i didn't believe it would be footage from Xbox One itself, at the same time, there was aliasing visible and just things you otherwise wouldn't see in PC footage. Then i read stories from people that it actually was playable on the show floor and it was on Xbox One. My question is...did anyone go there? if so...was the controller connected to something you couldn't see or was it actually the Xbox One itself? Cause that would be quite cool.

Don't worry about The Division on the Xbox One. That gameplay at E3 was on the One. I have no doubt about it. All this talk about the Xbox One being an underpowered machine is about to be swept under the rug. With the power of the cloud it's over.

 

[Frozpot]

Don't worry about The Division on the Xbox One. That gameplay at E3 was on the One. I have no doubt about it. All this talk about the Xbox One being an underpowered machine is about to be swept under the rug. With the power of the cloud it's over.

I agree. Even the look of the rendering made me think X1, and the aliasing that was present certainly doesn't scream PC to me.

 

[Intellivision]

Given that Microsoft showcased the cloud technology a while ago and will also be used in the upcoming Crackdown 3, we could be getting our first real taste at the so called power of cloud very soon.

Phil holds true to his tweets. He mentioned the other day a cloud demo will down the line. I don't think he'd say that if he meant it for 2015 or 2016. I expect some kind of showcase later this year.

 

[old guy]

Don't worry about The Division on the Xbox One. That gameplay at E3 was on the One. I have no doubt about it. All this talk about the Xbox One being an underpowered machine is about to be swept under the rug. With the power of the cloud it's over.

I agree that the machine is far more capable than it has been made out to be. But please don't expect "the power of the cloud" to work magic in how games look. The physics stuff in Crackdown looks promising, and I believe it will make for some very cool things, but if you're somehow expecting something like a resolution bump because of "power of the cloud", you're going to be disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I'm in love with the possibilities of on-demand, offloaded compute power, but let's please be realistic about what that can mean. It's not going to magically double the number of particles on screen. It doesn't work that way.

 

[Mcmasters]

I agree that the machine is far more capable than it has been made out to be. But please don't expect "the power of the cloud" to work magic in how games look. The physics stuff in Crackdown looks promising, and I believe it will make for some very cool things, but if you're somehow expecting something like a resolution bump because of "power of the cloud", you're going to be disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I'm in love with the possibilities of on-demand, offloaded compute power, but let's please be realistic about what that can mean. It's not going to magically double the number of particles on screen. It doesn't work that way.

Old G. weren't you one of the ones stating that the Cloud wouldbt be able to do the very things that are being shown now, that its actually doing? I mean so far as destruction, physics and all because of the latency issues? And now you're saying that it cant enhance the resolutions etc. If my memory serves, the new SDK is helping with the resolution and performance issues as we speak, so the Cloud tech isnt even necessary for res and performance. And now you're saying that we shouldnt expect any improvements in the visuals dept. As far as that goes, no one knows what can be accomplished but if the proof is in the pudding, then the destruction and physics features accomplished by the Cloud should hush many of the naysayers from this point forth.

But really mate. Which is it now and why dont you expect the Cloud to be able to help out in the visuals? If physics and lighting can be created on the Cloud, doesnt that free up a lot of the workload within the local box to make better looking games? This is something that has been discussed time and again...

 

[old guy]

Old G. weren't you one of the ones stating that the Cloud wouldbt be able to do the very things that are being shown now, that its actually doing? I mean so far as destruction, physics and all because of the latency issues? And now you're saying that it cant enhance the resolutions etc. If my memory serves, the new SDK is helping with the resolution and performance issues as we speak, so the Cloud tech isnt even necessary for res and performance. And now you're saying that we shouldnt expect any improvements in the visuals dept. As far as that goes, no one knows what can be accomplished but if the proof is in the pudding, then the destruction and physics features accomplished by the Cloud should hush many of the naysayers from this point forth.

But really mate. Which is it now and why dont you expect the Cloud to be able to help out in the visuals? If physics and lighting can be created on the Cloud, doesnt that free up a lot of the workload within the local box to make better looking games? This is something that has been discussed time and again...

No, i wasn't one of those. In fact, I've been advocating the cloud as more than just simple dedicated servers, as well as a big deal, for quite some time. Don't build me up as your straw man. And please note I'm not saying anything about the new SDK updates; I believe those will provide demonstrable improvements, and more and more evidence is coming back proving exactly that.

I'm saying, get excited about improvements to the SDK, the 10% reservation being available now, and the improved multithreading that DirectX 12 will bring. But don't expect that "cloud power" will have the same kind of effect; it will provide new experiences, but it's not another checkbox on the list of things that will somehow magically achieve hardware parity with the PS4.

On the subject of cloud, I think that there are a lot of possibilities for things like physics, if they can handle the issues of latency. I think we're starting to see that, especially with the Crackdown stuff. The kinds of situations where remote compute can help will always be subject, however, to latency. You're not going to render a scene at a higher resolution, because that requires immediate compute, not remote compute subject to variable response times. There's all sorts of potential for new gaming experiences (like Crackdown, Drivatar, etc.) in any situation where the compute can be offloaded remotely and doesn't need to be available for immediate use; anywhere that it's OK if there's an unpredictable delay, or where you might not ever get a response back. But if you need immediate response, you're not getting anything from the cloud.

Where the cloud MIGHT help with resolution is in online only games, where you can guarantee that there is a connection, and thus where you can do things remotely, like AI, hit management, etc, on a separate server, and thus free up local resources for things like improving the look of the game. So even your basic dedicated server with remote AI can provide some kind of benefit in that regard. But, since that kind of thing is generally CPU-bound, not GPU-bound, it's not as likely to directly benefit the look of a game (though I believe that it may help with things like frame rate, which can be CPU-bound).

 

[David]

No, i wasn't one of those. In fact, I've been advocating the cloud as more than just simple dedicated servers, as well as a big deal, for quite some time. Don't build me up as your straw man. And please note I'm not saying anything about the new SDK updates; I believe those will provide demonstrable improvements, and more and more evidence is coming back proving exactly that.

I'm saying, get excited about improvements to the SDK, the 10% reservation being available now, and the improved multithreading that DirectX 12 will bring. But don't expect that "cloud power" will have the same kind of effect; it will provide new experiences, but it's not another checkbox on the list of things that will somehow magically achieve hardware parity with the PS4.

On the subject of cloud, I think that there are a lot of possibilities for things like physics, if they can handle the issues of latency. I think we're starting to see that, especially with the Crackdown stuff. The kinds of situations where remote compute can help will always be subject, however, to latency. You're not going to render a scene at a higher resolution, because that requires immediate compute, not remote compute subject to variable response times. There's all sorts of potential for new gaming experiences (like Crackdown, Drivatar, etc.) in any situation where the compute can be offloaded remotely and doesn't need to be available for immediate use; anywhere that it's OK if there's an unpredictable delay, or where you might not ever get a response back. But if you need immediate response, you're not getting anything from the cloud.

Where the cloud MIGHT help with resolution is in online only games, where you can guarantee that there is a connection, and thus where you can do things remotely, like AI, hit management, etc, on a separate server, and thus free up local resources for things like improving the look of the game. So even your basic dedicated server with remote AI can provide some kind of benefit in that regard. But, since that kind of thing is generally CPU-bound, not GPU-bound, it's not as likely to directly benefit the look of a game (though I believe that it may help with things like frame rate, which can be CPU-bound).

see that's my thing though people, not saying you becouse I don't know if you have, say cloud, DX12, tiles, and whatever else won't make a difference. I mean wasn't the whole point of a new gen was new way of doing things. Do people think everything is going to go smooth the first year.

 

[Mcmasters]

...And is it just me, or are people really missing the big picture here. Regardless of the hardware in the 4, and the XBO with not as remarkable hardware, it honestly doesnt seem to matter. Who cares how impressive or powerful the hardware [is] when the results are the same across the board for both platforms? Only I gotta say, its much more impressive the XBO is accomplishing what it has when the hardware isnt as impressive as the hardware in the 4. And software is only making the X1 that much MORE impressive.

 

[jsgiv]

There's going to be months when even Wii U outsells Xbox.

Yes - when the next Zelda comes out there will be a big month - I'll probably by the Wii U just for that game alone (and it won't hurt that it should be relatively cheap by then)....

Of course - I could just borrow my nephew's Wii U and play the game - or buy a used unit instead..

Ah wait - nvm - changed my mind - not gonna happen....

 

[David]

...And is it just me, or are people really missing the big picture here. Regardless of the hardware in the 4, and the XBO with not as remarkable hardware, it honestly doesnt seem to matter. Who cares how impressive or powerful the hardware [is] when the results are the same across the board for both platforms? Only I gotta say, its much more impressive the XBO is accomplishing what it has when the hardware isnt as impressive as the hardware in the 4. And software is only making the X1 that much MORE impressive.

Like some one said a Porsche vs a Muscle car.