Today earlier Microsoft held an event to reveal to everyone the next generation (from them anyways) of gaming with the newest Xbox. They called it the "Xbox One" and although the event was light on actually showing a solid number of games I'd buy the system for...here is why I AM however psyched about the console so far and am looking forward to E3 even moreso as a result.
PROS OF THE XBOX ONE SO FAR:
1) The updated HUD and its features that were touched upon.
One thing that I liked with the reveal is the updated HUD which looks like a much more centralized version of the same one we're sporting now with the 360. It removes my problem I have with this current console (in it that be you watching a DVD or playing a game is relegated to a tiny corner square on the top left) and finally makes whatever primary function you're using at the moment the main focus on said HUD. We saw the spokesman that was speaking show how you could be watching a movie then multitask with a sidebar activity for, say, Internet Explorer or Skype. WHY anybody would want to start up Skype when watching something is beyond me, but put this with playing a video game and maybe this could open up new possibilities for Lets Play videos on Youtube.
We also got to see how you can multitask from Xbox to TV to Music to TV Guide to Movie then back to Xbox in mere instants. I don't think the actual console speed of switching it up to these different tasks will be as fast but the concept sounds amazing and seeing the demonstration is great.
But you know what I want most back and I hope Xbox One utilizes fully?
THIS^. I miss being able to watch Netflix with people across Xbox Live. I didn't mind the video was cropped but...this was such a social aspect of the birthing/continuation of Xbox Live that I SORELY MISS. I hope this level of creativity and just flat out fun comes back.
2) The fact we got to see the console PLUS its controller AND its official peripheral, the next version of the Kinect which will come standard with all Xbox One consoles.
So I'm not a fan of Kinect and I don't see that changing but the technological aspects behind it are amazing. However the fact we almost literally start the conference seeing what the console and its controller looks like? Just..oh my God. LOOK AT IT. It's like a sexy faux NES/Xbox fusion with its simple boxy design.
...that's another thing. Ever notice that the more we advance our game consoles the more they have this 'back-and-forth' appearance whether or not they look 'futuristic' and then simplistic again? The appearance of it resembles the boxy Atari/Collicovision/Nintendo era of gaming...but with a 2013 vibe added to it.
Sorry, I could gush about the appearance all day.
3) HOLY CRAP WE FINALLY HAVE BLU RAY!
...oh and here's some neat specs, too.
4) That Forza 5 trailer has me very interested...on top of the fact it looked EYE BLEEDINGLY CRISP.
Which is a shame because I'd usually be hyped about other things like other BIG NAME video games but as far as that goes...
The cons...
1) WHERE ARE THE GAMES MICROSOFT? YOU PROMISED US VIDEO GAMES!
Okay so not really: they said they would showcase video games at E3. I'm not a fan of their constant need to show us how socially integrated their consoles are becoming but it is nice. I just don't want to spend so much time talking about it. I like knowing I can do this this and this and I'll go "Yeah okay cool" but want to move on because seriously SHOW ME THE VIDEO GAMES.
2) SPORTS! SPORTS! SPORTS! SPORTS! SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORTTTTTSSSSSSS!
Look, Microsoft, please. For the love of God I GET THAT SPORTS SELL. They are a big point of profit but you have gone MANY E3 CONFERENCES SPENDING MOST OF THE TIME TALKING ABOUT SPORTS AND ESPN. You are reporting this information to GEEKS and NOT-INTO-SPORTS PEOPLE. Even those of us into sports WANT TO SEE VIDEO GAMES PRESENTED. But the laughing-stock point of your conferences has been and always will be (if not Kinect and 'innovation') the absurd amount of time you give just talking about SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRTTTSSSS and fantasy teams and what other millions of ways they can circle jerk around with other jocks and sports fans about their teams and stuff.
To be honest I'd have rather heard a bit of the story of the other apps this Xbox One is getting like Skype which is very neat and may rule out ever using my iPhone for Skype ever again. I'd have liked to have heard about the success of bringing over the other apps that you guys have done so over the past few years since you decided to do so. Why? BECAUSE SPORTS TALK IS BORING IN A VIDEO GAME CONFERENCE.
This includes UFC as well, which is also known as "2 men wrestle around in a cage".
Okay, I apologize for that last one...but it's the only thing preventing this from completely obliterating the expectations I had. Thankfully I'm mostly positive on the concept of the Xbox One and may pre-order it. Maybe. I know early adopters may get shafted on content so let's see what E3 presents to us. What are your thoughts?
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