What’s worse than a shark in its horrifying natural habitat?
A flying one. In a tornado.
Enough said.
Check out the cast of this beast here
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Sharknado. Because why not?
Photo courtesy of dreadcentral.com -
Ermahgerd, ErxBerx!
Ok, everyone take a deep breath, and let it out slowly as you read.
In the post-coital glow following today’s Xbox One event, rumors / “official” statements / outright lies are circulating like mad. Of course, if you’re like me, the glow is the less romantic, and more the dying embers of a giant wildfire of suck. The things I say next aren’t going to help with that.
A while back, there were all kinds of things said about the possibility of the new console being “always on,” i.e. requiring an internet connection, at all times, simply to function. There were additionally things said concerning how the system would handle used games, with signs seeming to indicate that it would not support GameStop’s industry of lies.
Today, neither of those concerns was addressed directly at the event, but here in the ashes, things are coming to light:
Always On – The prevailing theory here is that the system will not require an internet connection to turn on, or even play games… for the most part. Several publishers have already indicated that their individual titles may need a constant connection, and streaming services already need that to function. Now, though, comes info that your console will be performing routine connection tests every 24 hours for… “updates.” Of course, no one has spoken directly to what happens if your console isn’t connected for one of these routine checks.
Secondhand Games – I use this particular term for a very specific reason, and the reason is that certain new functions may eliminate not only used games, but borrowing games as well. Furious yet? Let’s continue. The function is question is a kind of licensing system that would tie games to your account, like the registration keys that have become so common on PC. You would buy a new game, put in the code, and then your account would have the right to play any copy of that game, across any console. Try and lend it to a friend, though, and they would be prompted to purchase that license, at whatever price the publisher is currently asking. Same thing for used games; doesn’t matter how much you paid GameStop for that disc of Madden 2016, no license, no go.
So what do I think about all of this? Well, to begin with, anyone who read my predictions about the next generation – and the next Microsoft console in particular – will know that this is familiar territory. These things also go hand-in-hand, as I will know discuss:
Assume the licensing thing is true. Downloadable titles currently require a connection to validate the license on all consoles except for the one they were originally downloaded on, so that’s not a huge step to take. That functionality would be useless without a way to check the license… so required internet is a given. Of course, you could just elect not to connect in order to play a borrowed / used game, but that would eliminate the ability to play online, and would probably disable achievements. So the console might not “require” a “constant” connection, functionality, even at the most basic level, could be hindered severely.
More than players, more than developers, more than threats from high-end pawn shops, console manufacturers have to please publishers. This system would give publishers exceptional control over their properties, and the profits generated from them. As such, if you were thinking Sony would be free from these chains, think again.
Welcome to the future.
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Play Games While Loading To The Hard Drive On Xbox One
Photo courtesy xbox The Xbox One will come with a 500GB hard drive and the ability to have all your saves on cloud storage which is good since it is being reported that you may have to load every game you buy onto your system before playing them. Luckily you will not have to sit and watch that painful loading screen when you pre-load your games on the 360 since the Xbox One will allow you to start playing your game while it loads onto the system.
Games will automatically begin the download to the hard drive as soon as you insert them into the Xbox One.
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Xbox One To Expand Friend List
Are you at your limit with 100 friends on Xbox Live? Well Microsoft has heard your frenzied cries of popularity. The Xbox One will now give Live users the ability to have 1000 friends on their account. So for all of you celebrities, internet gurus, journalists and what not that need this many friends today is your day!
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An Xbox Lover’s First Impression: Scott’s Xbox One Thoughts
I love my Xbox 360. It is my console of choice for this last generation. Now don’t get me wrong, I still play my PS3 religiously, but whenever a multi-console game has come out (which is 85% of releases) I instinctively get it for the 360. I am an admitted achievement whore and I prefer my online experiences over Xbox Live. So why am I ready to purchase a PS4 on day one and feel I can wait a few months on my Xbox One purchase?
Simple answer: the games.
Now don’t get on a high horse and say that I am jumping on a new bandwagon or anything asinine like that. There is still a long way to go before deciding what next-gen console will occupy the majority of my time. E3 is in a few weeks where both Microsoft and Sony will bring out the really big guns with game demos (hopefully) and price points. This early, early, very early impression is based solely on the two press conferences I have watched. Opinions have the wonderful ability to change.
The Xbox One is a beautiful looking machine. It is simplistic, square and black. Something that agrees with my OCD for my entertainment center. Like the PS4, it is a monster on the inside with 8GB of RAM and 8-core CPU with a Blu-Ray drive (which I am sure is killing Microsoft on the inside knowing Sony won that battle). It has the horsepower to match the PS4 which is what we expected. The other thing we expected, which I was hoping was wrong, was that Microsoft would focus on Xbox One being the central hub of your living room. This is where my initial disconnect begins.
Back in February, Sony took a calculated risk by saying the PS4 would be a gaming machine focused on the games. They bet double down that Microsoft would take the entertainment route and they were right. Now in the next six months we are going to see if that bet pays off. For a gamer like me I am more than ready to get a PS4 day one because of this reason. I understand Microsoft’s overall strategy with the Xbox One. It is the next evolution of the brand and that’s all well and good….for Microsoft. I have no problem with my cable box, I have ten sports channels to watch and a laptop and smartphone to check my fantasy teams on and while all the bells and whistles that Microsoft showed off today were certainly fun, they are not convincing me that I will be saving $500 for a midnight release.
All photos courtesy theverge.com With so many games being multi-platform now and my existing systems still going strong with their impressive libraries and ability to play Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO Go, etc., my first choice in next-gen systems breaks down to exclusives and as much as I love the Xbox brand, Sony is going to win that fight. I love my Gears of War and Halo and will be playing them (eventually) on an Xbox One, but when I begin to look at the Sony franchises that I am addicted to my choice becomes clearer. Uncharted, Infamous, Little Big Planet, Ratchet and Clank, God of War and Killzone is quite the list and two of those franchises are guaranteed to me on day one on the PS4.
I know this article may be a little hypocritical seeing as how I will eventually own both systems, but early adopters are the ones who drive the spin of which console is winning. Last generation Sony priced themselves out of my range for two years while my love of Xbox grew. Now this generation Playstation is focusing on the games while Xbox One is trying to get me to voice command it to watch Mike and Molly.
Early (and big) advantage: Sony
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“Durango NextBox 720 Fusion” : Trey’s Take on the Xbox One Event
I’d like to start by saying that I was not able to watch the presentation “live,” but I was following the event on several gaming sites and social media.
The overall impression I got, and the feeling I arrived at after reading some posts and watching some of the demonstrations, was “Meh. Where are our games? When does it actually come out? Is it E3 yet?”
It is no surprise that the Xbox One will be a media-heavy device, with a large portion of its abilities focused on things other than just playing games. My 360 already spends as much time on Netflix and Hulu as it does facilitating headshots, and Sony’s PS4 reveal set the tone for next-gen integration of web and social media. Considering there is already a Pizza Hut app that lets you order delivery right from your console, things like browsing theater show times and buying tickets are just the next logical step in the process.
There was a lot of talk about games, with numbers being thrown around concerning how many exclusive titles we can expect, how many of those are new IPs, etc. The amazing thing was the sheer lack of footage from those games, or even information about titles; hell guys, I would have taken a teaser logo or two. Halo TV series sounds like a win, but again, that’s only game-related, not an actual game.
All photos courtesy theverge.com The games that were shown off ranged from: Interesting (Quantum Break); completely expected but pretty (Forza, sports titles); and completely expected, uninteresting, bland and useless (Call of Go Fuck Yourself, Leaning in FPS is Not Something to Be Excited About).
Finally, Microsoft managed to give us absolutely zero info in way of a release date.
So what are my thoughts on this? I would have saved the money and hype for E3, since they’re essentially doing that anyway by holding off on game announcements and a solid release date. I genuinely think the folks in Xbox marketing let the media get to them about how long they were waiting after Sony’s announcement, and the end result was a half-assed presentation that gave me very few reasons to be excited for the Xbox One.
“4/10. Would not waste time on over-hyped presentation again.”
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More Images Of The Xbox One
All photos courtesy theverge.com Hey! In case you missed it, Microsoft has a new console, the Xbox One. How about a better look at the console, controller and Kinect? We are a visual society so enjoy!!
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Microsoft Unveils The Xbox One
Photo courtesy Microsoft Let the next-gen war officially begin!
Microsoft took the wraps off of their offering with the announcement of the Xbox One. The system, as you can see above, is a sleek, minimalist design with a redesigned controller and Kinect 2.0 coming packed in with the system. No release date or price point was given, but there is plenty of time for that with E3 only a few weeks away.
The system is quite the powerhouse with an 8-core CPU and 8GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive, USB 3.0 using a Blu-Ray drive.
The controller looks slightly larger but looks to have a flatter feel from the side. It has an integrated battery (finally!) and new d-pad which I pray feels better than the 360.
The new Kinect has a 1080p camera and USB 3.0 for a better field of vision and the voice controls are being made more of a focal point in the operation of the system.
The Xbox One can play live TV, games, music and movies all controlled with the voice feature on the new Kinect. During the press conference they demonstrated by saying simple commands like “watch HBO” or “watch CBS”. Not sure how it will work when I say “play College Asian Slumber Party 9”, but we will see.
We will have much more coverage on the Xbox One coming so keep checking back!
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New Developer Diary For The Last Of Us Focuses On Crafting In The End Times
Photo courtesy linksaveszelda.com Damn you, Naughty Dog. Damn you in the best possible way.
Now that we are approaching the release of [amazon_link id=”B007CM0K86″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Last of Us[/amazon_link] we are seeing more and more gameplay and exactly how Joel and Ellie will interact in this post-apocalyptic society. The newest developer diary titled ” Death and Choices” shows how the crafting system works as well as deciding to make it a real time event and how important it was to make it easy to use.
I love how the choice of “flight or fight” will affect you in the game. Do you sneak past a group of guys and lose everything you could loot from them and the environment or do you risk death to scrounge all you can?
God help me, I am ready for this game.
The Last of Us releases on June 14th.
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New Trailer For The Wolverine Shows A Nine Foot Tall Robotic Silver Samurai. Wait. What?
Photo courtesy xmenfilms.com Don’t cry Wolverine, it can’t be as bad as X-Men Origins.
And I will not let the fact that Silver Samurai appears to be a nine foot tall robot affect me enough to not see this movie. The source material is just to good to screw up. It can not possibly be as bad as mouthless Cyclo-Deadpool.
Can it?
No!
Dammit brain. Stop letting doubt creep in. We can still have a good Wolverine movie. You hear me?!
The Wolverine releases on July 26th.
