The Official Xbox One Thread

[cmdrdredd]

Here is my problem with the debate about which console is more powerful: it doesn't matter. The best game of all time runs at less than standard definition, on an ancient system, and is called Chrono Trigger.

Graphics mean squat in terms of games. You know what game looked great and had awesome physics? Crysis. You know what game sucked? Crysis. I don't care what the native resolution it runs in. If the gameplay is fun, the story engaging, and it doesn't crash every few minutes (Bethesda, I'm looking at you), it will be a good game.

Also, just got invited to preview the Xbox One update. Probably going to download it when I get home from work.

Except JRPGs are too niche and the top rated game of all time is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Also the original crysis did NOT suck, 2 and 3 kinda did.


Games today are simply different than your example. Graphics matter today because you can have your cake and eat it too. You can have both a fantastic game that looks as good as it plays and very few compromises. In fact gamers today should and do demand beautiful looking games as much as they do engaging gameplay.

 

[Arkaign]

Your example doesn't make sense though, Chrono Trigger was a good looking game for its time and it's not like it didn't push graphics at all. Graphics do matter to a certain degree, spotting out distant enemies is easier on higher resolution, more power means higher/more stable framerate, but also you can have game where that doesn't matter. Dead Rising would have benefited from more power with all those zombies on screen, less slow down. More power isn't just about graphics, you can more physics, enemies, etc on screen at one time. I for one don't think it will matter much more than the resolution/frame rate difference in most games which is mostly for bragging rights anyways.

That's pretty reasonable I think.

The problem MS will face with this long term is attachment rate. If most multiplatform titles run better on PS4, guys with both boxes will lean towards getting that version in most cases. Exclusives will be THE bread and butter to keep XB1 vibrant down the line. This is actually the best case scenario for the system as there just isn't much out yet. By fall we'll have many dozens of titles, most of them multiplatform.

 

[Wingznut]

Much ado about nothing. Ryse, imho, is the best looking game of all time. While playing that game, never once did I think "if only this game had more pixels... " I didn't even know what the resolution was until I stumbled upon it long after I had completed the game.

Same with BF4... Had I not read articles about it, I'd never have given the resolution a single thought.

 

[Arkaign]

That may be true for you, but it appears that buying the weaker version makes the XB1 variants much less attractive to the general marketplace :

COD Ghosts PS4 : 40,269 1,725,898
COD Ghosts XB1 : 29,302 1,451,369

BF4 PS4 : 38,428 1,369,975
BF4 XB1 : 25,498 1,107,993

AC4 PS4 : 35,063 1,279,299
AC4 XB1 : 17,354 732,129

Those are global sales, had to go back a few weeks to late January to get numbers as the XB1 versions of some of those games has fallen so low they're not being tracked any more.

Even currently, just in US sales :

Lego the Movie Game

360 : 94,990
PS3 : 46,684

So a HUGE lead for 360 vs PS3 there, not surprising as the 360 usually had the best multiplatform versions.

Now to next-gen :

PS4 : 32,583
WiiU : 23,053
XB1 : 18,501

We'll have to keep an eye out, but the disparity shows a lower attachment rate so far. Titanfall should change that I would think for the better.

But like I said, a lot of people already have both consoles, and a lot more will have both down the line as well as the price drops happen. For someone with both, there will usually be no reason to buy the XB1 version, so that could explain why the % gap of software sales are even more skewed than the console marketshare gap itself.

A trend is definitely clear here :

http://www.ign.com/wikis/xbox-one/PS4_vs._Xbox_One_Native_Resolutions_and_Framerates

 

[Arkaign]

Ah, and the first week of Tomb Raider : Definitive Edition sales (USA) :

PS4 : 139,838
XB1 : 48,701

There's no way the XB1 hardware sales are that far behind in the US, they're selling fewer but those numbers are terribad.

The dashboard fixes, party upgrades, Twitch rollout, Titanfall release, all of that will go a long way to helping the XB1 forward. I think they also need something big and splashy to get the thing back in gamers eyes.

I can think of nothing better than a $399 Titanfall bundle with a free 90 day XBL Gold pass. THAT would turn things on its head. I'm afraid they're missing an opportunity here.

 

[Lil Frier]

Personally, I'd ignore Tomb Raider. I think that a LOT of potential sales were lost because the game's mostly a graphical update of a game I'm sure that a lot of PS3 and Xbox 360 owners already played before upgrading consoles.

For example, the VGChartz for the original Tomb Raider (2013) for the first week:

360: 214,434
PS3: 175,664

Overall US sales:

360: 670,654
PS3: 479,112

You could interpret that as more folks played it on the 360 than PS3, so it's less likely that a One user would get Tomb Raider Definitive Edition than a PS4 user (especially when you factor in the install base gap). That, or maybe it's something where XBoners have less to spend between the extra $100 on the console and deeper library of games to purchase. Of course, there's also the possibility that they all just want Titanfall, and now.

Titanfall really is where we're going to see either a bit of calm or total panic from the Xbox crowd. In its first week, Ghosts (the top-selling One game) hit 503,746 copies sold globally. If Titanfall only hits about 250,000, then it's a major reason to panic. I'm tempted to say that they should expect it to AT LEAST match Ghosts, but I think that such an expectation is unfair for the first installment in a franchise (a lot of Ghosts buyers just see "CoD" and throw money at it).

Regardless, that first week of sales for Titanfallcould be REALLY bad for Microsoft, if the numbers don't look good. Of course, you can't help but also wonder if the bundles are counted in the Titanfall sales. Maybe they do, and Microsoft's using these bundles solely to inflate the numbers and avoid a panic.

 

[Wingznut]

That may be true for you, but it appears that buying the weaker version makes the XB1 variants much less attractive to the general marketplace:

There are WAY too many variables to come to the conclusion that BF4 sold more on the PS4 because of the resolution difference. Obviously it'll sell more, because the PS4 sold more.

And like Frier said, Tomb Raider is a bit of anomaly. But same with Lego... Could be that the demographic for that game just isn't the same demographic who would buy the Xbox.

Like I said... Way too many variables to draw any kind of conclusion. Except that the PS4 is currently selling better than the Xbox One.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Much ado about nothing. Ryse, imho, is the best looking game of all time. While playing that game, never once did I think "if only this game had more pixels... " I didn't even know what the resolution was until I stumbled upon it long after I had completed the game.

Same with BF4... Had I not read articles about it, I'd never have given the resolution a single thought.

The draw distance was pitiful though IMO. That is the first thing I noticed about Ryse...it was good for a console but all time? No

 

[Wingznut]

The draw distance was pitiful though IMO. That is the first thing I noticed about Ryse...it was good for a console but all time? No

I see your point, but I suppose it didn't bother me in the least. At any rate, my point stands, resolution wasn't an issue.

 

[EightySix Four]

The March beta dash is nice and has some features everyone has been waiting for like proper audio pass-through.

 

[purbeast0]

Much ado about nothing. Ryse, imho, is the best looking game of all time. While playing that game, never once did I think "if only this game had more pixels... " I didn't even know what the resolution was until I stumbled upon it long after I had completed the game.

Same with BF4... Had I not read articles about it, I'd never have given the resolution a single thought.

agreed 100% with this. ryse is the best looking console game to date. i never once thought "man this game sucks because its not 1080p @ 60fps" or anything of that nature. it was more of "holy shit this looks amazing!" throughout the entire game. and this was after playing killzone on ps4 and being bored to death by it, and trading it in for ryse.

killzone at 1080p@60fps doesn't look as good as ryse at whateverp@30fps.

and all of these sales numbers mean absolutely nothing to me. it's not like the next triple a title that isn't an exclusive is going to be skipped for the x1. it's just more ammo for the console war that a lot of you guys like to be a part of.

 

[Wingznut]

The March beta dash is nice and has some features everyone has been waiting for like proper audio pass-through.

Yes, it looks like it's going to be a very welcomed update. Of course, the cynic in me says "this update is a bunch of stuff that should've been there in the first place!"

Xbox One March Update: Party and Friends - YouTube

 

[smackababy]

Has anyone played Strider? I am really wanting to pick it up @ $15 because I am a fan of the arcade game.



Also, this is what we in games these days: pick two of the three engaging story, engaging gameplay, 'good' graphics. I'll take the first two over anything with the third nearly 100% of the time (the only exceptions are games with no real story like fighting games or sports game). Wanna know why there is an indie craze going on in the industry? They care about the first two options a lot more than the third.

 

[purbeast0]

i have heard strider is pretty awesome. i'm pretty sure it's basically the original version with just updated graphics/sounds, similar to the bionic commando that came out a year or two ago.

i also heard people raving about the garden warfare game yesterday.

 

[cmdrdredd]

i have heard strider is pretty awesome. i'm pretty sure it's basically the original version with just updated graphics/sounds, similar to the bionic commando that came out a year or two ago.

i also heard people raving about the garden warfare game yesterday.

I really dig strider. Old school style of game done up with flashier effects. I dont k ow if it is exactly like the old game as I dont remember it enough to say but I do like this one. Especially when you get more plasma types and the kunai. Then it becomes really fun to run through the areas with multiple ways to take out an enemy. Some enemies require certain plasma types to attack which adds a little bit of extra challenge at times.

Has anyone played Strider? I am really wanting to pick it up @ $15 because I am a fan of the arcade game.



Also, this is what we in games these days: pick two of the three engaging story, engaging gameplay, 'good' graphics. I'll take the first two over anything with the third nearly 100% of the time (the only exceptions are games with no real story like fighting games or sports game). Wanna know why there is an indie craze going on in the industry? They care about the first two options a lot more than the third.

I hate most of the indie games released. Many of them are a platformer with a gimmick and the ones that aren't I find boring. You can have a game with all 3 elements you mentioned. Why people think it can't be I will never understand. I mean, look at tomb raider. That is a good looking game, with solid gameplay and survival elements, and a solid origin story. People can cry about QTE's all they want but the game was great and still is with the new release for next gen consoles.

 

[Wingznut]

i also heard people raving about the garden warfare game yesterday.

Garden Warfare is so very fun. I'd say it's easily worth the $40, but my worry is how much play time it'll get after Titanfall comes out.

 

[Arkaign]

I'm definitely looking into Strider, awesome game back in the day (though the fake sequel by US Gold was beyond terribad, lol).

This is not what I wanted to see :

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/25/nokia-executive-to-take-over-microsofts-xbox-division

The Xbox needs a refreshed focus on gaming and strong moves going forward, but after seeing Nokia and looking at the guy's history, all I can say is ... WHAT? Surely there are better choices. Hell promote Nelson, pretty much anybody but that guy.

 

[American Gunner]

I'm definitely looking into Strider, awesome game back in the day (though the fake sequel by US Gold was beyond terribad, lol).

This is not what I wanted to see :

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/25/nokia-executive-to-take-over-microsofts-xbox-division

The Xbox needs a refreshed focus on gaming and strong moves going forward, but after seeing Nokia and looking at the guy's history, all I can say is ... WHAT? Surely there are better choices. Hell promote Nelson, pretty much anybody but that guy.

That choice has me slightly worried. If anyone should have been promoted, it should be Phil Spencer. He has been around for a long time and you can tell that he loves the Xbox brand and video games. He's usually the one doing a lot of the presentations, why not give him a shot?

 

[Arkaign]

Totally agree, need someone less of a suit, and more of a gamer guy that can bring the energy and passion to get things done.

 

[digiram]

Garden Warfare is so very fun. I'd say it's easily worth the $40, but my worry is how much play time it'll get after Titanfall comes out.

I was worried about that to, but its got the Tower Defense mode that me n my son will play over and over.

 

[smackababy]

I hate most of the indie games released. Many of them are a platformer with a gimmick and the ones that aren't I find boring. You can have a game with all 3 elements you mentioned. Why people think it can't be I will never understand. I mean, look at tomb raider. That is a good looking game, with solid gameplay and survival elements, and a solid origin story. People can cry about QTE's all they want but the game was great and still is with the new release for next gen consoles.

I didn't mean it can't happen, just that it doesn't happen enough to be meaningful. I generally dislike most indie games, but some have come out and been just that good. They all almost completely ignore graphics though, to the point that some annoy me with just how low the production level was in them, despite me liking everything else (Path of Exile, for example). Look at CD Projekt Red, they should be considered indie, and the Witcher series has been phenomenal.

This is not what I wanted to see :

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/25/nokia-executive-to-take-over-microsofts-xbox-division

The Xbox needs a refreshed focus on gaming and strong moves going forward, but after seeing Nokia and looking at the guy's history, all I can say is ... WHAT? Surely there are better choices. Hell promote Nelson, pretty much anybody but that guy.

I don't think this is such a bad idea as people are making it out to be. This was the guy who reportedly wanted Xbox to be spin off into its own company, thus allowing it to have a much narrower focus than just being "MS's console". If he runs this division like that, it could turn out good. This is the "Burning Platform Memo" guy, after all. I wouldn't say Nokia's demise was his fault. He inherited a sinking ship and tried to right it as best as he could, throwing away the dead weight of their awful OS.

Also, he isn't just a business major. He is an engineer IIRC.

 

[purbeast0]

as someone who's making his first mobile game right now, i can tell you that graphics is the toughest part for sure lol. my graphics look decent, but i didn't make them all myself and the majority of them are from free clipart sites that said it's okay to use them in any form or fashion, including commercial applications. granted, my game is going to be free, but still. the graphics are definitely the toughest part.

 

[dguy6789]

Elop was a horrible CEO that ran his company into the ground and should have been fired. Making him head of the Xbox division is insane.

 

[SAWYER]

Anyone here have a Kinect sensor they would sell? I traded an iPad mini for One today and didn't realize I didn't get the Kinect. I was in a different state a couple hours a way and will not be going back. The good is that I only paid $200 for the ipad

 

[Tweak155]

5% off Titanfall XB1 combo preorder:

http://slickdeals.net/f/6747192-xbox-one-titanfall-edition-preorders-475?src=pdw

EDIT:

Some of the comments say it is dead already. I'm not interested so didn't check myself by sending the text.