XBox One w/o Kinect for $400

[American Gunner]

Harmonix came out and said they were glad that people were given a choice, and this is a developer that is making a kinect only game. Even if every console continued to come out with kinect, that doesn't mean their game will sell. It is up to the developers to make a good game, one that takes advantage of the kinect, to make gamers want to buy it. I guess this can give a developer a bad taste, but it is still their job to make a compelling reason for people to want their game.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The point is devs aren't going to get the budget to bother now.

 

[zerocool84]

It's not the UI. You can use the XB1 fine without it. That's not even an issue IMO.

The thing I was talking about is developers spending lots of money making a game that doesn't support the controller inputs at all losing potential market. Despite MS saying Kinect is always going to be part of the XB1, it's no longer the case. To me it is kind of another black eye on MS from a developer point of view because they wanted people to use it, wanted developers to use it. Now it will be tougher to sell a Kinect game on the XB1 since there is zero guarantee people even have one. Big games take time to develop, why do you think most of the launch games felt short or somewhat unfinished aside from cross generational titles? The only hope for it to see any real good usage in games is from indie devs who may be willing to take the risk. Don't get me wrong, it is the right move and a good one. I don't care for the kinect and would never play a game that uses it exclusively. That doesn't mean I don't feel for the developers who were really trying to get the ball rolling.



http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/15/devs-respond-to-microsofts-new-kinect-less-xbox-one

An article on Polygon they will have to update the UI since many elements were meant to be used with Kinect. They are going to make it more controller friendly.

http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/13/5714784/xbox-one-no-kinect-user-interface-changes

 

[cmdrdredd]

An article on Polygon they will have to update the UI since many elements were meant to be used with Kinect. They are going to make it more controller friendly.

http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/13/5714784/xbox-one-no-kinect-user-interface-changes

I don't know what could be made easier.

 

[zerocool84]

Harmonix came out and said they were glad that people were given a choice, and this is a developer that is making a kinect only game. Even if every console continued to come out with kinect, that doesn't mean their game will sell. It is up to the developers to make a good game, one that takes advantage of the kinect, to make gamers want to buy it. I guess this can give a developer a bad taste, but it is still their job to make a compelling reason for people to want their game.

The problem is that making a game specifically for something extra you need to buy usually never sells well.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The problem is that making a game specifically for something extra you need to buy usually never sells well.

Unless it comes with it as a bundle as in Guitar Hero and Rock Band but I think those types of games have had their day and won't make it today, even with Kinect.

 

[Lil Frier]

The difference is, none of those options removed functionality if I recall. Removing the kinect from the system removes any functionality gained by it. You segment your customer base and some developers are already moaning about it because they were investing some time into using it, but now their game will have a potentially smaller audience by the time it releases.

Actually, I'd disagree. Later in the generation, many game came with required installations to play. You had Halo 4, Defiance, Forza 3 and 4, and GotY editions of games (where the DLC had to be installed on a HDD). Without a hard drive, they wouldn't even let you play BF4 on the 360--you couldn't do the installation on a flash drive.

 

[Bateluer]

This generation looks like it'll be a rough one for Microsoft consoles. A botched launch, and under powered console, a worthless gimmick the market emphatically said No to, DRM controversies, etc. Better they right the ship now then continue steering straight into the ice berg though.

I'm more curious about how Sony will respond. I know they aren't doing very well financially, so I don't think they'll trim the price of the PS4 at all. Especially when its still difficult to find on store shelves. Perhaps a HDD size bump for the same price, move from a 500GB to a 1TB and keep the same price point? Or a system with a smaller drive for less money? It would be smart of them to keep the heat on Microsoft, me thinks.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I don't know what could be made easier.

Auto sign in. I just recently learned that the Xbox One lacks this (it uses face recognition to sign you in) and it's a stupid oversight for non-Kinect systems.

 

[Lil Frier]

Yeah, because there are many times where the Kinect just doesn't care to see me, even when I'm sitting right in front of it from 5 feet away.

 

[blurredvision]

This generation looks like it'll be a rough one for Microsoft consoles. A botched launch, and under powered console, a worthless gimmick the market emphatically said No to, DRM controversies, etc. Better they right the ship now then continue steering straight into the ice berg though.

- "a botched launch": They still sold millions of consoles in limited markets in just a few months. They didn't outsell Sony but it was hardly botched.
- "under powered console": Only under-powered when compared to the PS4, otherwise, I think most everything looks great. Battlefield 4 was supposed to be ugly as shit but guess what? Looks great. Glad I don't believe what I read on the internet.
- "a worthless gimmick": I use the Kinect every day on my Xbox One, far from worthless. I'd imagine many are the same as me. Granted, I mainly use the voice rather than do anything with the video, but I do know that having used it, I don't think I'd want an Xbox One without the Kinect.
- "the market emphatically said no to": Yet they still sold tens of millions of the first Kinect and weren't doing bad with the second when forcing users with a pack-in. NeoGaf and other internet forums don't comprise of anywhere near the majority of the market.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Auto sign in. I just recently learned that the Xbox One lacks this (it uses face recognition to sign you in) and it's a stupid oversight for non-Kinect systems.

Yeah that isn't UI related though is it?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Actually, I'd disagree. Later in the generation, many game came with required installations to play. You had Halo 4, Defiance, Forza 3 and 4, and GotY editions of games (where the DLC had to be installed on a HDD). Without a hard drive, they wouldn't even let you play BF4 on the 360--you couldn't do the installation on a flash drive.

I didn't know they required an install at all. Interesting

 

[purbeast0]

the best part about this news is that it basically means microsoft MUST update the OS to allow you to auto-sign into live without a kinect. YAY!

 

[American Gunner]

I want to see how they handle the game dvr. As of right now, you can just say xbox record that, but they have to give a work around for non kinect owners. I know you can go and snap the dvr app, but that isn't as fliud and just saying record that. I want to see how they will change that.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Maybe they won't and that will be glorious! Too much dumb people "look what i did" on the internet already.

 

[zerocool84]

I want to see how they handle the game dvr. As of right now, you can just say xbox record that, but they have to give a work around for non kinect owners. I know you can go and snap the dvr app, but that isn't as fliud and just saying record that. I want to see how they will change that.

They'll just have to integrate it into the pause menu basically.

 

[Lil Frier]

I want to see how they handle the game dvr. As of right now, you can just say xbox record that, but they have to give a work around for non kinect owners. I know you can go and snap the dvr app, but that isn't as fliud and just saying record that. I want to see how they will change that.

They might have more games do it automatically. Powerstar Golf automatically records every eagle chip I make, and it's kind of annoying. That, and the clips are never long enough, so when I first did it, I still told the console to record it because the self-taken clip's about 10 seconds (as opposed to 30).

 

[toughtrasher]

- "a botched launch": They still sold millions of consoles in limited markets in just a few months. They didn't outsell Sony but it was hardly botched.
- "under powered console": Only under-powered when compared to the PS4, otherwise, I think most everything looks great. Battlefield 4 was supposed to be ugly as shit but guess what? Looks great. Glad I don't believe what I read on the internet.
- "a worthless gimmick": I use the Kinect every day on my Xbox One, far from worthless. I'd imagine many are the same as me. Granted, I mainly use the voice rather than do anything with the video, but I do know that having used it, I don't think I'd want an Xbox One without the Kinect.
- "the market emphatically said no to": Yet they still sold tens of millions of the first Kinect and weren't doing bad with the second when forcing users with a pack-in. NeoGaf and other internet forums don't comprise of anywhere near the majority of the market.

Damn, killed him lol. Agree with most of these, but still think it's underpowered compared to what it could have achieved.

 

[railven]

- "a botched launch": They still sold millions of consoles in limited markets in just a few months. They didn't outsell Sony but it was hardly botched.

Did you not follow the pre-order sales? It was only after the DRM reversal that pre-order numbers almost doubled. I'd imagine if they didn't screw up the DRM system they would have easily outsold PS4.

- - "under powered console": Only under-powered when compared to the PS4, otherwise, I think most everything looks great. Battlefield 4 was supposed to be ugly as shit but guess what? Looks great. Glad I don't believe what I read on the internet.

So, yes, it is under powered, didn't really refute his point.

- - "a worthless gimmick": I use the Kinect every day on my Xbox One, far from worthless. I'd imagine many are the same as me. Granted, I mainly use the voice rather than do anything with the video, but I do know that having used it, I don't think I'd want an Xbox One without the Kinect.
- "the market emphatically said no to": Yet they still sold tens of millions of the first Kinect and weren't doing bad with the second when forcing users with a pack-in. NeoGaf and other internet forums don't comprise of anywhere near the majority of the market.

These two are sort of tied together since Microsoft themselves essentially said "the greater market doesn't want Kinect forced upon them" by creating a Kinect-less Bundle. I don't think it would be hard for the Kinect-less SKU to outsell the Kinect-SKU which would sort of mute your claim. Sure, Kinect 1 sold healthy, so did Nintendo Wii. New novelty feature. Wii U is pretty much dead and Kinect 2.0 is basically dead with MSFT now making it optional. However, keep enjoying it - I get the feeling Kinect Updates/games are gonna be far less frequent.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Did you not follow the pre-order sales? It was only after the DRM reversal that pre-order numbers almost doubled. I'd imagine if they didn't screw up the DRM system they would have easily outsold PS4.

So, yes, it is under powered, didn't really refute his point.


These two are sort of tied together since Microsoft themselves essentially said "the greater market doesn't want Kinect forced upon them" by creating a Kinect-less Bundle. I don't think it would be hard for the Kinect-less SKU to outsell the Kinect-SKU which would sort of mute your claim. Sure, Kinect 1 sold healthy, so did Nintendo Wii. New novelty feature. Wii U is pretty much dead and Kinect 2.0 is basically dead with MSFT now making it optional. However, keep enjoying it - I get the feeling Kinect Updates/games are gonna be far less frequent.

Two things relevant to me here.

1) I wrote off the xb1 completely after e3 and pre-ordered a ps4 within 30seconds. I was never going to ever buy another Xbox. When they removed the DRM checks etc I pre-ordered the next day to get it day one. Now I have both.

2) They had a meeting between managers for GameStop about the kinect-less system forthcoming. They are doing pre-orders on it and their expectation is 90% of all xb1 sales going forward are going to be without the kinect. At least in the local district that encompasses my local store.

 

[Arkaign]

90%? Do people hate it that much? I'm not likely to buy an X1 this gen (maybe when they're $100ish and under end of gen used) but the value of say a $449 bundle w/free game seems more appealing, assuming those deals aren't totally dead going forward.

Or maybe we'll see $399 bundles soonish? I'm thinking $349 holiday bundles are a given.

 

[toughtrasher]

Two things relevant to me here.

1) I wrote off the xb1 completely after e3 and pre-ordered a ps4 within 30seconds. I was never going to ever buy another Xbox. When they removed the DRM checks etc I pre-ordered the next day to get it day one. Now I have both.

2) They had a meeting between managers for GameStop about the kinect-less system forthcoming. They are doing pre-orders on it and their expectation is 90% of all xb1 sales going forward are going to be without the kinect. At least in the local district that encompasses my local store.

Lol Sony's E3 sold you the PS4 within seconds. That's success

 

[railven]

90%? Do people hate it that much? I'm not likely to buy an X1 this gen (maybe when they're $100ish and under end of gen used) but the value of say a $449 bundle w/free game seems more appealing, assuming those deals aren't totally dead going forward.

Or maybe we'll see $399 bundles soonish? I'm thinking $349 holiday bundles are a given.

I could imagine that strong of a demand for a Kinect-less SKU. Sony had a similar uphill battle getting people to swallow the Blu-Ray tax for PS3. The difference is, Sony had a format war going on and a whole bunch of non-gamers willing to drop $600 on a BD-Player(since it was about $2-- cheaper than the next cheapest BD-Player) where as I haven't seen a single non-gamer say "I'd like to get an Xbone and have it replace my STB."

 

[cmdrdredd]

Lol Sony's E3 sold you the PS4 within seconds. That's success

Uh...what is your point? Please try to actually say something in your posts.

I was always going to buy a new console. They took too damn long with last gen and I was getting tired of them.