XBox One w/o Kinect for $400

[futurefields]

I might get one now that it's cheaper. As much as I hate the design choices that went into the console making it "underpowered" (especially in the CPU department as the GPU isn't even what bothers me) the XB1 has the more interesting exclusives it would seem and all the major multiplat's will be on it. Even that Sunset Overdrive or whats it called open-world game looks more visually impressive than anything I've seen on PS4 but then I tend to be more impressed by aesthetics than technical details, which is why Killzone and Infamous don't really impress me (great image quality but very bland "seen it all before" aesthetics) YMMV....

 

[Aikouka]

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.

Here's the way I see it. You've got people that are interested in the XBOX One, but they may not see the Kinect as useful. It's possible that they truly don't think it's necessary or Microsoft has failed to market the benefits to them. However, that doesn't matter much at this point. They realize that they're required to pay $100 more for an item that they don't actually want. Now, there's finally a parity, and that's achieved by removing a "useless" thing from the equation.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I am interested in the Kinect...just not in using it for anything remotely related to the Xbox One. If MS was remotely interested in the future of computers as they should be, this would be a PC related product with many more productive applications. Instead they made it an expensive toy on a proprietary locked down system with no hope of expanding its function beyond what some dev thinks of. We all know from history, that usually means, it won't get much more than the most basic of uses.

Now...when the X1 is hacked in some manner, you may actually see some cool uses appear.

 

[Aikouka]

If MS was remotely interested in the future of computers as they should be, [the Kinect] would be a PC related product with many more productive applications.

There will be a PC version of the Kinect 2 just like there was with the original. The only difference was that you could use the XBOX 360's Kinect with a PC since it used USB. Unfortunately, the proprietary connector rules that out.

 

[toughtrasher]

alright, I'm going to look for possible solutions that you guys might think of for Microsoft..

If they packaged the Kinect with the Xbox One, people would say the whole thing is too expensive, that they're getting a gimmick with the console, that it's not focused on the gaming.

If they don't package the Kinect with the XB1, people argue that a good piece of technology wouldn't be fully utilized, that it'll become obsolete for the people that bought it in a package because now devs won't fully support it.

What is your solution to this? It seems consumers have issues with everything.

 

[blurredvision]

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.

The console launched in November, not May. Don't give a shit about pre-orders. Maybe you can say the announcement was botched, but not the launch.

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

If you're going for the highlander slant, then sure. But just because the Xbox One is underpowered compared to the PS4 doesn't automatically mean it's a complete dud. That's like telling a class of students that the highest score on a test passes and everybody else fails.

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.

First of all, it's not Microsoft saying the market doesn't want Kinect forced upon them, it's Microsoft simply saying, "hey, we're not selling enough because of price." Easiest way to cut price and not lose their wallet is to cut out the expensive peripheral which isn't technically needed.

Second, it's pretty obvious a Kinect-less SKU will sell more, that's their whole reasoning for introducing it. That doesn't instantly make it "worthless". It also doesn't mean the market wholly rejected it, because there was obviously still a market for it where lots of people bought it. I also don't care about Kinect games, I use it for the voice features. Once they put Cortana into it, it'll be even better.

I'm just trying to provide a counter-point to the anti-Xbox One crap that still goes on around the internet. In pure sales, when not considering a competing PS4 product on the market, the Xbox One has been a roaring success. But for some reason in the video game console business, if at the end of the generation you sell 70 million consoles but your competitor sells 90 million, then you've failed horribly (somehow) according to the internet.

 

[ImpulsE69]

alright, I'm going to look for possible solutions that you guys might think of for Microsoft..

If they packaged the Kinect with the Xbox One, people would say the whole thing is too expensive, that they're getting a gimmick with the console, that it's not focused on the gaming.

If they don't package the Kinect with the XB1, people argue that a good piece of technology wouldn't be fully utilized, that it'll become obsolete for the people that bought it in a package because now devs won't fully support it.

What is your solution to this? It seems consumers have issues with everything.

I think you are missing the overall point. If they had released it separate from the very beginning, none of this may have even been an issue. NOW, since we can't go back in time to fix their flubs, they are changing their stance mid-stride. This is why they will make no one happy. They have 5 million people who felt forced to buy it in one SKU the whole time telling them there would never be a Kinectless Xbox 1, when all the sudden, they do. At that very point, they made a direct decision to say "it's optional". That has a big impact on how many devs utilize it in the future. Another words..they should have just sold it separately to begin with.

Yes, you are correct, at this point, they aren't going to please everyone, because they took a gamble that didn't pay off from the very beginning.

Personally if I were them, I would just keep it, lower the price by $50, and wait for actual games worth getting the system for. Eventually there should be games that will get people to buy the system. If not, then there is nothing they could have done anyway.

Everyone seems to think that one or the other is going to fail when the reality is more people buy systems and play games now than ever before. If there is a failure it is because companies invest WAY too much money in the wrong areas and their shareholders expect instant returns.

 

[zerocool84]

Yup anyone who says that the Kinect will get great dev support even after its optional is just fooling themselves. They are essentially killing it off now. The game that was supposed to show off how good the Kinect is (Kinect Sports Rivals) was a dud. Of course I'm sure they'll still make games for it of and add in some Kinect things here and there in certain games but it's just a fact that optional accessories never get the huge support of devs. Even though I haven't bought an Xbone yet, I would have rather had them stick to their guns on this one and kept it in.

 

[railven]

The console launched in November, not May. Don't give a shit about pre-orders. Maybe you can say the announcement was botched, but not the launch.

If you think the launch was the best it could have been, then you probably don't see Microsoft struggling right now. A month after launch consoles were sitting unsold at stores. Yeah, that's a botched launch to me.

If you're going for the highlander slant, then sure. But just because the Xbox One is underpowered compared to the PS4 doesn't automatically mean it's a complete dud. That's like telling a class of students that the highest score on a test passes and everybody else fails.

Who said dud? Stating the Xbone is under powered is nothing but true. Of it's direct competitors it isn't number one. Again, you didn't refute that point

First of all, it's not Microsoft saying the market doesn't want Kinect forced upon them, it's Microsoft simply saying, "hey, we're not selling enough because of price." Easiest way to cut price and not lose their wallet is to cut out the expensive peripheral which isn't technically needed.

Okay, sure, Microsoft pulls it's peripheral that it has been touting since May 2013 as a defining feature - yerp, "we just want to give you options!" Sure thing.

It goes from "Microsoft can swallow these loss, look at their reviews from other divisions" to "the easiest way to save money is yada yada." Microsoft could hemorrhage losses on Xbone for years, but they rather cut out Kinect than try to keep once stated definitive feature of their package.

Second, it's pretty obvious a Kinect-less SKU will sell more, that's their whole reasoning for introducing it. That doesn't instantly make it "worthless". It also doesn't mean the market wholly rejected it, because there was obviously still a market for it where lots of people bought it. I also don't care about Kinect games, I use it for the voice features. Once they put Cortana into it, it'll be even better.

Which would sell better? $400 normal bundle or $400 Kinect-less Bundle? The Kinect is now essentially an add-on and it's not going to get the support it was could have had. Is it "worthless?" Far from it, but it surely has less value now.

I'm just trying to provide a counter-point to the anti-Xbox One crap that still goes on around the internet. In pure sales, when not considering a competing PS4 product on the market, the Xbox One has been a roaring success. But for some reason in the video game console business, if at the end of the generation you sell 70 million consoles but your competitor sells 90 million, then you've failed horribly (somehow) according to the internet.

Just look at sales, and you'll see it hasn't been a "roaring success". Look at it in a vacuum against only it's predecessor:
XBone has sold less units in the same amount of time available as X360. Xbone sold 1 million <1 month, then about 2 million in 5. X360 was at 4.5million by it's 6 month. (Factor in X360 was supply constraint, Xbone has been sitting on shelves since Mid December).
X360 didn't have a price cut or bundle within it's first year of launch, Xbone was up to 2 free games + $80 price cut in the UK, and in the US 2 free games and $50 price cut within 3 months of launch.
X360 dominated UK and US sales for practically the first 5 years of it's life time (US all of it's life time.) Xbone hasn't won a single sales month in UK and barely won December (in the face of a PS4 constraint where PS4 launched to >700K sales in EU).

Basically, you're going to argue that the PS3 was a raging success in it's first <7 months, and I don't think anyone in their right mind would agree with you.

Again, none of me saying this is claiming it is a doomed product, or it's worthless or a dud. I own one (have bought two).

 

[Sword-of-Kings]

Finally. This is what the Xbox One should have been in the first place.

 

[desura]

I think they should have kept the kinect in.

Or just drop the price. It is more expensive creating the additional SKU's etc.

Drop it to $450 with Kinect, etc.

Ultimately this means that the xbox will have less interesting games because devs can't rely on kinect being present.

dumb move. MS should sell xbox to someone else.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I think they should have kept the kinect in.

Or just drop the price. It is more expensive creating the additional SKU's etc.

Drop it to $450 with Kinect, etc.

Ultimately this means that the xbox will have less interesting games because devs can't rely on kinect being present.

dumb move. MS should sell xbox to someone else.

Well they think it will help sales and it probably will. It isn't really dumb from that point of view.

 

[desura]

Well they think it will help sales and it probably will. It isn't really dumb from that point of view.

Well, why get the xbox for $400 when the PS4 for $400 is more powerful and a better value? And overall has better exclusives, judging by the PS3's exclusives vs xbox.

 

[toughtrasher]

Well, why get the xbox for $400 when the PS4 for $400 is more powerful and a better value? And overall has better exclusives, judging by the PS3's exclusives vs xbox.

I like the PS4, but how can you say it has better exclusives, judging from a totally different console?

 

[desura]

I like the PS4, but how can you say it has better exclusives, judging from a totally different console?

The past can predict the present, yes.

The only thing that the xbox 360 had over PS3 really was Halo. PS3 had naughty dog titles among other things.

PS2 had games like Shadow of the Colossus...xbox had halo...

 

[Wingznut]

I like the PS4, but how can you say it has better exclusives, judging from a totally different console?

Exactly.

 

[dguy6789]

Well, why get the xbox for $400 when the PS4 for $400 is more powerful and a better value? And overall has better exclusives, judging by the PS3's exclusives vs xbox.

This is all subjective. The Xbox One at $500 is a better value to me than the PS4 at $400, let alone the price drop. I think Xbox exclusives are far more appealing than Playstation exclusives. Both consoles are going to get every multiplatform game I care about and the Xbox gets the exclusives I care about. Xbox Live is still leaps and bounds better than PSN. Considering all of that, Xbox is the obvious choice.

See? Subjective.

 

[Wingznut]

This is all subjective. The Xbox One at $500 is a better value to me than the PS4 at $400, let alone the price drop. I think Xbox exclusives are far more appealing than Playstation exclusives. Both consoles are going to get every multiplatform game I care about and the Xbox gets the exclusives I care about. Xbox Live is still leaps and bounds better than PSN. Considering all of that, Xbox is the obvious choice.

See, subjective?

I couldn't agree more. As a matter of fact, I had a PS4, but decided to sell it because there just aren't any exclusives that interest me. As soon as that changes, I will surely own one.
But right now (and in the near future), there is no equivalent to Forza, Titanfall, Killer Instinct, etc.

 

[purbeast0]

This is all subjective. The Xbox One at $500 is a better value to me than the PS4 at $400, let alone the price drop. I think Xbox exclusives are far more appealing than Playstation exclusives. Both consoles are going to get every multiplatform game I care about and the Xbox gets the exclusives I care about. Xbox Live is still leaps and bounds better than PSN. Considering all of that, Xbox is the obvious choice.

See? Subjective.

my xbox one at $500, my killer instinct te2 at $200, and my killer instinct pin ultimate edition at $60 has been a better value to me than the ps4 + knack + ps+ for a year at $0.

 

[desura]

Well, most people on here also PC game and nearly all xbox exclusives are also available on the PC.

Sony is like between the Xbox fratbro demographic and the Nintendo creative set.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I like the PS4, but how can you say it has better exclusives, judging from a totally different console?

Cause Sony IPs are better really. Just look at the last 2 years of ps3 and 360 to get an idea. Microsoft simply wasn't competitive on exclusive titles lately.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Well, most people on here also PC game and nearly all xbox exclusives are also available on the PC.

Sony is like between the Xbox fratbro demographic and the Nintendo creative set.

Nearly all...

Dead rising, forza, killer instinct, the last 4 halo games, sunset overdrive. There are a lot of titles and IPs that are not on PC. If you want to be selective in wording there could be a lot of PlayStation exclusives on the PC. Look at the indie games for example that are on PlayStation and not Xbox but can be purchased on steam.

 

[cmdrdredd]

This is all subjective. The Xbox One at $500 is a better value to me than the PS4 at $400, let alone the price drop. I think Xbox exclusives are far more appealing than Playstation exclusives. Both consoles are going to get every multiplatform game I care about and the Xbox gets the exclusives I care about. Xbox Live is still leaps and bounds better than PSN. Considering all of that, Xbox is the obvious choice.

See? Subjective.

Xbox live is really not all that better this time. Things are not all the same as a few years ago. My online experience has been the same between the ps4 and xb1. Neither has a significant advantage. It is up to the individual game developers to refine their code.

 

[digiram]

3 years later, apple introduces icamera for home control, and kinects vision comes to fruition.. lol

 

[Lil Frier]

The past can predict the present, yes.

The only thing that the xbox 360 had over PS3 really was Halo. PS3 had naughty dog titles among other things.

PS2 had games like Shadow of the Colossus...xbox had halo...

That's your world. Meanwhile, in mine...

Microsoft has Halo, Gears, Forza, Sunset Overdrive, Quantum Break, Titanfall, Powerstar Golf and maybe Zoo Tycoon (at the right price), friends and relatives to play with on LIVE

Sony has: MLB 14: The Show, and maybe The Order: 1886

Naughty Dog's stuff interests me 0%. I don't care about the types of games they produce, so The Last of Us does not impress me, nor do I care about Uncharted (which would mean jumping into a series in the FOURTH installment).

Say all you want that Sony has better exclusives, but that's your opinion. To me, they offer baseball and a bunch of stuff I don't have any desire to play.