Much of the excitement surrounding the new Xbox can be directly attributed to the next-gen Kinect sensor. Building off what the original Kinect started this takes NUI (natural user interaction) to the next level. From natural speech recognition to more accurate facial recognition and more detailed body motion capture. Kinect has been improved so much it's almost unfair to compare with the original incarnation. In this article let's go over what we know.
The New Xbox Revealed
It’s been an exciting couple weeks for Xbox fans. The new console was announced dubbed the “Xbox One” and the next-generation Kinect was debuted and detailed. We’ll give a brief synopsis of the new system as well as more in depth analysis of the new Kinect sensor in a later piece.
Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor Gameplay Screenshots
After a new trailer last month, Capcom decided to demo Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor at this years Tokyo Game Show. Japan's biggest video game magazine Famitsu have had a chance to see the game in action, bringing us our first shots of gameplay.
Project Draco Revealed - Screens and Gameplay Details
After a gameplay demonstration at this years Tokyo Game Show, we bring you all of the latest screenshots and gameplay details from one of Kinect's most anticipated upcoming releases.
Just What Is Fable: The Journey? - A Closer Preview
We take a deeper look at Lionheads upcoming Kinect Fable title to find out just what the game actually is; Not on rails -- on reigns.
Grasshopper Manufacture Officially Reveal Diabolical Pitch -- Video Demonstration
Having been announced last year as Codename D, Grasshopper Manufacture officially reveal their upcoming Kinect game, Diabolical Pitch. Click for all of the gameplay details as well as a video preview!
In a new move to garner sales from the release of Titanfall. Walmart has now dropped the price of the Xbox One bundle by $50. When you subtract $60 for the game you're essentially getting an Xbox One for $389. A phenomenal deal.
Keep in mind this promotion might not be around for long as the fine print states this is a Walmart initiative and not the suggested retail price:
Walmart has decided to offer this product to you at a price well below the manufacturer's minimum retail price. Because of this, the manufacturer requires that you take a couple additional steps before you can see this special low price.
There was a similar deal from Newegg on Ebay but those sold out in minutes.
It’s been an exciting couple weeks for Xbox fans. The new console
was announced dubbed the “Xbox One” and the next-generation Kinect was debuted
and detailed. We’ll give a brief synopsis of the new system as well as more in depth
analysis of the new Kinect sensor in a later piece.
The new console itself is comprised of an:
·8 core AMD Jaguar CPU
·8 GBs of RAM
·12 CU AMD GPU (with Data Move engines)
·500 GB HDD
·Blu-ray Drive (finally!)
·802.11n Wireless with Wi-Fi Direct (this will
come in handy for SmartGlass)
·HDMI In/Out
·USB 3.0
Graphics are definitely a focus for the new Xbox with the One
offering up to 8x the power of an Xbox
360! Not too shabby! The new Xbox is being position as an All-in-One
entertainment box (hence the new name). Games, TV, Internet and Kinect will all
be a major part of the system. Some the One’s key features are:
·Instant Switch Multi-tasking
·Snap Mode (2 apps at once)
·Skype Voice/Video calls
·Live TV
·TV Guide
·Virtually silent
·Slot loading drive
·Same size as current console
·No external power brick
·3 OSs including a Windows variant
·Gaming DVR with editing tools
Xbox Live enhancements
Just like Microsoft paved the way with broadband on the
original Xbox they are paving the way again with always online on the One. The
new xbox will require you to sign on at least once every 24hours. This gives
players the benefits of Harddrive based game installs due to online
authentication. No longer will you have to get up and change discs to change a
game!You’ll be able to hot-swap between
games and apps at will!
Microsoft is also deploying 300,000 servers, with more power than
every computer combined in 1999, to assist with cloud based computing. This is
said to increase the graphics and Artificial Intelligence of games on the new
system.
You can look forward to your GamerTag and achievements all
transitioning over but keep in mind the system does not support backwards
compatibility of your existing Xbox 360 games.
Microsoft’s commitment to games, games, games!
Microsoft is committing $1 Billion dollars to the
development of exclusive titles on the One. This includes 15 titles to be
released in its first year on the market. 8 of them being wholly original
properties! Forza 5 which is one of these games will be available at launch as
well as Quantum Break from the creators of Alan Wake and Max Payne!
The exclusive content doesn't stop there! Microsoft is partnering with EA for exclusive content in
their next generation sports games. Fifa, Live, Madden and UFC will all see
release on the new console. EA plans to debut their new next gen game engine
“Ignite” on the One which allows for 10 times the animation detail. You can
check the engine in action below:
Activision has also pledged their support by offering the
next-gen version of Call of Duty: Ghosts to the platform with time-exclusive
DLC content.
There was also a Game specific DVR mentioned that allows game clip sharing and editing but not many details are available at this time.
TV
Microsoft wants to eliminate as many barriers as possible
between you and the entertainment you love. The HDMI pass-through will allow
you to connect your cable/satellite box and watch live TV through the One. No
longer will you have to change inputs and with Kinect integration no longer
will you have to search for a remote! Just use your voice to change the
channel. How cool is that?
Microsoft plans to augment your TV watching experience with
the OneGuide which, with the help of the cloud, pick out shows and movies that
might interest you. Making your TV experience more personal. The OneGuide will
only be available in the U.S. at launch but will expand to other countries
shortly.
Wrap Up
It’s clear Microsoft’s aiming for the widest
spectrum possible with this new console. Taking on Google and Apple in the process. Not only will the
One be the best Games machine with the most exclusive games and content.
Microsoft is positioning it to be the one stop shop for all your entertainment
needs.
Our friends at GameInformer have just released a snippet of 'explosive' Kinect footage. This quick snippet shows off combat and environmental voice commands. Kinect is used to make interacting with the game world more seamless.
The video highlights selecting weapons, controlling squad mates and using biotics all with just your voice. Kinect will also be used for conversations with NPCs in the full game. Stay tuned for more Mass Effect 3 coverage from us in the future and be sure to check the teaser below.
Criterion Games have today announced that they're bringing their acclaimed Burnout franchise to Xbox Live Arcade with Kinect support in the next installment, Burnout CRASH! CRASH! takes the fan-favourite crash mode and brings it to the forefront with a new top-down art-style.
The game rewards players for causing the greatest mayhem and damage via a car crash. Using Autolo, players can compete, connect and compare scores as well as feature in new competative Autolog challenges.
“Burnout CRASH! is a crazy mix of pinball and game shows,” said Richard Franke, Creative Director of Burnout CRASH!
“We’ve evolved the core gameplay which everyone loved about Crash Mode, and expanded the whole experience using music, style and Autolog to create what we feel is the most mindless fun you can have on any gaming platform.”
The game will also feature a game mode designed exclusively for Kinect in which two teams use gestural controls to play on one television in a party battle.
Burnout CRASH! launches this fall for Xbox Live Arcade. We'll be sure to keep you up to date with the latest!
The Sims: Unleashed, an upcoming EA title which has yet to be officially revealed, was prematurely unveiled thanks to an interview with EA's Ben Bell put up by German publication Computer Bild Spiele. Despite their best attempts to quickly take the interview down, it was inevitably copied, translated and put up on Sim sites such as SimPrograms and SimsSlovenija.
The game, which won't require The Sims 3 to run, will bring controllable pets and other creatures to the series and is coming to consoles in October 2011. The most interesting part of the interview, however, is mention of Kinect compatibility.
"Xbox 360 will enable players with Kinect to use voice control,” said Bell. “Imagine how it would be when your Sim-dog would sit down, when you would say “Sit!” Voice control works with normal Sims as well. We’re really excited about this feature, because it is really fun!"
A Kinect Sims title has long been rumored since Microsoft purchased TheSimsKinect.com, as well as SSXKinect. Whilst it's unclear if this game directly ties back to that, it is likely that The Sims: Unleashed will be unveiled at EA's E3 conference next month. Will we see SSX Kinect too? We'll have to wait and see...
Friday, March 21, 2014
Paris - Journalist
