News & Rumors: Xbox One (codename Durango)

[Silent_Buddha]

That is a terrible looking logo. What does the random notch mean or indicate?

I don't think MS would have such a poorly designed logo for something as important as Xbox.

It's too curvy too, doesn't match their more angular logos for Win8/Surface, Office 2013 etc.

Assuming that photo is even a capture of the real logo, that may be the point. With the curvy logo indicating it isn't "business-like" and more casual, fun, game-like.

As to the notch, who knows. The tetris shape thing reminds me of something related to games but I can't quite think what. And perhaps it's a nod towards Generation Y (those born between 1980 - 2000). It appears a lot of companies are starting to focus on that generation. I just read a piece recently about Ford focusing on that generation for instance.

Regards,
SB

 

[Sonic]

That does say anything about games requiring online connection to play. Only that the box itself will require it. A minor but important distinction.

What I think is what is going to happen is that you will need online to be able to validate ownership and start the game. Afterwards, you may not need to stay connected. The discs themselves as he mentioned are basically throw away distribution media and thus no longer needed in order to verify ownership and thus not needed in order to start a game.

I'd be surprised if PS4 didn't go for something along those lines as well considering physical media for them is also throw away distribution media. The only way to verify that the person playing the game actually owns the game is to verify it online prior to starting the game.

But who knows, perhaps Microsoft and/or Sony will put in an "offline" mode similar to Steam on PC. I think it's rather doubtful myself as it provides a wide open avenue for potential pirating.

Regards,
SB

Let's hope they allow purchased games to be played offline. I'm going to feel horrible for all those Comcast customers in trouble areas where there's an outage every week and your router needs to get reset for no good reason. It'll suck to be in the middle of a game and then the connection goes offline and now a purchased game can't be played. Unless I'm able to interact with other players online in most areas of the game there's little reason why I would need an active connection to play singler player content. It is entirely frustrating.

 

[(((interference)))]

Well, you know, it's something they could have changed in the past few months. Maybe they saw the vociferous reaction to the Edge article and took heed.

What I know is that their original plans definitely had you unable to play games while offline.

 

[Tap In]

Well, you know, it's something they could have changed in the past few months. Maybe they saw the vociferous reaction to the Edge article and took heed.

What I know is that their original plans definitely had you unable to play games while offline.

I really think it was a misunderstanding of the limited info

 

[dagamer]

That does say anything about games requiring online connection to play. Only that the box itself will require it. A minor but important distinction.

What I think is what is going to happen is that you will need online to be able to validate ownership and start the game. Afterwards, you may not need to stay connected. The discs themselves as he mentioned are basically throw away distribution media and thus no longer needed in order to verify ownership and thus not needed in order to start a game.

I'd be surprised if PS4 didn't go for something along those lines as well considering physical media for them is also throw away distribution media. The only way to verify that the person playing the game actually owns the game is to verify it online prior to starting the game.

But who knows, perhaps Microsoft and/or Sony will put in an "offline" mode similar to Steam on PC. I think it's rather doubtful myself as it provides a wide open avenue for potential pirating.

Regards,
SB

The discs do actually continue to have some marginal amount of value since if every game has to be installed to the hard drive, presumably you may eventually run out of space. I would assume that the Xbox would then tell you to dump one of your games(likely the oldest one) so that it can install the new one. For people who don't have fast internet connections, they'd still need to keep the disc if they don't want to download the entire game again.

 

[(((interference)))]

I really think it was a misunderstanding of the limited info

No, definitely not a misunderstanding. From what i'm hearing - it was a core pillar of the system design (as the 'always on, always connected' tag in the old roadmap indicates).

It means games and system software will always be kept up to date, for everybody.
And so developers can build games that rely on the cloud being available at all times.

 

[dagamer]

Lets be honest (and serious). $200 this is the next Xbox logo:

Much like it's not much surprise the PS4 was called the "PlayStation 4", I see no reason to get away from this style of branding. Plus, as far as I can tell, this logo has never been used on any physical Xbox products (i.e. the console itself and assorted peripherals), just Xbox services (Music, Live, etc..)

 

[(((interference)))]

Exactly, that looks much better than the one above. I forgot that they already had a new Xbox logo.

When did that logo first come out? With the MS rebrand in Aug last year?

Note how the logo dagamer posted has a subtle pseudo 3D effect (the X looks like it's carved out of the sphere).
The rest of the Office and Win 8 logos all share this feature, the fake logo posted previously does not, being totally flat.

 

[dagamer]

Exactly, that looks much better than the one above. I forgot that they already had a new Xbox logo.

When did that logo first come out? With the MS rebrand in Aug last year?

Note how the logo dagamer posted has a subtle pseudo 3D effect (the X looks like it's carved out of the sphere).
The rest of the Office and Win 8 logos all share this feature, the fake logo posted previously does not, being totally flat.

As far as the general public is concerned, the logo first officially debuted with the launch of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 along with Xbox Music and Xbox Video in October. However, while they exist plainly out in the public, none of Microsoft's official advertising actually uses the logo. The Xbox 360 doesn't boot with that logo. Xbox.com doesn't use that logo. That logo isn't on Xbox hardware. So as far as I'm concerned, the general public isn't aware of it. And part of me almost wonders if the next xbox won't just be called "Xbox".

 

[PalmiNio]

No, definitely not a misunderstanding. From what i'm hearing - it was a core pillar of the system design (as the 'always on, always connected' tag in the old roadmap indicates).

It means games and system software will always be kept up to date, for everybody.
And so developers can build games that rely on the cloud being available at all times.

What you are describing is a machine always doing something when it is on, when it is connected.

There is a BIG difference between using the connection at all time when online versus not letting the user do anything when offline.

Pretty shure that "always on, always conected" implies that Microssoft early on planned the same core functions as PS4 + some more.

I am very confident that Microsoft have built a structure that allows you to do offline things, such as playing discs, BUT most of the functions that goes beyond gaming will require a connection.

When gaming offline there will be, in my belief, an offline buffering state when connection is lost where a resync will take place (for game saves as an example) when getting back online.

 

[dagamer]

I always look at things in relation to the current 360 and want to make 2 points:
1) Any time the 360 is on, the fan is running, making it a no-no to run all the time.
2) The system must be on in order for WiFi to work, and there is no way to communicate with the system (i.e. turn it on) via WiFi if the system is off.

 

[Grall]

There is a BIG difference between using the connection at all time when online versus not letting the user do anything when offline.

MS wouldn't be sending data just for the hell of it of course when online (there's no genuine reason for it, and even some against), and one can only hope they won't actually lock their paying customers out of everything they've bought just because their net connection is down, or they wanna go to their summer home by the lake where there is no internet access, and so on. I can't see how that would benefit anyone in the slightest, MS themselves included.

 

[Tap In]

What you are describing is a machine always doing something when it is on, when it is connected.

There is a BIG difference between using the connection at all time when online versus not letting the user do anything when offline.

Pretty shure that "always on, always conected" implies that Microssoft early on planned the same core functions as PS4 + some more.

I am very confident that Microsoft have built a structure that allows you to do offline things, such as playing discs, BUT most of the functions that goes beyond gaming will require a connection.

When gaming offline there will be, in my belief, an offline buffering state when connection is lost where a resync will take place (for game saves as an example) when getting back online.

exactly...I think to suggest otherwise is the epitome of FUD at this point.

there is no evidence to suggest otherwise, just supposition

 

[liolio]

exactly...I think to suggest otherwise is the epitome of FUD at this point.

there is no evidence to suggest otherwise, just supposition

Certainly not, the rumors are pretty clear wrt to online policies, no discs required to play, etc.

Then whether MSFT changed its mind or the extend to which those policies are set in stone is disputable but we have no factual (as rumors proved reliable overall ) evidence to discuss.

Sorry but whether you like it or not, till MSFT let us know its final decision on the matter one would assert that the dominant trend at MSFT was to go with those policies, no FUD here.

Ultimately will they stick to "the plan"? It is another matter than calling FUD people speaking of the only evidences we have at the moment.

As for my POV I think that it would be a quiet risky move and I would think that it would be better for them to change their pov but I have no information on the matter, so far nobody has, more the contrary in fact (imo that is not really open to discussion, leak proved reliable MSFT considered it for sure not that long ago), so it is a super shallow ground to state that people that think it is to happen "/MSFT sticks to the plan" (whether they like it or not) are spreading FUD.

 

[AlphaWolf]

I doubt that MS would choose to launch a system 20% of current users, could not use. Maybe they will, but I question that the upside would be worth it.

 

[Tap In]

Certainly not, the rumors are pretty clear wrt to online policies, no discs required to play, etc.

disagree


no dics required does not exclude other methods to secure games than just being online only play. it was never said online only PLAY. that has been a supposition by people wanting to see what they want to see without facts.

That is the disconnect and jumping to conclusions I am talking about. There are other ways that they may have designed that they have not shared yet (because NOTHNG has been announced yet)

But many are just Assuming that means no offlline gaming. so Assuming and jumping to conclusions = FUD.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I doubt that MS would choose to launch a system 20% of current users, could not use. Maybe they will, but I question that the upside would be worth it.

If it meant attracting another 50% overall customers, they would. Current install base/fan base is just one resource to be capitalised on for best market effect. If ditching them and changing customers will work out best in the long run, I expect any big company to be willing to do that.

 

[liolio]

I doubt that MS would choose to launch a system 20% of current users, could not use. Maybe they will, but I question that the upside would be worth it.

Doubting it is one thing, calling FUD (reliable) rumors (and comment on those rumors) that show otherwise is a different matter.
Another thing is how much money MSFT made out of the non connected 360 and out of the connected one, do we know? no.

The only thing that comes to my mind looking at their plan (whether it changed or not and we don't know) is that it looks like a really risky move (/ I wonder if it is sane but it would not be the first time a corporation makes something insane).

 

[liolio]

disagree


no dics required does not exclude other methods to secure games than just being online only play. it was never said online only PLAY. that has been a supposition by people wanting to see what they want to see without facts.

That is the disconnect and jumping to conclusions I am talking about. There are other ways that they may have designed that they have not shared yet (because NOTHNG has been announced yet)

But many are just Assuming that means no offlline gaming. so Assuming and jumping to conclusions = FUD.

No the rumors are pretty clear on the matter, there are other methods but those are not the ones MSFT were considering at a given point in time (as shown by the rumors which are reliable).

Whether they changed there pov in favor to other approaches is another matter and we don't know /have heard anything remotely factual on the matter.

Obviously MSFT will present its final choices at the system unveiling.

The fact that MSFT wanted to go with those policies at some point in 2012 is not FUD. That was their plan, for all we no they could very well stick be their plan. No FUD here.

 

[XpiderMX]

Certainly not, the rumors are pretty clear wrt to online policies, no discs required to play, etc.

Then whether MSFT changed its mind or the extend to which those policies are set in stone is disputable but we have no factual (as rumors proved reliable overall ) evidence to discuss.

Sorry but whether you like it or not, till MSFT let us know its final decision on the matter one would assert that the dominant trend at MSFT was to go with those policies, no FUD here.

Yes, rumors are clear, but we can't be sure if rumors are real. Even we don't know if Edge (or him contacts) are assuming things based on XDK info (missunderstanding).

We can't be sure if MSFT policies are exactly as Edge said.