The Xbox 720 thread

[therealjaxon]

For me it's the fact that i'll always be watched and heard - unless they still give you the option of turning it off but then that negates the point of M$ insisting it is always on. I don't like all this 'control' they have over us

[Snaggletooth]

I can see hundreds of people adopting such high tech methods as putting a cover over top of their Kinnect, Or makings signs in front of it saying "dont be so fecking nosey.
Y'know, Just in case.

[DifferentClass]

If I get a Nextbox I will be sure to put the Kinect in my pants while at home. I'll let them right in. See my ballsack Microsoft. Take in those contours.

[therealjaxon]

Anyone else thought about the price implications? The kinect is £80 on its own and this will be the new model so that will easily be the same £80 if not more.

[Shadowman]

I'm fairly certain I don't have enough space for Kinect to properly work in my room, what happens then? I'm really not interested in the slightest in Kinect either, the 360 version never interested me half because of the space issues and half because I've not seen one game that would make me even curious about the peripheral. Not sure I'd like MS forcing it on my next gen...

[Guinnes1981]

Here's a link to the SuperDaE report on Kotaku...
http://kotaku.com/5982986/we-know-all-a ... ve-got-one

Some key points from all of that:

Our source even claims to have played some Durango games, describing the graphical leap from current-gen console gaming like going from playing Halo 2 on an original Xbox to playing Crysis on a powerful PC.

the new version of the Kinect motion-control sensor array will be included with every Durango sold. The unit seems far superior to the one currently found for the Xbox 360 (or the PC, for that matter).

Perhaps most importantly, this isn't an optional accessory. It's mandatory. Not only does a Kinect ship with every console, but it must be plugged in and calibrated for the console to even function.

This requirement is due to the way Kinect has been integrated with the Durango; because every console can be guaranteed of having the camera, developers can now program every game with the peripheral in mind.

It's also because the Kinect will always be watching you. The new version of the camera is able to track up to six individual "skeletons" in the same room at all times. This has clear gameplay implications, such as allowing a game to instantly identify a person, but could also be related to a recently-patented Microsoft system for monitoring and maybe even charging users based on who is watching what. SuperDae's Kinect documentation also makes mention of automatic player identification becoming part of a gameplay experience.

all Durango retail consoles shipping with an HDD. That drive is 500GB in size, which should be enough for your media storage needs, but it'll mostly be used for games, which must now be installed immediately upon first insertion of the game disc.

What's more, this installation can take place automatically, while you're playing the game. Durango titles can be designed in "sections," so that you can pop your disc in, start playing and, in the background, the rest of the game will install. Installing games should bring performance improvements, we think, but doing so in the background should also get rid of pre-game install waits, one of the more annoying hold-ups of the current generation of consoles.

Durango game installations will also be mandatory, as games can't directly access data from the disc.

The Durango's control pad will be a "natural evolution" of the Xbox 360's pad, according to SuperDaE's info. While this suggests a near-identical layout—not necessarily a problem considering the cross-platform popularity of the layout with the PC—Xbox 360 controllers won't work with the Durango, as they use what Microsoft is calling a "new wireless technology."

The cynic in me reads that as 'controllers won't work with the Durango, as they use what Microsoft is calling a "system which makes you fork out on a new set of controllers".

[therealjaxon]

I Imagine that the playing area would've been improved - like now you need the Nyko Zoom but with the new one you won't sort of thing.

[Satan's Therapist]

I'm fairly certain I don't have enough space for Kinect to properly work in my room, what happens then? I'm really not interested in the slightest in Kinect either, the 360 version never interested me half because of the space issues and half because I've not seen one game that would make me even curious about the peripheral. Not sure I'd like MS forcing it on my next gen...

Same. I definitely don't have room for a kinnect
and I have a really heavy coffee table between
me and my tv.

If they force this on us I'll have no choice but to
pass on this and here's me thinking I'd be there
day 1 for one.

Really hope all these rumours aren't true as MS
are f**king this up every step of the way.

[merman]

Haven't we been here before though? Xbox was going to be just a PC in disguise and became more than that. 360 was going to be too expensive and soon came down in price.

Integrating the Kinect doesn't mean it costs the same as a stand-alone unit on top of the console's price.

[Shadowman]

Same. I definitely don't have room for a kinnect
and I have a really heavy coffee table between
me and my tv.

If they force this on us I'll have no choice but to
pass on this and here's me thinking I'd be there
day 1 for one.

Really hope all these rumours aren't true as MS
are f**king this up every step of the way.

Yeah, I'm becoming more skeptical about the console as well. First the rumour about the "Constant Internet Connection required" and now this, not exactly the kind of things I want to hear when contemplating whether or not I want to get the next console day 1. Of course I'll wait for an official reveal to see if there is any truth to the rumours...

[therealjaxon]

Thing is though, if Sony and M$ both adopt the 'always on' internet connection and Kinect always on (maybe in Sony's case the camera) - would we really shun the next gen?

[Shadowman]

Thing is though, if Sony and M$ both adopt the 'always on' internet connection and Kinect always on (maybe in Sony's case the camera) - would we really shun the next gen?

Seeing as a next gen Yakuza game is all but confirmed now, no I wouldn't shun it but it would dent my enthusiasm for the next gen a great deal. I had a hell of a time with the PS Camera and Move when setting it up for a friend so that would be worse still to have to get working (as I never did get it working well), again I don't have the space and my stance would be the same regarding always on Internet Connections.

I'd probably only buy the few games I want if the above were true. Stuff like Alan Wake 2, Mafia 3, next gen Yakuza and Naughty Dog games being the only stuff I could see me getting a next gen console for...

[merman]

I don't see why they need an always-on camera. And given how some providers in the UK throttle and limit access, an always-on connection is dicey too.

[Pious the chosen]

So continues Microsoft's confusing entry into the console market, only to turn it into a PC anyway

The PC market doesn't have nearly as many of their disadvantages.

I just don't see why they didn't just make their own PC to begin with

[Blakey]

So continues Microsoft's confusing entry into the console market, only to turn it into a PC anyway

The PC market doesn't have nearly as many of their disadvantages.

I just don't see why they didn't just make their own PC to begin with

They wanted to work with Sony on the Software side of the PlayStation brand. Sony refused them.

So then they went to PC manufacturers and asked any of them if they'd be interested in making a set-top PC box (like the Alienware thing at the moment) they all went 'Nah were alright' so M$ said '**** it, we'll make our own one then' it was going to be a PC-Type alienware set-top box thing but they decided to make it a full console.

Read a story explaining this ^^ only last week but can't for the life of me remember where I read it. Interesting stuff though.