Ryze

So - another potential piece of the Xbox puzzle:

ALWAYS ON

Meaning that the app, Kinect and XBL social services can remain active even when you're watching TV, and that a Sky and / or Virgin app could potentially communicate with the box to change channels etc using Kinect gestures. There's already a Sky+ app for Android that enables swipe-based channel changing over LAN.

Means that you could, for example remain available for Skype calls while there's somebody present in the living room, and 'away' when there's nobody around to take the call. I guess it could work with Smartglass to push the caller's video to a second screen. Maybe it'll just work seamlessly with the Skype app, taking video from Kinect, and routing the caller's video to a tablet or Smartphone.

NOT necessarily looking like games will require a continual Internet connection to function - BUT perhaps we can play INSTALLED games without the disc if we have a connection to carry out an occasional online check, to ensure the disc has not been installed and used elsewhere. If it has, then the disc is required to authenticate and play. Sounds SMART.

Being able to start a party or request an online game while still watching TV isn't a terrible thing.

Hopefully they wont forget about the GAMES, as I'll not be rushing out to buy a £400 mediabox companion that plays COD & FIFA.

Wishlist:

- Halo 2 1080p remake on launch day (more likely to happen in 2014, really)

- New Killer Instinct in the launch window

- GTA V 1080p at launch

- Forza 5 at launch along with a Logitech partnership announcement

- Elite 1080p/60 remake as an XBLA exclusive

- X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter XBLA 1080p/60 remake - controller-based with Smartglass or Kinect controllable cockpit

- Road Rash XBLA 1080p/60 remake

- Sega Rally 1995 / Sega Rally 2 1080p/60 remake

- New Chase HQ game or HD port of Arcade versions

- Snap up any stragglers from Sony Liverpool & Bizarre creations, and make a new studio, also make or purchase a Japan-based studio and get busy with a new PGR game or completely revamped WipEout competitor

First party XBLA games ported across and ready for day one download. 3rd parties encouraged to port XBLA titles across using incentives. Re-think of indie games service - all XBLA and Indie games could be released on the Windows 8 Xbox app store simultaneously, with progress synced automatically and mobile options available.

Also, connecting a cheap, tiny, mini barebones cut-down Xbox 360 module with not much more than the CPU & GPU COULD be an ideal optional BC device, avoiding bumping up the cost of the console or porting anything over to x86 / Jaguar. This COULD plug into the back of the Xbox via an edge connector or possibly eSata or USB3, and might be the rumoured Xbox Loop device with no optical drive.

It could probably therefore be shrunk to the size of a new mac mini or even smaller. Maybe Apple TV sized plus space for active cooling. It'd be special if they could stuff the old nVidia chip in here to bring full Xbox compatibility as well, if that's even needed at this stage.

If by any chance this becomes Xbox 'Infinity' brand, then hopefully they can release a more powerful, compatible model in a couple of years to leapfrog the competition and offer 1080p/60 or better for more games as the tech gets cheaper, smaller and cooler.

This sort of thing will sell it to gamers. Microsoft have been SILENT other than Forza Horizon on 1st party games on the whole for the past couple of years apart from Kinect bollocks, so it'd be foolish to expect much other than a TONNE of stuff in development behind the scenes for this launch.

If not, then the PS4 with 8GB RAM is looking enticing for a 2014-15 purchase for me. Eventually - depending on price and games.

Hopefully they wont do a Windows 8 and cock it up.


DLC / value comment:
---------------------

It simply doesn't cut it that people who have paid the full day one retail price for a game can't get all of the content, or at least the main, on-disc, prepared content, bundled via a code. Even if it's time-delayed and only released several months down the line (to 'keep the disc in the tray'), there should be several of the main pieces of DLC bundled with the pre-ordered, full price copy of the game. Those who get a discounted copy later, or a pre-owned copy, should have to pay up.

So currently, if I wait for a year (or often less), then I can get the game for £15 with all of the DLC included! What!?!?! Incentive much?!?

That's a broken system that encourages people to either TRADE (to recover some of the £40 in disgust at being asked to pay more to play the rest of the game), or NOT BUY (until the rest of the content appears, and the price drops).

They're basically depending on hype instead of value to sell their product at full price.

Broken - especially when we look at how games and developers get their 'funding' to develop content vs. the Movie industry.

IMHO.

SOLUTIONS:

- Use Sony's DLC gold pass system, allowing SOME free DLC handouts to those who redeem the code within x days of the release. Not draconian, and encourages new purchases.

- Make them GOLD in colour, and attractive, in order that people selling the game will retain them to hold onto the value.

- Make them collectors cards, like Baseball and Football cards. Top Trumps.

- Create a loyalty scheme, where people who hold these cards, expired/redeemed or not, can use them to obtain exclusive rewards

- Move towards an NFC or barcode/QR-code-like system for redeeming the passes, and away from typing in long strings of text using a control pad, if possible


'Project Natal' future wishes:
------------------------------

I want the 2nd Gen Kinect to run at 720p or 1080p, at 60FPS+, using hardware acceleration (throw an ARM chipset in there).

USB3 is the interface, unless they somehow head over to Thunderbolt (unlikely).

Next comes a break apart controller including a very accurate pointer system. One for each 'side' of the controller allows for dual-wielding.

Hmmm... what else?

:)


Standard '3D TV' thread cut/paste comment:
-------------------------------------------------

Most people aren't taking into account that the next consoles will need to have monster GPUs to render 1080p/60 3D. If Sony / Microsoft aim for this, then there'll be little chance of them taking a 'Wii-like' technology sidestep to save costs.

3D works best when v-sync'd, so this BODES VERY WELL for 2D framerates and elimination / minimising of tearing in the next gen, for those who DON'T upgrade their TV sets.

It'll be near impossible to create a game that simply doesn't work for those without 3D displays, so calm the nonsensical hate, children. Even larger 2D panels will get cheaper, so it's a win/win.

We'll all benefit from the push to 3D.


Standard Sonyonlinefail cut/paste comment:
-------------------------------------------

Sony can't 'do' networked software and services.



Standard Wii U Nintendofail cut/paste comment:
-----------------------------------------------

Wii puU


Standard Wii U sales and popularity comment:
---------------------------------------------

I want to see what happens to Wii U sales when the new versions of the following games are released:

Monster Hunter
F-Zero
Pilotwings
Wii Fit
Brain Training
Trauma Centre
Ace Attorney
Animal Crossing
Metroid
Mario Kart
Mario Galaxy
Mario Party
WarioWare
Smash Bros
StarFox
etc...

+ other 3rd party games that actually sold well on the Wii

+ The next big AAA multi format games that have a simultaneous release on Wii U, once the installed base reaches 2-3 million+

+ The first few big AAA games that are written from the ground up for Wii U, with no time compromises - such as Killzone 2 on PS3, Gears 2 on 360, HazeLOL on PS3, aaaaand UNCHARTED 2/3 on PS3 - ESPECIALLY.

In addition, I can't wait to see when Nintendo drop the following clangers this gen:

Wii Music (LOL)
Wii Vitality sensor

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Ryze (aka TechRyze) has most recently played GTA IV PC, DAYTONA USA, OutRun™ Online Arcade, and Test Drive Unlimited 2 on Xbox Live.

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