Xbox E3 2013 Media Briefing

So, the XBox One is a high tech TV remote? It’s a $500 channel-changer? It’s a VCR from 1979? It’s none of those things. The Xbox One reveal, three weeks ago, left a lot to the imagination of gamers, most of whom have too much imagination already...call it a by-product of gaming. The Reveal showed us the machine and how it integrated with the existing entertainment devices in our living rooms. The E3 Media Briefing gave us some answers, a peek at some of the new games, changes to XBL, and answers to the fate of our beloved 360.

 

 

 

We already saw the console and the controller. Microsoft showed off a bit of its Smartglass integration, which searches for optimal multiplayer matches, dubbed Smart Match, in a game, even while playing another game. Smartglass also acts as a sort of extra controller for games like Project Spark. Smartglass also allows players to check and compare game stats and achievements in real time.

 

 

 

The Smartglass briefing revealed the the XBox One will allow players to not only record and edit gameplay videos, but stream live via Twitch. Sorry, LB, your newly acquired Hauppage is now obsolete.

 

“Right now, I'm most interested in seeing more details on Project Spark. The Xbox Live enhancements are great too with Twitch streaming.” Tiffany “ElektraFi” Nolan

 

Damn it, I told her to take it easy!

 

 

Microsoft revealed several new games exclusive to the new console, and quite a few were brand new IPs. One thing repeated during the game introductions was that these new games were running at 60 frames per second with no load times, and actual gameplay was featured.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“People make such a big deal about used games, but I can count the number of games I've traded in on my dick... 1.”- Derek “DSmooth” Nolan

 

The 2o2p E3 crew

 

The bad news: the XBox One will not play your 360 games. However, the good news is that Microsoft is going to continue to support the 360, promising hundreds of new games for the red-ringed console of death, making backwards compatibility a moot point for 360 owners. Why throw away a perfectly good console that is still being supported? Specific 360 titles mentioned were the PC hit, World of Tanks: 360 Edition (free to play!), Dark Souls 2, Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, Splinter Cell Blacklist, as well as downloadable versions of Assassin’s Creed II and Halo 3. I hope you’re not planning to shitcan your 360 just yet, it’s a long way from being dead. To punctuate this last point, MS has released a new (looking) 360 with all the accoutrements of the current console i.e. it’s slim, doesn’t overheat, it’s quiet, and doesn’t red ring every third game.

 

Holy Fuck! A McLaren P1!

 

Gold memberships will carry over and cover both consoles. Microsoft is doing away with MS Points in favor of local currency, and a single XBL Gold account will now cover the entire household of gaming addicts.

 

 

Liked: Smartglass integration and game speed.

“The biggest thing is games games, games, games. No talking about TV, no talking about cable box stuff.”

 

Liked: Project Spark and Halo

“On the Xbox itself: no friends list limits, no more Microsoft points. Twitchtv all over the place.”

 

Liked: Crimson Dragon and the sudden appearance of Master Chief under a cloak.

“I love beer samplers!”

 

Who is this shady character?

 

The XBox One will be available, this November, for $499.00. Reserve your console now or risk getting stuck with a higher priced version with a packed-in game that you may or may not want. Microsoft did not address the used game issue and cancelled the executive interviews that were to follow the press briefing, so there is more yet to come from the Microsoft camp. Thanks to ElektraFi, Doodi, and DSmooth for braving the crowds, sitting in packed conference rooms, and eating 36” pizzas so the rest of us don’t have to!