Xbox One Announcement

the next generation is here!

It's been eight years since the last generation of Microsoft's gaming console, the Xbox 360, was released. That's only one year longer than the length of time between the releases of the original Xbox and the 360, but it has seemed like an eternity. Microsoft is a few months behind Sony in announcing their new console, but both will be available for this year's Christmas season. Parents, start saving now! Although Microsoft hasn't released the actual cost yet, rumors are that the console will run from $400-$500 depending on the model. However, if you sign up for an Xbox Live online service subscription when you buy the box, the cost could be closer to $300.

the guts that make it go

Although rumors are that the PlayStation 4 will have a bit more power to its punch, the Xbox One is no slouch in the spec department. It will use an eight-core AMD Jaguar processor to chew through anything developers can throw at the console. The memory will be 8 gigabytes of DDR3 RAM. Supposedly the PS4 will use the newer GDDR5, but there are very few pieces of software that make full use of 4GB of CPU RAM today so the 8GB in the Xbox One should be more than enough to handle most anything that comes along until it's time for the "Xbox Two." 

Finally, the next-generation Xbox will come with a 500 gigabyte hard drive. This is the only area where I can see some potential issues arising. Microsoft is already making a push to sell their games over Xbox Live by downloading them directly to the hard drive. Rumors are that they will attempt to drive consumers even further in that direction. Currently it's only older games and Xbox Live Arcade titles that are downloadable, but the new console will likely offer new releases for immediate download. Some reports are saying that even if you buy a hard copy on disc, the console will automatically download the game to your hard drive the first time you put it in the disc drive. While it will take some doing to fill up 500GB, hardcore gamers will be able to do so. Microsoft's answer is cloud-based memory that may or may not be included in the cost of your Live subscription. 

You're Kinected, whether you like it or not

The Kinect will be bundled with all new console packages. This doesn't bother me too much as long as it doesn't raise the overall cost. I understand that Microsoft is trying to grab a piece of Nintendo's family gaming pie, but for hardcore gamers like myself, it doesn't offer many attractive options. If I want to play a game standing up, I'll go to one of my friend's houses and use their Wii. While I'm glad that my mom uses her Wii to play Dance Dance Revolution for her cardio workouts, I prefer to go to the gym for exercise, then come home and play Call of Duty on my butt. 

pre-owned games

Both Microsoft and Sony are looking for ways to remove a thorn that has been in their respective sides for some time. I'm talking, of course, about used games. Some games have already started to use codes to prevent players from sharing discs with their friends for free. Mass Effect 3 is one game that comes to mind. The disc came with a redeemable code that was necessary to access the online portions of the game. If you bought the game used from Gamestop or another pre-owned game outlet, you had to purchase a new code in order to access the online multiplayer portions of the game. 

In order to bypass this loss of income, Microsoft is rumored to make all of their games require some sort of code to play the title. You'll be able to take games over to friends' houses, but you'll have to download your Gamer Profile in order to play. If you want to loan a game to a friend, they will have to pay a fee. This requirement, coupled with the push toward downloaded games over discs, likely signals the death knell for traditional video game stores that make a significant amount of their income by re-selling used games. While I rarely buy used titles, I enjoy the option, especially with older titles that had questionable reviews. If I don't like the game, I can rationalize the expenditure due to its lower cost. There are also rumors that a fee will be required to play games you already purchased for previous consoles. While I can understand their desire to get their slice of the pie with regard to used games, this rumor, if true, is going too far. It's one thing to make people pay for games they borrowed from friends. It's quite another to make me pay for a game I already gave them sixty bucks to play. I'm NOT paying for the same game twice. I'll keep my 360 around rather than give in to this bit of technological extortion. 

the extras

The Xbox One will offer a bevy of new options that aren't available on the 360. First and foremost, it will finally catch up to the PlayStation by adding a Blu Ray player to its hardware. It will offer full 1080p HD resolution for both games and movies. The current Xbox 360 has the ability to play games at Blu Ray level resolution, but when it first came out it maxed out at 720p/1080i. If you were lucky enough to avoid the Red Ring of Death and you still have one of the early consoles, it can't take full advantage of that new 1080p HDTV you got last Christmas. 

As with Microsoft Windows, the Xbox One will allow you to run multiple apps at the same time as your game. They claim there will be no loss of performance while running multiple simultaneous software applications. Microsoft says that gamers will be able to jump between apps, games, and video instantaneously without having to quit one in order to start another. This option will be helpful in making the Xbox One into the all-inclusive entertainment center they're aiming to create. With its Dolby 7.1 surround sound, Microsoft hopes to replace your DVD/Blu Ray player, stereo, Netflix/Hulu streaming units, and any other gadgets you currently have in your entertainment center with the single Xbox One console. Gamers will also be able to use a new split-screen option to watch movies at the same time as they converse with their friends over apps like Skype and Facebook. With all of these built-in tech apps, I believe Microsoft will likely succeed in their goal of being the lone entertainment unit in many homes. 

final thoughts

While there has been plenty of controversy surrounding the new Xbox One, most of it comes from ancillary issues that the majority of Xbox users won't really notice when they upgrade from their 360. Personally, I'm really excited about the new console. Microsoft seems to have backed off from their early rumor leaks that the machine would require a full-time Internet connection, which was the main complaint many fans were making about the new console. However, an always-on connection will help maximize the console's capabilities. I'm interested to see where they end up with regard to many of these rumors.

I have a pretty powerful CPU tower that tears through anything I've thrown at it, and the specs of the Xbox One blow it out of the water. I can't wait to get my hands on the new console to see what it can do. Microsoft, if you're reading this, I'd love a free box so I can give an early review of your wonderful new toy! If not, I'll still be one of the first in line to pick up the new Xbox One. I've been ready for a next-gen console for a few years now. Although the Xbox 360 is still churning out some pretty good games, its capabilities have been mostly maxed out. It's time for a more powerful gaming machine, and we're almost there! The Christmas season and subsequent Xbox One release can't get here fast enough. 

Xbox 720 to Require Constant Internet Connection

1984 has arrived!

I know there are some aluminum hat wearers out there that have been anxiously awaiting a nightmarish, Orwellian  future where we are monitored at all times by huge, evil corporations bent on world domination, just so you can say, "I told you so." Well, guess what? I've got a surprise for you! The next Xbox is going to never be disconnected from the Internet. Not only will it shut down if it isn't plugged into the net for three minutes, but they're more than doubling the cost of the privilege of subscribing to Xbox Live to $10/month. First of all, let me place the caveat here at the beginning saying this information comes from another blogger. We aren't 60 Minutes or Nightline when it comes to investigative journalism. That said, I feel fairly comfortable posting considering the story has re-run on Yahoo.com and IGN (Read more, I'm not making this up: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/04/25/next-xbox-functionality-pricing-reportedly-outed).

It's moves like this that make me wonder, are they trying to scare people away? For one thing, every time your Internet goes down, and with some connections this is more of an issue than others, your Xbox is going out, too. Not only is that doubly annoying, it makes no sense.

I assume this is to cut down on people buying used games. Why not just do what Mass Effect 3 and many games before it have done? Have a one-time-use code that must be purchased a second time if the game is to be played on another console. It makes me sick to even say that because personally, I believe you ought to be able to buy and sell legal items pretty much as often as you'd like. However, it's the lesser of two evils. At least with the code you can buy the game used and play it at your leisure, not worried that you're being watched at all times by some sort of sick super-villain.

The blogger that broke the news said the 'always on' rumor, "Isn't as Draconian as many seem to believe." That's funny, I was thinking that was the perfect word for it. While I don't believe Bill Gates sits in a room with thousands of HD monitors showing every last Kinect feed in the world, I don't really want him to have that capability. You won't be able to take your Xbox any place that doesn't have an Internet connection. In some hotels, wifi can cost as much as $20/night. What about the Xbox hooked up in the car to keep the kids entertained in cross country road trips? I guess that one is ground they're giving completely to Sony and Nintendo, although the Wii isn't really back seat friendly. Those controllers make fantastic sister or brother assault aids in a 30-hour car ride, as well. 

are you trying to make me angry?

Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. I fail to see the justification and motivation for this drastic measure. Are they really losing that much money in used games? I keep all my games because I figure I'm not being played like a chump for six bucks. It's worth the slightest possibility to me that I might play something again that I'll keep it just out of spite over not giving into Gamestop's racketeering. I have close to six grand in video games sitting on the shelf next to my t.v. Well, sadly they aren't worth that now. Game discs do not, as a general rule, appreciate in value with time like fine wine or artwork. I did the same thing with lots of college textbooks. I paid $129 for it and you're going to try to give me $12? I don't think so! I'm keeping it. I'll probably never crack it again, but it's worth it knowing I wasn't played for a fool by a system set up to con students, the vast majority of whom aren't the richest demographic to begin with.

I'm a bit reactionary and I currently feel like "dealing with it" by picking up a Sony this year. I can get it earlier than November, so that's one plus for the PS4. I may calm down by then and realize I can't live without my Xbox, but I also might not want Bill Gates watching me sit on my couch all day. That's exciting stuff, I know, but that's exactly why I don't want to give it away for free! I should be charging Billy Boy for that privilege. Microsoft Executive Adam Orth resigned shortly after the less-than-sympathetic Tweet above. Nevertheless, it appears Microsoft is going ahead with their plans. Screwing over loyal customers is fine, so long as you don't tell them about it on social media. That's crossing the line, man. Low blow. Dirty pool. Unacceptable. I suggest buying a roll of this, so at least you can give Microsoft the same treatment they're giving you.

Nerdgasm! Interactive Mars Panorama on Your Phone

I found out about this on TheAtlantic.com (original article) -- there is an interactive, 360-degree panorama of Mars made from assembled Curiosity Rover pictures, and when you access it on your phone, it uses the built-in accelerometer and compass to re-orient the image in real-time. That means as you sit in your desk chair and spin slowly around, your office turns into freaking Mars.

Freaking Mars.

The planet Mars.

Pay What You Want Music (for a good cause)

Contrary to popular opinion, and the rules of
reading printed English, They Might Be Giants
did not name their B-sides collection "Album Raises Bling."

For the next two weeks, nerd band extraordinaire They Might be Giants, and Rube Goldberg nerds extraordinaire (also band) OK GO, and also four other bands I'm less familiar with, are each offering up a release you can download for as much or little as you would care to at www.humblebundle.com.

This is a really cool platform. As a musician who has donated album proceeds to charities in the past (and just this week got involved with another charity project), I know that tackling something like this can be sticky for musicians and consumers, alike. Where is the money going? Who is it helping? Are the artists being compensated? Is the sponsoring organization taking a chunk? Lots of questions. The Humble Bundle program puts the answers to all of that in the consumer's hands. When you order the bundle -- all six albums -- you can designate exactly how much of your purchase goes to charity (and what portion goes to each charity), how much goes to the musicians (and what portion to which musicians), and how much (if any) goes to the Humble Bundlers. Pretty cool.

And yes, the TMBG album includes versions of "Particle Man" and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" -- for those of you who, like me, discovered this band in the Long, Long Ago via Tiny Toons.

This Week in Unsurprising Revelations: Springfield Located!

The LA Times is reporting that Matt Groening has, at long last, revealed the location of Springfield, home of the Simpson Family.  Turns out, it's in Oregon--Groening's home state.  This vital bit of unsurprising information actually comes from an extensive--and pretty interesting--interview in the Smithsonian Magazine.  Groening describes his inspiration:

Springfield was named after Springfield, Oregon. The only reason is that when I was a kid, the TV show “Father Knows Best” took place in the town of Springfield, and I was thrilled because I imagined that it was the town next to Portland, my hometown. When I grew up, I realized it was just a fictitious name. I also figured out that Springfield was one of the most common names for a city in the U.S. In anticipation of the success of the show, I thought, “This will be cool; everyone will think it’s their Springfield.” And they do.

Sure, Matt, unless you live in one of the 15 states without a Springfield.  Of course, this bit about Groening's dad was actually, genuinely surprising:

He grew up on a Mennonite farm in Kansas, speaking only German until he went to school. My father then ended up as a bomber pilot flying a B-17 during World War II. After the war, he was a surfer, filmmaker and ardent amateur basketball player. He perfected a basketball shot that he could shoot—without looking—over his head and consistently make from the top of the key. 

 That explains everything...

UPDATE: In an interview with TV Guide (ed: TV Guide still exists? Homer will be happy to know that), Groening denies that Springfield is supposed to actually be Springfield, OR.  According to Al Jean, the series' long-time producer, Groening's statements in the Smithsonian Magazine are:

...a far cry from proclaiming that the show actually takes place in Oregon. The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean also tells TV Guide Magazine that it was one big misunderstanding — which was then repeated on virtually every news program and in every newspaper in the country. "They misinterpreted something I've heard him say for at least 10 or 20 years," Jean says. "He was inspired by growing up in Portland, but it's really an every town. It's really funny. Matt grew up in Oregon and parts of The Simpsons were definitely inspired by his childhood. But there is no specific state that Springfield is in, and we will never reveal that secret... except this coming Sunday at 8," he quips.

Thanks for the plug, Al.  I'm looking forward to yet another reminder of what happens when a dearly beloved show runs for 10+ years after the last time it was actually funny.