Should we even consider the Xbox One a games console?

[Atmos Duality]

Should we be asking this question before we've seen the game library that will be available at launch?

(hint, no)

I'll take the middle ground here and propose we should act as interested in asking that question as Microsoft is in answering it. Which, based on the utter lack of games at the reveal show is "Barely interested at all".

Seems fitting. I mean, why the fuck would GAMERS care about GAMES on what is supposedly the generation of a GAME CONSOLE?!
That's just silly!

 

[Gatx]

Stop trying to change the names.

Just as the Wii U is a console of the new generation, Xbone is a console! Just a more (needlessy?) complex one.

I'm curious about your statement. How far diverged from games as the core feature would a device have to get before it was no longer a console? I'm not even disagreeing with you, just trying to wrap my head around what that line would be. How would we know when it was crossed? It seems a lot of it would have to do with the primary focus of the machine in question. Can it be considered a games console if games are not its primary focus, but just one of many apps available on the device, like an IOS or Andriod device?

For me it's simple, depends on the primary reason of why the consumers bought it. I still think the reason most people will buy the Xbox One is for games.

Are you sure it won't be for sports or TV? I kid of course, but it is a possibility... it's definitely what Microsoft seems to be aiming for at least.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Also, dont forget, Sony hasnt told us anything about the PS4 yet. So before you all continue to ***** and moan and boycott MS for Sony. Wait to hear what Sonys plans are for used games etc etc

 

[Lightknight]

It's every bit as much a console as the 360 was but with more features. Do you stop calling smart phones, phones, just because you can do so much more with them now? If so, sure.

 

[Xarathox]

Stop trying to change the names.

Just as the Wii U is a console of the new generation, Xbone is a console! Just a more (needlessy?) complex one.

I'm curious about your statement. How far diverged from games as the core feature would a device have to get before it was no longer a console? I'm not even disagreeing with you, just trying to wrap my head around what that line would be. How would we know when it was crossed? It seems a lot of it would have to do with the primary focus of the machine in question. Can it be considered a games console if games are not its primary focus, but just one of many apps available on the device, like an IOS or Andriod device?

For me it's simple, depends on the primary reason of why the consumers bought it. I still think the reason most people will buy the Xbox One is for games.

Suppose I can call my Android a PC then, considering that I only got it for the sole purpose of accessing all the internets anywhere I want. Even if there aren't any cell towers in sight, as long as I got a stable wi-fi connection, I'm good. The "call" feature's just a bonus.

 

[The Comfy Chair]

The PC does everything technology is capable of doing, but can be used for games too.

I think we should just call the xbone a locked down PC. Actually, let's just call it a mac! *flees*

 

[Lord_Gremlin]

It's every bit as much a console as the 360 was but with more features. Do you stop calling smart phones, phones, just because you can do so much more with them now? If so, sure.

It brings up another thought. I for example always use old models of phones. Because I need a reliable phone on me. That can't be hacked, has huge battery life and is generally specialized to be 1 thing.
To me android phones are kinda useless rubbish. Same with consoles. Console should be specialized to play games. So that you buy a game - then you put it in and start playing.
You know what does that properly for me now? PS Vita. Because everything else found a way to fuck it up with some codes, installs and whatnot. Even PS3.

 

[theultimateend]

It's every bit as much a console as the 360 was but with more features. Do you stop calling smart phones, phones, just because you can do so much more with them now? If so, sure.

I do not call my Samsung Galaxy S3 a phone.

I call it an S3.

But if I wanted to be accurate I'd call it my "Kairosoft Arcade & Reddit Mobile Device."

Because lord knows I never ever >ever< use it to make phone calls.

Never ever.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

Why would it need games? Microsoft isn't about video games, oh no! They're about pleasing the masses with things you can already get elsewhere! Pffff games! It can probably play games, I guess. But who needs that in a fancy DVD player?!? No thank you! I just want to watch tv on something that's bound to be overpriced and not needed! Games, you say! ha!

It baffles me that people don't realize that the point of the reveal presentation was to show off the new features of the console. Playing games is central to the Xbox brand, not a new feature.

It's not like MS didn't talk about games anyway, they announced a new game and bragged about all the launch exclusives they had.

 

[Lightknight]

It brings up another thought. I for example always use old models of phones. Because I need a reliable phone on me. That can't be hacked, has huge battery life and is generally specialized to be 1 thing.
To me android phones are kinda useless rubbish. Same with consoles. Console should be specialized to play games. So that you buy a game - then you put it in and start playing.
You know what does that properly for me now? PS Vita. Because everything else found a way to fuck it up with some codes, installs and whatnot. Even PS3.

I was full on flip phones until this past year with the same sentiment. I made the switch to the smart phone because of GPS features and other things that are genuinely useful in a pinch. But I have enjoyed some of the other perks like real games and such. I can't say I'd be to unhappy if I had to go back to a flip phone though.

But yes, the PS Vita and PSP are staples on any trip we go on. Small enough to not be cumbersome but powerful enough to play larger scaled games than tablets have. Great systems that also allow me to watch other forms of media.

It's every bit as much a console as the 360 was but with more features. Do you stop calling smart phones, phones, just because you can do so much more with them now? If so, sure.

I do not call my Samsung Galaxy S3 a phone.

I call it an S3.

But if I wanted to be accurate I'd call it my "Kairosoft Arcade & Reddit Mobile Device."

Because lord knows I never ever >ever< use it to make phone calls.

Never ever.

I would generally say that smart phones are phones that have a lot of different features. But then I have to ask myself what I'd call a tablet that allowed phone calls too? I'm sure they already exist and it's not like the Samsung Galaxy lines aren't pocket-sized tablets anyways. So there is some sort of philosophy or subjectivity that comes into play here. I'd say that the Xbone was always going to be a video game console. They're just emphasizing other things they envision it being. While that's fair of them to do, it puts them at odd with the existing market for the thing. The term console is somewhat ambiguous and the question is about whether or not the purpose of the console is gaming. So I'll say this, what other than gaming requires those kind of specs?

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

You don't need several hundred dollars worth of hardware to run Netflix and Kinect motion controls. Gaming is the main reason the device exists. If it was a multimedia device that can do games, Microsoft would have made a Kinect with wifi and a cable input

I'd also say I'm kinda over the Xbone melodrama already. Wired had a Q&A with a Microsoft guy and the console doesn't seem that bad anymore

I do not call my Samsung Galaxy S3 a phone.

I call it an S3.

But if I wanted to be accurate I'd call it my "Kairosoft Arcade & Reddit Mobile Device."

Because lord knows I never ever >ever< use it to make phone calls.

Never ever.

I hate it when I read phone reviews and they talk about call quality. I don't give a fuck about the talking part, I wanna know how fast my shit can run on it!

 

[ssgt splatter]

Well, it can do a lot of extra stuff now that's for sure and to be honest, I thought their reveal and tech demo was really cool. The technology in the Xbone is truly amazing and none of you can deny that with a straight face. BUT I, personally, won't be using any of the extra stuff like the ability to stream TV or Internet browser or the whole thing of switching back and forth to games and TV and Browsing and...um...actually, I've already forgotten all that extra stuff, I'm just in it to play games on the thing.

It's great that technology can be implemented in such a way but it's a VIDEOGAME CONSOLE and that's what I'm going to use it as.

 

[Aaron Starke]

Why would it need games? Microsoft isn't about video games, oh no! They're about pleasing the masses with things you can already get elsewhere! Pffff games! It can probably play games, I guess. But who needs that in a fancy DVD player?!? No thank you! I just want to watch tv on something that's bound to be overpriced and not needed! Games, you say! ha!

It baffles me that people don't realize that the point of the reveal presentation was to show off the new features of the console. Playing games is central to the Xbox brand, not a new feature.

It's not like MS didn't talk about games anyway, they announced a new game and bragged about all the launch exclusives they had.

it wasnt for the fact that they didnt bring games up at all. Its for the fact that they did bring them up in the presentation, though they were dwarfed by the comments about TV and call of duty. Seriously they had dedicated a total of 1 minute to games and then the rest of the time was TV. Oh hey look at this dog.

THe call of duty I expected out of it as that seems to be the flagship of the device though that was itself tiring as i could swear that the speach made about the new call of duty was the exact same one used for CoDBlops2 and then MW3 before that. What do those guys do? just change the name of a few things (being the previous games) and replace them?

 

[LetalisK]

Also, dont forget, Sony hasnt told us anything about the PS4 yet. So before you all continue to ***** and moan and boycott MS for Sony. Wait to hear what Sonys plans are for used games etc etc

It's entirely possible Sony bones gamers just as bad. It's just that, so far, Sony is the only one of the two that seems to actually give half a shit about games, so they're in the lead, as it were. Though, if Sony did end up going Microsoft's route, I daresay they'd be villified even more simply because they are getting the benefit of the doubt now.

 

[BoredRolePlayer]

You don't need several hundred dollars worth of hardware to run Netflix and Kinect motion controls. Gaming is the main reason the device exists. If it was a multimedia device that can do games, Microsoft would have made a Kinect with wifi and a cable input

I'd also say I'm kinda over the Xbone melodrama already. Wired had a Q&A with a Microsoft guy and the console doesn't seem that bad anymore

I do not call my Samsung Galaxy S3 a phone.

I call it an S3.

But if I wanted to be accurate I'd call it my "Kairosoft Arcade & Reddit Mobile Device."

Because lord knows I never ever >ever< use it to make phone calls.

Never ever.

I hate it when I read phone reviews and they talk about call quality. I don't give a fuck about the talking part, I wanna know how fast my shit can run on it!

I hope that was sarcasm, like I really really hope that was sarcasm.

On Topic:No it's a computer, just like every other system only more so since it runs a x86. It's a computer that plays games, just like every other console to ever come out.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

I think multimedia system wouold be a better title, as last gens features seem to be this gens staple

I can say one thing for sure; as it looks like the used markets going to get wiped out, my son wont be getting an Xbone. Thats not over reation, thatsjust knowing my/his budget for entertainment and it doesnt stretch to new

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

You don't need several hundred dollars worth of hardware to run Netflix and Kinect motion controls. Gaming is the main reason the device exists. If it was a multimedia device that can do games, Microsoft would have made a Kinect with wifi and a cable input

I'd also say I'm kinda over the Xbone melodrama already. Wired had a Q&A with a Microsoft guy and the console doesn't seem that bad anymore

I do not call my Samsung Galaxy S3 a phone.

I call it an S3.

But if I wanted to be accurate I'd call it my "Kairosoft Arcade & Reddit Mobile Device."

Because lord knows I never ever >ever< use it to make phone calls.

Never ever.

I hate it when I read phone reviews and they talk about call quality. I don't give a fuck about the talking part, I wanna know how fast my shit can run on it!

I hope that was sarcasm, like I really really hope that was sarcasm.

On Topic:No it's a computer, just like every other system only more so since it runs a x86. It's a computer that plays games, just like every other console to ever come out.

The part about phones or the Wired article I read? Either way, I don't like Microsoft in the first place so don't care about the Xbox One

 

[ninjaRiv]

Why would it need games? Microsoft isn't about video games, oh no! They're about pleasing the masses with things you can already get elsewhere! Pffff games! It can probably play games, I guess. But who needs that in a fancy DVD player?!? No thank you! I just want to watch tv on something that's bound to be overpriced and not needed! Games, you say! ha!

It baffles me that people don't realize that the point of the reveal presentation was to show off the new features of the console. Playing games is central to the Xbox brand, not a new feature.

It's not like MS didn't talk about games anyway, they announced a new game and bragged about all the launch exclusives they had.

Why would its target audience give a shit? Seriously, it's audience expects games all over the place, not TV features and social media shit. Show the features off, yes. I encourage them to show that off but it should just be a side thing, dwarfed by the games it's going to have. Brand new games, new entries in franchises and new IPs. It should show off new graphics, give gamers a reason to care. Instead it feels like it's not aimed at people who bought the 360 or even the original Xbox.

 

[Auron225]

Games you say... I've heard that somewhere before... games... games...

You mean... something like this?

Spoiler

Spoiler

But, why would you want that DVD-extra crap when you can just watch stuff? Like DVDs? Or sports? Did I mention you can watch sports? Cus you can.

 

[BoredRolePlayer]

You don't need several hundred dollars worth of hardware to run Netflix and Kinect motion controls. Gaming is the main reason the device exists. If it was a multimedia device that can do games, Microsoft would have made a Kinect with wifi and a cable input

I'd also say I'm kinda over the Xbone melodrama already. Wired had a Q&A with a Microsoft guy and the console doesn't seem that bad anymore

I do not call my Samsung Galaxy S3 a phone.

I call it an S3.

But if I wanted to be accurate I'd call it my "Kairosoft Arcade & Reddit Mobile Device."

Because lord knows I never ever >ever< use it to make phone calls.

Never ever.

I hate it when I read phone reviews and they talk about call quality. I don't give a fuck about the talking part, I wanna know how fast my shit can run on it!

I hope that was sarcasm, like I really really hope that was sarcasm.

On Topic:No it's a computer, just like every other system only more so since it runs a x86. It's a computer that plays games, just like every other console to ever come out.

The part about phones or the Wired article I read? Either way, I don't like Microsoft in the first place so don't care about the Xbox One

Nah the cell phone part, it just sounded really silly to me XD.