VGLeaks: First look as Durango XDK (always connected, kinect required, must install)

Fuck, I just thought about where to put all the goddamned tracking devices: Wii U sensor bar, Kinect 2.0, and the PS4 camera bar. How is all that supposed to be mounted on or around one TV with all three consoles set up and ready to play?

As for "always on" -- it's basically the only way to safely prevent users from running pirated games (piracy is still a huge issue on 360 in many regions). Eventually every gaming device will be always on, even the Nintendo ones.
 
This... all the mandatory installation of games point to link the games to one console only.

No more than installing games on 360 did. The rest is just overreaction and typical GAF faux outrage over anything. The funny thing I'm willing to bet 1/3 of the people bitching right now have their 360 connected online at the moment.
 
Unless it's streaming FMV or codec-style audio. Which are goddamn huge but well within the capacity of a 2x BD drive, never mind 6x.

It also ain't all that hot if you need one 1MB shirt texture/model out of the 500 that exist, and you don't know which until the character pops on screen. Or will a GTA or Saints Row lock you in your apartment until every single piece of clothing and model of car are copied over? .

If they weren't already installed it would presumably just install the one it needed as it loads, no biggie if the system is designed for this behaviour. For maps you'd need a big loading time to begin but this is already the case on gta games to get all the basic map and logic in place.
 
Shouldn't it say 720 supports "always connected" in that case. If it was an optional feature, they wouldn't say that it WILL ALWAYS maintain an online connection. It sounds mandatory to me.

My samsung TV said "Always connected, Always online" (or something similar) on the box. Do I need an internet connection to watch TV? No.

If it was required it would have said its required like the kinect.

"Always connected, always online" means that they can send updates and info or demos or whatever while the machine is in standby mode. Same as the PS4 does.
 
- All games must be installed on HDD [you can start playing few secs after installation starts], game data streaming from optical disc not supported

Wtf, that's interesting. Very PC with discs being pure install, and assuming game downloads are day and date with retail like Steam, then disc collections really start diminishing.
 
The no playing from the disc thing is very fishy. There is only one end to this that I can imagine. My theory is that each disc can only installed on one Durango, perhaps multiple times, so no used games or sharing and makes the disc itself worthless (or atleast its value even more diminished) to anyone else. Instead of making used games completely obsolete, it is possible they would charge you extra to install a used game onto your Durango.

But then comes the question, what about the people who borrow (or rent) games? Could one person buy a $60 dollar game and hand it to all of their friends, and let them install it onto their consoles while each person pays only a fraction of the price to activate it?
 
As has been pointed out by the few of us for months now there is no reason to believe that always online means you have to be to play offline games. It could happen but the language used in these leaks never actually states that.

Exactly, system will update, and do whatever it wants in backgrounf, system will be always on not necessarily the games.
 
As has been pointed out by the few of us for months now there is no reason to believe that always online means you have to be to play offline games. It could happen but the language used in these leaks never actually states that.

Always online has become a marketing buzz word and now has multiple meanings.
 
Marketing language. They want everyone to be online at all times so they can push content, patches, etc.

A good way to sell such a idea is to imply that it might be mandatory but actually isn't. You just don't want people to know it's optional when it actually is.

Essentially, Marketing 101.

Especially for Microsoft. "Always online? Well I better get a xbox live subscription too or it won't work. Box it up for me mr gamestop"
 
As has been pointed out by the few of us for months now there is no reason to believe that always online means you have to be to play offline games. It could happen but the language used in these leaks never actually states that.

Ok I have to point out that the language seems pretty fucking clear. Some of you seem to be in denial. This is still a rumour, it could have changed, and believe me I will be dancing for joy if it does. I hardly want to be right about this.

That said – I'm not sure how else you could possibly parse this:

The console will be ready instantly when users want to play, and will always maintain a network connection so that the console software and games are always current. With this “Always On, Always Connected” design, users will quickly and easily enjoy their connected entertainment experiences, with no waiting for the console to restart or install updates.

ALWAYS. CONNECTED.

Right now the rational thing to believe is that it will be, get ready for it: CONNECTED AT ALL TIMES TO THE INTERNET.

I think they are doing the Kinect strategy, which is to bundle together a bunch of concepts (like voice commands and movement tracking) into a central brand point: Always On, Always Connected, Note The Caps. In this sense it will be seamless updates, background downloads, instand suspend/resume (all like PS4) so I really, really can't see them going "oh yes but of course a fully supported offline mode". As was mentioned, where there's smoke, etc.
 
The help page with the text is from Visual Studio 2012 which was released September 12, 2012. At the bottom (cut off) it references alpha and beta developer kits. This info clearly cannot be 13 months old.
 
People do understand that footage/images of you don't actually go anywhere? Do you think its sending footage of you to some guy sitting in a room filled with monitors?

This is almost a viral marketing for Person of Interest. It's actually scary. "Observing you with a thousand eyes and a million ears".


But Sony is not making you install games on the HDD.
 
With this always online philosophy, I think there's a good chance that Microsoft will release an Xbox 720 that's like $200 with a 2-3 year subscription of its entry-level tier (assuming they change Gold,Silver). This will make it very easy for casual consumers to impulse buy.

Also, Microsoft can always say it is the cheapest next gen console and the first to play games without the need for the disc drive noise (neglecting the fact that it renders the disc useless --no used games?)
 
What? Give me a bowl of the stuff you are smoking. You start playing immediately, rest installs in the background. It is done to reduce loading times and to achieve the standby mode from which you can return to your game as you left it. (As on the PS4)

Durango won't block used games. Publisher decide if they want to. A Campaign-Pass (like an online pass) is even possible on current gen machines.

I like your naive hope!

If the console is always online, you bet there will be a check to ensure that the physical game is only installed on one console. Each game disc will have a unique ID, which will then be tied to the first console that it games installed onto.

How else would MS/publishers block used games if they didn't do this?
 
These are not counter arguments. You very well know he means. Required always online for games.

Not to say that always online required to play games will come to fruition.

Why no state that, then? I just hate those one line comments that can mean anything - that's why I asked the same way.
 
This is almost a viral marketing for Person of Interest. It's actually scary. "Observing you with a thousand eyes and a million ears".



But Sony is not making you install games on the HDD.

Nope, but games will be installing data on to the hard drive just like the PS3.
 
Or devs can install only game data and leave FMV to be streamed from discs.
Cutscenes are what takes most space on BDs, today at least. Uncharted 3 is 10GB for data and 40 for fmvs (2D and 3D) and audio, if I'm not wrong.

Plus if you can play seconds after the install starts then the system will just delete the last games you played. If this is all so fast and seamless then it won't be an issue.
 
I like your naive hope!

If the console is always online, you bet there will be a check to ensure that the physical game is only installed on one console. Each game disc will have a unique ID, which will then be tied to the first console that it games installed onto.

How else would MS/publishers block used games if they didn't do this?

Oh 'comon! You will need the game on the disctray as usual, don't complicate things.
 
Now just to find out about the used games aspect.

Always online? Check
Games don't play off disc? Check

No used games? The only unknown from the rumor mill of horror
 
Mandatory install to disk is a system selling feature.

No more disc switching when I want to play another game is something that I wished I had already.
 
I'm pretty sure that 'always connected' in this case means that it stays online when the console is turned off... just like PS4. But whatever, keep jumping to conclusions.
 
Or devs can install only game data and leave FMV to be streamed from discs.
Cutscenes are what takes most space on BDs, today at least. Uncharted 3 is 10GB for data and 40 for fmvs (2D and 3D) and audio, if I'm not wrong.

But that's not what previous rumours, or this leaked Durango XDK help file states. I doubt very much that devs will have the option what gets installed and what doesn't. It seems pretty clear that the entire disc has to be installed. The physical BD might even just contain an installer, rather than playable code. As per an application disc, like Office.
 
I like your naive hope!

If the console is always online, you bet there will be a check to ensure that the physical game is only installed on one console. Each game disc will have a unique ID, which will then be tied to the first console that it games installed onto.

How else would MS/publishers block used games if they didn't do this?

"Naive hope"? Sounds more like common sense to me.
 
I like your naive hope!

If the console is always online, you bet there will be a check to ensure that the physical game is only installed on one console. Each game disc will have a unique ID, which will then be tied to the first console that it games installed onto.

How else would MS/publishers block used games if they didn't do this?

Your forced online scenario is not going to happen but if it were true they would also tie it to your gamertag. That way you can play on any console in addition to the OG console allowing anyone to play on it. Only real negative would be against used games.
 
Marketing language. They want everyone to be online at all times so they can push content, patches, etc.

A good way to sell such a idea is to imply that it might be mandatory but actually isn't. You just don't want people to know it's optional when it actually is.

Essentially, Marketing 101.

So you are saying that MS marketers are deliberately giving out the impression that online is mandatory, when its actually not required at all. In the meantime, they piss off half their customers...

Great marketing, alienate your fanbase
 
dig_your_own_grave.jpg
 
I like your naive hope!

If the console is always online, you bet there will be a check to ensure that the physical game is only installed on one console. Each game disc will have a unique ID, which will then be tied to the first console that it games installed onto.

How else would MS/publishers block used games if they didn't do this?
You've used an Xbox 360, yeah? It could work exactly like that. You install the game, but it won't boot unless the disc is in the drive to prove that you own it.
 
Mandatory install to disk is a system selling feature.

No more disc switching when I want to play another game is something that I wished I had already.

Well, again this could be exactly the same as 360 installs work now, and you need the disc to play. We need to wait and see if this is truly disc-less for retail games.
 
Man this sucks.

I was hoping this thread would confirm the rumors about no used games, have to be online to play, and so on. Then I could of had a nice laugh at Microsoft's stupidity. Instead all we got was the same old information and speculation. Doesn't really matter to me I guess. I still no plans to buy Microsoft's new console.
 
Mandatory install to disk is a system selling feature.

No more disc switching when I want to play another game is something that I wished I had already.

No mention if disc needs to be in the tray or not. Lets say what you say is true, that would mean the disc is useless to whoever you give it to.
 
Talk about over reaction....


People are really jumping to conclusions.
Mandatory install to disk is a system selling feature.

No more disc switching when I want to play another game is something that I wished I had already.
Yep. Sounds awesome.

Would be a lot better if thet allow self install hdd. Doubt it.
 
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