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

Those things may indeed have happened, but they aren't remotely close to what is described in the documentation. It's not particularly hard to grasp what they are trying to convey with the language used if you read the documentation, which is something I perhaps wrongly assumed everyone here had done.

Just in case you haven't, here's what it says courtesy of young fillup.



So am I right in assuming you and others who are complaining about this haven't actually read the documentation and are simply feeding on each others wrong interpretation of the information?

I'd like to say I'm shocked, but I'd be lying.

You are not correct in your assumption. The original Edge rumor had 3 components:

1. Always online
2. Always kinect
3. No used games.

This new rumored document has two of those components:

1. Always online
2. Always kinect

I understand the ramifications of always online and the fact that that phrase alone is in no way a bad thing. The issue is and has been how this XDK document fits into the larger picture. Context matters.
 
I'm not really understanding the outcry against the always connected, always on prospect, to be honest. In fact it sounds brilliant, to me. I suspect I'm different to a lot of people here in that I don't game religiously, every single day, and sometimes go weeks without turning my console on. To know that all my media is updated and stored, ready to be accessed without hassle instantaneously is a joy, and a feature that really speaks to my habits and tastes.

I understand the skepticism about the internet connection, because it really would suck to not be able to play, say, Bioshock, because the internet went down. I have to think though, that happens so infrequently in 2013 that I don't think it'll even be an issue in two or three years time.

More connectivity is exactly what I want in my next console. The share function and streaming functions of the PS4 have me similarly excited.
 
If you guys noticed the name. I'm sure someone has already told MS.

We live for this info and gossip but sometimes forget especially where NDA's are concerned that it's serious business.

I hope whoever the person is they're not in development.
 
If you guys noticed the name. I'm sure someone has already told MS.

We live for this info and gossip but sometimes forget especially where NDA's are concerned that it's serious business.

I hope whoever the person is they're not in development.

Godspeed to the leaker.

812138013wprup.jpg



So should be this information from last year or this year?

I don't think the general overview of the SDK would change. Regardless of the year.
 
That online is mandatory? It's not mentioned anywhere in the documentation.

This is from the official reveal, it's mentioned numerous times that the console is always online, always connected. It's not disinformation, it's in direct contradiction to the narrative you've been following.

I already read this and it is not from MS, but a regurgitation of some info (probably the same MS link). Almost all the references to being online are talking about a local network and a PC. Again, context is everything, doing a Google search on the 360 and always online does not prove or disprove anything, you are simply cherry picking info just like the other side. So instead of ending the lame discussion you feed it, congrats.

The console will also be always online

Wow! Oh there is more.

The console will also be always online and make use of built in Media Center Extender for Windows XP, allowing you to connect to your PC and other multimedia devices.

You can connect the 360 to your home network with a cable, or buy a small WiFi adapter for wireless connectivity.

Henshaw said you can use your own WiFi adapter or buy one that fits smoothly into the 360, without messing with its sleek design.

Once the console is hooked up, the 360 will be able to play music, videos and display pictures from your computer on your television. You will also be able to connect MP3 players and digital cameras directly to the 360 with a USB cord and then stream the music or check out your pictures on your TV.

An upgraded version of Xbox Live, Microsoft's online service, will also let you stream that music or those pictures to friends with the console.
 
You are not correct in your assumption. The original Edge rumor had 3 components

1. Always online
2. Always kinect
3. No used games.

This new rumored document has two of those components.

1. Always online
2. Always kinect

I understand the ramifications of always online and the fact that that phrase alone is in no way a bad thing. The issue is and has been how this XDK document fits into the larger picture. Context matters.

You're mistaken, EDGE claimed always online meant it was a mandatory requirement, something we now know isn't true.

Microsoft’s next console will require an Internet connection in order to function.

They were right on mandatory Kinect.

No used games is currently up in the air, but I feel fairly confident in saying that EDGE weren't given the proper context by which to make sense of the information provided.

Yes, games will ship with activations codes, but that's doesn't necessarily mean no used games. It suggests online passes have reached their natural evolutionary end point.
 
Probably been mentioned, but... Do you reckon it is possible that MS could essentially install their own used game market place in their online infrastructure? Similar to auction houses, where people may sell and buy their games, and MS + publishers get a certain cut of the profit.

How would they benefit from that?
 
I'm not really understanding the outcry against the always connected, always on prospect, to be honest. In fact it sounds brilliant, to me. I suspect I'm different to a lot of people here in that I don't game religiously, every single day, and sometimes go weeks without turning my console on. To know that all my media is updated and stored, ready to be accessed without hassle instantaneously is a joy, and a feature that really speaks to my habits and tastes.

I understand the skepticism about the internet connection, because it really would suck to not be able to play, say, Bioshock, because the internet went down. I have to think though, that happens so infrequently in 2013 that I don't think it'll even be an issue in two or three years time.

More connectivity is exactly what I want in my next console. The share function and streaming functions of the PS4 have me similarly excited.

There are things going on here.

The console staying up to date is a unambiguously good thing. PS3 updates have proven extremely annoying and I was glad when they announce the PS4 updates in standby mode.

If it's true that online connections are required as part of some anti-used games policy, then that will effect part time gamers like yourself more than people who have more time to game. If you only have 5 hours a month to play games and the servers are wanged for 2 of them, that has a proportionally larger effect on you. Combine that with the fact that someone who dosen't have time for games is more likely to play during high traffic times like holidays and weekends and the whole thing concept becomes concerning. Also while downtimes might not be a problem in 2 or 3 years time, what about in 10 or 15 years time? Will the servers still be running?
 
I already read this and it is not from MS, but a regurgitation of some info. Almost all the references to being online are talking about a local network and a PC. Again, context is everything, doing a Google search on the 360 and always online does not prove or disprove anything, you are simply cherry picking info just like the other side. So instead of ending the lame discussion you feed it, congrats.

What?

Jeff Henshaw, executive producer for Xbox Digital Entertainment, told me Monday. "It is always high def, always online, always personalized."

"We think about Xbox 360 as being always connected, not just to your friends online but also your PC," Henshaw said. "This is a living room game center device."

Now you're just being wilfully ignorant.
 
Still going to wait and see, but every rumor that I am hoping will be debunked only ends up being repeated over and over. Looking like my relationship with Microsoft is indeed about to come to an end. If such is the case, then I'll just say that it's been fun with the first Xbox and the 360.
 
You're mistaken, EDGE claimed always online meant it was a mandatory requirement, something we now know isn't true.



They were right on mandatory Kinect.

No used games is currently up in the air, but I feel fairly confident in saying that EDGE weren't given the proper context by which to make sense of the information provided.

Yes, games will ship with activations codes, but that's doesn't necessarily mean no used games. It suggests online passes have reached their natural evolutionary end point.

What do you mean "something we know isn't true"? We don't know anything. We have rumors, leaks, and hearsay. We are trying to put all of it in context. I don't see how you can be confident about Microsoft's strategies.

http://www.edge-online.com/news/the...hand-games-50gb-blu-ray-discs-and-new-kinect/

Edge said:
It is believed that games purchased on disc will ship with activation codes, and will have no value beyond the initial user.

That does not sound like some sort of miss reading of the XDK document at all.
 
There are things going on here.

The console staying up to date is a unambiguously good thing. PS3 updates have proven extremely annoying and I was glad when they announce the PS4 updates in standby mode.

If it's true that online connections are required as part of some anti-used games policy, then that will effect part time gamers like yourself more than people who have more time to game. If you only have 5 hours a month to play games and the servers are wanged for 2 of them, that has a proportionally larger effect on you. Combine that with the fact that someone who dosen't have time for games is more likely to play during high traffic times like holidays and weekends and the whole thing concept becomes concerning. Also while downtimes might not be a problem in 2 or 3 years time, what about in 10 or 15 years time? Will the servers still be running?

Firstly, I get your point, but I really am running on the assumption that 99% of the time the system will work flawlessly and when I turn my Xbox on, it turns on. I think that's a reasonable assumption, given the state of technology today, and tomorrow, and that Microsoft are wagering big on this thing.

Secondly I've not bought a used game in years. I live in the UK, and here game prices are driven down massively within weeks of a games release. Given my lessened drive to play each and every game, I'm more than happy to just wait a few weeks and pay half the launch price from some online retailer. Correct me if I'm wrong but the next Xbox still uses physical media? So this system should remain intact. Not being able to sell games sounds bad, and I'm sure it'll effect younger gamers (the trade in system used to keep my gaming habits afloat when I was 13), but for me now I'm more than happy to throw £20 on a game, play it, then let it drift into my shelf. I know this sounds selfish, but I'm just giving my personal viewpoint, I understand this would affect a great many people. I just don't think it's that big an issue for the masses.

Not being able to play the thing 20 years down the line could be an issue to some, but honestly I expect digital media to proliferate to the point whereby any game's playable on almost any device in some way, and then the practical value of the console is basically just the UI, which is tantamount to saying 'naff all'.

People play Pokemon on Android phones now. Back when the Gameboy ruled, if we thought it would become unusable in 20 years time people would be saying 'shit, how will I play Pokemon'.
 
If the documentation is to be believed, you can start playing within minutes of starting to install.

Essentially, you're playing as the game installs. Hopefully this will extend to downloads, I believe Sony are planning this, MS would be short-sighted not to have a similar set up.

You ever try that with Blizzard games, install while you play? It works but it's not an ideal experience.
 
What do you mean "something we know isn't true"? We don't know anything. We have rumors, leaks, and hearsay. We are trying to put all of it in context. I don't see how you can be confident about Microsoft's strategies.

http://www.edge-online.com/news/the...hand-games-50gb-blu-ray-discs-and-new-kinect/

That does not sound like some sort of miss reading of the XDK document at all.

If it had been a requirement, it would have been mentioned in the XDK. The fact that is it isn't, heavily suggests the claim by EDGE isn't true and they simply misunderstood the language used or were fed out of context information. After all, they make a point of specifically mentioning Kinect is required. So why wouldn't they also mention mandatory online?

I'm not sure I understand the point you're tying to make with regard to the EDGE quote.

You ever try that with Blizzard games, install while you play? It works but it's not an ideal experience.

I haven't. My only experience with playing during installation is with Arkham Asylum and it worked relatively well.
 
No way it will only work mandatory online. MS don't have the servers to cope.

I think we might see something about used-game. I dunno it will complete block because it might be problem with the laws of customer right. I bet mandatory activate to unlock online feature.
 
Someone is about to lose their job...:/
I hope not!
Just so you know, I took screenshots which I can PM to a mod for verification if necessary, so I think it would be safe to say that the identity, if known, would further confirm the veracity of VGleaks' info.
 
Since this is (supposedly) coming from dev kits for developers, if there was some sort of required online connection for games to work or no used games "feature", wouldn't MS make that clear to game creators?

I love my 360, but the Kinect requirement will be the sole reason for me jumping ship and going with a mid range Steambox as my main console and (later, down the road) a PS4.

The Kinect thing scares me because with MS doing annual dashboard changes / updates, I wouldn't put it past them to make the dashboard Kinect-only at some point, down the road (meaning you can't use the controller to navigate the Marketplace and whatnot)
 
I hope not!
Just so you know, I took screenshots which I can PM to a mod for verification if necessary, so I think it would be safe to say that the identity, if known, would further confirm the veracity of VGleaks' info.

As stated it doesn't really matter now. MS ninjas have been watching every single Durango thread.

If we know, they know.
 
Here's a game of logic you can play with this.

No streaming from disc means full game install.

Full game install which still require the disc to be inserted into the console is as odds with the quick play resume features that will define this generation.

No disc required after install means some sort of code to prevent piracy

A code means tied to one machine.

One code tied to a single account / machine means no used games or highly restricted sharing.

The writing is on the wall. I don't need Edge or Vgleaks to tell me what I can smell.

Prove me wrong Microsoft.
 
Here's a game of logic you can play with this.

No streaming from disc means full game install.

Full game install which still require the disc to be inserted into the console is as odds with the quick play resume features that will define this generation.

No disc required after install means some sort of code to prevent piracy

A code means tied to one machine.

One code tied to a single account / machine means no used games or highly restricted sharing.

The writing is on the wall. I don't need Edge or Vgleaks to tell me what I can smell.

Prove me wrong Microsoft.

Yes. I actually believe no used games is much more likely than always online right now.
 
If it had been a requirement, it would have been mentioned in the XDK. The fact that is it isn't, heavily suggests the claim by EDGE isn't true and they simply misunderstood the language used or were fed out of context information. After all, they make a point of specifically mentioning Kinect is required. So why wouldn't they also mention mandatory online?

This is hardly confirmation either way. The fact is we don't know and probably won't until the console is revealed. Nobody can be certain either way.
 
If it had been a requirement, it would have been mentioned in the XDK. The fact that is it isn't, heavily suggests the claim by EDGE isn't true and they simply misunderstood the language used or were fed out of context information. After all, they make a point of specifically mentioning Kinect is required. So why wouldn't they also mention mandatory online?

I'm not sure I understand the point you're tying to make with regard to the EDGE quote.



I haven't. My only experience with playing during installation is with Arkham Asylum and it worked relatively well.

We only have the XDA hardware overview page right? Just because something isn't mentioned in the first page of a hardware overview dosen't mean it's not in the documentation.

My point about the Edge quote is that it makes a specific claim about activation codes. That is a specific detail about how the policy would be implemented. Edge's source would have had to mention that for it to make the article. Which implies that Edge had a different source than Vgleaks.

Firstly, I get your point, but I really am running on the assumption that 99% of the time the system will work flawlessly and when I turn my Xbox on, it turns on. I think that's a reasonable assumption, given the state of technology today, and tomorrow, and that Microsoft are wagering big on this thing.

Secondly I've not bought a used game in years. I live in the UK, and here game prices are driven down massively within weeks of a games release. Given my lessened drive to play each and every game, I'm more than happy to just wait a few weeks and pay half the launch price from some online retailer. Correct me if I'm wrong but the next Xbox still uses physical media? So this system should remain intact. Not being able to sell games sounds bad, and I'm sure it'll effect younger gamers (the trade in system used to keep my gaming habits afloat when I was 13), but for me now I'm more than happy to throw £20 on a game, play it, then let it drift into my shelf. I know this sounds selfish, but I'm just giving my personal viewpoint, I understand this would affect a great many people. I just don't think it's that big an issue for the masses.

Not being able to play the thing 20 years down the line could be an issue to some, but honestly I expect digital media to proliferate to the point whereby any game's playable on almost any device in some way, and then the practical value of the console is basically just the UI, which is tantamount to saying 'naff all'.

People play Pokemon on Android phones now. Back when the Gameboy ruled, if we thought it would become unusable in 20 years time people would be saying 'shit, how will I play Pokemon'.

I get where you are coming from. I am just have a different perspective. I don't want to give up a right that I have had in exchange for something that I don't value much. It is true that games will end up in other places but not all of them. Some games have licensing issues that keep them from being rereleased and some publishers go out of business.

Emulation is a way for games to live on, but it is shady to illegal depending on the situation. Also, even before it was emulated on phones, I could still play Pokemon by putting the cart in my gameboy. If Xbox requires authentication for physical disks (which is the edge rumor) then when those authentication servers go down, that's that.

Bilbo didn't need to be connected to the Internet to go on adventures. Why we gotta be?

This is the best argument in this whole thread.
 
Whatever, I'm still buying. Can't remember the last time my Internet went out excluding power outages from a thunderstorm or something.

Yeah but it happens, and for some people FAR MORE FREQUENTLY than a thunderstorm. I should be able to play my game whenever I damn well please, not just when it's decent weather outside. Granted since they are telling you up front, I have the option to not buy it, which if it's truly always online nonsense I won't. And who knows how sensitive it is. I hate always online stuff. And just wait for maintenance on the network etc to take it all down.
 
Of course! Don't you understand, before I put the blame on Sony for something I don't like, I choose another company because that's way easier.

edit: sorry I am snarky today but some posts are really weird today to me personally, honestly.

blame Nitendo for their WII motion.
 
Firstly, I get your point, but I really am running on the assumption that 99% of the time the system will work flawlessly and when I turn my Xbox on, it turns on. I think that's a reasonable assumption, given the state of technology today, and tomorrow, and that Microsoft are wagering big on this thing.

Secondly I've not bought a used game in years. I live in the UK, and here game prices are driven down massively within weeks of a games release. Given my lessened drive to play each and every game, I'm more than happy to just wait a few weeks and pay half the launch price from some online retailer. Correct me if I'm wrong but the next Xbox still uses physical media? So this system should remain intact. Not being able to sell games sounds bad, and I'm sure it'll effect younger gamers (the trade in system used to keep my gaming habits afloat when I was 13), but for me now I'm more than happy to throw £20 on a game, play it, then let it drift into my shelf. I know this sounds selfish, but I'm just giving my personal viewpoint, I understand this would affect a great many people. I just don't think it's that big an issue for the masses.

Not being able to play the thing 20 years down the line could be an issue to some, but honestly I expect digital media to proliferate to the point whereby any game's playable on almost any device in some way, and then the practical value of the console is basically just the UI, which is tantamount to saying 'naff all'.

People play Pokemon on Android phones now. Back when the Gameboy ruled, if we thought it would become unusable in 20 years time people would be saying 'shit, how will I play Pokemon'.

This is because of supply and demand and competition with used games. As a new game is bought and then resold this affects the market price. If the game is bad or short people will resell quickly increasing supply in the used market and thus reducing price of used AND new games. Kill the used game market and the price of new games will not reduce nearly as rapidly so your plan to wait and buy new would not work as well.
 
Whatever, I'm still buying. Can't remember the last time my Internet went out excluding power outages from a thunderstorm or something.

Your internet is not the issue. I am often unable to sign into XBL or PSN for various reasons other than my internet being down. XBL is obviously more reliable but remember when PSN was hacked and down for weeks? Just last week I couldn't login to XBL all night for some reason.
 
It doesn't directly disprove it no, explicit words would have though.

And when I pointed out that Sony didn't explicitly say that used games will work without any restrictions you said I was playing verbal gymnastics to twist his words.
 
And when I pointed out that Sony didn't explicitly say that used games will work without any restrictions you said I was playing verbal gymnastics to twist his words.

To be honest I'm guessing both Sony and MS will have the mandatory install for performance reasons if either of them are smart, and both will be always connected for social and OS features. Neither one will use that to freeze games SimCity style, the market for unconnected consoles is too large.
 
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