My thoughts and concerns when it comes to the gaming world>>>.

• 22May 13

  A Closer Look at the Xbox One

  Originally posted on TwoDashStash

  Lets go ahead and put everything we know about the newly announced Xbox One into one place. Ill be focusing this article on the hardware itself, then on a later date, Ill take a closer look at the new UI and the improvements made to it.

  

  "Xbox One wont allow for backwards compatibility with your older games"

  Lets start with the HHD, we know that the Xbox One will ship with a 500GB internal NON-removable hard drive. However, according to Engadget youll be able to use the consoles 3.0 USB port as a source to connect an external storage device in which youll be able to add anything to, including games.

  The console will run on 8 Core CPUs along with 8 gigabytes of memory. As mentioned above itll include USB 3.0 ports along with an HDMI IN/OUT ports, and for the first time on a Microsoft gaming console a Blu Ray optical drive.'

  Microsoft's Xbox One Specs

   

  You be able to connect online through an 802.11n connection with Wifi-Direct. According to some, youll now be able to have 1000 friends on your Xbox Live account.

  [quote_left]"The console will run on 8 Core CPUs along with 8 gigabytes of memory"[/quote_left]Unfortunately it also seems that the Xbox One wont allow for backwards compatibility with your older games or your previously purchased Xbox Live Arcade games, "The system is based on a different core architecture, so back-compat doesn't really work from that perspective," Whitten told the Verge.

  Restriction on used games was also reported by a few news outlets. Supposedly youll be able to resell and trade in games, but with a fee, we have not confirmed any specific scenarios." Fees, however, appear to be part of the plan said Major Nelson on his blog.

  All Xbox One's Will Ship With A New Kinect

   

  Microsoft also introduced the Kinect 2.0 and also noted that itll ship with all Xbox One consoles. The new Kinect features a 1080p, HD camera that captures video at 30 frames per second; a new, active-infrared capabilities; and new noise-isolating multi-microphone. According to Joystiq the new Kinect will be able to discern your heartbeat and know who is holding the controller.

  Microsoft's Xbox One is set to release sometime this fall.

  

   

  • Posted May 22, 2013 2:46 pm GMT
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• 10May 13

  The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

  "Originally posted on my actual blog http://www.twodashstash.com" Back in 2010, 2k Marin introduced us to what at the time was an XCOM game based on a first person shooter perspective. But in the years since that announcement little was was heard of it, some even speculated that the game was thrown out, especially after the company went online and removed everything that was ever official announced. Well, the game didn't fade away or get thrown out, it became something completely new and different, it's now know as "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified"

   

  "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified" is the origins story of the secret XCOM organization. The story take place in the 1960's when the first alien invasions occurred. Players will take control of the disturbed and alcoholic agent William Carter as he helps defend XCOM and the nation from the horrific alien invasion.

   

  Declassified is a 3rd-person - squad based - tactical combat game. According to Morgan Gray - the creative director at 2k Marin - the reason he drifted away from the previously introduced first-person shooter was because of the lack team work and control the player had over that team. Gray says that even-though the original version of the game had "teammates" the fact that they were AI and you had little control over them, didn't make the game feel like it was an XCOM game.

   

  

   

  The 3rd-person perspective makes more sense in terms of tactics, argued Gray, "...I can see myself, I can see my squad, I can see my enemies, I can see the layout of the land, I have all the information needed to attack my enemy..."

   

  I am personally really excited about this game, I feel the team over at 2K Marin made the right decisions in coverting this game into something that will truly feel like an XCOM game.

   

  The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is due out at the end of August, it'll be available on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

   

  Release Date: August 20, 2013Publisher: 2K GamesDeveloper: 2K Marin
  • Posted May 10, 2013 4:22 pm GMT
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• 26Jun 12

  my thoughts on the Microsoft press conference.

  the one and only Microsoft does it again. Like the powerhouse they are. They came out with a bang a big bang, and left with that same bang. So many lights, smoke machines, lasers, loud music, and most importantly usher. yeah about that.

  It once again was predictable and unfortunately unentertaining. As expected they showed off the halo 4 demo and the all merciful call of duty black ops two demo, they threw in a little gears of war judgment, (which apparently has Baird as the protagonist) then they mixed in some kinect stuff (predictable) with new channels for example the NHL network, the NBA, Paramount pictures, and the Nickelodeon. same old boring stuff, right? sorry about coming off as a bit of a party pooper but that's expected when you don't provide me with something new.

  But, there is something good that came out of that conference first and foremost and in my opinion by far the coolest thing to come out of the Microsoft E3 press conference was the smart glass, which I think has great potential. Keyword potential. IF done right, I think it can be a great tool. Especially in games, for example, I can use my iPad or iPhone as a map of the world I'm in, in the game instead of having to press start or select. Not to mention use it like some sort of codex, like the mass effect series already does with their iPad application. As far as the music and movie stuff go? WHATEVER.

  I understand we are towards the end of this generation's lifespan. But, with that said the lack of new intellectual properties (more specifically first party) is killing me. I love my Halo and I love my gears of war, but Lord help me, go out on a limb like Sony did (the last of us) and bust out some crazy new IP. (I'M JUST DREAMING NOW).

  With all my blabber the new South Park game is looking pretty sweet and the new tomb raider? hello. if I had to give the Microsoft press conference a grade I'd give it a C+ with the smart glass leading the way. And I know some of you think the smart glass idea is ridiculous, but I think if they work it the right way it could be something useful for all gamers.

  • Posted Jun 26, 2012 3:14 pm GMT
  • Category: Games
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