There’s currently a lot of internet negativity amongst core gamers about the next generation Xbox, The Xbox One. Gamers seems to have their panties in a twist over the used games thing, the implied DRM and the lack of games shown. they’re also largely unimpressed that the console seems to be more service oriented than focused on games. That’s the impression you’d get reading reading just about any gaming website.
That said, real core gamers account for very little of the market – with most games being sold to mainstream gamers. so what does the mainstream press feel about the console and its reveal? turns out, it’s largely rather overwhelmingly positive; they’ve been praising the thing – particularly impressed by the design, the features – and even the games.
Here’s what they had to say (via Kotaku)
Fox News
Indeed, the Xbox One demonstration was so impressive it made me wonder, why the heck didn’t they do this with the disastrous Windows 8?
CNN
The console itself is more angular and practical looking than either of its two predecessors. Flat and rectangular like a cable box, you could almost call the design reserved. But it is by no means unattractive, and will probably sit tucked away in a cabinet anyways.
The Register
On the face of it, the new console looks pretty impressive. Response times and gesture control are very good indeed, the visuals are stunning, and Microsoft scored an instant win over rival Sony by actually having a working console to show off. The demonstrations were in a tightly controlled environment, but the upgraded Kinect system looks impressive and the console looks very speedy to operate.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Xbox has been the exclusive home to such popular gaming franchises as sci-fi first-person shooter Halo, racing simulator Forza and alien shoot-’em-up Gears of War. In recent years, Microsoft expanded the scope of the Xbox 360 beyond just games, adding streaming media apps and the camera-based Kinect system. With the innovations showcased on Tuesday, Microsoft is taking those ideas further.
News.com.au
Key features of the Xbox One revealed in Microsoft headquarters in Seattle are advanced voice controls and the inclusion of a new-generation Kinect controller with every console, allowing you to switch from watching TV to playing games by spreading your arms as if you are grabbing the screen similar to the way you pinch an image on a smartphone or tablet.
The Sun
But the news that really got gamers salivating was the exclusive gaming deals they announced.
Call of Duty: Ghosts takes the critically-acclaimed franchise into the next generation. Downloadable content for the new Call of Duty game, Ghosts, is available exclusively first on the Xbox, as is FIFA 14?s Ultimate Team feature.
Fans were treated to some spectacular footage from both flagship titles, as well as some glorious footage of Forza Motorsport 5 — one of a number of titles that will be available as soon as the console is out.
MSNBC
Out in the Twitter peanut gallery, we’ve been hearing people calling the case design "boxy." One guy said, "Looks like a VCR. Hopefully that means it will play VHS," while another echoed, "Does it come with a cassette rewinder tho?"
Cosmetics aside, the response for the whole system seems more upbeat, ranging from "Sexy" to "Can’t wait to have mine!" But this is a big year for gaming, and things are just heating up.
Have we, the core gamers, lost our minds – and is Microsoft’s next generation console actually the best thing since sliced bread? Or is the mainstream media just very, very wrong about games?
Last Updated: May 22, 2013
Aussious
May 22, 2013 at 15:38
These are the same guys that thought the Wii U was a fantastic idea
Aussious
May 22, 2013 at 15:38
These are the same guys that thought the Wii U was a fantastic idea
Lardus
May 22, 2013 at 15:39
Could the main stream media all be hipsters that wouldn’t recognise a real games console if it bit them in the behind?
Lardus
May 22, 2013 at 15:39
Could the main stream media all be hipsters that wouldn’t recognise a real games console if it bit them in the behind?
Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra
May 22, 2013 at 15:39
…..God, I have no further words left …..
“allowing you to switch from watching TV to playing games by spreading your arms as if you are grabbing the screen similar to the way you pinch an image on a smartphone or tablet.”
How in the world does that even sound remotely cool?…you will no sooner hit your wife in the face doing that…..these guys know nothing about gaming
Trevor Davies
May 22, 2013 at 15:42
I enjoyed this gem “and Microsoft scored an instant win over rival Sony by actually having a working console to show off. The demonstrations were in a tightly controlled environment,”
Then how do you know it was working as intended & not a preset demo to avoid a windows crashing scenario again?
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:04
I don’t have a wife, I WIN! Yes?
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:04
I don’t have a wife, I WIN! Yes?
Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra
May 22, 2013 at 16:11
Lol your comment needed
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 22, 2013 at 15:40
From a purely tech perspective, the reveal could be considered pretty mind-blowing If you had never gamed, and you look at what the xbox one can do, you’d be all excited right about now (of course until you discover what Samsung has on offer for their latest smartphone or you’re distracted by the new Iphone, or you find yourself drooling at the new range of 3D tvs).
And that’s really the problem, the xbox one isn’t targeted at you Mr Core Gamer. Microsoft has taken a page from Nintendo’s book and is trying to get all those non-gamers to buy their MULTIMEDIA BOX. Gaming is an afterthought for the xbox one, and that much is pretty clear from the reveal.
Also, the general media is on crack…
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:05
I think we need to take away CORE gamer, we are no longer the core, we are the fringe gamer, no?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 22, 2013 at 16:10
We’ll remain at the core as long as we’re the biggest buyers of software, but if there’s a definite shift from core AAA titles to let’s say Kinect games, then I’ll gladly acknowledge that for Microsoft’s new console we’re no longer the core.
Or put it differently, if the bulk of the xbox one’s business is coming from non-gaming related stuff, then the casual adopters would be the new core, but I think up until that happens, as gamers we’re still very much the blood that keeps the body alive…
Of course from Sony’s perspective, we never left their crosshairs. Core is core!
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:14
Perhaps I am thinking of how OVG uses ‘Hardcore’ or ‘real’ gamers, you know, the ones who buy Mirror’s Edge over CoD Xbox One IV
Scruff304
May 22, 2013 at 16:11
I was half way writing a comment pretty much stating the same thing. Everybody (including us) gets so caught up on what we want out of a device, that we sometimes forget there are A LOT of other people out there. And the sad truth is, THOSE people out number us core gamers by a large margin. Microsoft have simply done what any company would do, cater for the market to drive up sales.
This console is going to do well. Very well…
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:22
My thoughts exactly. I am just very surprised by the massive, no, legendary levels of hate coming from everyone (including me, I am all spent at the moment so calm, I’ll be back in a few hours to edit my comments I am sure). If you ask me, any company that only goes as far as making their consoles a lot more powerful, without innovating, will die in the next market. The WiiU was different in that most people still think it’s a Wii!
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:22
My thoughts exactly. I am just very surprised by the massive, no, legendary levels of hate coming from everyone (including me, I am all spent at the moment so calm, I’ll be back in a few hours to edit my comments I am sure). If you ask me, any company that only goes as far as making their consoles a lot more powerful, without innovating, will die in the next market. The WiiU was different in that most people still think it’s a Wii!
RichardC
May 23, 2013 at 10:09
Dont know how well it can do when there are 5 other products/services that can do exactly the same (minus the voice and arm waving BS) TV, multimedia and Internet stuff already at a lower price, plus their products have been out for a while now and have had the chance to start perfecting themselves already.
Dont get me wrong its an awesum idea and an entirely different market and I hope MS does well, cause in the long run that means a more diversified and bigger game industry. But realistically I dont see XboxOne beating AppleTV and GoogleTV (seeing as the latter especially has sum crazy partnerships, LG, Samsung, Asus Logitech, Sony and a few others).
MS are making too many enemies and competitiors, and really big ones at that. I know MS is a big fish, but so are all those other companies, I cant see them able to compete with them all simultaneously.
RichardC
May 23, 2013 at 10:09
Dont know how well it can do when there are 5 other products/services that can do exactly the same (minus the voice and arm waving BS) TV, multimedia and Internet stuff already at a lower price, plus their products have been out for a while now and have had the chance to start perfecting themselves already.
Dont get me wrong its an awesum idea and an entirely different market and I hope MS does well, cause in the long run that means a more diversified and bigger game industry. But realistically I dont see XboxOne beating AppleTV and GoogleTV (seeing as the latter especially has sum crazy partnerships, LG, Samsung, Asus Logitech, Sony and a few others).
MS are making too many enemies and competitiors, and really big ones at that. I know MS is a big fish, but so are all those other companies, I cant see them able to compete with them all simultaneously.
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:05
I think we need to take away CORE gamer, we are no longer the core, we are the fringe gamer, no?
Tasty peas mixed with porridge
May 23, 2013 at 08:26
become mesmerised by a bowl of oats). ROFL
Lourens Jordaan
May 22, 2013 at 15:43
The Sun:”Call of Duty game, Ghosts, is available exclusively first”
Did that guy’s wife know that he wanted to try exclusivity first?
Tasty peas mixed with porridge
May 22, 2013 at 15:43
I do not care anymore. I am happy to sit on the sidelines watching all my predictions come true again again and again. While I play Skyrim OFFLINE with a bowl of pop corn.
800ger
May 22, 2013 at 19:36
Did the pop corn win?
eXpZA
May 22, 2013 at 15:44
We mock the TV element, yet look at your friends list most of the time…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 22, 2013 at 15:52
Maybe that’s because the xbox doesn’t have any games? 😛 I’m trolling a little bit, but there is some truth to it. I don’t use hulu or netflix on either my PS3 or my xbox because, well I have a PC, and I get to watch stuff streaming to the TV in the bedroom. My consoles are in the man cave, that way the missus doesn’t have to watch me murder things while she wants to watch Sewende Laan.
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
May 22, 2013 at 16:02
I don’t use my Xbox much anymore. I’ve moved onto the PC.
Scruff304
May 22, 2013 at 16:20
I got this funny feeling that the TV element is actually going to work out later down the line. It going to be kinda like the it was when the Ipad first came… First get one and you not really sure what you going to do with it or how it will make your life better… And year down the line, you can’t live without it…
Scruff304
May 22, 2013 at 16:20
I got this funny feeling that the TV element is actually going to work out later down the line. It going to be kinda like the it was when the Ipad first came… First get one and you not really sure what you going to do with it or how it will make your life better… And year down the line, you can’t live without it…
Scruff304
May 22, 2013 at 16:20
I got this funny feeling that the TV element is actually going to work out later down the line. It going to be kinda like the it was when the Ipad first came… First get one and you not really sure what you going to do with it or how it will make your life better… And year down the line, you can’t live without it…
Scruff304
May 22, 2013 at 16:20
I got this funny feeling that the TV element is actually going to work out later down the line. It going to be kinda like the it was when the Ipad first came… First get one and you not really sure what you going to do with it or how it will make your life better… And year down the line, you can’t live without it…
Jonah Cash
May 22, 2013 at 15:46
They have stories on how games made people go crazy and shoot other people!!!
And yet you still ask who is wrong?????
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
May 22, 2013 at 15:59
Like I was saying earlier… websites are jumping on bandwagons and trends set by other websites. Yes, each have their right to an opinion but they tend to have forgotten that the One(eeek) also play games. There are a few positive local websites praising the One(eeeeek) but we shall see.
I’m afraid that we are going to see a generation of gamer, likely the older generation, left behind in the uptake of the One and we shall see a new type of gamer rise. A silly gamer, a techno savvy gamer or just some rich kid that affords games brand new. Remember that Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 weren’t a run away success but neither is a total failure,
Onto E3 we go!!!
Skoobaz
May 22, 2013 at 16:01
Header win
Admiral Chief Commander
May 22, 2013 at 16:02
Heh, epic
I like this one as well
Anon A Mouse
May 22, 2013 at 16:07
“But the news that really got gamers salivating” ~ not from what I’ve read today.
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:11
Oh I don’t know any more. When I was 15 my father thought me a loser because he had an Apple (flip knows what type) and me a nes, then when my brother was able to, he bought a snes, and I was the loser with the NES again. Are we not doing the same thing to a new emerging market? What gives us the right to sneer, because we’ve played longer? I also know of certain traditions carried out for thousands of years and are still very wrong. I think I’ll be going with the SONY this time round, but I really think we all need to pull our heads out of our own arses, and remember how cool we thought it was to watch Cruise flail about like some drowning man in Minority report. WE ARE ALIVE TO NOW DO THAT PEOPLE! Be happy! If you don’t like it, but SONY. If you are interested, then MS, and if you buggers go out there and get 5 jobs, you can buy both, because that’s what I’ve been advised to do before… LOL
Trevor Davies
May 22, 2013 at 16:15
but…but… how can I be an elitist without looking down on someone?!
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:17
Get a chair 🙂
Scruff304
May 22, 2013 at 16:24
Agreed and liked… People can get so caught up in their wants and needs, they forget bout the millions of other people other there who also have wants and needs. Can hardly blame MS for aiming a product at the larger demograph…
Scruff304
May 22, 2013 at 16:24
Agreed and liked… People can get so caught up in their wants and needs, they forget bout the millions of other people other there who also have wants and needs. Can hardly blame MS for aiming a product at the larger demograph…
Andre116
May 22, 2013 at 20:23
Still early days man. Take a deep breath and relax. We have not heard the last of all the features from both Sony and MS. Just hang back a while and see what appeals to you in the end. I’ll admit that currently Sony does look good, but maybe they just handled their reveal better. If Sony and MS were head to head, the choice would have been easy for me.
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 20:47
Yeah. I started positive but there is so much hate it’s wilting me. You up for new character in borderlands this sat?
Andre116
May 22, 2013 at 21:00
Absolutley. I want to go on to a new character. I’m just not feeling Zero like I felt the Siren.
HvR
May 22, 2013 at 16:18
You forgot to mention that the “journalists” mainstream media employ to do tech and gaming review and articles are the people to retarded to present the weather or do the traffic report.
Tbone187
May 22, 2013 at 16:20
It looks like an Atari console out the 80s…It has an ecosystem that you have to comply to , not the other way around…You can’t sell off a game that you purchased without MS monitoring you. Constant online checks (complete invasion of privacy despite paying hefty prices for the game itself)
Reminds me off the Riddler’s home tele….
Tbone187
May 22, 2013 at 16:22
…
Tbone187
May 22, 2013 at 16:22
…
Tasty peas mixed with porridge
May 23, 2013 at 08:27
LOL
Tbone187
May 22, 2013 at 16:22
…
Tbone187
May 22, 2013 at 16:20
It looks like an Atari console out the 80s…It has an ecosystem that you have to comply to , not the other way around…You can’t sell off a game that you purchased without MS monitoring you. Constant online checks (complete invasion of privacy despite paying hefty prices for the game itself)
Reminds me off the Riddler’s home tele….
WaynsterZA
May 22, 2013 at 16:22
I’m pretty excited about it. I like the look, and the individual trigger rumblers in the controller sounds great. What impressed me was the news of the 300k servers worldwide to run the new Xbox One Live, as opposed to the current 15k. That’s a massive jump. I’m waiting for the “real” tech specs, before making up my mind, on which one to get first. It will also depend on which games will be available on release. Exciting times ahead!
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:24
Agreed, I just wish more (incl myself) could be more optimistic!
HvR
May 22, 2013 at 16:23
Indeed, the Xbox One demonstration was so impressive it made me wonder, why the heck didn’t they do this with the disastrous Windows 8?
Uhm does this guy know the Xbox comes with windows 8?
Rince an repeat
May 22, 2013 at 16:25
I think he actually meant the demonstration, not the product. If this is the case, the Windows 8 must have been horrific…
HvR
May 22, 2013 at 16:23
Indeed, the Xbox One demonstration was so impressive it made me wonder, why the heck didn’t they do this with the disastrous Windows 8?
Uhm does this guy know the Xbox comes with windows 8?
Slade Boender
May 22, 2013 at 16:28
Dat “Register” comment. wow.
2scaly4j0o
May 22, 2013 at 16:49
YAAAAAAAAWN…..! Enough about the Xbawkz .01 Pahahahahahalease! Give me some news on new cool games that i can play on my awesome desktop!
I have a bunch of titles that i want reviewed if you are out of ideas… Promise…
Xelus
May 22, 2013 at 17:11
They should maybe stick to their drama, seeing things from a gamer’s point of view changes the whole reason why we hate it. Business point of view, of course it will be awesome.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
May 22, 2013 at 17:42
Wait… stop the presses…. Fox News had something good to say about a gaming console!?!? What universe am I in and how much did Microsoft pay them to say anything good about a gaming device?
Ok ok. in all fairness the reveal was a little impressive. It just wasn’t on the level I expected from Microsoft and still think they are making a huge mistake trying to kill the second hand market.
Schnubab
May 22, 2013 at 17:44
Meh, I feel it’s my turn to rant. I would love to be an avid Xbox supporter, and I had high hopes for the next console and still believe there is a potential to be revealed.
My issue with the concept of the XboxOne is that it goes against my way of actually enjoying my entertainment. See, in my house, my DSTV is upstairs and feeds TV’s in the lounges and bedrooms which are all upstairs. Now, my gaming room (typically known as a man cave) is a secluded room downstairs which only connects to anything outside of the room via Wifi.
If I were to get an XboxOne with the prospects of fully utilising its potential, I would have to face the following options :-
A) Somehow get another splitter installed and wire connection for the DSTV to the downstairs room. Not aided by the fact that this is a LNB cable, and if I understand correctly, the XboxOne would make use of an HDMI in for this?
B) Move my entire setup upstairs for connections above (not happening).
C) Get either another tablet or a smartphone to make use of Smartglass connection, as the Ipad and Iphone are not supported (happened to get them for free and thus the problem) and the GF will not give up her android smartphone.
So all in all, it might have potential, but just doesnt appear to be compatible with me personally. And does every XboxOne really have to come with a Kinect 2? You know where to shove that, just another feature I would not make use of.
Such a pity, it makes the PS4 look far better suited to me, however, I just cannot get over it’s controller layout, so there’s another one out until perhaps an aftermarket controller is released that suits me.
It may very well be time for a PC for next-gen gaming, sorry to say consoles.
Johan du Preez
May 22, 2013 at 18:10
Microsoft PR machine strong at work here, its no secret that MS pays to sway reviews.
ElNicko
May 22, 2013 at 20:09
Speaking of The new and improved Kinect 2.0 – anyone here remember Milo (aka Peter Molyneux’s freaky child which was a Lie) from the original Kinect demo ??
string_slinger
May 22, 2013 at 23:21
Must comment on the ‘MS is focusing on mass market, not core’ thing. Based on reveal, I don’t think they’ve neglected core at all – they’ve just chosen to include a lot of other people with the device. I was really expecting a compromise on the reveal, but take away all the other things and there’s nothing here that wouldn’t have rocked our core-gamer world had they been the focus of the XBOX One reveal. We all thought Sony were one up. They’re certainly not one down, but MS showed great hardware (you can switch the Kinect gestures off if you don’t like them), and some great titles. And they certainly look a lot more ready to go than Sony’s reveal. I think it’s a ‘gamers win’ day – we’re going to have 2 great console experiences to choose from…
Now I just want to see what Valve have to offer later in the year. Could make it VERY interesting from a ‘core-gamer’ point of view…
Purple_Dragon
May 23, 2013 at 05:53
You guys have probably already seen this, but hell this is funny shit:
Brady miaau
May 23, 2013 at 11:29
Hi.
I am a regular reader of The Register, and in reading their article (that you referenced here) and others, I saw something different. The Register is not a game site, but a general IT / technology site. They saw a device that seemingly can add value to the home in general and also gave a nod for a good piece of hardware kit (the Kinect).
It should be noted that The Register has been accused of being anti-microsoft in the past an they generally slammed the previous Kinect (and pointed out the Czech company that wanted to make and interactive sex game with it)
deeboy17
May 23, 2013 at 18:11
I was thinking the other day while playing defiance before the show came on damn i wish I didn’t have to go through changing inputs and cutting my game off while I take about an hour to watch the show. It would be cool to be able to switch back and forth that easily. Another thing many of my friends and myself were thinking man sports will be awesome next year because we can talk smack over the Xbox while watching the same game cool I thought. Besides that I really am reserving my full judgment until after E3 where the games will be showcased. Imo the always online and used game crap that’s going on doesn’t affect me in the slightest but it affects some of my friends who don’t have internet and purchase use games. My console stays online anyway and I don’t buy used games if I really like it because I want the developers to receive their royalties for a job well done. That way they may have the incentive to make something better. Although many don’t live by my philosophy I feel that both companies will be more or less the same on those to issues hence why Sony is being really quiet on those subjects. It all comes down to your personal preference. Do you want to pay the same price for a console that just games or for a console that does gaming and everything else. As for me I want more bang for my bucks but I’m not everyone.