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Xbox News is a site that brings you the very latest Original Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One news, the latest games and releases, Part of the
DCEmu Homebrew & Gaming Network.
THE LATEST NEWS BELOW
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November 23rd, 2013, 09:55 Posted By: wraggster
UK retail giant GAME has hailed last night's Xbox One launch an incredible success, and says that the console's sales will easily beat the launch of Xbox 360.
The firm created a pop-up GAME store at Trocadero for the launch of the console, with 26 year-old Charlie Pulbrook from Kent the first in the queue.
GAME added that if customers want an Xbox One for Christmas, they can still get one if they're quick.
“Last night was incredible," said Ian Chambers, chief digital officer from GAME.
"You could almost taste the excitement - gamers had been waiting for Xbox One for over eight years and we saw a massive turnout at the midnight openings at more than 300 GAME stores across the UK. We’ve seen record pre-order numbers for the new generation consoles and looking at the initial response it's clear that sales will easily surpass that delivered at the Xbox 360 launch.
"There is still huge demand and if you pre-order now we can still get your Xbox One to you in time for Christmas, so don't miss out! The first of the new generation consoles has set the bar high and along with our customers we can't wait to get to grips with everything the Xbox One has to offer."
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/game-...ox-360/0124779
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November 23rd, 2013, 00:16 Posted By: wraggster
As the Xbox One arrives today (November 22nd), sources from the supply chain claim Microsoft is planning to launch a new version as early as Q1 2014.
According to DigiTimes, the sources say they have been asked by Microsoft to being shipments on new models in Q1, revealing that shipments of the current Xbox One from the manufacturing side began at one million units a month in Q3.
The news comes as Microsoft has admitted that it is struggling to meet demand for the next-gen console.
Xbox VP Phil Harrison told MCV that the Xbox One will sell out and there will be difficulty getting stock, saying the firm is doing everything it can to accelerate stock replenishment.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...in-2014/032551
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November 23rd, 2013, 00:15 Posted By: wraggster
It seems Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has yet to upgrade to an Xbox One - this picture shows he's still keen on his white Xbox 360.
One of the white 360s, currently only available to Microsoft employees, can be seen at the bottom-right of the below image, when Ballmer met Parrot founder and CEO Henri Seydoux.
The pair confirmed the arrival of two Parrot apps on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 devices which can be used to control the Parrot AR Drone remote control copter.
At a time when the new £429 Xbox One is now on general release, it's refreshing to see Ballmer still supporting the 360 (and Call of Duty: Ghosts). Good on you, Steve.
A white 360 recently sold for $11,300 at an auction for the Wounded Warrior Project charity.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...one-yet/032556
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November 23rd, 2013, 00:09 Posted By: wraggster
UK retailer GAME said today that customers who place newXbox One orders will receive their consoles in time for Christmas.
Xbox One launched in 13 markets today and GAME held midnight openings at more than 300 UK stores.
GAME chief digital officer Ian Chambers said: "We've seen record pre-order numbers for the new generation consoles and looking at the initial response it's clear that sales will easily surpass that delivered at the Xbox 360 launch.
"There is still huge demand and if you pre-order now we can still get your Xbox One to you in time for Christmas, so don't miss out."
Amazon UK said last week that Xbox One orders placed from November 13 may not be delivered before Christmas.
Microsoft corporate vice president Phil Harrison said on Thursday that the company is doing its utmost to meet Xbox One demand over the Christmas period.
"I can only apologise in advance to anybody who is let down before Christmas, we don't want to lose a sale, clearly, and we'll work hard in our operations and our manufacturing supply chain and obviously with our retail partners to make sure we catch up as quickly as we can."
Harrison added: "We do have more stock coming in we believe before Christmas that retailers will be able to allocate in free supply and then it's just up to demand as to how quickly that disappears."
While he wouldn't divulge any specific sales targets, Harrison also said Xbox One's launch will be a "significantly bigger" than 360's. "The pre-orders have been unprecedented, and the supply that we are bringing in to the market in addition to the pre-orders will mean that by far and away it's our biggest launch ever."
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-by-christmas/
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November 23rd, 2013, 00:06 Posted By: wraggster
EA has identified various code errors that can crash the Xbox One edition of FIFA 14.
In a statement on its website, the company warns Xbox One players that booting up FIFA 14 with two controllers, or allowing the console to enter sleep mode while on the FIFA 14 game menu, can result in connectivity problems or even game crashes.
 These issues will be addressed in a 'day one' update, the firm said, although the patch does not seem to be live at the time of publication.
EA's description of the issues follows:Controller Bug: Using two separate controllers, both assigned to user profiles, and then using controller two to navigate the bootflow when FIFA 14 is loading can result in a crash. The FIFA dev team will be fixing this issue as soon as possible (shortly after launch) but, in the meantime and as a workaround: please only use controller one to navigate the bootflow of FIFA 14. You can turn on and use the controller two once in the main menu.
Bootflow Issue: If you suspend the console (leave it inactive until it 'sleeps') on the title screen in the Xbox One bootflow, you will not be able to access any online features when returning from an unsuspended state. As a workaround: don't suspend the console when on the title screen. If you do, simply restart the console (XB1 Only).
In addition to the above, there are a number of known issues that EA says it is working on solutions for. These include the following:- FIFA fans cannot join Friends Only matches via a friend's profile (PS4 Only). You should: Accept the invite from the user when it comes through and you will be able to join the match properly.
- Title crash in Co-Op seasons if the captain is using a custom formation and the non-captain does not have any custom formations (XB1 Only). You should: Make sure you have the same amount of custom formations as your teammate, or not use them.
- The 'Seasons Win' item in the EA SPORTS FC catalogue will not be properly received if gifted to a friend. (BOTH PS4/XB1) You should: Hold off on gifting this item until the upcoming title update.
- Compatibility improvements with Xbox voice commands (XB1 Only).
- When playing as a GK in Pro Clubs, you will have no way of changing the camera off of the 'End To End' camera (XB1 Only).
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...s-on-xbox-one/
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November 23rd, 2013, 00:05 Posted By: wraggster
The Xbox One edition of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroeswill come with exclusive in-game content, following Konami's announcement that the PS4 edition will be bundled with its own bonus items.
During a Spike TV broadcast of the Xbox One launch event at Times Square on Thursday, host Geoff Keighley told viewers that "exclusive content" would be packaged with the Xbox One edition of Ground Zeroes, but did not specify further.
 The PS4 edition of Grounds Zeroes features a PS One skin of Solid SnakeThe PlayStation 4 edition of Ground Zeroes will come with what creator Hideo Kojima calls a "déjà vu Mission", which includes a character model for classic Solid Snake from the first Metal Gear Solid. It is unclear if this alternative skin for Snake is all the Déjà vu Mission entails, or if this is the full extent of the PlayStation exclusive content teased previously.
MGSV: Ground Zeroes is a standalone game released ahead of the full version of the game, called Metal Gear Solid V: the Phantom Pain.
Ground Zeroes will release some time between March and June, with The Phantom Pain expected to arrive later in the year.
Konami has a complex price arrangement for different versions of the game. A table to show the various prices is published below.
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November 23rd, 2013, 00:02 Posted By: wraggster
Several launch-day Xbox One users have reported encountering faulty disc drives.
Reports circulating via gaming forums and videos that have appeared on YouTube show Xbox One consoles making loud grinding sounds when a disc in inserted.
According to user accounts, affected consoles such as the one in the video above are completely unable to read discs. It's unclear as yet how widespread the issue is.
Microsoft is yet to directly address the fault, and with no clear solution to offer it advises those affected to contact Xbox phone support.
"If you're seeing those issues with the disc drive, can you please call our phone support," suggests one of the official Xbox Support Twitter feeds.
In a generic statement sent to Kotaku, Microsoft said, "We know that with a hardware launch of this magnitude customers will have questions and we have many avenues for customers to get the answers they need and get back in the game as soon as possible.
"Rest assured we plan to take care of our customers. Any customer who believes they are experiencing an issue with their Xbox One should reach out to us."
CVG has encountered no such issues with retail Xbox One units so far. It's not uncommon for a small number of users to encounter faults following the launch of a new electronic device. A number of early PS4 adopters encountered faulty consoles suffering from "Blue Light of Death" or other issues which render them unusable, though Sony has claimed that less than 1 percent of all PS4 systems are affected.
All faulty PS4 exchanges conducted through Sony's official support line are made immediately with expedited shipping, Sony confirmed on Tuesday.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...pport-says-ms/
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November 22nd, 2013, 22:45 Posted By: wraggster
The launch trailer for Xbox One exclusive fighting game Killer Instinct has confirmed that Fulgore, the eighth character in the roster of season one, will be available in March 2014.Cyborg Fulgore was one of the 11 characters in the original Killer Instinct. Towards the end of the video below we get a glimpse at developer Double Helix's new design.The video also reveals that Spinal will be available in January 2014. Like Fulgore, the fighting skeleton was one of the original Killer Instinct characters.The free version of the new Killer Instinct includes one character: Jago. The idea is that the free character will be rotated during the course of the game's first season, with Spinal and Fulgore released next year. You can pay to buy individual characters at £4 each or pay a one off £16 for all eight.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-in-march-2014
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November 22nd, 2013, 22:42 Posted By: wraggster
EA has identified a couple of bugs with the Xbox One version of FIFA 14 it intends to tackle with an update.The first is a controller bug. Using two separate controllers, both assigned to user profiles, and then using controller two to navigate the bootflow when FIFA 14 is loading can result in a crash, EA warned.In an update on EA.com, EA Sports said it will fix this issue shortly after launch (the game came out today alongside the Xbox One).In the meantime, it advised using controller one to navigate the bootflow of FIFA 14. You can turn on and use controller two once in the main menu.The second bug is a bootflow issue. If you leave the Xbox One inactive until it 'sleeps' on the title screen in the Xbox One bootflow, you will not be able to access any online features when returning from an unsuspended state.EA Sports advises you don't suspend the console when on the title screen. If you do, restart the Xbox One.The developer mentioned a day one update designed to squash these bugs, which should be out very soon.Looking further ahead, EA said it had identified other next-gen-related issues it intends to tackle with an update. They are outlined in the list below: - FIFA fans cannot join Friends Only matches via a friend's profile (PS4 Only). You should: Accept the invite from the user when it comes through and you will be able to join the match properly.
- Title crash in Co-Op seasons if the captain is using a custom formation and the non-captain does not have any custom formations (XB1 Only). You should: Make sure you have the same amount of custom formations as your teammate, or not use them.
- The 'Seasons Win' item in the EA SPORTS FC catalogue will not be properly received if gifted to a friend. (BOTH PS4/XB1) You should: Hold off on gifting this item until the upcoming title update.
- Compatibility improvements with Xbox voice commands (XB1 Only).
- When playing as a GK in Pro Clubs, you will have no way of changing the camera off of the 'End To End' camera (XB1 Only).
Meanwhile, EA said it had made changes to the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC versions that had resulted in the crash rate dropping 71 per cent since launch.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...controller-bug
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November 22nd, 2013, 22:38 Posted By: wraggster
Ratchet & Clank and Resistance developer Insomniac's upcoming Xbox One-exclusive open-world, parkour-based shooter Sunset Overdrive has been confirmed for a 2014 release.This tidbit of info is buried in the latest Xbox Wire post, where it listed Sunset Overdrive as a 2014 title, alongside Titanfall and Project Spark. Insomniac later confirmed this release year on Twitter.Little is known about how Sunset Overdrive will play as Insomniac has yet to release any actual gameplay footage. We do know it'll have an offline campaign, though. With any luck, it'll be a return to form after Insomniac's last title, Fuse, failed to ignite much passion.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...irmed-for-2014
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November 22nd, 2013, 22:37 Posted By: wraggster
It's unclear what this new content will entail or if it's for both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, or just the Xbox One. We've requested comment on this from Microsoft and are currently awaiting reply.Chances are it won't be anything too substantial, give that the game's tease for a PlayStation-exclusive ended up being the "Deja Vu Mission" in which you can play as a lo-fi version of Solid Snake based on his avatar from the original PlayStation One Metal Gear Solid. Any guesses what the Microsoft equivalent of this will be? Perhaps a Raiden skin based on his MGS2 appearance?Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes is due out this spring on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...e-xbox-content
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November 22nd, 2013, 01:01 Posted By: wraggster
The new Xbox One party system sits at the heart of the console's multiplayer experience, making connecting with other friends and other players a more seamless ordeal on the new hardware.
Steve Dolan, program manager on the team behind Xbox One's multiplayer and achievements experience, has detailed how it all works in a new blog post.
 "When playing online games on Xbox One you're part of an Xbox Live party. When you go to your friends list you'll see your party right there at the front that shows the game your party is playing," explains Dolan.
"You'll also see all your friends' parties, making it quick and easy to see who is playing online and who to join. Of course, just like Xbox 360, you'll be able to set if your party is joinable or if it's invite only.
"If you see the perfect match and the party is open, you can simply join if there is room for more players in the match, and the game thinks you're a good fit using Smart Match (in terms of skill , playing style, etc.) you'll be offered a slot automatically. If the game is full, you can check out other games, TV and apps while you wait for the game to open up. ... When more players can be added, you'll receive a notification and have a limited amount of time to accept. Just say 'Xbox, join' or use your controller to accept the match."
Snap mode - which pulls up a secondary menu of your choice as a panel on the right side of the screen - is also integral to the party system, with ability to pull up a Snap view of the party app without having to leave gameplay.
In our Xbox One review, we called it "a platform that has laid foundations that it can build on for a whole generation", while calling the new Kinect sensor "the single most impressive element of the Xbox One system at launch".
Xbox One launches in US and Europe on Friday.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...tem-explained/
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November 22nd, 2013, 01:00 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft will face an uphill battle meeting demand for Xbox One amidst 'unprecedented' pre-order numbers, according to its corporate VP Phil Harrison.
Xbox One's launch "will be a significantly bigger than 360," Harrison toldGames Industry.
 Harrison held off sharing exact figures, but went on to say that "pre-orders have been unprecedented, and the supply that we are bringing in to the market in addition to the pre-orders will mean that by far and away it's our biggest launch ever."
Despite its best efforts, the firm expects its new console to be hard to come by in the lead up to Christmas.
"We're working unbelievably hard to match demand," said Harrison. "I can only apologise in advance to anybody who is let down before Christmas, we don't want to lose a sale, clearly, and we'll work hard in our operations and our manufacturing supply chain and obviously with our retail partners to make sure we catch up as quickly as we can."
In our Xbox One review, we called it "a platform that has laid foundations that it can build on for a whole generation", while calling the new Kinect sensor "the single most impressive element of the Xbox One system at launch".
Xbox One launches in US and Europe on Friday.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...phil-harrison/
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November 22nd, 2013, 00:59 Posted By: wraggster
As we inch closer to midnight on November 22, retailers across the nation are preparing for the launch of Microsoft's Xbox One console. New York will be center stage for many of the big stores. Microsoft is holding an event in Times Square, and not far away in the Best Buy at Columbus Circle, Best Buy vice president of entertainment Chris Koller took a few minutes to talk with GamesIndustry International about the Xbox One and the PS4 and how the holiday period is shaping up with both on the market.
"We'll be opening the majority of our stores - 950 stores - at midnight tonight and we expect a lot of people tonight. We had a lot of people last week [for PS4]. The excitement level is huge; our stores were prepared and we think it's going to be a huge night," Koller began, adding that neither console seems to have an edge at the moment. "The consumers are really very excited and passionate for each; the first day customers are very hardcore enthusiasts... and we see very similar excitement levels for both."
Koller was around in 2005 and 2006 for the previous console launches, and from his perspective there's a huge difference this time around. Retailers just seem to be better prepared, and the introduction of pre-orders has helped enormously.
"I was working at Best Buy in this category back then and so I remember it well. I think the biggest difference is the way you can now engage [customers] and prepare for these launches. At the time we didn't do hardware pre-orders and we did that this year. So the experience with the store and the customer [is much improved]. They can pre-order online and request a particular store and we can guarantee it'll be in that store for them with all the games and accessories. It's a lot better for the customers and they're loving it," he said.
"...for the core game, they still want that disc, and they want value for it after the fact - and they want to make sure they have that copy in case something goes wrong"
Best Buy's Chris Koller
Any time one of the platform holders launches a new system supply can be a problem. That said, all indicators from Microsoft and Sony are that manufacturing is improved for PS4 and Xbox One and replenishment of the retail channel should be much smoother, enabling more consumers to get their hands on a brand-new console in time for Christmas. Koller is optimistic that Best Buy will be able to meet demand as well.
"We expect to have multiple shipments and therefore multiple opportunities for customers to get [the consoles] through this holiday season and beyond. We feel very good about what we're being told, and we'll get product on our website and in stores just as soon as it becomes available. We have a number of ways to let our customers know when they can buy one - we'll of course put it up on our website and we'll be putting ads in our Sunday circulars and we have a texting service to let customers know when product is available. We feel very good about the consistency of supply through the holiday season," he said.
With both the Xbox One and PS4 enabling gamers to purchase AAA titles digitally on day one, it's clear that the landscape is changing, and retailers could potentially feel the pinch. Koller, however, isn't concerned for Best Buy's game sales. He believes that the physical game disc will remain very important for some time still.
"What we know about the gaming industry is it's going to change. It's changed from the days of arcades and from N64 to the online environment we have today. And what we know is we have to focus on that gaming customer and what they want to do. We know right now they can download and certainly do download certain things but for the core game, they still want that disc, and they want value for it after the fact - and they want to make sure they have that copy in case something goes wrong," he noted. "But they also want to be able to download map packs and DLC and other extra content, and we need to provide that, so we sell all the different download cards. We give them that experience in store and find ways to meet their needs and the business model will take care of itself."
In an effort to shine a spotlight on both Xbox One and PS4, Koller mentioned that Best Buy has "remodeled every gaming department in our stores and we did reduce the space given to some of our older platforms." That doesn't mean Xbox 360 and PS3 are suddenly reduced to one shelf, however. "We're really trying to make it a PlayStation experience or Xbox experience that has both [PS3 and PS4 or 360 and Xbox One]. So customers can make the switch to the new one of if they want something for the old one [we'll offer that as well]."
So what does Koller think will be the hot game tonight to be purchased with an Xbox One? "There's a lot of excitement around games like Call of Duty: Ghosts, and some exclusives like Dead Rising 3 are getting a lot of attention. We think that'll be real strong," he said. "I also think NBA 2K14 looks amazing on the new systems so that could be a system seller for the sports fan certainly."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...out-the-supply
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November 22nd, 2013, 00:55 Posted By: wraggster
"I can only apologise in advance to anybody who is let down before Christmas," says Xbox boss Phil Harrison
[h=3]Microsoft[/h]microsoft.com
[h=3]Microsoft Corporation[/h]
Last time there was a console launch Phil Harrison was batting for the other team as president of SCE Worldwide Studios. Now he's corporate vice President at Microsoft, and leading the way with cloud computing and opening up opportunities for independent development on the platform.
From the launch event at Leicester Square he told GamesIndustry International why launching in 13 countries on the same day seemed like a good idea, why Twitter is the early adopter's friend and how cloud computing will change development forever.
Q: This is the first time there have been two products like this launching simultaneously, and it feels like there's an oddly symbiotic relationship between the two companies. Could the industry as it is survive without you or without Sony? Are two companies necessary to ensure a healthy games market?
Phil Harrison: Wow, there's a lot of speculation in that question. I think first of all it's a great moment to be a gamer and if we think about what we're doing tonight, celebrating Xbox One fans and thanking them for lining up and my mission to make Dan Livingstone famous… I don't know if you know who Dan Livingstone is but he was the first person lined up in New Zealand to buy an Xbox One so he is technically, officially, the first Xbox One customer in the world.
"That vision that we painted in May has now come true here in November. It's now the world's console, and it's up to the world to shape it and make it their own"
We're very lucky that we have an incredibly loyal and passionate fan base for the things we do and that is very motivational for me and our team, as people who make entertainment and make technology come alive through entertainment. So the fact that there is so much excitement and focus on our industry right now I think is great.
We have our plan, we have our vision and we have our point of view on where the future is and that's informed the design and development and product of Xbox One and I think that you can see for yourself that vision that we painted in May has now come true here in November. We're really excited about this moment where - what are we six or seven hours from the moment - we are about to release that to the world. And it's now the world's console, and it's up to the world to shape it and make it their own. And that's a very exciting moment.
Q: Microsoft has gone for a simultaneous global launch, unlike Sony, which must present a lot more logistical challenges. What was the driving idea behind doing that rather than doing a rolling release?
Phil Harrison: Well you know better than anybody that we live in a 24/7 socially connected news world and you can make a global impact by having a global launch. I don't know how many cities we have events in throughout the world but it's certainly more cities than we are in countries so it'll be 14, 15, 16 cities around the world with significant consumer focused events. You just have to look at the rolling thunder of Twitter images and stories coming from New Zealand first, then Australia and now running here into Europe. So that's why we decided to go globally and 13 countries is no small undertaking.
Q: Coming up so close to PS4 and Christmas this is a key time, so getting an edge is important, but how important? Will the console that gets ahead at Christmas still be ahead in six months time?
Phil Harrison: I honestly don't know, but I also could not tell you month by month the sales figures for Xbox 360 when it launched in 2005. I now know that there's more than 80 million of them and we've enjoyed market leadership in the US and the UK and many other markets around the world. But the week on week, month on month sales progression is not something that I would pay too much attention to.
"The week on week, month on month sales progression is not something that I would pay too much attention to"
But I just remain confident that the proposition we have is the right proposition for the market, we think this is the right device,the right software line up, and crucially the right service to back it and that that will power us into next year and beyond.
And it's not just the games we have at launch, although they are important, but it's knowing a customer who buys an Xbox One today knows that Titanfall is round the corner, knows that Kinect Sports Rivals is round the corner in the spring, knows that Watch Dogs is coming a little bit after that, knows that there are some mega franchises like Halo still to come. And that will reinforce their purchase decision every day.
Q: You mentioned the UK there, it was a very strong territory for you with the last generation. Do you think there's any particular reason it's become such an established brand here? And do you expect that to continue this generation?
Phil Harrison: Well, we certainly are putting all our energies in making sure that that is the case but let's start with a great product, a great service and great games. So long as we deliver on that promise and support it and work closely with our retail partners and our other channel partners then we can be successful. You only have to see the passion from everybody outside to know that that is making a good start.
Q: Are you able to say anything about your sales targets for this quarter? Do you expect it to sit fairly closely to the Xbox 360 curve? Or will it be a bigger market this time around?
Phil Harrison: It will be a significantly bigger than 360, we don't make forward looking statements because we're a publicly traded company and you'll understand that I'm not able to share that information today. But the pre-orders have been unprecedented, and the supply that we are bringing in to the market in addition to the pre-orders will mean that by far and away it's our biggest launch ever.
Q: And is that hardware launch across Microsoft? Or just the Xbox brand?
Phil Harrison: Good question, but I would say certainly in Xbox history and almost certainly in Microsoft hardware history as well. I couldn't speak for the introduction numbers of a particular mice or keyboard combination.
Q: The marketing messages went through some changes in the last 6 months or so, there was some rethinking on those messages...
Phil Harrison: I'm not sure I would describe it as marketing messages but go on…
Q: But you understand the concept I'm getting at, and that seems more confident now. Are you confident that consumers now are clear on what the Xbox One is, they know what it's going to do for them, they know why it's better than 360 and why they should be out there buying it?
"We're working unbelievably hard to match demand. I can only apologise in advance to anybody who is let down before Christmas"
Phil Harrison: Yes, and the only reason I can say that confidently is because of the pre-order volumes we are going to be sold out. But I would also back that up by saying that some very thoughtful critique of our hardware and system have just recently hit the internet and clearly people who have thought quite deeply about Xbox One, have spent some time with it, recognise that it's a great place to play games but it's also the all-in-one entertainment system and a great place to enjoy TV, music, movies, simple and instant. Those messages and themes come back very strongly in almost all of the criticism or reviews of the console and its system.
So what we set out to achieve, our vision, has turned into reality and I think that's now reflected back in what people think and experience with Xbox One.
Q: You mentioned pre-orders were sold out, are you confident supply is going to meet demand over the Christmas period?
Phil Harrison: We're working unbelievably hard to do that, to match demand. I can only apologise in advance to anybody who is let down before Christmas, we don't want to lose a sale, clearly, and we'll work hard in our operations and our manufacturing supply chain and obviously with our retail partners to make sure we catch up as quickly as we can.
We do have more stock coming in we believe before Christmas that retailers will be able to allocate in free supply and then it's just up to demand as to how quickly that disappears.
Q: How has the changing face of UK retail, the loss of the big flagship gaming stores, the switch to online, changed how you launch a high-end consumer device?
Phil Harrison: Well I'm old enough and long enough in the tooth to remember when Dixons was the number one retailer for games in the UK so there's always been change. The mix of retail in any market evolves over time but the number of doors selling Xbox One I would imagine is as big as it's ever been. But just perhaps the mix slightly shifts.
Clearly this time around, with the launch of Xbox One, we have much more significant online retail partnerships than perhaps we would have had in the launch of 360. Those have become powerhouses in their own right. And that evolution will continue.
Q: Are you able to share any rough numbers in terms of where you've seen pre-orders coming from? In terms of online retailers and high street?
Phil Harrison: Everybody that you would expect to be stocking Xbox One seems to have run a successful pre-order campaign. Interestingly I heard, I didn't see, but I heard that Tesco was running some ads last night for Xbox One, they've got some free supply which they kept back - which I think is great - so that means that they're going to try and corner a little position in the market.
"The launch line-up as a whole delivers exactly what we wanted it to be. A balance of powerhouse brands that everyone knows and new things that they haven't played before"
One of the great things about the world we live in now, this kind of 24/7 social media world, is that Twitter is probably your best friend for finding supply. You'll be able to lock down a particular retailer who has some inventory, so I think the tools are there for customers to connect with inventory much quicker than they perhaps would have been otherwise.
Q: The review scores for both sets of launch titles - there's nothing stellar in there, fairly solid, perhaps a couple a bit lower than you expected… what are your thoughts on the initial critical reception to them?
Phil Harrison: I think the launch line-up as a whole delivers exactly what we wanted it to be. A balance of powerhouse brands that everyone knows and new things that they haven't played before, with individual and in aggregate experiences that really show off the power and promise of the machine. And I think we have that, I think from a game like Forza 5 - beautiful, stunning game 1080p, 60fps - you can see the performance of the machine on the screen for you to enjoy and luxuriate in, and now do that mental extrapolation and start thinking about what games are going to look like one, three, five or seven years from now. That's really exciting.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-phil-harrison
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November 22nd, 2013, 00:36 Posted By: wraggster
With Xbox One just hours away from its global release, the pricing for its digital games catalogue has been revealed.
As listed by Videogamer, most first party titles come in at £44.99, with the exception of the £49.99 Zoo Tycoon. Third party games seem to be favouring £54.99 although there are exceptions, such as Fighter Within (£49.99) and Just Dance 2014 (£39.99).
Also note that rather ambitious £35.19 price for Angry Birds: Star Wars!
Here’s the complete list:
Angry Birds: Star Wars (1.81GB) – £35.19
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag (20.25GB) – £54.99
Battlefield 4 (34.3GB) – £54.99
Call of Duty: Ghosts (39.5GB) – £54.99
Call of Duty: Ghosts: Digital Hardened Edition (TBC) – £94.99
Crimson Dragon (6.88GB) – £15.99
Dead Rising 3 (19.9GB) – £44.99
Dead Rising 3: Day One Premium Edition (TBC) – £68.99
FIFA 14 (8.7GB) – £54.99
Fighter Within (11.05GB) – £49.99
Forza Motorsport 5 (31.76GB) – £44.99
Just Dance 2014 (22.79GB) – £39.99
Killer Instinct (3.25GB) – Free
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (6.38GB) – TBC
LocoCycle (13.17GB) – £15.99
Madden NFL 25 (12.51GB) – £54.99
NBA 2K14 (43.6GB) – £54.99
NBA Live 14 (9.13GB) – £54.99
Need For Speed: Rivals (15.35GB) – £54.99
Powerstar Golf (3.92GB) – £15.99
Ryse: Son of Rome (34.94GB) – £44.99
Xbox Fitness (252.13MB) – Free
Zoo Tycoon (2.62GB) – £49.99
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/digit...vealed/0124685
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November 22nd, 2013, 00:11 Posted By: wraggster
Computing firm tested numerous prototypes before settling on final design
A whopping $100m was spent on research and development for Xbox One's controller, Microsoft has revealed.
Speaking with VentureBeat, Xbox GM for accessories Zulfi Alam explained that the company went through a variety of prototypes before settling on a design similar to the Xbox 360 peripheral.
"I don't want to go into specifics, but it's over $100 million for sure,” Alam said.
“Between the tooling of the device, the investments we made in process technology, and the engineering work that went into it, we invested a lot to get this thing right."
http://www.develop-online.net/news/m...er-r-d/0186304
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November 21st, 2013, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft pulled its support page that instructed users how to update their Xbox One systems offline using a USB drive. We've included an image of the cached support page above, which is no longer available to view.
The Xbox Support page instructed Xbox One owners with a two gigabyte USB stick to download one of two compressed update files to their computers, then unzip them to the root of the USB drive. The process then had owners holding the bind and eject buttons while turning their consoles on, releasing the two buttons once they hear two start-up tones. According to the now-unavailable support page, that last step told the Xbox One to search for an update from a USB drive, a procedure that isn't part of the system's initial booting process.
We've contacted Microsoft for comment.
Update: A Microsoft spokesperson tells Joystiq that "the site was not an alternative way to take the Day One update and customers still need to connect to Xbox Live for the update. Because of the complexity of this customer support process we've actually removed the page and we will work with customers directly to make sure they have a smooth experience."
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/21/mi...-for-xbox-one/
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November 21st, 2013, 23:29 Posted By: wraggster
Xbox One-owning audiophiles will need to loop the Super Audio CD version ofDark Side of the Moon a few more times before the console is able to take full advantage of a high-end headset, as the console will not ship with Dolby Digital 5.1 support for devices connected to the Xbox One's optical port. A system update adding Dolby support for headsets will be released at some point after the system's launch.
Microsoft's Director of Product Planning Albert Penello detailed the temporary limitation in a post at NeoGAF. "For the Dolby only headsets, my understanding is that these will work but you will only get stereo audio since we only pass Stereo and DTS through the optical port," Penello wrote. "I have not tested this myself, but I'm told it works. Regardless, I understand this is an inconvenience, but again we're going to have Dolby coming."
Penello also addressed speculation regarding the console's rumored inability to produce HDMI-IN surround sound output at launch, explaining that players will need to opt in to beta surround sound support via the Xbox One's TV Settings menu. Otherwise, HDMI-IN audio is converted to stereo output by default. Penello notes: "We found some inconsistencies in [set top boxes] during testing and decided to disable it by default to insure a good initial setup experience for people."
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/21/xb...ing-post-laun/
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