Xbox One: Backwards Compatible??!?!?

SO..... a lot of people have been reporting that the X-Box One will be getting a backwards compatibility release (looking at YOU GameSpot), allowing you to play your old 360 games on your NEW SHINY ONE!!!! but really... did anyone one bother to read what Frank Savage said before writing their articles? What it all boils down to is Microsoft is still looking into whether or not it is possible to make 360 games playable on the X-Box One. The problem is the hardware differences, the two systems speak different languages and have different hardware implementations. For all my non-programmers out there, imagine that the 360 speaks English and the One speaks Chinese, obviously they have difficulty understanding each other. The instructions and commands written for 360 games don't translate directly into code that the One can execute. The options (realistically) are either an optional software application that can read 360 games, then convert and run them on the One (like a bilingual translator) or a re-release of specific games to the online Xbox marketplace where you could download specific titles, or access them all for a monthly fee (like Sony will be doing with the PS4). The fact that the company who adamantly stated 'The One will not play 360 games' is looking at backwards compatibility is undoubtedly in response to the PS4's emulation rumors and 'Playstation Now' library. The important thing is: Mr. Savage does NOT confirm that the One will be getting backwards compatibility; call me a cynic, but until Microsoft officially announces that the One will be backwards compatible I won't be too excited. Which version would you rather see, a library of online games or the ability to play old games straight from the disk? Would Microsoft release this for free, or would it be an additional fee(either one time or monthly)? How much would you pay to play 360 games on the One? Let me know in the comments!

PS4

Much Like the Xbox One, the PS4 is not backwards compatible(excluding PlayStation Now) and offers only a few titles; the wireless internet on the PS4 now supports n networking, meaning it will support (reasonably) faster connections than the PS3, and a controller which includes a touchpad. For those of you with a PS3; you may have noticed that your console is also great for media applications; it can play Blu-rays, read music and videos off of memory sticks, and wirelessly stream from other devices plus.... Bluetooth everything. The PS4 does not approach media with the same zeal; to use the PS4 for Blu-ray requires a software download, and it does not have the same memory stick or wireless media player functionality as its predecessor. The PS4 is intended to be a PURE gaming machine; whereas the PS3 was a multi-media device; Sony went in the opposite direction of Microsoft, stepping away from wide-functionality in order to place the focus on gaming. Unlike the Xbox One; the PS4 is set to have a large library of content; though many of these titles will also be released on the PS3.

The ONE

The Xbox One has recently been price-dropped and bundled with Titanfall; meaning it is now better than ever to go get an Xbox One, Right? The One is still limited by its small library of Next Gen Titles and its lack of backward compatibility; truthfully for gaming purposes, i have spent much more time on my 360 over the last few months, only using the One for apps like Netflix, ESPN or the free Xbox Fitness. While the One has a few solid titles for fans of shooters(Call Of Duty:Ghosts, BattleField 4, Titanfall), racing(Forza 5) or sports games(FIFA 14, Madden 25, NBA 2k14); many of the Ones titles are also available for the 360 with negligible game-play differences and/or a few Xbox One bonuses or minor graphical improvements(example: NBA 2k14 has both; with extra cut-scenes and some graphical improvements that are only noticeable on an HDTV with a refresh rate of 60hz). The reduced price tag is nice for those who feel like picking up a One, but until it gets more serious Next-Gen titles and exclusives like Dead Rising 3, it will still feel like a shinier 360s(with a handful of new features and a new UI), and not a new eighth generation console. Feel like i got something wrong? Have an opinion that disagrees with mine? Have a game or System you want me to talk about? Let me know! (it would be nice to know i'm not just typing for no reason)

COMMENTS!

I have no idea what you guys want to hear about, so leave a comment with what you would like to see me do next, and i'll get to work on them!remember, If you don't tell me what you want me to cover, i'll never know.

Xbox One

The newest member of the Microsoft gaming family was announced yesterday, and it has been dubbed Xbox One. The announcement was full of news and functionality presentations, such as Xbox Ones improved use of the cloud, its Skype functionality (presumably with its own app extension), the High definition video, and it's ability to multitask and behave as a media and entertainment center, rather than a simple console. They also highlighted Xbox Ones "advanced new look" (honestly it reminds me of the original Xbox) and it's compatibility for current gold members. The presentation glazed over a few points, however; stating that it will work with Xbox live gold along with the xbox 360, but leaving out that the Xbox One will not feature backwards compatibility, in other-words, the One will not play 360 or original xbox games, so hang on to your old consoles if you would like to continue playing them. The Xbox One also features the ability to play used games, as we have been told, BUT playing a used game will cost you an unlock fee, in addition to what you paid for the used game. Xbox One will have security features to back this up, by only allowing you to play games after they have been downloaded (either through the marketplace, or off the disk) to the Ones hard drive. Xbox One does require an internet connection, unlike its predecessor, even when not using online features, the console does not need a constant connection however, but it does need to "check-in" at least once a day. This means that someone without internet would not be able to play a single player game, or use offline functionalities of the console, without connecting to the internet daily.

Call Of Duty: Ghosts

The next Call of Duty has been announced. Titled "Ghosts", this tenth Call of Duty game will be made by Infinity Ward, but it will not be a part of the "Modern Warfare" titles that IW has produced. "Ghosts" will follow a new and unique storyline, with a new and diverse group of characters. "Ghosts" is scheduled for release on both the current and "next-gen" systems, using the console release as an opportunity to start a new chapter for the Call of Duty franchise. As of now, Only the "masked warriors" trailer has been released,but a game play reveal containing more information has been scheduled to coincide with the new Xbox reveal, May 21st.




Is Call of Duty (Activision) rushing the release and development of their new game in order to compete with Battlefield 4 (EA), or will "Ghosts" be the fresh story and redesigned game-play that so many of the series fans have been begging for? What's your opinion?

The Future of Gaming

All X-box players and fans alike have seen the ads for the "future of gaming" to be announced on May 21st. This is undoubtedly the reveal date of the long anticipated next generation console from Microsoft. While it has been given many names by bloggers like myself, no official name has been given to the console, nor have any details of its hardware or software functionality. The few developer comments relating to the new generation of systems only reference the fact that it's a huge leap forward.






Following the announcement of SONY's PS4, the gaming world was waiting for Microsoft to reveal their next-gen competitor, On May 21st, we'll have just that. X-box or Playstation? Comment and check back in May 21st to see how the two consoles stack up.