The new XBox is.....

So, Microsoft announces the XBox One! No really, that's the name. It's alright, I don't much get it either.

What it is?
Well, while it does play games, Microsoft spared no expense on highlighting everything it did EXCEPT for play games. They are really trying to push the fact that it's so much more than a gaming console, and I get it. But the gaming console is why a majority of people are going to buy the damn thing. Why alienate your main audience? It's a glorified set top box that happens to play games.

But, it has features!!!
Other than the tech upgrades, which are nice and clearly better than the 360, they spent half of the presentation demonstrating overly exaggerated motion and voice commands that will probably only work half the time once it comes out. Oh yeah, it's already stuff that the current Kinect does. Oh yeah, and everything is always faster for a tech demo. So while you're out there waving your arms trying to minimize your video...I'll stick to hitting my B button.

But, the games!
Yeah I missed the last ten minutes of the conference so I'm assuming that's when they actually got around to talking about games. Fifteen exclusive titles for the XBox One!!! Oh wait, half of those will be the usual suspects. Halo, Gears, Forza etc...

On a positive note, in spite of rumors and internet pitchforkateering. The console won't require to be online all the time! Though on a personal note, I'm not really sure what all the commotion is about always online. Really I don't. I guess people equate always online to DRM and I suppose in a sense they are right. But always online helps deter cheaters and if there's one group of gamers I despise more than the pirates, if the people who blatantly cheat.

Oh and the whole thing about used games is probably the most condescending thing I've heard from a console maker, ever. It's basically saying while we don't really like used games sales, we'll give you the honor of being able to purchase an extra key for a nominal fee. So yes, the CD key is tied to your profile! Which is why they don't need always on. What in the actual fuck? So, not only do you NOT own the game you dropped $60, but probably more closer to $70 on, you can't let your buddy borrow the sweet adventure because he can't play it without dropping an extra $10-$20 bucks just to be able to play it. This is so wrong I can't even really put words to it. Way to just demolish the entire culture of gaming! Gone are the days of bringing your discs (though in my day it was cartridges) to class and trading with some friends. In Microsoft's eyes, those days are gone. Well Microsoft, you may have just weaseled your way out of the game market, good luck trying to force feed IE to people!!!

All-in-all, I for one am not impressed. It's a glorified set-top box that's moving AWAY from games and gamers. You can watch TV! Apparently you need an Xbox for that?

On a side note, The fantasy sports feature was pretty neat, not groundbreaking, but neat.