I'm looking forward to what they could potentially do with Kinect this gen, really. Could be a potential waste, but if that is the case, I still have one badass high tech camera with quite a few uses after custom firmware upgrades.

I don't get the harsh criticism of the Kinect, it has issues just like any new tech does, but when (and if I suppose) devs play with it more, it has the potential to add quite a bit of depth to gaming, much like a "2nd screen" experience some games are incorporating (ex. Watch Dogs).

I find the Kinect functionally non-point.

Hell yeah, it's good for Skype too

Going to need it for NFL season to talk piss with bros

They got scared by it always being on plus it not being a cheaper option from the start to not have it. Don't really want people to hear what is going on around the living room when playing an online game.

Only good thing I've experienced from Kinect is Nike Fitness. Hope DDP yoga can make something for it.

Ultimately fans see it as a gimmick.

Always on isn't really an issue. You can mute the Kinect mic anytime you wish and leave it as such permanently and you can also have it plugged in, but have the video disabled (or if you are really worried, put a random object in front of the lens/turn it around :| ). Unless you wear a tin foil hat and have piss poor networking security, there really is nothing to worry about.

And Xbox Fitness, all the routines, as well as Kinect Adventures, make for a great workout if you actually committ. Drunk Dance Central makes for fun times too :D

Fuddy Duddy :cool:

But you have to like it, it's teh metagame of metagames. AMIRITE?

Haven't done Skype yet. No one on my friends list has XBone yet. I'll try it one day.

Also
http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs24/f/20...AndrewSalt.jpg

You may now go forth and die

What?

Hmm...

http://news.xbox.com/2014/05/xbox-de...g-more-choices

Bout time the pay wall comes down for apps. That was my one and only complaint.

Today's News:
1) Fiscal Reports:

• Take Two's 2014 fiscal report revealed the company generated around $2.3 billion in net revenue and $361 million in net income. GTA V was revealed to have generated around half of the company's revenue and current sales are at around 33 million.
• Wall Street Journal states Sony is expected to be revealing a $1.3 billion loss for the 2014 fiscal year. Several Sony executives are also expected to be slashing their pay by 50% for this year as an apology.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/a...off-gta-v.aspx
http://www.destructoid.com/grand-the...s-274802.phtml
http://www.destructoid.com/sony-exec...y-274787.phtml

2) Some Gamespy shutdown news as Capcom states Street Figher 3: Third Strike Online Edition and Marvel vs. Capcom Origins will not be affected by the server shutdown while Lost Planet 3 is currently in the process of being moved to new servers. Bungie states they are working on an official patch to allow Halo CE's online multiplayer to continue after the server shutdown.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/capc...or-mvc-origins
http://www.destructoid.com/halo-ce-m...e-274745.phtml

3) Besides the Kinect-less version of the Xbox One, other announcements by Microsoft included an updated list of services no longer locked to Gold accounts and Games for Gold will now follow the PS+ model of the games only being playable as long as a subscription is active.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/xbox...streaming-apps
http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/mi...ive/1100-4917/

4) Driveclub will contain a microtransaction system although it will not offer Fame exp nor cars outside your Fame level to be purchasable and instead only as quick unlocks for cars within your exp level.
http://www.destructoid.com/driveclub...l-274767.phtml

I like the kinect. I've had fun with it.

Ooooooh. $399 Xbox1 sans Kinect.

Still no real reason to go buy one for myself.

At least Games with Gold is finally moving to XBone. Bout time I get something tangible for that money considering I have to pay separate for 360 and One.

They're way behind Sony in this respect, but this does a lot to close that gap. Releasing 2 free games a month on XBone instead of the 1 with PS+ also will make up for the delay in the programs launch.

Overall, big thumbs up to MS for this.

Yes glad microsoft got rid of the paywall not sure about ditching the kinect

Having an option to buy the console without it will save the damn thing and close the gap.

Now it's without the Kinect, I'm more likely to trade in my 360 sooner for the One. I've never really used the 360 Kinect, never appealed to me and never had the space needed. I know I wouldn't use the new Kinect, a lot of it's features aren't available in my region and don't have anywhere really to have it sitting there all the time, so for me I've never wanted it. I'm glad there is now an option to not have it, certainly help with the cost although the console by itself is still going to be around $599 where I am.

Today's News:
1) Update to Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Live Gold revisions as the company states they will be offering refunds to those upset with the changes, Free-To-Play/MMO games will still require Gold accounts, and they are working on a new interface for the Xbox One.
http://www.destructoid.com/microsoft...s-274839.phtml
http://www.destructoid.com/xbox-live...s-274809.phtml
http://www.destructoid.com/xbox-one-...d-274807.phtml

2) Rockstar announces they are currently working on their first "next-gen" project with the game expected to be released before April 2015 and rumored to likely be a port of a last gen game.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/rock...ps4-april-2015

3) Some new details for Sunset Overdrive include Insomniac revealing the game's online co-op mode in the near future and plans for the game to be supported with lots of content packs.
http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/...dates-planned/

GTA Online+

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j8_X-9AIG-c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Awesome.

Today's News:
1) Sony's 2014 fiscal report revealed the company generated an overall net loss of $1.25 billion, their gaming division had a net loss of $78 million, and the company expecting as a minimum of at least a half billion net loss for this fiscal year.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/desp...ss-fiscal-year

2) Some Ubisoft related news:

• Far Cry 4 will be getting released on November 18th (Nov. 20 for Europe) for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, and PC.
• The Assassin's Creed series is currently ranked as the 4th highest selling series of the past decade with the Just Dance series as the next highest selling series from them (#13 rank).
• The Division has been delayed from its original late 2014 release to now a TBA 2015 release date.

http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/fa...ing/1100-4921/
http://www.destructoid.com/ubisoft-s...s-274909.phtml
http://www.destructoid.com/you-don-t...5-274905.phtml

3) SALES - Europe's Playstation Store is currently having a sale with around 100 games included. For those interested, the 2DS is currently on sale at Target for $99 ($30 discount) from now until May 17th.
http://www.destructoid.com/there-are...e-274865.phtml
http://www.destructoid.com/pick-up-a...9-274845.phtml

4) Take Two states they are considering the possibility of purchasing more studios in the near future with the money they generated from their recent fiscal report ($2+ billion).
http://www.destructoid.com/take-two-...s-274854.phtml

Fucking every game I'm looking forward to is getting delayed.

Evolve is likely next.

And I JUST reserved The Division yesterday.

Hey, in exchange, we get Far Cry 4. Fair trade.

The Division is way more ambitious than Far Cry 4. Not a fair trade.

Plus I get the feeling that Far Cry 4 is just a quick cash in. Will probably use a lot of resources from FC3.

Which I'm not THAT bummed about, because FC3 is fucking tits.

I'm fully aware of that. I'd rather have something to play to fill that gap Division now left instead of nothing at all. Fall's looking pretty bleak right now.

Today's News:
1) Guerrilla Games states the Intercept DLC pack for Killzone: Shadow Fall will be released next month along with plans to release it as its own standalone game later in the year.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/guer...o-op-expansion

2) Oculus VR announces they have recently hired Kenneth Scott who was the former art director for both 343 Industries and id Software.
http://www.destructoid.com/oculus-hi...r-274933.phtml

3) Ubisoft states they are currently considering including more of their franchises into the annual release cycle with both the Far Cry series and The Crew as the next likely candidates. The studio also hinted the rumors of a separate Assassin's Creed game for the PS3 and Xbox 360 are likely true.
http://www.destructoid.com/ubisoft-f...y-274927.phtml
http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/...xbox-360-game/

Fucking Ubisoft will ruin FarCry at this rate.

Honestly, if it were anyone other than Ubisoft I would be worried, but their quick cash in sequels still tend to be really fun.

Weekend News Edition
 

Google is in the process of buying streaming company Twitch for over $1 billion. Will be part of the Youtube branch once the deal is done.

http://variety.com/2014/digital/news...es-1201185204/

This year I would propose that we have four E3 threads for 2014:

Nintendo @ E3 2014
Sony @ E3 2014
Microsoft @ E3 2014
E3 2014 thread for EA, Konami, Ubisoft, and general news.

We know the big three conferences that drive the main thread every year, and I think giving the big three their own thread would make things easier to follow. What say you?

One is fine.

And update the first post as you see fit.

Dont forget about the GiantBomb shows at night which always feature an odd cast of characters. A few years ago they had Jonathan Blow bitching at an XBox rep. And then he was on with CliffyB last year. No idea what's in store this time around.

Cool article I came across this morning.

Galloping Ghost - 400 Coin-Op games.

3rd Slide has Megaman and DBZ in the same cabinet, sexy.

Today's News:
1) Microsoft is rumored to be releasing a special Halo collection set for the Xbox One later this year and likely named as "Halo: The Master Chief Collection."
http://www.screwattack.com/news/rumo...-xbox-one-year

2) Update to The Division getting delayed till 2015 news as developer Massive Entertainment states the game is very unlikely to be released next year due to several serious problems they are currently having with the game's development. Also have been preoccupied more with developing a brand new game engine for Ubisoft than working on the game itself.
http://www.destructoid.com/tom-clanc...5-275063.phtml

3) According to a report from CVG, layoffs have recently occurred at Rare studio with around 20 employees laid off and the official reason due to the poor sales of Kinect Sports Rivals.
http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/...als-reception/

Really don't see the point in all these remastered games, I don't see the point in them considering they aren't that old. I want to play new, proper next gen games.

The remasters have all been for the sake of playing them in HD.

Fair enough, but still not worth me dropping my cash for them, personally.

Don't.