Microsoft changes course on used game, online policies

Yep. After Sony thundered to a big E3 win, Microsoft is responding by removing requirements to be connected to the internet and used game restrictions. Here’s the full release from Don Mattrick:

Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.

For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future.

Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One.

You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world.

So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:

An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games– After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console — there will be no regional restrictions.

These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.

We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.

Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year.

Does this change your mind about the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One? Or the Wii U for that matter?

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

 

E3 2013: Sony vs. Microsoft

Well, this is certainly interesting. Microsoft and Sony sought to steal the spotlight during E3 2013. Microsoft went first. After the debacle that was the Xbox One, Microsoft unveiled game after game. Titles included a new “Halo” game, “Metal Gear Solid V”, “Forza MotorSport 5”, “Titanfall” and “Killer Instinct”. Ir was an impressive array of games. Then the price was announced. $499. $499? That seems way too high. Microsoft wants the Xbox One to be an all-in-one entertainment box, but I can guarantee you that people like me, who aren’t hardcore gamers, are very hesitant to drop that kind of money for a new product like this.

Then, Sony was up. If all Sony did was reveal that you could buy, play and share used games the same way you always could, it would be a success. But Sony did that and more. It went after the jugular. The PlayStation 4 supports used games, doesn’t require an online connection to play games and will sell for $399. A full $100 cheaper. For customers like me, that makes a world of difference.

The news pleased fans so much, it’s easy to forget that there weren’t really any new killer games shown. But none of that mattered for Sony. It was mission accomplished. And for Microsoft, heck even Nintendo, I’d be squirming in my seat.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Get ready for the Xbox One

Well, here we go. Microsoft announced Xbox One. The console has instant switching which allows you to instantly switch between games, movies, music, web and now both Skype and live TV.
EA’s Madden NFL, FIFA, NBA LIVE and UFC are all coming to the Xbox One this year. Microsoft Studios announced that Forza Motorsport 5 is coming and that the company will release 15 new games in the first year of launch of which 8 are new franchises. Remedy revealed footage from a new game titled Quantum Break.

Also revealed is a live action Halo TV series from 343 Industries and Steven Spielberg. What do you think? Are you excited?

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Wii U price cut

Target is selling the basic version of Nintendo’s Wii U for $239.99, that’s a full $60 off the regular price. I’m not surprised by the move, actually. The system’s been a weak seller, thanks in part to a weak software lineup and, well, the gaming landscape is changing. And while I found the Wii fun, it’s been a while that I’ve seen a console launch and so many people not care. The system badly needed a price cut, especially with Sony and Microsoft gaining momentum again.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Trailer for the new web series “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn”

Here is the full trailer for the upcoming web series “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn”. Obviously, it’s meant to promote the upcoming video game, but there’s some real talent behind this.

Stewart Hendler (“Sorority Row”) is directing from scripts from Todd and Aaron Helbing (“Smallville”, “Spartacus”). The cast includes Tom Green, Anna Popplewell (“The Chronicles of Narnia”), Daniel Cudmore (“The Twilight Saga”, “X-2: X-Men United”)  as the Master Chief, Ayelet Zurer, Mike Dopud, Enisha Brewster, Masam Holden (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Osric Chau, Iain Belcher (“Supernatural”)  and Kat De Lieva as Dimah.

One has to wonder if this is also an attempt to drum up interest for a possible movie again.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Wii U’s price revealed?

Probably not, but ign.com has a story here about a retailer apparently taking their best stab of prices of games and the system.  According to the story, the prices for games would be $62 and the system would cost $435.

I can tell you one thing, Nintendo. More than $400 bucks for a Wii U, which is essentially a this generation console with a tablet controller? Not going to fly in my book. People have tried to tell me the controller is going to be innovative, but I just don’t see it.  I’m not anywhere near a hardcore gamer and actually enjoyed playing the Wii, but this has got me…baffled. Well, if that really is close to the real price, at least we know Nintendo never uses gimmicks or any pointless peripherals that are used in one game. Oh wait…

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

New franchises stand out from sequel laden E3

June marks the biggest video gaming convention in the world at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Console makers Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, as well as publishers EA and Ubisoft, opened the convention with big press conferences unveiling the latest installments in many of gaming’s biggest franchises. While games like Halo 4 and Assassins Creed 3 impressed, it was the games without numbers after their title that left the crowd buzzing. Here is a brief breakdown of these promising new franchises:

Watch Dogs– Ubisoft ended their press conference with this previously-unannounced shocker of an open-world game. An intro trailer set up the premise of game, which deals with the concept of “everything is hackable.” A 10 minute gameplay demo showed off some stunning graphics and interesting hacking mechanics that including jamming communications, wirelessly tapping cell phones and hacking traffic lights to cause a well-timed car crash. The end of the demo hinted at a possible multiplayer feature. Not much is known about this new game other than the demo was played on a high-end PC. Ubisoft President Yves Guillemot said in an interview with Spike TV’s Geoff Keighley that Ubisoft is investing a lot in Watch Dogs, and so far it is looking like it is paying off.

The Last of Us­– Developer Naughty Dog, the studio behind this generation’s blockbuster Uncharted franchise, showed off a gruesome demo to end Sony’s conference. Similar to their previous efforts, the game sported fantastic visuals of a post-apocalyptic city with the two main characters having to fight for their lives against some brutal survivors. Unlike Uncharted, the player had to deal with limited ammunition, often resorting to some startling scenes of violent fisticuffs. The gritty survival element of the game looks to add something unique from the horde of other third person shooters on the show floor.

Beyond: Two Souls– The newest game from Quantic Dream stars Ellen Page as a mysterious young girl who speaks to an invisible partner named “Ivan.” Only a trailer was shown for the game, which included a tense interrogation scene, highlighting the game’s impressive facial animations. Quantic Dream’s last game, the unique crime-thriller Heavy Rain made waves for its ambitious storytelling and virtual performances from its actors, so expectations are high for this Playstation 3 exclusive.

E3 has just started and plenty more games are sure to be announced and detailed over the next few days so keep checking back for the latest updates including Nintendo’s successor to the Wii.

Garrett Estrada is an entertainment writer for the Rebel Yell and can be reached via his email at unrwriter2012@gmail.com

Why “Halo” was never made into a movie

From “Resident Evil” to even “Super Mario Brothers” video games have been used by Hollywood to make movies with varying degrees of success. However, it’s a wide belief that video game movies have been sub par. Films like “Dead or Alive”, “Mortal Kombat” and “Doom” certainly didn’t help the genre. Big busts like “Prince of Persia” made studios a little wary. When “Silent Hill” is considered a top example, you’ve got issues.

But, for a while “Halo” was going to be the next big movie. Yet, to this day we have yet to see it and we probably won’t for a long time. Here’s a link to a story about the downfall of the adaptation.  Basically, a lot of misunderstanding and greed. It’s a good read and it’s a shame. Microsoft wanted Peter Jackson, the studios Neil Blomkamp. At one point, people thought “Deja Vu” was essentially Denzel Washington’s tryout for Master Chief.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Is Sony done for?

Here’s a link to a great article about how Sony is in a huge fight to save its brand, its company and its reputation. The decline of Sony has been pretty swift all things considered. It completely missed the boat on the mp3 players revolution deciding to use its own format instead.  Its TVs are getting outsold at every turn because of competitors offering similar quality at much lower prices. Even in the video game industry, where arguably Sony has been most successful, Sony’s showing cracks. Its getting pummeled in the handheld market. And, one has to wonder given Sony’s lack of success with online services (just look at Sony’s online music store, which lasted less than three years or how far behind XBox Live Sony’s online service is) whether it can transition to an age where physical gaming discs are likely to fade like CDs.

Sony is a former technology giant who, simply, couldn’t keep up with the times. The article states the blame may be partly to a lack of communication and a lot of fighting within the company. It’s a shame really. Sony should have been the one dominating the mp3 player world, not Apple. What  Sony needs if it wants to get back to where it was is a product that wows people. Like Apple did with the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Sony needs to blaze a new trail. But the question is…can it?

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.