This may seem very weird or might sound like a hack but it is true. If you purchase both the Xbox One and the PS4 you will be able to play PS4 games (or even the current gen systems) on their Xbox One’s interface.

In a post by Jeff Henshaw of Microsoft, he confirmed that you can use the Xbox and Kinect to switch to the PS4 without complications and that the lag would be so little the human eye would not be able to detect.

You would also be able to connect a Wii U to play games and then use voice commands to put that in the background and switch over to an Xbox One game without changing inputs.

This is a great feature that will eliminate the technicality of always disconnecting and reconnecting another system just to play a game and also goes well with the fact that Microsoft wants the Xbox One to be an all round media system and not just another game console.

I think this is clever and I’m looking forward to seeing how this actually works. Are you excited?

Source: Forbes Tech

Kinect-based features such as player identification, voice commands, etc., will be disabled as a result of unplugging the Kinect device. Other entertainment features will work normally as before

The change arises as part of Microsoft’s effort to appease its core gamer contingency, one which had voiced their concerns and made that feature very unpopular. Popular speculation states that Microsoft plans to launch an Xbox One bundle that will not include the Kinect device and as such be a much more affordable way to obtain an Xbox One. This idea would make the Xbox One compete better with the PlayStation 4 on price. Of course at the end of the day speculation is speculation.

However if a version of the Xbox One has a price equal to the price of the PS4, would you buy it? Leave your answer in the comment section below.

Microsoft showed off their next generation console, the Xbox One. The console shows off a slot-loading system, and it looks to be slightly longer and higher than the slim Xbox 360. It has a gloss and matte finish. The green ring looks to be replaced with a white glow. A large fan keeps the Xbox One quiet and the external power brick on the Xbox 360S has been scrapped for internal hardware. It will ship with the Xbox Kinect.

Kinect was revealed alongside the Xbox One as a totally new piece of hardware. there is only one visible camera. It does seem as though some sensors may be in the Xbox One console, however that is yet to be confirmed. A new Kinect comes with the Xbox One and improved accuracy. There’s a 1080p camera, Skype connectivity, and understanding of rotational movement in a structure-like skeleton. Microsoft even claims the new Kinect can read your heartbeat. It can also recognize your controller, not just your hands — suggesting usage gestures that sound a little like the PlayStation Move’s wand. It has been revealed that the Xbox One will not work without Kinect.

The Xbox One controller is a slimmer revamp of the current Xbox 360 controller, It has two new buttons, one of them is to share, the second is for the new Xbox Guide. Microsoft says developers will be able to program specific types of feedback into the trigger buttons of the new controller. The thought being that the trigger buttons will offer different types of feedback depending on if you’re playing a racing game or a first-person shooter. The new controller supports Wi-Fi Direct radio stack and has a newly designed “precision” directional pad and an integrated battery compartment. The controller will also link with Xbox One’s new Kinect sensor for Xbox One, which may mean Kinect will need to stay plugged in at all times if you actually want to play games.

New Specs

Under the hood, details so far include: an eight-core processor, 8GB of RAM, Blu-ray, USB 3, HDMI in/out, and a 500GB hard drive. Besides all of this, Microsoft is promising a new operating system fusing Xbox and Windows. Xbox One architecture has “three operating systems in one”: Xbox, a kernel of Windows (perhaps like Windows RT), and a multitasking interface. The idea seems to be that this console will be a multitasking device at heart.

Xbox TV
Microsoft emphasized heavily on smart TV controls and TV experience. While this may be very limited when it comes to third-world markets and non-supported satellite connections. The Kinect handles new gestures and voice-commands that switch between channels and simultaneously use other apps and features while keeping primary focus on a single app. To that end, it sounds like Microsoft is developing TV shows and original programming for the Xbox One, making a greater leap into Netflix-like original programming. Steven Spielberg announced a new Halo TV series that may be quite possibly be exclusively on Xbox.

Games
Forza 5 by Turn 10 Studios will be a launch title which was confirmed by a representative from Microsoft Studios. Other titles shown that may not be launch titles include, a new game by Remedy Studios called Quantum Break, FIFA 14 was revealed to be an Xbox exclusive, EA unveiled a new engines and multiplayer for a few top titles like NHL: Live and NFL: Live. EA is also developing Madden NFL 25, UFC, andNBA Live 14.

A Call of Duty: Ghosts demonstration ended the Xbox One presentation. Just like all previous Call of Dutys, all Ghosts DLC will launch first on Xbox. Call of Duty: Ghosts is being written by Stephen Gaghan, best known for writing the film Traffic. The game features a brand new game engine, multiplayer and gameplay features.

Battlefield 4 has been confirmed for the Xbox One by DICE. Ubisoft has confirmed Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Watchdogs, they have also confirmed that at least six games are being planned for the Xbox One.

Microsoft plans to release 15 exclusive games within the first year of Xbox One. Eight will be brand new franchises.

At E3 in June Microsoft intends to show the rest of the launch titles and games from the other big studios.

Rumors Abated and Unknown
The new Xbox will not be always online. All games will be installed to the hard drive of the console and verified online. The Xbox One will release later this year. That’s all the info we got… More to come at E3, no doubt.

The Xbox One is not backwards compatible, as this Wired article outlines. Also, used games are, in a sense, being blocked.

Conclusion
More will come at E3. We still don’t know the exact day of launch of the Xbox One. The console is being marketed as a home entertainment device. We still don’t know the exact speed and specifications of the RAM and processor. The TV integration emphasis may not play out well elsewhere in the world. At E3 we will see more games and details. For more on the Xbox One stay here at Technesstivity.

The referees of the soon to come FIFA 13 have been receiving their fair share of the spotlight prior to the fall release of the game. There are rumors that FIFA 13 will have a Be A Referee Mode, where players will be able to call fouls, free kicks, handout cards and all the other good stuff in a referee’s job description. This feature has not been officially announced, so don’t get excited about showing the likes of Pepe several red cards.

Another referee related feature for FIFA 13 that is in fact confirmed, involves the Kinect and Xbox 360. A new voice recognition feature will enable players to vocally issue commands to their teams and of course, be heard by referees when using bad language against them.

To be fair, that WAS offside.

It sounds nice to be able to make substitutions and change formations with voice control but using it to command your player to shoot seems a bit off.

Would you want a Be A Referee Mode in FIFA 13? Here’s a mini Be A Referee mode for readers: FIFA 13 or PES 2013? I know Pro Evolution Soccer has been losing out this year but it could make a come back. Please leave any comments below.

So recently a 56 page document concerning the Xbox 720 surfaced on Scribd. You can check the page where the document used to be here but, it should say “This content was removed at the request of Covington & Burling LLP”. Covington & Burling LLP are lawyers of Microsoft.”

Suspicious?

When asked to comment on the leaked documents, Microsoft responded saying, ”We do not comment on rumors or speculation.” I don’t think a rumormonger would have the time or energy to formulate a 56 page document and upload it on to the internet. Furthermore, a 56 page speculation sounds like it could be worth commenting on – at least tell us what’s true or false about it before having it removed from the internet. Lastly, I’m not too well versed in cyber law but if it’s not the property of Microsoft then why do they have the right to remove it from the internet? And then there’s the important part, what info the leak contained about the Xbox 720.

First, there was the obvious boring stuff like the massive RAM, tricked out CPU cores, a couple of GHz of something and a few more GHz of another. Another obvious improvement to be expected is a Blu-ray player. Also, there was some details about potential 3D output that would work with the glasses.

 The new concept that the document brought forward was “Fortaleza”, the glasses which would supposedly introduce augmented reality to gameplay. Look at the image below and see what you make of the project.

The unbelievable part of all this is that the console has been given a $299 price tag, Kinect 2.0 inclusive. I would have expected a more hefty price but I’m not complaining. If this information is actually legit, I hope there is a lot more to the Xbox 720 because the specs mentioned in the document makes it sound like a Wii 2 instead.

I can’t tell you what to believe, 2013 will probably tell us if the leaked documents were legit or not. In the meantime, opinions are welcome.

It was announced at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show that Microsoft’s Kinect will be coming to Windows PC on the 1st of February. Yes, that soon! The only issue is that there is no sign of a Kinect compatible game for the PC. Okay that’s not the only issue; Where is Kinect for Mac?! Mac users deserve to experience this new era of computer gaming as well. For professional reasons, I won’t get into the frustrated-Mac-gamer rant.

If you plan on buying the Kinect for Windows, you should know that it would do $250 damage to your wallet. That’s $100 more than the one for Xbox 360 but then again imagine the possibilities of a Kinect on your PC (especially after the hackers are done with it). In the mean time, stay tuned for more news concerning possible titles it may be released with(or Mac compatibility!!!).

What do you think about the Kinect for Windows? Will you be willing to part with $250 for it? Please leave any comments below.

Yesterday at Comic-Con, Microsoft unveiled their latest project; a Star Wars themed Xbox 360 console. Microsoft may have hit the fan-boy jackpot with this one because Star Wars is a franchise which attracts the most loyal and dedicated nerds fan base.

The Xbox 360 console itself was built to resemble R2-D2.  Star Wars fans should be able to spot the similarities i  instantly; with its eye being on the face of the console and  its arm being next to the disc tray where it says “Xbox  360″. But Microsoft didn’t stop at appearance; when you  open the tray, R2-D2 speaks and inscribed on the tray is  an inscription saying, “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re  my only hope.” Further appealing to the Star Wars nerds fans.

And then there is the controller which is built in memory of the other infamous Star Wars robot, C-3PO. It’s so shiny isn’t it, I feel this is a marketing trick to attract all gamers alike because who can resist such a golden gleaming gaming beauty. However, it’s still the Star Wars fans’ interests that were taken into account with the controller as C-3PO’s influence on its appearance is still obvious.

The Star Wars themed Xbox will only be sold in bundles which will include a white Kinect sensor, a standard wired headset, a copy of Star Wars Kinect, Kinect Adventures and access to “exclusive downloadable content”. Microsoft hasn’t announced a Europe release date yet but its US release will happen later this year at a price of $450($449.99).

Are you a Star Wars nerd fan? What do you think of this release? Please leave any comments below.

So according to the DigiTimes, Sony has announced that manufacturers would begin work on the Playstation 4 at the end of this year so that it may see a launch date probably late in 2012. Foxconn and Pegatron Technology, who were responsible for the assembling of the PS3 will lead the manufacture of the PS4 as well. Rumour also has it that the Playstation 4 will feature motion control similar to that of the Xbox’s Kinect.

Now, the issue that should be causing gamers discomfort is how trustworthy these sources are. There are a number of reasons why one wouldn’t and shouldn’t believe this news. Firstly, Sony just adopted the Playstation move, I can’t imagine that they would be in such a hurry to scrap it in favour of an idea that’s more or less ripped off from their closest competitors.

The Playstation 3 is an evolving console. From its initial release, we have seen an improvement in its online gaming experience, new 3D capabilities, and even Netflix options. Its evolution is still in progress so why come out of the blue with a revolution?

However if it makes anyone feel better, you don’t need to be concerned about the validity of the news because the world is going to end in December 2012 as per the Mayans’ prediction so there’s no need for anxiety over a late 2012 launch date.

How eager are you for the PS4? Are you still satisfied with your PS3? Leave any comments below.