This last week Microsoft reviled its next generation system, the “X-box One.” This next generation system is to be an all in one entertainment devise.  X-box One is said to be ready when you are with a simple voice command of, “ X-box on,” the system will pop on with a welcome page or home page as it has been repeatedly said.

      This X-box One is also said to be able to support live T.V as well. With a simple command of, “ X-box T.V.” X-box is said to go right to live T.V, with another command you can also get the T.V guide for your area and just say a show and X-box One is suppose to pop that show on your T.V. The same goes with movies as well as gaming. With simple voice commands you are able to switch quick from T.V to gamming to movies and then back again.  You are also said to be able to do two things at once with a new add on of Skype. Now you are said to be able to have group conversations while watching T.V or Movies, and even while playing games. You want to play a game but your wife or girl friend wants to watch T.V no problem. According to Microsoft you can now do both with the X-box One.

      Another new thing that Microsoft reviled was their partnership with the NFL. Now while you are watching the game you are able to keep track of your fantasy football team as while. The X-box One will constantly be updating you when someone from your fantasy scores you a point. Or you can watch the game and have a side app up that shows you how well you are doing in the tournament you are in. As well as, see how your players are doing in other games.

      This brings up a question. Does the X-box One have to always be on? Rumors say yes. However, this was something that Microsoft did not address in their revealing. So all we have to go off of is rumors. According to gameinformer.com, the X-box One does not have to be always on to do the basic functions of the system.  This is where the Cloud comes in. Developers are to use the Cloud feature on those who are connected to the Cloud. However Microsoft has still not said or set anything straight with this rumor. In fact according to kotaku.com, the X-box one doesn’t have to always be on, however, according to Microsoft Vice President Phil Harrison. The X-box One has to be connected to the Internet at least once in a 24-hour period. This includes single player games that don’t require online play. This is according to the interview between Kotaku and Phil Harrison.

     My take on this is yes the X-box One has to always be on IF you want to use the features that were showed at the revile. Also your Internet needs to be connected in order for the system to even work. That even goes for those games that don’t require you to play online.  This is just my take on what Microsoft has yet to confirm and maybe with E3 they will touch more on this subject

     Another thing about the X-box One is that it has been confirmed by Microsoft that it will be able to play Blu-Ray disc. This was something that Sony first came out with on the PS3, and something that the 360 lack to have when it was released. One might think that some of the games may also go on the Blu-Ray disc.

     Another interesting tidbit is from Kotaku.com and this has to do with the Kinect 2.0. According to Kotaku.com and Ign.com who got this story from Kotaku. The Kinect 2.0 will have to be connected to the X-box One at all times in order for the system to work. However, there will be options for users to turn off the Kinect and other privacy options as well. The interview doesn’t go any deeper then this; one hopes that more information on how the Kinect 2.0 will effect the system will be announced when E3 comes along.

     According to gameinformer.com the X-box One will be able to talk back to you through the Kinect 2.0.  The Kinect is suppose to be able to be able to identify when someone new enters the room. When it does not recognize the person through its search of profiles it will ask the new person to identify him or herself through voice. However, this feature may not be ready from when the X-box One is due to be released worldwide later this year. Also new to this system is that players will be able to enlist friend from their friends list to “Take control” of their game and help them. This will be done through the new Skype Chat that will be on the X-box one.

     Another question that gamers found themselves asking, is the use of used games. There have been many rumors about this as well. Some going as far as to say that the X-box One will not play used games. This is because of the fact that you will now have to register your game on-line and then down load it to the systems 500 Gig Hard Drive. Well this is partially true; you will be required to download your game to the Hard Drive. However, different sites like ign.com, gameinformer.com, and gamespot.com, have all said that used games will work but with a fee. Some have said that it will be the cost of the game. While others have said that the fee will be $10. Once again Microsoft beats around the bush to answer this question. They have, however, confirmed that there will be a fee. They just have not told the public or the media as to how much this fee will be. Some sites have even gone to say that second hand stores like Gamestop will have to give gamers full retail price when a gamer wants to trade in their game. However, like I mentioned before this has yet to be confirmed. An interview with Microsoft on Joystiq.com revealed that even though these questions have not been answered they are not trying to “dodge” these questions. The interview goes on with the whole reason for this “Big” reveal. Was to announce the name, show the hardware, announce that a worldwide launch will take place later this year, and to show EA and Activision on our stage. This leaves very little to the imagination. Which could hurt Microsoft in the long run.

     However, according to gamespot.com Microsoft has and will continue to make agreements that retailers will be able to charge whatever they want for used games. However, Microsoft and publishers will receive a cut from every second hand transaction. It has been reported that retailers will get 10% of each sale that is made on used games which is less then big second hand game retailers have been costumed to.

     Reports also say that retailers will have to use Microsoft’s Cloud-enabled Azure used game technology in order for them to sell used games. This is so that when a used game is sold it tells Microsoft and they will be able to take the information off of the person’s hard drive. Which confirms the “Check in” rumors that have been going around that your X-box One will have to check in to the servers every 24-hours. This will then allow retailers to sell the used game at any price point they want. Also according to one of UK’s largest used retailer the rumored used game fee will be 35 Euro’s or $52. However, this has not been confirmed as to if this is an additional charge or if this is included in the price of the used game. This report blows out of the water that the fee would be as little as $10.  However, Microsoft has continued on the beat around the bush aspect of this by saying that this is just one out of many scenarios and that when all is said and done X-box One will allow our customers to resell their games at retail price.

     Gamers have also asked another question. Will the X-box One be backwards compatible? The answer to this is a simple and rather amusing “No.” The X-box One will not play 360 games. Microsoft has been reported to say that it wants to move forward from the 360. Letting the X-box One be backwards compatible didn’t seem to fit that thought process. In fact, if you have arcade games or on demand games that were downloaded from X-box Live to your 360. They will not be playable on the X-box One. However, Microsoft states that they will be playable on the 360 for as long as your 360 runs. Microsoft believes that the 360 will still be strong in the next five years. So does that mean they will continue to make games for the 360 during this five-year span. That has yet to be confirmed or mentioned by anyone from Microsoft.

     In other news, Microsoft and Turtle Beach have announced that they will be working together to make a compatible headset for the X-box One. Which proves certain rumors that the X-box One will not be compatible with current gaming headsets. The X-box One will not be able to use the chat cable that is currently being used by the 360. Instead, a new propriety chat port will be installed to the X-box One. This will make current headset manufactures like Turtle Beach, Tritton, and Astro gaming to create new headsets for this system. More details and pricing will be addressed during the next couple of weeks leading to E3.

     Also Microsoft has reported that Indie game makers will need to find a publisher in order for their games to be played or even seen on the X-box One.  This is because Microsoft will be putting the arcade, on demand, and any indie games and combining them into one category. This structure will be like what valve did with steam. The only difference is that indie games would have to go through obstacles and get assistance through publishers. This is the exact opposite as to what Sony and Nintendo are or are said to be doing. As of right now Nintendo has open the doors to self-publishing, and Sony is said to be following. Now things can change between now and the launching of X-box One. But for those who like to create your own games. Microsoft may not be the way to go.

     Along with the announcement and showing of X-box One. Microsoft also announced the project of a Halo T.V series with Director Steven Spielberg at the helm. There has not been an dates thrown out as of yet. But this will be cool to see where it goes with the Halo fan base that Microsoft has created since the first X-box.

     Update Gameinformer has now posted on 5/24 that there will be no user game fee. That what will happen is there will be a code that your console will authenticate. When you want to go to a friends house you will have to download it unto your friends system. That system will then authenticate the disc to that system. De-authenticating the code that is originally on your system until you put the disc back into your system. However, Once again Microsoft has denied that this will or will not happen and has played it off as being another scenario that could or could not happen. They also talk about how there maybe special plans to provide gaming service to those that don’t have Internet or always on-line services. However, once again Microsoft has gone and said nothing is for certain and to wait until E3.

     My Opinion: Okay so my opinion on the X-box One is that I will not be getting it. Mostly because the constant circles that Microsoft keeps going around. They have been disregarding every bit of information that has been released since the reveal of the X-box One. They keep saying that E3 is going to be for games only. Well if that is the case none of the questions we gamers have will be answered and we will constantly be reading rumors about what may happen or what won’t happen with the X-box One.