I like when multiplayer meant just plugging in an extra controller. These new things are just a pain...
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Microsoft Console Price Drop Rumors Thread: Edit: XB1 $349 Holiday 2014
- Thread starter gkarris
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I like when multiplayer meant just plugging in an extra controller. These new things are just a pain...
The Xbox One Core Unit has a $50 gift card with it at Target this week, effectively bringing it down to $349.
I guess I heard that June numbers for Sony and Nintendo were great, MS needs to really start fighting back...
I guess I heard that June numbers for Sony and Nintendo were great, MS needs to really start fighting back...
Wii U has the best games out currently and in my mind in the future; XB1 also has great games, but not Nintendo games
XB1 is fantastic for being the one box to have on at all times - it does that job remarkably well. It really depends on your priorities and what games you first want to experience this generation. Both are a must have at some point (or a PS4/Wii U combo instead).
I really miss the fun of a Nintendo game. I havent owned one since the Gamecube days I believe and it looks as though they have put out some great additions lately and more to come.
But I love what the XB1 has to offer from games with gold, to the exclusives, and untapped potential with what can occur.
I'd own all 3 but I think my wife will kill me.
But I love what the XB1 has to offer from games with gold, to the exclusives, and untapped potential with what can occur.
I'd own all 3 but I think my wife will kill me.
Out of curiosity what does the Xbox One do that the PS4 doesn't in terms of keeping it on at all times? What media functions does it do above the PS3 or 4? (I only own them 2 and I'm genuinely curious!)
Sure its easy - I find that the way video consumption is executed is done in a way that has me always having that console turned on. This includes their media remote that lets me control all of the video apps with a remote instead of the controller; this remote is also my new main remote for my Apple TV that I access through my Xbox One. The IR remote was easily understood by ATV and the buttons were unique while in TV mode to not have Xbox do something I didn't want.
(Later this week it'll be setup to control the volume of my audio receiver too! All from this little remote).
The snap feature is something I use a ton. This to me is the generation of convenience Wii U does this with the GamePad, Sony does this with Vita Remote Play, remote downloads so games are ready to play when you get home, and Snap brings me the ability to enjoy my games while I enjoy my tv shows and movies; something I currently use Off-TV play and Vita Remote Play for on the other consoles, but for whatever reason I prefer snap to what Sony and Nintendo does. I have limited time so I am a multitasker when it comes to entertainment.
Another hidden gem of an app is OneDrive and its ability to stream down MP4s (or AVIs). With their new pricing at $2 a month (not yearly pricing) I have a 100GB account that I am quickly filling up with Seinfeld and other content not yet for sale on iTunes. This allows me to watch video content that otherwise I would need a computer turned on just to stream to my set top box.
The OneGuide is also quite nice; it pulls together all of the video apps and makes it easier to access the apps rather than pinning them to the homepage (I realize PS4 does a nice submenu system to pull all of those together).
OneGuide also allows you to create custom app channels based on OneDrive folders so I can have a Seinfeld app, a Planet of the Apes Live Action TV app etc. Pretty cool and handy.
It boils down to for me how awesome snap is (especially on my 150" projector screen) - how great OneDrive works - and integrating my Apple TV with my 500 plus movies that I already own through that Apple ecosystem.
Hope that helps explain why I enjoy the One's approach with video content and how the multitasking nature of the box has me won over to use that over other boxes.
Ah, thanks!
That's quite interesting actually. I don't like the sound of snap (my TV does PIP, PBP etc and I used to try to play games and watch stuff at the same time, but I found the atmosphere was ruined for big games and for multiplayer games I just get confused at what's going on
). Now if I'm trying to rush through a TV show I'll play the Wii U for the gamepad, or DS or Vita because if something interesting is happening I can just put them in sleep mode.I ask about media stuff because I find the PS3 to be my favourite media machine, even above the PS4. I can stream videos from computers around the house or via USB, use iPlayer or Netflix and supports 3D blurays and DVD resuming. The bootup time's really quick especially if you use the BT remote, press any button and it goes to the main menu. HDMI sync switches everything on with it and I'm in the show in 20 seconds. The PS4 seems to take a bit longer and the Xbox 360 doesn't have HDMI sync, and Netflix is (or was I believe) behind the Gold paywall. For the moment even the trusty old PS3 is perfect me
much like the original Xbox Media Centre was 8 years ago.Ah, thanks!
That's quite interesting actually. I don't like the sound of snap (my TV does PIP, PBP etc and I used to try to play games and watch stuff at the same time, but I found the atmosphere was ruined for big games and for multiplayer games I just get confused at what's going on
I ask about media stuff because I find the PS3 to be my favourite media machine, even above the PS4. I can stream videos from computers around the house or via USB, use iPlayer or Netflix and supports 3D blurays and DVD resuming. The bootup time's really quick especially if you use the BT remote, press any button and it goes to the main menu. HDMI sync switches everything on with it and I'm in the show in 20 seconds. The PS4 seems to take a bit longer and the Xbox 360 doesn't have HDMI sync, and Netflix is (or was I believe) behind the Gold paywall. For the moment even the trusty old PS3 is perfect me
Cool that is a nice insight into the PS3 - for me snap still keeps the focus on the game it is the majority of the screen with the show as a little thing you can glance at; they have an audio mixer for your to favor whichever you prefer; fantastic for the multiplayer, racer, and other non-story based games.
Xbox One will be getting 3D BluRay support next month - not even sure what HDMI sync is - sounds pretty neat
I imagine the Xbox One has it. It just means devices that all chain up via HDMI can be powered on at the same time. The PS3 and 4 have it, but not the Wii U and Xbox 360. So if you switch on a controller or press any button on the remote the whole system (TV, surround sound) switches on too. It's really neat! And if I turn the TV off everything goes off with it.
Again this week, Target is giving a $50 Gift Card with the $399 XBox One Core.
Also, buy one get one 25% off all gaming cards for all platforms (mix and match?).
Also, buy one get one 25% off all gaming cards for all platforms (mix and match?).
Very tempting if you pair with a red card discount as well.
I have a PS4 and missed the Wii U sale at Best Buy last week as that is the console I want more over the XB1 but this is very tempting!
That's true. The GPUs in consoles are always a couple years behind. However, Sony and MS tweak the heck out of their systems so they get the most out of them. For example, look at PS3 and 360 games that came out in 2006 and compare them to PS3/360 games that are out in 2013/2014.
The same thing will happen for PS4 and XB1. The games actually look awesome now, but they will tweak the hardware for years.
I used to build gaming PCs. I've owned several in my life.. the latest one is almost 4 years old and just starting to show signs of age (GTX 570 has run pretty much everything in max until recently). Anyway, I'm tired of spending $2-3k on hardware (with exception to my MBP of course!). I would rather spend a few hundred on a console because they last pretty long.
My coworker was telling me the same thing..he doesn't feel like keeping up with the latest PC specs that you can order/build and are "obsolete" 6 months later. He would rather game on a console.
Yea the thing about consoles is that the games are optimized and perfected for that one spec - that is why Wii U games can look so brilliant, because the developers are knowing what it is running on at the other end.
With PCs - developers have no idea what the game will actually be running on so your experience with the game will vary from machine to machine. That is why I love console gaming so much - I go in knowing everyone will have the same (most of the time) awesome experience.
I see Best Buy is doing their console trade in deal as well with like $150 off if you trade in a slim PS3 or newer XB360 I believe.
I want the XB1 but I think right now I want the Wii U more as my companion console to the PS4.
Really hate I missed that sale at Best Buy on the Wii U a couple weeks ago.
I want the XB1 but I think right now I want the Wii U more as my companion console to the PS4.
Really hate I missed that sale at Best Buy on the Wii U a couple weeks ago.
I see Best Buy is doing their console trade in deal as well with like $150 off if you trade in a slim PS3 or newer XB360 I believe.
I want the XB1 but I think right now I want the Wii U more as my companion console to the PS4.
Really hate I missed that sale at Best Buy on the Wii U a couple weeks ago.
Yea - that was a killer deal - Wii U is a perfect companion to PS4, Xbox One has so much of a game overlap, the extra things it does is way different, but its all about the games and it can feel silly owning XB1 and PS4 (I feel silly at times owning both)
Agreed. I've got a WiiU, 360, and the Xbox One. Though at times I am tempted to get the PS4 I just can't pull the trigger as it seems too similar to the X1. I think either the X1/PS4 paired with a WiiU is the ideal setup.
As far as the Best Buy trade-in deal; I traded in my 360S for $150 towards an X1 back in June. I paired that with the 10% off movers' coupon for Best Buy and got the Kinect version for $300. That was a great deal.
Also, if you're in the market for a 360, the 360E (the newest current model) is nice. I've got one and it is whisper quiet and never gets warm to the touch. I had the original when it first came out, which I traded for the 'S', and now I have the 'E' and it's by far the most quiet.
Last edited:
Yea the PS4 is pretty nice - that DualShock 4 is so great to play with and Vita Remote Play is pretty sweet.
I just got a PS3 last week (original design) and unlike PS3 I think with the 360 I would rather have the Xbox One styled one and could see that being in my collection if they do a $50 to $99 Black Friday deal on that like they did last year.
I hate that type of thinking because it's simply not true. My 3 year old iMac (27" and best GPU option) is starting to show it's age. I can play Wolfenstein with everything maxed out except shadows and at 1080p, and I get a very smooth and stable framerate. If I had built a PC at the time instead and put in a high-end video card it'd still be running new games. I find you get 4-5 years out of the top end video cards before they need replacing.
If anything due to the popularity of consoles now and the similar parts used to make them we're getting much more mileage out of cards compared to 10 years ago.
MS just announced their Madden NFL Bundle - comes with download of NFL15...
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/08/04/microsoft-reveals-xbox-one-madden-nfl-15-bundle
(they need to not put a picture of the physical copy on the box though - confusing if you ask me)
I remember that MS was pushing NFL integration with their console back when it was first announced...
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/08/04/microsoft-reveals-xbox-one-madden-nfl-15-bundle
(they need to not put a picture of the physical copy on the box though - confusing if you ask me)
I remember that MS was pushing NFL integration with their console back when it was first announced...
That still leaves the price factor though. A top of the line gaming pc that can keep up with new games for 4-5 years will run you what, like 2-3 thousand bucks? Just for gaming, that's madness to me. If you need a machine like that for 4k video editing or something anyway, that's a different story. Don't use "Office" as an alibi though - you don't need a thousand dollar video card to run Word!!