The Xbox One is on everyone’s mind, and E3 is expected to shed some light on the technology and future of the console. There have been rumors for months now, and the name was changed from Xbox 720 to Xbox One. This shift was made in an effort to appeal to fans who didn’t like the original name of the new console. There’s a lot of hype surrounding it, but it’s probably a console you won’t need until much later down the road.
Big Brother Is Watching
No one would have ever imagined that a game console could monitor your reactions so closely. Xbox One has a built-in Kinect 2.0 that has to be on at all times. It doesn’t matter if your game utilizes the technology of Kinect. This device will record your facial expressions, heart rate and general responses to the game as you play. This is a frightening concept to many. Microsoft insists that players will not be snooped on. Information will not be transmitted without permission. There is still something unsettling about Microsoft having the ability to record and store your emotional feedback to a game.
It’s Not Region Free
Region locking is an issue that has existed since the beginning of gaming. Nintendo had dozens of region locked games. This is true for PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and other consoles. PlayStation did create a console that wasn’t region locked, and that’s a huge plus for gamers who like to play games in a foreign language. This is a major downside for Xbox One, and it is another reason you don’t need it.
Online Access Is Required
Long gone are the days of gaming without an Internet connection. Xbox One steps up the ante a little more by requiring an almost-always active connection. Gamers will need to have a high-speed connection, and they will need to log-in often. This is also required for single-player games. This complicated feature excludes gamers who live in rural areas without access to high-speed Internet. It’s a bit unnecessary.
Backwards compatibility has been around since next-gen consoles have been created. PlayStation 2 played PlayStation games. The Wii played GameCube games. The newest consoles are not only killing backwards compatibility, but they want to charge you again for downloads of old games. A majority of the games worth playing right now are for the Xbox 360. It will be a long time before the Xbox One develops a collection of games worth playing that are exclusive to the console. If you are hoping to dive headfirst into some new games, then you should just wait. Xbox One is looking to be quite disappointing in this area, and you would save some money by waiting at least a few months to buy it.
Xbox One seems to be moving in the direction of being a TV-entertainment box. It’s no longer focused on gaming the way Xbox was in the early days. It’s a disappointing move, and it seems that Microsoft has forgotten their target audience.
Guest Post from Paul Williams. Paul is a mobile game concept artist, overall technology enthusiast, and a copywriter for a few sites – including www.hughesnetinternet.net. Have a comment or question for Paul? Send him an email!
- Bio
- Latest Posts
Guest
Guest posts from various insightful people and companies. Want to feature on TechDrink? Get in touch.
Latest posts by Guest (see all)
- Xbox One: Why You Don’t Need It - May 29, 2013
- Top 5 Celebrity Tech Investors - April 25, 2013
- 8 Tips for Running Your Small Business From Your Smartphone - April 10, 2013
