Xbox One Conference Overview

Will Microsoft take over your living room this fall? Don Mattrick, President of Interactive Entertainment at Microsoft, is hoping that the answer will be yes. After a short summary of the history of Xbox and explaining the company's intention of dominating the living room environment Mattrick revealed the next-generation of gaming: the Xbox One.

As beautiful as the console looks, you're probably wondering what it contains. This new console houses a Blu-ray drive, a 500GB hard drive, and will use three operating systems according to Mircosoft's Mark Whitten. The system itself will include USB 3.0, 8 GB of system memory, an 8-core CPU, 64-bit architecture, built-in Wi-Fi, and HDMI in and out ports. In addition, the next-generation Kinect sensor and next Xbox One controller were showcased.

Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi showcased Xbox One's new Snap mode. This function will allow users to run multiple applications simultaneously. Mehdi demonstrated this by watching Star Trek, looking up trailers for the sequel, and look for show-times for Star Trek Into Darkness while also buying tickets.

The ESPN application has integrated with Snap. Mehdi showed how users can watch live events as well as get up to date statistics using the Kinect sensor and research information. He also explained and showed how Xbox One will also allow fantasy sport users to update their teams and interact with their leagues using Snap.

Skype will also host the Snap feature, allowing users to speak with other people while using multiple applications. Skype will also be available for widescreen HD and allow for group video calls.

The successor to Xbox 360's Kinect made an appearance and will be paired with every Xbox One. This device features 1080P HD RGB camera that can be used with Skype for 30 FPS. In addition a host of voice commands will allow users to switch between games, live TV, movies, music, or browsing the web using the Snap function. You can also turn on your Xbox One simply by saying "Xbox On." This will require the Kinect to always to be on and connected to the Xbox One to use.

Microsoft didn't intend to take the spotlight for the entire conference and invited EA's Andrew Wilson to the press conference to announce their special relationship with Microsoft. Wilson stated that EA Sports will have 4 games on Xbox One within 12 months that include FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, NBA 14, and UFC, all sporting a new engine.

A new engine created by EA called EA Sports Ignite was revealed. According to Wilson this new engine will be used to power each title and will attempt to copy human intelligence and true player motion. The presentation was concluded with a highlight reel of future EA titles for the Xbox One.

The Xbox controller has undergone a small makeover for the upcoming Xbox One release. Microsoft explained that the controller will host an integrated battery compartment, Wi-Fi Direct, "impulse triggers" that will incorporate extra feedback to developers, and will feature a cross-shaped D-Pad. What is notable is the removal of the Xbox Home button on the controller. It seems that Microsoft removed the button and replace it with what I believe to be a touch button on the top of the controller, but this wasn't confirmed

Xbox Live wasn't left out of the event, Microsoft announced that it plans to host over 300,000 servers to power Xbox Live, a significant leap from the 15,000 servers that currently power Xbox Live. In addition player content will be saved on the cloud storage and a dedicated DVR will allow players to capture and share their own content. And video capture will play a role on how players earn and display achievements on Xbox One. Those worried about their gamerscore will be glad to know that all that information will be transferred to Xbox One.

A refined multiplayer matchmaking system was shown, showcasing "bigger matches with more players." Players will also be able to use Xbox Live's asynchronous capabilities to search for multiplayer matches while browsing the web, watching movies, or using any other application on Xbox One using Snap.

At the press conference Forza Motorsport 5 was announced as an exclusive title on Xbox One. A trailer highlighted branded cars racing around some nicely designed tracks around the world. Developed by Turn 10 Studios Forza Motorsport 5 will release as a launch title.

Remedy Studios, the developers of Alan Wake, were confirmed by Phil Spencer, Vice President of Microsoft Studios, to be developing a new game called Quantum Break. Spencer opened the reveal stating that "The actions you take and the choices you make shape your experience as the story unfolds." The teaser opens a live action family leaving their home before a little girl demonstrates some sort of power time-altering power, causing a ship to crash into a bridge, then stopping and reversing time. The tagline is "Time is the fire in which we burn."

After Quantum Break's trailer was shown Spencer announced that Microsoft intends to release "15 exclusive titles for Xbox One within the first year, 8 of which are brand-new franchises."

You cannot hold a Microsoft press conference this large without Halo. At the press conference Microsoft announced that it'll be producing a live action television series based on the Halo franchise exclusively on Xbox One. The show will be overseen by 343 Industries and it was noted that Steven Spielberg will play a part in the development.

Shortly after the announcement of Halo new televised series Don Mattrick revealed that Xbox One will launch this year. However not date or price were given, but we expect it at E3.

Mattrick announced that all DLC for Call of Duty: Ghosts will be arriving on Xbox One exclusively first for a limited time before introducing Eric Hirshberg, Actvision CEO of Publishing, to take the stage after. Hirshberg explained that they intend to create "an entirely new world, an entirely new narrative," and entirely new cast of characters built on the new Call of Duty engine before leaving the stage and showing the audience a behind the scenes look at Infinity Ward developing Call of Duty: Ghosts.

Mark Rubin, executive producer of Infinite Ware, explained that Call of Duty: Ghosts will feature a new story and a new world within the next-generation engine. Rubin also explained that Stephen Gaghan, who wrote Traffic, will be writing the story for Call of Duty: Ghosts.

Rubin went on to explain that the story will take place after a traumatic event that has devastated America. You play as the remaining U.S. Special forces as attempt to fight the dominating power that has caused this calamity. Codename Ghosts these seasoned warriors are compared to the legendary warriors of Sparta and are capable of fighting in any terrain.

Dogs are being introduce in Call of Duty: Ghosts in a new way. Instead of being simple killstreaks or enemy targets that come charging after you they behave similar to the canine in Fable 2. He'll assist you in combat and aid in your survival.

Rudin went on to explain the new engine being developed for Call of Duty: Ghosts. Jake Rowell, Lead Artist at Infinity Ward, explains the new engine's ability to maintain texture curves the closer you get through Sub-D. Zach Volker, Lead Animator, went on to explain new animations such as leaping over walls while maintaining momentum, leaning, and sliding feature. The developers showcased details such as interactive environments such as smoke that changes based on what is happening and fish reacting to movement hoping that the player will be immersed in the environment.

Multiplayer for Call of Duty has been the pre-dominate reason for people purchase Call of Duty titles. Infinite Ward is hoping to refine the multiplayer experience by offering dynamic maps that cause changes within the environment that include "earthquakes and flood" to "player driven actions" that alter the map. Another new feature is character customization that include head, body, helmet, and gear. Unfortunately these are the only new additions currently announced but Rubin inferred that many are on the way and concluded with a summary of why Call of Duty is a success.

After the trailer ended Eric Hirshberg stated "That this will the most beautiful Call of Duty game we've ever made. It will also be the most character driven and emotionally engaging Call of Duty game we've ever made, and it will be the best Call of Duty game we've ever made. A stunning leap forward for not only this franchise but for console gaming." before showing a graphical comparison video between Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Call of Duty: Ghosts showing high texture resolutions.

It was after all that information before the world premiere of Call of Duty: Ghosts was finally shown. Taking place 10 years after the calamity explained by Rubin showing the troops known as Ghosts fighting against this unexplained enemy. The trailer shows various different environments such as a forest and a desert as well as your canine companion. The trailer doesn't show any firefights and ends with a timer ticking down to E3.

Microsoft has shown us a new console, features, and titles as mere appetizers before they bring out the main course at E3. Ultimate I wasn't happy or annoyed, they gave me a taste of what the Xbox One is going to be and enough information so I can infer what they plan to bring at E3.

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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