110°

Will Microsoft Lure Cable Giants to Xbox One Before PlayStation 4 and Apple TV?

Xbox One will retail for $499 -- $400 more than an Apple TV. Why should consumers who don't care about gaming pay such a high price for an entertainment device?

Microsoft began to provide an answer when it announced that it had signed an unexpectedly large deal with Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC). For the first time ever, Time Warner Cable subscribers will be able to stream 300 live channels through an Xbox 360.

Read Full Story >>
investopedia.com
MariaHelFutura3945d ago

Playstation will lure game developers w/ specs and sales before ever even considering TV. It's not like they ps4 couldn't do TV, they just don't want to cause it's stupid.

Pope_Kaz_Hirai_II3945d ago

A bubble for you MariaHelfutura , one of the few people who talks sense and doesnt spout rubbish or spam like jokes-foxgod-georgenoob-greenp owerz.

buddymagoo3945d ago

Well considering Sony Pictures is one of the biggest movie studios and Sony create quite a few top TV series including Breaking Bad & community. Also Sony supply quite a lot of studios with their camera's as well as sports stations around the world.

So I think Sony have hold the better cards in regards to TV.

joeorc3945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

"Playstation will lure game developers w/ specs and sales before ever even considering TV. It's not like they ps4 couldn't do TV, they just don't want to cause it's stupid."

well its not really that stupid Per se, but i think Microsoft may be in for a real uphill battle in that arena, the smart TV will be @ the very large and market share advantage over Apple and anyone else trying to put a top set box as its main functionality to best the smart TV in an area where the smart TV has the advantage because with a smart TV you already have most of that functionality already built right into the TV.

Samsung for example back in 2012 CES

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Now of course it comes down to software maturity, but Samsung is pefecting their software for their smart TV's like Microsoft is doing for their xboxone.

I really think Sony and Nintendo is concentrating on where the strength of the game console come's in where the game topset box is looking to use 2nd screen and trying not to make the topset box competeing on the smart tv screen's dictating what the terms of the contest is, and instead making the contest for the living room based on what a games console does best and that is gaming.

its not just your Money but Time spent and your family's time spent. That is what all three game console companies that make a game console are trying to do, make their console the most used entertainment device under your TV. the Problem for Microsoft i can see over what Nintendo and Sony are doing, is Microsoft is trying to beat a smart TV in usage functionality over what a smart TV already does quite well already. Its good for Microsoft to try this, but on the same token i think with all the smart TV companies making smart TV's they really have a very large hurdle to overcome.

nukeitall3945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

@MariaHelFutura:

lol! what?

The PS4 doesn't have the hardware for HDMI in which means the Xbox One has a feature the PS4 can never get. So no, the PS4 can't do TV the way Xbox One does. PS4 is relegated to IPTV only.

Have you all forgotten how Sony was all about TV with blu-ray?

Most people aren't "just gamers" that don't consume other media like you and poop hirai.

I'm going to love watching TV while gaming or waiting for a matchmaking match.

@joeorc:

MS approach is more than just a crappy SmartTV. It is about interactive TV, not very slow and low quality experience with SmartTV.

The problem with most of the SmartTVs are the interface is horrible, the interaction is slow as heck, the result is often times low quality (Netflix video quality is terrible) and it isn't interactive.

MS got the right approach with Kinect and voice control, with easy, fast and fluid interaction.

macusa223945d ago

Lets be real man, are you going to try and watch tv while you in the middle of a game! Microsoft need to get rid of the cable box and they didn't. Why do I want 2 cable boxes that does the same thing.....I will just stick with these new smart tv and rumor is the new Apple TV is going to change the TV experence

joeorc3945d ago

"MS approach is more than just a crappy SmartTV. It is about interactive TV, not very slow and low quality experience with SmartTV"

when was the last time you used a smart TV?

Because they are far from slow and low quality.

another thing, while i said its good that microsoft is concentrating on TV interface for the xboxone, both Nintendo and Sony has taken the 2nd screen technology and are moving it forward.

So like Microsoft does with HDMI IN/OUT sony and Nintendo both have dedicated hardware inside their systems that Microsoft cannot do without a redesign also. so it works not only both ways that all three have something in their hardware that the other systems do not have but also which bring's me to may next point.

Many of the same people going and Saying Microsoft is being very innovative for all in one entertainment box lambasted Sony on what the PS3 was as an all in one entertainment box.

calling out other's for hypocrisy works both ways. Not saying you are , im saying other's for lambasting Sony doing with the PS3 and that Microsoft are doing with the xboxone this generation people are being very cross on each side, but are really not looking at this as a net + because all three are concentrating on strengths for each platform, now how those strengths pan out well we will not know.

sweendog3945d ago

I will also enjoy playing games and watching tv but with the addition of a spare $100 in my back pocket. I bet i can press source on my remote faster than you can wave your arms around

meatnormous3945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

Ps4 might have RVU tech built in. Basically you can have Direct Tv and have the PS4 act like a client on a system with a hr34 or hr44. It will be able to pull in all programming off those media server boxes. I know that is with only one provider, but Direct tv is the worlds largest provider. Please follow this link to see what I am talking about. http://www.rvualliance.org/... . Some devices have it built in already.

Gamerchik873945d ago

I agree! The netflix app on my samsung blu ray player and tv are plagued with bugs the UI is horrible and slow while the 360 runs and looks alot better the k2 will just make this experience better

nukeitall3945d ago

@macusa22:

While waiting for a matchmaking online, I would love to watch TV or play a single player game while I wait.

I could also keep tabs on the score or happening of a sports game while playing games.

There is plenty of uses for multitasking!

@joeorc:

What second screen experience are you talking about?

MS has SmartGlass and it has been downloaded more than 17 million times. It exist on iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Windows. If anything, it seems MS is leading this.

However, that is hardly the same seamless experience.

"when was the last time you used a smart TV?"

I just bought a TV about 3-4 months ago, and was looking at SmartTVs, but all of them had pretty subpar experience. Heck, the salesman recommended me an AppleTV thing. I just ended using my Xbox 360 and buying an Apple TV thing for work.

"Many of the same people going and Saying Microsoft is being very innovative for all in one entertainment box lambasted Sony on what the PS3 was as an all in one entertainment box."

PS3 might have been a hardware engineering feat, but from a user standpoint there was hardly anything innovative about it. Blu-Ray? pft, HD-DVD works the same. What else is there to discuss?

@meatnormous:

RVU is still in it's infancy in terms of adoption despite being ratified back in 2009. The number of units certified as you have shown are handful or two. That said, the RVU protocol is nothing "tech built in", it is literally just software interfacing with your network port. Just about anything with processing power, a network port and connection to TV can take advantage of this with software.

However, DLNA never really took off, and RVU is just built on

@sweendog:

Good for you!

However, I don't have to lift a finger and just have to speak it probably faster than you can find your remote. In addition, switching back and forth might mean you don't know when the game started staying idle and get booted out of the game!

Worse you get down rated by your teammates. Enjoy being matched with trolls next time!

@Gamerchik87:

Netflix (or similar apps) on external devices like AppleTV, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC is consistently superior. SmartTV are terrible and serves to increase input lag.

Yup, that is why I ended up buying a non SmartTV!

cee7733945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

@nuke

what does bluray have to do with cable tv?
while your at it why not compare dvd to it as well lol

Xbox 360 has no hdmi in yet it managed to become A cable box.

Wii U was the first to have HDMI in but its the best thing since sliced bread because microsoft added it right?

More people drop cable on A daily basis just off neflix and youtube alone. While xbmc is steadily gaining ground we can all watch live tv on tablets,phones,PC's, and android mini PC's for free might I add.

This cable on A console is nothing more than A gimmick to most were in A multitasking era where our smart devices have been able to do and excel in every department microsoft is trying to conquer there A gen too late with the cable crap

while I'll give it to microsoft for making deals with TWC(Time Warner Cable) because now it appears they removed the caps all of A sudden because it keeps customers.

But imo cable is crap theres never anything on you just pay $100+ dollars A month for reruns and old movies lol now if they transitioned everything to the internet tahts A different story

I guess XBMC will continue to show these multibillion dollar corps how its done

SpinalRemains1383945d ago

My Netflix has flawless video quality. Always HD and smooth.

Am I misunderstanding you, in that you're saying that smart tvs have slow access and a subsequent poor stream quality?

I use Netflix on PS and I love it. 4 years ago the video quality left a lot to be desired, but about 3 years ago they must have upgraded their servers because all the streams are super crisp.

nukeitall3945d ago

@SpinalRemains138:

I can't say if it is the software or the hardware (i.e. the chip) on the SmartTV, but the video has more artifacts than on my crystal clear Xbox 360.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3945d ago
MariaHelFutura3945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

The PS3 was a media hub.

'It only does everything' remember?

So, welcome to 2006 (aside from the power bricks and AA batteries).

Thomper3945d ago

What's the problem with batteries??

When my ps4 controller dies, I either have to charge it, or plug in the short cable. When my 360 dies, I switch to either the play and charge pack, or slap a couple of duracells in.

I think it is convenient, and gives me choice

Furi173945d ago

What if you buy a larger cable one time instead of tons of batteries the rest of your life? Think about it.

P_Bomb3945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

@Thomper
The problem is playing a game and having a 'controller disconnected' message pop up constantly cuz the rumble in the controller shook the battery off the connector. I've had to disable rumble on both my 360 controllers at times on ME3.

I also refuse to spend more money on extra peripherals like a charge pack and stockpiles of Duracells that clutter when a simple free USB cord should suffice. I plug in my phone, laptop, camera, dualshocks, blutooth etc. I'll only break out the dusty AA's and tolerate rumble disconnects for exclusives like Forza Horizon, which I just downloaded for a sweet $14.99.

Nathaniel_Drake3945d ago

A huge thing Sony has on its side are Sony television, and Sony movie studios.

Thomper3945d ago

That could be a disadvantage. Microsoft are impartial in that respect, so have no interests to protect.

Says that I have the Sony trailers app on 360.... Which is....errr... Crap, actually

EXVirtual3945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

Thank you. You got dislike from Xbox fanboys I think. A lot of em have come recently, especially after they took out the DRM. Like I've said before, in 2-3 years the XB1 is just gonna get less games and/or some seriously watered down multiplats and Japanese devs especially will ditch it.

warewolfSS3945d ago

Thank you n4g analyst for your non biased gamer opinion

Cuzzo633945d ago

Really? Who cares!. We want games not cable. Gamers want games. Wats the point of running cable thru the system for a new interface all all this gimmicky stuff. I got basic cable. With Netflix and Redbox im watching all the movies thats on cable before it hits cable. I got the news. If I want politics or sports thats where google comes in at. I mean its just a push of a.... BUTTON!. Are we really that lazy that they come up with stuff like this and the fanboys eat it up like its a revolution. Will it materialize a cure for cancer and create a unlimited energy source? They should throw in a toaster add on peripheral also... Cable n pop tarts is one hellava combo.

rainslacker3945d ago

I don't think it's stupid to have added services. I wonder at the reasoning for MS paying for such a service though. Since this is live TV streams, seems the cable companies would welcome the chance to increase their viewership since they make money off ad revenue. OTOH, I know Time Warner will jump at any chance to make millions of dollars.

Otherwise it could possibly render the pass through HDMI overlay interface a redundant feature, as it could now all be handled directly on the Xbox, and conceivably the PS4, and likely the Wii U.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3945d ago
Pope_Kaz_Hirai_II3945d ago

Most of this wont come to europe and come to think of it you can get apple tv and a ps4 for 500 so which you think is better?

nick3093945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

You do know not the whole world is based in eu and us right? Where i live ps4& X1 cost the same.... A 1000$ each, sony and ms do nothing for outside eu and us. Cant even rent shows, and such.

oscarcat593945d ago

First valid complaint I have seen on here.

YNWA963945d ago

That is not a nice thing to say about Sony, they honestly care about your situation.

The Meerkat3945d ago

Why would anyone want Apple TV?

I'd rather have an Amiga CD32.

mcstorm3945d ago

Now hang on there everyone should have an Amiga 32 it was an amazing console and I sill have mine lol. I go agree I don't see the point in Apple TV but I do think what Microsoft are doing in terms of TV is a good way of doing it.

They are not trying to take on the big names in terms of having there own channels but they are getting the big Names like Sky ect on board with them to help make the TV experience better and less complex. I have not used a one yet so I cant say it will be less complex but it looks it from what I have seen.

Also People on here have seemed to forget Sony made PlayTV for the PS3 which was a great idea at the time and worked well to.

Bennibop3945d ago

Play tv 2 will turn up at some point. Again Sony will make it an opt in rather than forcing it down your neck.

jaredhart3945d ago

They will because microsoft has a lot of influence and money. Their influence is more potent in the US. But, this will be primarily in the US.

Cuzzo633945d ago

Well we saw how they tried to influence DRM. I guess their money wasn't enough

Grown Folks Talk3945d ago

Gamers don't watch tv... allegedly.

YNWA963945d ago

Gamers dont't play games either, they just come here and whine about who has the bigger terraflop.

Grown Folks Talk3945d ago

True. I think my Atari 2600 had 1 milobyte of ram.

YNWA963945d ago

Impressive, they made games that kept you hooked for hours back then.... remember having ZX48k, and people with Commodore 64 bragged about an extra 16k!

Zichu3945d ago

I don't usually watch live TV anyway. I prefer to record my favorite series and watch them when I am not gaming. Either that or I watch it on demand.

This way I can spend my evenings playing games while my shows are being recorded and watch them early in the morning when I am not playing games.

pkb793945d ago

I'm a gamer and I love good tv. Have all my shows recorded though so I can skip the ads. And I don't find using the remote to switch inputs that big of a chore.

MysticStrummer3945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

"Gamers don't watch tv... allegedly."

I know I don't. I used to have cable and satellite TV at different times of my life, but I haven't had either one for about five years and I don't miss TV at all.

Older people in general, middle aged and up, still watch a lot of traditional TV. Younger people do not.

TV as we know it is slowly dying.

http://www.forbes.com/sites...

http://www.medialifemagazin...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1...

What this means for PS4 and One is : Connecting a cable box to your console is antiquated, not futuristic.

Grown Folks Talk3945d ago

I just want a dedicated Cox app like the Time Warner one so I can watch cable in the bedroom. My apartment only has the 1 outlet in the living room. Plus my wife could watch in there when i'm dominating the living room TVs for college football.

cee7733945d ago

Gamers dont watch tv, they watch xbmc lol see the irony?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3945d ago
Ashlen3945d ago (Edited 3945d ago )

My biggest concern is internet throttling. ISP's like TWC are notorious for throttling there competition. They have throttled Youtube Twitch Netflix and other sites that compete with there cable business.

Show all comments (83)
220°

Tomb Raider Remastered just quietly censored one in-game detail

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered players are ticked off by the game’s most recent patch, which censors in-game pin-up posters of Lara Croft.

Read Full Story >>
gamingbible.com
rlow15h ago

This is why gaming is screwed. When people change things to fit someone’s agenda, it’s a slippery slope downhill.

Christopher5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

Even if that agenda is of the developer? Way to remove developer rights.

***One player called it a “huge problem with modern games,” saying they can now be “ruined AFTER people buy them”.***

The level of drama. Yes, I recall sitting there for more hours than I did anything else in the game. These two pinups are the core of the game, after all!

coolbeans3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

rlow1's cringe catastrophizing aside, I do think developers *ought* to strive to maintain an original work to the best of their ability. The language of a "remaster" tacitly implies that - for good or ill - what's being resold is what fans remember but better.

Profchaos3h ago

Games can be ruined after purchasing them yeah we know this not from this but from GTA IV which had half it's radio content patched out due to licensing expirations and to me that was a huge deal.

This pin up poster is a bit of nonsense but the whole argument of modern games can be ruined post launch is Absol true.

DedicatedDark2h ago(Edited 2h ago)

It's not their work to censor. They are incharge of restoration & remastering the work, not overwriting it.

Barlos1h ago

It's not the agenda of the developer though, they're pandering and trying to increase their ESG score.

Way to support censorship...

victorMaje1h ago

It’s not the end of the world for sure, but I understand the hate towards this kind of change. I believe it’s also a matter of principle.

Imagine a Picasso painting being restored & the restorer deciding there aren’t enough strokes, or some lines aren’t straight enough or curved enough…not sure it would/should sit well with people.

Have all original devs signed off on this change? Even if it’s the case, are we saying older gamers are better mentally equipped to process what was there than current gamers, hence the change?

Enough time ago the case was made that games are an art form. We’re supposed to have won that case.
So which is it? Are games art or not?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1h ago
Eidolon1h ago

Hasn't this been happened for over a decade since remasters? I can't see that it's any worse now. Maybe if Sweet Baby starts getting their hands on remasters we will definitely have a problem.

Rebel_Scum4h ago

tbh I dont see something like this as censorship. Does anyone else not find it strange for someone to stick pin ups of themsleves in a locker room?

Now of it was a pin up of some half naked firefighters it might make sense as Lara might like that, and if they removed that I would cry censorship. But removing pin ups of the main character, yeah I get it.

Barlos1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

It's a game, and they were placed there for the audience. It's not real life. If it was, she wouldn't have fought a T-Rex now would she?

Yes, it's censorship but it's a bit less in your face. If they were in the original game, then they should have been in the remasters. It's bad enough that they have that ridiculous unnecessary warning at the start, but then they start removing things post launch. I don't care how small the change, they shouldn't be doing it. It's nothing but ESG pandering but in a subtle way.

Rebel_Scum10m ago

Look bro, if you have pictures of yourself naked on a bear skin rug up in your house let me tell you, its not normal.

SimpleDad1h ago

By the year 2030, this remaster collection will totally be changed and censored. Probably will remove Lara as a playable character. It's ridiculous. Glad that my family didn't buy this.
I still have Tomb Raider 2 PS1 as a memory.

CobraKai33m ago

It’s mentioned in the article, and it’s a point i 100% agree with, it’s the fact that they can censor a game after you buy it. That’s total bullshit.

Killer2020UK16m ago

Whilst it's an overreaction to say this has "ruined" the game, it's still problematic that this has happened post launch and for many, post-purchase.

I don't want someone to change a product for the worse after I've bought it. The same goes for implementing micro transactions after reviews.

I wonder why they did this? Nobody was kicking up a fuss as far as I'm aware.

maykhausonninh8m ago

Nobody was kicking up a fuss as far as I'm aware.

100°

Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster Review – You Are Your Job, Apparently

Gary Green said: In a time where an enhanced, 3D remake of Final Fantasy III already exists, it’s hard to argue that Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster is the definitive version we were expecting. With Final Fantasy III already being the last in the series to be translated and make its way west, this is something of a slap in the face for the fans. Still, let’s not be disheartened. There may be many shortfalls in this edition of Final Fantasy III, however there’s no denying that this classic JRPG still holds some nostalgic value, even if it struggles to break away from its original hardware limitations.

Read Full Story >>
pslegends.com
FACTUAL evidence5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

It’s funny I’m seeing these articles about pixel remaster, and I just platinumed 1-4 within 8 days lol. I’ve been on FF5 for about a week now. Let’s just say 5 was the start of FF having content like crazy. I should have the plat within 2-3 days.

70°

Warframe's Protea Prime Access launches on all platforms on May 1st, 2024

"Digital Extremes are today very happy and proud to announce that Warframe’s next highlightly anticipated Prime form launches soon with Protea Prime Access arriving on all platforms on May 1st, 2024." - Digital Extremes.