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Game On: Smartphones pose little threat to gaming as we know it
Gaming is in a transitional period right now. We're approaching the end of a console generation, new handheld systems are attempting to gain a foothold, and smartphone gaming is just starting to put on its big boy pants and doing its best to swing with the big dogs. In short, it's a rather exciting time. A recent article by Horace Dediu and Dirk Schmidt of Asymco suggests that rather than standing before the scheduled rebirth of home gaming -- as we do every 5-7 years or so -- we are actually witnessing its last days, and the smartphone craze will be the executioner. I disagree. Before I dive in, I think it's important to separate mobile gaming and home console gaming. These are two very different beasts, and while you might see headlines for portable games alongside their console counterparts, the markets don't always share each others problems. First, let's look at home consoles. Couch gaming is king Nearly all of what Asymco's article uses as evidence of an industry on the verge of demise is taken from the current (7th) console generation, with little in the way of a historical perspective. So just to make things clear, the consoles that have been on store shelves since 2006 have overall handily trumped their predecessors in total sales. Gamecube: 21 million PlayStation 2: 155 million Xbox: 24 million Total: 201 million consoles Wii: 100 million PlayStation 3: 78 million Xbox 360: 78 million Total: 256 million consoles It's important to remember that the previous generation of consoles also has an additional 6+ years of sales at this point, and the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 have not yet approached their final sales numbers. The iOS App Store opened for business in 2008, so to take the twilight days of the 7th console generation and suggest that the products are somehow dipping in sales due to the emergence of gaming on smartphones appears a bit shortsighted. Nintendo Nintendo is featured prominently in the article because its tale of woe has been well documented and the company is extremely open with its sales numbers. What we see is a company that hit its sales peak in late 2008/early 2009 and is now coming back down to Earth. There are, of course, reasons for this: The Wii: The original Wii resonated with consumers in a way that no console before it managed to. This was thanks to its intuitive controller and a suite of games that even your grandmother could play -- and she probably did. It had all the appeal of a must-have holiday toy, a la Tickle Me Elmo, combined with a bargain price and, oh, it also had Mario. It was a perfect storm for Nintendo and they bathed in the riches for a long, long time. Now, the honeymoon is over and both the non-gamer and gamer markets have had their fill. The Wii U: It's still relatively new, but the fact remains that there has been very little in the way of must-play games for the console. There were already countless critics that pointed out the system's shortcomings even before we all realized its sales figures were nosediving, but it's extremely clear at this point that Nintendo dropped the ball here. It's an undesirable product, which has nothing to do with outside factors. Taking the flash-bang success of the Wii and following it up with a product like the Wii U produces a pretty convincingly negative trend on a graph, but there is no data that shows that smartphones are the cause. The only party to blame for this turn of fortune is Nintendo. I recently made the case that Nintendo needs to strongly consider using iOS as a platform for its own first-party games. I didn't suggest this because I think the console market is unsuitable for standalone gaming systems, but rather because after a string of very poor decisions it may be the one play Nintendo has that could both win favor with disenfranchised gamers and bring new fans into the fold. Consoles make money, but not in the same way smartphones do When Apple sells an iPhone 5, the company makes as much as $442 in profit. When Sony launched the PlayStation 3 it lost upwards of $300 per console. This is what makes debating console sales figures so difficult; It's a much more complicated metric than just listing how many iPhones were sold and calling it a success. Microsoft lost $125 on every Xbox 360 it sold during launch, but when the company turns around and sells 4.2 million copies of Halo 3 at a minimum of $60 each, things start to look a lot different. Halo 3 had a reported budget of $60 million (roughly half of which was spent on marketing), but the game made over $300 million in just its first week. That's why companies like Sony and Microsoft have historically sold their systems at a loss -- it's about building the install base that will buy your games later, not about how much money is made from selling the console. The number of consoles sold is still important, which is why it's significant that more consoles were sold in the current generation than the previous one, but the point here is that Apple (or any smartphone manufacturer) needs to sell more and more of the profitable hardware each time. Console makers don't have to worry about selling a new system every year, or even every five years, because the profit comes from licensing content, selling first-party games, collecting subscription fees from online services like Xbox Live and PS Plus, and several other avenues. If home game consoles in general were hemorrhaging cash from their respective companies it would be pretty hard to explain why we're just a few weeks away from the third Xbox and fourth PlayStation. Apples and oranges Suggesting that an at-home gaming experience could somehow be replaced by a device like the iPhone or even the iPad is a bit like saying microwaves will soon replace stoves. Sure, your microwave can do some of the same things, and it may be more convenient, but when you want a hearty, home-cooked meal the microwave just can't do what your stove can do. Yes, there are first-person shooters on the iPad that -- at least in screenshots -- look like they could have been taken from an Xbox 360, but you'd never consider one as a replacement for the other. That's why home versions of Call of Duty regularly shatter previous sales records while portable versions of the franchise pop up out of nowhere with zero fanfare or anticipation. These aren't two sides of the same market; They cater to completely separate needs. The easiest way I can prove that is with a little help from the Angry Birds. Angry Birds is one of the most recognizable IPs in all of digital entertainment, with billions of downloads and fans in every corner of the globe. So, if portable games are reaching a point where they are making home consoles irrelevant, a console port of three of the franchise's most popular titles -- Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, and Angry Birds Rio -- would probably flop pretty hard, right? Nope. In fact, sit-on-your-couch-and-play versions of these mobile hits are so popular that the crossover title Angry Birds Star Wars is scheduled to hit PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Wii U next month. Portable gaming may feel the effects Consoles are one thing, but when it comes to games you can play on a bus ride or during a break at work, smartphones may soon push out the competition. I say this because unlike the systems we play in our living rooms, the portable gaming scene has long been unpredictable and prone to dramatic shifts. The 3DS, for example, was a hot preorder item only to see sales wane and then explode again a few months later. I still think there is room for dedicated handheld gaming systems and judging by the fact that we've seen new entries from both Sony and Nintendo within the past month, the companies believe so, too. In fact, the renewed life of the 3DS -- thanks to the 3DS XL and new software titles -- was the biggest factor in helping Nintendo turn a profit after the dismal Wii U launch. That said, the 3DS and PS Vita will definitely serve as the canaries in the gaming coal mine, offering us a more concrete glimpse as to what effect as smartphones and tablets gain gaming clout. But until Apple releases an iPhone with a pair of analog sticks, there's no need for gamers to panic.
Xbox Live Rewards revamped with loyalty 'punchcards' and local currency payouts
As part of its march toward the Xbox One's arrival, Microsoft has relaunched the Xbox Live Rewards service -- and it looked to your coffee shop for inspiration. Just as your local barista punches a tab toward that next free coffee, completing Redmond's MyPunchcards will net you Rewards Credits. Complete the current cards by Halloween and you'll get 5,000 credits ($5) for buying five map packs and 3,000 credits ($3) for renting five movies or TV episodes. As before, you're rewarded for re-upping your Xbox Live Gold subscription and referring friends, and each time you amass 5,000 Credits, they're converted to your local currency and deposited to your wallet. What's more, if you're impatient and have at least 1,000 credits in the bank, you can request an early payout. So much for saving for a rainy day.
Microsoft rebrands Xbox Live Marketplace to Xbox Game Store
Microsoft seems intent on sanding away the Xbox brand's rough edges before launching the One this November. Following the recent switch from its arcane points system to local currency for digital purchases, Redmond has subtly changed up where you'll spend that money. What we used to know as the Xbox Live Marketplace is now the Xbox Game Store. It's clean, simple and we're pretty sure Sean Parker would approve. Oddly, in the US the web storefront reads "Xbox Games," but it says "Xbox Game Store" in the UK. Whatever -- as long as we can buy real-world presidents for Saint's Row 4, we're not too worried about the name of the store.
Time Warner Cable TV app brings live TV to Xbox 360
What was promised has been delivered to Xbox-owning Time Warner Cable customers. Today, TWC TV for Xbox 360 is finally available to Xbox Live Gold members, and brings live streaming of up to 300 channels to the console. Once downloaded, folks can find their favorite shows using the app's program guide and Kinect gesture and voice controls. For now, the service is only streaming live programming, but Polygon reports that Microsoft's working to add VOD content to the app as well -- with no timetable for its arrival, naturally. Still, with the rollout of its latest live TV streaming app, TWC TV is now on iOS, Android, PC, Roku and Samsung Smart TVs. It's clear that the company's made spreading the TWC TV love a priority, so let's hope it starts showing the same initiative when it comes to those negotiations with CBS. Football season's only a couple weeks away, so the clock is ticking, TWC. Update: GigaOm has confirmed with Time Warner Cable that, like Comcast's Xbox 360 app, TWC TV on the console does not count towards its user's bandwidth caps. Good news if you want to use your Xbox to feed an extra TV without worrying about the ticking counter, inflammatory news if you're worried about its relevance in terms of network neutrality.
New Xbox 360 update bids farewell to points, welcomes local currency
Goodbye, Microsoft Points. Hello, local currency. A new Xbox 360 update, debuting today, has finally made official the long-awaited switch from Microsoft's own virtual currency, allowing you to spend your hard-earned pennies on Xbox Live content. If you've still got Microsoft Points laying around, never fear. As we've previously reported, existing point balances will be converted to their equivalent cash value. According to the company's FAQ, prices are now listed in whatever your local currency happens to be, plus tax. It's worth noting that purchases made with converted money will not be taxed for the time being, and said currency is good until June 1, 2015. For more details, check out Microsoft's breakdown of the switch at the source link below.
Xbox at Gamescom 2013: a focus on games big and small
The launch of a new game console is a fairly unique event in this industry. Unlike a smartphone or tablet, you don't see a new one released every year, or even every five years, and you likely don't have to worry about it feeling outdated a few months after you buy one. This year, we're getting two, with Microsoft and Sony jockeying for position to be the choice of gamers this holiday season. We saw that sparring at E3 earlier this summer, and it was again on display at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, where Sony made news with a release date for the PlayStation 4, among other things. We didn't get a date for the Xbox One from Microsoft, but the company did have plenty of other things to announce and show off. Read on for a recap -- or a refresher, as the case may be.
Start a FIFA 14 season on current-gen consoles and continue it easily on next-gen systems
During EA's press event at Gamescom 2013 in Cologne, the outfit revealed that FIFA 14 seasons that start on current-gen systems will easily be transported over to next-gen consoles when they arrive this fall. Saved seasons, FIFA Ultimate Teams, Virtual Pro and EA Sports Football Club info can all be carried to the shiny new Xbox One and PS4 as soon as that pre-order arrives or you'll able to nab one off the shelves. You'll be able to step foot on the pitch soon as the title launches around the globe next month.
Amazon lets you upgrade select Xbox 360 games to Xbox One versions for $10
A week or so ago, Gamestop introduced a promotional campaign that would allow PowerUp members to upgrade certain Xbox 360 titles to their Xbox One equivalents for only $9.99. Well, Amazon must've thought that was a pretty good idea, because it just unveiled a trade-in offer of its own. The promotion only applies to certain titles such as Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, FIFA 14, Battlefield 4, NBA 2K14, Watch Dogs, Madden NFL 25 and Need for Speed Rivals. Simply ship the Xbox 360 version of the game to Amazon to be approved, and you'll get a $25 bonus credit on top of the title's trade-in value of at least $25. Bear in mind that the promotion can only be used once. If multiple games are selected, the discount is for the cheapest item only -- the credit will be applied automatically upon checkout. Of course, if you simply waited until November to get the next-gen console along with the next-gen game, you'll save $10. But we know some people just can't resist the latest and greatest of multiplayer first-person shooters. If you're keen on taking advantage of the offer, you had better do it before December 31st however, as that's when it expires.
Call of Duty: Ghosts Prestige Edition will include a 1080p action camera
Activision and Infinity Ward have bundled expensive gadgets with the last few Call of Duty special editions, and they're keeping up this recent tradition with Call of Duty: Ghosts. Buy the Prestige Edition of the game on November 5th and you'll get a 1080p, water-resistant "tactical camera" with a 4GB memory card. While it's not clear which company makes the wearable cam, Activision claimed during its Ghosts multiplayer unveiling that the device should hold up against counterparts sold in stores. The Prestige Edition is appropriately expensive at $199, although you're getting a lot for your money -- besides the camera and game, the box also includes a carrying case, a Season Pass for downloads and a paracord strap. If you've ever wished you could record your adventures beyond your game console, this is certainly the bundle for you.
Microsoft says that Xbox 360 season passes will carry over to Xbox One
If we may paraphrase a sacred text, Microsoft giveth and Microsoft hath taken away. Earlier today, the company announced that the Xbox One would be launching in only 13 markets (as opposed to the originally planned 21), but not all news out of Redmond is bad. To allay the concerns some Xbox 360 owners had over switching over to the new system, Microsoft has announced the Season Pass Guarantee. Basically, all it means is that season passes purchased on the 360 will carry over to the Xbox One, provided you own the same game for both consoles. Big names like Activision, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft are on board and have plans on offering exclusive content for season pass holders for games like Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4 on both systems. The Xbox One may have gotten off to a rocky start, but Microsoft seems keen on smoothing the transition when the console hits stores later this year (for some of us, at least).
MTV app arrives on the Xbox with full episode streaming, still no music videos
If you'd rather catch up on your favorite episodes of Catfish or Teen Wolf on the TV instead of your iPad, you can now do so via MTV's new app for the Xbox 360. Like other content apps for Microsoft's console, you need an Xbox Live Gold subscription to gain access to shows. As with Nickelodeon, only those who are subscribed to one of Viacom's "TV Everywhere" partners like DirecTV and Time Warner Cable can get the last five episodes -- the rest will have to make do with the most recent showing. Those without a subscription can still view other content like clips from MTV News, the Video Music Awards and certain web exclusives. Regardless of which provider you have however, you'll still have to look elsewhere for your music video fix.
Microsoft pushing Xbox 360 update allowing Xbox Live purchases with real money (update: too soon)
Remember when Microsoft said that you could soon buy Xbox Live content using real money? Well, check your Xbox 360: following an update to one of our consoles, we're now seeing content available in local currency. It's unclear at this stage how many gamers are seeing the change, although Microsoft has already mentioned that the next update will flip the switch. We've reached out to the company for confirmation of the rollout. If you get the update as well, don't worry about your account balance -- as Microsoft mentioned before, any existing points will be converted to their cash equivalent. Update: Microsoft says that real money purchases are still limited to beta program participants, and you'll have to wait until the fall to see the currency change -- false alarm, folks.
Xbox One's Xbox Live Gold benefits, digital games shared with all users on a single console
The Xbox One game console will enable all users of a single console to enjoy the benefits of a single users' Xbox Live Gold account, Microsoft announced this afternoon. This initiative, called "Home Gold," includes online multiplayer, various streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, NFL), Game DVR and the One Guide -- services that are specifically enabled through Xbox Live Gold membership ($60 a year). That also includes digital games that any user of a single Xbox One purchased as well, a variant of functionality that Microsoft previously promised with Xbox One and subsequently rolled back after consumers reacted negatively. Microsoft's Xbox VP Marc Whitten announced as much on the company's Xbox news site, Xbox Wire, where he wrote: "It means that your account and your gamertag are truly yours. You don't have to share your gamertag for multiplayer gaming with others in your home, or see recommendations for your kid's cartoons next to the recommended first-person shooter for you. It also means that you can introduce new games and enjoy multiplayer with friends while they are at your house. Last but not least, it also means that when you buy one Xbox Live Gold membership, multiple people can enjoy the best benefits of Xbox Live Gold on your Xbox One at no additional charge." Apparently the same XBL Gold account can be signed in on both an Xbox One and an Xbox 360; as expected, Xbox 360 Gold accounts carry over to Xbox One, though this is the first we're hearing about peaceful co-existence between the two consoles. We'll surely hear more from Whitten and co. in Cologne, Germany during Gamescom 2013 in just a few weeks.
GameStop promo upgrades key Xbox 360 games to Xbox One equivalents for $10
Let's say that you decline an Xbox One pre-order, buy the Xbox 360 version of a big game this fall and promptly regret that you haven't gone next-gen. Are you hosed? Not necessarily: GameStop is launching a promo that will let you upgrade to an Xbox One edition of a game for $10 or less. Provided you're a PowerUp Rewards member, GameStop will offer at least $50 in credit if you trade in an Xbox 360 copy of Assassin's Creed 4, Battlefield 4, Call of Duty: Ghosts, FIFA 14 or Madden 25 and buy its Xbox One equivalent at $60. There are additional catches, of course. You'll have to buy a given Xbox 360 title within 30 days of its launch, and you'll have to use the credit before the end of the year. Even so, the promo could minimize buyer's remorse -- and save some Xbox One buyers from waiting until November to play the titles they want.
Xbox One's Game DVR, TV guide and NFL streaming inoperable without Xbox Live Gold
Microsoft's Xbox One won't allow users without Xbox Live Gold subscriptions to access its Game DVR, touted as one of the game console's most important features. The console also won't allow access to services like Skype, One Guide (the TV guide-esque software built in) and a variety of other internet-based services should its owner not pay the requisite $60 per year for Xbox Live Gold membership. An Xbox.com page lists the features (seen above), while OneHitPixel reportedly got confirmation from Microsoft on the Game DVR not working without XBL Gold. Of course, the Xbox 360 version of Xbox Live Gold membership enables basic internet-based functionality like streaming Netflix / Hulu / etc., and multiplayer gaming. By contrast, Sony's PlayStation Plus membership on PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3 offers free games each month (Microsoft started doing something similar recently as well), though non-members on both consoles can use various online services (including online play and content streaming); that's changing on the PlayStation 4, where PS Plus membership is required for most online games. Update: A Microsoft rep tells Engadget, "The features listed will need an Xbox Live Gold membership."
Microsoft deputizes gamers for Enforcement United beta, awards XP for policing trolls
Microsoft wants you to help protect Xbox Live. With the Enforcement United beta, Redmond is using its customers as a first line of defense against online miscreants. If you make it into the testing pool, you'll be giving your opinion on whether or not content on the service violates its code of conduct. At first it's just Gamertags, but given Xbox One's focus on user-made media, that'll likely expand. The united enforcers won't have the last word, of course. Once the query passes through them, it's filtered into an algorithm that determines the next step: either forcing a username change, or escalating the ticket to an actual Microsoft employee for review. What's in it for you? A (hopefully) friendlier Live, and XP that'll move you through the ranks of the Halo owner's gamified participation program, Xbox Community Level. If you get in, we'd appreciate if you went ahead and flagged all those handles with "69" and "420" in them -- trust us, they'll thank you later.
New Office 365 subscriptions get 12 months of free Xbox Live Gold (update: offer available in US)
Sweetening the deal on its cloud-based Office 365 suite, Microsoft will start bundling a year of Xbox Live Gold with any purchases of Office 365 Home Premium or Office 365 University made before September 28th. You'll then pick up an Xbox Live code as you sign in during the initial Office setup. Unfortunately, US customers aren't eligible for this promotion, but the majority of Europe, plus Australia, Canada and parts of Asia are all included. Alongside the recent promise of two free games a month, Microsoft's made this bundled subscription a pretty tempting proposition. Update: Turns out that this offer is available in the US after all. Thanks to tipster David for spotting, and sending that in. Details can be found at the More Coverage link.
IRL: UNDFIND's One camera bag and FIFA 13 for Xbox 360
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Can't bring yourself to spend $300-plus on a leather camera bag? Get a $130 one made out of Neoprene, says Darren. (And he should know: he's tested just about all of them by now.) As for Edgar, he's not recommending you buy anything, per se; he just wants you to know how much he loves FIFA 13.
PlayOn bringing Aereo to game consoles, Android and Google TV in three cities on July 10 (update)
Aereo's streaming television service is coming to your game console of choice as well as Google TV and Android devices starting on July 10th. The service kicks off in New York City, Boston and Atlanta on July 10th, with 20 more cities planned for expansion this year (including major locations like Baltimore, Chicago and Philadelphia). It won't arrive in the form of a standalone app, however -- the service is launching through an existing channel: PlayOn. Live TV fans who want to cut their cable cord can access Aereo with PlayOn by using their PC to get things set up; you'll also need an $8-a-month Aereo subscription to access the 60-plus live TV channels available. Oh, and a PlayOn subscription ($50 for life or $25 / year). Nothing quite says "simplicity" like a puzzle of subscription plans! Update: Aereo emailed us to say, "Aereo has no business relationship with PlayOn." Apparently PlayOn's announcement this morning came without any heads up to the folks at Aereo, and it's unclear just how well Aereo's service will work using PlayOn. We've reached out to PlayOn for a statement as well, though we've yet to hear back. Update 2: PlayOn got back to us with the following statement: "PlayOn does not have an official relationship with Aereo, just as we don't have official relationships with most of the channels we support. PlayOn is an award-winning software product that runs in the background on your PC and allows you to then stream content from supported sites to your set-top boxes (such as Roku), gaming consoles, and/or mobile devices. It is a solution that does not require a relationship with content providers as all PlayOn does is shift which screen you are using to watch content which is, for free or via a subscription, already made available to you through your PC Browser. To utilize PlayOn's Aereo channel users still need an Aereo subscription and to live in one of Aereo's coverage areas."
Public beta registration now open for the Xbox 360's 2013 Live update
It's that time of the year again, and we're not talking about the long Independence Day weekend. Microsoft has opened up public beta registration for the 2013 Xbox Live update, and this time around you'll need to log your interest directly through an Xbox 360 console. Xbox owners in Japan will be missing out, although they'll have the same opportunity "at a later date." There should be a tile on the dashboard home screen entitled "Xbox Beta Program," and with limited spots available, we recommend you sign up immediately if you'd like to participate -- last year's spots were filled pretty quickly. There doesn't appear to be anything exciting included in the beta; Major Nelson cites "updates to improve overall performance" and the option to purchase content with actual money instead of MS points. There may be more details in the beta FAQ when it goes live later today, but if you get into the program and find anything juicy MS neglected to mention, it hopes you'll honor the NDA which you'll agree to as part of the registration process.