Xbox 720 leak du jour: New disc handling, Kinect sensor detailed

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**Gentleman_Jellyfish**

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/brierdudley/2013/03/20/xbox-720-leak-du-jour-new-disc-handling-kinect-sensor-detailed/

The latest leak information about Microsoft’s next Xbox reveals a new disc handling system that could prevent the resale and sharing of game discs.

According to documentation leaked to vgleaks.com, the new Xbox will require players to install games onto the console’s hard drive. The games are then launched from the console’s hard-drive, and not from a disc.

Games will still be distributed on discs and the new Xbox will have a Blu-ray drive, but the discs will basically be used once, to install the game on the console similar to the way you install productivity software on a PC.

This will improve performance and make it quicker to select and launch a game. But it’s also likely to add restrictions on what people can do with the game discs they purchase.

Consider what Microsoft tried to do with the new version of Office, to prevent sharing and resale of the software. It tried to limit Office 2013 installations from disc to a single PC, binding the software to that machine forever. Customer outrage forced the company to change this policy earlier this month.

The new Xbox material also discusses the new, improved version of the Kinect sensor coming with the hardware. The sensor will no longer be an optional accessory; it will come with every console and “be required for the system to operate.”

The information that vgleaks received is documentation for the software development kit, which includes an overview of the hardware code-named “Durango.”

A spokesman declined to comment.

Microsoft is expected to clarify all of this publicly and unveil the hardware at the E3 game conference in June.

So, assuming this is true (Even if it's not, it's a good discussion point) what are your thoughts on this? What are your opinions on the recent movement to kill second hand sales?

**hotsauceman1**

If i cant sell my games or buy them used i will blow a gasket.

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

Moved you over to video games.

As to the news, Edge was hinted at this a month back, will be a really dangerous move by Microsoft.

My main concern is what happens if the next machine has a Rrod issue, do we need to redownload, can we use the disk again on our account, or is it yah-boo sucks to you, tough cheese its a goner.

Also what about Hard drive space, can we unistall, then bring it back later?

These would be key concerns for me, more so than the loss of used games.

**LordofHats**

I suspect that in the long run the destruction of the used games market will not be for the benefit of the industry. Although maybe PC will start getting some love again XD

**KingCracker**

Maybe itll use some type of cloud?

But yeanothanks. I think the whole stink these companies have been making over the used game market is just fething ridonkulous. Now Microsoft is saying I cant even enjoy MY game, and then loan it to a friend to get them into the game as well? You know how many times myself, or others werent sure about a game, until a buddy loaned it to them? How does this work for rentals as well I wonder? Things like Gamefly or the ever increasingly rare video store, how will that effect them as far as rental sales go?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

LordofHats wrote:
I suspect that in the long run the destruction of the used games market will not be for the benefit of the industry. Although maybe PC will start getting some love again XD

I wouldnt mind PC gaming, but they try and push the limits TOO much. I dont want to have to buy a $100 this, and a $200 that just to keep my PC in game ready mode. I had my PS3 pretty much since launch, and only got rid of it for an Xbox, and after the initial purchase that was it.

**Soladrin**

Gentleman_Jellyfish wrote:
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/brierdudley/2013/03/20/xbox-720-leak-du-jour-new-disc-handling-kinect-sensor-detailed/

The latest leak information about Microsoft’s next Xbox reveals a new disc handling system that could prevent the resale and sharing of game discs.

According to documentation leaked to vgleaks.com, the new Xbox will require players to install games onto the console’s hard drive. The games are then launched from the console’s hard-drive, and not from a disc.

Games will still be distributed on discs and the new Xbox will have a Blu-ray drive, but the discs will basically be used once, to install the game on the console similar to the way you install productivity software on a PC.

This will improve performance and make it quicker to select and launch a game. But it’s also likely to add restrictions on what people can do with the game discs they purchase.

Consider what Microsoft tried to do with the new version of Office, to prevent sharing and resale of the software. It tried to limit Office 2013 installations from disc to a single PC, binding the software to that machine forever. Customer outrage forced the company to change this policy earlier this month.

The new Xbox material also discusses the new, improved version of the Kinect sensor coming with the hardware. The sensor will no longer be an optional accessory; it will come with every console and “be required for the system to operate.”

The information that vgleaks received is documentation for the software development kit, which includes an overview of the hardware code-named “Durango.”

A spokesman declined to comment.

Microsoft is expected to clarify all of this publicly and unveil the hardware at the E3 game conference in June.

So, assuming this is true (Even if it's not, it's a good discussion point) what are your thoughts on this? What are your opinions on the recent movement to kill second hand sales?

If this is true I probably won't get it. I have a pc for that gak. If the xbox ceases to be the easier option, and has an always on gimmick camera to boot (Which I refuse to spend a dime on) there's just no way I can justify spending money on it.

I'm secretly hoping we will get a small video game crash again, just to see what rises from the ashes. The way the industry is right now seems to be getting worse by the month.

**Sigvatr**

I got a pc, thus I don't need a console. It's simple as that

**nomsheep**

If I can't sell/buy used games then I won't be gaming this generation.

**Sir Pseudonymous**

It's starting to look like the very worst big publishers are starting to at least waver a bit, so we may see a crash from the big players who are driving the worst trends.

How exactly is the new xbox going to be a pitched? "So, it's basically a bad PC, with a godawful interface and wonky motion controls because fad, and every game has the most unstable, universally panned and reviled form of DRM ever conceived! Why, that sounds like a license to print money!"

**nomsheep**

unfortunately the previous two Xbox's weren't exactly spectacular and more so with the 360 have been plagued with problems since day one.

**orkdestroyer1**

Also what happens when your hard-drive is filled up of games on the 720 and you want some more games?
there is always a flaw for everything.

**Dreadclaw69**

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:
Moved you over to video games.

As to the news, Edge was hinted at this a month back, will be a really dangerous move by Microsoft.

My main concern is what happens if the next machine has a Rrod issue, do we need to redownload, can we use the disk again on our account, or is it yah-boo sucks to you, tough cheese its a goner.

Also what about Hard drive space, can we unistall, then bring it back later?

These would be key concerns for me, more so than the loss of used games.

I don't imagine that's really an issue to be honest. The same concerns exist in this generation too, with Arcade Games, Indie Games and Games on Demand. In this case the access to the content is tied to the account and not the console. That means that if a console RRoDs then you can put your account on another console, download the content again free and use the licence migration tool to ensure that you have full access to the content even when offline.
If your concern is about installing to hard drive that can be redone on a new console at present and it just needs the disc in the tray at launch for verification.

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

Aye, but I live in the the rear end of Suffolk, and we're lucky if our Broadband download speed hits 100kb at the moment. If the answer was to re-download all my games you could see that would be a problem.

If its just put the disc back in and reinstall, no worries, I already install many of my games on the 360 for improved loading times.

Hence why I'd need to know the answers to those queries.

**Dreadclaw69**

What model of 360 do you currently have? Currently they all have hard drives that can be removed, and the RRoD is usually a chip fault than a hard drive fault. So even if the 360 RRoDs then its a matter of putting your hard drive (complete with content) in another console.

I do the same with my 360. My last white one's disc drive died a few months out of warranty

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

Aye, if its the same system in place for the next gen that's fine, although Hard drive corruption could happen as well. One of my brothers hard drives died on him.

As to current model I have two, a black slim and a R2 D2.

I am sure it will all be fine, but it is information we will need if they bring this system in.

**Dreadclaw69**

I'm hoping that when they release the specs (rumour was an announcement in April) that will quell the rumour mill. The official Xbox forums were just thread after thread taking any rumour as gospel.

**nomotog**

No way they are so stupid to remove the option to sell or trade used games. They would have to have brain damage to even think they could pull it off.

**nomsheep**

nomotog wrote:
No way they are so stupid to remove the option to sell or trade used games. They would have to have brain damage to even think they could pull it off.

Years on top can do crazy things to a company, I:e THQ and EA.

**Kanluwen**

nomotog wrote:
No way they are so stupid to remove the option to sell or trade used games. They would have to have brain damage to even think they could pull it off.

You would be surprised. Given that the PS4 is supposed to have an "integral digital distribution network" at launch, they're clearly pushing to make used games not doable for their system as well.

The NextBox is pretty much guaranteed to have some kind of framework to prevent used/preowned games. The sheer amount of profit that does not go to the developers(and given the fast turnaround times and continued high prices by used/preowned sellers) is a great motivator to make it happen.

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

Both Sony and Microsoft have been making murmurs of wanting used games to be gone for a while now.

Oh and remembered my other worry, I have two xbox 360's, one for me and one for my sons. I would want some reassurance that I am not expected to buy every game we all like twice. That would be painful.

**Kanluwen**

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:
Both Sony and Microsoft have been making murmurs of wanting used games to be gone for a while now.

Interestingly enough, the used games figures for the PS3 are dramatically less than those of the 360 or even the Wii.

Oh and remembered my other worry, I have two xbox 360's, one for me and one for my sons. I would want some reassurance that I am not expected to buy every game we all like twice. That would be painful.

From my understanding, if you were to have multiple systems you would need multiple copies of the game because the game registers itself to your system.

Supposedly Xbox Live is going to be changing dramatically but we'll have to wait and see.

**LordofHats**

nomsheep wrote:
nomotog wrote:
No way they are so stupid to remove the option to sell or trade used games. They would have to have brain damage to even think they could pull it off.

Years on top can do crazy things to a company, I:e THQ and EA.

THQ was never on top. THQ's biggest problem was that they tried to play like they were.

**nomsheep**

LordofHats wrote:
nomsheep wrote:
nomotog wrote:
No way they are so stupid to remove the option to sell or trade used games. They would have to have brain damage to even think they could pull it off.

Years on top can do crazy things to a company, I:e THQ and EA.

THQ was never on top. THQ's biggest problem was that they tried to play like they were.

True, they may have not been at the very top but they were a giant of the industry, (with some terrible, terrible games. Scooby doo, anyone?)

but my point still stands.

Edit: tried to clarify, confused myself.

**Sigvatr**

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:

Oh and remembered my other worry, I have two xbox 360's, one for me and one for my sons.

Ask Microsoft if you can trade them in for 1 Xbox 720!

**nomsheep**

Sigvatr wrote:
Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:

Oh and remembered my other worry, I have two xbox 360's, one for me and one for my sons.

Ask Microsoft if you can trade them in for 1 Xbox 720!

That kinda defeats the point of having two XD

**Chongara**

*Shrug* I can see what it'd bother people, but it won't affect me. I've bought all of maybe 2-3 used games in my life, and only because I couldn't find them new.

**nomotog**

Kanluwen wrote:
nomotog wrote:
No way they are so stupid to remove the option to sell or trade used games. They would have to have brain damage to even think they could pull it off.

You would be surprised. Given that the PS4 is supposed to have an "integral digital distribution network" at launch, they're clearly pushing to make used games not doable for their system as well.

The NextBox is pretty much guaranteed to have some kind of framework to prevent used/preowned games. The sheer amount of profit that does not go to the developers(and given the fast turnaround times and continued high prices by used/preowned sellers) is a great motivator to make it happen.

I don't think the market can support this idea. I rarely buy my games at full 60. Some times I do if I really want it, but most of the time I buy used, rent or wait till the price drop.I also share games with my friends. If I had to buy a new game each time I wanted to pay, I could easily see my gaming budget increase by 5x or more. I simply couldn't do that and it's not like I don't have alternatives. The indy market is getting rather cool. Lots of fun innovative games for 1/3 the price. If they want to treat my console like a PC, I might as well just play on my PC where the prices are cheaper.

**Sigvatr**

nomsheep wrote:
Sigvatr wrote:
Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:

Oh and remembered my other worry, I have two xbox 360's, one for me and one for my sons.

Ask Microsoft if you can trade them in for 1 Xbox 720!

That kinda defeats the point of having two XD

Well, in my world, 2x360 makes 720!

**KingCracker**

Sometimes the best jokes go over peoples heads

**nomsheep**

I knew I was missing something....