Hey now, it's a tiny ass image on an avatar shirt. Plus I'm viewing on my phone.

Abed sez: "BBT sucks."

Focus on his helmet.

Much better.

Got my XboxLive account back tonight!!!!

They replaced all of the points that were taken. Gotta say, after hearing about some of the horror stories, this was relative painless. Took 12 days from theivery to getting account back.

Overall, satisfied with how things were handled.

Rumors from Kotaku:

Nextbox will have blu-ray drive, may somehow lock out used games.

http://kotaku.com/5879202/sources-th...oduce-kinect-2


Microsoft will upgrade its disc technology for its next Xbox from DVDs to Blu-Ray discs, catching up to rival Sony, games industry sources tell Kotaku.

Sony's PlayStation 3 currently supports Blu-Ray, which can contain 25 or 50GB of data compared to DVD's 9GB.

But that disc detail could be far less impactful to the next generation of game consoles than the assertion I've heard from one reliable industry source that Microsoft intends to incorporate some sort of anti-used game system as part of their so-called Xbox 720.

It's not clear if that means that the system wouldn't play used games or how such a set-up would work. Obvious approaches—I'm theorizing here—like linking a copy of a game to a specific Xbox Live account could seemingly be foiled by used-game owners who would keep their system offline. My source wasn't sure how Microsoft intended to implement any anti-used game system in the new machine.

A push in any way by Microsoft against used games would likely be cheered from publishers sick of seeing retailers like GameStop crow about their revenues from the sale of used games. But it could potentially anger consumers who rely on buying cheaply-sold used games or even pass games to relatives or friends.

One source familiar with Microsoft's plans for the new Xbox said Microsoft plans to ship their new Xbox with a new version of its red-hot Kinect hands-free sensor system. The new Kinect would contain an on-board processor, a feature originally intended for the first Kinect. That processor would enable a new Kinect to more effectively detect users' motions.

I'm also hearing that Microsoft is interested in making a smaller controller for its new console.

And what of gaming site IGN's report that the machine could be six times more powerful than the Xbox 360? From some industry sources I'm hearing that that's the right ballpark and that Microsoft is estimating they might even get to 8x the Xbox 360. But another insider clarified that no one in the industry has development kits yet and that any talk about specs right now is still hypothetical.

[UPDATE: A Microsoft rep e-mailed me the following statement: "As an innovator we're always thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology like we did with Kinect. We believe the key to extending the lifespan of a console is not just about the console hardware, but about the games and entertainment experiences being delivered to consumers. Beyond that we don't comment on rumors or speculation."]

"Xbox 720" is being used as shorthand by reporters like me to refer to the next Xbox. It's not necessarily the name of the next device. Tech sites Semi Accurate and Fudzilla have reported that the first chips for 720 development kits are going into production, leading to a possible late 2013 release despite my earlier reporting which had pointed to 2014 as the year of the next Xbox and PlayStation.

<- Jumping to rash conclusions...

Can you picture 3,000 Gamestops telling questioning moms that this nextbox won't play used games? The anti-used thing will never fly.

I can appreciate the sentiment and hate Gamestop as much as the next guy, but it is a necessary evil, IMO. All it would take is Sony touting the fact that the PS4 will play all used games and the nextbox is an utter failure out of the gates.

However, I'm all for them figuring out a way to "link" games to you in some fashion that would allow for the inclusion of digital copies with disc based releases.

If that's true, I envision it being more like you need to purchase a license from the dev/publisher to run the game. Nextbox could just be making sure you have a valid license linked to your account/console.

These things are already coming with codes in new copies. That redemption (even a QR code scanned by the new, embedded Kinect) isn't that big of a deal.

If that means that Gamestop has to charge $10 less because Capcom requires a $10 after-market tribute for Resident Evil 7, then it's not going to really change the face of the market. Hell, Gamestop may even sell those pre-paid license cards in the store and still get a cut. At least Capcom gets something. I bet you might even be able to use your official XBL app on your phone to scan that stuff in the store and it's ready when you get home.

I'm not opposed to that scenario, but it's probably a little too rosy of a picture.

I know the market isn't as huge as Gamestop/used, but this would be unbelievably terrible for rental options.

I agree with all of the above and that if they do this with their next system then it will fail because as said, sony would just opt to not do it and everyone would go to them.

That's a great point. It would kill Gamefly (if they haven't died already).

Going to Blu-ray is a no-brainer. No way you can stick with DVD for another generation.

I was brainstorming a service for the current 360 where you could ship discs to MS, and they would add a downloadable version of the game to your account. It would likely decrease the number of used copies.

For the future, in order for a disc-based game to be linked to your account/system, it would have to work similar to how the digital copies packaged with DVDs and Blu-rays work: You get a disc with the content on it, and a code to activate/transfer that content. You'd need your system to be online to activate the game for the first time. The disc then is mainly acting as a delivery medium for the game, instead of downloading it, instead of being a playable game in and of itself.

A main advantage would be that when you install the game to your Xbox, you'd likely then be able to play the game without first putting in the disc, since your account/console is already authorized for the game. You could also take a game over to a friend's and play it, but you'd have to log into your account online first to check the authorization.

Is this a suggestion that Kinect will be built into the next Xbox? I've seen other articles hinting at that and I've been wondering how that would work, exactly. With regards to placement and positioning and all that crap.

You know how the Wii came with a "sensor" bar? Yeah, it'll be like that. May even be wireless. "Embedded" was a poor choice, but it will be in the box and everyone should have it. Whether or not it's hooked up...

I think they just mean every Xbox will have one, not that the sensor will be on the main box.

Right. Okay, yeah. That makes sense.

This is assuming Sony doesn't opt to do it as well.

However, MS could always implement the game activation system, but as an option, leaving it up to publishers if they want their games released with it or as a standard game disc. It'd be like the ICT flag for Blu-ray.

At first publishers would shy away from it (like the ICT flag), and the system sales wouldn't suffer. Or maybe they'd use it for unlocking bonus content, similar to the Catwoman DLC code for Arkham City, but with the content already on the disc.

Then, after the system has been selling for a few years, a publisher would take a risk and sell a title with the activation required. Or maybe, they'd sell two versions of the game: a regular game disc for $60, and an activation-required disc for $40. The publisher would eat some of the upfront profits secure in the knowledge that the game couldn't be traded off on the used-game market. And Microsoft could defer all the blame to the publisher, since after all it was the publisher that decided to use the activation method.

If it's a failure, MS and publishers could back off and go back to regular game discs, or maybe push downloaded games more. If it's successful though, more and more games would be published as activation-required discs until it becomes the norm.

Once the system is branded as the one at won't play used games, I don't think it could shake that stigma that easily. It won't matter if it was EA or Activision is the first to attempt it, it's MS that would take the fall.

But it really would benefit the publishers more than Microsoft, so I'm sure if Microsoft did it, they'd work in language that EA or Activision or whatever would have to do something similar across all platforms.

If the problem is only one specific used game, then I'm not so sure that the system overall would be branded (especially if it's only one version of the used game on disc, with other activation-free copies for the system in circulation).

Also, those expecting Sony to automatically not do it as well if MS does it are apparently under the assumption that Sony aims to serve the needs of the consumers above all else. Sony will listen to publishers above consumers, since its the publishers that Sony gets its main revenue from, even more so than Xbox, which at least gets a lot of paid subscribers.

It's interesting to think that this activation situation is just now hitting consoles, after PC users have had to deal with this for years.

And this is why I stopped playing PC games (because of activation bullcrap and trying to keep up with pc requirements). If they do implement activation bullcrap to consoles, then it looks like this might be my last entry on the console game train. Killing off used games is a horrible idea. Gamestop would suffer, Gamefly would suffer, Ebay would suffer, Half.com would suffer, Amazon third party would suffer and so on and so on and so on. I hope this is all speculation. But if its not, then I have no desire to buy the next Xbox or PS3.

I enjoy gaming, but as I get older, I get the vague impression that my "outdated" ideas will eventually catch up with me. I'll end up like my dad when he tried playing a NES after years of arcades and pinball machines. Sure it was fun for a little while, but he gave up because it was too much to keep up with.

i rarely buy used games, but i sell my games quite frequently. that's what allows me to continue to buy new games. if i wouldn't be able to do that anymore, i'd probably buy less new release titles as a result. i would imagine there are quite a few people like me and game companies would take a hit.

This. I bought most of the new releases this past fall, and every one of them was paid for with trade-in credit at Amazon. I would've bought exactly 1 (Skyrim) if not for the credit.