Definitely good compared to entering codes on the console.

Marginal compared to typing codes into xbox.com.

Agreed, but a neat feature regardless. However, since EA says they are getting rid of Online Passes, how many codes realistically come with games? I think everything I entered was Online Pass crap. If Gamestop starts printing QR codes for DLC and pre-order bonuses, or MS uses them on MS Points/XB Live cards, I could see it being utilized a lot more.

But MS "Points" are going away.

I've been saying this needed to be there in the Kinect 1.0 days, from the beginning and especially when "online codes" were commonplace.

That thing was always capable of scanning a QR code. It was just lazy to not do it natively.

I wonder how much they'll be used now. It would make sense in the digital-only distribution model they wanted originally. Like you walk into a B&M retailer and active a QR code that you take home and scan. Or scan from your smartphone and it's waiting for you when you get home since, you know, it's always online and with a passive voltage for power on via voice.

Recently?

When I bought the limited edition of Halo 4 and the hardened edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops II, I had to enter at least five codes per game to redeem all of the extra content.

If MS did a fire sale on Live Arcade after the Xbone launches, I'd buy a used 360 just for that. There are probably 20 games I really want on Live Arcade...and something like 4 on disk.

Live arcade games can be run from a USB drive, right?

Absolutely.

With Don Mattrick out, is it time for J.Allard’s return?
http://www.fluxley.com/400/with-don-...llards-return/

Sorry, meant to post that in the Live Arcade thread.

But specifically, I could buy an Arcade 360, sans proprietary hard drive, and use a 16-32gb thumb drive [edit: or an external USB HDD] for all of my Live Arcade games...even presumably big ones like Shadow Complex?

This means I'll be more than willing to "try" the Kinect controls for this game, but if I hate it, I can bust out the standard controller. Can't complain about that.

I'm sure someone will find a way to complain

Might be more behind Don Mattrick's exit after all...

Report: Mattrick's Xbox Exodus Spurred By Upcoming Reorganization

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/a...anization.aspx

"What do you mean I have the choice between the Kinect and the controller?!? How am I supposed to decide!?"

Already posted (not the same article... but same story). Good work.

Rumour is he was asked to be head of "hardware" but wanted more. Ballmer said no, Mattrick left for Zynga, where he could be CEO. This is not at all unlike Sinofsky's departure last year... a guy who felt entitled to be at the top, but didn't deserve it, and worked terribly with others in the organization.

"Xbox president shown the door two weeks after disastrous E3 to be the mayor of Farmville."

If that was part of Microsoft's reorganization plan, then those guys truly have no clue what they are doing. You either do that before the console is announced or not at all because the visual for both gamers and shareholders is terrible.

There is still plenty of DRM in both the consoles and their games.

As I stated yesterday, the reorganization will be used to cover up Mattrick's firing. You don't have the man lead two large unveilings of the console only to have him jump ship weeks later. Shit went down, Ballmer was pissed, and heads had to roll. With Ballmer taking over the role until a replacement is found (another sign that Mattrick was let go), I think Ballmer is (hopefully) smart enough to stay out of the spotlight. Because if he does, the ship will be nuked right from fucking orbit.

Phil Spencer taking over Mattrick's role is a smart idea, especially as he was one of the few people who didn't come off like a complete chode during the debacle. Bringing J. Allard back into the fold and have him take over is the best idea.

They must have known he was going to fail hard (the restructuring has been public knowledge since before E3). I'm inclined to believe Microsoft has its head too far up its ass to realize how toxic Mattrick really was.

How toxic Mattrick was? Ballmer has been sinking the ship since Gates left. Microsoft has always been a bunch of arrogant and cocky bastards. The Xbox and the 360 have been two of their only successful hardware releases. Microsoft thinking devices like the iPhone and iPad being a "phase" is what should've sealed Balmer's death years ago. Instead, they've been stuck playing catch up. Now with the One launch, they're playing catch up with Sony.

The Xbox is one of Microsoft's few successes in the consumer market. Microsoft at least will not go down without a fight because they/Ballmer can't afford another failure.

That's true. Hell, even the 3DS got a QR reader patched in.

I wonder why they held back on it. To add it in as a feature for Kinect 2 and make it seem better than it is?

I don't buy any of the increased graphics due to the cloud; but if it was true, it sounds like a better feature for PC games. To give people with a worse system a closer experience to those with higher end PC's.

Congratulations, you just described the PS4 and Xbox One!

Well the new Kinect will be good for something:

Xbox One Kinect will support QR code scanning for token redemption

http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/2/4488...ken-redemption

Welcome to yesterday:

I would prefer to just scan it using my mobile phone, rather than being forced to buy a $100 accessory.

Oh well, with as much shit is in this thread now, repeating some stuff two or three times is bound to happen and probably not such a bad thing.