Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

IGN is saying that starting at noon EST today they're unleashing a ton of Xbox news. They said they got to play everything.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

10 Years? Yup
100K gamerscore? Not even close
Email? Nope. :sad:

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Saw a person with 56k gamer score gifted a One.. they seem to be using random criteria.... The official XBox twitter feed stated this "We considered a variety of factors including Gamerscore and XBL tenure. We’re rewarding some of our biggest fans around the world."

Not sure what constitutes a "biggest fan."

Would have been nice to get one.. but at least I have my pre-order in with Amazon for a Day One console. Maybe I'll get lucky in the Dew Sweepstakes and my few entries will win a system.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

I was part of the original Live beta testing and I'm not even close to 100K. I'm pushing 30K and that seems like an accomplishment for me. (100,000 points will be reached sometime in the late 2030s...looking forward to that benchmark and living in the Matrix by then.)

At any rate, no surprise that there's no email. At least I'm cool like Canis and I've got the Amazon pre-order thing working in my favor.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Crimson Dragon Scratches That Star Fox 64 Itch
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/...ar-fox-64-itch

Crimson Dragon has a tendency to be overshadowed by the Xbox One's big guns at launch like Ryse and Forza, but sleeping on this downloadable throwback to a forgotten genre might be a mistake.

If you're like me, you probably have quite a fondness for classic rail shooters like Star Fox 64, Rez, and Panzer Dragoon. That last one in particular is important, because Crimson Dragon is ostensibly a spiritual successor to Sega's incredible series of adventures.

Crimson Dragon is broken up into two distinct sections. First you have your traditional rail shooter levels, where the game takes care of steering your character while you only have to worry about moving your reticule around the screen, tagging various enemies, and unleashing a barrage of devastating projectiles. The two traditional levels I played were quite fun, and unfolded with a welcome bit of cinematic flair that brought a nice amount of tension to each moment.

The other half of the game takes place in open free-flight levels. These massive spaces give you full control over your dragon, much like some of the boss encounters in Star Fox 64. The stage I played tasked me with taking down an absolutely gigantic enemy dragon in a set amount of time. Flying around the city-sized beast, surveying its weak points and attack patterns, then eventually making a series of quick strikes was a joy.

One thing Crimson Dragon definitely won't do is wow you with visuals that scream "next gen." The game was originally set to be a 360 title, and though it doesn't look bad by any stretch of the imagination, it's certainly not going to win any beauty pageants. But while the tech might be a bit lacking, the dragon design is quite neat. Each of the creatures has a distinct, fantastical, and often terrifying look to them, especially some of the more massive beasts that dwarf your airborne buddy.

Also speaking of what Crimson Dragon was originally supposed to be, I'm grateful that Microsoft has removed a majority of the Kinect features from the game. Crimson Dragon was originally slated to be controlled via motion gestures, much like how you could play Child of Eden back in 2011. Since this feels so much like a throwback to a classic genre, I'm personally glad that they decided to keep a more traditional mode of play and allow us to use the Xbox One controller instead.

Playing about an hour of Crimson Dragon also got me thinking if this $20 digital release is indicative of the future of the AA game. Are things like this and Powerstar Golf, two games that are bigger than indies but smaller than AAA blockbusters, going to become standard in this upcoming console generation? I for one would love to see this trend continue, but only time will tell.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Dammit, I'd love to get that. Probably didn't since I'm no longer a Gold subscriber.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

IGN: We couldn't think of a clever title for our Killer Instinct preview
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/...stinct-preview

Few next-gen launch games have as much to prove as Killer Instinct does. Much has been made of its free-to-play business model, its modestly-sized cast, and even the track record of its developer, Double Helix. But none of that matters anymore once you play it. It feels so good right off the bat, and gets you matching wits with your opponent so quickly that there’s no time to think about anything else.

As many quarters as I lost to it, the original KI didn’t have much going on besides its combo system, which was unique in a time where combos didn’t get much higher than three or four hits. But not only are 100-hit combos no longer novel, they turn players into spectators for inordinate amounts of time. Killer Instinct sidesteps this problem brilliantly by making mind-games and fast reactions just as important during combos as they are leading up to them.

It all starts with the tried and true combo breaker, which requires the defender to match their inputs to the strength of their attacker’s move to interrupt their combo. Using the wrong breaker now results in a lock-out, temporarily preventing any further break attempts and giving the attacker time to go nuts.

Even better, the new counter-breaker allows the attacker to preempt a predictable combo breaker attempt, locking their victim out for even longer, and extending the maximum duration of their combo. Where combos used to be nothing but execution clinics, in Killer Instinct they become another instance in which baits, reads, and mind-games dictate the many possible outcomes. Your brain has to be on at all times, and whether you’re hitting or being hit, you can be punished or rewarded for your second-to-second decisions.

And sure, six characters at launch with another two on the way is a bit light, but unlike a lot of fighters with casts that are 30 strong, every character in Killer Instinct feels distinct, developed, and immediately enjoyable to mess around with. Sabrewulf’s up-close mixup potential is brutal, Sadira’s air mobility is bonkers, and a good Glacius player smothers the screen, controlling real estate at will with far-reaching, risky normals. Right now, pretty much every match-up is interesting, and thanks to the mind games inherent to its systems, even mirror matches are a good time.

All the other nuances I’ve come to expect out of a great fighter are here as well. Meter management is very important, as shadow moves, shadow counters, and the new “Instinct” mode all have a myriad of offensive and defensive applications. Shadow counters let you to attack out of block stun with one hit of armor added, allowing you to punish moves that would normally be safe on block if your timing is on point. Activating Instinct mode returns your character to a neutral state, so you can make blocked attacks safe, or create combos that wouldn’t normally be possible. Each character’s Instinct mode grants them unique abilities as well, leading to some great setups for creative-minded players.

Yet, despite how far KI has come in becoming a legitimately deep 2D fighter, it remains fun at the entry level. Controls are responsive, basic combo construction is easy to grasp, and the spectacular looking backgrounds and special effects will certainly keep casual players entertained. And if they decide to get more serious, Dojo mode is the most exhaustive interactive fighting game tutorial ever made. Featuring 32 multi-part lessons, it covers everything from basic movement, to how to read frame and hit-box data – which amazingly, is provided in the training mode.

The more time I spend with Killer Instinct, the more I want to play it, and the less I care about any of the concerns orbiting it. What matters most in a fighting game is…you guessed it…the fighting, and so far Killer Instinct does that better than any of its predecessors.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

IGN's 15 minute look at D4.

http://www.ign.com/videos/2013/11/06...-thats-awesome

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

One could have a low gamerscore and still spend a shit ton of money on XBLA.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

True.. that's why I was confused about the criteria. Those that got the email are likely extremely lucky. Jealous... but I'm still getting a system on launch day through my pre-order.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

:up: Looks terrifically strange. I love it.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Powerstar Golf preview. Not doing it for me personally, but IGN seems to dig it.

http://www.ign.com/videos/2013/11/06...per-commentary

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

I didn't get the KI thing either, but I've only been on live for about 7 years and have about 28k in gamerscore. No biggie. I'll still check it out, but I doubt I'm paying for any of the extras.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Booooooo. I'm over 10 years, but GS isn't my forte :(

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

No Forza email, no KI email, no free Xbox email :(
I have 7-8yrs of live and 300k+ gamerscore...come on guys, get your shit together!!

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

:lol:

http://www.gameinformer.com/games/ry...e-numbers.aspx

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Yeah.. I have a decent gamerscore.. but I don't have a drive to 100% every game I play or play every single game released.

Some games I might have a few achievements while others I have tons. It depends on the type of game and how the achievements are given.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Me.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

I think I should get the free code by default since I'm the resident Xbox asshole here :) just like chess should get any PS4 codes.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

No email for me either :(

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Ouch. Sounds like they should have left it as a Kinect title.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

The fact that I didn't get the free Xbox One package should prove that I'm not mister hardcore Xbox guy. Right?

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

Just as much as me getting Killer Instinct proves I'm a hardcore Sony guy.

Re: Xbox One Pre-Release Thread: Upscaled to 1080p! (11/22/2013)
 

If you got the Killer Instinct email, I think that (from what I've read), it is tied to your GamerTag and you can't give it away.. so, if you don't have an XBox One pre-ordered, you will have to go out and buy one now.

What a brilliant strategy to get more XB1 sales. ;)