Here's my take:
It's a foregone conclusion that games are going to be competitive system to system, with the exception of the WiiU. Nintendo marches to the beat of it's own drum and we just have to deal with the fact that they're still creating "new" systems using last gen technology... that is what it is.
With regards to PS4 vs. Xbox One:
Both systems will be competitive in terms of how the graphics look and the games play. Nothing has changed since the days of the OG Xbox and PS2... they were competitive then, competitive with the PS3/360 and will be with the PS4/Xbox One. To think anything else is naive... so it's time to stop worrying about the games... the games will be there and they will be relatively the same on both systems. It's not like one company is pulling a "Nintendo" here and using last gen tech.
- New Xbox is called "Xbox One"
I think we all get this... "One" as in One console for everything... games, movies, tv, music, media. This is meant to be that all in "One" set top box in your living room that the PS3 promised to be but really didn't quite become. The new media integration so far looks like it will actually do this...if it works as promised.
- New and Improved, "Kinect 2"
Wasn't a big fan of the Kinect, won't be a big fan of the Kinect 2. Good plan on paper, bad execution. I doubt the Kinect 2 will take off just as the K1 didn't really have that big of an impact.
- Connects to your television/cable box
This is the first major movement toward that "One" box for your living room. As long as it actually does make good use of your DVR...or act as a DVR itself, then this is a good idea.
- Seamlessly switch between Games/TV/Music/Movies with a simple voice command.
Nice idea...unnecessary for real gamers. We like to have controllers and that won't stop. Good for the kids who think it's "cool" to talk to their systems and good for the current generation grandparents (people the age of my father) who grew up with Pong and Atari and aren't REALLY dexterous enough to work a gamepad to control a set top box... they'll talk to their systems as well.
- Interact with your TV, such as checking on your fantasy league while watching a sports game.
Another ok feature... for the die hard Madden fan. I won't use it... but I'm sure some will.
- DVR integration
As I said, as long as this WORKS, it's a good idea.
- Able to record gameplay
Similar to using your DVR... might be good if it gets an "instant upload" to youtube or if you can transfer recorded gameplay to your PC for editing/uploading.
- 8 GB DDR3 Ram
Nice... needed for it to be more like a PC, which is obvious what the One is geared at being.
- Blu Ray player
Does Sony know about this?
- Intergration of Skype
I can do this on my PC, my phone, my laptop, my ipod, my PSP, and my Vita... not necessary, but it's nice to have it standard.
- You can instantly resume your saved games
Savestate anyone? Thank goodness someone looked at pc emulators and said... hmmm... that's a good idea!
- Does not support backwords compatibility
My second biggest gripe. I can still play my old PC games on Windows 7... they really should have worked on this and implemented it. 360 games at the bare minimum should be compatible...but I still get it. Different architecture... so it can't play legacy games... still my second biggest gripe... but there's an easy fix... KEEP YOUR 360!(duh)
- Must be connected to Kinect 2 to function
This is annoying and my BIGGEST gripe. If the One is the better system overall, ESPECIALLY for fighting games...then you have to pray you don't break it in while bringing it everywhere for tournaments... ugh...
- Xbox live Gold account will be carried over
As should be standard...
- Cloud Storage
This is cool... as long as its not just limited to Gold accounts.
- 500 GB local storage drive
Very nice amount... upgradable?
- Achievements will be carried over
Again, should be standard...
- Works with SmartGlass
Thanks... I don't use it anyway.
- Approximately 15 exclusives games are in development
Good idea to have games available at launch... it IS a video game system...
- Must be connected online
for certain functionality...
- Is NOT an Always online console
...but you'll miss out on some stuff by not being online...
- Games MUST be installed on your local drive
Just like a PC... remember what I said about the system being more PC like?
- Xbox Live Arcade games will NOT transfer over
Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid....
- Online service still isnt free
Sony will eventually figure this out too... we're gonna pay if asked to. Smart business... we like free things but still, lets not be naive.
-Game Discs will be used to install to the hard drive once, used games allowed...for an "unspecified" fee.
Lets see if this is actually the case with installations. If this is true, then that means you can buy ONE game, install it to your system, then literally LEND the game to a friend/family member, etc... let them pay the "unspecified" fee, which will undoubtedly be smaller, and install it to their system as well. This could be good for tournaments, as it will reduce the cost of purchasing multiple copies of one game...buy one, pay for the multiple installs...(for less than the cost of the full game)... good idea if it works like intended and you don't actually need the disc to start up the game.
My final word:
Many of us have added a PC to your living room. We can watch things like Amazon Prime Instant Video, Netflix and Hulu Plus from them. They're DVD players, Blu-Ray players, music players with things like MP3 players and services like Pandora Radio. They're media hubs as well... you no longer need your "NBC Nightly News" when you can get instant video news updates on your PC. I had a PC in my living room until it needed repairs... and I will be putting it back in... maybe... The Xbox One is geared toward being that very same "ONE" box in your living room... actually if it works as intended.
Am I skeptical that it will work as flawlessly as they say? Of course.
Do I think it's a good idea? Yes, especially since I'm not in the least bit concerned about the quality of games... I KNOW the games will be good... so what else can you offer me? If this works well... as they promise... then this is a great "bonus" package outside of the game system itself.