Xbox fanboy or gamer – why I’m happy with the Xbox One

An Xbox fanboy speaks about the all new Xbox One? Or is it a case of simply being happy with what’s being offered. Easy to please or just tired of moaning.

There’s been a lot of negativity surrounding Xbox One since it was announced, mainly from core gamers upset with some of the principles behind the console’s workings, but in fairness, Microsoft have been rather vague about the specifics which has meant many are simply putting two and two together. As a core gamer for many years and seeing Xbox grow from its brick like box to the final sleeker design of the Xbox 360 S it comes as no surprise that for me with my needs the Xbox One looks like an interesting prospect to follow on from the 360. I think the actual look of the console is inconsequential, although I’ll agree it does look like a throwback to times past.  As long as it’s quiet and fits in with rest of the hardware I’m fine.

One console to rule them All

I’m not sure if my household is typical, but here in the UK’s captial, I have access to a number of devices connected wirelessly. I have several Xbox 360 consoles and of course Kinect which admittedly has seen better days. The prospect of owning One machine to control the SKY and Freeview services in a seamless manner is novel, but at the same time very user friendly for those not so clued up with grabbing a controller. WHilst using ones voice to switch on the console could be seen as gimmicky it does add a personal layer especially if there are multiple people using the console at different times. What’s also cool are the extra features whilst watching TV. For example I often Google an actor or for reference something I’ve seen. Being able to do this without interupting the TV program or averting the eyes is neat. Also, the remote control devices are a bit archaic when one console can do it all. Thumbs up on this one even if personally I won’t be watching too much TV but other members of the household will.

Welcoming Always Online.

I think it’s easy to complain about always online but I can certainly empathize with those of you where it becomes a big issue. The old consoles never had this problem, you bought the game as they were and if they were buggy then tough. In this day an age where games are more complex then sometimes things slip through the net, or when in the wild, gamers find things the developers didn’t. Updates are a bit of a pain and interrupt the flow, so to have a system that takes care of these automatically in the background or when I’m asleep is good news. Then there’s the speed of getting into a game. This is slow what with the loading, the opening screens and such like, having an instant access to where I left off is also very welcoming.l My consoles are already always online and if I am still able to play somehow when I’m away, or log in using a mobile device then it’s all good. Perhaps the latter is wishful thinking. That said, for me internet drops outs are never an issue. I do hope that Microsoft does accommodate those who have less than steady connections, or none at all.

Used Sales

I use services such as Steam, Origin and Gamersgate which are all online services. Steam being my pick of the crop. Like many others, steam is the gateway to the digital realm which I’ve embraced without fear, or a need for a physical disc. With Xbox One offering a similar service where my games are tied to my specific profile, I am not going to be too fussed about used sales. I buy games to play, and sometimes, I replay the older games for nostalgia sake, even if it’s only for an hour. I do hope Microsoft adopts a similar strategy to steam by offering sales and enticements with new purchases for example, I recently purchased Bioshock Infinite when it released and received Bioshock 1 and XCOM Enemy Unknown for free. If Xbox One competes with this level of service then I’m game. If I can pick up new games for under £10 in a sale then I’m also game.

The Games

The Xbox 360 is getting on a bit now and was in need of a new family member for quite some time, even though the games right now are at the highest level. Having invested in PC gaming and a high end GPU the differences between the two are quite staggering. Xbox One will close the gap and what’s really exciting is the prospect of the familiar exclusive franchises receiving a lick of paint. As an example, Halo has seen several games on Xbox 360 and even though Halo 4 is a real looker, on XBox One, I can only imagine what the halo franchise will look like. Microsoft has been quiet with its AAA games this year, and hopefully the new products like Ryse, Forza 5 and Quantum Break will showcase what Xbox One can do.

Written by: Rob Cram

Rob Cram has hundreds of video game reviews, thousands of articles under his belt with years of experience in gaming and tech. He aims to remain fair and free from publisher/developer influence. With his extensive knowledge, feels his gaming opinions are valid and worth sharing. Agreement with his views are entirely optional. He might have a bias towards cyberpunk.