Ok, hooked up my Ouya.

It's interesting, although my TV overscans something obscene. It's game selection's anemic, although it also hasn't technically launched yet. It's appropriately hefty, although not quite enough to  not require me to fight some with my HDMI cables. You almost certainly won't have that issue since I'm using 24 AWG cables.

My controller had an electrical issue with what I think was a short in one of the battery compartments, although it works with just one battery. I'm waiting to see how they respond.

On a different note, I'm feeling more and more like most of my gaming might be on a PC this generation, but as always it depends on what Square does with FFXV.

Well, the used market isn't always quite a scam.

Gamestop's offering more then the original purchase price for Xenoblade Chronicles. They were selling it for $35 and are paying $45 for it right now, and selling it used for $60. Something about Nintendo USA not making very many copies.

But yes, I'm seriously debating buying a 360S, a slim PS3, and finding the last US version of the PS2 and, well, hunkering down with them and my laptop and desktop.

I also did some research and it'll be interesting to see if things change, but as far as I can tell a Steam Box is just going to be a PC running Steam in Big Picture mode. Now I'm sure there will be some interesting variations on that, but it does suggest interesting things. Imagine being able to open up your XBox and add more RAM, or a faster CPU or a new Graphics card. Now this does suggest  Steam Boxes will be bigger and more power intensive then typical console but also that they should be able to do all the media and internet tricks that the PS4 and XBox One promise.

It also might, slim chance, but might lead to a lot more game development for Linux since the most common varieties (ie, the cheaper ones) are almost certain to use it and not Windows.

Interesting times.

I wonder if C_P/C_A ever jump on the boards, read our posts and just shake their head and say, "I.. I don't even know anymore.."

Considering that Pat took part in the Beijing shenanigans, I don't think he gets to do that anymore.

The party gets XP equal to the total Base XP Reward (including all bounties, objectives, and traps) x Adventure Threat Level.

It's more a field of vision and focal length issue.

Yeah.

Frankly I never use my XBox for anything other then games.

I have a Roku 2 XD, which I'll likely be upgrading to a Roku 3 in the relatively near future. Awesome little streaming puck. Netflix, Hulu Plus, Crunchyroll, Funimation, Amazon, Crackle, you name it, it streams it. Well, except YouTube, but that's not really a big deal. Add in Plex and it'll stream video off media server or PC on your network.

I know there's a UK version, not sure about Australia.

Here's a good demonstration of the new Kinect, looks quite promising.


Now, one more thing I'm really looking forward to with this next gen of consoles is that we should be seeing better PC games now, as the console targets are better.

That's a bad thing.

Consoles being so far behind computer hardware is good for PC gaming because it means that you don't need $2,000 gaming PC to play the new hot games.

Cool.  I wonder how different kinect one's hardware will be?  If that lens still works then if there's enough to interest me with the new Xbox then it might be a solution.  As it stands though, I leave the sensor in a box in the cupboard because there is literally no game with kinect that interests me.

The casing looks different enough, but I'm confident that a version will be made.

The only motion sensing kinect game I liked was Gunstringer, but the voice detection and recognition is pretty nifty. Hopefully they'll improve the noise cancelling and ignoring the game audio features though.

That said, I have no plans vis-a-vis next gen consoles. Too much stuff still to play on my 360. It might make me buy a S console, just like I really need to go buy a slimline PS2 before they all disappear.

[Sleep Deprivation]

Well, for refrence:

Sleep Deprivation
A character may stay awake for up to 24 hours without effect. Thereafter, he becomes fatigued and must make a Fortitude save (DC 15 + 1 per previous save) at the start of each 24-hour period without at least 4 hours’ sleep. With failure, the character falls unconscious for 1d4+4 hours.

Note that fatigued wasn't a graded condition in SC2.0.

Same, but for a different reason - the current xbox I have came with kinect (I got the whole package for free, so why not) and it doesn't work.  Apparently my bedroom, the only place I can really hook up my Xbox, isn't "kinect supported".  So the entire device fails to function.  Something about the size of the room, apparently.

If the new one requires kinect to be properly setup and initialised then the new machine may well also have room size requirements.  If that's the case, it opts me out of the new one immediately.  Also, it'll suck for retail staff who have to deal with the anger post christmas when people find out that their new machine doesn't work (for what it's worth, fully half my friends have rooms too small for kinect - it's not like I have a tiny bedroom).

I've had good success with the Nyko 'zoom' lens in my bedroom. Granted I don't really have the floor space to use it for full body games without moving the bed and stuff, but it does hand detection pretty well.

Y'know, I was reading a discussion about the Wii U's mistakes (I'm a Nintendo fanboy and I've no problems admitting they've done some boneheaded mistakes with this console) a point was recently made: What if it isn't just Nintendo? What if the Wii U is just the first indication of a larger problem with console gaming, what if we're heading towards another video game crash, like the one in '83?

I don't think we'll see a video game crash like 1983. After that video gaming was basically dead. Consoles may die again though. Consoles going away would likely gut a lot of the AAA franchises though and slash budgets. It also depends how Japan reacts too. I know the Wii U's been lackluster here and Europe but how is it doing specifically in Japan?

Don't know the specific numbers, but pretty much as underwhelming as the rest of the world. Which, considering there's been bugger all in the way of games since launch, is not that strange. And you're right, the phone/pad gaming scene will be going strong regardless of what happens with consoles, so there's that I suppose.

There's also the PC segment, which would likely wind up dominated by more indie companies. The patronage model can work, especially if Obsidian, Double-Fine, and Larian can prove that you can make money on the patronage and then make more money on sales afterwards. I also expect the Nintendo handheld market to stay respectable.

My next gen console choice will likely be largely influenced by what system FFXV will be on.

I've never delved into Steam's guts, but aren't games on Steam tied to your Steam profile? Essentially the same as softkeys?

Yes.. but Valve.. they're always up to something.. they're like the mini-google.  Wouldn't surprise me if they're like.. SteamBox.. now with GameLending / Trading!  (Right now, you can only gift unused serials.)

Considering the stellar plasma hot rage Gabe seems to have for both MS's gaming division and SCEA, it would not surprise me.

Wii U.  When EA holds a press conference to say they don't know what a Wii U is, you're in trouble.

Nintendo screwed up big time on the launch and sales have been meh. They might be able to pull out though. Maybe. Especially if MS and Sony keep screwing up.

But the Wii U reminds me of the FiveSeven.  Proprietary Round.  Sorta complicated to design for.  Not really a well used, (.. or in SOME PEOPLE'S cases.. respected) round.. and.. you know.. 7 year old hardware shoved into a new case.

I never said it would be an awesome success, but if the PS4 has the same issues and E3 doesn't wow us with announced games and demos from the big developer houses I foresee a lackluster launch for both consoles. Nintendo, with some skill and luck, might be able to parlay that into a 'win' with the Wii U.

On a vaguely related note...

My Ouya showed up last week, but I've been too busy to plug it in.

Expect a review once I get a chance.

Y'know, I was reading a discussion about the Wii U's mistakes (I'm a Nintendo fanboy and I've no problems admitting they've done some boneheaded mistakes with this console) a point was recently made: What if it isn't just Nintendo? What if the Wii U is just the first indication of a larger problem with console gaming, what if we're heading towards another video game crash, like the one in '83?

I don't think we'll see a video game crash like 1983. After that video gaming was basically dead. Consoles may die again though. Consoles going away would likely gut a lot of the AAA franchises though and slash budgets. It also depends how Japan reacts too. I know the Wii U's been lackluster here and Europe but how is it doing specifically in Japan?

I'm a PC gamer primarily, so I can't get used games.  What I can get though?  Steam Sales!  But yeah.. this generation of consoles is going to be a disaster.

You forgot GOG.

First.  Why are we dual releasing most of the new games.  Like.. "New Halo".. Dystopia.. Divergence.. DollaDollaBill.. the Bungie game that starts with a D.. you can buy it for *coughs*  the X1.. or 360.  If you're forcing people to keep their 360s to play their current libraries, and can buy the game for what they have to keep anyway.. ...why are they ever going to early adopt?

Likely because they spent so much developing it they didn't want to take the chance.

Wii U.  When EA holds a press conference to say they don't know what a Wii U is, you're in trouble.

Nintendo screwed up big time on the launch and sales have been meh. They might be able to pull out though. Maybe. Especially if MS and Sony keep screwing up.

PS4.  I'm going to assume they're doing the same used game trick.  Its the only rationale explanation I can think of for why EA revoked the Pass.  They don't need the pass.  Everyone adopted Softkeys!  And suddenly.. resellers were ghost stores.

We'll see, but it's certainly possible. 

God forbid Steam jumps into this mess.  You might find Gamers going back to old print books....

I've never delved into Steam's guts, but aren't games on Steam tied to your Steam profile? Essentially the same as softkeys?