http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in … 06695.html

"Most recently, Xbox World reported that it will boast an improved version of Kinect, a Blu-ray drive, and a new controller with an embedded HD touchscreen."

Hmmm, an embedded HD touchscreen controller. I know I've heard of this somewhere before...

Rumors about Kinect being built in started a long time ago, and from what I've gathered through my job they seem to be true. And it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect the new machine by the end of next year.

It would also only make sense for MS to switch to Blu-Ray because, well, what else?

As for the controller thing, I guess that could be true too. I have to get my hands on a Wii U first to see if this is a good thing or not.

http://news.yahoo.com/gamestop-warns-mi … 11635.html

If this is true, and I heard Sony may be doing the same, then I will happily buy neither system and stick with Nintendo. In fact, I think Nintendo would LOVE for this to be true!

Rumors about not being able to play used games have been floating around for a while now, and if they're true, this will undoubtedly result in lower sales. God knows I won't be getting either console soon if they decide to go that way.

And always-online too!?
F that S.

If they do destroy the used game market, they should cut the price of new games by half to make up for it.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevange … ame-sales/

More evidence to support the rumor that Microsoft is full of crap (wait, you already knew that).

“Did you learn nothing from Diablo III or SimCity? You know some people’s internet goes out right?”

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in … 37715.html

It amazes me that [censored] such as Microsoft Studios' creative director Adam Orth get paid big bucks to do nothing positive. I know, I should have stopped being amazed long ago, but I just can't help it...

I'm sure I'm with millions of customers when I say that I probably will not buy a game console that requires an always on internet connection for DRM or that does not allow used games.  If Microsoft goes that direction, their games division can eat sh*t and die as far as I care.  I'll take my thousands of video gaming dollars to another vendor.

Totally agreed. I'm sure they'll be fine, you know, since Ballmer is such a great leader and Windows 8 is such a runaway success.

Oh wait...

Heh, looks like someone's big mouth got him a pink slip

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/ … f-twitter/

Also, more criticism of the always-on model

http://news.yahoo.com/dear-microsoft-gi … 06268.html

With all this negative publicity, I think there's a good chance they will forego the always on and no used games scenario. However, they may try to pull of some stunts such as "must activate game online" in which case, I won't purchase the system.

To be frank, even IF it's not always on and can play second-hand games properly, I'm still probably going to pass on this one. There was a time when my 360 got the most playtime, but it has been made completely obsolete by the PS3 now and I haven't touched it in over a year, I think.

I'm probably going to play the new Gears game at some point, but to be honest, I'm kinda tired of that series, which means MS doesn't really have any exclusives I care about anymore, so there's little they can do to motivate me to buy their new console.

For me, I'll probably have to go wherever the fighting game scene ends up. Outside of some downloads from the Xbox Marketplace (or whatever they call it), those are nearly all I play now. Since nearly all the games I really want are on both consoles and I'm expecting that trend to continue, it would simply depend on which system is cheaper and has less BS to deal with. But I also don't expect the fighting game scene to move to the new consoles until a good 2-3 years until after they're out anyway.

I am AMAZED by how much I agree with this sentiment.  Microsoft started this generation having my business firmly locked in with the types of games they secured as exclusives.  I mean during the early days we had a Katamari game, Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Tales of Vesperia, and a number of Square games (back before I distrusted anything they made).  Plus it took a LONG time before the PS3 version of multiplatform games performed as well as their 360 counterparts (ew PS3 Bayonetta ew).

...actually for the last couple years there's been little for either console that has excited me.  At least we just got Ni No Kuni for PS3!

I'm firmly in "wait and see" mode for both PS4 and whatever the new Xbox will be called.  Nothing I've heard excites me at ALL for either.  As awful as the Wii U launch window has been for Nintendo, I'm still happy to have a Wii U because I know at least I'll get their first party stuff AND all my digital stuff from Wii transferred AND it's not always-online or any of that other BS.