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Forums - Microsoft Discussion - Report: Next Xbox OS will include Windows 8.1 'Blue' enhancements

SvennoJ on 09 May 2013
Machiavellian said:
VGKing said:
Not sure a gimped version of Windows 8 is a good idea for the next Xbox. Unless the next XBox can replace my PC, then I see no use for it. By replace my PC, I mean just that. If it can't do everything my PC can do, there's no reason to have Windows on a console.

You are not getting it.  If MS use Win 8 for the nextbox it will be using all of the features and stability of a mature OS.  The NextBox will still be a console, and I highly doubt a lot of services that run within the current Win OS will be there.  Instead, Win 8 on the next box gives the system the ability to do true multitasking, a much better and well defined memory management system for when multiple Apps, games and services run in the background.  

Having the same kernal allows MS to leverage there App store on all of their devices.  You can have the situation where you purchase a game on the App store and if there is a version for the tablet, PC and console, the game can be download to all devices with one purchase.  With XBL, you could start a game on the console save it at a point, pick up that same point in the game on your tablet while taking a train to work or something like that, and then pick back up with the game when you get back home.

It also make development of games easier for developers as they can target multiple devices without having to rewrite their code.  If MS allow developers to create nextBox games and sell them on their app store then it would totally fix their indie developer issues and probably would get a flood (good and bad) of game development for their console.  Also this would allow app developers to target the console as well which also could be good or bad.

You are thinking about this the wrong way.  You are thinking MS will be making the next box another PC while that probably is not the case.  Instead MS is leveraging their technology and ecosystem to create one big platform which allows developers to target multiple systems and make money.

As long as there is still a way to bypass all that for full games. Coding through a bunch of windows api layers is fine for some multiplatform xbla titles, but not when it comes to taking full advantage of the hardware.

And hopefully it won't look too much like the pc version, since I switched from pc gaming to console gaming to get away from my work environment. (Not really a problem since I'm not using win 8 desktop anyway)

Btw I don't see any advantage in games that work on tablets as well, completely different experience and control scheme. Sony does it too with the vita and although there are no control scheme problems I find it makes the ps3 version look clunky on the big screen. It kinda lowers my exitement a bit when I see a game has cross-play with vita.



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walsufnir on 09 May 2013
VGKing said:
Not sure a gimped version of Windows 8 is a good idea for the next Xbox. Unless the next XBox can replace my PC, then I see no use for it. By replace my PC, I mean just that. If it can't do everything my PC can do, there's no reason to have Windows on a console.

*sigh*

Sony uses BSD, most probably freebsd.

 

But does the UI look like this?

 

Or like this?

 

No? Well, same will happen to NextBox.

 

 You are just not getting it what it means if they use Win8.



Mistershine on 09 May 2013

Will the 720s 'Killer App' turn out to be an App Store?



Zappykins on 09 May 2013
Machiavellian said:
VGKing said:
Not sure a gimped version of Windows 8 is a good idea for the next Xbox. Unless the next XBox can replace my PC, then I see no use for it. By replace my PC, I mean just that. If it can't do everything my PC can do, there's no reason to have Windows on a console.

You are not getting it.  If MS use Win 8 for the nextbox it will be using all of the features and stability of a mature OS.  The NextBox will still be a console, and I highly doubt a lot of services that run within the current Win OS will be there.  Instead, Win 8 on the next box gives the system the ability to do true multitasking, a much better and well defined memory management system for when multiple Apps, games and services run in the background.  

Having the same kernal allows MS to leverage there App store on all of their devices.  You can have the situation where you purchase a game on the App store and if there is a version for the tablet, PC and console, the game can be download to all devices with one purchase.  With XBL, you could start a game on the console save it at a point, pick up that same point in the game on your tablet while taking a train to work or something like that, and then pick back up with the game when you get back home.

It also make development of games easier for developers as they can target multiple devices without having to rewrite their code.  If MS allow developers to create nextBox games and sell them on their app store then it would totally fix their indie developer issues and probably would get a flood (good and bad) of game development for their console.  Also this would allow app developers to target the console as well which also could be good or bad.

You are thinking about this the wrong way.  You are thinking MS will be making the next box another PC while that probably is not the case.  Instead MS is leveraging their technology and ecosystem to create one big platform which allows developers to target multiple systems and make money.

^ This in BOLD.

Although, I think it some ways it will be even closer to Window 9 - i.e. everything will be 64 bit only. 

It will also mean that everything will be on DirectX 11.nextbox and it will become a huge platform.  It should allow you to easily make everything 3D and possible transferable to The Oculus Riff or Fortaleza the new Stereo Glasses from Microsoft. Developers will be very comfortable with it.

They have already stated they will not bring out the next DirectX (probably 12) until Windows 9 comes out.  And that is probably at least a few years away.  So game developers will be optimizing everything for the same version of DirectX.  It is a mature version, and Mircosoft likes to use those in it's Consoles; it makes developers happy.

I'm still hoping a little for DirectX 12, with ray tracing and other enhancements, for the NextXbox, but perhaps the hardware isn't up there yet. But they have some amazing looking games on the current DirectX 9.0C in the X360.  So in a few more years DirectX 11.1 should be even more amazing than today.

And as Steam users have show, Windows 8 works well for games.

 



 

Really not sure I see any point of Consol over PC's since Kinect, Wii and other alternative ways to play have been abandoned. 

Top 50 'most fun' game list coming soon!

 

Tell me a funny joke!
Soleron on 09 May 2013

No matter how much you hate Windows 8's UI, having a common codebase between the Xbox and Windows is a very good thing.



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Machiavellian on 09 May 2013
SvennoJ said:
Machiavellian said:
VGKing said:
Not sure a gimped version of Windows 8 is a good idea for the next Xbox. Unless the next XBox can replace my PC, then I see no use for it. By replace my PC, I mean just that. If it can't do everything my PC can do, there's no reason to have Windows on a console.

You are not getting it.  If MS use Win 8 for the nextbox it will be using all of the features and stability of a mature OS.  The NextBox will still be a console, and I highly doubt a lot of services that run within the current Win OS will be there.  Instead, Win 8 on the next box gives the system the ability to do true multitasking, a much better and well defined memory management system for when multiple Apps, games and services run in the background.  

Having the same kernal allows MS to leverage there App store on all of their devices.  You can have the situation where you purchase a game on the App store and if there is a version for the tablet, PC and console, the game can be download to all devices with one purchase.  With XBL, you could start a game on the console save it at a point, pick up that same point in the game on your tablet while taking a train to work or something like that, and then pick back up with the game when you get back home.

It also make development of games easier for developers as they can target multiple devices without having to rewrite their code.  If MS allow developers to create nextBox games and sell them on their app store then it would totally fix their indie developer issues and probably would get a flood (good and bad) of game development for their console.  Also this would allow app developers to target the console as well which also could be good or bad.

You are thinking about this the wrong way.  You are thinking MS will be making the next box another PC while that probably is not the case.  Instead MS is leveraging their technology and ecosystem to create one big platform which allows developers to target multiple systems and make money.

As long as there is still a way to bypass all that for full games. Coding through a bunch of windows api layers is fine for some multiplatform xbla titles, but not when it comes to taking full advantage of the hardware.

And hopefully it won't look too much like the pc version, since I switched from pc gaming to console gaming to get away from my work environment. (Not really a problem since I'm not using win 8 desktop anyway)

Btw I don't see any advantage in games that work on tablets as well, completely different experience and control scheme. Sony does it too with the vita and although there are no control scheme problems I find it makes the ps3 version look clunky on the big screen. It kinda lowers my exitement a bit when I see a game has cross-play with vita.

Even on the 360, MS APIs allowed developers to nearly touch the metel so I see no difference within the nextBox.  For regurlar game development and problem XBL games, developers will probably use the nextBox XDK.  For Windows Store content, those developers will probably use a more cross platform kit which will be much lighter than the XDK but provide a lot of functionality to do everything a developer needs.

As for the interface for the nextBox, I am not sure how that might turn out.  I can see MS doing the tile layout (they already  do) for metro and make it look similar to Win 8.  Of course it will still be specific to the console and what features it has.  It probably will not change that much from the 360 dash.

For tablets and smartphones it will depend on the game.  Most tablets and smartphones you can use a controller for if you want to and if the developer is making a cross platform game, they might take such considerations into account.



dahuman on 09 May 2013

It's going to have a start menu? :P



dahuman on 09 May 2013
VGKing said:
Not sure a gimped version of Windows 8 is a good idea for the next Xbox. Unless the next XBox can replace my PC, then I see no use for it. By replace my PC, I mean just that. If it can't do everything my PC can do, there's no reason to have Windows on a console.


If the xbox can replace a PC, it'd be a PC, so might as well buy a PC lol. :P



cunger on 09 May 2013
aikohualda said:
Pemalite said:
aikohualda said:
i wanna see win 8.1 first before i go gaga over this


It would be the kernel, not the full blown OS, Microsoft will want it locked down for financial and piracy reasons and to keep publishers/developers happy.

ok then i wont be that happy.... i tried to love windows 8, i just cant for now...

I love windows 8.. it's windows 7 with a more user friendly start area for quicklaunching to programs and better search functionaility.



aikohualda on 09 May 2013
cunger said:
aikohualda said:
Pemalite said:
aikohualda said:
i wanna see win 8.1 first before i go gaga over this


It would be the kernel, not the full blown OS, Microsoft will want it locked down for financial and piracy reasons and to keep publishers/developers happy.

ok then i wont be that happy.... i tried to love windows 8, i just cant for now...

I love windows 8.. it's windows 7 with a more user friendly start area for quicklaunching to programs and better search functionaility.

im trying im trying...... but maybe 8.1....