Xbox One - Some Questions Answered

Due to my past few posts on social media and here about the Xbox One, I've gotten a lot of questions about it. How does it work? Is it cool? Should I get one?

I want to offer some observations, and hopefully you'll be able to use those to decide whether you should get one. 

1. The XB1 is NOT for kids...

Small children are getting access to game systems at younger ages. I'm not one to say they shouldn't have them around at all; I was playing Bloody Roar and Tekken with the guys long before conventional wisdom says I should have been. 

But this console is far too powerful for your 7 year old. 

Most of the allure lies in capabilities such as fantasy football, Skype, and advanced multitasking. Your kid doesn't need any of that. And you'll be spending more time trying to limit his/her access to various programs, versus enjoying the full capacity of the console. 

You're better off getting a PS4 for your kid - or let them continue playing the 360 or PS3 that they undoubtedly already have. Games will continue being made for these consoles for a while, and you can rest easy. 

2. ...but it can still have a permanent place in your living room for the family to enjoy. 

Contradiction? Nope. 

See, your kid doesn't need this console in their bedroom. They're not going to use it enough. But it CAN have a place in the living room, hooked up to the cable box. 

It's a lot of fun shouting commands at the TV. No more searching for the controller when you want to change channels. You can navigate Netflix while laying cozy on the couch - or play DVDs, or watch TV, or switch between each. 

Microsoft set out to make a console that everyone could enjoy at once, and they've really done a great job on that front. So if you want a device that will unify your living room and give you a unique viewing and interactive experience, this is it. 

3. A lot of the features sound like gimmicks, until you use them. 

When we took the console to my friend's house and told him about the voice commands, he boldly proclaimed that he wasn't interested in any of that, and just wanted to see gameplay. 

An hour later, he was commanding the Xbox verbally just as much as we were. 

When I pointed out what he was doing, he made this face. No lie.

Our best comparison of voice controls comes from our smartphones, with services such as Siri and Google Now. So when we hear a console doing it, we think it's just as disposable as those are. 

But it's a different integration of technology. And until you've actually seen it work, you have no idea of just how useful it is. As with the anecdote, once my friend realized that just saying a command is far easier and quicker than picking up a controller and navigating the screen, the choice to use his voice was simple. 

Note: The voice commands are still inconsistent; sometimes they don't work. Sometimes they don't recognize you. It's gotten my requests wrong a few times. The technology isn't perfect. But the power is there.

4. If you're not willing to spend a little time setting it up, you're not going to make much use of it. 

Anyone have an Android phone? You may have learned that the biggest difference between Android and iPhone is the amount of time it takes to set it up. It can literally take months with an Android before you've got it fully customized to your tastes, but after you've spent that time, you realize you truly have a device optimized to YOU, and life becomes much easier. 

I tend to recommend Androids only to people who I know will spend the time to explore it. It's frustrating to someone who doesn't want to do that. 

The same applies to the Xbox. Granted, you are given some concessions: if one person downloads apps, they are available to everyone to use, and there aren't many. But you need to spend some time tweaking your gamer pic, signing into all of your various accounts, and organizing your home screen. The Kinect needs to be calibrated. You need to let it know who you are so it can facially recognize you (a "gimmick" so useful that you're going to be upset next time you need to manually sign into your profile). 

Once you've done the set up, the rest is simply letting it make life easier for you. But you have to put in a little work first. 

5. This is the technology of the future - but it's not at it's best yet, so you're a bit of a beta tester.

This may be the deal breaker for some, and if it is, that's okay. 

The XB1 isn't perfect. It has some lag issues (which have gotten better after spending some time with #4), and sometimes the voice commands don't work. But it is a machine full of potential. 

You have to have some faith in that to appreciate it. You have to understand that this technology is going to take some time to really develop. But it will. Game developers will use the voice technology to add new dimensions to the game (Need for Speed Rivals is a fantastic example of the use of it). App developers will create programs for it, just as they had to do with phones. In a year or so, maybe even a few, this thing is going to blow everything we knew about technology out of the water. 

Don't get the launch console unless you're okay with dealing with the bugs that come with that. 

Don't even get it by Christmas. Wait until next year. It will still be more than worth it. 

In conclusion - 

If you're adventurous, interested in technology, and intrigued by the possibilities that await you, get an XB1. Maybe not now, but down the line, you're going to be glad you put this in your living room. 

If you'd rather play it safe, want something specifically for your kids, or don't want to put much time into exploring, don't bother. Find someone who has one, see it in action in person, and if you find yourself going back to your entertainment system and missing it, then your decision has been made. 

Did this help? Do you have one, or are you planning on getting it? Sound off below! 

The Three Musketeers of Next Gen

Our No Gamer Left Behind campaign has come around full circle.

Witness: the next generation of consoles.

Each has it's own personality. The WiiU, that's almost like the shadow console. It didn't get much hoopla and nobody really talks about it, but it was the first of these consoles to offer the ability to change channels. And the tablet controller is awesome. The PS4 is the balanced, sophisticated console. The face of next gen, it does what it needs to do well, and offers some cool features to keep you wowed. The Xbox One is the enforcer. Formidable and intimidating, it is the central command of your living room.

All three play their part. All three are special in their own right. Together, they are a united force of awesome.

Just a console and it's controller. And the homies.

The smaller the controller, the bigger the console, if you know what I mean.

Many have asked: what did you do with your old console?

Good question. Technically, my Xbox 360 is in a Microsoft issue XB1 backpack, on the floor in front of the TV. As you can see in the picture, there's a 360 in the background, and if you've got good eyes, you may have seen that PS3 lurking on the bottom shelf.

You have served us well, brave warriors. You deserve a proper retirement.

Let us take a moment to give these consoles their due. They have saved us from boredom, been our companions, allowed us to have fun with our friends, streamed content, and have been loyal for a number of years. They've survived falls, abuse, spilled beverages, lost controllers, busted disk drives, mods, and overheat, and yet still are kicking. We cannot let go of them, not yet; for now, they will take their place in the shrine of the past. They have a place in the soon to be game room, alongside the other retro consoles we did not photograph but that lurk in the corners of rooms and under beds.

We are at a sweet spot in technological advancement right now, so let's enjoy it! The future is here...the next generation is here.

A Letter to Our New Arrival

My dearest Xbox One,

8 hours remain until I finally get to meet you, and I’ve never been so excited.  We talk about you every day – you already have many friends who are also anxious to finally see you in person. I can’t wait to hold you to my chest for the very first time, get you connected, and hear you wake up. And your dad, well – he sprang up early this morning to prepare the room for you. If it were possible for anyone to be more excited than I am, your dad would be the one. He’s been bragging about you nonstop for months!

Your older brother is relieved that you’re coming, too. He’s getting a bit old, you see, as he’s the only one of your siblings still standing. He’s put on quite a few miles over the years. We modified him a long time ago, so he can prepare you for that. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine – it’s a routine surgery. And you’ll be able to do even more after it’s done. Think of it as a coming of age ceremony.

You also will have friends, and you’ll get to travel! That’s going to be fun…you’ll be able to play alongside your rival. I doubt you two are going to go at it like your parents have been, though. Something tells me you have far too much in common to be enemies.  

I should warn you – beware the kitties. Charlie, he won’t bother you much, since he’s almost as old as your brother, but Larry is going to play with you every once in a while. He might just push a few of your buttons, but he really means no harm. Those two are real sweethearts and you’ll come to enjoy their company.

Well, it’s wrapping up time, and I need to finish preparing for your arrival. I can barely sit still! We’ll be there at midnight to welcome you to the world with open arms!

Love,

Mom 

XOXO

What Is The Common Sense Review?

Five years ago, I emerged on the blogging scene, with no idea of how to manage an online diary. In fact, I used it as such for months, posting highly personal information and random irrelevant tidbits of life (think, Facebook statuses as blog posts). I called it Common Sense is Not So Common - something my boss used to say to me often, as a way to remind me not to assume that everyone understands what I'm talking about, and to tailor my communication habits accordingly.

Over time, I started writing about more current events, products, and music that I liked. I found other blogs, and they found mine, and we created a circle. We all would check and comment on each other's blogs daily. I am happy to say I am still friends with many of those people, even though they live around the world. 

Tides rise and fall. New things become old. And so Common Sense Is Not So Common was neglected, forgotten in the dusty cobwebbed corners of the internet. 

I've since started, and subsequently deleted, a number of blogs. I hadn't realized how hard it is to get a new one off the ground. There's a blog by this same name that I started a few years ago, in an attempt to create a purely professional review site. It was also a bit of a WordPress experiment; I wanted to see if I would get used to the platform. 

I didn't. And now, I'm starting fresh again. 

So what is The Common Sense Review?

It can be hard to find truly unbiased, easy to read reviews on the internet. Often, reviews are written in a fit of fury; many are paid reviews, and sometimes the reviewer has not even touched the product. Others are written in terminology that can be difficult for the average person to understand without a lot of research. 

I want to end that. 

I want to help people determine if a product is right for them, not whether the "popular crowd" says it's the cool thing to have. I want to give detailed, but clear and concise, descriptions of products and their everyday applicable uses. And I want to keep you from being taken advantage of by people who know you're not an expert in the product you're looking for. 

Plus, I'm willing to try anything. I'll take the risk so you don't have to. 

Interested? Stick around. I'll make it worth your while.