Xbox One Console Reviews

[Gemini]

lol

Id bet late September or early October 2017

EA Says It Would Delay Mass Effect Andromeda Again If It Makes the Game Better
Another delay hasn't been ruled out.​

BioWare's Mass Effect Andromeda is scheduled to come out by the end of EA's current fiscal year, meaning it will be out by the end of March 2017. However, during an earnings call today, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said EA would delay the game if it felt it needed more time to make it better.

"Right now, Mass Effect is tracking extremely well," he said about Andromeda. "The game looks beautiful. And we're really pleased with its progress. However, as you've seen, we are willing to make moves in launch dates if we feel it's necessary to deliver the right player experience."

If the gameplay is not where BioWare wants it to be, the developer could delay it with EA's blessing. The delay could be a week, or it could be "three or four or five months" if need be, Jorgensen said.

For the time being, Andromeda continues to be in EA's guidance for the current fiscal year. Jorgensen said EA will communicate a delay, if one is to happen, as soon as the decision is made.

After planning to launch the game in 2016, EA delayed Andromeda, only saying it would now be released during its fourth fiscal quarter, which spans January through March. Earlier this year, a delay until "early 2017" was confirmed by BioWare, explaining that it "need the right amount of time to make sure [it] deliver everything the game can be and should be."

An Amazon listing for an Andromeda tie-in art book suggested the game might launch on March 21, but this is not confirmed.

With a release just months away, EA and BioWare have begun to pull back the curtain a little. At the PlayStation Meeting in September, we got our best look at Andromeda gameplay yet. They also revealed that the male and female characters both exist in the in-game world and are siblings.

Just today, EA released a new teaser trailer for Andromeda that teased players will explore regions outside of the Milky Way galaxy. More details are coming on November 7, which is not a random day, but is known as N7 Day.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-says-it-would-delay-mass-effect-andromeda-again/1100-6445017/

 

[Slympickens82]

If anyone has the elite controller and it's still in warranty just contact Microsoft and tell them the left bumper broke and they will send you another one. No questions asked. I just got mine in the mail today.

 

[Gemini]

‘Mafia III’ took a risk by choosing a black protagonist, and it has really paid off

When the developers of the latest version of the “Mafia” franchise revealed their protagonist last summer, they surprised a lot of people with a very risky decision.

Not only was Hangar 13, the new studio at mega-publisher 2K Games, going to change the franchise by making a “Mafia” game that was not centered around Italian Americans — itdecided to make the game's protagonist a half-black man living in the American South in the 1960s. With a setting like that, there was no way to avoid confronting the character's race or the broader hot-button topic of racism.

The risk paid off: 2K Games’ parent company, Take Two Interactive, reports earnings Wednesday, confirmed that “Mafia III” is now the fastest-selling title in 2K Games's history — overtaking other franchise juggernauts such as “NBA 2K,” “Borderlands” and “BioShock.” The game sold and shipped more than 4.5 million copies digitally and to retailers in its first week, the company said.

In an industry often criticized for endorsing the idea that the “default” person is a white male, the protagonist of “Mafia III,” Lincoln Clay, stands out. There have been other biracial characters and protagonists in video games before. But Hangar 13 put Lincoln — out for revenge against the Italian American mob that killed his own crime family — at the front of a major franchise and in such a way that his race was an essential part of his character.

The designers did not want to make a character whose race could be generically swapped in and out with no story effect. “Lincoln's racial identity came from a desire to have the game tell its own story, and to look at who would be the most interesting from that time period,” said studio head Haden Blackman, who said in an interview this week that he had been very nervous about how the game's risks would be received.

There were some early discussions about whether this choice would narrow the game's audience, said Strauss Zelnick, chief executive at Take-Two Interactive. But that quickly turned into a discussion of how to authentically depict the time period without being exploitative or preachy, he said.

“It’s tough to take on a subject material like this and treat it realistically and sensitively,” Zelnick said. “We have to be sure not to put our words in the character's mouths, but to make sure the words belong in the mouths of the characters.”

For research, Hangar 13 developers read through hundreds of firsthand accounts from African Americans in the 1960s Southand watched documentaries in search of the right stories and voices to lend the game authenticity.

Not all of theirchoices have been universally well-received. “Mafia III,” for example, generated some controversy for making the “n-word” a recurring part of its dialogue. Blackman said he understands the debate but underscored that the decision to use the slur was carefully considered and balanced. And they modified the game in response to the criticism.

“There were moments in development where that word, specifically, was used with a frequency where it became comical or it became background noise,” he said. “Based on feedback we got from others as they played the game, we dialed it back.”

Throughout development, Hangar 13 relied on feedback from many places to build in such checks. One of the writers was African American, said Blackman, who is not black. Hangar 13 also worked very closely with its voice actors for the game, sometimes asking them to ad-lib or revise, basedon what sounded natural. The studio also took pains to include characters of differing backgrounds within the black and white communities.

“We were making sure there was no one single black experience or white experience in the game,” Blackman said. Even the decision to make Lincoln biracial, rather than fully black, was a thoughtful decision — partly to leave the possibility open that the protagonist could be half-Sicilian himself but also to show that in that era, looking black at all earned you bad treatment.

Of course, Hangar 13 set out to make a mob video game, not to change the world. Even a good video game may not be the best vehicle for sophisticated social commentary. And at the end of the day, Lincoln is still a gangster, and “Mafia III” has its share of over-the-top violence. Blackman said that they wanted to be sure the game was fun and fit its genre and also that Lincoln had his share of flaws.

“The worst crime would have been to make him perfect in some way that doesn't feel true,” Blackman said.

He takes criticism that the game went too far in its social message — or that it did not go far enough — with good humor.

“The reaction from most critics and players has given me the validation that we walked that tightrope pretty well," Blackman said. “We received a lot of feedback from African American players who appreciate a character that represents diversity and that we weren't shying away from what that means.”

Video game protagonists on the whole are becoming a more diverse group. “Watch Dogs 2,” due out later this month, also stars a black protagonist, a hacker named Marcus Holloway. That decision also sparked some controversy, as Fusion reported, including at least one complaint that it's unrealistic to have a black hacker because “black people don’t know how to use technology.”

If the sales of “Mafia III” are any indication, the inclusion of a diverse protagonist certainly has not hurt the game's bottom line. “I do think consumers are searching for a representation of our exceedingly diverse world in our entertainment and art,” Zelnick said.

Clarification: An earlier version of this story failed to specify that the 4.5 million copies of "Mafia III" sold in its first week were sold and shipped digitally and to retailers. The story has been updated.




https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-a-black-protagonist-but-its-really-paid-off/

 

[Gemini]

Best-Selling Forza Horizon 3 Unveils New Content and… is that snow?

​

We are proud to announce that Forza Horizon 3 is the year’s best-selling, highest-rated racing game, further strengthening Forza as the most successful racing franchise on any platform this generation. Thanks to the biggest Forza launch to date, we had more than five million fans playing Forza games in September on Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs.

We are so grateful for our fans and will continue working hard to deliver great content that will add to the Forza Horizon 3 experience.

Arriving today, the Alpinestars Car Pack brings seven new cars to Forza Horizon 3. Leading off the pack are a pair of beloved drifting legends, the 1998 Nissan Silvia K’s and the 1990 Mazda Savanna RX-7; two of the most requested cars in the Forza community. The Alpinestars Car Pack also features a chunk of Australian racing history in the Ford Falcon XR GT, a street-legal racer in Dodge Viper ACR, and more. The Alpinestars Car Pack is included as part of the Forza Horizon 3 Car Pass, which is available for purchase in the Microsoft Store. Players can also get the pack as a standalone purchase for $6.99.

Our partner Alpinestars produces the highest level of performance and protective footwear and apparel for nearly all forms of motorsport as well as lifestyle clothing and accessories. To learn more about this month’s car pack partner visit: http://www.alpinestars.com/

Here’s a closer look at each of the car’s in this month’s pack:

2017 Acura NSX

The new Acura NSX may be a hybrid, but it’s a hybrid supercar. A mid-engine, all-wheel-drive, twin-turbo, hybrid slice of pure performance. With 650 hp from its combined 3.5-liter V6 and three electric motors driving all four wheels, what you have is a balanced and capable car that can compete with other supercars nearly ten times its price. There are nine gears to work your way through as you pass 60 mph in just over three seconds and torque-vectoring to smooth you through the curves. All the while you can still look back fondly on the original NSX that made the 2017 model possible in the first place.

1998 Nissan Silvia K’s

If you drift what you drive, this S14 Kouki model is your dream car in the making. The K’s model has the later version of the SR20DET motor with variable valve timing and a larger turbo under the hood. Outside you have a slightly larger body that is accentuated by the rounded styling, as well as a modest wing and ground effects. When Nissan built the Silvia they knew their market of enthusiasts. That was long before the entire drift movement was little more than a small cultish group of enthusiasts. This Silvia has a chassis that lends itself to going sideways or just looking good going down the road. What will you do with your build?

1990 Mazda Savannah RX-7

The second-generation RX-7 (FC) was specifically designed to appeal to the largest market—the United States—by looking at what sports cars were selling well at the time, namely the Porsche 924 and 944. Under the hood, though, the Porsche and the Mazda couldn’t be more different. Mazda’s latest rotary, a two-rotor design known as the 13B, saw the addition of a turbocharger and a host of other refinements to bring power (and more importantly, torque) up to 200 and 195 ft-lbs. respectively. Suspension improvements include a particularly advanced independent rear suspension. Not only does the second generation RX-7 perform wonderfully, the sound of the rotary alone is enough to make this car your go to drifter or racer.

1967 Ford Falcon XR GT

The Falcon holds a prominent place in Australian muscle car history. When Ford Australia Managing Director Bill Bourke introduced the XR GT, its racing provenance was soon in the making. With a 289 V8 powering the car, Harry Firth of the Ford Works Team took the Falcon racing at Bathurst – Mount Panorama. It was groundbreaking since the course had previously been considered too difficult for a full-bodied car like the Falcon. Firth and Fred Gibson won the then named Gallaher 500 by 11 seconds and set the course for GM’s Holden and Chrysler Australia to get involved in racing. The resulting rivalries and brand loyalties have built generations of muscle car lovers in Australia.

2016 Dodge Viper ACR

The appropriately named ACR, or American Club Racer, version of the Viper is little more than a race car with a license plate. The tires are basically slicks with some superficial groves to make them street legal. Built for the track with a massive wing that contributes around 2,000 pounds of downforce at top speed, the ACR is actually slower than other Viper models, until you take it into a corner, where is sticks like glue and corners like nothing else. With 8.4 liters of V10 under its long nose, you won’t be longing for power either. Unleash this venomous snake for one of the rides of your life.

2016 BMW M4 GTS

The M-Class inspires the performance-minded driver, but when you add the GTS to the badge you better be ready for something special. New water-injection technology helps maintain intake manifold temperatures which allows higher boost pressures and increased horsepower. But, of course, the special model was going to have more power. The real sweetheart in the GTS is the roughly 200-pound weight loss that makes the GTS more nimble and able to accelerate quickly. Add in some great appearance enhancements in the way of cool lighting elements, a deleted back seat and a huge wing and you have a standout model worthy of the special badging that lets others know to get out of the way at a glance.

1979 Talbot Lotus Sunbeam

The World Rally Championship has inspired some awesome hot hatches over the years, and the Talbot Lotus Sunbeam is one of the hottest. In the search to compete with Ford, Chrysler Europe came up with this British-French collaboration that earned the constructors cup in 1981. It may resemble the Plymouth Horizon or the Dodge Omni but this baby is rear wheel drive with a punched-out two-liter making the better part of 150 hp. A classic late-70s oddball that’s ready for anything you can throw at it in the game.

One last thing – as we all know, winter is coming and that means some less than ideal road conditions. Here is a peek at what you will be facing in the first Forza Horizon 3 expansion later this year.

We are offering players a Forza Horizon 3 Expansion Pass available at $34.99 for discounted access to two future expansions. Ultimate Edition owners will receive a discount of $10 on the Forza Horizon 3 Expansion Pass if purchased before the end of 2016. Be sure to stay tuned to Xbox Wire and ForzaMotorsport.net for more information!
Read more at http://news.xbox.com/2016/11/01/bes...unveils-new-content-snow/#lixXHjLBySHMhQyQ.99

 

[Gemini]

 

[Gemini]

 

[FutureBrandNu]

If you have titan fall 2 on Xbox drop names.

My GT is: BigJAD66 Really digging TF2 now. Im running with the cloak and a shotty, beasting cats!

 

[Gemini]

 

[Gemini]

 

[chrislee]

Fuck Gears pack system.

 

[Gemini]

Xbox One S Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2016 Deals​

I was tired of reading vague articles about Black Friday deals on the Xbox One S. So here’s a list of all the confirmed deals for 2016, sorted by console size. I’ll update this whenever a new deal is posted. All controllers are wireless unless stated otherwise.

Xbox One S 500GB

• Dell: $249 with 2 controllers, Battlefield 1, Gears of War 4
• Kohls: $249 with 1 controller, Minecraft, $75 Kohls gift card
• Sams Club: $249 with 2 controllers, Battlefield 1 or Minecraft, 2 controllers
• Costco: $249 with 1 controller, Minecraft
• Amazon: $299 with 1 controller, Minecraft, LEGO Jurassic World, TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan
• Newegg.com: $299 with 1 controller, Battlefield 1, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Assassin’s Creed Unity
• Walmart: $299 with 2 controllers (1 wired), Battlefield 1 or Minecraft, extra game*
• Microsoft: $299 with 1 controller, Gears of War 4, extra game** (special edition Gears of War 4 blue console & controller)
• Microsoft: $299 with 1 controller, FIFA 17, extra game**

* Walmart extra games: Call of Duty Infinite Warfare, Titanfall 2, FIFA 17, Madden NFL 17, Battlefield 1, WWE 2K17, NBA 2K17

** Microsoft extra games: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Mafia 3, Forza Horizon 3, Recore, FIFA 17

Xbox One S 1TB

• Costco: $357 with 1 controller, Battlefield 1, Call of Duty Legacy Edition (special edition Battlefield 1 military green console & controller)
• Amazon: $399 with 2 controllers, Battlefield 1 (special edition Battlefield 1 military green console & controller)
• Amazon: $349 with 1 controller, Madden NFL 17 Bundle, Tom Clancy’s The Division
• Amazon:$399 with 2 controllers, Gears of War 4
• Amazon: $299 with 1 controller, Minecraft, LEGO Jurassic World, TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan
• Microsoft: $349 with 1 controller, Gears of War 4, extra game*
• Microsoft: $349 with 1 controller, Battlefield 1, extra game* (special edition Battlefield 1 military green console & controller)
• Newegg.com: $349 with 1 controller, Gears of War 4,
  Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Titanfall
• Newegg.com: $349 with 1 controller, Madden NFL 17

* Microsoft extra games: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Mafia 3, Forza Horizon 3, Recore, FIFA 17

Xbox One S 2TB

• Amazon: $399 with 1 controller
• Amazon: $513 with 2 controllers, Gears of War 4 (special edition Gears of War 4 red console & controllers)

https://cybermondayhero.com/xbox-one-s-cyber-monday-2016/

 

[LSN]

Wish i could buy a stand alone MW remaster, cause this year's COD is wack.

I'd check ebay...if the digital copy of infinite warfare comes w/ a digital code for the MW remaster...some ppl will sell the code on ebay...the digital copy of IW (unlike the physical copy) doesn't force you to have a disc to play the IW remaster...also expect digital codes to possibly show up for it on cdkeys and/or gamedealdaily

damn just seen a gameplay clip for MW remastered...I def want that shit but can't find any XB1 codes for sale...I've seen some for PS4 tho...hopefully activision decides to sell it separately after they make their $$$ from infinite warfare

 

[Gemini]

I can't find any codes either.



Elite Controller $119.99 @Amazon.com With Prime at checkout
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Xbox+One+Elite+Wireless+Controller+

 

[xxironxx]

Well we need more BGOL fam to join us in Battlefield 1( Xbox one) we roll as a crew myself Djdvs73, Elite, Riggz, blackPat

I be on. I really ain't shit doe lol and i only been playing team death match but I'm down to fuck around x313x mac

 

[ThaBurgerPimp]

A lot of people are saying the single player is really good. I hated the multiplayer beta.

You referring to Infinite Warfare..? if so i thought the campaign was surprisingly good,even if it did look like a BSG/The Expanse mash-up..

when you confront Salen Koch there actually is an achievement called "You Know Nothing"

lol

Id bet late September or early October 2017

EA Says It Would Delay Mass Effect Andromeda Again If It Makes the Game Better
Another delay hasn't been ruled out.​

BioWare's Mass Effect Andromeda is scheduled to come out by the end of EA's current fiscal year, meaning it will be out by the end of March 2017. However, during an earnings call today, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said EA would delay the game if it felt it needed more time to make it better.

"Right now, Mass Effect is tracking extremely well," he said about Andromeda. "The game looks beautiful. And we're really pleased with its progress. However, as you've seen, we are willing to make moves in launch dates if we feel it's necessary to deliver the right player experience."

If the gameplay is not where BioWare wants it to be, the developer could delay it with EA's blessing. The delay could be a week, or it could be "three or four or five months" if need be, Jorgensen said.

For the time being, Andromeda continues to be in EA's guidance for the current fiscal year. Jorgensen said EA will communicate a delay, if one is to happen, as soon as the decision is made.

After planning to launch the game in 2016, EA delayed Andromeda, only saying it would now be released during its fourth fiscal quarter, which spans January through March. Earlier this year, a delay until "early 2017" was confirmed by BioWare, explaining that it "need the right amount of time to make sure [it] deliver everything the game can be and should be."

An Amazon listing for an Andromeda tie-in art book suggested the game might launch on March 21, but this is not confirmed.

With a release just months away, EA and BioWare have begun to pull back the curtain a little. At the PlayStation Meeting in September, we got our best look at Andromeda gameplay yet. They also revealed that the male and female characters both exist in the in-game world and are siblings.

Just today, EA released a new teaser trailer for Andromeda that teased players will explore regions outside of the Milky Way galaxy. More details are coming on November 7, which is not a random day, but is known as N7 Day.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-says-it-would-delay-mass-effect-andromeda-again/1100-6445017/

Watch it will be Feb.or March 2018

 

[Gemini]

You referring to Infinite Warfare..? if so i thought the campaign was surprisingly good,even if it did look like a BSG/The Expanse mash-up..

when you confront Salen Koch there actually is an achievement called "You Know Nothing"



Watch it will be Feb.or March 2018

Titanfall

 

[Gemini]

 

[Gemini]

Mass Effect Andromeda Game Informer Coverage Trailer


​

 

["THE MAN"]

1 more playthrough for ME!

 

[Gemini]

ME2 taking forever to download

 

[ViCiouS]

 

[chrislee]

Are they free is you played them on a profile?

 

[chrislee]

Damn if RD2 & ME2 drops in the fall.

 

[Gemini]

If you bought a digital copy on that profile, yes.

If you have EA access yes

 

[Gemini]

 

[Gemini]

The Xbox Insider Program is the Next Step in Providing Feedback on Xbox​

Feedback from our fans is important to all of us here at Xbox, and one of the more popular places to give feedback is through the Xbox Preview Program. Since the program launched in February 2014, your feature requests, ideas, and millions of votes have helped shape and improve your Xbox experience for the whole community. We’re excited to share news about what’s next for the Xbox Preview Program, including some improvements and more ways for fans to help shape the future of Xbox.

The first change is that the Xbox Preview Program is becoming the Xbox Insider Program. This new name reflects how we are expanding to offer opt-in opportunities to provide feedback on Game and App Previews alongside System Update previews.

Next, we have an update to the Xbox Preview Dashboard that has been rebuilt from the ground-up based on fan feedback. A few highlights include:

• A new name — the Xbox Insider Hub
• Personalized to give you more relevant announcements, quests, and Insider content opportunities to get early access to select games and apps
• A new UI, inspired by the New Xbox One Experience, makes it easier to find the right info and provide more robust feedback
• The Xbox Insider profile card where your contributions in the program come front and center
• Support for multiple users on a console to participate and provide feedback

We’re starting to roll these changes out today to a small number of preview members who have provided the most feedback since the inception of the Xbox Preview Program. If you have your Xbox One console in Instant-on mode and you have the Xbox Preview Dashboard app installed, then you don’t have to do anything — the app will update automatically overnight. If you want to see the changes sooner, you can check for updates by going to My games and apps, and then looking at the updates section. Over the next few weeks, all existing Xbox Preview members will get access to the new Xbox Insider Hub.

Our final change, my personal favorite, is that the Xbox Insider Program will soon be open to all Xbox users. More fans will have the ability to provide feedback directly from their Xbox One consoles. The Xbox Insider Hub will provide great opportunities to try out games, apps, and other console experiences. Note that Xbox system updates will currently be limited to those already testing them (not open to new members), as we still have a huge number of volunteers already doing a great job testing and providing feedback. For more detailed info, check out the Xbox Insider Program FAQ located here.

Whether you’re an Xbox Insider who enjoys previewing the latest Xbox One system updates, or an Insider who loves checking out the beta of the latest installment in your favorite franchise, you’ll now get to choose how to participate. We hope you enjoy the new experience. Be sure to let us know what you think by taking surveys in the Xbox Insider Hub, or on the Xbox.com forums. Thank you for participating, and know that each of you is a huge part of making Xbox a great place for all of us to play!


Read more at http://news.xbox.com/2016/11/07/xbox-insider-program-feedback-on-xbox/#ATM3K1BkSybDLZAT.99

 

[Gemini]

Clubs, Looking For Group, And Some Of The Engineers Behind Them​

Clubs and Looking for Group (LFG) on Xbox Live will be launching to the broader community soon on Xbox One and the Xbox app, giving you access to more people to play with and more choice in how you play. To make sure you hit the ground running and make the most of Clubs and LFG, we sat down with two engineers on the Xbox team to share walkthrough tutorials on the features and chat about their experiences helping bring them to life.

Clubs on Xbox Live | Jasmine Lawrence – Program Manager

Q. Before we dive in, can you tell the readers a little about yourself?

A. I’ve been working on team Xbox for three and a half years. I started here as an intern on the team and came back right out of college to help launch the first Xbox One console. My Gamertag is ‘Iam Full of WIN.’ I am a very competitive Achievement hunter that spends most of my time playing puzzle platformers or indie games.

Q. So what is Clubs on Xbox Live?

A. Clubs are gamer-created and managed groups that can help you meet people and grow communities of gamers who love the same things you do. Anyone can join or create a Club, and you’ll probably see a Club for just about anything. It’s a way for gamers to connect and have fun with other people that share the same interests. I think Clubs are important because they create communities that you can go back to again and again to hang out with similar people, which makes your gaming experience even better.

Q. What was your most memorable moment working on Clubs?

A. The most memorable moment for me was when we first released to Preview and within days there were thousands of Clubs. It was amazing to see people using the feature and getting great feedback on what we could do next.

Q. What was the most challenging aspect of helping bring Clubs to Xbox Live?

A. The most challenging aspect of Clubs was scoping the feature set or picking what we would build out for the feature’s launch. There are literally hundreds of suggestions from gamers, our research team and even fellow gamers on Team Xbox on what we could do for this holiday. It was tough to pick the right ones to release for our Xbox Holiday Update.

Q. Where do you and the team see Clubs going in the future?

A. Clubs has incredible potential to change the way people play. In the future, we hope to integrate more with features like Arena and the Gamerscore Leaderboard, and provide even more opportunities for gamers to share and advertise their Clubs to friends and potential new members.

Q. Does Clubs look different from what the team originally envisioned for the feature?

A. It’s not too different from what we imagined Clubs would look like, but we have been surprised by the trends in how people have been using them. We are proud of the diversity of the type of Clubs that have been created. From the ‘Anime’ Club and ‘Awesome Screenshots’ Club, to the ‘Meeting New Gamers’ Club, people are coming together on Xbox Live and connecting to play their favorite games or share content based on their interests.

Q. Any tips for gamers using Clubs for the first time?

A. If you’re new to clubs, I would recommend checking out our Club Discovery area to find a Club based on games you are currently playing or check out the Clubs your friends are in by going to the ‘Following & clubs’ section on their profile. I’d also encourage users to make a Club that fosters the culture they want if they don’t find what they’re looking for via search. There are millions of gamers out there and Clubs is a great way to bring people together.



Looking for Group | Keith Kline – Program Manager

Q. Can you share some of your background with the readers?

A. I started at Microsoft in 2000 right after I graduated from Penn State with a degree in Computer Engineering. I’ve been on the Xbox Live team for almost 10 years now, currently on the multiplayer team. My Gamertag is Kramer, which I’ve been using since the original Xbox Live beta launched. I play a lot of different game genres varying from FPS, sports, platformers and puzzle games. If it’s on Xbox Live, I’ll probably try it. One of my favorite gaming moments happened a few years ago, when I was crowned the Super Bowl champion of a Madden tournament among the Xbox Live team (32 team members played through an entire NFL season and playoffs).

Q. Can you explain what LFG is?

A. Looking for Group, also known as LFG, helps you quickly find other players that you want to game with. It’s essentially like posting a gaming “want-ad” to the Xbox community. Whether you want to Achievement hunt, play a co-op campaign for Gears of War 4, or do a daily quest, with LFG, you can set the requirements you want to get the right group together. And it works for all Xbox One games, all Backward Compatible Xbox 360 games, and a growing list of top PC games.

Q. What was your most memorable moment working on LFG?

A. I would say both the community reaction to our E3 announcement and when Preview members started to use the feature. The feedback was very positive, and seeing it used in the different ways we intended it to be used for was extremely satisfying. The stories we’ve heard from gamers who’ve had great LFG experiences are priceless.

Q. What was the most challenging aspect of helping bring LFG to Xbox Live?

A. We wanted to make sure this feature could be used for all games on Xbox Live, not just the newest and most popular games. Making it easier to group up for the latest games, while also giving gamers tools to breathe new life into their old favorites was a goal of ours. Finding that balance was difficult, but we feel the end result delivers a powerful feature on top of something most gamers are already comfortable doing.

Q. Where do you and the team see LFG going in the future?

A. Some of the things we’d like to do is acknowledge great LFG hosts, improve scheduled LFGs with more options, and give hosts access to more data when vetting applicants. But the highest priority improvements will be the ones the gamers ask for, so keep the feedback coming. The community has been great about providing feedback while LFG has been in Preview, and we’ll continue to listen and evolve LFG once it’s available broadly.

Q. Does LFG look different from what the team originally envisioned for the feature?

A. I think if you look back at the goals we had in mind when deciding to build this feature, the team did a great job of executing on that vision. Like most healthy teams, compromises and tough cuts had to be made. But I think for the most part, the final result is something the whole team is proud of and is really giving gamers a great way to find people to play with. Of course, we are not planning on stopping here, so we will continue to add features to LFG.

Q. Any tips for gamers using LFG for the first time?

A. If you are new to using LFG, I would suggest searching for an LFG to apply for rather than hosting your own. Go to the Game Hub of the game you want to play, and find an LFG that matches what you want to do. Get a feel for your experience when joining someone else’s LFG, and then use that to decide how you might want to control your own experience.

 

[Gemini]

The First 33 Minutes of Dead Rising 4 - IGN First
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[Gemini]

18 Minutes of Dead Rising 4: Inside Willamette Mall - IGN First
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[Gemini]

Mass Effect: Andromeda Cinematic Trailer Analysis - Rewind Theater
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[Gemini]

The Wait Is Over – The Xbox Holiday Update Is Here

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Today, we’re pleased to announce Clubs, Looking for Group, Achievement Rarity, Group Messaging and more will start to roll out to the broader community on Xbox One and the Xbox app on Windows 10, iOS, and Android devices. With this holiday update, Xbox Live becomes even more social as we unite gamers across devices, giving you access to more people to play with that share your interests and more choice in how you play. The update also builds upon our vision to foster a welcoming experience on Xbox Live where everyone is included, respected, and supported. The updates start to hit Xbox One consoles and the Xbox app starting today. Haven’t downloaded or used the Xbox app yet? Windows 10 PC and mobile owners, just look in your apps. Android owners get it here; iOS owners get it here.

These new features have been in Preview alongside Arena on Xbox Live. We plan to keep Arena in Preview through the holidays to ensure it’s great when we launch it more broadly. Big thanks to Preview members that have competed in daily Killer Instinct tournaments over the past few weeks – we’ve gotten great feedback. We’re excited about the potential of Arena, and continuing to work with developers to deliver a great experience for our fans. We’ll have more to share as we expand the feature and get closer to its launch.

Here are details about some of the top new features rolling out to Xbox Live on Xbox One and the Xbox app starting today:

Clubs on Xbox Live. Clubs are gamer-created and managed groups that can help you meet people and grow communities of gamers who love the same things you do. Anyone can join or create a Club, and you’ll probably see a Club for just about everything. If you do not, creating a Club is quick and easy.

As a Club member, you’ll be able to set up parties, play games, share content, and easily communicate using voice and text chat with the Club across Xbox One and the Xbox app on Windows 10, iOS, and Android devices, which is great if you want to stay in touch with your Clubs on the go, or find and join new Clubs from your phone. You can search for Clubs (or create your own) in the Community tab on Xbox One and the Clubs section on other devices, and Clubs associated with a game will be accessible in the title’s Game Hub. As a Club admin, you’ll have the tools to ensure that everyone is having a great time and help create a lively and inclusive environment. In case you missed it, check out our tutorial video on Clubs here.

Looking for Group on Xbox Live. Looking for Group (LFG) helps you quickly find other players that you want to game with. It’s like posting a gaming “want-ad” to the Xbox community. You can use LFG to help complete daily quests, Achievement hunt, or even get a group together to annihilate hordes of the Swarm and DeeBees in Gears of War 4. You’ll be able to add certain requirements to make sure that you’re finding the right gamers. You can specify the game, the game mode, the language the party will be speaking, how many people you need, rules like no trash talking or casual friendly, and any other in-game requirements like level, gear or character type.

Here’s how LFG works: gamers can browse open LFGs and request to join the ones that they’re interested in. The LFG host chooses from the list of gamers who have expressed interest and, once the group is full or the host is ready, the host can quickly get those people into Party Chat and start playing. You can even create an LFG post for future gaming sessions up to seven days in advance! For example, if you’re on your way home and want to make the most of your gaming for the night, you can set up everything in advance from your phone, so when you’re home and ready to go, you can just jump right in.

Quick and easy. Whether you’re playing on Xbox One or Windows 10 PC, you can quickly find other gamers to play with on Xbox Live. Check out our LFG tutorial video on LFG here.

Achievement Rarity. Achievement Rarity, a top fan request on Xbox Feedback, helps you discover just how unique an Achievement is among players of a given game. When you earn a rare Achievement, you’ll get a special notification and diamond icon highlighting it. Unlock one today and let us know how you like the new animation!

Group Messaging on Xbox Live: Group Messaging helps you coordinate and keep in touch with your friends and fellow gamers by sending a single group message to everyone in a single conversation. You can also add people to the group and dynamically change the conversation topic. Group Messaging works across Xbox One and the Xbox app on Windows 10, iOS, and Android devices. To help you write your messages even faster on Xbox One, we have added a new predictive dictionary which you can quick access with the right thumb stick on your controller.

Gamerscore Leaderboard. We’ve improved the Gamerscore Leaderboard on Xbox One and the Xbox app on Windows 10 devices. The Leaderboard now resets at the beginning of each month instead of displaying results for a 30-day rolling period, meaning you and your friends will have a clean slate to compete against one another at the start of each month! You can keep an eye on the Gamerscore Leaderboard through the Achievements tab in your profile.

Emojis for your Xbox One virtual keyboard. Emojis will be joining your virtual keyboard on Xbox One! In addition to the existing alphabet and symbols that you can use, you’ll now be able to express your likes, dislikes and more with a host of different emojis on Xbox Live. Once on your virtual keyboard, you can get to emojis by pulling the left trigger until they show up. From there, select any emoji, or press and hold on one to see more related emoji.

The team has worked tirelessly to bring these features to Xbox Live – we hope you enjoy them! Be sure to let us know what you think at Xbox feedback! And don’t forget, Clubs and LFG are great for gamers on the go. Set up or respond to LFG posts and stay connected with your Clubs with the Xbox app on Windows 10, iOS, and Android devices.

http://www.bgol.us/forum/index.php?threads/xbox-one-console-reviews.766048/add-reply

 

[Gemini]

Im glad i didn't bite on that buy two get one free deal

 

[Gemini]

 

[jroc007]

hopefully....they will have these deals online....

 

[phanatic]

hopefully....they will have these deals online....

I don't like dealing with people during the shopping season. I worked retail and there's a certain level of entitlement and anger that these customers have.