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The Future of Console Gaming: My Thoughts on the Xbox One X
While E3 usually does a number on my bank account, that’s no secret, I knew my wallet was totally fucked when Phil Spencer stepped on stage last Saturday.
Phil (we are on a first name basis) announced the Xbox One X (The X) [Codename Scorpio], the most powerful gaming console ever built. It totes 12 GB of GDDR5 Ram, 6 teraflops (1.8 more than the PS4 Pro) of power and…………….asleep yet? Me too. Let’s talk what really matters–It’s going to make your gaming sessions look fucking amazing. It’s outputting true, and that’s the key word here, TRUE 4k gaming at 60fps. This wasn’t obtainable before The X (on consoles, take it easy PC master race). Gaming was either scaled up to 4K or lacked the ability to sustain high frame rates. Even the original Xbox One really only outputted 900p, which is less than the advertised “HD”.
All these fancy numbers are great and everything, but let’s talk about what this means. Beyond the 4k, beyond the incredible frame rates and even beyond the better graphics. Beyond all that, we have a new console, 4 years into the life cycle of his grandfather console, that still plays all the same games, uses all the same hardware and now does FULL backwards compatibility. The days of having to buy new controllers, games and accessories are OVER. Consoles (including the PS4) have much longer shelf lives as they inch closer towards becoming PCs. Sure, you won’t get the performance enhancements of the new games on your old system, but you can still play them. That’s the important part.
At $499 The X isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s $100 more than its competitor, the PS4 Pro. However, the upgrades are undeniable and the future of this system is very bright. I wouldn’t be surprised if VR came in the next year or so.
What do you think about the Xbox One X? Are you getting it come November?
-Matt
Ep 18 – The Future of Cinema & Tribute to Adam West
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First Look at The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Nintendo at E3
With all the new hardware being thrown around at E3 this year, it’s easy to say Nintendo’s presentation was a little dissapointing.
Nintendo, you pulled the NX rug right out from underneath us, deprived us of a new handheld console and then you do something like giving us gameplay footage and a trailer for the brand new Zelda game….
To be fair, they also gave us a handful of new Pokemon that will be on Sun and Moon, but ZELDA MAN, ZELDA!
First Impressions
Visuals
When I first saw the trailer (embedded above), I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Wind Waker-esque cell shaded graphics were being brought back into the fold. Not that this game is a reproduction of The Wind Waker, far from it, but it’s cool to see this hybrid of visuals that make up Breath of the Wild.
Landscape
People are calling this an “open-world” Zelda game, which is confusing to me. I recall my days streaking across Hyrule field with Epona, wasn’t this open-world? Sailing across the open seas in my tiny wooden boat, wasn’t this open-world? Hell, side scrolling through landscapes and throwing my sword around, wasn’t this open-world? The landscapes in Breath of the Wild are vast. They seem to be truly grande than any installment previous, but everyone being caught on this “open-world” tagline needs to chill. More RPG-like? Yeah sure. Am I missing something on this?
The Jump Button
I Don’t like it. There, I said it.
Style
Style is than visuals in that I am solely talking about Link’s clothes when I talk about “Style”. My verdict…I like it. Kind of tribe-chic.
Bottom Line
This is a Zelda game, people. No matter what tiny little things we can nitpick about it, even a JUMP button, it’s still the next installment in one of the greatest video game franchises ever. I’m going to buy it, you’re going to buy it, what a time to be alive!
-Matt
Who Won E3? – W/ Jessica Chobot of Nerdist
Sadly, E3 is pretty much over for 2015. Here is who Nerdist thinks won the entire shindig. Do you agree?
Coming from a place where I have both the PS4 and a WiiU, I felt a multitude of emotions after E3 ended. I was extremely excited for the games coming to my PS4 (Fallout 4), I was sad that Nintendo didn’t release more 1st party stuff that wasn’t for the 3DS (WHERE ZELDA AT?!), and I was jealous that I don’t currently own an Xbox One because that HoloLens shit looked DOPE (I secretly want to be Tony Stark). I have to agree with Nerdist on this one though, while Microsoft brought all the sick hardware, and backwards compatibility, Sony brought the one thing gamers really want, games. A new Uncharted, The Last Guardian, and a long-awaited remake of Final Fantasy 7 headlined the show, while the kickstarting of Shenmue 3 and the announcement of Fallout 4 really got Playstation owners excited for their gaming future. Would I have liked to see more hardware for the PS4, like their Morpheus VR headset? Sure, but the games sufficiently filled and satisfied my inner gamer.
It’s an exciting time to game!
-Matt
Monster Blog Wednesday: Zombie Apocalypse Competition
It seems like every other month a movie, tv show, or video game comes out that dances the line of a zombie apocalypse. Very rarely is it one man/woman against the undead. Here at average nobodies, we get into the argument of, “who would be your side kick during a zombie apocalypse” once a week. So during this weeks monster blog were each choosing a male and female companion during the zombie apocalypse as a 3 person team. Go!
Here are the rules:
-state your male and female sidekick (real life or fictional figure)
-why did you choose them?
-strengths during zombie apocolypse
-weapons and skills
-team chemistry
-result
Team 1
–John Rambo
I picked Rambo for his obvious survival skills. He dudes a killing machine. No emotions, and will lay it all on the line for survival. I almost didn’t pick him on behalf of my female companion cause I don’t want him cramping smy style. But Rambo has no soul, and no interest in female contact. Problem solved. His skills include hand to hand combat, marksmanship with a gun or bow, living off the land, and living as a ghost. Our team chemistry would be shaky at first but I would be the honey to his vinegar, the stylish one of the group if you will.
Now my female companion? I’m goin with Lara Croft, video game and movie heroine. This bitch is fearless, lives in a monstrous house, resources like Bruce Wayne (shit I should’ve picked him), and not to mention s.t.a.c.k.e.d. She can also make the tough decision on a road of troubled times. Also, experience with the supernatural. She was made to be mine. I will be the womb raider to her tomb raider. As for our chemistry. Nothing short of phenomenal. I can be the strong willed assertive man she needs and she can be the hardcore bitch I’ve always dreamed of. Together we will repopulate the planet full of ridiculously good looking badasses with fantastic hair. Rambo is more of an insurance policy, but we can all learn from each other to dominate zombies and take back our freedom! (Sorry I got all worked up)
+Berno
Team 2
– George Clooney
Easy pick. It’s like asking would I rather breathe air or live in airless tank filled with deadly sharks. I’m going with Clooney for a few reasons:
1. I’m obsessed with him, on every level
2. He’s a master of adapting to his surroundings. If I need a killing machine, I enlist “The American” Clooney. If I want to get romantic (fingers crossed) I enlist “One Fine Day” Clooney. If I need to outsmart the zombies? “Oceans Eleven” Clooney. If I need emergency surgery? He was a doctor on E.R. The list goes on and on. If I had to compare our team chemistry to any two people, it would be Noah and Allie from The Notebook. Two people madly in love with each other, killing zombies and skinny dipping in Lake Como.
Female companion: Gwyneth Paltrow. I hate Gwyneth Paltrow. First chance I get I’m sticking a sharp object through her entitled brain. This world is only big enough for one passionate love affair, and that’s me and Clooney. Once we kill Gwyneth and the survive the zombie apocalypse, we retire to Italy and start a private detective agency. Game. Set. Clooney.
– Ryan
Team 3
“The Wildcards”
–Bear Grylls
Is this even a question? I’m taking Bear as my male companion in a split second. There isn’t even a debate. The man who wins “vs. wild” every time. The guy can survive, with ease, in any environment and can procure food and water with nothing more than an empty water bottle and a sharpened stick. The only other person that could do this would maybe be David Copperfield. The guy is so skilled that normal survival isn’t enough for him, he has to make it a challenge. Walk the tundra? Nope, I’m gonna throw myself off a cliff. Stay dry? Nope, I’m gonna jump in this ice water. The only thing I’m worried about is team chemistry. For all I know Bear will wake up in the middle of the night and start eating my feet. A wildcard for sure, but i’ll take this wildcard anyday.
–Sarah Connor
The orignal bad girl is back from the dead and ready to kick some zombie ass. Here is how her dating profile would read: “Loves long walks on the beach, watching the sunset, and taking down Skynet.” You think zombies are tough? Try taking out a T-800 with your bare hands. Although I fear that she and Bear would run off together, leaving me to die a slow painful death, I am willing to take the chance. And Sarah, cut the cord with your son. Kid can handle himself.
-MattyV
P.S. Honorable mention: Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom. WHY? He has two degrees (including his juris doctorate, which he got in prison)and escaped from prison twice…Oh…and he likes to brag that he killed more men than cancer.
Team 4
First let me start by saying I wouldn’t NEED anyone’s help. I’m pretty good at the Nazi Zombies video game and from what I hear that’s a more than adequate gauge of one’s ability to survive a zombie apocalypse. But for the sake of Monsterblog Wednesday, I’ll play along.
-Daenerys “Stormborn” Targaryen
She has three dragons. Let that sink in… And it’s not the kind of thing where they can turn on her or run away, she’s their mother. Zero reliability , 100% dependability. She’s a strong willed, high spirited leader with a knack for bringing people into her army, very useful should we find any useful survivors along the way. Not to mention by the time a zombie apocalypse rolls around she will have already fought a bazillion white walkers which are basically zombies on crack. Even if I get friend-zoned Jorah Mormont style, there are worse fates.
And now for my ringer, undeniably the greatest zombie companion out there,
-Byron “Buster” Bluth
Do I really have to explain myself? Fine. Loyal to a fault, Buster wouldn’t think twice about running distraction duty while a horde of zombies chase after this unbeatable trio. He’s a master cartographer, an expert in 18th century Agrarian business (good for hostile take overs of the current makeshift society as we rebuild humanity), experienced archaeologist, a trained US Army soldier and let’s not forget about the badass zombie trashing hook permanently attached to his left arm. In fact, he’s starting to make me question my own usefulness in the zombie apocalypse. Plus he is the more likely candidate to get friend-zoned by Dany.
-Sean Lite-
P.S. I think I need a painting of the three of us riding the dragons into an epic zombie battle with flaming swords and rocket launchers and I think I need it pre-imediately.
Tuesday Tech Talk – PS4 vs. XBOX ONE
With E3 currently underway we have finally been able to get access to the full specs and prices of the next generation consoles coming out this fall. These, of course, being the Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
The Rundown
Price > Xbox One ~ $499 —- Playstation 4 ~ $399
Blu-ray > Xbox One ~ YES —– Playstation 4 ~ YES
Storage > Xbox One ~ 500GB—-Playstation 4 ~ 500GB
Motion Control > Xbox One ~ Kinect (Included) —- Playstation 4 ~ Move (Included)
Innards > Xbox One ~ 8-core x86 AMD—Playstation 4 ~ 8-core x86 AMD
Ram > Xbox One ~ 8GB DDR3 ——-Playstation 4 ~ 8GB GDDR5
Real-time Game Streaming > Xbox One ~ Twitch —Playstation 4 ~ Ustream
Release Dates > Xbox One ~ Fall/Winter 2013 — Playstation 4 ~ Fall/Winter 2013
Pretty evenly matched as far as hardware goes, now lets look my “Tops” and “Flops” for each:
Xbox One
Tops: The Xbox One sports HDMI out capability, just like any of the new consoles out will. But, what makes the Xbox special is that it also has a HDMI in. This lets you to connect your cable box directly into your Xbox One. Allowing you to bypass your cable TV guide interface and use the Xbox One’s (Which will be significantly better and more customizable). Save your favorite stations for easy switching and possibly even turn your Xbox into a 500GB DVR (This is a rumor…that I am starting).
Flops: Besides having to pay for online gaming, the biggest downfall to this awesome new system…no more used games! This means one license per customer. BOOOOOOOOOOO
Playstation 4
Tops: First off $100 cheaper, win in my book. And, unlike its rival, the Playstation will allow you to bring your game to a friends house. YESSSSSSSSSSS
Flops: Taking away free online play and not much advancement in the motion control department. (Xbox One’s Kinect seems like it might destroy it’s Sony counter-part, but this doesn’t bother me)
Personally I am going to go with the PS4 from Day-one. The system is cheaper and has better titles coming out. What I see is that the PS4 is a game console at its heart and the Xbox One is trying to be your all-in-one media center with a game console built-in. That feature is good for some people, but not for me when I am looking to buy a game system.
For the full cnet review click here
-MattyV
P.S. Just got my hands on a WiiU. My personal review to come soon.