Xbox One's Launch Tour at Microsoft store in Boston

[BajiRav]

http://majornelson.com/2013/09/11/xbox-one-tour-road-to-launch/

I was at this event last night at Microsoft Store in Boston. I took some random photos and videos.

Some thoughts and recollections in no particular order:
- There were 3 lines and I was somewhat surprised by the size of the crowd (in a positive way).
- One line each for Controller demo, Killer Instinct and Forza 5.
- Two dudes behind me, one complete xbox fanboy while his friend was clueless about everything (he thought Lumia 925 on display was an iPhone). Their conversation was entertaining while I patiently waited for 20-30mins in the controller line.
- Major Nelson came off as friendly as he is on screen, not terribly shocking given his PR role.
- Somebody from reddit interviewed him: Reddit.

- I thought about asking when can we see Xbox One OS in action but didn't get chance as he was moving all over the store (taking photos with everyone who asked).

- They had 50 day-one pre-orders for sale during the event, saw some folks putting down $50 towards it. I didn't stay for the entite event to know if they sold out or not.

Controller
- Controller demo was some app running on Lenovo laptops
- App simulated driving/racing, braking, shooting, rocket launcher, helicoper, heartbeats, bouncing balls, fire from the hand bioshock thing
- Really nice improvement over Xbox 360
- Sticks are smaller but felt as good as ever
- d-pad is better (entire demo was driven with d-pad, A, B and RT only)
- ABXY are slightly closer
- Bumpers and triggers are right next to each other. Transition is easier and smoother
- Battery bump removal felt better. Controller grip is still familiar.
- Rumble triggers are...AWESOME. Every demo basically simulated their use. I think describing it is pointless, you need to feel it.

Forza 5:
- I did not wait in line for this but graphics are definitely better (see videos below)
- I thought aliasing was noticeable during gameplay, hopefully they will fix by launch

Killer Instinct:
- It was played using arcade box
- Looked nice graphically
- Didn't spend much time here (not my type :) )

Videos:
Forza 5 Menu
http://youtu.be/q3aQITZWQQo

Forza 5 Gameplay
http://youtu.be/7MGYwIBK7Ns

Controller demo on a laptop
http://youtu.be/krOhGa-cfjg

Photos:

[spenser.d]

Jealous.  Looks like fun.  Actually reminds me of an opportunity I got to get my hands on the Xbox 360 a few months before it was out in 2005 when Bill Gates came and spoke at my university.  Those of us who hung around got to play whichever Forza it was that was coming out with the 360 lol.

 

I'm getting more and more excited for Xbox One, even though I'm probably not getting one until sometime next year.

[trooper11]

I really like the look of the controller, it still retains what I consider to the best overall design from this current gen.  It just feels more comfortable in my hand. 

 

So if the d-pad really is fixed now, that would remove probably the last issue I had with the controller.  I'm interested in feeling the trigger rumble features myself.  Hopefully developers make use of it properly. 

[Showan]

Man that controller is GORGEOUS!!!...

I know this is very off topic... But as I look at these pics, I see a lot of good things coming from Microsoft (well they were always pretty good)... And wonder how much better would all of their products be, if they went down to the "Vault" of things from R&D that never see the light of day.

Microsoft should just throw some of their toys into consumer products and see what happens... It can always be refined if necessary...

My mind runs on and on sometimes...lol...

Thanks for the pics though...

[vcfan]

thanks for the excellent ground report.

[BajiRav]

Man that controller is GORGEOUS!!!...

I know this is very off topic... But as I look at these pics, I see a lot of good things coming from Microsoft (well they were always pretty good)... And wonder how much better would all of their products be, if they went down to the "Vault" of things from R&D that never see the light of day.

Microsoft should just throw some of their toys into consumer products and see what happens... It can always be refined if necessary...

My mind runs on and on sometimes...lol...

Thanks for the pics though...

Did you visit the Burlington store?

[Showan]

Did you visit the Burlington store?

No... I switched shifts with a co-worker who wanted to go the BIG-E...

[StandingInAlley]

Thank you for the pics!

 

I'm really liking the looks of the Microsoft Store. Quite a crowd which shows the interest of the people. 

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

http://majornelson.com/2013/09/11/xbox-one-tour-road-to-launch/

- Two dudes behind me, one complete xbox fanboy while his friend was clueless about everything (he thought Lumia 925 on display was an iPhone). Their conversation was entertaining while I patiently waited for 20-30mins in the controller line.

 

 

Any time I go to a public event, or even venture out to buy a game in retail instead of online I seem to kill off some of my brain cells. The "someone is wrong on the internet" meme is more relevant to the outside world than online most of the time.

 

While this might not be popular in the MS section, last week when I was at GAME in the UK putting my name down for the Beyond Two Souls lock in http://www.game.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HubArticleView?hubId=183532&articleId=183537&catalogId=10201&langId=44&storeId=10151&cm_sp=hubbeyond2souls-_-StoreEvent-_-LockIn the guy getting served next to me asked the cashier (who was the manager) what Beyond is. Her reply was "uhh just some little playstation game, GTA5 is better". He proceeded to tut while handing over ?42.99 for a copy of GTA5 on the 360. Yeah, I was the one laughing paying that rip off price for your game buddy. 

 

And now the manager, who runs the stores twitter has it as "this years most anticipated game" https://twitter.com/GAMEGlasgowFort  :laugh: Gotta love retail....

 

On a topic note that guys face in your last picture is amazing.

[BajiRav]

Any time I go to a public event, or even venture out to buy a game in retail instead of online I seem to kill off some of my brain cells. The "someone is wrong on the internet" meme is more relevant to the outside world than online most of the time.

 

While this might not be popular in the MS section, last week when I was at GAME in the UK putting my name down for the Beyond Two Souls lock in http://www.game.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HubArticleView?hubId=183532&articleId=183537&catalogId=10201&langId=44&storeId=10151&cm_sp=hubbeyond2souls-_-StoreEvent-_-LockIn the guy getting served next to me asked the cashier (who was the manager) what Beyond is. Her reply was "uhh just some little playstation game, GTA5 is better". He proceeded to tut while handing over ?42.99 for a copy of GTA5 on the 360. Yeah, I was the one laughing paying that rip off price for your game buddy. 

 

And now the manager, who runs the stores twitter has it as "this years most anticipated game" https://twitter.com/GAMEGlasgowFort  :laugh: Gotta love retail....

 

On a topic note that guys face in your last picture is amazing.

LOL yeah. I mentally put down the clueless of the two guys behind me as "Aah this is how dudebros look in real life". :laugh:

The guy in that last photo, I thought he was a MS employee (2nd pic has him up on a table).

 

Thank you for the pics!

 

I'm really liking the looks of the Microsoft Store. Quite a crowd which shows the interest of the people.

The stores are amazing and although they are straightaway copies of Apple stores, I am delighted to at least have a place where I can check out new hardware without staff irritating me all the time.

I now have 3 MS stores within driving distance :laugh: the closest is 10mins and farthest is 30-40mins. It is the best place to check out new hardware (especially now that I am 99% convinced about buying a Surface Pro2 in Nov provided MS doesn't price them out of my reach).

[GotBored]

Nice write up, never knew they had Microsoft stores (Don't have them in Aus) only a month and a half / two months till they are released now :)

[jerzdawg]

Any time I go to a public event, or even venture out to buy a game in retail instead of online I seem to kill off some of my brain cells. The "someone is wrong on the internet" meme is more relevant to the outside world than online most of the time.

 

While this might not be popular in the MS section, last week when I was at GAME in the UK putting my name down for the Beyond Two Souls lock in http://www.game.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HubArticleView?hubId=183532&articleId=183537&catalogId=10201&langId=44&storeId=10151&cm_sp=hubbeyond2souls-_-StoreEvent-_-LockIn the guy getting served next to me asked the cashier (who was the manager) what Beyond is. Her reply was "uhh just some little playstation game, GTA5 is better". He proceeded to tut while handing over ?42.99 for a copy of GTA5 on the 360. Yeah, I was the one laughing paying that rip off price for your game buddy. 

 

And now the manager, who runs the stores twitter has it as "this years most anticipated game" https://twitter.com/GAMEGlasgowFort  :laugh: Gotta love retail....

 

On a topic note that guys face in your last picture is amazing.

Are things that different in the UK?  Here in the states pretty much all retail stores charge the same price for PS3 and 360 games.  On release every store sells them for $59.99, on the rare occasion someone may have a sale of $10 (Target comes to mind).  As for the specific game stores.. I swear they have some quota or agenda depending on the day.. I know here they always push to sell the used copies even if you are only saving $5.