Things I Want Out of the Next Gen Xbox

With all the rumors flying around about the possible specs of the next gen Xbox, I thought I'd weigh in with my two cents worth. My ideas really aren't that original, but I still think that they're important. Keep in mind that a lot of these ideas are just rumors, and may never come true!

1. Backwards Compatibility
Without this feature, I will most likely not buy the next Xbox. I bought all of these Xbox 360 games for a reason, and I'd like to continue gaming on one console. Is it really that hard to do?

2. No "Always Online" Function
Not everyone has a good internet connection. Not everyone even has an internet connection in the first place. I don't think it's a good idea to alienate a possibly good chunk of your target market by adding this feature. Plus, gamers will be royally pissed if you do, especially if the reactions from the same feature in Diablo III and SimCity are any indication. Plus this seems like a ploy to help their ISP (Internet Service Provider) buddies make more money than they already do.

3. Blu-Ray player!
No explanation necessary :)

4. Lemme Play Used Games!
Seriously guys!? Seriously? If you're that bent on sucking as much money out of your customers as possible, then maybe used game stores can cut you a percentage of the price- I mean, you did make the game, and GameStop makes a butt-ton of money anyway. (fat chance that'll ever happen, but one can dream!)

5. Disc Drive
While if the next Xbox is all digital (like Steam) with no game discs, it won't be the end of the world, it would be nice to have an option to direct download it or play a game from a disc. Hard drives will run out of space eventually, no matter how big you make them. It would be nice to have enough space for games that release soon after launch, but also for games that release 5 years later.

6. A Tough System
Basically, I don't want my console to red ring unless I did something stupid to break it, or it gets really old.

7. It's A Gaming Device!
The Xbox is a friggin' gaming console, not a glorified cable box. Yes, those extra features are nice, but make them peripherals, not the sole focus. I mean, come on- the gaming tab on the current 360 menu is like the third tab over, not the main one.

8. Free Multiplayer
If the PSN can do it, why can't you Microsoft? I'd like to be able to play online and fully utilize all the functions of this game I bought without having to pay more money!

9. Keep the Controller Simple
Touch screens are cool and all, but make the controller easy to use/navigate, be wireless, be ergonomic, and not be freaking huge.

10. Don't Break the Bank
I honestly think that this won't happen- it's gonna be anywhere from $500+. If I decide to buy it at all, I'll wait for a price drop or a really good sale.

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Elder Scrolls Q&A #4

The final countd- ...I mean, questionnaire! :)

76. Have you found the two hidden Lord of the Rings references yet?

Yup

77. Do you blog about The Elder Scrolls?

Uhhh...duh

78. Have you ever had contact with someone from the Elder Scrolls team?

No, but I wish

79. Complete the sentence: Todd Howard is …?

A friggin' genius

80. Why you actually started playing The Elder Scrolls.

It looked cool

81. Complete the sentence: TES would be nothing without …?

Complete customization

82. What did you do with that map of Cyrodiil that was included in the package?

Put it up on my wall

83. Do you use UESPWiki?

Every once & a while

84. Would it be cool if you could connect Skyrim with Oblivion so you could just go from Cyrodiil to Skyrim and take all your items with you?

Heck yeah!

85. Scariest moment.

Umm, none. TES wasn't that scary to me. If you want to be scared, go play Bioshock

86. Your “opinion” on TES newbies? Would you help them?

Help them, and make sure they make less stupid decisions

87. Should there be something like TESOnline?

Eh, I don't know. MMO's tend to ruin things for me

88. Frostcrag Spire, Battlehorn Castle, the Thieves Den or Deepscorn Hollow?

Depends on the character...Mage= Frostcrag, Fighter= Battlehorn, Thief= Thieves Den, & Assassin= Deepscorn

89. Am I the only one who always wondered why it’s totally okay for your character to run around in the Jerall mountains without any clothes?

Probably

90. How did you feel when you heard TES V will take place in Skyrim?

I was really really excited! I was hoping for either Skyrim or Valenwood.

93. Does the Grey Fox exist? Or the Thieves Guild? ;)

Yes

94. Character(s) in TES you’d marry?

I have no idea, I usually don't think about that kind of thing when I play

95. Are you the only one of your friends who plays The Elder Scrolls?

I know only of two other people who play it. Others might, but they don't talk about it.

Elder Scrolls Q&A Part 2

Part Deux!

26. Are you a vampire?

Nope

27. Your views on Necromancy.

Fun enemies to fight, but not as a PC (Player Character) option

28. Alchemy – cool or useless?

As of now, kind of useless, since all you can do is make potions, but it's a cool idea

29. Do you like the game’s soundtrack?

Heck yes!

30. Nirn or Oblivion?

Not sure I understand the question, so uhhhh...Oblivion?

31. Highest level you’ve ever reached?

30

32. Funniest moment.

Sheogorath's Daedra quest

33. Spells or weapons?

Depends on the character. Most of the time I choose weapons though

34. Scariest dungeon.

None of them...stupid leveled enemies system.

35. Your reaction when you get killed.

Dang it! I haven't saved for at least an hour, and now I have to do all that crap over again!

36. Your in-game name(s).

Ragnar Thorolf (Nord), Tarathiel Duurwen (Wood Elf), Lamothiel Naurwen (Dark Elf), Rhajj Stormcrow (Khajiit), & Krom gro-Nargg (Orc)

37. TES3 or 4?

TES4. They're both good, I just like 4 a little better

38. If you could change something about TES, you would …?

Mounted combat, no leveled enemies/dungeons, more variety in caves/dungeons, & weapon crafting

39. Do you know any Ayleid language?

Nope

40. Are you excited for the dragons in Skyrim?

YES!

41. Favorite shop.

Not including mods, probably The Best Defense

42. Should there be a TES movie?

It would be a cool idea, but it would end up getting ruined (*cough*like dungeon siege*cough*)

43. Did you ride the unicorn?

No

44. Worst enemy / monster?

Mud Crabs= least intimidating "monster" ever

45. Favorite weapon.

It depends on the character, but I usually tend to gravitate to claymores and bows

46. Least favorite kind(s) of weapons.

Daggers

47. What do you do when you get bored?

Dark Brotherhood quests

48. Do you own any TES merch?

Not that I know of, other than the games

49. Hardest quest.

Any quest where you have to make sure X stays alive, and X inevitably bull rushes into combat and gets themselves killed

50. What do you think about marriage in Tamriel?

Cool idea

Elder Scrolls Q&A Part 1

So to keep myself from going insane until The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim comes out, I thought I'd answer a few questions about the games. Haven't really done anything on my blog in a while anyway. Enjoy! ...or not. I decided that instead of posting 10 posts of 10 questions each, I'd just post 4 with 25 questions each. To make it a little easier to read, I put all of my answers in red.

1. First time you played an Elder Scrolls game.

Around 2000 or 2001 Had never heard of the game before, but I'm glad I picked it up.

2. When you got into The Elder Scrolls.

Junior High, although it might have been 6th grade

3. First Elder Scrolls game you knew.

Morrowind

4. Your favorite Elder Scrolls game.

Oblivion

5. Current amount of saves.

5 on the PC version and 4 on the Xbox360

6. Favorite platform to play The Elder Scrolls on.

PC

7. Favorite race.

Nord

8. Least favorite race. (racism?)

Imperials. Not because of "racism", but because they're useless in terms of race abilities- at least for the way I play

9. First skill you became a Master in.

Blade

10. Skill you don’t get at all.

Athletics

11. Favorite school of Magic.

Destruction, hands down.

12. Least favorite school of Magic.

Conjuration...never caught my interest. Hopefully Skyrim will change that.

13. What you do first after starting a new game.

Get a full set of armor and a better weapon. In Oblivion, I always explore Vilverin first.

14. Favorite province.

Bruma...or Cheydinhal. Can't decide.

15. Where should The Elder Scrolls VI take place?

Elsweyr or Valenwood!! High Rock would be interesting plot-wise as well...hmmm

16. Last time you’ve played an Elder Scrolls game.

Yesterday night :)

17. Favorite city.

Bruma

18. Least favorite city.

Bravil

19. Complete the sentence: If I could have a pet, it would be …?

A wolf or mountain lion

20. Favorite Daedric Prince.

Sheogorath. I mean, come on, who doesn't like cheese?

21. Favorite Daedra quest.

In terms of loot, Nocturnal or Clavicus Vile, but for enjoyment of quest, probably Sheogorath or Mephala
22. Favorite NPC.
Baurus and Gogron gro-Bolmog
23. Least favorite NPC.
Adoring Fan and Glarthir
24. Worst Oblivion Gate.
Any with the multiple tower gates
25. Favorite guild / brotherhood.
Dark Brotherhood