Anyone else get a free game as a thank you from M$?

[Malenko]

KI3 for free?
   
----begin email snip----
   
You're a fan of us and we're a fan of you.
We want to show you our appreciation, so we're giving you:
   
KILLER INSTINCT
We've unlocked all characters so you can hit the ground running.
Watch your inbox on November 22 for instructions on how to claim your free gift.
   
Don't worry, we'll remind you.
   
   
We wouldn't be here without you,
and we know you'll do amazing
things on Xbox One.
Thank you from Xbox Live.
Jump ahead.
----end email snip----

Still cant justify (or afford one)
Anyone else get the same email with KI or another game?

[pbj]

Killer Instinct?  Ugh.  Once that turd was unfurled fighting games were never fun again.

[Rick]

Killer Instinct?  Ugh.  Once that turd was unfurled fighting games were never fun again.

I'm out of the loop. How so?

[pbj]

Killer Instinct was just a race to see who could mash a 10 button sequence the fastest. Didn't even have to bother with moving your character around and its influence on MK3 was aggravating.

I think the proof is in the obvious disparity in modern demand.  How many times have the MK series been released?  How many people here make MK2 themed projects vs MK3 or KI?

[Malenko]

Killer Instinct was just a race to see who could mash a 10 button sequence the fastest.

I thought that was Tekken ?

KI has linkers in the combos which is when you can break them with a COMBO BREAKER!  My KI is sitting right next to my MKII cab, my KI2 was my MAME cab (with the 32" Vert CRT) sold to the guy whos gonna buy my second Galaga restore.

[ark_ader]

All the games Xbox live gives away are the same games that are easy to find in the used game bins at blockbuster for $5.  For what I pay for Xbox live a year I should get a new game and not an old crappy one.

One of the only reasons for the purchase of the PS4,  and the fact that I will lose all my UK games I bought on Xbox live as M$ will not migrate my account, which leaves me no option but to Jtag it, where the PS3 plays the games I have region free.

 I  hate M$ and I hope Flop gets the job and burns the company to the ground.   

[Ginsu Victim]

All the games Xbox live gives away are the same games that are easy to find in the used game bins at blockbuster for $5.  For what I pay for Xbox live a year I should get a new game and not an old crappy one.

This KI giveaway is for the Xbox One, which means a lot of people aren't even going to use their code.

[hypernova]

Sell the code online...or give it away if you don't ever plan on using it.  That's what I'd do...

[eds1275]

I didn't, but was hoping for it after I found out they were. I enjoyed KI1 to the extreme, never really played much KI2 to be honest since that was around the time they started killing off all the arcades around where I lived - but I'm willing to give the new one a fair chance! I'm actually pretty excited for it.

[Howard_Casto]

I'm not.  Not at all.  Ok so it's Killer instinct, but it isn't being made by Rare and even if it were all the people who originally made KI and KI2 are long gone.  So how is it Killer Instinct again?  Also in true Dr. Evil fashion, Microsoft gives you the game for "free" with only two characters.  Want the rest?  Well be prepared to pay a ridiculous amount for each character you wish to add.  The fact that us fighting fans have to deal with dlc characters is bad enough, but at least we know a year down the line a "complete edition" will be released with all the extra characters for a decent price.  The way M$ is talking, this is a purely digital game and always will be. 

Even ignoring all of that, Killer Instinct was a sub-par franchise at best.  It took the worst of Street Fighter (over-reliance of combos, stereo-typical character designs, flying uppercut-fu, fireball-fu, no block button) and combined it with poorly executed features of Mortal Kombat (fatalities that aren't really fatalities, awkward pre-rendered graphics instead of digital capture, a poorly written fantasy universe that nobody cares about).  So even if they re-created the experience perfectly, they would make what was the third best fighter in the early 90's.  Today it might not even make the top 10. 

Malenko:

As I've stated previously Tekken isn't really a fighting game, it's a wrasslin' game minus the ring.  Don't believe me?  Play some of the old THQ, N64 wrassler's and tell me that the earlier Tekken's don't feel exactly like that.... Two people awkwardly trying to grapple the other first so they can mash buttons to pull off a special.  Only at least the wrasslin' games are fun... and have Rick Flair.... Rick Flair should be in every video game.  Woooooooooooo!

[Ginsu Victim]

Tekken plays NOTHING like the old Aki games. Period.

[AmericanDemon]

Yeah man. Tekken plays nothing like the astounding AKI Wrestling games.

I never really enjoyed KI. I worked at a comic book and card shop that happened to have a good sized arcade. We had Killer Instinct sitting next to X-Men: COTA.  People played the ---fudgesicle--- out of X-Men and KI got little play. It looked so much more advanced, but it didn't feel like a competitive fighter. It felt slow in comparison.   Plus Akuma was way cooler of a hidden character.

That being said...  Congrats on the free game and I would take it in a heartbeat!!

[Howard_Casto]

Tekken plays NOTHING like the old Aki games. Period.

If you mean that they are BETTER then Tekken then yes you are correct, but the same, butt-simple "who grapples first wins" mechanic is in play.  Tekken fans hate hearing this almost as much as Smash Bros. fans, but in both cases, they aren't fighters.  Fighters are short for Street Fighters, aka they are like Street Fighter... anything that dramatically deviates from the established rules and controls of Street Fighter are NOT fighters... it's as simple as that.  As I've already stated, Tekken shares more traits with wrasslin' games than it does a real fighter, aka street fighter or a similar game. 

[eds1275]

Whoop one more day until I can either be thrilled by this game or hang my head in shame.

[AmericanDemon]

You are tearing apart a controller and wiring it up tomorrow right ?  . I'm holding off on adopting next gen till after the new year. Just want to get a feel for which system truly knocks my socks off. Definitely get us a review!

[eds1275]

Ugggh we'll see. I went to Walmart tonight around 10pm to wait in line for the midnight release. My brother was to relieve me at 11 - I work a night shift. When I got to Walmart, no lineup! I was thrilled. BUT THEN... as I approached the store I saw a piece of paper taped to the window saying that they decided not to do the midnight launch! So now I don't get off work until 730, hopefully I can still get one though. I am going to head up at 645 and see how I fare, make an appearance back at work then go to target if I don't have one. This is what I get for not preordering.

[Ginsu Victim]

they decided not to do the midnight launch

So at midnight you should have had a manager get you one.

[lilshawn]

I'm holding off on adopting next gen till after the new year. Just want to get a feel for which system truly knocks my socks off. Definitely get us a review!

you talk like it's better than the 360/ps3.

in all honesty, they new systems are BARELY a step up at best... seriously, they are going from upscaled 640x480 to upscaled 720p... or 1080p @ 30 frames a second?? your choice. 

there was a freaking video for the xbox one that had an explosion in it and the damn console damn near had a heart attack and poked along at 10 frames per second until the explosion was completed. Give me a break! THIS is state of the art? THIS is the END of computers? Maybe the end of computers manufactured in 2005.

I'm SKIPPING "next" gen. It's more of a step sideways than forward.

[AmericanDemon]

you talk like it's better than the 360/ps3.

It's not a matter of better than. It's a case of having new games to play. 360 and ps3 will only be supported for so long. I know this page is about playing old games but it's still cool to play new games.  Let's face it, a gamer games. To do such is to buy the new consoles regardless of the gap in tech. PC gaming is great but I sure as ---fudgesicle--- can't play console exclusive games.

[lilshawn]

PC gaming is great but I sure as ---fudgesicle--- can't play console exclusive games.

but, you can. especially since the "next" Gen consoles are x86 based architecture. you won't need a bajillion gigahertz CPU to emulate it because the code will transfer straight across.

[AmericanDemon]

I'm talking natively.  Plus I'm not sure what will happen in the future but psn and live games won't be available. Some will for sure. But if they sign exclusive content agreements. Shadow Complex is one of my all time favorites on 360 but it's not on the PC. At least last time I checked.   

[lilshawn]

Shadow Complex is one of my all time favorites on 360 but it's not on the PC. At least last time I checked.   

it was written with the unreal engine, and they say it's available on PC 

http://www.unrealengine.com/showcase/shadow_complex/

and yes pcmasterraceomgwhyyousostupidbuyingabrickpieceofcrap

master race aside, next gen is a friggin joke.

[AmericanDemon]

Yeah, but it's not available. That's a mistype. Trust me. I've looked.

But yeah the new consoles aren't up to par with a high end pc.   It's what's available and that's what's key.

The way these machines will be running in 3 years will amaze everyone. Launch games are never really the best. Enjoy the ride.

Any luck on finding your XBone?

[eds1275]

The store closed at 11. I was working the night shift and skipped my meal break so I could leave to go to the store when it opened... but alas something at work came up and I didn't get to go when I planned. I left after work... and GOT THE LAST CONSOLE! In a totally impulse buy moment I picked up assassin's creed and call of duty ghosts because I couldn't decide on which one to buy. They only had play and charge kits so later I'll go out and buy a second controller without the kit from somewhere else. The console is doing the update right now, I probably won't really give an impression until tomorrow. My brother is coming over for a marathon gaming session - we'll put it through it's paces, playing online, split screen, kinect etc and I will give it a solid opinion. I hear there are a lot of demos out, so that should help me make an assessment. The download is 501 mb and from the speed of my connection, if the servers are consistent it will take 15 minutes to download. I could have it go faster if I plugged in but I'm going wireless since my 360 is using the wired connection.

As for all the PC is better comments... sure, if all you care about is numbers. As stated, there are plenty of console exclusives (which to me is dumb from a consumer standpoint, but I understand the business side) There is no configuring involved with console gaming. Multiplayer where you actually play with another real, living person in a room just handles better for the most part. There are upsides to console gaming if you take the time to look. I love all types of gaming, and for me the one that is most fun is when it's social in a living group. That is one of the main reasons arcade games appeal so much. Even playing a single player game in a room full of people all going for a high score is often more fun than the game itself. The motion controls will make playing games with my youngest niece more fun since she won't get frustrated with a bunch of buttons.

Anyways, my console just restarted... time to go try it out!

[lilshawn]

 It's what's available and that's what's key.

it's what's available?! so you are saying you are buying the Xbox, simply because it's what they made... irrespective of the fact many much better options are available?

The way these machines will be running in 3 years will amaze everyone. Launch games are never really the best. Enjoy the ride.

so, forgive me if i sound ignorant, but... how exactly do they plan to accomplish this? you can't exactly lift the hood and drop in a faster processor, a better GPU (or even a bigger harddrive in the case of the xbox) how can you make an already marginally acceptable machine BETTER other than throwing it away and buying the next one?

But yeah the new consoles aren't up to par with a high end pc. 

contrary to popular belief (amongst the "anti pcmasterrace" people anyways) is that you need to have a $10,000 computer to equal the next gen, and it really isn't the case.

think about this for a moment... the last time I had a computer that ran a resolution under 800 lines, was running windows 3.1.

But 1280x720?! stretched out to 1620x1280?!...how much "horsepower" do you SERIOUSLY think it takes to run a game at such a pathetically small resolution? Seriously. No, SERIOUSLY. Just a few seconds...The answer is not a hell of a lot.

dollars to doughnuts, a $200 PC would be about equal to next gen...400 would blow it away.

[AmericanDemon]

Ok. Yes sir. Now how about you and Howard enjoy a night out together. This is exactly why there are console wars. ---smurfing--- fanboys. Waaaaaaaah. My already bought PC is better than your "insert console". 

Stop with all of these measuring games. I made valid points. You did as well. The truth is that the consumers disagree with you. Companies have built these machines as next gen. You guys are defending the Wii U to the death and yet the ps4 and Xbone aren't good enough for you?

This thread is about a free game. My original remarks dealt with killer instinct property being resurrected after decades of semi obscurity and that the original was not played as much in the arcade.

Sure the xbone and ps4 have issues. However developers will work their magic and there will be awesome games to play. Your damn PC won't get all of the games. I wanna play Super Mario 3D World but my puerile pc won't get it.  I want to play the new nba 2k14 to marvel at it's updated graphics and by god I want a new ---smurfing--- controller. So stop being elitist ---uvulas--- and just let people have fun with new ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. Jesus Christ and I wonder why I disappeared from these forums for 8 years.

[pbj]

Find me a $400 PC that outperforms a PS4.  I'll buy it.

 

[lilshawn]

Find me a $400 PC that outperforms a PS4.  I'll buy it.

 

not EXACTLY 400 but:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2759b

[lilshawn]

The truth is that the consumers disagree with you. Companies have built these machines as next gen.

you said so yourself, the reason you purchased the system was simply because they made it. Believe me, they made it that bad on purpose.

You guys are defending the Wii U to the death and yet the ps4 and Xbone aren't good enough for you?

no. but the Wii U isn't touting itself as being better than anything else. BOTH the xbox and the playstation are saying they are better than EVERYTHING and that is simply not the case.

Your damn PC won't get all of the games.

I don't think that's really an issue:

[Ginsu Victim]

^"Dark" came out for Xbox 360, but it's best to pretend that game never happened.

[AmericanDemon]

Monaco did too. . It's amazing how current gen consoles are already playing "future" PC exclusives.

[lilshawn]

because 2 makes it much better right  it's been several days since that picture was made, i'm sure lots has changed since then. but, i'm sure the list of PC games will survive.

don't forget to factor in the 60 buck a year (120 of you month to month it) they soak you for online...well, anything. so, with the 10 year lifecycle from now (http://gamerant.com/xbox-one-10-year-lifecycle/)... your xbox one is costing you 600 for live+500 for your system (assuming you don't break down and have to buy another)+all your games cost @~60 each. = whatever.

EDIT: accidentally a number

[pbj]

not EXACTLY 400 but:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2759b

$457, no controller, no operating system.

 

[lilshawn]

not EXACTLY 400 but:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2759b

$457, no controller, no operating system.

 

if you are going to nitpick, linux is free... and steam is available for it. or you can gray market a windows key for next to nothing. hell, you can use windows 7 without a key just fine, you just don't get a wallpaper. 

you can connect your ps3, xbox360 (or your original xbox with a little modification if you so feel) controller straight into the computer. any other systems controller on the planet can plug into your pc with an adapter...so pick your poison. i bought a logitech dual action at the local new and used for 3.99. you can go ahead and do the math on that one.

of course, since you are all here you needn't purchase everything new since you already (likely) have a computer...you can save yourself a few hunskies by simply reusing your case, power supply, harddrive etc. of your current system and just upgrade the system core. that'd get you sub 400 buck PLUS you can use the surplus to bump up your videocard to something even better like the R9 270X and really blow XB/PS out of the water.

[pbj]

That's all well and good but they develop to the benchmark.  You might get something that looks better than the console version, but you're gonna spend more for a small improvement.  I can't even how many years I rocked that GeForce 200 MX just because everything shipped with it and all the developers made their games compatible.

[lilshawn]

I ran an old geforce 9550GT right up until recently. decided to try something new and managed to get a Radion 7750 for 79 bucks after it went on sale AND mailed in the rebate. PS4 GPU is somewhere between 7850-7870 so it's one step down from there, but cheap as all hell.

[lilshawn]

you know all this talk of crappy next gen had me thinkin'...where have i heard this talk of 720p before... oh right, LAST gen:

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2005/05/25/ati_xbox_360_london/1

 

[madboy007]

i've just bought a  wii remote controller at the third party store,it just cost $21.46,is it reliable?

[lilshawn]

you probably could have bought a legit one for that price.

[ark_ader]

Find me a $400 PC that outperforms a PS4.  I'll buy it.

 

not EXACTLY 400 but:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2759b

The Xbone and PS4 has an eight core Bulldozer CPU not a 6 core Piledriver CPU.  It is nowhere near the capability.  Also that 6 core runs a tad hot. 

[lilshawn]

Find me a $400 PC that outperforms a PS4.  I'll buy it.

 

not EXACTLY 400 but:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2759b

The Xbone and PS4 has an eight core Bulldozer CPU not a 6 core Piledriver CPU.  It is nowhere near the capability.  Also that 6 core runs a tad hot.

no, actually, it's a Jaguar core custom made for Sony. It's not based on any existing architecture (that anybody knows of) it's also 1.6 ghz, not 3.5 ghz

heat production ratings at this point are moot.

[ark_ader]

Find me a $400 PC that outperforms a PS4.  I'll buy it.

 

not EXACTLY 400 but:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2759b

The Xbone and PS4 has an eight core Bulldozer CPU not a 6 core Piledriver CPU.  It is nowhere near the capability.  Also that 6 core runs a tad hot.

no, actually, it's a Jaguar core custom made for Sony. It's not based on any existing architecture (that anybody knows of) it's also 1.6 ghz, not 3.5 ghz

heat production ratings at this point are moot.

I stand corrected your 6 core pisses all over the Jaguar.   

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6770/sony-announces-playstation-4-pc-hardware-inside

[AmericanDemon]

Fwiw, I just ordered parts to build a new PC.   

Intel I7-4770k
16 gig ddr3 ram
Gtx 760 2gb video card

I'm ready to rock the next generation, but a new pc is pretty sweet too.

[ark_ader]

Fwiw, I just ordered parts to build a new PC.   

Intel I7-4770k
16 gig ddr3 ram
Gtx 760 2gb video card

I'm ready to rock the next generation, but a new pc is pretty sweet too.

I am sourcing something similar for my bare metal ESXi w/o video.  I might go for 32gb if the price is right.