ARTICLE: Windows 10 on Xbox One owes the Sega Dreamcast a big one

How Microsoft and Sega teamed-up

Windows 10 making its way onto Xbox One is a move that's more than 16 years in the making. Let me back up and explain. Windows 10 has only been in development for the last handful of years, but Microsoft's history in cramming Windows into game consoles predates even the original Xbox, which launched in 2001. It all started with the Sega Dreamcast.

It didn't go so well.

In 1998, Microsoft and Sega existed at two opposite poles in the gaming world. The Windows operating system (OS) was the go-to platform for PC gamers and developers, while Sega was rapidly losing its share of the console market.

Today, it's tough to imagine these vastly different companies finding a good enough reason to partner up, but it made sense at the time. Each firm wanted what the other had. Microsoft wanted to begin planting its roots in the living room, and Sega needed killer apps that would attract gamers to its new console, if it was to survive.

Windows… on a console?
If either company in this unlikely duo were to achieve those goals, they first had to break down the divide that existed between PC and console game developers. Surely it wasn't no easy task, but Sega and Microsoft were determined to entice game makers to create on Dreamcast with the freedom of choice.

To make Dreamcast games, the duo made it so that developers could either use Sega's own proprietary programming interface or Microsoft's Windows CE OS. The latter offered a familiar development environment and tools, like DirectX, to seasoned PC game developers looking to get in on the game console scene.

Making Windows compatible with Sega's Dreamcast wasn't just an effort to make development on the new console easier. Microsoft hoped it would offset the risk of a flop entirely for developers, as the end-goal was to make Dreamcast games playable on all PCs running Windows.
Many developers loved the tools, or at least claimed to. A few high-profile game makers at Konami and now-defunct Acclaim raved about how easy it was to develop on Dreamcast using Windows CE. At this point, it seemed like things might work out in each company's favor.


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NEWS: To use Xbox One's DVR function you'll need a new external drive

Now we know why Xbox and Seagate have just announced an official, green-skinned external hard drive for the chunky console - you need to have a new drive to be able to use the upcoming DVR functionality.

Microsoft announced the new feature this week at its Gamescom event, trailing a subscription-free service that will allow you to record free-to-air content via your Xbox One.



Unfortunately it wont allow you to record that content onto the console's main storage drive.

Richard Irving, project lead on the new Dashboard redesign, is reported as saying "you need an external hard-drive specifically for DVR because we want to keep the paths optimised between playing games and watching TV."

That makes sense as from the initial presentation the DVR functionality was presented as something that would in no way interfere with your gaming.

You should theoretically be able to pause you game, quickly set the box to record a show and return to your game without the recording process causing any problems.

"We don't want them to interact with each other," says Irving.

The service is designed to record up to 1080i and will allow you to stream and transfer recorded shows onto Windows 10 devices on the same home network.

That means you can record on your Xbox One, then transfer out to your Windows 10 tablet or phone and take it with you on the go.

At the moment Microsoft is saying that will only be compatible with a device running a version of the Windows 10 OS via the Xbox app, so it will be interesting to see if it changes it's mind (it's happened before…) and brings the functionality to Android or iOS devices in the future.

Source

HOW TO: Transfer Xbox 360 Saves to Xbox One

With the introduction of backwards compatibility to the Xbox One you may be wondering, what about my 360 game saves, I've put hours in to the 360 and I don't want to restart games that became backwards compatible from the beginning.



Xbox One won't just allow you to play Xbox 360 games on Microsoft’s newer console. It’ll allow you to use your old save files, too.

To get that feature to work, you'll have to transfer your 360 saves to the cloud. It’s easy, so long as so you still have access to those saves on an Xbox 360.

1.  From the Xbox 360 Home Screen, press the Xbox Button on the controller.
2. Go to Settings,  Then System Settings.
3.  Go to Storage
4.  Select Cloud Saved Games and press A, now highlight enable and press A
5.  Once Cloud Storage is enabled, just find a game that is backwards compatible on the Xbox One and move or copy the game save to the newly enabled cloud storage

6. Turn on Xbox One and play the Xbox 360 Game of choice

That is all you need to play xbox 3 60 games on your Xbox One

UPDATE: Activity Feed Is Coming To Xbox 360 Preview Program

Activity Feed is coming to the Xbox 360 Preview Program. Like, comment and share your friend’s activities, post new messages, watch game clips, view screenshots, and see what you’re friends are playing from your Xbox 360.

On your Xbox 360 you will see Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows 10 activity (achievements, text posts, GameDVR clips,

screenshots, broadcasts and more).

You will also be able to Like, Comment on, or Share any of those activities as well as post a new message to your feed.

To access the Activity Feed on your Xbox 360:

1. From Social, select your own avatar, then Activity Feed
2. You can also view a specific friend’s activity by selecting their avatar in Friends or their gamer card in the Guide. From their select View Activity Feed.

We’re continuing to improve Activity Feed with every new Preview update; use it yourself tonight.

NEW ACCESSORY: Seagate Game Drive For Xbox

Xbox has partnered with Seagate and is happy to announce a new product that most of us want, need and can use right now.

Boost your console’s storage capacity with the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox, the only external drive designed exclusively for Xbox One or Xbox 360. The drive brings an additional 2TB of storage and the plug-and-play functionality gives you instant power up. It’s small enough to slip into your pocket or backpack and doesn’t need a separate power cord. The Xbox automatically detects your drive and walks you through a hassle-free setup process that will have your drive game-ready in minutes.

Game Drive for Xbox is compatible with either the Xbox One or Xbox 360 and plugs directly into any USB port in your console.

The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox will retail at a MSRP of $109.99 USD and will be available from GameStop, Amazon and other consumer electronic retailers worldwide.

For more details about Seagate’s Game Drive For Xbox, visit the official page here, and to look at the Setup and Troubleshooting guide – click here.

NEWS: New Xbox Hardware and Features Revealed

Xbox opened gamescom 2015 with highlights that will make the greatest lineup in Xbox history even better – including updates to the redesigned user experience coming this fall, more details on the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, and the unveiling of the new Xbox Chatpad. Both the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller and the Xbox Chatpad are available to pre-order today and will be released in November.





New Xbox One Experience

As we announced at E3, gaming will get even better on Xbox One with a completely redesigned user experience launching globally this fall. The update will make it faster to get to your content and complete must-have tasks on Xbox One. It will also be easier than ever to find the games you love on Xbox One.

Among the new features available this fall is the new Community section we revealed at E3 that makes it easier to discover what your friends and others have been up to on Xbox. This section includes an upgraded Activity Feed and Trending on Xbox Live, a new area which allows you to interact with the most popular content, games, and people on Xbox Live. You can explore top posts, browse popular topics and view the game hubs of the most-played games, helping you more easily discover the top content within the Xbox Live community. You can also find interesting content creators and friend suggestions.

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller

At E3 we announced the new Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, built to meet the rigorous demands of hardcore, competitive-level gamers. The new controller, available for Xbox One or Windows 10, offers complete customization and flexibility. It includes thousands of different hardware configurations to choose from including interchangeable thumbsticks, D-pads and paddles to better configure the controller for any gaming scenario. It also features a new sleek design making the controller extremely durable and comfortable.

To enhance your experience, the easy-to-use custom application offers virtually unlimited ways of playing through software customization. Available on Xbox One and Windows 10 for the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, you can create up to 255 controller profiles so that you have customized settings for any gaming scenario. With the app, you can remap buttons and paddles to be any of 14 different options.  Adjust thumbstick sensitivity, trigger set points, and rumble motors to feel just the way you want them. You can load two configuration profiles directly to the controller’s memory and instantly switch between them by sliding the Profile Switch on top of the controller.

Xbox Chatpad

Fans have been asking for an easier way to message with friend. Today we announced a new Xbox Chatpad. Coming this for Xbox One and Windows 10, the new Chatpad is available for pre-order today. With the new Chatpad, you can quickly compose messages, enter codes, and search for games and apps. It also puts audio controls at your fingertips and features a stereo jack for your gaming headset. Available mid-2016 on Xbox One only, two new programmable buttons will give you access to your favorite features like Game DVR, screenshots or apps at the touch of a button. The Xbox Chatpad is compatible with all Xbox One controllers and works with Xbox One and Windows 10. 

NEWS: DVR for Over-the-Air TV Coming to Xbox One

Today, onstage at gamescom, we unveiled one of the most requested live TV features on Xbox Feedback: DVR for Over-the-Air TV, which lets you record live over-the-air TV, schedule recordings and take your shows on-the-go.

Ever since we introduced the Hauppauge Digital TV Tuner for Xbox One in the U.S. and Canada and the Xbox One Digital TV Tuner in 16 European countries and Australia, you’ve been enjoying free over-the-air TV channels. Many of you have also streamed over-the-air TV to other devices within your home using the Xbox app on Windows 10 devices or the Xbox One SmartGlass app on Windows, Windows Phone, iOS and Android, even while someone else is using Xbox One.

With DVR for Over-the-Air TV, you’ll never miss a minute of your favorite TV shows, movies or sporting events when you want to play a game or need to step out. Once your Xbox One is set up for over-the-air TV*, it’s as easy as plugging a USB hard drive into your Xbox One console and recording your content. And by recording content to an external drive, there’s no impact on your gameplay activities or ability to save to the console.

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NEWS: Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Free For Everyone in November 2015

During its Gamescom 2015 press conference, Xbox announced that its backwards compatibility service will become free for all Xbox One owners in November.

Up until now, the service has only been available to Xbox One users participating in the Xbox Preview Program. From this November, over 100 Xbox 360 and XBLA games will become available to all Xbox One owners, for free.

Microsoft also announced that Xbox Games with Gold games will be made with backwards compatibility in mind.

NEW RELEASE: Rare Replay Xbox One

Rare Replay

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Rare brings together the adventures of its iconic characters in a collection that spans the decades. From its earliest 2D classics to Xbox 360 triumphs, Rare Replay delivers a gaming treasure trove for veteran players and newcomers alike. Master the basics or test your skills with all-new snapshot challenges and 10,000 Gamerscore. Gaming’s greatest are back, lovingly presented and exclusively on Xbox One! After purchase, the Xbox 360 titles within Rare Replay will also be added to your download queue.

Purchase from the Xbox Store

HELP: Install Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver on Windows 10 (With Xbox One Support in Game Streaming)

So you took the jump and updated your computer to Windows 10. But it looks like your Xbox 360 wireless receive is not installed, and you can't use your Xbox 360 wireless controller on your PC anymore.

Good news, here is the fix and a bonus, you can use your 360 controller to play Xbox One games when game streaming, as long as you use the newest driver, and here is how

1. Load My Computer or the file manager

2. Right click "The Computer" (may be named different on your system)

3. Click properties

4. Click device manager

5. Find the "Unknown Device", right click

6. Click "update driver software"

7. Click browse my computer

8. Click let me pick

9. Scroll down to xbox 360 peripherals

10. Find Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Window there should be 2 different drivers, the newer one will allow you to use the 360 controller for Xbox One when streaming games to your pc

11. Igore the pop up warning 

12. Done

HOW TO: Play Xbox 360 games on Xbox One

So how do I play my Xbox 360 games on my Xbox One now that backwards compatibility is a thing? (currently Xbox Preview users only, rest around the holiday season).

First thing you have to do is verify that the game is supported. Currently only about 20 games are supported but Microsoft expects there to be hundreds when this rolls out to the general public.

To check see the official list here: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/backward-compatibility

If the game you want to play is supported and you have the disc handy,  just put the disc in to the Xbox One and you will be prompted to install the Backwards Compatible edition. The disc is just proof of ownership and the game will play off the hard drive and will be needed every time you want to play.

But what if I have supported games I purchased digitally?  Well it's just as simple see the video and steps below:

1. From the home screen go to my games and apps
2. Scroll all to way to the right to the "Ready to Install" section
3 In the "Ready to Install" section, all the digital Xbox 360 games will have a 360 logo on the thumbnail
4. Click the game to install
5. Once installed  play

If you are on the New Xbox One Expirence (NXOE) see: http://xboxissue.blogspot.com/2016/01/how-to-play-xbox-360-games-on-xbox-one.html

NEWS: Gears of War & Shadow Complex backwards compatibility starts today (preview program only)

Good news, Major Nelson announced over Twitter that if you own Gears of War or Shadow Complex on the 360 and you are in the Xbox One Preview program, these games will be backwards compatible starting today Aug 3 2015.

Xbox One Preview Members: Own Gears of War or Shadow Complex on Xbox 360? Play both for free via Back Compat pic.twitter.com/8PfrJmHA2N

— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) August 3, 2015

NEWS: Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Comes With Entire Gears Collection For Free

The Coalition are excited to announce that all fans who purchase Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, or the Xbox One Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Bundle, will be able to unlock the entire Gears collection via Xbox One Backward Compatibility. By playing Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Xbox Live from Aug. 25 through Dec. 31, 2015, you’ll get access to Gears of War, Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3 and Gears of War: Judgment in Backward Compatibility when it launches this fall. In Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, you’ll get the complete remastering of the original game – painstakingly reimagined from the ground up with stunning next-gen graphics, recaptured and rebuilt cinematics, new achievements and modernized gameplay for an even better experience. And don’t forget the new maps, modes and missions, early access to the Gears of War 4 multiplayer beta, new Achievements, improved haptic feedback and an additional difficulty level – it’s a must-have for every Gears fan and part of the greatest games lineup in Xbox history.

All Gears of War titles will be supported on Backward Compatibility when it launches publicly this fall. This means if you own Gears of War, Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3 or Gears of War: Judgment on Xbox 360, you’ll be able to play them on your Xbox One and utilize some of your favorite next-gen features like Game DVR, Snap, screenshots and more. You can even keep all your previously-saved files, game add-ons, achievements and play with friends on Xbox Live no matter which Xbox console they’re on. For those of you in the Xbox One preview program who just can’t wait, the original Gears of Wars is available today in Backward Compatibility.

As we announced at E3, Xbox One Backward Compatibility is all about giving you the ability to play the games you love most from both generations in one place for free. And we know how much our fans love the Gears of War franchise – tens of thousands of you have voted on Xbox Feedback for Gears titles to enable Backward Compatibility.

This is just the beginning of the news we have in store for this week, so stay tuned for more exciting announcements coming out of gamescom.