A look at Xbox Smartglass

The second screen features of the next-generation consoles certainly was a huge focus at this year’s E3 convention, with many huge developers opting to utilize the touchscreen technology in their upcoming games. Xbox SmartGlass is one of these companion applications that allows you to use your phone or tablet to navigate your console, or get additional features or information for films, applications and games.

This feature is already available for the Xbox 360 system, allowing you to navigate through the dashboard and control certain applications whilst also giving you some additional features for certain games.

However, this is a feature that will undoubtedly be implemented in the next generation of consoles – so let’s take a look at what Xbox SmartGlass is actually offering now, and what developments we could expect in the future.

[ABeastNamedTariq]

As long as second-screen stuff is implemented right (not gimmicky-feeling), it could be interesting. That phone call thing in Dead Rising sounded interesting. Imagine if you're playing a game where someone gets kidnapped and you have to rescue them. What if they periodically called you (YOU) and were crying for help (for tone, think of the beginning of TWD -- the voicemails) or giving you a clue to where they were. It would certainly add to the emotion and intensity of the experience.

[deafdani]

Zombi U is a good example of second-screen centric gameplay done right.

[Kevlar009]

It lent really well to the tension. The fact you had to both manage your inventory and make sure you weren'y getting attacked at the same time made every second precious and real.

The fact you get Smartglass all the time with the WiiU is its best feature. I really hope Ubisoft went ham with it when they were making WatchDogs for the WiiU

[the worst]

stupid glass

[CrimsonStar]

stupid troll

[PositiveEmotions]

Thats actually a very cool feature

[Nyromith]

I don't care for a second screen. Truly immersive games allow me to dive into the game, merge with the controller and forget about everything around me.

Having to look back and forth between screens can only damage the immersion.

[Kevlar009]

Going to Smartglass everytime you get a call in WatchDogs would increase the immersion, like you are getting the call

Also don't confuse immersion with simplicity. While something may increase the interactivity sometimes it can seem a bit excessive

[andibandit]

I imagine that if a came like gta4 had implmented this, I would break my phone each time Brucie called :-)

[JBSleek]

I think a huge advantage of smartglass is that it is compatible with all phones and tablets which gives it a huge install base.

[iamnsuperman]

I think that helps, big time, but it also hinders them as well (the couldn't do a remote play type thing without buttons. They are very much limited to add on type gameplay and not core stuff). It was The only choice Microsoft could do without making a dedicated handheld. I personally think this second screen gaming will die in 2 to 3 years (like 3D gaming, in a way, has) when developers realise the average gamer just doesn't care. They will think it is cool but as long as they can just kill some guy online in the exact way they do now; they will not use it. Even in single player games is it really more emmersive to do an airstrike or talk to a fake character on your phone? Not really

[FrigidDARKNESS]

Your xbox one cane is very powerful can stream live images to 16 smartglass units simultaneously.

[gcolley]

Currently a waste of time, like kinect. It is clear 360 users did not get what was promised and we were used as beta testers for the next generation.

[redcar121]

this is so cool cant wait for sony to copy like they copy everything ulse so happy my ps3 was only used has a blueray
and my ps4 will be my blueray upgrade