So that's that...

Oh, I'm sure I'm going to regret this.

Let me ask on the AMA. I think the team wanted to do something different. The people I'm talking about will be getting out there to give details.

I do want to point out, this original discussion started with me saying, "Games on both systems look great. Look at Forza, Rise, Dead Rising, etc. All next-gen, on par or better than anything out there. We believe this 50% number is overstated"

Then people said, "that's subjective, we want proof"

So I explain that we have people on the team who are very experienced optimizing tools and development for graphics (DirectX, etc.) because we are a SW company, and that we have balance in the system in other places that equalize the playing field.

Then it's said that was all hokum, you're just spinning, we want math and more detail to prove what you're saying.

So at THIS point - I go talk to someone. "Hey, you helped design our system. You're a sr. technical leader at Microsoft. You're sitting with 3rd party developers right now who are working on both systems. Can you give me some points to help explain why nobody is seeing this rumored 50% delta"

Then I publish the points, so now I have GAF telling me a developer working on our system is wrong, and that I should just let the games speak for themselves.

Which is where I started. And since my attempts to provide more direct lines of information aren't considered truthful, because I'm not the source.. then I agree we are back where we started.

I will ask two questions of the detractors, honest questions.

1. What piece of information would you want that I could provide that would convince you there is not a huge delta in performance?
2. If it comes out after we launch that the difference between 3rd party games is maybe single-digit FPS between the two platforms, will I get an apology or concession?

At Microsoft, we have a position called a "Technical Fellow" These are engineers across disciplines at Microsoft that are basically at the highest stage of technical knowledge. There are very few across the company, so it's a rare and respected position.

We are lucky to have a small handful working on Xbox.

I've spent several hours over the last few weeks with the Technical Fellow working on our graphics engines. He was also one of the guys that worked most closely with the silicon team developing the actual architecture of our machine, and knows how and why it works better than anyone.

So while I appreciate the technical acumen of folks on this board - you should know that every single thing I posted, I reviewed with him for accuracy. I wanted to make sure I was stating things factually, and accurately.

So if you're saying you can't add bandwidth - you can. If you want to dispute that ESRAM has simultaneous read/write cycles - it does.

I know this forum demands accuracy, which is why I fact checked my points with a guy who helped design the machine.

This is the same guy, by the way, that jumps on a plane when developers want more detail and hands-on review of code and how to extract the maximum performance from our box. He has heard first-hand from developers exactly how our boxes compare, which has only proven our belief that they are nearly the same in real-world situations. If he wasn't coming back smiling, I certainly wouldn't be so bullish dismissing these claims.

I'm going to take his word (we just spoke this AM, so his data is about as fresh as possible) versus statements by developers speaking anonymously, and also potentially from several months ago before we had stable drivers and development environments.

He's just making it even worse...

"A GUY I WORK WITH WHO WE PAY SAYS WE'RE GOOD SO LISTEN TO US WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GOOD, GUYS"

I don't know what genius decided to let every MS employee have a GAF account. GAF is one of the top headline makers in the world. Anything and everything you say is going to be posted on a hundred news sites, and they felt they should do this in a setting they have zero control over?

Whenever they need to shut up and stay quiet they do the exact opposite.

But Microsoft has misgauged so much coming into this that they feel the need to address every issue loudly and publicly. Their credibility is in short supply surrounding the Xbox One, and they need to actually let the games speak for themselves like the Xbox 360 did.

It is, in a way good they actually come to gaming forums. But seriously is it really Albert or some other guy on his behave posting there ? Either way they should not post on internet forums or should hide their identity. I think may be because of so much negative things surrounding XO. Some one decide to reassure that XO is just as good if not better than PS4.

What will be really crazy if someone from Sony too come and do this to and fro which is better and gets involved in immature internet battle on forums or twitter. I think both sides should just relax and have internet warriors battle it out. lol.

There's reasoning. It's just when you've pissed them off for months and then you're the highest ranked person they've met and you evade basic questions they'll eat you alive.

I don't know why he feel's he has to say what is already widley known, the multiplat games will look very similar with some minor differences here and there just like last gen, we know this.

Of course it won't stop PS fanboys from jawing on an on about power

You mean like how Xbox fans do with the countless multiplatform titles that look or perform better on the 360? It's only natural I guess, and that was with far more similarly spec'd consoles. On paper this looks like a much bigger gap, and people like to buy the better version of a game where they can. There's a reason I own more multiplat titles on 360 then I do PS3. If you intend to be a multi console owner next gen, the xbone will be relegated to an exclusive only player.