It’s the start of a new generation. Yeah I do get that the rampant fanboy wars are part of that (sometimes very entertaining) game however what I witnessed these last months (media included) regarding XO’s unveiling was definitely close to said term ‘witch hunt’. I always enjoyed reading GAF (and others) but there was a time (first time for me) the hate was almost unbearable and sadly the ‘discussion’ is far from being balanced and evenhanded even now (although it slowly gets better).
I’m not saying that MS doesn’t/didn’t deserve SOME of the backlash but the proportion is completely off. I’ve read so much nonsense in the last months that I feel I have to write this text in order to fell better…
Some people are arguing that this isn’t some MS specific thing and that Sony would be treated equally had they chosen the same path. They point out that basically the same thing happened with PS3’s infamous launch.
However that’s not true. While there was some minor backlash I recall the overwhelming majority buying into Sony’s PR without a second thought. Funny side note: Sony too was forcing a technology (Blu-Ray) on people that had no immediate gaming-benefit (entertainment-centered, + raised prize) and marketed their system as the ultimate entertainment hub.
Other people are arguing that (over)critical scrutiny and general mistrust is warranted because ill will, greed and the violation of consumer rights is MS’s daily business. Further, MS is not really interested in videogames, just using the medium to get into people’s households and all things considered they haven’t contributed to the industry at all (just buying the press and devs with their insane amount of money).
Yeah, MS is a big ass corporation and they want to own your living room. But so is/does Sony. Arrogant Sony from PS2/PS3 days proves that bad behavior is not solely a MS thing. People wanting to see either Sony or MS burn are stupid as hell. Regarding the industry’s progress and the consumers’ benefits MS is probably the best thing that could have happened to Sony and vice versa.
I also think that MS doesn’t get enough credit for what they have accomplished with their Xbox platform. They practically defined console-online-gaming with Xbox Live, proved that a console-FPS can work with Halo (kicked off a trend), brought a lot of western (PC) gaming culture to consoles, paved the way for Indies (Marketplace, summer of arcade) and even reached the masses with Kinect. That they are the uncontested No. 1 in the US and neck and neck with the former videogames-behemoth Sony worldwide is no small feat either.
I also think that there is a phenomenon occurring that psychologists call the “recency-effect”. While 360 started strong in the first years the software-lineup disappointed many in the last years while with PS3 it was quite the opposite. It’s fair to say that both corporations had their share of highlights and let downs but people only seem to consider the recent past (recency effect) while ignoring all the great experiences they had before that on MS’s platform. While MS could have done better in the later years, a slow decline in software-output in preparation of an upcoming generation and a focus on new customers to broaden your product’s appeal (Kinect) is nothing abnormal. To the contrary it’s reasonable from a business point of view while Sony on the other hand seemed to have a completely different time-table from the beginning.
However saying that MS is abandoning gaming while the corporation is investing more than ever and ramping up it’s first party for next gen is just wrong. Arguing that you just have to look at MS’s recent performance just proves lack of understanding how a business works.
Others things I feel I have to correct:
More entertainment means less investment in games.
Wrong. There’s no causal relation aside from some hardware-adjustments. XO TV functionality doesn’t mean that T10 is stopping making games. The whole Xbox division is growing – gaming included. You know, you can have more of BOTH. As long as there is money to make MS won’t abandon gamers.
I also can’t stand people lamenting over it again and yet again. Just don’t use it – the majority (proven by current gen statistics) is happy that these functions are there.
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Bad PR means bad console, good PR means good console
Of course there’s information to be gained from PR but if you assume that quality of PR = quality of product you have a limited understanding of marketing. You can have a nice product but awful PR and vice versa. Just because one department ****s up doesn’t mean that others did too. Xbox One PR (and management) completely failed at first but I personally think that this doesn’t make all the effort (from good, talented people) that went into the platform worthless. I also think that the original idea behind that always-only-fiasco had more potential than MS was able to communicate.
MS is in bed with the NSA – Kinect = spyware
Seriously, the notion that MS invented Kinect in order to support the NSA is stupid. It’s not like MS is happy having to share information with the NSA, there’s no special bond between the two. MS isn’t watching/listening either. How should all that data be transferred? How on earth could it happen unnoticed? Just one detection of such espionage would cause an outcry that would basically destroy the brand.
Still anxious? MS clearly stated that you can turn Kinect’s listening mode off. Alternatives: Just turn the camera to the wall, put a towel on it etc.
Sony is the savior, MS is the devil
Sony was just clever and should be applauded for that. The way I see it, they watched MS burn while keeping their own plans under wraps and capitalized from what they had learned.
Remember Sony’s long-lasting silence regarding always online DRM? Remember the adverts that basically proved that PS4 + PSeye was once a plan?
Of course Sony claims that always online DRM was never a possibility – nice thing is that no one will ever be able to prove otherwise.
PS4 without PSeye and at 399$ a gift to the gamers or more an aggressive reaction to MS’s unveiling?
I think that they just did the popular thing – praising Sony is fair acting as if they’re mother Teresa while at the same time damning MS is just childish.
then when something bad comes out about the ps4 them hoes is backtracking and playin the "bu bu bu bu your paying $5 a month" 
M$ would have never taken their foot off the necks of gamers. Also this dude that wrote the article is a moron. M$ proved FPS could work on consoles wit Halo. Really? 
Guess this dumbass never heard of Goldeneye. LOL at Sony just "doing the popular thing" by putting out a console thats cheaper and not $600 like last gen. smh He exposed his bias right there.
right?? 
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