The future of console gaming

[X]

The concern is that they are adding restrictions where there weren't restrictions before. Say I own a car, it can drive on any road I choose to drive it on. Now I buy a new car and it can only be driven on 6 lane highways, that's an issue for me.

I'm not saying this is a major issue for me, my connection is reliable, I just don't like this drastic change in model.

I like your analogy, but you can't drive on any road that you choose. You need to pay tolls to drive on a toll road and you can't drive on private roads. You also can only drive at certain speeds and only on a certain side of the road. Everything has restrictions. And using your analogy further, let's say that the XBOX One is a car. Before you ever set foot in said car, you have been told that you need gas to drive it and it's top speed. You are given the information to make an informed decision on if you want to buy that car. If you still buy that car, you then need to deal with the limitations and benefits of your choice.

In the case of the XBOX One, I like the benefits and the limitations will not in any way hamper what I will be doing. The limitation are a non-factor because they will not affect me in any noticeable way, while the benefits will mean a significant savings when it comes to future purchases for my family. This model works for me and I still have several 360s if I want to play offline(which I never do).

Systems are always going to have some sort of restrictions. Most products do. That beings said, these restrictions really don't apply to me and will never actually affect me. If I can't connect to the internet once every 24 hours for a few seconds, something more important that playing games is probably going on in my neighborhood.

I also see that people in general don't mind restrictions if the product is something that they want. Look at the iPAD. Tons of restrictions, millions of sales.

[Jobydrone]

Im pretty sure i understand your point, that ultimately the restrictions don't affect you in any way, and so you're perfectly fine with it all. Where I'm losing you is the notion that people who ARE impacted by the restrictions shouldnt complain about it and rather be happy with their seven year old system because hey, times change, this new system isn't meant for you anymore. These people, how many is debatable, are saying they're not happy with the new direction their Xbox is taking, and they have a right to make their opinions known. Nobody in the article you're responding to is making any demands of Microsoft, they're expressing themselves about how the new restrictions and policies prevent them from using the new Xbox.

[billybob476]

...and as I said on the last episode of my podcast, if I'm given two machines that are effectively the same from a hardware/performance standpoint, I'll take the one that has fewer restrictions.

[X]

Im pretty sure i understand your point, that ultimately the restrictions don't affect you in any way, and so you're perfectly fine with it all. Where I'm losing you is the notion that people who ARE impacted by the restrictions shouldnt complain about it and rather be happy with their seven year old system because hey, times change, this new system isn't meant for you anymore. These people, how many is debatable, are saying they're not happy with the new direction their Xbox is taking, and they have a right to make their opinions known. Nobody in the article you're responding to is making any demands of Microsoft, they're expressing themselves about how the new restrictions and policies prevent them from using the new Xbox.

I think I get where you're coming from, but I don't understand the need to complain for the sake of complaining. Never did. Also, their XBOX isn't taking a new direction. It's the same thing it was, but it's gotten a bit smaller. This is a new machine with new goals, objectives, and features. It is not a continuation of the 360 in any way. Microsoft is offering a new product in their Xbox brand. If these people are voicing their opinion just for the sake of voicing their opinion, it's nothing more than pointless complaining.

[Jobydrone]

Initial reports are the PS3 has an advantage performance-wise because the XBone is dedicating a significant portion of its onboard RAM to running three operating systems simultaneously for Windows, Kinect, and video games, for features like instant app switching, Skype overlays, etc.

[billybob476]

Im pretty sure i understand your point, that ultimately the restrictions don't affect you in any way, and so you're perfectly fine with it all. Where I'm losing you is the notion that people who ARE impacted by the restrictions shouldnt complain about it and rather be happy with their seven year old system because hey, times change, this new system isn't meant for you anymore. These people, how many is debatable, are saying they're not happy with the new direction their Xbox is taking, and they have a right to make their opinions known. Nobody in the article you're responding to is making any demands of Microsoft, they're expressing themselves about how the new restrictions and policies prevent them from using the new Xbox.

I think I get where you're coming from, but I don't understand the need to complain for the sake of complaining. Never did. Also, their XBOX isn't taking a new direction. It's the same thing it was, but it's gotten a bit smaller. This is a new machine with new goals, objectives, and features. It is not a continuation of the 360 in any way. Microsoft is offering a new product in their Xbox brand. If these people are voicing their opinion just for the sake of voicing their opinion, it's nothing more than pointless complaining.

I can't say I agree with that. If you disagree with something, then it is well within your right to express that disagreement. At the end of the day people will vote with their wallets, but there is no harm in having a discussion.

[Dangelus]

Im pretty sure i understand your point, that ultimately the restrictions don't affect you in any way, and so you're perfectly fine with it all. Where I'm losing you is the notion that people who ARE impacted by the restrictions shouldnt complain about it and rather be happy with their seven year old system because hey, times change, this new system isn't meant for you anymore. These people, how many is debatable, are saying they're not happy with the new direction their Xbox is taking, and they have a right to make their opinions known. Nobody in the article you're responding to is making any demands of Microsoft, they're expressing themselves about how the new restrictions and policies prevent them from using the new Xbox.

I think I get where you're coming from, but I don't understand the need to complain for the sake of complaining. Never did. Also, their XBOX isn't taking a new direction. It's the same thing it was, but it's gotten a bit smaller. This is a new machine with new goals, objectives, and features. It is not a continuation of the 360 in any way. Microsoft is offering a new product in their Xbox brand. If these people are voicing their opinion just for the sake of voicing their opinion, it's nothing more than pointless complaining.

I can't say I agree with that. If you disagree with something, then it is well within your right to express that disagreement. At the end of the day people will vote with their wallets, but there is no harm in having a discussion.

The voice of reason! :-)

It seems that every other sodding thread on this forum these days that tries to have a critical discussion gets shot down with "don't like it? Don't use / play / watch it" answers....

The fact plenty of people are unhappy with Microsoft's decision here and most don't even know about it yet. I'm just glad I don't work in the video game retail industry anymore. They will be on the front line. :(

[Dangelus]

And it looks like Microsoft may have bottled it! The internet is going crazy over this news and the website is overloading!
http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/microsoft-to-pull-complete-reversal-on-xbox-one-dr/1100-4673/

[X]

Im pretty sure i understand your point, that ultimately the restrictions don't affect you in any way, and so you're perfectly fine with it all. Where I'm losing you is the notion that people who ARE impacted by the restrictions shouldnt complain about it and rather be happy with their seven year old system because hey, times change, this new system isn't meant for you anymore. These people, how many is debatable, are saying they're not happy with the new direction their Xbox is taking, and they have a right to make their opinions known. Nobody in the article you're responding to is making any demands of Microsoft, they're expressing themselves about how the new restrictions and policies prevent them from using the new Xbox.

I think I get where you're coming from, but I don't understand the need to complain for the sake of complaining. Never did. Also, their XBOX isn't taking a new direction. It's the same thing it was, but it's gotten a bit smaller. This is a new machine with new goals, objectives, and features. It is not a continuation of the 360 in any way. Microsoft is offering a new product in their Xbox brand. If these people are voicing their opinion just for the sake of voicing their opinion, it's nothing more than pointless complaining.

I can't say I agree with that. If you disagree with something, then it is well within your right to express that disagreement. At the end of the day people will vote with their wallets, but there is no harm in having a discussion.

The voice of reason! :-)

It seems that every other sodding thread on this forum these days that tries to have a critical discussion gets shot down with "don't like it? Don't use / play / watch it" answers....

The fact plenty of people are unhappy with Microsoft's decision here and most don't even know about it yet. I'm just glad I don't work in the video game retail industry anymore. They will be on the front line. :(

A critical discussion is one thing. Empty complains are another. What can you honestly discuss when the comment is "I won't buy it I don't like the DRM." I'm all for critical discussions, but how does that start, add, or expand a discussion?

If you're not buying something and nothing is going to change your mind, there is really nothing left to discuss.

[Dangelus]

So if I've made the decision not to buy one it precludes me from discussing the product and it's possible weaknesses?

[Dangelus]

Take this with a grain of salt for now, but Giant Bomb news writer Patrick Klepek is reporting that "multiple sources" are telling him that Microsoft will be announcing a complete reversal of its controversial Xbox One game licensing and online policies later today.

According to the report (which is currently killing Giant Bomb's servers), this means the Xbox One will no longer have to check in regularly online but will instead only require an Internet connection during the initial system setup. Game discs will be just as portable as they were on the Xbox 360, with no restrictions on resale or transfer, and downloadable games will work offline as well as online. Region locks on the system will also reportedly be dropped.

A separate report from WhatTheHiFi confirms the essential facts of the Giant Bomb report through its own unnamed sources, adding that developers are being informed of the change before consumers hear about it officially later today.

While neither site gives any more details on where this information is coming from, Klepek says that his sources tell him that Microsoft has definitely been listening closely to consumer feedback in the weeks since first revealing its information.

We're reaching out to our own sources on this and will of course let you know when anything official comes out."


http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/06/rumor-microsoft-set-to-reverse-controversial-game-licensing-policies/

[X]

I didn't say that at all. Discuss the possible weaknesses. Do you have any thing else to add to the conversation? Do you have a solution that might balance the goals of the new machines with your own desires? I say again, complaining for the sake of complaining isn't a discussion. Neither is praise for the sake of praise. In all of the above, I pointed out what I liked, why it worked for me and how the other stuff would not apply. Because it used to be that way isn't a very productive talking point and after it's said, is there really a need to add more? Empty complains with no suggestion of realistic resolution don't create discussions, they create arguments.

[Jobydrone]

This is huge news if true. I'm suddenly much more confused about which one I want at launch now, since I'd pretty much decided on PS4 up to now. Ill definitely be getting both eventually but with game rentals available for both systems the decision is much harder about which to buy first.

[X]

This is huge news if true. I'm suddenly much more confused about which one I want at launch now, since I'd pretty much decided on PS4 up to now. Ill definitely be getting both eventually but with game rentals available for both systems the decision is much harder about which to buy first.

While, I'm happy for you guys, I hope it doesn't screw over the Family sharing that I was looking forward to.

[Dangelus]

I didn't say that at all. Discuss the possible weaknesses. Do you have any thing else to add to the conversation? Do you have a solution that might balance the goals of the new machines with your own desires? I say again, complaining for the sake of complaining isn't a discussion. Neither is praise for the sake of praise. In all of the above, I pointed out what I liked, why it worked for me and how the other stuff would not apply. Because it used to be that way isn't a very productive talking point and after it's said, is there really a need to add more? Empty complains with no suggestion of realistic resolution don't create discussions, they create arguments.

Fine. Ironically it seems Microsoft may have been more  interested in consumers complaints from the current rumours! :-)