250°

Microsoft Needs To Get Real

"Gamer-rider.com writes: I really dislike feeding into rumors, but I'll take the bait anyways since Yusuf Mehdi himself said the Xbox 360 is changing from being a gaming console, to an "entertainment console," something synonymous with Sony and the PlayStation brand. The rumors are that the next Xbox will be heavily influenced by apps and non-gaming related things, and that's all good because I'm sure there's a market for it. But for a bit of perspective, Sony and the PlayStation brand did something similar, but they did so in an era when Smart TVs, Smart Phones, and Tablets and many other gadgets simply didn't exist. Nowadays, we have TVs with built-in wifi receivers that can stream Netflix, check out Facebook, Twitter, etc. In my opinion, I think there exists the danger of very quickly becoming irrelevant when you alienate your core audience by focusing on offering things that are more easily accessible elsewhere."

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gamer-rider.com
4086d ago Replies(9)
dangert124086d ago

I am not keen on Microsoft, but what they are doing seems to be working for them.

JoySticksFTW4086d ago

I don't disagree, but it seems to be working for them short term.

Like MS only catered to the hardcore gamers short term for two straight generations.

I bought a 360 for Mistwalker games, Dead Rising, Crackdown, GeOW, and Mass Effect. And except for Gears, those titles either dried up (MW), went south (CD2), or went multiplat.

Now 360 gamers are left wondering if they'll be supported short-term to be pushed aside for Kinect and entertainment focus when 720 launches.

Even reputable sites like neogaf are already debating whether their 360 gamers will jump over to PS4 next gen, mostly due to Sony's track record of continuously providing content for the hardcore gamer and now PS+. And if the PS4 design leaks are to be believed, it seems designed more towards gaming than extras.

Me, I probably won't get either system day one anyways. I still have too many games in my backlog from this gen, so I'll probably get both eventually during sales or price cuts. But honestly, it's going to be hard if not impossible to hold back.

stragomccloud4086d ago (Edited 4086d ago )

MW didn't dry up. Microsoft cancelled the last game under the 3 game contract, neither party really wanted to finish the game anyway, so MW abandoned ship for Nintendo and made "Last Story" an amazing game~

By the way, Microsoft also brought down Ensemble studios. That was a sad story. After years and years of working under Microsoft, Ensemble was dropped before their final game(Halo Wars) was even released.

DigitalSmoke4086d ago ShowReplies(3)
Tei7774086d ago (Edited 4086d ago )

lol, as little as microsoft has done to deliver exclusive support to the 360. Its still been very much alive. Exclusives only matter to those who need to validate their console purchase.. If you have a 360 and are enjoying the likes of Dishourned, Ac3, COD, Battlefield, Skyrim, Bioshock... essentially everything other then sony 1st party titles why does it matter?

For me personally the annoyance is in the fact that the 360s 1st party line up was so strong from 2007-2009. I assume many people bought the system expecting this to continue...

Also I'm sure many sony fanboys brag of exclusives they don't even play lol

Cupid_Viper_34086d ago

@Tei777

I'm sorry but you seem to contradict yourself in that post there.

First you said: " Exclusives only matter to those who need to validate their console purchase"

Then you said: "For me personally the annoyance is in the fact that the 360s 1st party line up was so strong from 2007-2009. I assume many people bought the system expecting this to continue... "

I think that's the whole point to buying a product over the next. Why should I buy GLAD garbage bags over the other ones on the market even though they all carry garbages. Because GLAD garbage bags are stronger, and I don't ever want to have to be picking up garbage with my bare hands from the floor while taking it out.

I believe that it is pointless for me to buy an xbox 360 if I already own a PS3 if all I'm going to play is the multi platform games. That money would be put to better use by buying games with for the PS3.

Tei7774086d ago

Haha, let me not contradict myself this time!

What I ultimately mean is that if you're enjoying you're 360, why does it matter how many exclusives it has? All that matters is that it has the games you want to play. If those games lay on another system (the last of us), then yeah sure you may regret your purchase. I mainly just trying to get at the point that people sometimes like to brag about exclusives regardless of whether they're going to buy them or not. If all you're favourite franchises are multiplatform (GTA/COD/elderscrolls/Assasins creed- sales suggest this is the case for many) then exclusives are merely a cherry on the top.

The latter point I made is a bit confused. Its only really valid if you're a 360 owner, who bought a 360 over a ps3 to play games like the original Bioshock or Mass effect which were 360 exclusive at one point. Now they're multiplatform you may feel cheated. If you don't care about microsofts other franchises (halo/gears/fable), then maybe you will look back in hindsight and wish you bought a pS3 instead and picked up Bioshock+mass effect when they were latter ported.

grayfoxx8814086d ago

"Exclusives only matter to those who need to validate their console purchase."

That's a pretty ignorant comment. I, like many others, bought a 360 because of Halo 3. It was a great game with awesome multiplayer, that's why it sold so well. Some exclusive games matter because they truly are great games. Get your head out of your ass.

Tei7774086d ago (Edited 4086d ago )

I didn't mean it like that. If say you're really into Halo + a few multiplatform titles and nothing the ps3 has to offer then it really doesn't matter that microsoft rarely supports the 360 in exclusive content. I was just trying to make the point that exclusives for the sake exclusives doesn't amount to much. It all just comes to down to being able to play games you like, their exclusivity doesn't make them better.

The PS3 has had an abysmal year of 1st party titles. Around 10 were released in 2012 and they all flopped. Not trying to hate on ps3 (its actually my prefered console), just using it as an example. The 360 has tons of amazing games on it and still coming out for it, they're just not exclusives. RIP articles like this are ridiculously over the top lol

mcstorm4086d ago

I love this fan boy rants. How many exclusives did the ps3 have in its first few years compared to the 360?

At the end of the day people should buy what they like not what everyone else says they should buy. I have a surface as it offers me more than what an iPad or android tablet dose but I don't go around telling other people they should not get an android or iPad because it works better for me.

Its all about choice people. If you all spent less time going on about what you don't like in life you might enjoy the things you do enjoy in life a little more.

ILive4086d ago (Edited 4086d ago )

You are still a tool regardless, tei777. Ask yourself this: will it make any f**king sense if two consoles are in the market to only offer multiplats? Exclusives are meant to seperate the consoles, followed by the features. My friend that is only a 360 owner has nothing to look forward too after dead space 3. He does not want gears judgement because he is still content with 3. From now and perhaps till september, he has nothing to play. None of the multiplats coming between then interests him. Many 360 owners are likely in the same state, while ps3 owners got ni no kuni in jan, will get god of war in march, and last of us in june.

jetlian4086d ago

exclusives only matter at the beginning.Once you buy a system you have it theres nothing more you have to do. If your friend only wanted those games he's screwed but its not costing him more than his original investment.

Whos says said 360 owners want ni no kuni,Gow,tlou either? The number of the exclusives doesn't make a difference either way. their could be a ps3 only owner that want gears.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4086d ago
Kevlar0094086d ago

With more people using Live for Videos and Music than online games, I don't think MS wants to go back into just the gaming business. They see more money in marketing Xbox as your one stop destination for your entertainment needs. Games will certainly be a part of it, but don't expect a "games first" policy, look to see less exclusives compared to PS4, or WiiU.

I'm interested in games first so I'm fairly certain I will pass on the next Xbox (if my assumptions hold true)

G20WLY4086d ago

Really sorry, I disagreed by accident. I think you're spot on.

Looking at games (and isn't that why we're all here?!) it has to be Playstation for me next gen. With the smart TVs getting ever smarter and TV outs for tablet PCs, Microsoft is playing a dangerous game with the Xbox brand, I think.

Some argue that PS has too many exclusives, but if that gives gamers a choice and they keep coming regardless, that has to be a good thing, right? I don't want only one or two AAA exclusives a year and have to choose between macho 3rd person or macho 1st person shooter - it's not enough. There's a massive gap in the spectrum, with that at one end and kiddies Kinect games at the other.

For me, it's games first and entertainment features are a secondary bonus; not the other way around! And it'll be the same for me next gen.

Show all comments (92)
260°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere13h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN11h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos8h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo3h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

PassNextquestion13h ago(Edited 13h ago)

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger11h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Profchaos13h ago(Edited 13h ago)

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto12h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos12h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long9h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel11h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator11h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (17)
130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg14h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos14h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion13h ago(Edited 13h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola9h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10111d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref11d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde11d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197210d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville10d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218310d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos10d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
isarai11d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref11d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan11d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00710d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197211d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

11d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

11d ago
11d ago
Zeref11d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde11d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197211d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier10d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto10d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218310d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto10d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
Hofstaderman11d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts10d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts10d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic10d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

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