There’s been more than a few rumours surrounding Microsoft’s third Xbox attempt, the 720, the Xbox 8, the Xbox Infinity, the whatever. A lot of these rumours have been unflattering and, in light of Sony’s PS4 reveal and renewed focus on gaming, they cast an ominous shadow on the future of the Xbox brand.
By coming out first and putting forward their message of a developer friendly, powerful games console, Sony have created a general buzz and air of excitement in the gaming community. At the same time negativity builds around the lack of information and unsavoury rumours surrounding the 3rd Xbox.
The funny thing is a lot of these silly rumours could be put to rest with one simple statement from MS, which is why I decided to write this blog, in the vain hope that someone from MS would get the message and put our minds at rest. After all it’s in their best interest that the core gamers, the guys/gals that queue for hours at midnight for consoles, don’t have the impression that they’ve been abandoned. So here I am, standing metaphorically outside of MS HQ with a megaphone, calling them out to clear the malodorous air circling their gaming brand.
First we need to get this topic cleared up and cleared up good. MS, we need to know, are you going to block used games? It’s a simple question and one that, in all fairness, neither company has answered satisfyingly. So why not just make a simple statement, MS, if you aren’t blocking used games why not just come out and say it? The negativity cloud growing around your building is so easily dispersed that it’s coming across as if you have every intention of reducing our rights as consumers.
Secondly and possibly somewhat related to the first topic, is always online DRM. If the Simcity incident hasn’t put you off this idea already then you have deeper issues than a few bad rumours. All you need to do is come and say that you aren’t stupid enough to do this and we will stop assuming that you are.
Finally but most importantly, refocus on what is left of your core gamers! It’s getting almost embarrassing to go into a game store and ask a clerk "what’s new for Xbox" only to be greeted with the latest Kinect dance game or barrage of multi-plats that no longer even run noticeably better on the platform. If the launch of PS3 has taught you anything, MS, it’s that the core gamers will abandon you completely if there’s more/better core games available on a competitors platform. The only people more fickle than the core gamers are the casual ones, who just pick up whatever is popular and even your over-inflated marketing budget can’t buy popularity, just look at Surface and Windows Phone 8.
So let’s have it Microsoft, I’m not asking you to reveal anything juicy about Xbox 3, we just want to know that you have our best intentions at heart. So what if your specs don’t quite measure up to PS4’s, the fans will stick around if you give them reason to.
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"The Warsaw-based (Poland) indie games publisher Retrovibe and indie games developer Buckshot Software, today announced with great joy and excitement that they have just kicked-off the open playtest for their adrenaline-pumping retro-like FPS "Project Warlock II: Reworked Chapter 1"(the said playtest is available right now for PC via Steam)." - Jons Ek, TGG.
"The Lanzarote-based (Spain) indie games developer Rat Cliff Games are today very happy and excited to announce that they have just released a playable demo for their upcoming first-person survival horror game “Among Ashes” (the said demo is available right now for PC via Steam as part of the Steam FPS Fest)." - Jonas Ek, TGG.
"So what if your specs don’t quite measure up to PS4’s, the fans will stick around if you give them reason to."
Great blog and you made a very good point with your last comment.
Personally, I doubt most gamers will care much if the nextbox is stronger or weaker than the PS4, we just want to know if there will actually be any exclusive core games beyond that of Halo and Gears, where they stand with the used games debacle and if Kinect 2 is going to be of any real use or interest to the core gamer demographic.
Clint Eastwood: "There is just one question you must answer yourslelf, do you feel lucky this Gen?"
MS damm better be.
It's about time someone on N4G spoke out against Microsoft.
lol
To be fair, Sony didn't disprove the rumors on them, of used blocking and always on DRM, before their reveal. The negativity was building then and the rumors were dispersed all in one blow with an event that was very popular.
But then, with Microsoft waiting, that IS a lot more time to be the ONLY ones without confirmed used games allowance. It would probably be a really bad move for them to have any sort of major DRM now with their competitors basically laughing off such an idea that customers would feel exploited by.
I think regardless what MS does with the next box, people should not forget what they did this gen.
They started out strong for the hardcore, but half way through almost completely abandoned them.
So I ask you xbox fans, what if MS comes out strong again for you core gamers next gen? Is all going to be forgiven? Are you going to trust them again?
There is nothing stopping MS abandoning you again half way through next gen again. Nothing at all. So when your deciding your next gen console purchase, I hope you remember that. Because if MS stings you again, you'll have no one to blame but your self.
If its true that MS is focusing on the general consumer rather than gaming, if they've worked out a strategy that makes Xbox3 a cable box, then they don't have to say anything until they want to. If things have been done right, if they've got cable/internet providers lined up, then Sony and Nintendo stop becoming competitors.
Thought if they can't deliver a reliable product, if there's another RRoD when average Joe takes the chance on making them an only option, its just going to be fun times for the Xbox division.