http://news.xbox.com/2013/0...
You've all seen me rant and rave against the Xbox One. Here I am, gleeful to admit that Microsoft had a heart to (somewhat) change.
It's true. Microsoft announced today that they are reversing some of the controversial decisions with the Xbox One. Of primary importance is their decision to axe the 24-hour check in, the region lock, and all of their used game restrictions.
This is a time for celebration, but also a time for caution. Let's start with the good, continue with the bad, and I'll close with my personal take on the whole situation.
The good news is that for those with an unstable or unreliable internet connection, Xbox One won't lock you out of your games if you can't ping the servers. I'm not going to praise Microsoft for NOT being greedy trolls, but I admit that it is good news they decided to reverse their decision. Also, there's the removal of region locks. Now, I'm an American. Region-locking usually only prevents me from accessing a very small handful of Japan-only games. However, just because region-locking doesn't affect me does not mean I'm ignorant to its implications in other regions. I am fully aware that gamers in other countries don't get games at the same time as I do in the USA. Sometimes they don't get those games at all. Region-locking prevents these gamers from enjoying games they otherwise wouldn't be able to play, so I'm thrilled Microsoft opened up their system's region. Now they can import to their heart's content.
Lastly, no used game restrictions. This is FANTASTIC. Again, I'm not going to applaud Microsoft for simply NOT implementing an evil plan that they devised in the first place. However, I am happy to celebrate with my fellow gamers that all used game restrictions seem to be kaput.
The most important thing is this: MICROSOFT BUCKLED. To you gamers who stood up, ranted, raved, and refused to go along with Microsoft's plan, I salute you. You made your voice heard. You refused to shut up when apologists told you "wait and see". You made it known that this was unacceptable, and Microsoft listened to you. If Microsoft's change of heart is what you were looking for and now you can buy the XBox One with a clean conscience, then you should feel proud that you played a role in making that happen. To those gamers and journalists who defended Microsoft, tried to apologize it away, made excuses, called us "entitled", and even YOU - Don Mattrick - who said people without an internet connection should get a 360, screw you. Screw you x1000. This situation was made possible by your complacency, and this situation changed due in no part to your help.
Then, there's the bad news involved with this announcement. For people who loved the idea of Family sharing, digital gifting, playing your library via the cloud from any console, etc. etc., that is all gone. While I - personally - saw no value in these things, I know that some people were excited at the prospect, and now they'll be unable to try it out.
Also, the dark side of this announcement is that Microsoft now needs to make alterations to the Xbox One, a system that is coming out in less than half a year. This puts me on edge. We've already seen issues with the Xbox One in its current state (from laggy UI menus to using PCs instead of dev kits to showcase games at E3). Unless Microsoft decides to delay the Xbox One in order to patch everything up and make sure it's running smoothly, I'm fearful that the Xbox One - a system that was already being rushed, by most rumors - is going to end up even more rushed. That's bad.
Another bummer is that the online requirement is still in place. Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but it appears to me that the console requires an online connection for an initial setup and (possibly) again to register each game for the first time. It's true, after that setup you never have to connect to the internet again, Microsoft promises, but that's little comfort to those who weren't able to connect to the internet in the first place. If each game requires a registration (again, maybe I'm not reading the wording correctly. Microsoft STILL isn't being very clear or precise) the issue of having your internet down and therefore being unable to play the new game you just bought remains.
Now, here's my personal take.
This is really great news for Xbox fans who were bummed out. If the DRM and used-game restrictions were the only thing holding you back, then this should clear up those issues. However, what about the Kinect requirement? What about the focus on sports and TV? What about the higher price point and (rumored) less-powerful hardware?
And what about the fact that Microsoft was the one to introduce these ideas in the first place? Have we forgotten the rude and dismissive comments by people like Phil Spencer, Don Mattrick, and Major Nelson? Is all forgiven simply because Microsoft decided to do only SOME, not ALL of the evil things they were planning? Does it not concern anyone else that Microsoft has essentially done a complete reversal of these policies less than one month after revealing their console, and less than 10 days after E3, and less than one week after Spencer said "we're not worried about PS4"? A company that flip-flops so readily makes me leery that these changes are here to stay. Am I glad that Microsoft is changing their tune? Absolutely, because it is good for the industry, but I don't think it necessarily reflects well on Microsoft.
Some of you might be more lenient. I'm not. In my eyes, Microsoft simply showed their true colors, and the only reason why they changed some (not all) of the Xbox One's policies is because the backlash meant they would be losing profit. Would they have changed if the reception was more mixed? Would they have changed if it was a 50/50 split in the PS4 vs Xbox One polls? Would they have changed if the Xbox One pre-orders were closer to the PS4? Probably not, and that's why I'm not willing to simply forgive and forget.
Other problems still remain. Microsoft has proven with two consoles - the Xbox and the 360 - that they don't give long-term gaming support. The reversal of some of the Xbox One's draconian policies doesn't mean that Microsoft will suddenly start doing a better job of supporting their consoles.
There are still issues remaining with the Xbox One, and while I am satisfied that our protests resulted in Microsoft changing some of the Xbox One's features, this is simply the first step to winning back a lot of gamers' trust.
There is a Star Wars Outlaws mission featuring Jabba the Hutt that's available on day one but exclusive to Season Pass owners.
PS: "The Rising Tide, the second and final expansion for Final Fantasy 16, is set to feature some of the game's most challenging combat scenarios. That's according to DLC director (and a lead combat designer for the base game) Takeo Kujiraoka, who, in an upcoming interview with Push Square, told us that the addition of DLC has allowed the development team to push the title's combat system."
I’ll be real, I don’t generally go into a FF game looking for difficulty. I just hope the trophies aren’t a nightmare to get. I need a break after doing the brutal/legendary challenges and hard mode in Rebirth. A lot of that was rage inducing.
I still need the last Brutal and Legendary in Rebirth before I can pop my Platinum.
Took a break to play through DD2 and RotR, but when I got back to Rebirth, I couldn't even get to the last encounters in said challenges.
Back to the drawing table.
But I'm with you, I don't need the brutal difficulty.
I just want a great game, which I think both XVI and Rebirth is.
Will it also be more RPG, and less hack and slash?
Good game, really enjoyed the story but I'm not interested in more of it. I want SE to go back to traditional RPG style.
Huzaifah from eXputer: "Sleeping Dogs from the early 2010s is one of the best open-world games out there but in dire need of a resurgence."
You say "yet" as if it's even possible anymore. United Front Games is gone, along with anyone that made this game what it is
That’s what happens when games sell poorly. And I’ve seen people wonder why people cry when a game sells badly… this is your answer.
I don't think MS has to make many alterations really. Most of their DRM is software based so it's a simple programming change I'd think. What's funny is that Angry Joe brought that very thing up and was shot down by Major Nelson.
In any event, this should hopefully show everyone that, when threatened, gamers are not to be trifled with. Microsoft announced a sinking ship and are now trying to patch up the holes. There's still the issue of mandatory Kinect and the price tag, but the price at least is a minor problem that won't last forever.
"Other problems still remain. Microsoft has proven with two consoles - the Xbox and the 360 - that they don't give long-term gaming support. The reversal of some of the Xbox One's draconian policies doesn't mean that Microsoft will suddenly start doing a better job of supporting their consoles."
Long term gaming support? Tell us, when did the Xbox 360 come out again? 2005. That's right, we are going on 8 years now. 8 years! We seen a new Gears of war game, Forza Horizon and a very impressive Halo 4. They will have a free tank game too coming that has 60 million people playing on the PC. They've already squashed the naysayers who said the Xbox 360 would be like the original Xbox and be dropped after 4 years. Now almost 8 years later and almost 80 million systems you want to tell us how the Xbox One will be? Please, they have more games in development now than ANY time in Xbox history. They also invested 1 billion dollars into game development. More studios and so on.
"There are still issues remaining with the Xbox One, and while I am satisfied that our protests resulted in Microsoft changing some of the Xbox One's features, this is simply the first step to winning back a lot of gamers' trust."
There's always issues with people like you. Some people never give it a rest. In fact some people actually make a career out of trolling.
@Dedicated
Even though I am glad they reversed their policy even I admit for myself it was for selfish reasons. I am a long time Gamefly user and I want to be able to rent the games I am not completely sold on or just want to try. But after reading this article:
http://gizmodo.com/the-xbox...
I kind of see what MS wanted to do IF TRUE. Now who knows if what that article says would have ever happened I guess we'll never know. The truth of the matter is I was in it for the short term as MS was looking at the long term vision. Do I care? Nope, like I said I like my Gamefly.
"A company that flip-flops so readily makes me leery that these changes are here to stay."
They flip flopped to what the consumers were yelling. this doesn't make me leery at this makes me glad that they even listened to the public.
"(from laggy UI menus to using PCs instead of dev kits to showcase games at E3)"
laggy UI, seriously? I didn't see that at all but to each their own. And for your fears about some stupid backstage E3 crap go ahead and read this article:
http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...
This should put your fears to rest, right?
"the Xbox and the 360 - that they don't give long-term gaming support."
MikeMyers already provided an answer to this absurd statement. Again do you even realize what you put down in print?
You won nothing except $70 always online games riddled with microtransactions.
I always believed the DRM issue should have not been forced. Although I will admit the sharing with the friends and family was a cool idea. As for games, Microsoft has opened more studios this generation then any other. I can actually see them having a lot more exclusives this generation. Lets hope gamers actually support gaming companies by purchasing these games. Creating games cost more money in this generation then in any other.