Microsoft is going the "entertainment box" route. I highly doubt they will be worried about power. Now, I'm not saying the NextBox will be a slouch. Rather, the hardware will be tailored to multimedia/social functions, similar to the PS4 (where a good piece of those 8 Gigs of RAM are devoted to the Share function). The graphics will obviously be better than the 360, but the hardware will likely be more multi-functional like a PC. #1

I always wait a minimum of one year (usually it ends up being a bit more than that) after launch before I even consider buying a console. I've done that since the SNES era and it hasn't failed me yet. #1.1

Let me point something out that most idiots (even so-called gaming journalists) don't acknowledge.

The Dreamcast sold 10 million in the less-than-two years it was on the market. After that, it was quite literally scrubbed from store shelves in favor of the PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox.

In 6 years time, the Gamecube sold 22 million. In 5 years time, the Xbox sold 24 million.

If the Dreamcast had been on the market for longer, it may have very w... #1.5

Author lists three Bethesda games (PS3 versions are the worst, unfortunately). Mass Effect 3 (worst in the trilogy) and Eternal Sonata (a delayed port of a 360 game).

No Resonance of Fate? No Folklore? No Disgaea 3 or 4? No 3D Dot Game Heroes (that's more action-adventure, admittedly)?

And no Valkyria Chronicles? Really? #1.2

Vanquish is top-notch, but it came out during the time when videogame journalists were still dumb enough to say stuff like "no multiplayer? automatic 6/10 score". #8.1

Resonance of Fate is awesome. One of the only JRPGs this gen that I felt the desire to actually play through multiple times, just because it was so fun.

I have a hunch that it will become one of those "hidden gems" that grows in popularity, since gamers have a tendency to revisit past generations to search for JRPGs they missed. #7.1

Very well put-together blog. You make a lot of valid points. Outside of the fanboys (who will hate something no matter what), I think there are a fair number of people who are genuinely disappointed with what Microsoft has been doing. I also do not agree that Microsoft is in the best position for next-gen. The market is far too tumultuous to predict that. For all we know, the Wii-U is in the best position for next-gen.

Microsoft lost a lot of goodwill with their core consumer... #1

The game looks awesome! I've been waiting for a good GG since BlazBlue has never managed to match the crazy complexity of GG.

I will Potempkin you all online. Be prepared. #1.3

But we don't want to know how much "more than a console" the NextBox will be.

We want to know how much "less than a console" it will be. Gaming sacrificed for multimedia movie-watching Kinect-playing entertainment box? We'll see, I guess... #1.1

I don't think we can predict what Nintendo will do with the Wii-U. The gaming market is incredibly rocky and unpredictable right now. It's not one ace that will save the Wii-U. It's not 3D Mario. It's not new Zelda. I don't know what it is, but I do think Nintendo can pull it off.

I admit it, I was one of those kids singing "3DS is doomed!" right along with the rest of 'em. Because it really did look doomed. Every single indication showed tha... #1.2

It's not real....yet. #2.1.1

Bravo. THIS is the exact sort of "gender equality" journalism that we need right now.

Enough with the "I found an obscure and vague reference to a nipple in Pokemon X/Y's new trailer, therefore SEXIST PATRIARCHY OPPRESSION!"

Everyone should give this article a click and a thorough read. #2

Why should Nintendo stop making games in those franchises, though? They obviously sell. There's nothing wrong with "growing out" of a game franchise, which is what happens: gamer enjoys a Nintendo franchise, they play it for years, some grow out of it, then they get pissed that the game didn't change to suit their tastes.

You know how many Top 10 Underrated and Top 10 Remakes That Should Happen lists are made every single year? You know how many times I'... #1.2.1

Maybe I'm not understanding it, but is Nintendo taking all - literally ALL - of the money made by these Let's Players and reviewers? Or, are the Let's Players and reviewers still making money, but Nintendo is taking a portion of it?

I'm genuinely curious. If Nintendo is simply taking a "tax" of sorts, then I don't see the problem. It's vastly superior to what movie companies or music companies do when you profit off their content: they issue... #1.2

I like Nintendo. I don't love them. I don't buy every single game they make. I buy the ones I like.

What I never understood is why people get so mad that Nintendo goes a different route. I thought people like variety. People got mad that Nintendo pursued motion controls. People got mad that Nintendo pursued the casuals. People got mad that Nintendo systems rely on 1st-party software. It's different than what Sony and Microsoft do. So what? I thought variety was a... #1

What is important to me is not whether or not Microsoft gives the NextBox a lot of exclusives at launch (they will). What is important to me is if they SUPPORT the system with exclusives over the long haul. Microsoft knows that they can front-load the system with exclusives and then lean on 3rd parties after that and the loyal fans will still buy the system at launch, but I want a console that doesn't collect dust after the first three years. #1.1.2

People are praising him because they enjoy their opinions being validated by someone in the industry.

What confuses me is why are people believing EA all of the sudden? EA murders franchises. They're worst company in America two years in a row. But now that EA is passing on a Nintendo platform (like they always do, if you look into history), now EA is a great company full of smart people who know what they're talking about? #1.1

80% of the time, I think publishers treat piracy like the boogeyman as an excuse to put stuff into their games that infringe on our consumer rights. When it comes to making money, used game sales is actually what hurts a company much more, and it is no coincidence that DRM is often bypassed within hours by pirates but it can make it impossible to sell your game or buy it used. Convenient, huh? #2

Hey, ya got me there. Boom Blox was successful, now that you mention it. Then again, it was hardly the sort of "gamer games" that EA puts on the HD Twins, and that's all I was trying to point out. #3.1.1

Instead of jumping on the Nintendo hate wagon, let's really take a moment to think. When was the last time a 3rd-party developer really pulled out all the stops and made an exclusive Nintendo game? When was the last time a 3rd-party developer made a game that sold a Nintendo console in any notable amount?

I'm genuinely curious.

And I thought EA was evil. I thought they turned franchises to crap. I thought their sports games were casual dreck.
... #1.1