The Gaming War - Is It a Console War? No! Its the Free-to-Play Rip-Off!

First, I'd like to say, I have all three consoles and basically all AAA games as they come out! The console that I use everyday no matter what is the Xbox One! Why? Easy, my TV connects through it, and the voice controls with Kinect 2.0 work like a charm for me. It's not perfect but neither are we. Also, I'm no techie or graphic artist but I like the darker feel to some of the games on the Xbox One as seen in some of the multi-plats in many of the comparison videos. To me it makes the game seem clearer, or less shiny. Some of the reflections and shininess off human skin is getting out of control and not realistic at all! I don't know! Again, I'm not a lighting and techie know-it-all but I do know what my eyes and hands like to play and see. The PS4 is an amazing console too! To be short and sweet its a powerhouse in a tiny box! Although, I felt Infamous was a great and beauty of a game, it is way too short to me and had no re-play value!

With the lack of games being released and delayed, I have found myself starting to try and enjoy some of the indie games. The PS4 is great for this and has more to offer than the X1 and/or Wii U. Heck, I call it my "Indie-Station" sometimes but that doesn't mean I don't like it! Lets not forget the remote play options the PS4 has. It allows users to play remotely over their Wi-Fi network in other rooms or from anywhere else via an internet connection. That is an amazing idea and when it is 100% perfected, could be a huge console seller in it self. Both consoles have a lot of AAA games being made and I can't wait to enjoy MORE of them. Xbox one, has the variety in AAA games thus far, but lacks the indie games that more people seem to be desiring. I guess people love seeing the creativity of developers, that can now freely build games their minds create without major studios dictating what, where, when, and how it should be done. Which is leading to freedom and great creativity in gaming. The Wii U is an awesome fun-for-all console. I believe we all Love Mario Kart 8, I know I do! Nintendo is unique and knows what it does and what it does well. The Big 3 console makers are all unique and are truly fun and entertaining.

Now lets talk about the "Console War!" Some see it as a free-for-all among the 3 consoles. Some see it as a verbal war between gamer's or rather "fan boys" as they have come to be known. Let me just say something! "Can't we all just get along!" as said by Rodney King, is a perfect saying for what is going on these days with almost every "fanboy" and its pathetic.

All 3 consoles, Xbox One, Wii U, and PS4 need more games, which they're all working hard at. The Wii U has to do what Nintendo has done for many years, which is attract 3rd party developers to its unique game-pad and show developers how it can be used and why its necessary. Otherwise, they must continue to develop their own great games and keep on trucking on their own! All the while keep developing their backwards compatible Wii U successor, as to not hurt there loyal Wii U consumers. They could blow the other consoles out the water with a remote play, mobile gaming console that can play its own games but also connects to a base console to create a powerhouse on its own. This has been described in a Nintendo Fusion rumor. I'd buy that, too! Again, I have no favoritism at all! Nintendo would have to do this fast because Sony and Microsoft are most likely working on their own successors as well. Waiting too long may lead to releasing a new Nintendo console that would be made insignificant or outdated (1 to 2 years) sooner because of the soon to be released developments at Sony and Microsoft. This is the console war for console developers! Each company wants their console to be significant and a game changer. Maybe lining up the release of their consoles along with one another as Sony and Microsoft have done would help Nintendo. Who really knows? It would help make things easier for gamer's and developers but could lead to a console losing out on major sales because of the flood in the market. Again, that's all just speculation and a thought. Guys, this all plays out for US the GAMER'S!

Stop worrying about which consoles are better! Start seeing the real issue here. The real issue to me is the free-to-play model. Some developers are releasing "free games" but are seeing more profits. In these games, with dual currencies and micro-transactions, profits are far outweighing the normal price of an individual sale, which is why the game is free in the first place. Imagine if these games weren't free, it would suck to pay the full price of a game and then have the same problems these free-to-play games have. They are slowly ruining the gaming industry!

Developers are learning ways to make a quick buck at the expense of gamer's. An example would be a free-2-play, pay-to-win, game that charges us $40 in total for a weapon and all of its upgrades, mission after mission. At first, you don't buy into it and try to proceed without it. Only to find that you can't and maybe if your lucky the game lets you try the weapon for a round or two. The next round you fly through it with the new weapon, so you decide to buy it. This is also seen in the strategy building games by using the fast quick build option as seen in The Simpsons and Smurfs, to name a few. They usually use dual pricing and currencies, charging different prices all the time and its getting out of control. Its robbing the gamer right out of their hard earned money. I'd rather pay for games at total cost, then choose DLC, or the season pass. Paying the different pricing models for everything as the game proceeds could cost a person thousands of dollars. The game developers are robbing us blind with these free-to-play games and it needs to be looked at!

Same example stated a little different. They reel you in by showing you a new weapon to buy. Its at a discounted price. You proceed without and die numerous times finally they let you try a free weapon for a round that easily allows you to finish the level you couldn't! Again, a discount is offered but its higher then before so you decline. Proceeding to the next level, you die numerous times and their is no offer to try a new weapon except for a warning saying that is may be best to buy a new weapon or upgrade some you have. Only problem your weapons are already upgraded! So you come to realize to proceed you must buy a new weapon and guess what its priced even higher! No discount! It must be purchased because as gamer's we are trying to finish the game and we are at a point where the game can't even be beat without buying it and/or its upgrades. Yeah we have a choice to buy it but why is it that way?

It's insane and unfair! The weapons they provide are a joke. Comparing prices to what they actually costs at face value would make non-gamer's sick! Yeah there are some people that have paid over tens, hundreds and even thousands for digital items or things in games they can't even physically use on there own anymore because its useless or ineffective at all. I get that it costs money to develop games and develop new and unique items in games but to charge the amount of money some of these developers are charging is out right crazy. This can and will kill the industry. A lot of these games are found on mobile phones because of the ease of charging it to your mobile device or app store. Many of people have been charged thousands of dollars because of this and it has led to many lawsuits. One led Apple to use new notifications and having to pay out millions.

It needs to be stopped. We need to stand against the free-to-play models. Stop with the console war badgering and enjoy the benefits it brings as the consumer. The console war at face value, is a he said she said crap fest and so pathetically childish. Its the least of our issues! Again, the competition is only helping the gamer's. Ok! So I hate the micro transactions but understand as long as its an additive to a game, and not needed to succeed in any way shape or form (EX: Grand Theft Auto V, Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare)it can be great. They should be DLC packages or ultimate editions. An option to pay to unlock everything like the season passes. I felt that was and is a great idea. Unlocking and opening the game like other video games as we make purchases in game has changed what we have grown to love and enjoy.

I was taught at a young age, "Nothing is Free!" "IF ITS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS!" FREE GAMES AREN'T FREE! Play for free only. NOT for me! The Dual Currencies are rip offs and need to be addressed accordingly, developers want to make money off there games and we all get that, but by ripping us off is unfair. Anyone have any ideas? Why not allow this but once a consumer spends a certain amount of money, be it through items or upgrades, give items they may need for free because of purchasing limits or pay out options sort of like an unlocking. This whole thing of requiring a player to buy things in order to proceed over and over again, time and time again, is costing some of us thousands and thousands of dollars when ordinary strategy and first person shooters never had to do this.

Why not give out demos for free, like they used to, then have consumer buy to unlock the rest of the game. But charging multiple prices, at different rates is theft, and those who do this should be placed in jail. They need to reconsider how this is handled. Or Games and Gamer's will suffer! This is the real war here peeps not the consoles.

[MAULxx]

As far as the console wars. I have my preferences & they can be known rather easily looking at my post history. In short, MS really pissed me off & I burnt the bridge with them at least for this generation of gaming. I have my reasons & they started before the Xbone announcment.
If others want to buy a Xbone I'm not going to stand in their way or ridicule them. I understand what your saying. We're all gamers no matter what system we prefer. I get that but on the internet people get all worked up. They get to express themselves in a raw manner. I too find myself doing this. It's like pure emotion typed & posted. While I have done my share of MS bashing I always try to keep the gamer out of it. I have my problems with a company but I have no problems with gamers. I'll bash Sony when they screw up too. I was like you last gen. A multi-console owner & preferred the 360 until late in the cycle. This gen, things have changed. Things have changed for me financially, & things have switched as far as my preferences of my go to gaming system. I'm only going to own one system this gen & that's where my focus will be & I'll be able to dig a bit deeper it & enjoy it. It's something I decided based on MS decisions, my personal financial state, my own preferences for games & my choice to focus on one console for this new generation. If that makes me a fanboy then, oh well. If that somehow makes me a non "real gamer" then oh well. I try not to get too worked up over people calling me these things online. I don't know them & they don't know me.
I think some folks just get online to vent. They're frustrations & rage are channeled & unleashed on their fellow gamers. Some just want everyone to see things from their perspective & love to find others who are like minded without too much consideration for those who are unlike minded. I think people post on forums or in the comments section or blog to have their voice heard. They're not necessarily going to be polite, cordial, or friendly.
Another problem I see is that different console players have a little harder time coming together to talk games & experiences. They can't chat with each other on different consoles so how do they meet & come together? I think it's an obstacle. I know they can chat on forums, facebook, & such with various devices but I find a deeper connection as a gamer to those who are on my preferred system, that I can actually play games & voice chat with. Anyway, I'm rambling all over the place so I'll cut it short.

You prefer your Xbox One while I prefer my PS4 but I will unite with you against the free to play model. I will not support it. It's a model to easily taken advantage of even if some devs/publishers use it in a fair manner.