XBox One and my changed opinion

So hot off the heels at E3 and Microsoft and Sony are unveiling the next generation of consoles. More than anything else Xbox One had crazy ideas, and you know what I gave em hell as much as everybody else. But then in the past week I had a few experiencing that made me realise, you know what Xbox One is actually doing it right.

So trolls, get your fingers ready to type. I am gonna explain why the decisions of Microsoft make sense when you think about. Firstly, the past couple of weeks and what has happened.

1. I was working at a job installing a ton of AV kit, Apple TVs, Sonos, Sky and other bits. When the client said that because it is a weekend place is not going to get internet for the house. What would your answer be?? It might resemble mine, there is no point in having any of this kit without the internet.

2. Whilst playing some games on Steam, for Linux, I noticed how the model for them is much the same and Xbox's Games Marketplace.

3. I read an article from a Microsoft engineer that very much gave me a different perspective, check it out.

So why does the new system make a lot of sense:

Mandatory logins

We have a system with games at the moment, one online one offline which changes the dynamic of the game we are playing. Single player is hugely rooted in the offline and multiplayer in the online. Now what is interesting is that single being online can bring a lot of advantages, live updating of games, dynamic levels, live stats and other things that are not possible when offline. Games need to move forward, I mean what if you play a game that environment changes to your weather outside, or outcomes are decided on the status of other players. Your game reaches a new dimension that has never been seen before, but it has a stipulation. You have to be online. But think about it like this, we live in a world of online device all around us. Smartphone - always online, PC/Mac - always online, Social network much ?? - you guessed it always online. Yes this is an enforcement, but are you not already in that situation with your digital lifestyle. Much like my client, there is not point without the internet.

No Preowned Games

Ok I have bought my fair share of bargain basement games. I have walked into many a game store and flicked through the preowneds for a cheap gem. But this does have consequence. More detail is in words of the microsoft engineer, but basically games are the price they are because of the preowned market. A game is priced for developer, studio and platform, but also factored for preowned markets. By eliminating the preowned games are cheaper and more money goes to the developers - incentivising to make more games at a higher quality. You may doubt this - but we see this already!! Xbox Game Marketplace hosts some of the best indie developers and highest rated games for less than £20. And what about Steam, here we have the same, cheaper games and money going to developers rather than Game, or Gamestation or CEX who will rip off the seller and buyer. But lets look at other mediums, music has almost completely moved from CD to digital, have you ever bought a song of iTunes? (note that Apple are moving away from disc drives too). ebooks are gaining momentum and allowing independent authors to self publish at there own price point and books to be distributed (well kinda, thanks to Steve Jobs). No Preowened benefits players and developers.

Gold Account for Certain Features

Put simply, the experience on Xbox Live Gold against the free Playstation network is hugely different. On Xbox you have more demos, map packs, content, extensions and apps that PS just doesn't have. And again the dominance of the game marketplace shows how you can have so much more.

Mandatory Hardware

Now sit and look at your setup and you have mandatory hardware right in front of you. PC/Mac you don't use a CRT Monitor, iPad users don't have hard buttons, and Laptop probably have a Chiclet keyboard, Macbook SSD harddrive. It's simple, you have to push hardware if it is the best choice.

So thats my new opinion, I am not saying I am buying one, or I am getting a PS4 as I will be going back to PC gaming. But these development move things forward, giving a whole new gaming/AV experience. But if you wanna stick with the Status Quo then PS4 might be for you.


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