Devs follow consoles sold...period...and Sony will sell plenty of consoles.

For me the main debate should be, how are gamers, in general, affected by Microsoft changes/restrictions?

Most in this forum really hate them, and are ready to jump ship. A few of us, don't really care about them and/or are not affected.

It would be silly to think that we represent the general population of course.

There are still a lot of things that we don't know. How is Sony improving PSN? I tried to watch their presentation in my PS3 and it was a joke, I tried both the link in the dash, that opened a browser, and Home.

Are publishers going to take revenge on Sony? Keeping it as the second console, I mean to program for the Xbox One, even with the same basic architecture there may be important differences.

And of course, there are some advantages with the Xbox changes, being able to share games with your "family" and that kind of stuff.

Who's going to replace all of us Exboxers. I won't buy One, even after the price drops. Will a bunch of non-gamers be willing to pay $500 for a console that lets them switch inputs via voice commands? Would they even pay $400. They'll still need their cable box. They'll still need their old remote to change the channels on the cable box or the television.

Casual gamers will need a PS4 to do multiplayer with their Exbox friends. Exboxers will be telling them "PS4 is so awesome! Don't buy that lame Exbox. I'll go back in time and unfriend you before you were even born."

Right now Microsoft is betting that all the COD, FIFA, Madden, etc. that play that same game all year, and are hooked up on Xbox Live.

I don't think they just decided to bet blindly. They have all the stats, they know what games are the most played, they know how many people play only a few games in a year and spend most time online. They are counting on that people to not care about that $100 price difference.

We will see if they bet wisely.

It's not just the DRM though. That's the biggest dog in the fight, but forced Kinect is an issue as is the daily check-in(of course that one coud fall under the DRM umbrella)

Exactly. Install base wins. Why would a 3rd party dev go with the console with 1/3 of the user base just for DRM? It's suicide.

But Microsoft execs have their reputations on the line. A lot of stupid decisions get locked in stone by execs who refuse to admit they were wrong.

Sony execs were in a different position.

I suspect that the first sign of Microsoft changes would be resignations. And I would only expect that if Xbox One sales falter.

If they did change, they'd have to do more than change DRM to sway me. Change the internet requirement. Sell a version with no Kinect. And to wipe aside the bitterness they've built up they'd have to undercut the PS4 price.

Tomorrow Microsoft announces that they forgot to mention a kinect-less sku that costs $399

I still don't get the issue with the 24 hr check.

All my electronics are connected 24/7, Xbox, PS3, Wii, iPhones, iPads, etc. Most of them do automatic calls "home" every day. Not because of DRM, but to me there's no difference.

They'd never be able to undercut it but if they got rid of the Kinect and changed pretty much everything they've announced for the system so far, they'd be able to compete just fine at $399.
People don't look at things that way. With Microsoft enforcing the 24 hour check it feels like you're being forced to do something and that's a turnoff for consumers.

While I agree... where were all these devs when the Wii was #1 for years?

Developing games for actual next-gen consoles.

Those people keep COD, FIFA, and Madden afloat, but what do they do for the rest of the gaming industry? Those others would be foolish to bet their futures on that demographic. But, hey, they's lotsa fools in them thar hills.

The combined install base for 360 + PS3 was greater than Wii and the games couldn't be simply ported to Wii.

MS tomorrow morning:

Consumers or geeks?

I don't think most people will give a fuck about that.

Again, I think the $100 price difference is most important for the general consumer.

Never thought of it that way, but yeah, everything about the Xbone reeks of "you play games the way we want you to play games."

It's not about, here's a kick ass console, come play some of our hottest games.

It's a lot like Sony telling us we will want to work 2 jobs to buy their system. It's cocky, and obnoxious.

But you can play COD, Fifa, and Madden on both consoles.

Cable goes out - no single player games
Moving and cable not hooked up for a week - no single player games
Taking your console to your parents house or the cabin for a week - no single player games
MS servers go down - no single player games.
Router dies a week before payday - no single player games

That's the problem. If the multiplayer games don't work, that's obvious. No reason I should have to "check in" with MS once a day to play a single player game.

Geeks embrace technology. Consumers care about the smaller things, like that.

Imagine a mom or someone not plugged in asking an employee at Target or somewhere to tell them about the system. Are they going to buy the one that "makes" them check in with Microsoft once a day or the one that's a lot like a more traditional console? Then you factor in it being $100 more and that person is checking out with a PS4.

I hope Microsoft does re-think what it's doing because I like what they have to offer as a whole. I just think they're really restricting themselves since this is more like an all-in-one media console but people are still going to view at as a video game system.
That's my biggest sticking point right now. I prefer single player games and my internet connection is spotty living in a rather large apartment complex.

And Sony has the exclusive on letting your friend borrow the game

Not so exclusive, you can still lend games on the WiiU... if there were games to lend.

But it seems more people play in Xbox Live. Microsoft is making the bet that they will still prefer the best MP service/Sony won't improve PSN.


Again, you can include hundreds of test cases. From that list, none apply to me in the last 5 years? Am I more like the standard consumer? Or is the normal consumer more affected by those situations?

I would guess that Microsoft run their number, stats, etc. Nothing is 100% sure of course. I don't think even the most rabid Sony fanboy can be 100% sure that the PS4 will outsell the Xbox One. Yes, right now most people will give it an advantage, but be 100% sure?

A lot of ifs there.

So, do you think the salesman will prefer to sell the cheaper console than the more expensive?

Using your example, imagine them saying, "Oh and with the Xbox One you can share your games with your family. Even if they live 300 miles away. With the PS4 you'd have to drive/fly to share the game with them". That's a silly example of course, but if you are a salesman...

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