So the console hype machine is still using the fiction that game "X" requires the awesome technical prowess that only their machine possesses while anyone who knows about the guts of the consoles and how they compare to current gen PCs laughs at the message designed to seduce the rubes?
You buy consoles because they're cheap and maybe because your chosen one has that killer game exclusive that you just have to play.
The "only on ________ (insert console brand here)" only means "my HW is better than yours" to the most ignorant consumers. It's a tired old marketing message that has been used for several console generation launches.
What "only on my console" means is that they coughed up enough money to that studio to make it exclusive. Hasn't anyone been watching the Epic game store stories to know how that works by now?
Frankly, I don't care.
Most of my favorite games are first or second party console exclusives.
Most of them only exist or are as good as they are because of exclusivity.
In exchange for said exclusivity, these games are robust, high quality titles with no lootboxes or bullshit.
It's not Nintendo or Sony's fault that Epic's approach to exclusivity has been dreadful, and that Epic's platform is naff.
The point is that it has zero to do with Xbox or PS HW being better than the competitor and everything to do with them getting you into their ecosystem. Which is exactly why Epic also chose to go that route in an environment (PC) where the HW considerations are not relevant.
Yes, but because these games are intended to get you into their ecosystem, these games have all of the resources possible dumped into them to showcase said hardware as much as possible.
And I'm sorry, but if Halo Infinite and its laughable character models is the best showcase of the Series X we have so far... someone fucked up, yo. If I were Microsoft, heads would roll at 343.
Our work will clearly show what the hardware can do thank you very much. All this is much ado about nothing. The sky is not falling.
So you don't worry about the fact that Microsoft is providing very little in terms of incentives to buy the next gen console when it releases? That seems like a massive mistake and possibly an acceptance that they won't compete with the PS5.
Now if I had my choice, it would be for MS to win the console war since they allow their games to go to PC. But I just don't see a solid strategy by MS here. If their sales end up being underwhelming, how many developers will start moving away from them?
No I don't worry one bit about it because MS was selling Gamepass with that showcase not the Series X. The more detailed Series X showcase is coming later this year. This is a long play with the the new Xbox ecosystem. This is not about competing with PS5 anymore than it is competing with people's time.
Like Aaron Greenberg just stated in a recent interview (Xbox Marketing Head) this is a shift in thinking and business strategy. It is not about making the most now or even a year from now. It is about creating a digital platform that creates a tremendous value for the consumer long term. It is about over-delivering and focusing on customer loyalty rather than profit extraction. Short term Sony has a better strategy for profits. Long term? Microsoft is being very savvy in it's business plan for the brand.
I mean look at the success of Gamepass already. Even in it's infancy it is proving a great value and smart move that Sony has no answer for. (PSNow is not the same thing) Even today An Xbox game is topping Steam charts with Grounded. Even a smaller game like Crosscode has more players playing on Xbox than all other systems combined thanks to Gamepass according to CrossCode designer and programmer Felix Klein. It is just one more feather in the already decorated cap for the team at MS looking long term with it's strategy. While Sony clearly has a huge advantage with boxes sold this generation, Xbox has focused on the digital offerings like Xbox Live and Gamepass. Look at the paid PSPlus numbers versus the number of Xbox Live and Gamepass numbers. Xbox has had a clear vision on the future since Phil came on board and took over. It is working. It is starting, even early on, to pay off. Within five years the Xbox brand will encompass a much larger area with multiple income verticals.
You're spouting the same marketing speech as he is though. Consoles are an expensive business, and a money losing one for quite a while. If you tell people they can play all of the new games on older consoles or PC, you are shooting yourself in the foot.
People have the money to spend on brand new consoles and exclusives for them, and they want more than value in return. I think MS are doing their best to spin the lack of next gen exclusives, and the hype that goes with them, into a positive.
If they struggle hard in their first year, which I expect, it will be an uphill battle moving forward as developers and potential customers move away from them. I'm just not buying the rosy picture you are painting at least in regards to Microsoft's future in consoles.
And here are actual console developers saying that they prefer the PS5. I'd put much more stock in their opinions than Gabe fucking Newell's. And this is just a casual sample.
If MS gets smart, they will allow steam to build a client for this next gen, and allow Steam Games to run on it.
I wish you would write an article this long about MMORPGs...
Can't really write about a genre where nothing exciting is happening currently or even in the near future. Everything is about consoles and mobiles these days.
Idea: How about an in depth article on the current state of Crowfall/CU/Ashes/Pantheon/Star Citizen/ etc...? One that is more than a cut and paste of a PR blurb? How about a real detailed article showing what was originally promised (and when), and what progress has been made to date and maybe a roadmap to launch?
Maybe even do 1 per week and then rotate back to the top?
I really like that this site covers a range of gaming-related news, but I agree that there is very little real or in-depth mmo-specific journalism happening.
However, I get the impression that the current writers are not that enthusiastic about mmos. Ideally, the kind of articles you describe would be written by someone who has a deep love for the genre and considerable experience, someone with clear, critical thinking who is not afraid to call out dodgy practices or praise the unpopular, someone who has been hailed as the harbinger ....
Btw, even Gabe Newell favors XSX over PS5 "because it is" better. But keep on rating over trailers and stuff.
He should have disqualified himself from answering as MS actually lets exclusives go on Steam whereas Sony does not. It's a conflict of interest.
I'm not a console person, but it seems clear that this is probably Microsoft's last console. They've failed to get enough exclusives to go along with their superior hardware.
Nope, both companies started putting their exclusives on Steam, that includes Sony games like Horizon and Death Stranding.
Btw, even Gabe Newell favors XSX over PS5 "because it is" better. But keep on rating over trailers and stuff.
What does Gabe Newell's opinion have anything to do with factual evidence other then microsoft titles being sold on Steam? He's not gonna claim anything that hurts his sales.
Pc gaming mmorpgs are in a rutt. Everything has microtransaction, cashshops, day 1 dlc, terrible overpriced dlc,season passes....
How did everyone miss that Sony started selling their exclusives on Steam too? Also, lots of games they advertised on their event have been mentioned as also being on PC.
I wish you would write an article this long about MMORPGs...
Yes, but .. there is no MMORPG out there, worth writing about ... this long!
Reporter: What's behind Blizzard success, and how do you make your gamers happy? Blizzard Boss: Making gamers happy is not my concern, making money.. yes!
I thought the hair tessellation in the Halo demo looked great. I'm not certain what people expected out of the new consoles. PS5's game presentation wasn't earth shattering either.
In the absolute best case scenario, next gen will basically be a stripped down Big Navi box. If a current top of the line 10900k/2080-ti build can't run a stable 4k/ultra on Red Dead Redemption without any DXR or anything fancy, what do you think a console will do?
That said, some of the games looked really good, in my opinion!
I can't for the life of me understand how so many grown adults have convinced themselves that Microsoft's 60 minutes of trailers and curated alpha demos was somehow vastly inferior to Sony's 60 minutes of trailers and curated alpha demos.
Lol. This shit is actually fucking retarded. The video games shown in each showcase are different. So by definition, they are not the same games and every single person watching both conferences is going to be comparing them, and making their own judgement as to whether the apple looks more appealing than the orange.
And while there are undoubtedly people who prefer each showcase, the general reactions speak for themselves.
And while there are undoubtedly people who prefer each showcase, the general reactions speak for themselves.
It says that gamers follow the herd. People are so invested in the Playstation brand because of the market saturation of the PS4. Of course people are going to convince themselves that PS5 games look better when it's a huge ask to switch ecosystems when they have hundreds of digital games. It's like trying to convince someone with a full array of Mac productivity software to switch over to PC and start from scratch.
I knew from the beginning that this was going to be a HUGE uphill climb for Microsoft. They are starting from way behind and this will be the first generation where people have massive libraries of cheap digital games and widespread backwards compatibility. MS will have to sell me BIG to get me to give up my 250+ games in the PS ecosystem despite the fact that I REALLY want to play Fable.
I love people acting like this is a console war. Sony is promoting a console, Microsoft is promoting a service, while also having a console to use said service on. Microsoft is moving to a different field altogether, why aren’t people seeing this?
/Cheers, Lahnmir
'the only way he could nail it any better is if he used a cross.'
Kyleran on yours sincerely
'But there are many. You can play them entirely solo, and even offline. Also, you are wrong by default.'
Ikcin in response to yours sincerely debating whether or not single-player offline MMOs exist...
'This does not apply just to ED but SC or any other game. What they will get is Rebirth/X4, likely prettier but equally underwhelming and pointless.
It is incredibly difficult to design some meaningfull leg content that would fit a space ship game - simply because it is not a leg game.
It is just huge resource waste....'
Gdemami absolutely not being an armchair developer
And while there are undoubtedly people who prefer each showcase, the general reactions speak for themselves.
It says that gamers follow the herd. People are so invested in the Playstation brand because of the market saturation of the PS4. Of course people are going to convince themselves that PS5 games look better when it's a huge ask to switch ecosystems when they have hundreds of digital games. It's like trying to convince someone with a full array of Mac productivity software to switch over to PC and start from scratch.
I knew from the beginning that this was going to be a HUGE uphill climb for Microsoft. They are starting from way behind and this will be the first generation where people have massive libraries of cheap digital games and widespread backwards compatibility. MS will have to sell me BIG to get me to give up my 250+ games in the PS ecosystem despite the fact that I REALLY want to play Fable.
People seem to forget that the Xbox 360 was the leader in the console space for a time as well and out sold Sony's PS3 for some time. The PS3 came back later in it's lifecycle but console generations are finicky but that is all coming to an end anyways. I believe this will be the last real console cycle beyond refreshes. Bring on the future. The positive thing is regardless of what 'box' you prefer or none at all, Fable will be on PC as well and it will be playable through Gamepass whether you own an Xbox or PC. Microsoft hit it out of the park with Gamepass and it is only the beginning. Their strategy goes beyond their console.
So then the real question at hand, if what you propose comes to pass, is... does anyone who has a PC really need a console in the future? If they are just content distribution boxes then just getting Gamepass is all you will eventually require. Or am I missing something?
All time classic MY NEW FAVORITE POST! (Keep laying those bricks)
"I should point out that no other company has shipped out a beta on a disc before this." - Official Mortal Online Lead Community Moderator
Proudly wearing the Harbinger badge since Dec 23, 2017.
Coined the phrase "Role-Playing a Development Team" January 2018
"Oddly Slap is the main reason I stay in these forums." - Mystichaze April 9th 2018
And while there are undoubtedly people who prefer each showcase, the general reactions speak for themselves.
It says that gamers follow the herd. People are so invested in the Playstation brand because of the market saturation of the PS4. Of course people are going to convince themselves that PS5 games look better when it's a huge ask to switch ecosystems when they have hundreds of digital games. It's like trying to convince someone with a full array of Mac productivity software to switch over to PC and start from scratch.
I knew from the beginning that this was going to be a HUGE uphill climb for Microsoft. They are starting from way behind and this will be the first generation where people have massive libraries of cheap digital games and widespread backwards compatibility. MS will have to sell me BIG to get me to give up my 250+ games in the PS ecosystem despite the fact that I REALLY want to play Fable.
People seem to forget that the Xbox 360 was the leader in the console space for a time as well and out sold Sony's PS3 for some time. The PS3 came back later in it's lifecycle but console generations are finicky but that is all coming to an end anyways. I believe this will be the last real console cycle beyond refreshes. Bring on the future. The positive thing is regardless of what 'box' you prefer or none at all, Fable will be on PC as well and it will be playable through Gamepass whether you own an Xbox or PC. Microsoft hit it out of the park with Gamepass and it is only the beginning. Their strategy goes beyond their console.
So then the real question at hand, if what you propose comes to pass, is... does anyone who has a PC really need a console in the future? If they are just content distribution boxes then just getting Gamepass is all you will eventually require. Or am I missing something?
I think that's exactly it.
As he said above, he thinks that this is the last console generation. It "could" be true.
It all depends on whether newer games, games with very intense graphics, can be played without too much latency.
As an example, though not 1:1 example, I really wanted to play Ico and I've never been satisfied with my emulator for Shadow of the Colossus.
So, I was going to buy a playstation 3 so I could finaly play both games.
Did some research, could buy one for a little over a hundred so "fine."
Then I thought "hmmmm people talk about this streaming games thing I wonder if I can do that with those games."
Turns out I could. 10 dollars later I'm playing both games.
Keep in mind, I'm still not completely sold as I like to own my entertainment. Whenver you rent something there is always the chance that you won't be able to rent it in the future. I don't like that.
But, I'm playing both games just fine. Small bit of latency here and there.
So maybe this is the future.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
And while there are undoubtedly people who prefer each showcase, the general reactions speak for themselves.
It says that gamers follow the herd. People are so invested in the Playstation brand because of the market saturation of the PS4. Of course people are going to convince themselves that PS5 games look better when it's a huge ask to switch ecosystems when they have hundreds of digital games. It's like trying to convince someone with a full array of Mac productivity software to switch over to PC and start from scratch.
I knew from the beginning that this was going to be a HUGE uphill climb for Microsoft. They are starting from way behind and this will be the first generation where people have massive libraries of cheap digital games and widespread backwards compatibility. MS will have to sell me BIG to get me to give up my 250+ games in the PS ecosystem despite the fact that I REALLY want to play Fable.
People seem to forget that the Xbox 360 was the leader in the console space for a time as well and out sold Sony's PS3 for some time. The PS3 came back later in it's lifecycle but console generations are finicky but that is all coming to an end anyways. I believe this will be the last real console cycle beyond refreshes. Bring on the future. The positive thing is regardless of what 'box' you prefer or none at all, Fable will be on PC as well and it will be playable through Gamepass whether you own an Xbox or PC. Microsoft hit it out of the park with Gamepass and it is only the beginning. Their strategy goes beyond their console.
So then the real question at hand, if what you propose comes to pass, is... does anyone who has a PC really need a console in the future? If they are just content distribution boxes then just getting Gamepass is all you will eventually require. Or am I missing something?
People who don't want to spend money on gaming PCs can still use the console. It's there for those people.
We've been saying "this is the last console generation" for multiple generations now. Eventually, it will be true, but it will be a case of a broken clock being right twice a day. There's no point in predicting it right now.
Microsoft is undoutedly working towards that future, but it isn't generosity at work. These actions are the direct result of their poor performance during the current generation. Just as it is true that overwhelming success leads to complacency, advancements like Gamepass are the byproduct of failure. That's given them an alternative means of success, despite their poor exclusive lineup and their lack of Eastern popularity.
But also, I'll just say this. The move to subscription models is consumer friendly NOW. It is not a better future and will not stay that way. The market can make 2-3 simultaneous subscriptions look good. It can't do so when everyone wants to sell their content by subscription.
And while there are undoubtedly people who prefer each showcase, the general reactions speak for themselves.
It says that gamers follow the herd. People are so invested in the Playstation brand because of the market saturation of the PS4. Of course people are going to convince themselves that PS5 games look better when it's a huge ask to switch ecosystems when they have hundreds of digital games. It's like trying to convince someone with a full array of Mac productivity software to switch over to PC and start from scratch.
I knew from the beginning that this was going to be a HUGE uphill climb for Microsoft. They are starting from way behind and this will be the first generation where people have massive libraries of cheap digital games and widespread backwards compatibility. MS will have to sell me BIG to get me to give up my 250+ games in the PS ecosystem despite the fact that I REALLY want to play Fable.
People seem to forget that the Xbox 360 was the leader in the console space for a time as well and out sold Sony's PS3 for some time. The PS3 came back later in it's lifecycle but console generations are finicky but that is all coming to an end anyways. I believe this will be the last real console cycle beyond refreshes. Bring on the future. The positive thing is regardless of what 'box' you prefer or none at all, Fable will be on PC as well and it will be playable through Gamepass whether you own an Xbox or PC. Microsoft hit it out of the park with Gamepass and it is only the beginning. Their strategy goes beyond their console.
So then the real question at hand, if what you propose comes to pass, is... does anyone who has a PC really need a console in the future? If they are just content distribution boxes then just getting Gamepass is all you will eventually require. Or am I missing something?
I think that's exactly it.
As he said above, he thinks that this is the last console generation. It "could" be true.
It all depends on whether newer games, games with very intense graphics, can be played without too much latency.
As an example, though not 1:1 example, I really wanted to play Ico and I've never been satisfied with my emulator for Shadow of the Colossus.
So, I was going to buy a playstation 3 so I could finaly play both games.
Did some research, could buy one for a little over a hundred so "fine."
Then I thought "hmmmm people talk about this streaming games thing I wonder if I can do that with those games."
Turns out I could. 10 dollars later I'm playing both games.
Keep in mind, I'm still not completely sold as I like to own my entertainment. Whenver you rent something there is always the chance that you won't be able to rent it in the future. I don't like that.
But, I'm playing both games just fine. Small bit of latency here and there.
So maybe this is the future.
I'm similar in liking to own my games. Even prefer discs
I own and have owned pretty much all the consoles. I reflexively purchase them... what used to be called an Early Adopter.
But honestly, 99% of their use has been as a DVD/Blu-Ray player or streaming device.
I will probably just order both of these out of habit and because there's probably some mental defect in my head, but honestly I think all the arguing about consoles is silly because eventually it won't matter.
All time classic MY NEW FAVORITE POST! (Keep laying those bricks)
"I should point out that no other company has shipped out a beta on a disc before this." - Official Mortal Online Lead Community Moderator
Proudly wearing the Harbinger badge since Dec 23, 2017.
Coined the phrase "Role-Playing a Development Team" January 2018
"Oddly Slap is the main reason I stay in these forums." - Mystichaze April 9th 2018
And while there are undoubtedly people who prefer each showcase, the general reactions speak for themselves.
It says that gamers follow the herd. People are so invested in the Playstation brand because of the market saturation of the PS4. Of course people are going to convince themselves that PS5 games look better when it's a huge ask to switch ecosystems when they have hundreds of digital games. It's like trying to convince someone with a full array of Mac productivity software to switch over to PC and start from scratch.
I knew from the beginning that this was going to be a HUGE uphill climb for Microsoft. They are starting from way behind and this will be the first generation where people have massive libraries of cheap digital games and widespread backwards compatibility. MS will have to sell me BIG to get me to give up my 250+ games in the PS ecosystem despite the fact that I REALLY want to play Fable.
People seem to forget that the Xbox 360 was the leader in the console space for a time as well and out sold Sony's PS3 for some time. The PS3 came back later in it's lifecycle but console generations are finicky but that is all coming to an end anyways. I believe this will be the last real console cycle beyond refreshes. Bring on the future. The positive thing is regardless of what 'box' you prefer or none at all, Fable will be on PC as well and it will be playable through Gamepass whether you own an Xbox or PC. Microsoft hit it out of the park with Gamepass and it is only the beginning. Their strategy goes beyond their console.
So then the real question at hand, if what you propose comes to pass, is... does anyone who has a PC really need a console in the future? If they are just content distribution boxes then just getting Gamepass is all you will eventually require. Or am I missing something?
It has been shown over and over again that 'service' is the key for long term growth in the entertainment sector. Because it provides quantifiable residual income. Hardware is only as relevant as the service that lives on it. Fortunately for Microsoft it is not the other way around.
They are crafting a service that has already exploded in growth and their Xbox Live service paired with Gamepass has commanded the attention of the industry. It is the future. Everyone can see it, well, almost everyone. People stuck on the old way of thinking about long term success of a console clearly have lost touch with the market and industry as a whole. Microsoft's console is a vehicle to drive consumers to their service. It is just one of many tools they are using.
For Sony? It is similar. They want people to subscribe to their PSPlus service (which only a third of all PSN accounts do at this point) and Sub to PSNow. Microsoft is clearly in the better position for that strategy and their Xbox Live and Gamepass numbers reflect that. In April it was shown that 90 million players a month use Live with over 10 million players subbing to Gamepass and hundreds of thousands in the xCloud Beta. That was April. That number has most likely gone up by now. Their strategy is working.
Over the next couple of years the Xbox 'brand' will grow even more to mean far more than just a simple box. The ultimate goal of Xbox is for you to be introduced to their service regardless of what platform you are using. Console, Mobile, PC. It makes no difference.
10 million subbing to gamepass that is pretty significant. Didn't realise it was that popular. How long has it been since they introduced it?
I'm similar in liking to own my games. Even prefer discs
I own and have owned pretty much all the consoles. I reflexively purchase them... what used to be called an Early Adopter.
But honestly, 99% of their use has been as a DVD/Blu-Ray player or streaming device.
I will probably just order both of these out of habit and because there's probably some mental defect in my head, but honestly I think all the arguing about consoles is silly because eventually it won't matter.
I also prefer disks.
Especialy for movies. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to stream a movie only to be greeted with "the agreements we have with our provider no longer ... " or "This video is currently unavailable to watch in your location."
Can't stand it.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
And while there are undoubtedly people who prefer each showcase, the general reactions speak for themselves.
It says that gamers follow the herd. People are so invested in the Playstation brand because of the market saturation of the PS4. Of course people are going to convince themselves that PS5 games look better when it's a huge ask to switch ecosystems when they have hundreds of digital games. It's like trying to convince someone with a full array of Mac productivity software to switch over to PC and start from scratch.
I knew from the beginning that this was going to be a HUGE uphill climb for Microsoft. They are starting from way behind and this will be the first generation where people have massive libraries of cheap digital games and widespread backwards compatibility. MS will have to sell me BIG to get me to give up my 250+ games in the PS ecosystem despite the fact that I REALLY want to play Fable.
People seem to forget that the Xbox 360 was the leader in the console space for a time as well and out sold Sony's PS3 for some time. The PS3 came back later in it's lifecycle but console generations are finicky but that is all coming to an end anyways. I believe this will be the last real console cycle beyond refreshes. Bring on the future. The positive thing is regardless of what 'box' you prefer or none at all, Fable will be on PC as well and it will be playable through Gamepass whether you own an Xbox or PC. Microsoft hit it out of the park with Gamepass and it is only the beginning. Their strategy goes beyond their console.
So then the real question at hand, if what you propose comes to pass, is... does anyone who has a PC really need a console in the future? If they are just content distribution boxes then just getting Gamepass is all you will eventually require. Or am I missing something?
It has been shown over and over again that 'service' is the key for long term growth in the entertainment sector. Because it provides quantifiable residual income. Hardware is only as relevant as the service that lives on it. Fortunately for Microsoft it is not the other way around.
They are crafting a service that has already exploded in growth and their Xbox Live service paired with Gamepass has commanded the attention of the industry. It is the future. Everyone can see it, well, almost everyone. People stuck on the old way of thinking about long term success of a console clearly have lost touch with the market and industry as a whole. Microsoft's console is a vehicle to drive consumers to their service. It is just one of many tools they are using.
For Sony? It is similar. They want people to subscribe to their PSPlus service (which only a third of all PSN accounts do at this point) and Sub to PSNow. Microsoft is clearly in the better position for that strategy and their Xbox Live and Gamepass numbers reflect that. In April it was shown that 90 million players a month use Live with over 10 million players subbing to Gamepass and hundreds of thousands in the xCloud Beta. That was April. That number has most likely gone up by now. Their strategy is working.
Over the next couple of years the Xbox 'brand' will grow even more to mean far more than just a simple box. The ultimate goal of Xbox is for you to be introduced to their service regardless of what platform you are using. Console, Mobile, PC. It makes no difference.
10 million subbing to gamepass that is pretty significant. Didn't realise it was that popular. How long has it been since they introduced it?
From April of this year not sure what the numbers are now.
Keep in mind that there was a "deal" where you could get 2 years of Gold from Costco for like $75 and then for $1 convert that to Gamepass. I mean... for $3 a month who wouldn't grab that... but it's not sustainable at that level.
Edit: I just checked and you can still do it. (Well not the Costco sale but the Ultimate conversion). You can convert up to 3 years worth of XB Live Gold to Ultimate (includes Gamepass) for $1
So yeah... thats driving a ton of people. Why not "subscribe" for multiple years for $1
Post edited by Slapshot1188 on
All time classic MY NEW FAVORITE POST! (Keep laying those bricks)
"I should point out that no other company has shipped out a beta on a disc before this." - Official Mortal Online Lead Community Moderator
Proudly wearing the Harbinger badge since Dec 23, 2017.
Coined the phrase "Role-Playing a Development Team" January 2018
"Oddly Slap is the main reason I stay in these forums." - Mystichaze April 9th 2018
Btw, even Gabe Newell favors XSX over PS5 "because it is" better. But keep on rating over trailers and stuff.
He should have disqualified himself from answering as MS actually lets exclusives go on Steam whereas Sony does not. It's a conflict of interest.
I'm not a console person, but it seems clear that this is probably Microsoft's last console. They've failed to get enough exclusives to go along with their superior hardware.
Nope, both companies started putting their exclusives on Steam, that includes Sony games like Horizon and Death Stranding.
Tell me when God of War and Spiderman games make it
So the console hype machine is still using the fiction that game "X" requires the awesome technical prowess that only their machine possesses while anyone who knows about the guts of the consoles and how they compare to current gen PCs laughs at the message designed to seduce the rubes?
You buy consoles because they're cheap and maybe because your chosen one has that killer game exclusive that you just have to play.
The "only on ________ (insert console brand here)" only means "my HW is better than yours" to the most ignorant consumers. It's a tired old marketing message that has been used for several console generation launches.
What "only on my console" means is that they coughed up enough money to that studio to make it exclusive. Hasn't anyone been watching the Epic game store stories to know how that works by now?
Frankly, I don't care.
Most of my favorite games are first or second party console exclusives.
Most of them only exist or are as good as they are because of exclusivity.
In exchange for said exclusivity, these games are robust, high quality titles with no lootboxes or bullshit.
It's not Nintendo or Sony's fault that Epic's approach to exclusivity has been dreadful, and that Epic's platform is naff.
The point is that it has zero to do with Xbox or PS HW being better than the competitor and everything to do with them getting you into their ecosystem. Which is exactly why Epic also chose to go that route in an environment (PC) where the HW considerations are not relevant.
Yes, but because these games are intended to get you into their ecosystem, these games have all of the resources possible dumped into them to showcase said hardware as much as possible.
And I'm sorry, but if Halo Infinite and its laughable character models is the best showcase of the Series X we have so far... someone fucked up, yo. If I were Microsoft, heads would roll at 343.
Our work will clearly show what the hardware can do thank you very much. All this is much ado about nothing. The sky is not falling.
So you don't worry about the fact that Microsoft is providing very little in terms of incentives to buy the next gen console when it releases? That seems like a massive mistake and possibly an acceptance that they won't compete with the PS5.
Now if I had my choice, it would be for MS to win the console war since they allow their games to go to PC. But I just don't see a solid strategy by MS here. If their sales end up being underwhelming, how many developers will start moving away from them?
No I don't worry one bit about it because MS was selling Gamepass with that showcase not the Series X. The more detailed Series X showcase is coming later this year. This is a long play with the the new Xbox ecosystem. This is not about competing with PS5 anymore than it is competing with people's time.
Like Aaron Greenberg just stated in a recent interview (Xbox Marketing Head) this is a shift in thinking and business strategy. It is not about making the most now or even a year from now. It is about creating a digital platform that creates a tremendous value for the consumer long term. It is about over-delivering and focusing on customer loyalty rather than profit extraction. Short term Sony has a better strategy for profits. Long term? Microsoft is being very savvy in it's business plan for the brand.
I mean look at the success of Gamepass already. Even in it's infancy it is proving a great value and smart move that Sony has no answer for. (PSNow is not the same thing) Even today An Xbox game is topping Steam charts with Grounded. Even a smaller game like Crosscode has more players playing on Xbox than all other systems combined thanks to Gamepass according to CrossCode designer and programmer Felix Klein. It is just one more feather in the already decorated cap for the team at MS looking long term with it's strategy. While Sony clearly has a huge advantage with boxes sold this generation, Xbox has focused on the digital offerings like Xbox Live and Gamepass. Look at the paid PSPlus numbers versus the number of Xbox Live and Gamepass numbers. Xbox has had a clear vision on the future since Phil came on board and took over. It is working. It is starting, even early on, to pay off. Within five years the Xbox brand will encompass a much larger area with multiple income verticals.
You're spouting the same marketing speech as he is though. Consoles are an expensive business, and a money losing one for quite a while. If you tell people they can play all of the new games on older consoles or PC, you are shooting yourself in the foot.
People have the money to spend on brand new consoles and exclusives for them, and they want more than value in return. I think MS are doing their best to spin the lack of next gen exclusives, and the hype that goes with them, into a positive.
If they struggle hard in their first year, which I expect, it will be an uphill battle moving forward as developers and potential customers move away from them. I'm just not buying the rosy picture you are painting at least in regards to Microsoft's future in consoles.
That is fine you are welcome to your view. Just know that the days of console hardware in a players home is quickly disappearing and Microsoft is preparing for that by laying the groundwork now. You will see.
Well then why make an expensive console at all? I don't think they were ready to give up on that but failed to get compelling games for launch.
I remember when people said that PC gaming was dying, 20 years ago, and consoles were the future of gaming. I also remember Oracle claiming MS windows was the way of the past and networked Operating Systems were the way of the future.
It sounds like you are also conceding that MS has given up on the console war. Even if cloud gaming is the future, exclusives will still play a very important role.
Cloud gaming is far from a feasible replacement in the U.S. and I personally believe that cloud gaming should still make use of local hardware when possible. And frankly, cloud gaming really needs some games that can truly make use of their processing power and do things consoles and PC can never dream of. Either in terms of rendering or AI.
I think it's too soon for MS to give up on consoles and time will tell if their strategy wins out in the end.
Comments
However, I get the impression that the current writers are not that enthusiastic about mmos. Ideally, the kind of articles you describe would be written by someone who has a deep love for the genre and considerable experience, someone with clear, critical thinking who is not afraid to call out dodgy practices or praise the unpopular, someone who has been hailed as the harbinger ....
Yes, but .. there is no MMORPG out there, worth writing about ... this long!
Reporter: What's behind Blizzard success, and how do you make your gamers happy?
Blizzard Boss: Making gamers happy is not my concern, making money.. yes!
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In the absolute best case scenario, next gen will basically be a stripped down Big Navi box. If a current top of the line 10900k/2080-ti build can't run a stable 4k/ultra on Red Dead Redemption without any DXR or anything fancy, what do you think a console will do?
That said, some of the games looked really good, in my opinion!
All time classic MY NEW FAVORITE POST! (Keep laying those bricks)
"I should point out that no other company has shipped out a beta on a disc before this." - Official Mortal Online Lead Community Moderator
Proudly wearing the Harbinger badge since Dec 23, 2017.
Coined the phrase "Role-Playing a Development Team" January 2018
"Oddly Slap is the main reason I stay in these forums." - Mystichaze April 9th 2018
And while there are undoubtedly people who prefer each showcase, the general reactions speak for themselves.
It says that gamers follow the herd. People are so invested in the Playstation brand because of the market saturation of the PS4. Of course people are going to convince themselves that PS5 games look better when it's a huge ask to switch ecosystems when they have hundreds of digital games. It's like trying to convince someone with a full array of Mac productivity software to switch over to PC and start from scratch.
I knew from the beginning that this was going to be a HUGE uphill climb for Microsoft. They are starting from way behind and this will be the first generation where people have massive libraries of cheap digital games and widespread backwards compatibility. MS will have to sell me BIG to get me to give up my 250+ games in the PS ecosystem despite the fact that I REALLY want to play Fable.
/Cheers,
Lahnmir
Kyleran on yours sincerely
'But there are many. You can play them entirely solo, and even offline. Also, you are wrong by default.'
Ikcin in response to yours sincerely debating whether or not single-player offline MMOs exist...
'This does not apply just to ED but SC or any other game. What they will get is Rebirth/X4, likely prettier but equally underwhelming and pointless.
It is incredibly difficult to design some meaningfull leg content that would fit a space ship game - simply because it is not a leg game.
It is just huge resource waste....'
Gdemami absolutely not being an armchair developer
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All time classic MY NEW FAVORITE POST! (Keep laying those bricks)
"I should point out that no other company has shipped out a beta on a disc before this." - Official Mortal Online Lead Community Moderator
Proudly wearing the Harbinger badge since Dec 23, 2017.
Coined the phrase "Role-Playing a Development Team" January 2018
"Oddly Slap is the main reason I stay in these forums." - Mystichaze April 9th 2018
As he said above, he thinks that this is the last console generation. It "could" be true.
It all depends on whether newer games, games with very intense graphics, can be played without too much latency.
As an example, though not 1:1 example, I really wanted to play Ico and I've never been satisfied with my emulator for Shadow of the Colossus.
So, I was going to buy a playstation 3 so I could finaly play both games.
Did some research, could buy one for a little over a hundred so "fine."
Then I thought "hmmmm people talk about this streaming games thing I wonder if I can do that with those games."
Turns out I could. 10 dollars later I'm playing both games.
Keep in mind, I'm still not completely sold as I like to own my entertainment. Whenver you rent something there is always the chance that you won't be able to rent it in the future. I don't like that.
But, I'm playing both games just fine. Small bit of latency here and there.
So maybe this is the future.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
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Microsoft is undoutedly working towards that future, but it isn't generosity at work. These actions are the direct result of their poor performance during the current generation. Just as it is true that overwhelming success leads to complacency, advancements like Gamepass are the byproduct of failure. That's given them an alternative means of success, despite their poor exclusive lineup and their lack of Eastern popularity.
But also, I'll just say this. The move to subscription models is consumer friendly NOW. It is not a better future and will not stay that way. The market can make 2-3 simultaneous subscriptions look good. It can't do so when everyone wants to sell their content by subscription.
I own and have owned pretty much all the consoles. I reflexively purchase them... what used to be called an Early Adopter.
But honestly, 99% of their use has been as a DVD/Blu-Ray player or streaming device.
I will probably just order both of these out of habit and because there's probably some mental defect in my head, but honestly I think all the arguing about consoles is silly because eventually it won't matter.
All time classic MY NEW FAVORITE POST! (Keep laying those bricks)
"I should point out that no other company has shipped out a beta on a disc before this." - Official Mortal Online Lead Community Moderator
Proudly wearing the Harbinger badge since Dec 23, 2017.
Coined the phrase "Role-Playing a Development Team" January 2018
"Oddly Slap is the main reason I stay in these forums." - Mystichaze April 9th 2018
Especialy for movies. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to stream a movie only to be greeted with "the agreements we have with our provider no longer ... " or "This video is currently unavailable to watch in your location."
Can't stand it.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
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Edit: I just checked and you can still do it. (Well not the Costco sale but the Ultimate conversion). You can convert up to 3 years worth of XB Live Gold to Ultimate (includes Gamepass) for $1
So yeah... thats driving a ton of people. Why not "subscribe" for multiple years for $1
All time classic MY NEW FAVORITE POST! (Keep laying those bricks)
"I should point out that no other company has shipped out a beta on a disc before this." - Official Mortal Online Lead Community Moderator
Proudly wearing the Harbinger badge since Dec 23, 2017.
Coined the phrase "Role-Playing a Development Team" January 2018
"Oddly Slap is the main reason I stay in these forums." - Mystichaze April 9th 2018
Tell me when God of War and Spiderman games make it