In 2005 I was faced with a choice... Sony or Microsoft. I was already onboard with Nintendo's console, as I had developed a fondness over many of their franchises basically from the time I was able to pick up a controller, and the Wii looked add new and exciting gameplay into the mix with the 3D motion sensing Wiimote. But at the same time, I was getting older, and (relatively) better off financially. No longer were Nintendo's franchises enough for me. So I began to weigh my options, analyse the pros and cons of the PS3 and 360, as one of them would be my secondary (if not primary) console for years to come. I wavered back and forth, but ultimately decided to go to the MS camp..
My gaming PC was beginning to show signs of age, so a console from MS was a natural replacement at the time. They now had exclusive possession of Rareware, my favorite developer outside Nintendo at that time. They also had the new and interesting looking Gears of War. With these factors, coupled with the outrageous $599USD price tag that instantly scared me away from the PS3, that sealed the deal for me. I went full on with the Xbox 360 and haven't looked back.
Now a new generation has begun, and again I am faced with the decision of which console I will pick to be my Nintendo supplement. Unlike last generation, MS has made my decision easier than I could ever have imagined.. I will be going Sony this generation.
Evne before MS's disaster of a console "reveal," all of my ties with MS have esentially been cut at this point, the original reasons I opted for them dissolved. The once great Rareware has become a shell of their former self, I have utterly and completely burnt myself out on the Gears franchise, and I now have a new and improved gaming PC that can easilly act as my MS gaming replacement, and likely able to hold its own against many Xbox One titles, at least early generation games.
But no, this is only where it begins. Microsoft, by their own hand, has seemingly done everything in their power to put EVERYTHING that I hate into one console, in terms of functionality, and philosophies. Let's review...
- They are forcing Kinect down our throats. If you like Kinect, more power to you, but personally, I despise Kinect and its software. The majority of the Kinect games thus far are like those crappy third party Wii games that make you shudder just thinking about, but even worse. And I don't want to wave my arms around just to use a console, and I certainly don't want to speak to it. It is not only bothersome, but also a bit creepy.
- No backwards compatibility. This might not be a big deal to some, but it is to me. As a financially starved gamer who thrives off of selling old games and hardware on Amazon, this instantly presents a problem for me, as I am now unable to sell my 360 back. I am stuck with it if I want to play my old games, and that's just what I need is more clutter in my already overcrowded basement. As the Angry Video Game Nerd would say, "when did idea of simple convenience become obsolete?" Is it so much to ask that I might want to play all my Xbox games, both old and new, on the same machine?
- (semi) always online, or online "check-ins" every 24 hours. According to MS's own Phil Harrison, I must "check in" at least every day to get full use of my Xbox One (whatever the hell that means. Thankfully I'll never have to find out). To the average American who has frequent internet access, this may not be an issue. But what about people in less fortunate, or more rural areas? What if you want to take your Box on a week-long getaway? What if you simply want to "unplug" and be offline? Guess you're out of luck.
- And the whopper.... NO USED GAMES. Well, it might as well be no used games. Apparently, Xbox One games are going to follow a PC-esque system of mandatory installation. But that's only where the fun begins. Unlike PC games, where you may still install the game even if the game is a hand-me-down as long as you are in posession of the CD key, MS requires each game to be "repurchased" every time the game has a new owner. A "fee" must be payed, and apparently the fee is going to be the full price of the game. So basically, say goodbye to discounted used games, lending games to friends, renting, etc. MS is intent on raping your wallet to the fullest extent if you intend on buying its FPS clones. This right here embodies everything that is currently wrong with the games industry. Not only does it expose their true ways of corporate greed and money hatting, but it demonstrates how much their games have declined in quality. Just think, why else are these developers making you spend full price on their game, no matter how much it's been passed around? Because they simply are not worth full price in the first place. They are afraid many people would wait until their crappy games hit a $30-$40 pricetag, which is probably what many of these games are worth in the first place. I'm sorry, but I refuse to spend $60 on a video game, especially one that's been out for several years and passed around to god knows how many people.
MS has made their intentions clear. They are not in it for the games, or the gamers, they are in it for money. I mean, this was pretty apparent even with the Xbox 360, but now they're not even trying to hide it any more. At their "big reveal", they seemed to spend 90% of the time on non-gaming features, trying to pass off this machine as an all-in-one entertainment device, as if THAT'S something new. Well guess what MS, I have an all-in-one entertainment device already. It's called a PC, and I'm willing to bet it's about 1000x better and more efficient than your dumbed down PC.
If MS are not in it for the gamers, then I am not going to return the favor by not supporting THEM. Sony should consider themselves lucky MS screwed up so badly. For MS has actually managed to drive ME, a long time Sony critic, to their PS4, if only by default. PS4 may be chalked full of non gaming features as well, but at least Sony seems to actually care about GAMES, and quality games. It may not be fully backward compatible, but at least Sony gives me the option to play some of their old games, something MS cannot say. MS needs to reevaluate what they are doing if they intend on remaining relevent in this industry. Until they do, I will be sticking with companies that actually care about games in Nintendo and Sony, I have a feeling many more will be doing the same.
Essay Pro