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disolitude on 27 May 2013
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mtu9356 said:
disolitude said:
mtu9356 said:
 


The problem still remains that much of the world(parts of the u.s. included) don't have the infrastructure to provide internet access.  This problem won't be going away anytime soon.


But will those people have the need for a 400+ dollar gaming entertainment hub in their livingroom?

Im not saying there won't be an odd person here and there who really has internet roadblocks but would like to own a entertainment center like Xbox One. The % of those people will be relatively low in my opinion. 

The way I see it:

If you have no high speed internet, and no way of getting internet you are not in a market for a next gen console for different reasons

If you have high speed internet available, but can't afford it, again you are not in the market for the next gen consoles

if you have high speed internet but its "spotty" and disconnects often, you should be able to enjoy the console as you would any other console (single player mostly, multiplayer when internet is available)

Just because someone doesn't have access to the internet does not mean they can't afford a 400+ dollar console.  That's actually insulting.

Your opinion is wrong.  The majority of people on earth don't have internet.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Internet_usage)

The point you can take from this discussion is that Microsoft is alienating a large percentage of their fanbase they aquired during the 360 era by introducing the need for internet for basic function.


I personally don't think its insulting at all to think like that if I am a corporation planning a product strategy. 

There is always going to be wealthy people who can afford literally anything, but in terms of mass market sales and opportunities, I think its safe to assume that if you're selling a box that combines TV cable, gaming, VOIP and other online services, your main consumer is going to be internet connected.

Some sales may be lost from hardcore gamers without internet but I don't think microsofts main goal is product sales but service sales. They want you using Xbox live, Skype, IE, Bing, Skydrive...internet needed for all.  Selling a hardware at a loss or at cost and gaming royalties are hardly exciting for a company like Microsoft. 

The global internet usage charts are interesting for sure. I guess Microsoft is gambling that the internet adoption rate in the next 5 years won't hurt their sales...I really don't know myself if its going to or not.