Does MS really deserve praise for "listening" to consumers ??

[Mr Puggsly]

thismeintiel said:

Mr Puggsly said:

That's semantics.

People weren't happy with the product, so they are doing what consumers want and even going beyond with the game bundles.

Semantics?  Lol, you act like those are one in the same, when they are completely different.  Doing what customers want is more along the lines of what Sony and Nintendo (not quite as often) does.  They hear customer complaints about a product and change them, even if it wouldn't really affect sales.  People complained about the price of TLOU remastered, Sony lowered the price.  When those that pre-ordered the game thought they weren't going to get a $10 refund, mainly because customer support doesn't have that authority, they complained and Sony acted quickly and passed out refunds.  There are other examples, like implementing features people really want, but I won't list them all here.

Now, here's the difference, and try to pay attention.  You see, in 2012, when rumors were starting to surface about the One/PS4, one rumor stuck out the most.  The One was rumored to require an online connection to play games.  Even that early, people started talking negatively about that, while others thought that the rumor wasn't correct, as MS wouldn't be that nuts.  THIS is the first time MS could have listened to the customers.  Then, we kept getting more and more people confirming the DRM for the One, as well as the HW not being up to snuff with the PS4.  Again, the anger started to swell into something larger.  Yet another oppurtunity for MS to listen.  Thirdly, you had the shitstorm that was the #dealwithit fiasco.  In April, Adam Orth went on Twitter to defend the online DRM, while also belittling those who found it bad policy (granted, it was in a joking manner to a friend.)  Instead of MS LISTENING to the consumer's dislike of the policiy and the way it was put forth, they just fired Adam Orth, like it was his fault people hate DRM.

Then, we have the dreaded announcement in May.  The one where they mostly focused on Kinect and TV.  After which we started to get vauge confirmations about the DRM.  This is when it the anger became a storm.  People bashing the policies, many deciding to switch to the PS4.  What did MS do?  The same thing many MS fans did, ignore it.  Most likely passing it off as "Sony/Nintendo fanboys" making noise.  What MS fans, and MS, chose to ignore was the fact that it was the majority of gamers badmouthing it, not just fans of other consoles.  So, a 4th time they could have listened.  Then, came the even more dreaded E3, where MS did bring more games, but it also brought on the stomping that Sony gave them concerning their DRM and used games policies, as well as price.  You also should remember that between the time of the announcement and through E3, MS put out many statements and held many interviews that put their policies as a "way of the future" that everyone should get onboard with and, worst of all, belittled anyone who opposed or disagreed with their policies.

So, where was the part where they actually listened to gamers?  I'll tell you.  NOWHERE.  No, all they did the whole time was talk down to those who didn't like their policies.  Quite a few times getting very rude with them.  It wasn't until they actually got pre-order numbers in and realized they would have lost a SHIT load of money if they didn't do 180s out the ass that they actually decided to change the policies.  And really, even now they aren't listening.  They still have a shitty release parity clause in for their games, making many smaller devs choose the PS4.  Adn the policies they have changed have just been modeled off the PS4 because they see that people like them and the PS4 is selling.

Moderated - Starcraft