scrapking said:
Your definition of "abandoned" doesn't match mine. Microsoft stopped manufacturing the OG Xbox after 4 years, you're right about that. But that's not the same as abandoned. They continued to support the original Xbox for many years. The original Xbox came out in 2001, Xbox Live launched in 2002, and support for Xbox Live on the original Xbox continued all the way until March 2010. So the OG Xbox had about 8.5 years of official support from Microsoft. I also submit to you that the original Xbox also had its share of multimedia focus, and was broadly discussed in industry circles as being Microsoft's firth thrust into a set-top-box for the living room. CDs, DVDs, an MP3 jukebox, and more. I think they modified their multimedia ambitions the the Xbox One launch due to public reaction, but didn't change them (look at how they're touting the UHD, 4K Netflix, etc., capability of the Xbox One S). In contrast, Sony ends support for online games at a whim. GT5 launched in November 2010, but support for its online modes ended in early 2014, a mere 3.5 years later. GT6 had just come out, so it seems to me like an attempt to actually force consumers to buy the new version if they wanted to play online. Not cool Sony, not cool. For comparison's sake, launch titles on the Xbox 360 from its late 2005 launch still work online and off. All Xbox 360 games based on standard Xbox Live matchmaking continue to work (both first party and third-party) 10.5 years and counting. While there's no end in sight for Xbox 360 online matchmaking support (for games that didn't do their own servers, which was the overwhelming majority of them), support for the online modes of a great many PS3 games ended long ago. Microsoft is working hard to make Xbox 360 games run on the Xbox One, as Sony tries hard to pretend the PS3 never happened by dropping support. And don't even get me started on the many features Sony removed throughout the PS3's life, some of which were strictly software in nature. If you cherry pick examples you can make either side seem bad. But I think it could be strongly argued that Sony is the more anti-consumer of the two, by pointing to the unnecessary cessation of support for PS3 online games in its heyday. |
To be honest, I don't care much about gaming online. I disliked MS for pushing online so hard. However, I can see that it matters to you and others. Point taken.
But, regarding the original Xbox, I remember reading that MS forced 3rd parties to switch from it to 360 development immediately. I don't feel that's fair. The original owners could still have gotten more money's worth.
I do realize that Sony is not without blame. Like sending out the Vita to basically fail, and no UMD transfer program as they said they would implement. Also, the taking away of features for PS3, as you said. I feel that MS has done more wrong though.
