1 what DRM removal ???? it just went from online based to disc based.... they never removed it and PS has just the same DRM system.... Kinectless XBO with the current UI is like a car with no mirors yeah sure you can still drive it but it surely is way less convenient and optimized... but I'll give you that one.... I wasn't really talking about what people said (since most people buying a console have absolutely no clue about who those people you talk of are and don't follow the video game industry to have heard of any of it) but what really happened... they had a product road map and adjusted it on the go like any business does to achieve better sales... there is absolutely nothing wrong with that and most of the time it coincides with what people want anyway so it is a win win situation... every company does it lying has nothing to do with it...

2. nintendo and sega solved that certainly not sony and playstation

3. I was talking about the quality of their games and milking/rushing of them.... I'm not especilly a DRM suporter but I had absolutely no issues with always online digital world MS was trying to push... we are going there anyway.... physical media and physical second hand market are going to die sooner or later... and I can find tons of reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with gaming to justify it starting with cost, logistic, convenience, availability, ecological footprint that trumps any little habbit disconfort the backward console gaming community has....
yeah people will be butt hurt but like on PC and pretty much with every other medium industry it will happen sooner or later.... books, newspaper, movies, music, PC gaming all went through the transition to a certain extend with unreversable consequences for both side (business and consumer) console gaming will too....

4. I disagree, don't get me wrong they do have good products especially in their professional and semi pro equipment and they achieve a good level of quality for some mainstream electronic but they are either under the competition in quality or way over priced for very little direct gain... kind of like apple with PCs it's not that they do bad product it's just that the price is completely unjustified for the most part...

I have no beloved company, but I'd rather have the OS taken out of my PS3 and still have the ability to use it than someone giving me faulty hardware that took five years to fix causing one of the largest failure rates in the history of gaming and electronics, period. I buy my console for the games not the OS.

1.The DRM Microsoft was using would force you to pay to play a used game. You couldnt share games with friends unless Microsoft deemed it ok. Microsoft was going to force a digital era upon us. If Microsoft didnt change their policies fans and Gamestop alike would've had problems with them. This isnt the first time Microsoft has had to learn the hard way. Microsoft was beginning to usher in the full arm control of EULA (End User License Agreement) for games. People in the United States are protected from EULA and sadly it had to be the American compay to try and enforce it as if a second hand buyer had no rights. Based on US law Microsoft would've had a ton of lawsuits on their hands. Microsoft has a history of being sued for Anti-trust, so this wouldn't be the first time they overstepped their boundaries.

PSSSSST... did anyone notice how gamemaster didn't bother to answer anyone here?

I agree that they are deceptive, but I don´t agree that Sony or Nintendo are in any way better. The thing is, alot of us gamers tend to forget some things and remember others depending on your preferences. People remember RROD, but also remember the pricetag on PS3 or the fact that Sony removed backwards compatibility in later models. MS copied Sony in the concept of PS Plus, and Sony copied MS when it comes to charging for multiplayer. It is a constant give-and-take when it comes to these two.

Both MS and Sony (and to some degree Nintendo) make business decisions based on what will generate the best revenue long-term. all three of them want to create great video gaming experiences, but also make alot of money. Do not trust any of them, because they are just companies, and companies are run with a profitmargin in sight, all of the time.

I agree with a lot of what you said but there is an important thing to note here. Companies, like people, should not be dragged through the fire for trying to correct mistakes. Making a kinectless cheaper model, mimicking some of Sony's policies, and initially releasing the 360 are all steps that ultimately lead to a better gaming experience for gamers. There may be (and are) aspects of them that seem underhanded but the end result is to better your overall experience as a consumer.

Would you rather they never released 360, not given free games with GWG and dropped paywalls, never 180'd the terrible X1 decisions, and never released a Kinectless X1 and forced something the masses clearly don't want or need for the entire new gen?  The people who actually have to make these decisions don't have the gift of reviewing them through hindsight like you and I do.

Wow, this thread is on fire! I agree with several folks who said don't trust any of them. However I think it bears repeating that Microsoft has a long and storied history of betraying and bullying their partners and customers from the very beginning (if you don't know what I'm talking about, take a little time to look it up). And as they say, a leopard can't change his spots.

In fact, working in IT, I have been on the receiving end of their bullying more than once, so I speak from experience. Has anybody here ever met someone who works for Microsoft? They are some of the most annoying people on earth.

Long story short, I prefer to not give Microsoft my money, so I buy everything used when I can. My 360 and most games are used, but I have bought a few new (halo 4 & wars, etc.). Not planning on buying an x1 unless my boys reall really really have to have it (which will probably happen ;)

Not sure what your actually talking about the but the ultimate bully was Nintendo during the NES era they pretty much controlled all third party developers and also had control of what and how much could be made for the NES since they where in control of the manufacturing of the cartiges.

They did lie about RROD though.  The first denied there were serious issues and that it was only a limited number of defective consoles.  They only changed their stance once more and more consoles started going bad and people started complaining on the internet.  So they lied about it being a major problem and probably knew about the problem before they even shipped the consoles.

I never said you were misusing the word. Probably still doin't understand what it means tho. The Wii mote alone was substantial it affected a lot of people and cost them a lot of money. Don't fool yourself it was substantial.