That was a different situation. Microsoft doesn't change their policies based on what people on the internet complain about. If that was the case Xbox live gold would be free and you wouldn't need to pay for live to use netflix. I dont work for Microsoft so I can't say for sure what made them change their policies but If I had to guess I'd say it was because they weren't ready for it. As soon as they can figure out trade ins, rentals, and stuff like that, the DRM stuff will be back I guarantee it.
Of course the hardcore matter but nothing Microsoft has done has upset the hardcore. Hardcore gamers are people like me who want to play the latest and greatest games. We dont care about which console sells the most, if we need to use kinect, if the PS4 supports mp3s, if we need to use friend codes or whatever. If a console has a game we want to play we will buy the console to play that game.
To the first the online uproar definitely mattered. The gaming press was bashing them left and right, not just random people on forums. All their accounts were getting hammered on Twitter, while Sony's where getting hammered as well asking them not to have DRM. Once Sony had their E3 conference and announced no DRM or used game restrictions, MS had little choice but to rethink their strategy. And once pre-order numbers were coming out that favored the PS4 2-1 they had zero choice but to rethink it. They could ignore the uproar over live, Netflix behind the paywall etc., as they were making money on Live and outselling the PS3, so the uproar then was more limited and didn't hurt them much. They were doomed if they stuck to their guns on DRM, 24-hour check ins etc.
I don't see any type of DRM coming to consoles this gen. It won't work until it digital console games reach Steam level pricing and sales--otherwise it makes zero since to even bother with consoles, as steam sales make the hardware price moot very quickly. Especially for people who aren't CAGs and can't be bothered stalking deals on physical games (deals are next to non-existent on console digital games unless you don't mind waiting years to play things).
As for hardcore gamers, I both agree and disagree with you. The uber hardcore will get an X1 eventually as those folks just have to own every console. But they probably won't get it first and it probably won't be their main platform if games end up not running as well, if there end up being fewer indie exclusives etc.
There are plenty of people, probably a majority of posters, on the hard core forums like GAF skipping the X1 and just sticking with PC gaming and/or PS4 or Wii. A lot of hard core gamers are turned off by all the media feature focus and just want a console to play games on. A lot want more than the FPS/Sports/Racer stuff MS focuses on (and many don't play those genres at all) given they're a western company and have given up on the Asian market by not launching there in their first two waves of region rollouts etc. So time will tell how many hardcore gamers really embrace the X1 platform, how many skip it, and how many just pick one up as a 3rd or 4th platform to just play Halo and some other exclusives and barely buy anything for it otherwise.
The Kinect actually doesn't need to be plugged in at all. You can just leave it wrapped up in the box.
http://kotaku.com/xbox-one-wont-actually-need-kinect-plugged-in-microso-1113142909
Good to know. I missed that in the laundry list of dumb ideas they've thankfully changed their mind on.
And that makes a Kinect-less sku a bit more likely since clearly all the OS stuff works without it since it's no longer required to be plugged in.
What can I say. I like talking about the industry and the directions companies are taking--especially since all three console makers are taking very different approaches. Sony's meshes the best with mine as I'm just not that interested in military shooters, sports games, racers, and pretty sick of Nintendo games (and think they work better on portables anyway). But it's interesting to hear what others like, and to speculate about how sales will go.
That's really my only interest in next gen right now. I think all the consoles are pretty medicore and I'm not really excited by any of them as they offer nothing but more of the same types of games I'm getting sick of, with graphics that aren't nearly the leap forward we've seen in previous generations. I'm leaning more and more toward just passing on them and building a gaming PC in a year or so when I can save up the funds. That will give me a bigger graphics jump, and exposure to a wider variety of games than either a PS4, X1 or Wii U. And from what I've gathered, the online community is a lot better/more mature than the consoles as you don't get nearly as many kids and teens.
outta here.
