Monday, June 10, 2013

The Console War that Couldn't




Sony fired off a shot on Fort Microsoft showing a console with graphics and obviously Microsoft knew what artillery Sony was using. A new console with graphics. Boring, thanks for showing up before E3.

But rather than use that opening to counter attack and talk about what the Xbox One should be doing and get the hype going, Microsoft basically told us all we sucked and went with this D.R.M. And it was a sound strategy. Developers were hamstringing you to do it, you could make some good cheddar in licensing fees on the side, Sony had to be doing the same thing right? I mean, so far they have updated graphics so it’s business as usual right?

Wrong!

While this current console war came down to Blu-Ray and overpriced PS3 systems at launch, next console war will all be decided by those three letters etched into gamers’ minds: D.R.M. Scratch that, it’s already been decided with D.R.M.

Now there’s plenty of blame to go around for that little detail, we can start with the developers not happy with their billions of dollars they already get. Continue with Microsoft doing what they do best by trying to suck as much money out of the public as possible. The question we all have to ask is what crazy consultants at such a respected company like Microsoft would not intervene and say something. You know, like, “Hey, Sony may not do this, we don’t want to give people a reason to go with the competition.”

Like I said with the PlayStation 3, brand loyalty is just a made up word that gets replaced with, “Most bang for the buck.” Nobody was going to buy an overpriced PS3 when the 360 had nearly as good graphics, well, as good as cross platforming gaming could allow. The most bang for the buck this year goes to Sony, which sells consoles for a bill less than Microsoft.

That alone means people will go with Sony. And why not? As long as developers continue their cross platform campaigns, there’s no reason to own two different next-gen consoles (unless you want to own a Wii-U also). And sorry, Killer Instinct is five years too late to sell me on an archaic fighting engine that should have happened years ago. Good luck with that, Rare.

The change is as sudden as it is with the announcement tonight:  Sony once again ‘Get’s It’, Microsoft got cocky like Sony did last time and thought they could do whatever they wanted. Sony has every right to declare victory before their console has even been released.

And before all of you email me to tell me I’m crazy and don’t know what I’m talking about. Just remember, I predicted Sony to have the same problems they did with their last console and that the Xbox 360 would be on top for most of that console wars. Pretty sure I was right about that. This isn’t something that Microsoft will magically change too. They are a company that decides what we will like. Have you ever heard of Windows?  

Forget D.R.M, if I were Microsoft there’s a few other letters I’d be more worried about come launch day: D.O.A.

No comments:

Post a Comment