Tross

Contributor
CRank: 11Score: 105710

I Might Feel a Little Bad For Microsoft.

I think the late nights, and the occasional early morning, are starting to get to me, because I'm actually starting to feel a little bit bad for Microsoft. Note, when I say a little bad, I only actually mean, a tiny bit bad, and nothing more. Allow me to explain.

As we all know, when the Xbox One was first announced, there was a list of things people didn't like about it, from DRM, to always on Kinect. When I went to E3 last year, I was so furious at the company, that I didn't even enter their booth. But, the more I think of it, they really shot themselves in the foot then, and any attempts to recover, have been met with mixed reception.

What I mean is, Microsoft really wedged themselves between a rock, and a hard place. I can't think of any other reason than greed, to motivate them to make all the initial decisions that they did, but once those decisions were made, they were doomed to receive critical backlash, no matter what they did.

Had Microsoft stuck to their guns, and for a time they did, they would have been the bad guys, who were anti-consumer. Well, ok, to be fair, there's some debate as to whether or not they're still anti-consumer. But, now that they've retracted almost everything that bothered people about their system, they lack integrity.

Sure, I can only feel somewhat sympathetic to them. I mean, if someone jumped into piranha infested waters, they would be attacked, regardless of which direction they swam in, and it would have been their fault for jumping in, in the first place. In this case, however, we as gamers are playing the part of the piranhas. We've been the ones attacking Microsoft at every turn, no matter what decisions they have made.

Of course, Microsoft should have had a backup plan, in case their selfish agenda wasn't met with universal praise, because it wasn't, and now they must live with the consequences. I'm not going to argue that their motivations weren't selfish, and sure, they made their bed, so it's not unreasonably to assert that they should lie in it, but I also think we as gamers could afford to back off a tiny bit, and give the company even a sliver of a chance to redeem itself, as unlikely as it might be.

GarrusVakarian4300d ago (Edited 4300d ago )

Every single thing MS did wrong....was their own fault. Every situation they are in now, because of those bad choices, are, again....MS's own fault.

I love Xbox, but i dislike MS. There's no way i could feel sympathetic for a company that *knowingly* tried to force those horrible, anti-consumer, greedy, control-hungry policies onto a hobby that we have joined with (relative) freedom for decades, only to then tell us "we don't understand" and if we don't like it "get a 360".

Granted, they are digging themselves out of a hole right now (and have done a great job so far), and that's a great thing for gamers, but it's a whole *they* created. They aren't out friends, they don't want our sympathies, they want our money.

They will gain my respect back when i see great exclusive support throughout the *entirety* of this gen, not just the first half. I want the MS of old back (OG Xbox days). They were awesome then.

BillytheBarbarian4300d ago

I'm hoping to force MS to keep on supporting 360 by not buying.

steve30x4299d ago

Good luck with that lol.

adorie4299d ago

I'd feel bad for Microsoft if their initial vision didn't screw over certain retailers and much more than that, gamers.

I don't feel bad for multi-billion dollar companies, tbh.

GarrusVakarian4299d ago

"I don't feel bad for multi-billion dollar companies"

Exactly.

memots4299d ago (Edited 4299d ago )

i am the same. I am mad, I bought a Xbox original , totally loved it. Xbox live Halo 2 , Jedi knight 2, OMG so many great memories. Then i got the 360 and the sh*t hit the fan , Overpriced everything nickel and dime at every possible angle, never mind the multiple version of the console that kept breaking down.

No support in the later years, i literally only played Halo reach and Forza Horizon/F4 in the last 4 years i stopped paying for live since it was a rip off i bought all my multiplat on ps3 since i could play them online for free.

They lost me with their reveal and an under-powered console and it will be a while before they get me back. And before anyone calls me a fanboy again, know this i actually really want to want another xbox console the was something special about their first console and even that got drop faster than it should ... anyway i could go on .. WALL TEXT !!!

therealmarauder4298d ago

I dont get these comments about getting the old MS/Xbox back. There is no old MS, they are the same company. They did what they needed to win back then. As does every profit loving company.

The industry just moved forward. They tried to push some new ridiculous stuff with the X1 which thankfully backfired. There is no need to feel bad for them. If they realise their mistakes and correct them, well good for them.

Let's be honest, as gamers we want the best value for our money. All Sony/MS can try is to give us that. And of course, fanboys will be fanboys, and buy their respective consoles, no matter what.

ZombieKiller4297d ago

@Lucas: Bubble
"I love Xbox, but i dislike MS. There's no way i could feel sympathetic for a company that *knowingly* tried to force those horrible, anti-consumer, greedy, control-hungry policies onto a hobby that we have joined with (relative) freedom for decades, only to then tell us "we don't understand" and if we don't like it "get a 360"

This. In it's entire form is EXACTLY how I feel. I feel no sympathy for them since they created this themselves. Secondly, IF we all said yes to this, where would we be? They would have more free reign to do as they please and would push limitation even further, with the sales already backing them. No thanks

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4297d ago
NYC_Gamer4300d ago (Edited 4300d ago )

This struggle has been the best thing to happen to MS in years in my opinion..Why?because look at the improvements being made to the whole Xbox gaming division in terms of being more software focused plus the quality Xbox One updates being released.

FriedGoat4299d ago

I only HEAR of improvements out of M$ PR camp. I'll believe in improvements when I see it.

therealmarauder4298d ago

See it? They dropped the paywall, dropped kinect, mostly talk about games. I am not sure what else you are looking for?

The "weaker" hardware is stuck as is, I dont think there is anything they can do about that.

darthv724300d ago (Edited 4300d ago )

There are too many people who will hold this grudge over MS for the idea of them even considering the things they did prior to reversing them before/after launch.

It's understandable to be mad at MS for those dumb ideas but to shun the platform as some sort of protest is just petty. I have never held a grudge against a system regardless of the stupidity of the platform holder. Great games deserve to be played no matter what.

I have been gaming for over 30 years and i have seen the good and the bad when it comes to these companies and their ideas. but at the end of the day its the games that i play, not the companies behind them.

Gazondaily4300d ago

QFT!

(Does anybody even say that anymore?)

BitbyDeath4299d ago

Tell em the Lannisters send their regards

Darkstares4299d ago

You buy items based on the product and what it offers. Maybe one day everyone will just focus on how the system is and the software but sadly some are way too ingrained in the company behind the system. Some people play games while others play brands.

steve30x4299d ago

The only thing holding me back from buying an XBOX One is the Xbox live gold wall. I know they have reduced it a bit but they need to do a tiny bit more. For instance I bought Forza 3 limited edition and Forza 4 Limited edition. You get free cars from Turn 10 every month (or is it every week) but to get those cars you have to have an Xbox live gold account. This is stupid because I already paid to get those cars so I shouldnt have to be forced to have an Xbox live gold account to get the free cars I should have been getting in the first place.

DigitalRaptor4296d ago (Edited 4296d ago )

Which company in the past has tried to screw over gamers universally, in a number of (>1) planned and controlled mechanisms as was planned with the XB1?

Nobody has. I think you'll find people's continued distrust of a company that (intentionally) tried to screw over multiple accepted and loved aspects of the industry cannot be quelled by the reversal of policies they were 100% behind for years.

Okay, you've been gaming for over 30 years, honestly, good for you. You've had a good run. You've seen the best of the best - and still, I don't believe you've ever had your consumer rights placed under the guillotine, have you?

Do you really want a new generation of gamers to have nasty and unreasonable restrictions imposed on how they play their games for the next 30 years, and think "oh sh*t this is normal for our industry"? Would you accept that as something good for the industry? I know it's not happening anymore (at least not until MS tries it again when they believe people are "READY" to embrace their vision), but they tried it with many, many years of planning behind it. The people who wanted it, whether you believe they are gone or not, are still there.

Mattrick leaving, was just one person who was in charge. Phil Spencer and Phil Harrison might be talking more about games than ever, but they still fully believed in the vision MS had for the industry, and were talking it up before and during things going pear-shaped.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4296d ago
Nes_Daze4300d ago

I'll feel bad for them when they are on the verge of leaving the gaming industry... They market an overrated FPS as if it was an exclusive(COD), their idea of a "megaton" at E3s are bought multiplatforms and exclusive DLC. They have done better with introducing new IPs though, so hopefully they improve when it comes to that...

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