Official *Consoles Are For Losers* thread

[Don Flamenco]

video game ceos beating each other up gifs     

yeah i know i'm on a game forum and i'm spergy nerdy but seriously, I still have a right to call the people that make and enjoy those gifs complete fucking dorks. 

[Himu]

All this shit and the thing hasn't even been announced. Has their been ONE good Xbox Jungle Fever rumor?

[Don Flamenco]

 :yesss

pack it up, it's done

[Himu]

God I love making new nicks for the next box.

Xbox Zebra
Xbox Hakuna Matata
Xbox Oreo
Xbox Jungle Fever
Xbox Unchained
Xbox X

[G The Resurrected]

But maybe we're all just not seeing it because we didn't get the marketing syrup poured directly into our ear like you did.

I could agree, I've heard both spiels from both sides. The one that excited me more was M$ cause it seemed if what I saw was correct that they finally got that magic sauce.

From what I gather it connects everything so even if you're not using the cable/satellite box version it still has a input to have that connected tv aspect. There most certainly is several different hardware models that will be in production. Think of it as one sku for those with service already at home and one for those that don't have it and are just getting it. I think the cable/sat box will be used more as a tool to expand companies into area's where service is still far behind. It gives incentive to cable/sat providers to actively go out there and start spreading service cause people will be wanting something like this. This is not IPTV but rather a appcentric device that provides you with whatever content you get from the providers as well as the gaming stuff we already know we want. It just does a better job at connecting everything more so than the current gen consoles and cable boxes provide currently.

[Himu]

I already have my satellite box. This is stupid.

[Snuflupagulus]

Not in any way criticizing anyone for the mirth and humor this has provided, but it would be unfortunate if this affects his career at MS. I aways feel horrible when I get a laugh out of others' misery.

Kinda  and  in a big ol'  competition. What are ya gonna do but hang your head, in between bouts of laughter? Ugh. lol.

[mjemirzian]

The rumored official name is Xbox Loop, so how about Xbox Loopy?

A cable box that RRODs on you and kills your game session if your internet drops. Out-fucking-standing.

There's still hope for hardcore gamers. 3D tech flopped, Windows 8 flopped, "always online" consoles could very well flop. A game doesn't need a bloated AAA budget to be good.

[Himu]

But it has zebra stripes.

[Cormacaroni]

Not in any way criticizing anyone for the mirth and humor this has provided, but it would be unfortunate if this affects his career at MS. I aways feel horrible when I get a laugh out of others' misery.

Kinda  and  in a big ol'  competition. What are ya gonna do but hang your head, in between bouts of laughter? Ugh. lol.

for sure. If the guy was some random Bore poster posting in this games forum, it would have been a tiny ripple at most. twitter is kinda scary with these dogpiles

[maxy]

"always online" consoles could very well flop

Don't be so sure,millions and millions play COD,BF3,etc 24/7 online,tons of them never even touch SP.Nothing changes for them,mandatory online or not.

But what about SP peasants,how to make them pay for Gold?



Destiny-mandatory online
BF4-rumored to have mandatory online
Kotaku game-mandatory online
.
.
.
End of SP games,birth of SPO games.

[Cerveza mas fina]

You know what you guys are just being a bunch of babies about this whole situation.

It's really not as horrible as you guys are making it out to be. You need to remember this isn't just a next gen gaming console. It's a platform for entertainment and will be used by cable/satellite companies to sell you on their services. Just as XBL brought us out of the online ghetto's this platform will be used as a stepping stone into consumers homes. It's a compelling product from a design stand point. Not cause it's an always on device, but cause it's what most people are missing in their homes right now. Which is a connected space for all of their content be it web/games/tv. It's an ingenious and grand plan if they can pull it off. I just hope its not another webtv disaster personally.

Well, right off the hop, this move is completely ceding Japan.  Not really a big loss for MS, but they did make some progress with the 360 in Japan.  This is going to undo all of that.  This move also basically alienates people in areas with poor/no internet.  Large parts of the US, large parts of Canada, large parts of Europe, and those are basically the good news countries.  Cable/satellite companies already sell their own boxes to sell you their own services.  Why on earth would they want to share with Microsoft?  I mean, sure, I see the grand plan.  It's the same grand plan Sony and Microsoft have been chasing for the last two gens.  Big plans amount to shit fuck all without execution, and they're basically starting the race with a broken foot by snubbing most of the world.  Combined with Microsoft's historical success rate with "grand plans", I don't see why we should be confident here.

But maybe we're all just not seeing it because we didn't get the marketing syrup poured directly into our ear like you did.

Its also ceding Europe.

Which leaves the us+uk for ms.

[mjemirzian]

Don't be so sure,millions and millions play COD,BF3,etc 24/7 online,tons of them never even touch SP.Nothing changes for them,mandatory online or not.

But what about SP peasants,how to make them pay for Gold?

You know what's ironic? Consoles are having their lunch eaten by smartphones and tablets, but if your smartphone loses service, the single player game you're playing isn't suddenly interrupted.

[maxy]

maxy, if call of duty maintains its popularity from xbox 360 to the new console (a fairly big if in and of itself), you're looking at about 5 million people who play online for any decent amount of time.  you know what building a console around 5 million people leads to?  the gamecube.

Yeah,those people are not enough for stable business.The rest?

I think lots of people will just shrug if their favorite SP games require online to function.Especially if online somehow manages to improve traditional SP experience.I doubt Himu would ignore mandatory online GTA6.

I guess my point is that if online becomes the norm for (SP)games,then console internet requirement becomes irrelevant.Not sure what exactly is worse.

[maxy]

I don't see it working out well too,not without some offline mode.

I just don't see the point in demanding constant online for console itself,games can do that pretty easily.This is a closed platform not a PC,it's not like you can avoid Live and play games/get content on some other network.Updates can be delivered easily on game discs too.

If online is a fundamental part of GTA6 then GTA6 won't start without online.Why drag the whole console into this?

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Considering Microsoft said that the Xbox brand is going cloud centric instead of device centric, it seems clear to me that they're looking for a way out.

I'm also assuming that Microsoft believes that the revenues they will make from always-on advertisements, used game passes, increase in new game sales due to draconian used game policies, etc. will more than make up for some dude out in the sticks with a satellite internet connection who wants to play Call of Duty Butthurt Brofare 5 who no longer can with the Durango.

Or they can just get a Wii U

[mjemirzian]

It's seeming more likely they're going with the subsidized smartphone subscription model. Buy the console for $49.99 w/ 3 year contract, but once your sub runs out, or your internet drops, or the MS servers go down, your console is basically a brick.

[Eel O'Brian]

I'd imagine there are going to be a lot of Xbox team meetings over the next few days about keeping your mouth entirely shut.

Saw this in the Verge comments:

How much value are consumers not connected to the Internet though?

next gen is gonna be an eye-opening experience for a lot of people and companies

[huckleberry]

I just want someone to give me a compelling reason why requiring an always online connection for games to work is something that I want to buy into.

[Eel O'Brian]

Well, I suppose it makes patching bugs way easier, that's about the only thing I can think of. I'm sure the spin patrols on both console teams will have a list of why all this makes life easier for the consumer and finally makes The Jetsons a reality in your living room, but it's really only about 4 things:

1. Encouraging you to pay for one of their tiered online packages.
2. Serving you advertisements.
3. In-game purchases ala smartphone games.
4. Getting a cut of or eliminating the used game market.

[maxy]

How much value are consumers not connected to the Internet though?

Close to zero especially if you buy used.





lol at the end
 

[mjemirzian]

Poor guy tuckered himself out by the end.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Well, I suppose it makes patching bugs way easier, that's about the only thing I can think of. I'm sure the spin patrols on both console teams will have a list of why all this makes life easier for the consumer and finally makes The Jetsons a reality in your living room, but it's really only about 4 things:

1. Encouraging you to pay for one of their tiered online packages.
2. Serving you advertisements.
3. In-game purchases ala smartphone games.
4. Getting a cut of or eliminating the used game market.

I agree.  I think they will also gather your online activity, including your social media contributions, and sell it to advertisers.  Even with bug fixes it seems that the benefits to the end consumer is minimal.

It is pretty easy to see how The Last Console Generation will play out.

[Eel O'Brian]

How much value are consumers not connected to the Internet though?

Close to zero especially if you buy used.

untrue

• still buy the console
• even people who predominantly buy used occasionally buy new games
• still buy peripherals and accessories

but it's that kind of thinking which is gonna make next gen vastly entertaining for me!

[huckleberry]

Well, I suppose it makes patching bugs way easier, that's about the only thing I can think of. I'm sure the spin patrols on both console teams will have a list of why all this makes life easier for the consumer and finally makes The Jetsons a reality in your living room, but it's really only about 4 things:

1. Encouraging you to pay for one of their tiered online packages.
2. Serving you advertisements.
3. In-game purchases ala smartphone games.
4. Getting a cut of or eliminating the used game market.

agreed total. 

I am just curious as to what these supposed benefits are.  Doug and Robert both talked about online connected games (some ios game) in the last cruncheons if I'm not mistaken - would have to go back and listen again to possibly glean their positions.

[mjemirzian]

How useful is your cable box or cable modem when the connection goes down? Useless, right? Xbox Loop seems like it's trying to be the cable box replacement. If anyone starts complaining about how disc-based games should be playable offline, fanboys will start pointing to on-disc DLC as a justification for "just because the data is on the disc doesn't mean you're licensed to use it".

They'll come up with some server-based shit to justify it, no doubt.

[Eel O'Brian]

dynamic in-game advertising set to make a huge comeback!

[huckleberry]

If goddam pc games had actual co-op I would never even have to worry about shit like this. Having two kids who are interested in pretty much the same type of game that you are is flattering, but expensive.

[Eel O'Brian]

it's not so much that i am opposed to all this (although i am), as i've already made my decision not to buy into it so none of this news is going to affect me

but, man, it sure has brought out the mean side of me that likes to laugh at willful implosions

[maxy]

How much value are consumers not connected to the Internet though?

Close to zero especially if you buy used.

untrue

• still buy the console
• even people who predominantly buy used occasionally buy new games
• still buy peripherals and accessories

but it's that kind of thinking which is gonna make next gen vastly entertaining for me!

Consoles are usually sold at a loss/slim margins in first few years.

Occasionally buying a new game is not enough anymore.
Internet connected user is likely to pay for Gold,buy DLC,avatar hats,look at ads,etc.More money from him on day one then from average offline user whole generation.
Offline user has a high chance to be a  dirty pirate.

/

[Eel O'Brian]

we can go around and around about it all day, but as any hobo on the street can tell you a little money is better than no money at all, and blocking out those sources of incidental income is, in my opinion, going to be a very stupid mistake in the long run

[Joe Molotov]

dynamic in-game advertising set to make a huge comeback!

Suddenly the fact that they're making a new Homefront makes sense! "North Koreans in my Hooters? Let's roll out in our Dodge Rams, men! HOOAH!"

[Eel O'Brian]

all the nascar sponsor stickers change, it's like a whole new game every time you play!

[Mupepe]

None of this really bothers me.  But I can see how it would bother others. *shrug*  And i think people are delusional if they think the PS4 won't be extremely similar.

[MCD]

[Diunx]

Thank god for pirates and their awesome hacks, this industry can suck my dick if they think I'm buying always online shit.

[Positive Touch]

yep, the truth is pirates always win

[Great Rumbler]

lol at the end
 

Love me some Francis.

[MCD]

[archie4208]

Hear me out here.

Right now our gaming industry is in flux. Dozens of gaming studios (some of my favorite studio and game franchises) are closing down/going bankrupt. The only viable profitable games are a handful of AAA shooter and GTA franchises, while single-player and innovative smaller games are hurting BADLY overall.

Ask the average PC gamer who buys games from "always on" "digital only" generally "no used games" (I know I know there are ways, but generally no used games) Steam?

They are generally very happy due to the convenience of have all your digital games on one click, easy patching, and DIRT CHEAP $5-10 GAMES SALES.

If there is one thing, Microsoft is good at over the years is copying other people's successful business models. And now it is clear they want to bring a Microsoft Steam type model to consoles.

I am fine with this AS LONG AS they discount games like Steam later after a game's new release.

Today GameStop literally makes BILLIONS OF DOLLARS buying/re-selling used games over and over again. That's BILLIONS of dollars where publishers/game developers/console makers do not get one cent of royalties/fees. Hence the game studios going bankrupt left and right.

With an always on, no used games console, game developers will make more money, publishers will make more money, and Microsoft will make more money cutting GameStop out of the loop.

I am fine with this ONLY IF Microsoft/publishers is willing to give us CHEAP full download digital games like Steam later in the life cycle of games after new release. Even selling games at $5-10 later on just like Steam, Microsoft/publishers will make TONS MORE MONEY and developers will get PAID.

The good sign is Microsoft seems to be on the same page as they are discounting digital download full games on Xbox LIVE Games on Demand the last 1-2 months 50-75% off. EA has been doing the same for their new releases on Origin.

So it's a win win win for all of us. Gamers get cheap games like Steam and publishers/developers get paid for their awesome work. Only one that loses BILLIONS is Gamestop.

I'm fine with that. Bring on the Next Xbox!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=535128

[close]

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Probably a Microsoft Viral marketer.

[Great Rumbler]

Steam doesn't automatically boot you from your game if the internet drops outs.

[Rufus]

I am fine with this ONLY IF Microsoft/publishers is willing to give us CHEAP full download digital games like Steam later in the life cycle of games after new release. Even selling games at $5-10 later on just like Steam, Microsoft/publishers will make TONS MORE MONEY and developers will get PAID.

Keep on dreaming.

[Don Flamenco]

those gifs are amazing

[Diunx]

I can also run my steam games off any PC that runs it not to mention that X Zebrox will become a plastic brick once MS shuts down its servers.

[mjemirzian]

Steam's offline mode used to be flaky, but it's pretty solid now. It will be much easier to find cracked .exe files to run games if Steam ever goes offline. Ever hear of no CD exes or patches? Same concept.

Xbox Loop is nothing. It's when MS starts trying to close down parts of Windows that people can start panicking.

[Oblivion]

[ManaByte]

[Great Rumbler]

I never cease to be amazed that people in prominent positions at major corporations decide that it's okay to show outright contempt for their customers in such a public way.

I'm all for it in private, of course, but an unprotected Tweet on Twitter is about as public as you can get..

[Brehvolution]

MS should do the same with Win8 and Office.

[Human Snorenado]

"Always on" makes sense for some shit.  It made/makes sense for the pc version of Diablo 3 because of the auction houses and to combat duping (which still happened, but oh well) and it didn't make sense for Sim City because that's a shitty fucking Sim City game and it' 2013 and don't we have better shit to play by this point, people?  Come on.

As for the idea of an "always on" console... it's dumb.  It's dumb because there is a non-zero number (and I think it will end up being quite high in the US, where we have a shitty infrastructure and lack the political will to improve anything) of people that it will negatively effect, and who don't want it.

I'm pretty much with Eel at this point... I have decided to forgo next gen, because pc gaming will fill my needs, and sitting back and watching the impending shitstorm seems to be more fun than being involved in it.

[ManaByte]

MS should do the same with Win8 and Office.

I see what you did there.

[Sho Nuff]

[Himu]

lots of people might, but lots of people don't have a choice.  if it doesn't work without internet, it doesn't work for them.  microsoft are clearly betting that enough of their customers are in both the "have a choice" group and the "will choose microsoft" group (this is where you lose Himu) to make up for losing literally most of the world as a potential market.

i just don't see it working out.

[Don Flamenco]

I never cease to be amazed that people in prominent positions at major corporations decide that it's okay to show outright contempt for their customers in such a public way.

I'm all for it in private, of course, but an unprotected Tweet on Twitter is about as public as you can get..

the conspiracy theorist in me says this was on purpose to gauge the public reaction

[maxy]

lots of people might, but lots of people don't have a choice.  if it doesn't work without internet, it doesn't work for them.  microsoft are clearly betting that enough of their customers are in both the "have a choice" group and the "will choose microsoft" group (this is where you lose Himu) to make up for losing literally most of the world as a potential market.

i just don't see it working out.

I doubt Himu would ignore mandatory online GTA6.

[Himu]

I sure as fuck would. I ignored Sim City, I will ignore GTA. GTA would never do that because who plays GTA for solely multi anyways? Are you bananas Max? And online only GTA? Are you fucking stupid?

[MCD]

[Diunx]

lol

[mjemirzian]

The Xbox Live server outages at launch are going to make SimCity look like a speed bump. Grab your popcorn.