Xbox One, or Xbone for short, is a console that Microsoft are trying their best to introduce as a multi-media machine. During it’s reveal, Microsoft made it their mission to show the console, getting a leg up on the competition (Sony). However, their reveal lacked one important thing for a gaming console, where were the video games?
Sony introduced a number of titles that would be headed to the Playstation 4, and boy were we all amazed. Yet, as I mentioned, with Microsoft seemingly wanting to make their console a multi-media machine, they chose to skip on the games almost entirely. Instead, they concentrated on how the kinect works in partnership with your voice to do such things as turning on the tv, to changing the channel, to even snapping your fantasy sports team beside the actual game, so that you may keep score easily. These things are fine, but the problem here is that there was no shock value or moments where I found myself thinking “Wow, Microsoft are really stepping it up”. If memory serves me correctly, Microsoft tried to do voice command with the current Kinect, which didn’t work out. So seeing these additions were nothing new, it was just the same old, but only polished. Another issue with the reveal was that it was vague on information; you didn’t hear much about anything, except for big television based announcements, like a Halo series!
Now, I have a theory, and although it may sound ridiculous, I thought I would share. I think I know why Microsoft chose to be as vague as possible at the reveal and that was simple because they wanted it to go smoothly and make an impression. They wanted us, the consumers, to see the console, to get an idea of what it can do, and then show a world premiere look at Call of Duty: Ghosts which yes, was the only game shown (Apart from Fifa 14′s rendered demo) They didn’t want to overload our brains, and that’s appreciated but when a reveal is lack luster, that can go against them.
Hear me out; ever since the reveal, Microsoft have been letting us know more information on the console, and let me tell you, it does not sound pleasing at all. I will first list the information we know thus far;
- You will not be able to play games unless you log onto the internet within 24 hours. If you are unable to connect, then you will not have the ability to play a video game, which includes single player campaigns.
- You can not disconnect the Kinect sensor
- You can not lend or rent games
- You will not be able to trade games freely. What this means is that only pre-approved retailers will be able to accept any trade-in game. It is believed that independent used-game shops will not be approved. Because there will be less competition, there will be less trade-in credit.
- You will not be able to sell games freely. What this means is that you will have to be friends with whomever you are selling your game to for at least 30 days. The game is then locked into their account, which prevents them from selling it later.
These announcements are horrible, and they affect so many businesses. Granted, I’m sure that both GameStop stores as well as EB Game stores will be approved, so I don’t see I big problem with this. But I do see an issue with having to be friends for at least 30 days in order to sell the game. Wouldn’t this contradict stores that are approved? How will the stores then be able to sell the game that you trade-in to someone else? Do you give the owners your gamertag, who in turn give it to the party that wish to purchase the game, only to be told that they must wait 30 days until they are able to play their purchased game?
I’m sure that the closer we get to E3, more information will be let out that will maybe make things better and not seem as bad as they are. But at the time of writing, My theory on Microsoft’s strategy for not showing games at the reveal was so they could;
- Make a good first impression with their console, having consumers think that it’s a very cool machine.
- plow out several bits of information, some unfavorable, about the Xbox One to the masses between the reveal, and E3 that will leave a sour taste with the Xbox One.
- At E3, use the promised 15 exclusives to blow us away, so much so that we start to forget about the issues and limitations and start to think “They aren’t that bad”.
Will this happen, that is yet to be seen as E3 is still a few days away. But right now, as I am writing this, I am feeling a bit uneasy with the Xbox One.
What do you folks think? Are you still excited for the Xbox One, despite anything? Or is there more to the things I pointed out that I missed, that clarifies and makes things seem less intimidating? Let me know in the comments below or on our facebook!
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