Originally posted by Tzeentch._
The Wii outsold the PS3 by almost [b]50,000 units. The Wii, that one console who's developers outright stated that they didn't give much of a shit about their device being a "multi-media" device? The PS3 was toted as a multi-media device, but it's Blu-Ray player didn't save it from finishing last in the console war, did it? Which is my point. The primary demographic who buys consoles are gamers, thus it stands to reason that if your console is perceived as being more focused on multi-media than playing games, gamers are going to be turned off. That's a hard lesson Sony had to swallow last generation, and it's one that Nintendo knew coming out of the gate, which served them well.The primary demographic of Microsoft's conference were gamers. Yet the only thing we learned about the One that's relevant to games are that 1. If you can't get it connected to an internet connection every day, then **** you. None of the games you've spent hundreds of dollars on will work, and 2. If you want to take one or some of those games that you spent hundreds of dollars on and loan them to your best friend then **** you, you'll be required to basically buy the game again in order to play it under a profile that isn't yours.
Neither of those features are gamer friendly features, so it doesn't take a genius to figure out why gamers might be less than impressed after watching Microsoft's conference. "Oh boy, Microsoft's going to basically **** me up the ass seven ways from sunday, but at least I'll be able to throw away my cable box, laptop, tablet, cellphone, PC and all the other devices that I've spent thousands of dollars on. Thanks for making my life easier, Microsoft!" C'mon. [/B]
Gamers. 😐
I think it depends on the multimedia. Nearly all of my friends own a 360. All of them use it for Netflix/DvDs more than actual gaming. Phones have replaced the functionality of computers for many. It only makes sense that in each new generation, there will be more overlap with other technologies on consoles. Because if PS and XBox cater only to gamers, they'll be bought out by phone app Candy Crush Saga descendents in a decade or so. In that same timeframe, I'd be a bit shocked if we didn't have all-in-one boxes that do all of these things and more with only one service/box.
I think where your argument still has merit is where they do these things and seem to sacrifice the gaming experience. That's the distinction you need to make a bit more clearly, and the one that is obviously applicable in this case.
I'm also not sure the Nintendo comparison is a good one. It serves to make your point, and in so far as Nintendo has kept the focus on games, I agree with you. But the companies are clearly pursuing different business models with their consoles. I don't know that expanding to include a lot of different media is bad. Pending implementation, it's probably a positive.
Frankly, the XBox One's "sticking points" with critics probably won't affect me, and I'll probably take advantage of some of the new features. I realize I don't speak for any kind of majority, but I don't think it's unreasonable to think that at least a portion of their target audience could concur. Connecting to the internet? Oh no, whatever will we do?!?! Some lonely stoner with a gaming fetish and no internet is screwed. The rest of us are probably ok. If you're dropping hundreds on consoles, I'm willing to guess you're running at least Windows 98 with a lightning-fast 56K modem. The sharing thing I'll concede (for some). Again, it won't affect me, but it's a legit gripe. Still, lots of time. I wouldn't be surprised to see that overturned.
Also, Blue Ray is how old now? And we still can't call it the standard for DvDs. It didn't get crushed Betamax style, but it's also far from ubiquitous in our media consumption. Your Sony example falls a bit flat, because I think they just picked the wrong horse to bet on with that.
Long story short, I agree with you, I just needed to frame it differently.