LONG BLOG
Next-Gen: We Have Arrived Onto The Future
Again I�m going to pick on Microsoft�s business model. Last generation, Microsoft decided that online gaming was going to be a thing you had to pay for instead of being a given privilege even if there had been a long established line of free online multiplayer. Part of the reason, in my opinion, they got away with this is because when Xbox Live was introduced on the original Xbox there was no real competition in the online home console market. Yes PS2 had online capabilities, however it wasn�t a standardized thing and wasn�t exactly up to par. Fast-forward to the present; Xbox Live is still around (and even hiked up its price), PlayStation has had an entire generation of experience under PlayStation Network�s belt now, and Nintendo even half-assed its way into the online world.
When evaluating the next gen systems, it�s going to be very hard for Microsoft to justify hiding online multiplayer behind a hidden cost for much longer. I may be a tad na�ve, but eventually consumers are going to wise up and realize that the competitors are offering the exact same services for free. Sony�s PSN is most likely only going to get better and Nintendo looks like it�s going to be taking online components seriously this time with the Wii-U. If you take a quick peek over to the PC gaming world, Steam offers the exact same set of features as Xbox Live does (and more) and it�s all absolutely free. The more people see the competition offering the same things for free the more it�s going to make Microsoft look bad and make people question why exactly Microsoft needs additional cash from them, especially if Microsoft is already pulling in revenue from all of their annoying dashboard ads.�
I�d like to see Xbox Live transform into something similar to what PlayStation Network is. The online multiplayer and basic features, such as Netflix, are available to everybody but if you choose to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold you�ll get extra perks such as discounts on titles and a hand written letter from Bill Gates telling you he�ll try to think of you the next time he thinks about how he�ll never have to worry about money ever again.
The future of consoles is a wondrously neat thing to speculate about. While I'll obviously be cynical about certain things I still gleefully await to see what the future holds. Hopefully the people in charge of actually pushing consoles into the next generation don't try too hard to continue doing some of the things that screwed up this generation.
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About Sephzillaone of us since 9:27 AM on 07.15.2008
Follow me on Twitter - @Sephzilla
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Who am I? I'm a guy who plays video games, talks way too much about comics and movies, likes Godzilla and Robocop. Why should you read my blog? Because when I write I have fun, make up bullshit lists, and when I do get a little serious with some blogs I try to be insightful and use resources and facts to try and back up my opinion as much as I can. And if you don't follow my blog, I'll send you a picture of a sad kitten who wants some love.
Also, I tend to debate a lot and get up on a soapbox a bit from time to time. I like to debate for the sake of debating and I tend to find it fun to get other peoples perspectives on things, and sometimes I like to play devil's advocate a bit just for the sake of it. Basically, don't take me so serious sometimes even if it seems like I am being serious.
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Watch my TwitchTV channel
Who am I? I'm a guy who plays video games, talks way too much about comics and movies, likes Godzilla and Robocop. Why should you read my blog? Because when I write I have fun, make up bullshit lists, and when I do get a little serious with some blogs I try to be insightful and use resources and facts to try and back up my opinion as much as I can. And if you don't follow my blog, I'll send you a picture of a sad kitten who wants some love.
Also, I tend to debate a lot and get up on a soapbox a bit from time to time. I like to debate for the sake of debating and I tend to find it fun to get other peoples perspectives on things, and sometimes I like to play devil's advocate a bit just for the sake of it. Basically, don't take me so serious sometimes even if it seems like I am being serious.
Promoted Articles:
-- Expanded Universes: Halo, and why I give a damn
-- Those About To Die: Vergil
-- 2010 Sucked: What the hell, Square Enix?
-- Motion Control: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
-- Beginnings: Nobody dies on the first goomba
-- Dreaming: Back in Time
-- Why Minecraft laughs in DayZ's stupid face
-- Suckers! I call dibs on Claptrap!
-- The Decay of Capcom
--An open plea to Square Enix: Don't remove FFVII's turn-based combat