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Major Nelson: Policies are still being finalized

Wow, so indecisive. This is the second person from Microsoft coming out to say "Hey, what we just presented is really not final, we can change our minds!"


I have never seen a company who just presented something they have worked "years" on, become so wishy washy immediately after presenting it. It's almost like they really do not have their direction/vision finalized.

Its really hard to say that this reveal was well timed and all part of Microsoft's Plan. Everyone kept saying "Microsoft is quiet because they have a plan" or "Microsoft doesn't have to respond, they have a plan!" If this was the plan, it wasn't created with much time and thought behind it.
 
Could care a less about the used games\DRM debate but with all the focus on TV\Cable Box crap and specs that can't match PS4 I'm O-U-T
 
Chucker said:
MS has historically been a mid-november launch. I'd say 11/15, same day OldBox, Live launched and also my birthday so I'll have one for free , MS. That's how that works, right?
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Doesn't Call of Duty always come out in the first week of November?
 
Marleyman said:
Maybe they didn't finalize the policies? Sony has yet to do this months later and there have been zero threads about it.
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For some reason, I don't remember Yoshida saying you had to rebuy used games or be online every 24 hours for the console to work, only to be contradicted by community managers and support guys and finally backpedal. Because that would have explained a number of threads.
 
Einbroch said:
Can they really renege on the used game issue? It has to be one of the reasons EA is in bed with them.
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How is ea in bed with them? Because of 'exclusive modes'? If Microsoft reneges on their used game policy then what does ea do? Go to Sony who also isn't nerfing used games? Or maybe both companies are and this is the real reason ea dropped Nintendo.
 
Snkfanatic said:
You can't be serious. A lot of core gamers wouldn't but after the reveal yesterday the "regular" gamers that I spoke to were ecstatic. Not everyone would be bothered by issues that a lot of the serious gamers would be.
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Your "regular" gamers must not have high exceptions or questions about how their consoles are going to work.

Just so we are clear, Microsoft has no idea how ANYTHING is going to function.... every single person gives a different answer... even the VP. I've yet to see Sony seriously not answer.... What kind of RAM is in their console.... (which is a basic thing), or what Kind of processor.

These are questions that should have been answered. Microsoft actually released LESS information than Sony did. The only thing Microsoft honestly showed was the Physical Console with the controller, and vague "specs".

Strait up not ready for prime time.
 
To me it sounds like they are just trying to muddy the waters even more. Every time someone will rage about their DRM crap, the answer will be 'Hold on, nothing is decided yet.'
Don't trust them anymore.
 
Dragon said:
Serious question, are you being obtuse?
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Being completely honest.

Askherserenity said:
Maybe buying a $60 game and not really owning it. That seems pretty anti consumer to me.
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So, all the games that I own on steam are not really mine either? This is no different than that. I can't lend those steam games out either. Doesn't bother me one bit because I pay for games so I can play them, not to lend out. And I do not begrudge the developers from making as much money as they can. If this is the best way, I'm cool with that. Still a day one purchase along with the PS4 as well.
 
Megatron said:
Or maybe both companies are and this is the real reason ea dropped Nintendo.
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This is what a group of my friends were discussing yesterday. It seems like it could be the most reasonable answer. I mean why else would Nintendo suddenly get completely ignored by them unless they weren't falling in line to what Sony and MS would let them do? Mind you this is all speculation.

Frankly I am still living in a world of hope where MS will look at all this and realize that they shouldn't be screwing over the people that made this console possible in the first place. Hopefully our outcry will change their minds on the stance that was given yesterday. Because I would love to continue to support them but refuse to do so unless this is fixed. The line has simply been crossed.
 
ha ha we said it to test the market, lol, you fell for it ha ha, wink wink.

Internal memo, wait until overall market acceptance, before reinstalling agenda
 
muzzymate said:
If you can't answer basic questions about how I can play & transfer games on my game machine, then you aren't ready to announce it to the world.
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It's been three months and Sony hasn't clearly answered those questions either. Why do people expect it from Microsoft now? Wait until closer to launch and then we'll have an idea what both are doing.
 
Probably for the best they backpedal but it's kind of hilarious that they pretty much have to say "hey remember that show we were hyping up and counting down too? lol we were just kidding around".
 
Orca said:
It's been three months and Sony hasn't clearly answered those questions either. Why do people expect it from Microsoft now? Wait until closer to launch and then we'll have an idea what both are doing.
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MS just had the misfortune of answering first instead of deflecting.
 
This entire ordeal is a disaster. They know/knew exactly what their policies are, they honestly didn't think it would receive this much backlash. They are obviously marketing XBomb as an all in one device and not a strictly gaming device. I have a feeling that their policies won't change at launch but maybe a year or so after launch. If they price the console aggressively maybe they can snag a decent share of the tech market wanting to turn their TV into some kind of multimedia device, then again the people probably already have a smart TV.
 
I can't believe MS actually thinks people want this shit, who the hell is at the wheel over there........well Xbox you had a great run maybe Apple can carry the torch for the American team from here on out.
 
Remember when the PS3 seemed like a clusterfuck of a console and suffered a 6 month delay, and the games even longer?

Boy, have the tables turned.
 
XxHANNERxX said:
Being completely honest.



So, all the games that I own on steam are not really mine either? This is no different than that. I can't lend those steam games out either. Doesn't bother me one bit because I pay for games so I can play them, not to lend out. And I do not begrudge the developers from making as much money as they can. If this is the best way, I'm cool with that. Still a day one purchase along with the PS4 as well.
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There are different expectations for consoles. It's too late in the game so to speak to drop a bomb like that on consumers.
Steam isn't a good comparison. When consoles have sales where big name current titles go for like $7 then they can start trying to reach for some kind of parity.
 
avaya said:
I bet the unprecedented partnership with EA relies on them pushing their DRM and no used games policies.
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Yeah, how convenient of EA to drop their online pass right before the Xbox reveal that they just so happened to be at in order to announce their 'partnership.' The writing is on the wall with this whole mess and agreements have obviously been made. They fully intend on doing it, they are just trying to figure out the best way to damage control and soften the blow leading up until launch.
 
Iacobellis said:
Remember when the PS3 seemed like a clusterfuck of a console and suffered a 6 month delay, and the games even longer?

Boy, have the tables turned.
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The whole industry has flipped.

WiiU in the toilet compared to wii's Rise To Heaven.
Xbone harder to dev for (compared to the simple 360), and core gamers losing hope.
PS4 going x86, and the core's darling right now.

Topsy Turvy.
 
vjEOubl.jpg
 
It's annoying he gets flak for issues he didn't create. I have thought highly of him, back when the RROD was an issue I had a problem getting my console replaced (turned out they kept sending the return boxes to the incorrect address and the support people were no help) I emailed Major Nelson and within 24 hours I had a voicemail on my phone from someone at Xbox with a real name and direct phone number and the issue was fixed asap.
 
These policies aren't "still being finalized". They're locked down.

What clearly isn't finalized is Microsoft is still lost on what flavor of BS they can serve to us in order for us to like what's on their menu.
That is still very much in flux.

HBP said:
It's annoying he gets flak for issues he didn't create. I have thought highly of him, back when the RROD was an issue I had a problem getting my console replaced (turned out they kept sending the return boxes to the incorrect address and the support people were no help) I emailed Major Nelson and within 24 hours I had a voicemail on my phone from someone at Xbox with a real name and direct phone number and the issue was fixed asap.
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Larry Hryb is a straight-up class act. He's one of the best PR figureheads this industry has had. He doesn't get enough credit, IMO. Microsoft is lucky to have him.
 
Failing to compete with Steam means Steam wins. Same for iOS device game pricing. Consoles need to remain competative so they have to adopt the digital Steam policy. Don't be surprised if Sony does exactly the same thing.

It's the future. We knew it was coming. Don't be so surprised and outraged that it happened.
 
bullshit tbh
roughly 6 months from release, nearly everything is finalised except some small details.
only policies still open are those for trade ins (gamestop etc)
 
They announced all that bullshit yesterday to test the waters and see people's reactions, I bet.

With how people are shitting all over it, saying this is the only thing they can do and save face to change the policies back.
 
Marleyman said:
They haven't said anything since February and nothing is official yet. Why aren't they being questioned/picked apart?
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This doesn't stem from MajorNelson saying it's not official/finalized yet. It stems from them having had many sources spouting contradictory statements and now they're trying to control the message without clearing up any of the confusion. People are understandably upset by this, as they always are when a company is being obviously dishonest.

You need to define what Sony would be picked apart for or questioned about for me to be able to talk about that with you.

UberTag said:
Larry Hryb is a straight-up class act. He's one of the best PR figureheads this industry has had. He doesn't get enough credit, IMO. Microsoft is lucky to have him.
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Missed this when replying and I couldn't agree more. Awesome guy that knows how to do his job way better than some.
 
devonraynor said:
bullshit tbh
roughly 6 months from release, nearly everything is finalised except some small details.
only policies still open are those for trade ins (gamestop etc)
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Not really, the used games issue and Internet connection debacle are all on the software side and can easily be reversed.
 
Haven't had a chance to watch the conference yet unfortunately. But they did explicitly say launching this year, right?
 
shinobi602 said:
They announced all that bullshit yesterday to test the waters and see people's reactions, I bet.

With how people are shitting all over it, saying this is the only thing they can do and save face to change the policies back.
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Absolutely. I think there is a fair chance they give a little ground on something here, but probably not enough to make most of us happy.
 
Alpende said:
Full blown damagecontrole. They heard about the backlash. I hope they change stuff.
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Well, if Kotaku is to be believed MS is honestly surprised by the backlash over the X-box announcement. Which begs the question "where the fuck have you been and where the fuck were you during the SweetBillyGoatate?"
 
Sobriquet said:
Isn't he doing a fireside chat or whatever today? Anyone know when that is?
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Incidentally guys... Major Nelson will be chatting up the Xbox One on Yahoo! Chat in roughly 15 minutes.

Wednesday at 4p ET/ 1p PT/9p UK time I’ll be over at Yahoo for a chat about Xbox One. During the 30-minutes, I’ll be taking some of your questions about the recent announcements. The chat event will take place using Covert It Live, so when then event starts it should automatically go live below.
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XxHANNERxX said:
Being completely honest.



So, all the games that I own on steam are not really mine either? This is no different than that. I can't lend those steam games out either. Doesn't bother me one bit because I pay for games so I can play them, not to lend out. And I do not begrudge the developers from making as much money as they can. If this is the best way, I'm cool with that. Still a day one purchase along with the PS4 as well.
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The steam comparison doesn't work. The pricing is completely different from console games. If Microsoft starts charging around 10$ for games, then I'll accept the comparison.
 
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