The Xbone an Innovation?

I can't believe I have to write something else so soon. In any case, I was lurking around the Internets when I saw people claiming that, while others were whining about the Xbone, in actuality it is an innovation in the game console market. Well...

OBJECTION!!

It was to my distaste that said people are the ones who are living in first-world countries which have extremely stable Internet connections, and also . The inability to comprehend another party who is less well-to-do is understandable when, at face value, said person does not seem to have knowledge of the actual circumstances surrounding the less fortunate. However, when weeks of Internet banter have revealed multiple parties, even if they are the minority, do suffer from problems which do not plague the fortunate ones, ignorance deserves no mercy, ESPECIALLY when you took part in the banter.

Now, looking at the Xbone, one can surmise that its direction is headed towards that of Steam - digital sales. Although statements and evidences suggest that it would be dealing in the existing framework of the gaming market, the way Microsoft had positioned its product pretty much revealed everything, even if not backed by actual statements or what-nots.

Problem is, it wanted to implement a draconic control over the playing of games, as compared to Steam's policies. See, if games were digital, that means the games are naturally tied to an account, so the owner can access his games using the Internet (or the Cloud, same difference). The owner then installs his game on the console, and gets to play that game using that console. We could essentially do that using current-gen consoles, where even if you are not logged in, so long as the game is installed you can play it on that particular console. At least, that's how things seem to be working on my end. I have only been owning a sixth-gen console for a few months.

Microsoft probably then thought "hmm, well that means if anyone shares their account, that game can effectively be installed and played by multiple people without paying for it for each additional person playing it. That won't do, that won't do at all!!" Boom, hourly check-in if the account is being used on foreign consoles. Effectively, only the person who is using that account can play the game.

One might argue that, well, just loan your friend your account. Done. What if I want to play games too, when my friend is using my account? Let's move past that because the entailing debate would be moot when it is all very much situational. Wouldn't it be better if then both my friend and I own a copy of the game each? But then, they are so pricey, what should we do? Enter Steam sales.

The only reason why people are willing to purchase a copy of the game and deal with Steam's DRM is because things are really cheap on Steam. Sales pop off so soon that gamers are willing to just get a copy of the game themselves. So, if consoles followed this method of doing business, no one would mind buying games because they would then be a lot cheaper.

Strictly speaking then, consoles would be following Steam's footsteps. No one is really "innovating" anything, unless of course we are talking solely about the console market, which in my opinion has had similar sales for PSN games since awhile back. AAA titles go for sale more often in PSN than they do in XBL, and PS+ essentially gives off games for free to its subscribers. I have not heard anything similar being done for the XBLA Gold service. Call me pessimistic or skeptical but I don't think Microsoft will suddenly change everything.

Let's say this is an innovation for consoles nonetheless, what does it entail? What I can see is, people owning digital rights to the game they have bought, which is something that we already have. A shift towards having consoles' games being fully digital? Not every country has a decent Internet connection, and this removes consoles' ease of use thusly. 

Perhaps then, having prices of games drop to what you see on Steam? Gamers have long been complaining about the price of games on consoles, and nothing has changed thus far. If they were to lower the price of games, it would only be justifiable if it is done for digital sales, since no actual physical discs will be used, hence "lower cost of sales". Then, retailers will be useless since things are cheaper digitally anyway, there is no point in getting a physical copy. So, unless Microsoft strong-arms the prices of games to drop, nothing will change. This did not happen at all. Microsoft announced the price of next-gen games to be similar to current gen's.

I do not understand as well those who say they were looking forward to the ability to log in to your account anywhere and install their games to play them. Can you not do it on the current gen consoles? At least, it seems like it is doable on the PS3. What innovation are we talking about? Cloud processing? You mean online MMO's, something like what Square-Enix is coming out with in 2-3 months' time?

There is nothing "innovative" about anything that is the Xbone. Family Sharing? Like I have mentioned in an earlier post, it's a feature that is exploitable. Microsoft or any sensible company that wants to retain its ability to make money won't let exploits remain for long. What feature? Cloud processing that has been over-exaggerated in proportions and the Kinect, which for all intents and purposes is still an underdeveloped tech which should not be force onto consumers?

I cannot see anything that is innovative about the Xbone at all. Nothing. I do not understand why would people call it an innovation. Tech geeks who are lamenting over its departure from the original plan, are you honestly telling me, as a tech geek, that you were looking forward to a piece of hardware that tries to take on the role of multiple device, which has no solid advantage unlike the smartphone that is mobility in its belt. As a tech geek, the existence of a "nifty" device is justified even if its policies threaten the sanctity of consumers' rights?

The more I look into it, the more confused I get. What innovation are you guys talking about? The PS4 is a PS3.5? The PC Master Race should feel offended, since PC's upgrades are essentially a perpetual race in hardware upgrades, so in that sense PC has never had a "next-gen". No. The platform's enhanced abilities allow for games to perform better, which in a sense brings about "next-gen". What nonsense are you guys talking about. Xbox360 2? Better hardware, software and small but key features are "meh"?

This is to me the prime example that is the entitled behaviour prevalent in first-world gamers. Like any other normal consumer, their inability to think past the point of purchase and the characteristics of the product leads to SMH-statements. Obnoxious, self-absorbed and just lacking in sympathy for the less fortunate.

I stand by my decision that the Xbone is dumb, and by no means it is innovative. It adds some "features" which is essentially a gloss over of what we currently have, just less underdeveloped. New features? More like warranted upgrades. Sing your praises for the Xbone's "features" if you want, but I still don't see anything "innovative" no matter how hard you chant. 

I need to go to college. Bye.