Sony won the conference but Microsoft won the games?
I think so, if we look back at both shows, on a game by game basis. I was very impressed with the Xbox one titles, more so than the Playstation 4 ones. One could argue the fact they were exclusive IP's contributed heavily to my favoring Microsofts offerings. I imagine some very impressive Playstation 4 exclusive games to be announced the coming months as well. However the fact is, I'm a gamer, and Microsofts games impressed me a little more. Beckoned me closer toward them with a teasing finger.
I closed my browser window cutting my choppy feed, warmed throughout my bones from that unique feel that literally only comes round once a decade. I wanted that taste, almost craved it as we approached the end of this generation of gaming. That flavor; knowing we have arrived. It's good, people. Finally. Next gen. I got that mostly with Microsoft.
I can only describe my feelings as I watched these new gaming experiences unfurl before me, as a warm flutter located somewhere within the stomach area, the next gen of console gaming had arrived. It happened to be in the form of a frilly Roman skirt wearing gladiator shouty guy, but nonetheless, we were here. Ryse was my epiphany. Damn. It looked CG, finally, the games we get our hands on to play, will look fully CG. Ryse was that arrival for me into the next generation. As website bit-tech wrote "It’s difficult to tell if much of the demo is indicative of real content as the scene transitions seemed almost too smooth" It was in game, and it was happening homies...
I was yet to really feel this clout as a console gamer, even the super cool and blue, Playstation 4 reveal in February didn't knock me sidewards when it come to receiving that sweet sugary hit of next gen gaming. Seeing these next gen titles is best described when attempting to encapsulate a new console arrival, back in the croaky old 8 or 16 Bit era. When the graphical leaps happened back then, they were astronomical. The closer we flew forward to the present the advancements visually slowed down, squeezed tighter and smaller as they hit the bottleneck; almost coming to some kind of halt in the later generation, save a few shiny reflections here, a bumpy texture or two there. Plus of course, the 3D jump.
This view I'm about to express is not popular right now. My youtube subscribers who I am honored to have, in their vast majority disagree with me, loudly, and extremely vocally! Often making me cry real gaming tears, that shimmer green as they fall, but I respect their views fully as gamers. However it has to be said, I personally believe games wise Microsoft brought the heat June 10th
Expressing this in public can stoke passions, heating up hearts with the volcanic ferocity of the most vile hate crime. The better more captivating conference from the standpoint of games, in my opinion was Microsoft. I expressed this excitement in a video here recorded immediately after the conference, as you can see, few agreed. One legendary response was "you fu**ing love anything with games" as if this was a crime... Us gamers can say some strange and fu**ed up things lol.
Microsoft had the exclusives on lock at this show, this cannot be up for debate, it's an actual physical statistical fact. Dead Rising 3 another impressive title, still having the character design and feel of the Dead Rising games of old yet sporting a very impressive new lick of paint, the textures, lighting etc looking really nice. It just looked like the next natural evolution of our console game visuals and that's all we asked for. Well that and no used game restrictions; Kinect requirement, and no high price. Also, that online check in thing. You can keep that too fu**ing Microsoft fu*k!!!
To me the main issue here is the used games. Those of you who are subscribers to my gaming channel know I regularly do pick up videos. Many of these super bargains are mass collected titles, it's not going to be financially possible for me to get every Xbox One game that's released as they are dropped, I own several consoles. All these little plastic babies are squealing for the milky goodness of a new game now and then.
As the months pass knowing I can never look back and pick up a bargain Xbox One game at a store or online etc without paying a fee above what I usually would for used games, or even something as simple as borrowing or "lending" a game from my mate, as we say in the estates. I won't be able to do that on the Xbox One. That's the kick for me. No used game freedom is a big part of my decision not to purchase it on launch. Perhaps after when things change, I go into detail on this in a bit.
Gaming is a luxury, not a necessity if, if we are being honest. If you can afford a big ass Xbox One, is it really such a stretch to expect you own a half decent Internet connection? I can duck the bullets flying and peep above the warring to see both sides. You would not expect the poorest parts of the world with no Internet to even think of owning a games console, let alone one that requires a 24 hour online check in, so I can't say I'm buying that particular scenario.
There are however many circumstances where the gamer could be cut off, soldiers enjoying some gaming down time abroad, workers at sea? Who ever said Aliens who are orbiting in space won't be able to use Xbox One either, leave the room now, this is serious.
Sometimes I have lost my own Internet connection but if I'm honest this has been for a short while for probably a few hours, and while I'm waiting for it, I log on using either my actual brain, which has evolved naturally into a Wifi modem of sorts due to prolonged Internet exposure. Failing that I would use my super phone from the year 2138. Basically most of us are always connected. I'm sure it seemed acceptable to the heads at microsoft Guffawing atop their gold thrones at the time, they are so disconnected from us it seems they could not have foreseen how actually pissed the masses would be. Their naivety is both funny and deeply tragic at the same time.
So back to the conference, Ryse, Dead Rising 3 and some more very nice looking titles, this trend of dope ass games continued with Forza 5 which almost has to look stunning, anything less would be close to blasphemy for that series, and of course for a next gen driving game. If you are a driving game on any of the new consoles and you don't look like you're getting close to photo realistic visuals, that in itself insults my very core and is actually wholly unacceptable. Unless you're a kart game. Forza 5 looked the part, sexy and curvy, yet no fat. Like Scarlett Johansson
Then there was the sheer stomping beauty. Nervy woozy emotion that only a brand new, next gen IP can bring you. I wept tears of joy. I stood up, fists raised in victory and cried aloud "Titanfall" I have hired a band of wily bearded scavengers to round up dissenters who were not impressed with this game, throw them into the back of a caged truck then systematically brutalise each one until they love Titanfall as if it was their own first born. If you don't think this game looks cool, perhaps you need it BEATEN into you is my point here.
This game looked as epic as I'd hoped, a Microsoft only release. Created by core members from the Call Of Duty team who formed a new studio. Big mechs; big guns; super powered human suits; explosions and military shouting. We live for this. A beautiful ending to a sweet show of games. This blog isn't listing the full line up of games, there's thousands of articles online detailing every single game, like this one.
Did I also mention the return of Master Chief? Oh yea, that too...
So with that, we have a fascinating insight into the mindset of the modern emo gamer. Even a conference with a less impressive line up of games, can still win resoundingly as long as you demonstrate that you can connect with gamers on a certain level; show us you've listened, and we will come.
The look of child like glee on Jack Trettons face when he revealed how free and open the used games policies would be seemed to almost genuinely surprise him. However as the days pass there's still debate on what he actually really means, here's my video on this.
The games Sony showed were really good, Final Fantasy was awesome. However the conference lacked the wow factor you get from seeing a new IP revealed. The other gameplay footage Watchdogs and Assassins creed had some of the sharp edge rubbed off because we had been looking at these games in some form or another for the past few months. Most of the Xbox One exclusives were brand new, and unseen to many.
Are people being unfair to the Xbox One conference itself? strip the rest away and just focus your eyeballs on the actual conference. Think about it, we wanted to see the games and they brought them. Alongside more exclusives than Sony. Is the greed, restrictive unfriendly practices and taking away our ownership of these games enough to make you harsh ass gamers drop Microsoft in the pungent green swill to rot. Even if the games look actually fu**ing excellent? It would initially seem so.
The better conference overall was Sony, because they spoke to the gamers, which is always going to be a good thing for a gaming company to do. They said what we wanted to hear, they made it all free and open, and they dropped it like it was hot up in this bitch, so to speak. They landed the, what I like to refer to as the e3 hit combo. No used game restrictions, no online, and a excellent price of 349 in the UK. Dizzying.
The Xbox One line up of games seemingly got ignored by even the hardcore gamers simply because you pissed them off Microsoft. All that money spent on these IP's and overall it still wasn't enough at this early stage. You take away our rights to own games, it would seem you take away any love or gratitude. No matter how good the titles are. Ironic, gamers themselves would not care for the actual games.
The vast majority of the gamers complaining about Internet check in requirements are posting their thoughts from an actual high speed fibre optic Internet connection. It always effects someone else, but not actually them. I will concede though, Kinect requirement; the sheer cheek of the used games restrictions and the overall feeling that Microsoft don't really care for gamers (as much as a multi million dollar corporation can care) is too much, even for me. A fan of the Xbox and Xbox 360.
I personally feel the blows by Sony were too well delivered, deep into the meat of the kidneys and too brutal and concussive. The conference itself by Sony was average, but it was the e3 hit combo that ended the last round and Microsoft couldn't regain consciousness. For the sake of gaming and competition, I hope they learn from this and get to their feet, a little groggy; vision cloudy but eventually clearing. As a gamer, a gamer regardless of system I hope Microsoft beat the count and return in the rematch (november launch) fighting.
I currently have no plans to purchase an Xbox One, the Playstation 4 is something I have always wanted, I have been Xbox for around twelve years and my reasons were as simple as wanting a change, new franchises I would only see on the other side, I wanted to be involved in these. I detail this thought process in my blog here. I haven't dismissed the idea of going green again one day. It could still happen...
Let me be the first to say it here, Microsoft will make some major changes to their policies, probably re thinking the whole used game fu*k up completely. I still see some massive micheal jackson style moonwalking happening from this corporation as they backtrack on a lot of these dumb as restrictions, too much money is at stake. Remember where you read it.
Once they apoligise and say sorry, I may be joining the rest of the titan fall players into 2014. But until then, of course, I will see you in the Killzone. ;)
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