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PS4 vs. XBOX One

Which console will take the cake?

  • PS4

    Votes: 23 69.7%

  • XBOX One

    Votes: 10 30.3%
  • Total voters
    33
https://www.gamespot.com/news/navy-publication-blasts-xbox-one-6410382

Independent military magazine Navy Times has published a new report blasting the Xbox One and its various policies that the publication describes as problematic for those on active duty.

The Xbox One will require users to connect to the Internet once every 24 hours, something Navy Lt. Scott Metcalf believes will be a "showstopper" for those serving downrange, in the field, or at sea.

A past report claimed Microsoft was working on a solution for those in Internet-free scenarios, though the company now says no such plan is in place.

In addition, the Xbox One will be supported in only 21 countries. Those stationed in major military regions like Germany, Italy, or Great Britain will not have a problem. However, service members in Japan, Kuwait, Afghanistan, or other areas are in a bind.

On top of this, since Xbox One games are region-locked, service members who import games won't be able to play them on their local machines. And as Navy Times points out, those who buy games locally will be out of luck, as Xbox Live accounts are tied to regions.

The publication also calls out potential "serious" security concerns for the Xbox One, involving the system's Kinect camera and/or microphone recording conversations not meant to be heard outside of the military. Microsoft has said that the Xbox One does not record idle living room chatter.

"Microsoft has single-handedly alienated the entire military," naval aviator Jay Johnson wrote in a Gamasutra piece. "And not just the U.S. military--the militaries of the entire world."

Johnson added that the Xbox One's Internet requirement is "the single greatest sin Microsoft has committed against all service members."

Xbox executive Don Mattrick last week offered an alternative for those without an Internet connection, such as military members and students.

"Fortunately, we have a product for people who aren't able to get some form of connectivity; it's called Xbox 360," Mattrick said. "If you have zero access to the Internet, that is an offline device."
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Ouch. Now they've got the military pissed off. I continue to be amused watching Microsoft fail on such an epic level.
 
I really hope MS screws up. I hate the direction of their company ever since Windows 8 and those stupid rectangular icons showed up.

EDIT- I should add that I hope MS screwing up here makes them more susceptible to customer input. I do like Windows 7 a ton, so I don't want them to fail completely and go bankrupt or anything.
 
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HUGE news if this is true:

https://www.whathifi.com/news/microsoft-to-back-track-on-xbox-one-games-drm-and-always-online
https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/microsoft-to-pull-complete-reversal-on-xbox-one-dr/1100-4673/

Sources indicate Microsoft is going to move away much of what's caused the company so much headache.

The tug-of-war between Microsoft and Sony just got more interesting. Multiple sources inform me Microsoft will announce what amounts to a complete reversal on its DRM policies for Xbox One today.

What does this mean?

No more always online requirement
The console no longer has to check in every 24 hours
All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360
Authentication is no longer necessary
An Internet connection is only required when initially setting up the console
All downloaded games will function the same when online or offline
No additional restrictions on trading games or loaning discs
Region locks have been dropped

It is unclear what caused this huge change in policy right after E3, a week where Microsoft executives spent days explaining, justifying, and talking about its policies to the press. I suspect Microsoft’s official announcement will say something to the effect of “we've been closely listening to consumer feedback.”

Based on what I’m being told, that’s definitely true.
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Basically, folks are saying that Microsoft is set to reverse all its unpopular XB1 policies. No always-online, 24-hour check-in, DRM. If this is true, then I no longer really have any problem with XB1, and I suspect the console war will once again basically come to a draw.
 
It's official.

https://news.xbox.com/2013/06/update

Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.

For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future.

Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One.

You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world.

So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:

  • An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

  • Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.
In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console -- there will be no regional restrictions.

These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.

We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.

Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year.
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Biggest reversal in the history of video games. They were dumb to even try it, but at least they came to their senses eventually.
 
My worry, and perhaps it's a paranoid one, is that Microsoft will just revert back to their planned policies once the units sell.
 
Nate505 said:
My worry, and perhaps it's a paranoid one, is that Microsoft will just revert back to their planned policies once the units sell.
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Nah, that won't happen. Can you imagine the PR then? It would ten times worse than what has already hit them. Microsoft isn't dumb enough to do that to themselves again, not when they've alreday endured so many headaches.

On the other hand, I'm likin' this:

5CYP7yj.png


Spiteful, but funny (and true). But the important thing is that they did actually listen to consumers and make the change, even if they only did out of self-interest.
 
AtheistPreacher said:
It's official.

https://news.xbox.com/2013/06/update



Biggest reversal in the history of video games. They were dumb to even try it, but at least they came to their senses eventually.
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Good to see this will help MS a bit. The problem is that the PR damage is already done. They should have known the backlash these issues would have tied to them. Now if only they cut their console price by 100 dollars to match the PS4's base price. I know, not happening.
 
AtheistPreacher said:
Nah, that won't happen. Can you imagine the PR then? It would ten times worse than what has already hit them. Microsoft isn't dumb enough to do that to themselves again, not when they've alreday endured so many headaches.

On the other hand, I'm likin' this:

5CYP7yj.png


Spiteful, but funny (and true). But the important thing is that they did actually listen to consumers and make the change, even if they only did out of self-interest.
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Agreed. They really had no choice but to change these features. Sony was really exploiting these issues and now they can't.
 
Welp, now the PS4 and the XboxOne offer pretty much the same console.

EDIT- Except XboxOne is 100$ more expensive.
Damn, I really wanted that to get interesting.
 
XB1 does seem to have the advantage as a full multimedia experience, something Microsoft will push all the harder now. Problem is, I still think they've misread how many people actually care about those features. Some people will, for sure, but I know I don't.

Microsoft just hasn't been making good decisions or design choices lately. Two of their last three PC OSes sucked (Vista and Windows 8, though at least they had Windows 7 between), and then they did this XB1 thing. Apparently their market research just blows, and/or their execs just aren't plugged in to what the average consumer wants and cares about in their tech.
 
Hotttnickkk said:
Well just how he grabbed that McBook Air, smashing it about.. LOL.. may be cos I don't like violence/anger.

He also dodged the "Vista" question.
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You obviously didn't finish the video... He spent the last two minutes talking about it, acknowledging its strengths, but mostly weaknesses.
 
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