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[Daneel Elijah]

The PS3 was notoriously hard to develop for, especially for multi-platform games, for a big majority of its lifespan. I don't think it's fair to say Bethesda purposefully gimped the PS3 version of Skyrim.

Yeah but that is the beauty of the argument. When a publisher is independent, he can choose to do this or not. We would loose that with the merger. It is not about the reality of Microsoft intentions, but of its ability to prove and demonstrate that he can do parity.
Imagine this stupid idea 1 second:
Sony does test before any patch and new game launch of COD. Microsoft know that Sony does that for every language there is in the game. So Microsoft deliberatly choose to put COD games in all languages, even dead ones like latin. They can pay more people to verify this themselvers and have exclusive acces to COD devellopers to help them. But it is Sony job to do that on the PS5 version. Would this scenario happen in real life? No. But can the CMA be sure of it? No either. So what? They have to make Microsoft promise not to do this? And this is a stupid example. It is easy to say that parity is hard to enforce. A independent COD would have no problem in that case. And that is what Sony want. The divesture. The point is, Microsoft can promise parity, but can they prove that parity? Sony says no. And the CMA had already said that behavioral remedies are hard to implement in this case and not the prefered choice because of problems like this.

 

[gothmog]

By through, do you mean cancelled?
If so, it's sounding pretty close.

http://[URL]https://www.equityrepor...icrosoft-activision-blizzard-merger-decision/

[/URL]

Things are getting spicy. Can't wait for the MS PR shit fit to close out the week.

 

[DarkMage619]

A portion of your post was discussing continued support... doesn't apply to Psychonauts 2 I suppose.

Psychonauts 2 was a single game release. ESO and Fallout 76 are service games. MS honored contracts in both cases. On the topic of Psychonauts 2 since Sony expressed a concern of MS putting bugs into PlayStation versions of games, did any of the titles I mentioned earlier have game breaking bugs introduced by MS? If an accusation is going to be levied you should provide proof.

 

[quest]

It is applicable, and not the main "concern" but rather an example used for the difficulties of oversight, but one for console war contention. Why is it applicable? "First, better, best" PR, that's why.

We are going in circles here.

Great then there should be no marketing deals for COD. If COD is so vital and sabotaging is likely then we can't put it past Sony and Activision to collude to tank the xbox and pc versions. This is just as likely as Microsoft sabotaging the ps version after purchase. I guarantee Sony would freak if that same standard applied to them and thier deals.

 

[Thirty7ven]

Really curious to see what happens if the CMA doesn't budge, the FTC gains ammo and MS backs away.

Will fans pretend it was all a fever dream or we gonna get people losing their mind and spreading stories about Xbox closing shop?

 

[laynelane]

Oh please. The game breaking bug was inexcusable and did not hinder most 3rd party games. The argument isn't "purposely gimped," the argument is "can't be fucked with to fix, fuck you we got our monies."

There are many pubs/devs guilty of this on select platforms.

Bethesda is a prime example of said pubs/devs being notorious for never fixing day 1 bugs. The very day 1 bugs still were there in "anniversary editions/GOTY" and even new platforms like the Swtich version over a decade later. But hey, I guess you can call that "parity" but that won't fly with the "first, better, best" mantra.

I came late to the party with Skyrim, FO3, and New Vegas on PS3. I still remember being confused on how games could be sold in that state and looking up the update history for New Vegas - and seeing the last update was two years ago. Then came the realization that I wasted my money on those games. I do wonder if that poor practice of Bethesda's will see improvement with a new entity overseeing them. I hope so because it's been unacceptable for a long time now.

 

[Thirty7ven]

Great then there should be no marketing deals for COD. If COD is so vital and sabotaging is likely then we can't put it past Sony and Activision to collude to tank the xbox and pc versions. This is just as likely as Microsoft sabotaging the ps version after purchase. I guarantee Sony would freak if that same standard applied to them and thier deals.

Why is it so hard to understand that Activision doesn't have its own hardware? They have no incentive to do that but MS sure as fuck does.

 

[Varteras]

Really curious to see what happens if the CMA doesn't budge, the FTC gains ammo and MS backs away.

Will fans pretend it was all a fever dream or we gonna get people losing their mind and spreading stories about Xbox closing shop?

In retaliation, Xbox buys the rest of the industry. Sony better be careful what they wish for. Papa Phil is comin for that ass, Jimbo!

 

[FUBARx89]

Really curious to see what happens if the CMA doesn't budge, the FTC gains ammo and MS backs away.

Will fans pretend it was all a fever dream or we gonna get people losing their mind and spreading stories about Xbox closing shop?

Probably the latter seeing as that's already started.

 

[bitbydeath]

Lots of noise in here, but I'm a layman. If the CMA wants divestment, is that a deal breaker to Microsoft?

I see through their PR fluff about CoD after what transpired with Starfield and Elder Scrolls--they'll flip that script so fast and I think the powers that be are hip to it.

It seems nobody wants to address the elephant in the room. Most talking points for the duration of this acquisition have been about COD, that should show you the importance of this franchise in terms of the acquisition, MS don't care as much about the rest.

 

[jm89]

Really curious to see what happens if the CMA doesn't budge, the FTC gains ammo and MS backs away.

Will fans pretend it was all a fever dream or we gonna get people losing their mind and spreading stories about Xbox closing shop?

Whats funny about the whole xbox closing shop is xbox fans like jez corden were the ones who actually added fuel to that sentiment. Before I don't think that was really much of a talking point at all with this deal falling through.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Whats funny about the whole xbox closing shop is xbox fans like jez corden were the ones who actually added fuel to that sentiment. Before I don't think that was really much of a talking point at all with this deal falling through.

It wasn't. Until the viral marketing

 

[jm89]

Things are getting spicy. Can't wait for the MS PR shit fit to close out the week.

It's begun

 

[Banjo64]

I came late to the party with Skyrim, FO3, and New Vegas on PS3. I still remember being confused on how games could be sold in that state and looking up the update history for New Vegas - and seeing the last update was two years ago. Then came the realization that I wasted my money on those games. I do wonder if that poor practice of Bethesda's will see improvement with a new entity overseeing them. I hope so because it's been unacceptable for a long time now.

I played all of those games on my PS3 and they were all fantastic and some of my favourite games of all time.

 

[Banjo64]

It's begun

Someone else described it best after the EU press conference. This is an American ad campaign through and through, and these tactics will have the opposite effect of what MS are hoping.

 

[mansoor1980]

It's begun

for MORE gamers

 

[Topher]

It's begun

What's the point here? MS trying to rally public support in hopes of pressuring CMA to approve?

 

[laynelane]

I played all of those games on my PS3 and they were all fantastic and some of my favourite games of all time.

I got a bug that made it impossible to save the first time I started Skyrim. Had to uninstall and reinstall the game. Gave up eventually due to crashes. Completed FO3 but the memory leak issue led to slow-motion frame rates and regular crashing. I liked the game enough to keep at it, though. I couldn't finish New Vegas due to performance issues. Perhaps we had different versions of the PS3. Mine is a slim, but it was one of the first ones released.

 

[MasterCornholio]

It's begun

Is this the pressure that was rumored?

I'm not sure what the point is.

 

[DeepEnigma]

It's begun

They should just drop flyers from flight formations all over the country.

 

[nikolino840]

Psychonauts 2 was a single game release. ESO and Fallout 76 are service games. MS honored contracts in both cases. On the topic of Psychonauts 2 since Sony expressed a concern of MS putting bugs into PlayStation versions of games, did any of the titles I mentioned earlier have game breaking bugs introduced by MS? If an accusation is going to be levied you should provide proof.

Only the last dlc of destiny 2...ah no wait..

 

[bitbydeath]

What's the point here? MS trying to rally public support in hopes of pressuring CMA to approve?

Last ditch effort, MS know the CMA will kill the deal otherwise this ad wouldn't exist.

 

[Thirty7ven]

It's begun

Man they are just trashy as they come aren't they? Look at this shit.

 

[SoloKingRobert]

Someone else described it best after the EU press conference. This is an American ad campaign through and through, and these tactics will have the opposite effect of what MS are hoping.

This is an American Company buying an American Company.

 

[Varteras]

It's begun

This is almost as cringe as when Steve Ballmer did anything on-stage.

 

[jm89]

What's funny is people who read the financial times are not gonna give one flying fuck about call of duty.

Daily mail on the other hand i don't think you want support from fans of that newspaper. It's just a mob that complains about everything in the comments section.

 

[DeepEnigma]

This is an American Company buying an American Company.

How does that negate anything he just said?

 

[Topher]

This is an American Company buying an American Company.

He's talking about the UK ads

 

[ToadMan]

Lots of noise in here, but I'm a layman. If the CMA wants divestment, is that a deal breaker to Microsoft?

Yes it is.

In the document posted today, much of MS's rebuttal is basically that divestment is non-viable and their behavioral remedies are sufficient.

MS also made statements to that effect at the EC event a couple of weeks back.

It seems to me that MS has discounted any form of divestment, so it's either the deal with their behavioral remedies, or no deal at all.

So far, the CMA have asked for divestment and there's no new information from any official source so we're waiting.

I see through their PR fluff about CoD after what transpired with Starfield and Elder Scrolls--they'll flip that script so fast and I think the powers that be are hip to it.

Well yeah. That seems to be the feeling outside of MS cheerleaders but let's see.

 

[Banjo64]

This is an American Company buying an American Company.

Operating within the UK, selling their product within the UK to UK customers accepting UK currency, employing staff within the UK and this deal is effecting competition in the UK.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

What's funny is people who read the financial times are not gonna give one flying fuck about call of duty.

Daily mail on the other hand i don't think you want support from fans of that newspaper. It's just a mob that complains about everything in the comments section.

I read the Financial Times and yet here I am

Surprise mother fucker

 

[jm89]

I read the Financial Times and yet here I am

Surprise mother fucker

Lol i'm sure there will be some. I just don't think it will be have a mass appeal to alot of people out in the real world, especially folks reading the fin times.

 

[adamsapple]

It's begun

 

[xHunter]

It's begun

Its laughable that they do stuff like this, but when it comes to marketing their products in the EU there is like nothing going on.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Really curious to see what happens if the CMA doesn't budge, the FTC gains ammo and MS backs away.

Will fans pretend it was all a fever dream or we gonna get people losing their mind and spreading stories about Xbox closing shop?

You're going to get articles like "Why the ABK deal being blocked is actually a good thing for Microsoft"

 

[Hendrick's]

How close are we to this deal actually going through?

End of April

 

[Hendrick's]

They should just drop flyers from flight formations all over the country.

Flyers? They should drop Xboxes.

 

[FriulHado]

https://www.equityreport.co.uk/cma-...icrosoft-activision-blizzard-merger-decision/

CMA prepared to diverge from other regulators conclusions on the Activision deal.
Not good a sign for MS.

It's the only article about this (the diverge…) but it's under pay wall.
Has Valeria Camerino interviewed someone of the CMA ? How does she know this diverge act?

 

[Thirty7ven]

You're going to get articles like "Why the ABK deal being blocked is actually a good thing for Microsoft"

"It was their plan all along"

 

[Bonsaibäumchen]

https://assets.publishing.service.g...on_Remedies_Notice__Revised_NCV__redacted.pdf

Just for completeness
MS response to the remedies
https://assets.publishing.service.g...n_-_Response_to_Remedies_Notice_-_NCV__2_.pdf


Will let others have a look. They have shared the key terms for the Nvidia deal with the CMA,


Basically.

Thanks for posting these!

Disgusting misogynist message received from a mod removing a post from here.
This fangirl is out of here. Please permabanme. Bye.

 

[X-Wing]

It's begun

This is one of the most pathetic moves I've seen in a while. The website they link to on that page is a shitshow.

Also, I thought this absolutely wasn't about Call of Duty!?

 

[TheGodfather07]

It's begun

if this is what microsoft are doing, i think the deal is beyond dead at this point. this isnt the kind of thing you do when your confident. they already know the deal aint happening and want to come out looking like the good guys. microsoft fucked up and everyone can see through their bullshit now.

 

[bitbydeath]

 

[jm89]

Messing with phil was one thing, but messing with lulu you gone too far jim!!!!

 

[DeepEnigma]

It's begun

That doesn't say Candy Crush.

 

[slade]

Thanks for taking the time to write out the post. Again, like @Heisenberg007, you're focusing exclusively on hardware sales. Keep in mind, @Heisenberg007 declared that Microsoft (meaning Xbox) as a whole was down against the Xbox One, inferring they meant launch aligned and all inclusive. In any case, there's a lot of pluff in here, so I'll steel man this quickly:
PS4 + PS5 = 147.2m consoles. Microsoft says it has a 30% split against Sony. If 147.2 = 70%, 100% = 210.28. Therefore, Microsoft's total sales = 63.08 as the floor. Citing other analysis can change the make up. Let's ignore the fact that, as many in this thread have pointed out, Microsoft has incentives to cite analysis sources rather than simply provide its own numbers. This gives us some makeshift numbers for Microsoft.

Cool. So, the source for the PS5's 30m is the same source as the XBS 18.5m. So, if we use one part of that analysis, we'll need to use the other part as well. Using your scenarios, we're forced to take scenario 1 as a result, meaning 18.5m XBS sales. Looking at Ampere's XB1 analysis, and Microsoft's own comments, however, we know the ceiling for XBO is ~59m and (Ampere's) floor is 51m. Using Ampere's analysis, we're now at 18.m XBS + 51m XBO (at last estimate) = 69.5m for Xbox as their floor for the last two gens. If 69.5m is Microsoft's 30%, then 100% = 231.6m. If Sony has 70% of that, then their lifetime sales must be somewhere around 162.12m for PS4 + PS5. However, we know that's likely not true - Sony have actually confirmed a good chunk of their hardware sales, so the 147.2m console sales is likely closer than 162.12m. So, the maths of straight percentage conversions based on Microsoft's figures doesn't line up, creating a gap of about 14m consoles for Microsoft depending on how you want to use the analyst's figures.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Messing with phil was one thing, but messing with lulu you gone too far jim!!!!

"I don't want a new Call of Duty deal. I just want to block your merger."

As he should as a CEO, and as MS would do as well.

 

[Topher]

Messing with phil was one thing, but messing with lulu you gone too far jim!!!!

"I just want to block your merger"

 

[X-Wing]

Messing with phil was one thing, but messing with lulu you gone too far jim!!!!

She is throwing shit at the fan again. Wouldn't surprise me if she would delete that tweet later as it is probably a lie.

 

[mansoor1980]

Messing with phil was one thing, but messing with lulu you gone too far jim!!!!

perfect answer by the CEO