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[Coulomb_Barrier]

Good, frank op-ed by Robbo Crossley from CVG:

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/408253/blog/opinion-only-games-can-save-xbox-one/

Time and again the Valve co-founder has prophesised that old media will become more stubborn and out of touch when cornered by disruptive new technologies.
And at a global media gathering on Tuesday at Microsoft's Redmond campus, Newell's foretellings had unfolded before our eyes. If Xbox One is Microsoft's ultimate vision for commanding the living-room, then it has misunderstood its core, casual and family markets quite spectacularly.

More to the point, it's frankly staggering that Microsoft observed the modern ways people view cable TV and believed, somehow, that it could add to the experience by getting in the way of it.

The existing consumer demand to interrupt TV with Skype calls, and a hand-gesture controlled Internet Explorer, can only be described as fictional.

It's as if Microsoft cannot comprehend that its entire market already has phones and qwerty internet browsers at their thumbs when watching re-runs of Friends. Or whatever's on in the background. It's as though Microsoft has wilfully ignored that Siri and other voice command gimmicks, and QR codes and other camera-based technologies, have flat-lined despite their comprehensive promotion.

I'm still shocked that, during early Xbox One design meetings - a time when obvious, sprawling and significant changes were occurring across the western household - Microsoft executives decided to bet the house on the future of live TV and cable.

Xbox One, through and through, is what I imagine Steve Ballmer would come up with if commissioned to design the world's greatest games console. If it takes on the Smart TV market, Apple, Google and Samsung will roll over it. When it takes on PlayStation 4, it will struggle.

 

[gofreak]

It probably is, heavily, Ballmer's creation.

 

[Jacksonlee]

hope it fails

 

[Bel_Air_Jeff]

PERFECT.

They nailed it

 

[Coulomb_Barrier]

It probably is, heavily, Ballmer's creation.

That's a problem.

The whole thing seems a little out-of-touch with reality in all honesty. The conclusion at MS seems to be that Cable TV is the future.

?

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Honestly can't disagree with this piece

Waiting for Edges opinion

 

[nib95]

Great article.

On a side note Microsoft needed to get rid of Ballmer on day 1, yet somehow 13 years later he's still CEO....

 

[Dennis]

The console market was getting a bit crowded anyway.

Something had to give and Microsoft decided to fall on its sword.

 

[RoboPlato]

The thing that blows my mind the most about the reveal is that with all of the rumors and leaks, MS knew exactly how people would react to the console. They had months of seeing the writing on the wall and could have easily made some changes to how they presented things in order to curb some of the negativity. They just blatantly ignored it and went with their original plan.

 

[RedNumberFive]

PERFECT.

They nailed it

Agreed.

 

[Elginer]

So does this mean that SEGA can come back? Please.

 

[grumble]

To be honest, I always thought that QR codes were a bit underused.

 

[repeater]

I like being a canary in the mine.

 

[Angelus Errare]

It probably is, heavily, Ballmer's creation.

But Ballmer likes to win and he's an amazing CEO.

 

[mr2t]

Maybe this will cause Microsoft to get rid of Balmer finally.

 

[Heysoos]

Sums up my feelings pretty well. It's not that hard to switch inputs. Stop trying to do everything.

 

[Coulomb_Barrier]

I like being a canary in the mine.

Yes NeoGaf gets a mention:

Yes, internet comments are often grossly vehement and inflame the issue, but they still represent the canary in the mine. Reddit and NeoGAF and Twitter did not understand Wii U and, when the system hit stores, neither did consumers.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

People keep saying to get rid of Ballmer themselves are not in touch with things. Recently Microsoft announced a 5 year high in stocks. You don't let that person walk as he, in the grand scheme of things, is doing something right.

 

[LuchaShaq]

It's like they don't understand people have phones/tablets/laptops.

In the small chance I'm watching tv I don't need some crappy interface stealing half the screen, I have a second screen at my finger tips anyways.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

So does this mean that SEGA can come back? Please.

SEGA doesn't have the money to put all those features into a new console. All it would do was play games.



Damn I wish SEGA would come back.

 

[subrock]

I've got to agree. I have a 360 that is sitting on an awkward shelf next to my bed. It's out of sight most of the time, and ill haul it out once in a while when the girlfriend isn't over. It's not connected to a TV, just a computer monitor. I don't use Skype, Netflix, cable, Internet explorer, just games. The xone couldn't be further from a device that I want in my house.

 

[McHuj]

Sums up my feelings pretty well. It's not that hard to switch inputs. Stop trying to do everything.

And often necessary when picture quality/game mode settings are different for movies/tv and games.

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

I kind of wonder if the average consumer will react to this thing the way the internet has, or if football, guns and a huge marketing budget will be enough to make this stuff irrelevant.

 

[1-D_FTW]

Absolutely agree with the getting in the way bit.

I guess I'm a bit of an outlier on gaf in that I actually like TV. Or I like to unwind before bed with an hour or two. Gaming amps me, not relaxes me. And even though I'm the odd duck who still likes TV, layers of shit getting in my way is not what I want. I want it passive and I want it relaxing.

 

[nib95]

People keep saying to get rid of Ballmer themselves are not in touch with things. Recently Microsoft announced a 5 year high in stocks. You don't let that person walk as he, in the grand scheme of things, is doing something right.

Err, most companies are on a high right now. The entire market is artificially inflated, and will crumble the moment the FD announce they're going to stop printing money. Lest we forget we are talking numbers off the back of a grave recession.

The wider picture is that Microsoft has had non stop failures and fallen from grace spectacularly over the last decade.

 

[Bedlam]

I really wonder how the focus on voice-control will turn out for MS. The article is spot-on: every voice-control gizmo/app has pretty much failed. And in my opinion it's because of two reasons: 1. it provides no real benefits; 2. and more importantly, talking to a piece of technology feels weird. There is some feeling of dissonance there that I think will prevent such technologies from ever taking off and becoming a mainstream standard.

Maybe it's just me but I definitely felt uncomfortable whenever I gave voice commands to a machine/game.

 

[megamerican]

Unless this thing acts as it's own DVR then it's really less than pointless. The only people that still care about cable TV are the ones using DVRs.

 

[Mindwipe]

Good piece.

Microsoft has fucked up interactivity on TVs so many times - how do they not get this yet?

 

[Horsemama1956]

You CANNOT use it as just a gaming device, it has to be used as a complete package or you will go to jail.

 

[tinfoilhatman]

I've been a MS supporter for a long long long time....hell I was an evangelist of the original XBox from the day they announced it.

but this is just over the top....it's like they are TRYING to sabotage themselves.......its very sad to me that I have no interest in buying the next generation of Xbox.........and only a minor passing interest in PS4 and I'd piss on a plugged in WiiU before playing it.

I really feel that if MS doesn't get out in front of this(and make some changes) they are fucked

 

[ToxicAdam]

This is just the culmination of the vision they had a decade ago. So, it shouldn't be a surprise nor should 'the blame' be laid at one person's feet.

Also, for whatever missteps MS made, they have months of PR to smooth them over. Gamers have very short memories. If the games are there, the gamers will turn out on day 1 with money in hand.

 

[McHuj]

I really wonder how the focus on voice-control will turn out for MS. The article is spot-on: every voice-control gizmo/app has pretty much failed. And in my opinion it's because of two reasons: 1. it provides no real benefits; 2. and more importantly, talking to a piece of technology feels weird. There is some feeling of dissance there that I think will prevent such technologies from ever taking off and becoming a mainstream standard.

I would also add 3. It's not always reliable. Pressing a button on a remote always works. If voice-control fails even a small percentage of time, eventually it drives the user to abandon it.

 

[ReaperXL7]

This thing is either going to fly like an eagle, or sink like the titanic.......I see no other options at this point.

 

[nubbe]

I often use my WiiU to surf while I watch TV...

 

[mcfrank]

Article sure mentions Gabe Newell a lot for not having any quotes from him. Not sure the author has any idea what Gabe thinks about the Xbox One. That said, I agree with the article.

 

[badcrumble]

It's kind of weird that so much of the functionality on this device is specifically aimed *against* the rapidly growing cable-cutting trend. Not a good position to put yourself in unless you're planning to get a lot of backing from the cable companies.

 

[harSon]

People are going to be so disappointed when this thing ultimately succeeds. It's going to succeed on the fact that the Xbox name has grown to be synonymous with gaming in several regions alone. The only things that stands in their way is price point, and/or having their release date undercut by a significant duration.

I personally disagree with the notion of the article. They're heading into uncharted territories, and personally, I think pushing the non-gaming aspects of the console is a smart move considering gaming is to be expected with a games console. You have to set yourself apart, and in terms of expanding marketshare, I don't think doubling down on games is an intelligent way to do that.

 

[perineumlick]

And often necessary when picture quality/game mode settings are different for movies/tv and games.

Boo-Yah! I have all my inputs calibrated differently; granted the average person probably plays their TV straight outta the box.

 

[madmackem]

It is strange as hell, they are just adding an overlay onto your dvr that is all it is. Strange betting the farm on that.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

It was so surreal for me, personally, to be moving away from watching TV on my TV and cable TV in general while Microsoft is simultaneously telling me that everything I would ever want to do will be related to my cable box.

It's like a pushy salesman that is trying to sell me a vacuum cleaner for my hardwood floors and won't leave me alone.

 

[H_Prestige]

The existing consumer demand to interrupt TV with Skype calls, and a hand-gesture controlled Internet Explorer, can only be described as fictional.

It's as if Microsoft cannot comprehend that its entire market already has phones and qwerty internet browsers at their thumbs when watching re-runs of Friends. Or whatever's on in the background. It's as though Microsoft has wilfully ignored that Siri and other voice command gimmicks, and QR codes and other camera-based technologies, have flat-lined despite their comprehensive promotion.

Nail. Hammer.

People are going to be so disappointed when this thing ultimately succeeds. It's going to succeed on the fact that the Xbox name has grown to be synonymous with gaming in several regions alone. The only things that stands in their way is price point, and/or having their release date undercut by a significant duration.

I personally disagree with the notion of the article. They're heading into uncharted territories, and personally, I think pushing the non-gaming aspects of the console is a smart move considering gaming is to be expected with a games console. You have to set yourself apart, and in terms of expanding marketshare, I don't think doubling down on games is an intelligent way to do that.

Yeah, I remember when the ps3 curb stomped everything because of how strong the brand had become.

 

[harSon]

It's kind of weird that so much of the functionality on this device is specifically aimed *against* the rapidly growing cable-cutting trend. Not a good position to put yourself in unless you're planning to get a lot of backing from the cable companies.

What's so weird about it? First of all, cable cutting is not exactly taking off like people expected: http://homes.yahoo.com/news/people-a...154620635.html In reality, there's only 5 million Americans who are considered zero-tv, and that number is only up 2 million over the last 6 years (http://betanews.com/2013/04/08/5-mil...ut-cables-cord). The overwhelming majority of Americans are cable subscribers, so it makes sense to add that to your console's list of features.

Second of all, do you really think cable cutting is going to take off in a significant manner within the Xbox One's lifespan? Especially with the market as fractured as it is today, and in a manner that will hurt Microsoft new venture? With services like HBO Go, Max Go, Showtime Anywhere and Starz Play requiring a premium subscription to use, and the market being fractured between Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and proprietary studio offerings like Warner Archive, the price of admission for a cable alternative is going to be far too costly to be considered a viable alternative.

And finally, I'd understand your point if Microsoft was exclusively catering to people with cable subscriptions, but last time I looked they're still pursuing stuff like Netflix, HBO Go, NFL Sunday Ticket, etc. Fact of the matter is, they're taking a holistic approach to the situation, and covering the entirety of the media spectrum. I honestly don't understand the issue.

 

[Wildstar75]

Great read.

 

[mysteriousmage09]

Spot on.

 

[Etnos]

Agree, It has "Ballmer's Vision".

It is a frankenstein product that tries to do everything, its disconnected of its core audience and excels at nothing, other examples:

Windows 8: Half ass-tablet design to work in KB/M systems... WHY!?
Surface: Neither a good tablet nor a good ultra book, why would you want a laptop.. you can's use on your lap, and runs to hot to be a tablet!?

Wondering for how long would they keep that coke-head buffoon to ruin MS.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

It was so surreal for me, personally, to be moving away from watching TV on my TV and cable TV in general while Microsoft is simultaneously telling me that everything I would ever want to do will be related to my cable box.

It's like a pushy salesman that is trying to sell me a vacuum cleaner for my hardwood floors and won't leave me alone.

The next hot feature of the Xbone will be tied into your landline phone.

 

[repeater]

People are going to be so disappointed when this thing ultimately succeeds. It's going to succeed on the fact that the Xbox name has grown to be synonymous with gaming in several regions alone.

Right, in pretty much the same way that.. I don't know, say the "Playstation" name had once grown to be synonymous with gaming in several regions?

 

[Joel Was Right]

Let's not forget here, Sony itself hasn't clarified this issue of what -- if any -- limitations will be placed on the purchasing and selling of pre-owned games. This, to me, is a bigger issue than having to be connected at 24 hour intervals or a lack of live TV functionality.

I personally disagree with the notion of the article. They're heading into uncharted territories, and personally, I think pushing the non-gaming aspects of the console is a smart move considering gaming is to be expected with a games console. You have to set yourself apart, and in terms of expanding marketshare, I don't think doubling down on games is an intelligent way to do that.

I agree in principle, but the concern here is that Microsoft seems to have put more stock in the entertainment aspect of this than games. That is the perception. If we were offered a choice between 1) an entertainment system which is also a great games console, or 2) a great games console, most would go for the former.

 

[eastmen]

Yes NeoGaf gets a mention:

Yes but will it follow neogaf and wii u. Neogaf and vita or neogaf and Kinect .

Neogaf was right on the wii u , wrong on vita and wrong on Kinect.


I'm more into the xbox one than the ps4 as a huge pc gamer. A year after the new systems are out my pc will play a majority of the games released for it much better than either of the new systems so its the featuers the pc doesn't have that are interesting to me

 

[FuturusX]

So does this mean that SEGA can come back? Please.

Only if you are willing to buy them and bank roll the operation with a few billion dollars...