Edge #256: Why PS4 is your next console (Shots fired, post-DRM 180)
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Visualante2
Member
When I started subscribing to Edge in 2006 they had 36,000 print subscribers, now it's 16,000 total and been in steady decline. There are now 8500 or so digital subscribers however. The new format with the neon colors and text plastered all over it is clearly an attempt to keep the print magazine alive a little longer. Can't say much about the sincerity of the headline.
Saying something is interesting is "spin" now? Surely there were more hyperbolic things in this thread to quote that would could more effectively make your point. Did you even read what I wrote before quoting?
Yes, questions rest on an underlying implication, but it is very easy for one to raise a question and not give an definitive answer. A statement however, and a strongly worded one at that, comes from a place of certainty. I think its interesting that a non-platform specific magazine is willing to be so definitive on this. Especially when juxtaposed with many others in the press being mealymouthed weasels recently.
Crimson_Gold
Member
0/10
Buy whatever you like, but I don't see how anyone can have a true opinion on the article until someone is actually able to read it.
Wow. That low?
LittleJohnny
Banned
What? Don't you know the rules around here? No money hats unless they said Xbox One, that's an auto-trigger for bad news, negativity and money hats
Macho Madness
Member
Yuck.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
http://abc.org.uk/Products-Services/Product-Page/?tid=2182
16,849 Total Average Net Circulation / Distribution Per Issue
01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012
SPACECADET
Member
i mean, it's what i think. so i agree. even post drm 180, i still wanna see this kinda blowback on ms as some sort of scolding to not only see their 'apology' but to know they're learning their lesson.
Visualante2
Member
Yeah I do worry about them going digital only soon, what with me not having a tablet.
ABC for 2012
Print 16,849
Digital 3,636
Digital publications 5,086
Total 25,571
Not sure the distinction between digital and digital publications. Makes sense though, tech magazines are most likely to have a readership that is ready to go fully digital first and their iPad edition has been well received so far. But I don't know much about the business of this stuff. Maybe digital is way more profitable.
I actually like the design and all of that, but their subscription numbers are pathetic. I don't think it'll matter much at all 5 years from now.
GravityMan
Member
I agree with Edge. However, this is an unprofessional move by them and it may come back to bite them in the future. Edge should have stayed above the fray. Leave such rhetoric to forums like NeoGAF.
Yeah. A magazine that publishes opinions on video games has no business publishing opinions on video game hardware. What were they thinking?
Dr. Kitty Muffins
Member
Microsoft screwed up in such a big and obvious manner that it is fair game for Edge to make such statements.
SEGAvangelist
Member
Doubt many pages more will be added after it does come out. I can't imagine EDGE has any insider information that we don't already have at the time this was written. This is just EDGE pretending to side with hardcore gamers to get more sales, more than likely.
Vestal
Junior Member
this is ridiculous. You do know that there is good evidence that suggests that Sony were entertaining the idea of physical copy DRM? They even filled for a patent for a method earlier this year. Possibly backed out of it at last minute leaving MS out there basically solo.
so now you want to scold a company for coming out with an idea you didn't like, they listen change course and still you want them to "pay"?
the idea that Sony is some knight in shining armor here to save us from the evils of MS is pretty ridiculous.
Obviously. I mean if there opinion differ than mine then it has to be wrong and some other motives.
Obviously
I genuinely apologize if that was your meaning. Honestly the way you wrote it could have gone either way.. and in this thread... heh..
for me personally, as I listed out earlier there ARE reasons beyond just DRM that I have no interest in the XBONE at launch.. the difference is that NOW it's just "at launch" as opposed to pre-DRM-BS where it was "no interest at all". That the system isn't as powerful as the PS4 (guaranteeing multi-plat gaming on PS4 or PC) and that the UI stuff as shown holds virtually no interest for me. (I don't have a live TV service. My live TV is literally an antenna plugged into my TV and my TV can't send HDMI-out.) So the system has to be sold on games.. which at this point are exclusives which I can wait later in the gen to play..
so I'll take your compliment as that..
I don't think you know what the word evidence means.. rumor != evidence.
as for the patent.. again patent doesn't show intent. There are thousands of patents filed every year just in the US alone that don't end up in an actual product. again this is not even close to "evidence" that Sony was (or wasn't) going to do anything.
The difference with MS, is we know that MS wanted to do it. We had evidence (aka the FAQs and interviews). That they changed their tune is fine and all.. but there is no promise (as in literally they have never said) that this won't change down the line. Clearly it's where they wanted to go.. what's to say they won't want to go there again? Conjecture? Sure... but certainly more to back it up with than the supposed "Well sony was going to do it also" rumors.
No I think he's right - remember "new news -> new thread"
This x100. They're both companies that want to make money, nothing else.
Majmun
Member
Ironically, it will be the casual gamers that will decide the battle. Not the hardcore ones.
Articles such as these will make the casuals more wary about their purchase. Not the hardcore gamers, because they've already decided and won't be influenced by such articles.
You think if sony also had DRM. MS would have backed out?
Sony absolutely was the knight in shining armor that forced MS 180.
ThreeSixty
December 16, 2009. 4:00 AM. THE LIGHT FIELD is the force. The mind. That guides. Controls.
The information does come from a reliable source. Or rather sources. I used to be quite a prolific games journalist and had connections to staff at several of the British games magazines. I had a six-page feature printed in GamesTM and at the time came to know many of the Editors from the UK games publications. I knew the Editor of GamesTM personally and had regular phone contact with the Editors of CVG and Edge.
In terms of GamesTM I remember pitching some feature ideas to the Editor when the magazine was just starting out. I sent him three original pitch ideas and he chose one called "Prequel to a Sequel" which was a feature on the increasing trend of the abundance of sequels in the industry. I remember asking him why he had chosen this feature idea specifically and had disregarded the others and he quite flatly stated "We think this one will sell the most issues". He was also super sensitive about the sales of the magazine and seemed quite guarded when asked about it.
He seemed to have the stance of "We're doing anything and everything to make this magazine a success and sales are absolutely paramount in terms of choosing content for the magazine". In terms of Edge specifically I remember speaking to the Editor on the phone when they were extremely close to a print deadline and the guy sounded completely exhausted like he hadn't slept in about four days. I asked him how he was feeling and why he was so tired and he said something along the lines of (this isn't verbatim but it's pretty close) "Print is dying and magazines like us are constantly in danger. We fought hard this month to produce content to lift sales of the next issue of Edge. If you have anything you think will help us in this endeavor then please send it along".
I know all of this isn't bulletproof evidence to substantiate my previous message but I think it's pretty convincing anecdotal evidence that supports it. I even remember one of the Editors telling me he genuinely believed that "Print is dead" and saying he wanted to transition the magazine to be purely online. I hesitate to be specific with names here since I wouldn't want anyone to be quoted directly but I learned a lot about the inner workings of the British games magazine industry when I worked for them as a freelancer all those years ago.
I hope this answers your question. My previous statement that you quoted was an educated guess; but an educated guess based on my experience working for various magazines and the contact I had with the Editors there. As far as I know the situation at magazines like Edge has amplified since I did freelance work for them. Their print sales numbers have declined year on year over the last several years so I honestly believe this particular cover could just be another one of their stunts to boost sales.
I could be completely incorrect. I'm not saying I'm definitively and completely correct on this but it does sound like Edge's motivation here is sales; just as it was when I was working for them and Games TM (as a freelancer, not staff writer).
This is more or less the extent of my knowledge on the issue. I hope this sheds some light and answers your question.
Critics != journalists.
There are very few "news" people in the gaming press. It's enthusiast press, geared towards critique. There are only a small handful of "news" outlets.
A critic's job is to convey their informed opinion in the context of the medium.
Do you want consumer reports to be nebulous when you need an oven?
Do you want motortrend to be nebulous when you need a car?
Saying something is a better choice isn't "bias" in and of its self.
Stating an opinion, assuming it is indeed supported in the article is not bias.
Vestal
Junior Member
You really think they did it for you, or any of us?!?! Get real. They saw an opportunity to leave MS hanging and portray the exact thing you are saying and they took it.
Anyone that thinks that MS did not consult 3rd party publishers in regards to the DRM for physical copies and got some assurance that Sony would somehow follow suit is deluded. Why else would Sony have filled for that patent in the first place.
MS PR might be a disaster, but I cannot fathom them not seeing this happen if they were the only ones pushing that type of DRM. Particularly with the craptastic way that they conveyed it to their audience.
Anticitizen One
Banned
Does anyone really blame Edge for making that there cover article? Its pretty much true since MS and Nintendo have no clue what they are doing and the only other option is spending tons of money to upgrade your PC.
Vestal
Junior Member
Its a sensationalistic cover about 2 consoles that are not even on the market yet, and the little we know about either console as far as actual real games, MS right now holds the edge, with more exclusives.
that's not what he said at all. He simply stated that Sony holding off (likely for a killing blow) forced MS' hand. Sony's actions DID end up benefiting us, regardless of their motive.
Really? Everything about the XBONE information release reeked of arrogance and "well you are going to buy the xbox anyway." Again, it's just conjecture... But everything from their statements to their questionable decisions indicated that they were relying on the brand of xbox.
krypt0nian
Banned
I'm not saying a full on 180 again. I'm saying they've shown their cards and I don't trust any of their decisions where my games are concerned.
Shoddy reviewing. Should have read the article.
What the hell does that even mean? Its a company. Its not my relative or my parents to do things for me?
But at the same time each company has its own practice and relationship with its consumers. There is a reason EA/Orgin is seen different than GOG. How you deal with your consumer shows a lot about how company treats its client base and its integrity .
Sony forced MS to change its mind. Sony DID NOT HAVE to because MS already open the doors for sony to follow through the DRM world. But NO. Sony slam shut that door and forced MS to follow.
As per you keep repeating the patent. Who gives a shit about patents. There was a patent of using move with PSP.. Companies patent about any and everything. Means Jack shit.
Pretty sure Sony never adopted any such measures and this is clear enough going back to interviews from months ago. It was just the Xbox enthusiast Sony too! crowd that had us thinking otherwise. I'd say it was you who was deluded on the matter.
Vestal
Junior Member
I think they were also counting on a level playing field in regards to Physical Copies. Look don't get me wrong I would fire their PR department anyhow, they just suck to the nth degree.
Vestal
Junior Member
Really a patent for a method to control Physical copies of software is not relevant at all when you are contemplating releasing a console?? Come the f on..
Why patent a method of physical DRM if you are not contemplating using it??
Anticitizen One
Banned
What? We know plenty. We know specs, the pitch, launch titles, and a few games that will be coming in 2014
Cheers man, thanks for following up.
Reading those posts now with hindsight is an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
"Bu-bu-bu-bu-" smh
AppleSmack
Banned
Since when was this a numbers game? It's quality over quantity any day of the week. Comparing launch titles (only reasonable thing to compare right now), MS holds no edge. Quite the contrary...
Because you patent anything and everything you think up that someone else didn't patent first.
Like rectangles with rounded edges.
Why the jk? If that was an xbone on the front this thread would be FILLED with similar posts sans the jk.
I get that its the thing on here to shit on the xbone but this is clearly a grab for hits / subs and just because peoples console of choice is on the cover, doesn't make edge anything but the same shit mag they've always been.
Vestal
Junior Member
Oh come on.. Forza 5, Ryse, DR3, KI.. thats just on release day.
..... Are you seriously suggesting there is 0 correlation between the patent and the console they were making?
AppleSmack
Banned
Fucking Ryse? You consider that an objective display of quality? Not to mention Killer Instinct is made by a developer that seems incapable of releasing a good game.
Companies patent hundreds of random things, doesn't mean they intend to use them. They could have very well patented and researched this stuff for the opposite reasons which I believe GiantBomb alluded to.
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