Edge #256: Why PS4 is your next console (Shots fired, post-DRM 180)

How so?

Three weeks ago, DRM was an essential element of the Xbox One package. This is inarguable. Now it's been removed, with a caveat that MS can change their mind on policy at any time in the future.

How is a concern that DRM may be reintroduced in the future - based on concrete evidence that this was the route they wanted to take initially - fear mongering, exactly?

I'd love to hear your take on this.

Except this was a change before the launch of the console. If MS changed things AFTER people had already purchased the console, you would have a stronger point.
 
Well that is a fairly clear position for Edge for the start of the next gen.

They did say Right now of course.

Lets hope Sony can keep the momentum.

Xbone really has lost a lot of credibility.
 
What about the XB1 launch lineup do you consider to be $499 appealing? I'm really curious. A handful of posters keep saying this in multiple threads and I'm just trying to figure out what day one title exactly is this massive system seller.

Exclusives aren't a huge deal for me but Dead Rising 3, for me at least, is a big game I am looking forward to more than any launch title, that I know of, for PS4. For me though, Battlefield 4 and my friends buying an Xbox One are a bigger draw than exclusives at this point. I just have more people playing on Xbox that aren't switching over to PS4 but that is just me.
 
Except this was a change before the launch of the console. If MS changed things AFTER people had already purchased the console, you would have a stronger point.

That doesn't change the fact that MS spent a lot of time and effort trying to convince people that this was good for us, that this was the way of the future. I can't imagine the amount of money they spent in R & D on this bullshit, and then POOF, REVERSED. Why shouldn't I be worried that a company that tried to fuck me over all the while telling me it was for the best wouldn't do so in the future as soon as the opportunity to do so presented itself?
 
The title is just sensational, that's it. There may be good points behind Edge argument (it may be not something that is written in stone) but it is nothing than just sensational (and enterntaining) just for fellas like us in GAF :)
 
Except this was a change before the launch of the console. If MS changed things AFTER people had already purchased the console, you would have a stronger point.

I think that his point is that big corporations could change their policies in any second. What's keeping MS from changing theirs back to how it was?

I'd say the chances are slim, but the damage is done. The trust just isn't there anymore.
 
Huh?

71gO5TChfsL._SL1000_.jpg
I meant launch day purchase for me. Prob after I playthrough KI dead rising forza and spark.
 
Well that is a fairly clear position for Edge for the start of the next gen.

They did say Right now of course.

Lets hope Sony can keep the momentum.

Xbone really has lost a lot of credibility.

Let's hope the current reaction makes them work even harder to make awesome games and be competitive, kinda like Sony last gen.
 
It's on the front face of the playstation 4. It's also on the dualshock 4. If anything, it's more prominent than ever. You can even see it on the edge cover.


ps4-front-side-800x600.jpg


There we have it then.lol I onyl saw small pics and just thought that was a PS4 logo. I'll "shoosh" for a bit.hehe
 
Except this was a change before the launch of the console. If MS changed things AFTER people had already purchased the console, you would have a stronger point.

wtf? bullshit.

that they changed it before (because they were SLAUGHTERED in PR) is extremely incriminating. Let's say MS does take the lead early on in generation. Do you think it is

a) unlikely that they will implement the developed DRM strategy?
b) likely that they will implement the developed DRM strategy?
 
Except this was a change before the launch of the console. If MS changed things AFTER people had already purchased the console, you would have a stronger point.

No. The point is fine as it is now since MS is trying their hardest to hold on to what little fan base they have left just to sell the new box and explicitly stated their current (removal of DRM) option might just be temporary.

They want everyone to buy into the new box, then yank the rug out from under everyone. This is the reason for a "Day 1 Patch". Why not just ship the box WITHOUT this bullshit anti-consumer DRM? You mean to tell me that an unfinished OS and hardware system can't be finished without DRM? That it nees a fucking day 1 patch? No... it's "built" into the box, as Nelson said. It will be there day 1 until you connect it to the 'net to put it to sleep and it will be there perpetually waiting to be awoken like a sleeping giant when MS flips the proverbial switch.

There's a big fucking blinking neon sign that says "we're ready to fuck you, just need a few adopters to buy into our ecosystem first!" and people are still ignoring it? SMH
 
I think that his point is that big corporations could change their policies in any second. What's keeping MS from changing theirs back to how it was?

I'd say the chances are slim, but the damage is done. The trust just isn't there anymore.
When the person in charge can't guarantee that they won't put those policies back in place, that should tell you all you need to know about their decision.
 
I'm really just interested in the games. I mean, I'm buying both, but why should I buy a ps4 over the One at launch?
Sorry, but I'm not buying a console at launch just for the launch games. The first year is just as important to me and launch window as well. Sony will announce a lot of games for that time period at gamescom and TGS to make the PS4 more appealing.

So at least I'll wait.
 
I have no intention of defending Vestal because he's digging his own hole, but no matter what your preferences are, we should always strive for a fair and balanced discussion, no matter what individual preferences are. No one should have to take a "whipping" for preferring one box to another.

Precisely, however it's not up to us to enforce this.

Im not taking vetsals side here but its not his fault he felt the
need to defend his platform of choice given the non stop negativity towards both it and games being released in every single thread from members and juniors alike.

How are we supposed to discuss anything in an environment like that?
 

You're saying MS could change back to an always online environment at any point, but they've never done that in the past during the life of any of their previous consoles. They changed their DRM policies way before the console is even launching. If they had done this AFTER launch, I could see why you'd be nervous about them changing things again, but that's not the case.
 
You're saying MS could change back to an always online environment at any point, but they've never done that in the past during the life of any of their previous consoles. They changed their DRM policies way before the console is even launching. If they had done this AFTER launch, I could see why you'd be nervous about them changing things again, but that's not the case.

They changed POLICIES before the system launch - but the DRM will still be there DAY 1 waiting to be patched to sleep - then waiting to be patched to wake up again at a later date.

Holy hell how are you missing this? Why on earth are they shipping the system with their DRM policies and then requiring a day 1 patch? There's plenty of time to ship with it PATCHED OUT for day 1.

They are up to no good, man. Writing is on the wall and you're ignoring it.
 
Sorry, but I'm not buying a console at launch just for the launch games. The first year is just as important to me and launch window as well. Sony will announce a lot of games for that time period at gamescom and TGS to make the PS4 more appealing.

So at least I'll wait.

I admire your patience and your reasoning.

So far neither launch line up has blown me away, but Infamous and The Order both have my attention on the PS4 front.

Titanfall looks interesting, but knowing that it isn't exclusive hasn't helped the X1 in my eyes. Not to mention the DRM thing. Though MS has recanted for now, I don't know if I am ready to just let that go this quickly.
 
They changed their DRM policies way before the console is even launching. If they had done this AFTER launch, I could see why you'd be nervous about them changing things again, but that's not the case.

No, that's entirely the opposite. They changed the policies prior to launch due to a massive failure in preorders. Once they secure the majority of the market, make no mistakes: they will feel very comfortable about flipping the switch back.

Expect a lot of PR talk during the months following launch, designed to make the consumer regret protesting against the online DRM.
 
How so?

Three weeks ago, DRM was an essential element of the Xbox One package. This is inarguable. Now it's been removed, with a caveat that MS can change their mind on policy at any time in the future.

How is a concern that DRM may be reintroduced in the future - based on concrete evidence that this was the route they wanted to take initially - fear mongering, exactly?

I'd love to hear your take on this.

The PR "capital" expended on the reversal was huge. While anything is possible I think the likelihood of Microsoft actually introducing this with disc-based games this generation is about the same as Sony. That is to say, as negligible as can be ignored.
 
How so?

Three weeks ago, DRM was an essential element of the Xbox One package. This is inarguable. Now it's been removed, with a caveat that MS can change their mind on policy at any time in the future.

How is a concern that DRM may be reintroduced in the future - based on concrete evidence that this was the route they wanted to take initially - fear mongering, exactly?

I'd love to hear your take on this.

DRM can also be introduced by Sony at a later point. They were the first to introduce online passes. I find the black and white views by many on this board about those two companies perplexing to say the least

I have no doubt in my mind Sony was going to implement DRM and brilliantly took advantage of the antiDRM campaigns to score a major PR victory

It is up to the market to keep it in check, like what is happening at the moment.
 
They changed POLICIES before the system launch - but the DRM will still be there DAY 1 waiting to be patched to sleep - then waiting to be patched to wake up again at a later date.

Holy hell how are you missing this? Why on earth are they shipping the system with their DRM policies and then requiring a day 1 patch? There's plenty of time to ship with it PATCHED OUT for day 1.

They are up to no good, man. Writing is on the wall and you're ignoring it.

This is the biggest argument I've seen from people that I know trying to defend it. The old "Well MS didn't do it yet so I applaud them for not going through with it and I'm gonna buy the Xbone!" Why should we be applauding them for the fact that they thought they were going to get away with it and only rescinded once they saw how immense the backlash was? Also it being something they can just "patch" means that this was built into the box itself and can be reactivated at any time.
 
No. The point is fine as it is now since MS is trying their hardest to hold on to what little fan base they have left just to sell the new box and explicitly stated their current (removal of DRM) option might just be temporary.

Where is this explicitly stated? I can't find it in the blog post.
 
wtf? bullshit.

that they changed it before (because they were SLAUGHTERED in PR) is extremely incriminating. Let's say MS does take the lead early on in generation. Do you think it is

a) unlikely that they will implement the developed DRM strategy?
b) likely that they will implement the developed DRM strategy?

Changing it after the console launches would open them up to an infinitely larger PR shitstorm. And I'd imagine selling something with the promise it doesn't need to be online and then suddenly bricking everyone's systems who isn't online would open them up to some significant legal issues.
 
How so?

Three weeks ago, DRM was an essential element of the Xbox One package. This is inarguable. Now it's been removed, with a caveat that MS can change their mind on policy at any time in the future.

How is a concern that DRM may be reintroduced in the future - based on concrete evidence that this was the route they wanted to take initially - fear mongering, exactly?

I'd love to hear your take on this.

How in the world could they implement this mid-stream? No one has explained that sufficiently. It's like trying to put the water back into the firehose.
 
Changing it after the console launches would open them up to an infinitely larger PR shitstorm. And I'd imagine selling something with the promise it doesn't need to be online and then suddenly bricking everyone's systems who isn't online would open them up to some significant legal issues.

If those consoles stayed offline, how can MS patch and "brick" them?
 
Judging by the launch lineup, I really don't see why this would be my console of choice over the Xbox one. Apart from the price point, the One is more appealing hands down.The power will be noticeable down the road, but I'll buy it like next year after the One.

What if, just what if someone isn't interested in Forza 5, Killer Instinct or Dead Rising 3?
 
No, that's entirely the opposite. They changed the policies prior to launch due to a massive failure in preorders. Once they secure the majority of the market, make no mistakes: they will feel very comfortable about flipping the switch back.

Expect a lot of PR talk during the months following launch, designed to make the consumer regret protesting against the online DRM.

They may flip the switch for the next console, or let people opt in to an always online environment if they so choose, but I'd imagine they'd incentivize people to do this based on the last reaction from the public. Assuming they would just flip the switch on everyone once they have a majority of the market is kind of ridiculous, though.
 
If those consoles stayed offline, how can MS patch and "brick" them?

I have no idea. I guess they could theoretically put a mandatory patch on every game disc. Or if you ask the conspiracy theorists I'm sure there is just a hardcoded 2 year clock and in November 2015 all Xbox Ones will break.
 
Except this was a change before the launch of the console. If MS changed things AFTER people had already purchased the console, you would have a stronger point.

This is a business. You don't get to say shit, take it back and then act like nothing ever happened. There are repercussions.
 
The same way they are making Xbone users download a "patch" to remove the DRM feature?

That reminds me. All those soldiers abroad better have an internet connection wherever they are, if they are expecting their brand new XBox One consoles to work "DRM-free" out-of-the-box...
 
lol pretty shameful, if you ask me. It's completely counter to what their job is suppose to be as a supposed magazine for gamers. It's one thing to criticize the errors and missteps of one platform while complimenting the successes of another, but to delve into the territory of open promotion and "seeming" all out assault on one or the other is a joke, and makes them no better than your average forum troll. What is that saying to people who see and want games that only exist on the Xbox One? What is this saying to people who enjoy Xbox Live or the services Microsoft offers? It's saying that you can't take edge seriously, and there is no clearer sign that they don't speak in an impartial manner for all gamers.

Either way, this subject isn't worthy anymore time than I've already given it, which is just a single post.
 
You're saying MS could change back to an always online environment at any point, but they've never done that in the past during the life of any of their previous consoles. They changed their DRM policies way before the console is even launching. If they had done this AFTER launch, I could see why you'd be nervous about them changing things again, but that's not the case.

Just because different circumstances would have made the point stronger doesn't make it invalid.

Microsoft spent an entire E3 with their heads down and tried to railroad this through. To the outside observer, it seems that they changed course when they saw their preorder numbers. If sales fear was the primary reason that they changed course, it is reasonable to question what they will do once they secure a userbase.
 
Where is this explicitly stated? I can't find it in the blog post.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=596751

Day 1 patch required to play offline.
"not a result of today's DRM policy change. Rather, it was always planned and will be simply be required for playing off-line"

But the ability to play offline IS a result of the policy change.

Do you understand yet? Do you see their manipulation?

Spend your money wherever, man. Just don't defend MS's shit tactics. Pretty fuckin' thin.

I have no idea. I guess they could theoretically put a mandatory patch on every game disc. Or if you ask the conspiracy theorists I'm sure there is just a hardcoded 2 year clock and in November 2015 all Xbox Ones will break.

This is how it is done.
 
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