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

What? I am responding to someone that said Sony said "Disc-based games will not be restricted in any form ever." Ever? I wanted to know if Sony really said that and he still has not shown me where it was said.

Sony made a video on how to share used games. There is no disclaimer that this might change in the future in that video.

Now they don't have a chance in hell of winning a lawsuit if this changes in the future. That is going all out.
 
What? I am responding to someone that said Sony said "Disc-based games will not be restricted in any form ever." Ever? I wanted to know if Sony really said that and he still has not shown me where it was said.

'Ever' was my own hyperbole. You sure are nitpicky.
 
Just like the couldn't remove it.

>.> OK

As previously stated:

Yes, I'm going to link to what he said in person.

...

You know the bolded bit is nonsense, right?

The changes to the Xbone OS to allow disc-in-drive authentication is a software thing. Specifically, it's a firmware change. So something that can easily be reversed at a later date if MS decided.

From a business perspective, I think there is little to no chance of them reversing their reversal. But technically they can do this.

That's what I'm saying. IT'S NOT JUST A FIRMWARE thing. Previously discs had no concept of license associated with them. With the "180" they will have to and there will be no way to strip that license off of that disc. So technically, it cannot be reversed, period.
 
While I dont plan on buying an xbone any time soon, this is scummy and supports the view that gaming journalism is petty, unprofessional, sensationalist and ultimately illegitimate.

If the opposite were on the cover there would already be a Twitter based protest/boycott.


This thread makes me sad.
These persecution complexes are pretty cute.
 
Not seeing this as surprising.

1. it was probably written before MS changed their DRM/Check-in policy
2. Edge is a EU Mag and EU is a region where the PS is the dominant platform.

So to me this should not be blowing anyone's mind. That said, cant wait to read their write up!

Wrong and wrong. The author has stated it was written after the reversal and reflects that. It is also a UK magazine, where 360 has significantly outsold PS3.

You were told this in person?

He was one of the people defending that guy who claimed to have played Infamous in that other thread. That guy got banned...
 
From a business perspective, I think there is little to no chance of them reversing their reversal. But technically they can do this.

I agree. They probably can, but they won't. There will be people buying the Xbox One who can't connect to the net every 24 hours now that it isn't a necessity. Turning that requirement on would essentially brick their consoles which would be a far bigger disaster than their original Xbox One announcement, if not grounds for legal action.
 
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.

Of course they could. They just have to do it slowly. You can do anything to people as long as you do it slowly.

Look at Sony. They took out BC, Linux support and are now charging for online play, but since they did it in a span of 7 years it has been largely ignored. They could follow PS+ approach if they really, really wanted to bring DRM back. Instead of just taking stuff away immediately like they did now, they could start making digital more and more convenient, until the point they could bring back "digital version discs" to use in the digital ecosystem that now is so much better than physical copies. Those benefits could be anything really. In PS+ case it was free games and discounts, which to be fair makes paying for online very painless, since it's already such great value, but they got you to pay for online and like it. Who's to say they can't do the same for DRM given enough time?
 
Wrong and wrong. The author has stated it was written after the reversal and reflects that. It is also a UK magazine, where 360 has significantly outsold PS3.



He was one of the people defending that guy who claimed to have played Infamous in that other thread. That guy got banned...

What happen here?
 
I'm not sure why a magazine expressing an opinion is a bad thing. They review games but consoles are out of bounds? Would an article that just lists the specs of the systems side by side with no analysis or commentary be better?
 
You were told this in person?

He was a speaker at an intern event (at Microsoft) and took questions for an hour and a half. You can imagine most of those questions revolved around various aspects of the Xbox One's policies. So yes, I have heard many clarifications from the horse's mouth (so to speak).
 
Without having read EDGE it's hard to say, but I'm a bit uncomfortable with a publication taking such a position, regardless of the console.

You're right, Edge should be milktoast and avoid any editorializing and reporting on gaming issues.

In honesty, I think the article at least says something. Too often this industry's publications are just yes men for the manufacturers and sometimes the game designers.

I am going to subscribe to Edge because of this article.
 
He was a speaker at an intern event (at Microsoft) and took questions for an hour and a half. You can imagine most of those questions revolved around various aspects of the Xbox One's policies. So yes, I have heard many clarifications from the horse's mouth (so to speak).

Talk about a credible source....
 
While I dont plan on buying an xbone any time soon, this is scummy and supports the view that gaming journalism is petty, unprofessional, sensationalist and ultimately illegitimate.
Enough with the melodrama. Edge is just doing the math here, that everyone else will get around to sooner or later. Namely that very few people are going to want to spend nearly $1000 in one season to buy both an XBO and a PS4, before they even spend money on a single game. So, for most buyers, this season is going to be about a choice and so it becomes very valid to address the question as to which one is the better choice, at least for the initial launch.
 
link?



How is a publication taking a position scummy? Just because someone comesto a conclusion doesn't mean that they are tainted by bias. Bias is just as likely to cause someone to not take a position. Taking a view from nowhere isn't useful to anyone.

Has either system released a game? Do they own either system? Did they see the performance of the Sony exclusives? (underwhelming to say the least) Are they aware Titanfall stole the show? The sheer lack of information they had to come to this position, plastered on a cover that a high school newspaper editor would be ashamed to publish, screams "scummy".
 
He was a speaker at an intern event (at Microsoft) and took questions for an hour and a half. You can imagine most of those questions revolved around various aspects of the Xbox One's policies. So yes, I have heard many clarifications from the horse's mouth (so to speak).
Not to attack you personally but Halo avatar. Intern at Microsoft. Talking up the cloud. Defending random person that claims to be an insider that didn't end up pass verification but questions if CBoaT is legit.

You're not a reliable source in this instance.

Not that it matters, as MS very likely won't institute their DRM bullshit again. Would still be good to have a press release come out and lay all the cards on the table that for the Xbox One nothing will ever change again. Anything they plan on doing will only be for digital purchases and will never change anything retroactively.

Has either system released a game? Do they own either system? Did they see the performance of the Sony exclusives? (underwhelming to say the least) Are they aware Titanfall stole the show? The sheer lack of information they had to come to this position, plastered on a cover that a high school newspaper editor would be ashamed to publish, screams "scummy".
You just said "Have you seen Titanfall" without using the exact words. I laughed.
 
Has either system released a game? Do they own either system? Did they see the performance of the Sony exclusives? (underwhelming to say the least) Are they aware Titanfall stole the show? The sheer lack of information they had to come to this position, plastered on a cover that a high school newspaper editor would be ashamed to publish, screams "scummy".

Wow, edge really hit a nerve with some people.

Edit: Which is particularly amusing since there is no article yet, hahaha.
 
While surprising, this echoes what many people felt after E3. I look forward to reading this article. The tag is calling a spade a spade and I'm glad a publication is doing it.
 
That's what I'm saying. IT'S NOT JUST A FIRMWARE thing. Previously discs had no concept of license associated with them. With the "180" they will have to and there will be no way to strip that license off of that disc. So technically, it cannot be reversed, period.

Lol. Then why does the xbone need a day 1 FIRMWARE PATCH to implement the 180?

Or have they done a 180 on that too and it is now in every factory shipped xbone?
 
He was a speaker at an intern event (at Microsoft) and took questions for an hour and a half. You can imagine most of those questions revolved around various aspects of the Xbox One's policies. So yes, I have heard many clarifications from the horse's mouth (so to speak).

Thanks for clarifying. So something said privately to a small group of people. Sorry but that in no way commits Microsoft to any of those policies. It's cool that you got to attend and it's cool that Microsoft holds events like that for interns, but it dosen't really give those of us on the outside looking in anything to go on.

When Microsoft is prepared to publicly commit itself to these policies it will move the needle. Promises to interns aren't going to cut it.
 
Wow, edge really hit a nerve with some people.

Well yeah. That's the point of their shock-headline. It all went perfectly: Twitter exploded, Sony fans rejoiced and promoted the magazine, fence sitters said "aww snap" and spread the word, and Microsoft fans got angry and fuelled the threads/twitter explosion.

Nothing but net from Edge's editors/marketing dept.
 
Has either system released a game? Do they own either system? Did they see the performance of the Sony exclusives? (underwhelming to say the least) Are they aware Titanfall stole the show? The sheer lack of information they had to come to this position, plastered on a cover that a high school newspaper editor would be ashamed to publish, screams "scummy".

Sheer lack of information?
Have you lived under a rock since May 21st? Do you realize all the leaks are basically confirmed?
 
Wow, edge really hit a nerve with some people.
Certainly seems like it.

Can't believe people are so up in arms about this. Then again...

And even some self proclaimed Sony fans calling this unprofessional?
I'd rather read a magazine that is able to write something like this instead of having to sucking up to the big guys because they need their add revenue and this can't say anything bad about them ever.
 
Has either system released a game? Do they own either system? Did they see the performance of the Sony exclusives? (underwhelming to say the least) Did they see Titanfall? The sheer lack of information they had to come to this position, plastered on a cover that a high school newspaper editor would be ashamed to publish, screams "scummy".

FTFY
 
And even some self proclaimed Sony fans calling this unprofessional?
I'd rather read a magazine that is able to write something like this instead of having to sucking up to the big guys because they need their add revenue and this can't say anything bad about them ever.

I think you need to look at the cover again. Unless Sony isn't considered a "big guy" anymore.
 
Enough with the melodrama. Edge is just doing the math here, that everyone else will get around to sooner or later. Namely that very few people are going to want to spend nearly $1000 in one season to buy both an XBO and a PS4, before they even spend money on a single game. So, for most buyers, this season is going to be about a choice and so it becomes very valid to address the question as to which one is the better choice, at least for the initial launch.

Also, all this is over the cover, which while deliberately sensationalistic will be greatly elaborated on in the actual content of the issue. People who may find the cover objectionable may (or as likely, not) have a different view of the actual content. Edge usually does a pretty great job at spelling out their reasoning for calls like this in a way that is much less one-dimensional than conveyed a cover. I'm looking forward to the issue for that reason. Hopefully the article goes online.
 
Lol. Then why does the xbone need a day 1 FIRMWARE PATCH to implement the 180?

Or have they done a 180 on that too and it is now in every factory shipped xbone?


There is no day one patch you fool!
It's all a ploy to make sure that every user connects their machine to the wifi, once that is done and they have forced you to create a gamertag, the war is won. Most users will then remain connected to Microsoft 24/7 and the cycle will be complete.

Kinect will be scanning your children's bodies, sizing them up for an xbox branded coffin , whilst lip reading your wife's appalling language and reporting it back to the church so Microsoft can upload you straight to hell!
 
Has either system released a game? Do they own either system? Did they see the performance of the Sony exclusives? (underwhelming to say the least) Are they aware Titanfall stole the show? The sheer lack of information they had to come to this position, plastered on a cover that a high school newspaper editor would be ashamed to publish, screams "scummy".

Hi, Major Nelson. :)
 
Also, all this is over the cover, which while deliberately sensationalistic will be greatly elaborated on in the actual content of the issue. People who may find the cover objectionable may (or as likely, not) have a different view of the actual content. Edge usually does a pretty great job at spelling out their reasoning for calls like this in a way that is much less one-dimensional than conveyed a cover. I'm looking forward to the issue for that reason. Hopefully the article goes online.

That's what I'm hoping for, is a good explanation of why they came to the conclusion they did because that cover is full of bold statements that may/may not be true depending on when the issue went to print.
 
Has either system released a game? Do they own either system? Did they see the performance of the Sony exclusives? (underwhelming to say the least) Are they aware Titanfall stole the show? The sheer lack of information they had to come to this position, plastered on a cover that a high school newspaper editor would be ashamed to publish, screams "scummy".
Let's be honest, exclusives aren't going to be the major sales driver at launch because 1st parties will only produce 1-2 of those for launch and the majority of the tent-pole titles this holiday season are all going to be 3rd party multiplats. Titanfall is not releasing in the launch window. This season is really more about kicking off the next gen for 3rd parties since they can't seem to forge lasting relationships with Nintendo platforms or their customers and end up relying on the "HD Twins" from MS and Sony. Given that dynamic, it becomes a question of where you'll want to play the CODs and BF4s and Watch Dogs over whether you prefer DriveClub to Forza. Again, the math here pretty much solves itself.
 
He was a speaker at an intern event (at Microsoft) and took questions for an hour and a half. You can imagine most of those questions revolved around various aspects of the Xbox One's policies. So yes, I have heard many clarifications from the horse's mouth (so to speak).

Tell us more about this intern day, please...

The patch is not to remove drm,it was a planned patch.

It specifically states that to enable indefinite offline mode the first batch of consoles will need to be connected to the internet at least once to receive a firmware update. Essentially MS are setting the 24h timer to infinite so it never reaches zero and forces a check in.
 
Thinking of it and making the long term decision are two vastly different things.




There is little doubt Sony thoroughly researched all possibilities. We will never honestly know what happened with the publishers. However Peter Moore was quick to toss MS under the bus.

But what we can deduce without error is that Sony has been very methodical and calculating this go round. A behavior that runs counter to snap decisions.

Sometimes the hardest thing for people to accept is the face value. People are jaded and they want to believe in the conspiracy. But quite often the simplest explanation happens to be true.

It is very possible that Sony made the decision to keep all first part titles DRM free and it was the 3rd parties that were pushing up until the time Microsoft flayed themselves at E3. I personally doubt this as I do not believe Sony changed such a major part of their presentation at the last minute. I think it much more likely that Sony held with their no DRM decision and simply agreed to provide 3rd parties a larger split in order to go the DRM free route whereas MS was went with DRM to keep a larger share. And we know how all of that worked out. The truth is we may never know.

Earlier I posted a pic of the now infamous EGM cover. That pic is why I do not have an issue with the Edge cover. That cover was chosen in February a mere 3 months after the PS3 launch. Dan Hsu wrote he laughed when he showed it to Sony Execs and saw the look on their face. This from an Editor that is supposed to show impartiality and act as the guiding hand.

Never mind that the PS3 had yet to launch in the EU or that it had actually outsold the 360 during the same time frame. And never mind that the biggest hardware fiasco in the history of gaming, RROD, never made the cover. I don't recall anyone on the green side of the fence having a fit over that issue of EGM.

So I see the Edge cover as what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Some will say two wrongs do not make a right and I say here, use my calculator.
my goodness, I thought no one would remember the PS3 with tomatoes smashed on it'-) arigato my friend...

While I dont plan on buying an xbone any time soon, this is scummy and supports the view that gaming journalism is petty, unprofessional, sensationalist and ultimately illegitimate.

If the opposite were on the cover there would already be a Twitter based protest/boycott.

This thread makes me sad.
Nah man...it happens in every media outlet regardless of industry. MS brought this upon themselves, and as a Sony fan having to justify my purchase to misinformed people being fed nonsense on the internet, I can't say I'm "sad" about anything going on with the Xbox Division. Once a company gets large enough, having a true personal relationship with your consumer goes out the window. The last measure for most of these international companies is PR spokesmen, and MS (the one avenue where you connect with your consumers) hasn't put the time in to address its audience. Not just gamers, but people are extremely demanding when it comes to anything involving there money. They have plain and simply effed up.
 
I think even CheapyD said that the ratio was something like 3 or 4 to 1 in favor of PS4. It's common belief because it's what makes the most sense. Pre-orders went up the week during E3 and Microsoft wouldn't have gotten early word until the weekend or Monday morning when they decided to drop DRM.

You can deduce cause and effect but is their actual cause and effect? Basing your decisions for a whole generation solely off of mostly no-commit preorders from early adopters seems a little short-sighted, doesn't it?

The pre-orders might have been the tipping point, but the overall feedback from the Internet and the media likely deserves a big portion of the credit for the reversal.
 
Has either system released a game? Do they own either system? Did they see the performance of the Sony exclusives? (underwhelming to say the least) Are they aware Titanfall stole the show? The sheer lack of information they had to come to this position, plastered on a cover that a high school newspaper editor would be ashamed to publish, screams "scummy".

I think we can safely assume that they saw what was on display at E3; so i think we can safely assume that they saw the performance of Sony's exclusives, and yes, I believe they saw Titanfall. We can assume that they held both controllers and made some judgements there. We can also assume that they spoke with developers. First party, third party, and indies and got a good feel for their opinions on both machines.

They probably also know about the prices of the consoles. They probably saw how even though Microsoft is packing a Kinect in, they didn't show any software to justify it. They saw the difference in executive availability between the companies for interviews. They took this information and came to a conclusion that they felt confident enough to lead with.

I don't think you need to own the console before you can express an opinion on it. I don't think games need to come out before you can have things to say about them, this is something you agreed with when you said that Sony's games performed underwhelmingly.

I think a even a highschool newspaper reader should be ashamed to judge an article solely by its headline. Edge has made a bold claim and now it is up to them to back it up with content. This is not an uncommon, or scummy thing in journalism.
 
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.

It's saying "wake the fuck up and smell the coffee...that company doesn't deserve your custom."

It's saying "Don't be a dumbass and get in that creepy guy's windowless van. There are other ways to get candy."
 
Theres a pretty damn good reason for sucking up to the other guy.

MS has fumbled the launch of XBONE and they only have their incompetent selves to blame.

I'm a bit confused here. Neither console has launched yet, we have yet to see how they will do once they're finally out, who will have whom to blame, and what for.
 
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