Did Sony "backstab" Microsoft?

[Drauger]

Now now, don't get me wrong, MAYBE I'll buy a PS4 , not at launch maybe later, but since the whole E3 stuff, this thing has been going on in my head. It's hard for me to believe that Sony and Microsoft don't eh ? check things out between them before launching their new consoles , I have the idea that Sony and MS had ahm... and agreement ? to launch DRM , no used games policy and eyetoy/kinect in their consoles, I mean look at MS how they advertised their Xbone 160 so much with this things, it was almost as if they we're sure that Sony was going to do the same thing, I don't know I have the feeling that Sony watched the backlash at MS and they took a different aproach, anf after MS changes their story and matches the PS4 "features".

After reading this:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125430-PS4-Originally-499-Included-Camera-Peripheral

Learning how publishers CAN add DRM to the PS4 games and how they shut up so much time before taking a stand, I really think Sony and MS had some sort of agreement to "even out the battlefield" but meh I might be a little to paranoid, what do you guys think ?.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

They're competing against one another, I really don't see them making back-room deals to screw over the customer. I can imagine Sony originally having a similar view for the whole DRM thing (while being indecisive about it) and changing their tune for the E3 conference due to the backlash MS got, though.

Also, it should be: did Sony backstab Microsoft.

 

[Shadowstar38]

I doubt it. If you're competing against a company you take any advantage you can get. It was likely Sony kept quite for awhile because they weren't sure how the populace would react. Then they used Microsoft as a guinea pig to see how shit would work out, and decided to pull the plug to look like the good guys.

That's how Nixon got caught.

 

[Soxafloppin]

I really doubt that truthfully. It just doesn't seem very likely.

Also, Grammar.

 

[FalloutJack]

No, Sony business'd Microsoft. It was very overt and in the open, and we all cheered.

 

[Roxas1359]

No they weren't backstabbed, Sony played their cards right in the competition that the Sony and MS have against each other. They were smart and were quiet about their console and waited to see how MS would do it and would then change their business plan accordingly. Phone companies and cable companies do it all the time.

Really the only instance that comes to mind in which one of the Big 3 were backstabbed was with the old Nintendo and Sony partnership that Nintendo broke off to go with Phillips and to make the Phillips CDi. Result of that, Sony entered the console race with the Playstation since they had worked and learned much when they were trying to develop a CD drive for the Super Famicom.

Plus the DRM thing with Sony is the same policy that is in place with the PS3 right now and it is nothing new.

 

[Resetti's_Replicas]

What you're suggesting is collusion, which would be illegal, and Microsoft would have to be pretty naive to agree to that if they knew that they were going to reveal first.

 

[mmmikey]

I'm surprised they didn't know before their own conference back in Feb that the DRM thing was going to be a dealbreaker. There were the rumors that the next Xbox was going to need a constant internet connection which would really be a terrible idea. Read amazon reviews for the Assassin's Creed PC game, tons of 1 stars. Then read it for other systems, its a completely different story.

I always thought Sony was going left while it seemed Microsoft was going right. Most gamers don't care about motion controls. I couldn't be bothered to finish Zelda Skyward Sword because I found the lack of response and overuse of motion control just made me hate the experience. Microsoft got honors to go first, I bet Sony had two ways to go into it, saw an edge and took it.

And I don't they stabbed them in the back as much as that Microsoft ran into a sharp object and Sony said let me help you with that. Seriously telling people who want your system to buy the last one if they don't want to have to deal with the DRM bs is pretty arrogant, which also came in waves before E3 ("deal with it") about how the system was going to work.

I think Microsoft knew from whatever pre-order figures they could find they would lose. They made a good call, but seem lacking in having vision. In the end both systems' success will be determined by what they offer in the coming years in game and in services.

 

[Drauger]

Ah sorry for my crappy english xD there it's fixed ...

 

[TrevHead]

I doubt there was an agreement, but I do think Sony pulled a bait and switch on MS, making MS think they were doing a similar DRM on the PS4 but with the hostile reaction to the X1 Sony who were keeping their cards close to their chest were able to react to MS and come out as the good guys. It wouldn't surprise me if Sony were planning to have DRM only to change their stance last minute.

Basically MS sneezed first and lost.

If you would have been watching carefully what MS' PR ppl were saying at around the DRM reveal the tone and words they used while taking about the PS4 seemed to suggest this was the case.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

It's really Microsoft's own damn fault. All this DRM stuff was out there before E3, and then they still went with it and officially announced it all at E3.

After reading this:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125430-PS4-Originally-499-Included-Camera-Peripheral

I'm not sure how factual that is. The PS Eye is tech from the PS2 era remember. I would think it only costs Sony a couple bucks to make them now, I doubt it would cause a $100 increase in the price of the PS4.

There's also this curious patent.
http://uk.gamespot.com/news/sony-patents-tech-to-block-used-games-6401992

I swear there was an article (I can't find it) before the PS3 came out saying Sony had a method for tying blu-ray discs to a single PS3. I think Sony just patents stuff to patent it just in case so they can use it if that's how things go or to get royalties if someone else wants to use it.

 

[Rickin10]

I think it's far more likely that MS and Sony were being constantly pressured by the big publishers like EA and Activision to shut down the used games market and had many talks between them on how they could do this.

I doubt that MS and Sony were ever colluding directly, but got the impression from pubs that this was a great way of making a load more money. They all take some of the flak for a while, but if both the big consoles go DRM gamers are left with little alternative but to stick with them. All it would take is a few reassurances from publishers that 'Yes, Sony, in our talks with MS, they are definitely going with this.' A handshake/gentlemen's agreement by proxy.

But Sony either were never intending to do this or saw MS getting destroyed and saw they could capitalize. They cleverly allowed MS to play all their cards and just waited...