Leaked Microsoft Video Reveals Horrible Future for PC Gaming

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

I actually kinda like what they're going for. The avatar aspect, I can do without, but there's no real need for me to take that any more seriously than the one on my 360 profile. Really, the idea of having an OS that functions with games as seamlessly and streamlined as the 360 does when it transfers from dashboard to game is quite attractive. I don't care if it's not as hardcore as having a hand-built Linux hyper rape machine with human brain processor, because PC gaming is something I do when I'm all out of other priorities to focus on; don't get me wrong, it's a legitimate hobby, but I'm a console guy and I've been putting up with cheap, busted-ass autoimmune computers all my life and my patience for trial-and-error with computers cannot be extended to the time it would take for me to familiarize myself with making them function properly.

FLAMEBAIT DISCLAIMER: Before somebody decides that my opinion needs correcting by nitpicking over how it's probably going to be horribly executed, just stop where you are; I'm agreeing with the concept, not the theoretical product. At no point have I made an erroneous assertion, do not waste our time.

 

[luckycharms8282]

Wow, that was hard to watch. I just want to say I could feel that this was going to happen when microsoft introduced those horrible, gimmicky avatars on xbl. They want the most money and they see that is appealing to people who like farmville and bejeweled, apparantly. Man, do casual gamers irk me. It's not even them, it's the companies that market to them.

 

[UltraXan]

I remember a similar thread, and I kept my tab open (thank god) so here I go with copy and paste.

Despite how pretty this video looks, it is NOT doing what it's supposed to be doing. #1, it has to compete with steam, which is REEEEAAAALY fucking hard to do for anyone, and their system is just too much of a shit pie to do that. #2, they just aren't getting it. They're trying to make the PC look more like the xbox and plug social networks into the mix. If Microsoft wants to convince ANYONE with this video, then the person who sees it will need to have half a brain or less. Anything more and it won't work.

Seriously, Microsoft, get with the fucking program. Valve (led by former employees, I might add. teehee) already beat you, just give the fuck up and try not to screw it up and make us all look bad.

 

[nin_ninja]

I'll just copy/paste what I said about this earlier:

So... who are they targeting with this?

The casual market is already on facebook, and GFWL is nowhere near as user-friendly, so they won't be using this.
The hardcore PC gamer market isn't exactly on the best of terms with Microsoft for obvious reasons.
And everyone else either doesn't care or just uses Steam.
Any Xbox owners they'd hope to target will have Xbox's, and won't really care. They'll just do the stuff the video showed on their 360's. Unless they're going after the people who'll want to change Xbox stuff on their PC's. In which case thats a pretty specific market to target. Since anyone with a gaming PC will probably be turned off by the look of all of this.

So... yeah, whats their plan, exactly?

Judging from the end of the video, creating an entire Avatar world, and then having everyone FIGHT TO THE DEATH!

 

[BabySinclair]

+1 for steam, if this is Microsoft taking the PC market seriously I'm deeply saddened. This is just porting the XBox dashboard to PC.

 

[LikeDustInTheWind]

It's burning my soul D:

 

[742]

different sorts of games have their place-10 minutes of tetris or bejeweled takes just that, but can any of you say youve played ten minutes of civilization in which the sun did not either rise or set without your knowledge? remember that they are not the ones making the AAA games. this is a marketplace, not a developer. im pleased they (hopefully) wont be getting any exclusivity with anything i might really want to play; it stinks of obtrusive DRM and vastly subpar privacy features, and its MS so you know theyre going to fuck up big at some point. this scares me; i wonder how much of a pain a new OS would be?

 

[Adam80027]

This new Microsoft debacle surely won't derail PC games like some people are suggesting. Obviously there is the Steam alternative for the core crowd, but there's more to it than that. The industry has reached a critical mass where games are being made by us, for us. There will never be a failure to supply gaming options for any special interest group. The social networking and casual games are receiving attention because they are low-risk projects, with a high potential for profit and a large target audience. But the core crowd aren't being forced to engage in the stuff. There are still AAA developers making quality titles. And while these won't last forever, there is always the promise of the future generations. Prospective and indie developers today might be the superpower in a few years. Valve's work was originally denied by their publisher, because it was too ambitious for their little outfit. But Sierra gave them a shot, and look where they are now.

We must place our hope in the future generation of game developers. We have the power to control where this market is going. We just have to hold out our hands and let the current generation know what we want. That'll be enough to shape the growing talent towards a favorable future. We have to let the newbies get a good exposure to good influences, like any musician, artist, or filmmaker. Take a stand on where you want games to go, gather those who share your interests, and your voice will be heard. Your needs will be catered to.

 

[sycoesis]

i watched and im speechless so "i dont want to live on this planet anymore"

 

[General BrEeZy]

for some strange reason, i feel immensely offended. i wanna strangle an innocent person now for no good reason. thanks microsoft.

 

[InnerRebellion]

Good news everyone! I invented a device that makes you read the following in my voice!

I don't want to game anywhere near Microsoft!

 

[Ein987]

It's not so bad! Did you see all the pretty colors?
Wait a second. Were the avatars playing the games, or people? It looked like people were controlling avatars, who were controlling avatars >.>
We're so screwed.

 

[Rothgar blood]

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I WOULD BUY A GOOD PC AND STOP PLAYING XBOX!!!!!! THERE STILL THERE JUST AS I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD GET AWAY FROM THE DARN AVITAR....but i just can't get away...no escape...no escape...BLARGGGGG!!!

 

[SodaDew]

That guy really should have answered his phone instead of downloading a gun and playing that game with his friend at work...he will be fired....

 

[Ldude893]

Terminate with fire. Lots and lots of fire.

 

[Kingsnake661]

eh, whatever. The casual market is a big deal right now. Doesn't mean the hard core market won't exist, it'll just be smaller. That's a bummer, for sure, but, as i get older, i have less and less time for teh hardcorz gaming... it's a sad but true fact of life. So, i can't find myself caring THAT much...

 

[TK421]

I think I just became a mac gamer. Shame, I was really looking forward to getting back into PC gaming but this has put me off slightly....

Slightly? It made me want to go live in some remote area where there is no interaction with the human race. It also made me want to never have kids, because I wouldn't wish a future like that on anyone.

 

[Darkauthor81]

I have no problem with most of this video... except for the part where she pays money to change the look of their avatar and her friends are all "omg so cute!" Ummm no. That's money she could have spent on, say, actual clothes.