Policy shift?

[Iwata]

So with Microsoft shooting themselves in the foot, and head, and heart by expecting Sony to follow their own draconian practices, only for the PS4 to come out as the anti-XBone and demonstrating that companies DO listen to gamer demands, could we have reached a tipping point in bad corporate policies? I mean, all companies must have seen what happened when you push gamers too far, and how exactly to win back their overwhelming support.

So could this be a lesson to other companies like EA, Activision and Ubisoft on how to properly treat gamers? Will we start seeing a new, friendlier gaming market?

Or am I just dreaming a utopia here?

 

[MysticSlayer]

It will likely come down to sales. If sales are comparable, which, based on current pre order information, it looks like they are going to be, then I'd imagine it won't change anything. If publishers understand there is a market that is willing to buy what they produce even if they pursue practices that make the core audiences angry, then they will likely continue, as it seems to be the easiest way to make the most amount of money per sale right now (otherwise businesses wouldn't pursue it).

On the other hand, it is possible we may start seeing a split in the gaming audience, with Sony being more for the core gamers and the Xbone being for those who don't often follow information or have different ideals than most people here do. If that happens, then developers and publishers are more likely to start following whatever their audience wants, which should be good for anyone taking the PS4 route. That might just be wishful thinking, though.

 

[Pink Gregory]

If the big three (EA, Activision, Ubisoft) are intent on conducting their business this way, they aren't likely to change it against their will. A new board of directors with the right ideas, then we might be going somewhere, but let's be honest; the kind of big-money business types that are up there don't care about the customer, and shrinking the customer base while increasing the amount the remaining customers pay will probably end up being the case.

It's all in the sales, I suppose. But I don't reckon they're going to listen unless there's a major management shakeup.

 

[Shpongled]

I don't think day 1 DLC and the like are going anywhere since that's actually making people money. But with the massive backlash against the Xbone and problems that plagued Diablo 3 and Simcity and so on, i do think fewer developers will go the way of (unnecessary*) always-online policies. It might not stop the big publishers completely, but i suspect there's going to be a lot of developers for the foreseeable future avoiding all that nonsense for the sheer hatred it causes.

*let's not bring MMO-like stuff into this, it makes perfect sense for those types of games.

 

[Soulrender95]

I would like to think so but I'm not holding my breath, I mean we've seen EA ditch the online pass (possibly in gleeful self-serving response to M$ built-in Drm) but perhaps we're being too generous to Sony all they've done is not do the stupid thing the competition did and while it's enough to secure my cash this time round, If M$ had gotten positive feedback from the public on there anti-consumer practices we'd probably have seen a similar deal from them.

The fact is Sony kept quiet about there practices until they knew for sure what the reaction to M$'s decision was, so being jaded and cynical i'm more inclined to believe that they had a similarly draconian idea for DRM but upon seeing the level of vitriolic backlash they decided to wisely ditch the idea becoming the defacto "good guys".