This week, in season 1 of "The Xbox One PR disaster"

[Zeh Don]

I think the whole Xbox One narrative has just run away from Microsoft, and they simply lack the ability to get it back. From now until launch, Microsoft don't control the message - the internet does.

In the gap from the reveal to E3 we were treated to news reports every day that revealed something more to hate about Microsoft's console. Since E3, Microsoft removed their anti-consumer practices - and, frankly, they should be applauded from that - however everything else we've seen has only reinforced the initial message: the consumer is irrelevant.

Microsoft aren't building a console for gamers, and they're not even building an entertainment system for people. They've divided their focus, and are building a "device" that they want everyone to buy, but they can't provide any reasons why.

As a gamer, the Xbone doesn't provide the focus a dedicated console needs to have in order to justify itself. Why would I spend AU$600.00 on an Xbone, knowing I won't use half of the console's features, when I can spend AU$550.00 for a Playstation 4 and get some insanely powerful hardware?
As an entertainment enthusiast, why would I spend AU$600.00 on an Xbone to just watch TV when I haven't watched TV in six years? If it's not On Demand, I'm not interested. No DVR? And the biggest feature is Kinect? That's it? That's all they've got?

 

[Olas]

Isn't the whole point of achievements supposed to be that they're something we're happy or proud to have accomplished? Who would want to earn an achievement based on watching adds?
.

_______________________________________________
| . . . . . . . . Achievement Unlocked: Indoctrination . . . . . . . . |
| . . . . . . . . . . [sub]Wasted 2 hours of life staring at advertisements[/sub] . . . . . . . . . . |
|_______________________________________________|​

Now I'll have something to brag to my friends about.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Weeks and, weeks ago when Yahtzee said the Microsoft/ The XBone80 was the console he'd put his money on I thought he was downright high. He compared it to a cornered and, desperate dog (or something similar) and the past couple of weeks have shown that he was absolutely right. It seems like Microsoft are running back and forth trying to put out fires...but they don't realize that they are, in fact, a Charizard and their wildly flailing tail keeps on setting things on fire (mostly bridges though).

 

[Andy Shandy]

So this week in season 1 is already a repeat?

Because we've heard both those things before.

And honestly, I couldn't care. I knew Xbox 360 has a lot of ads, but I tend to know what I'm going to be doing when I boot up the console, so I go there immediately without seeing them.

 

[HanabPacal]

To any prospective buyers, I can't stress this enough: you are a tool if you purchase this thing

I have to laugh at kneejerk commets like this. Why do you invest so much emotions when this console is not for you? You just come off as really bitter.

Is it really a knee-jerk response? Do you know for certain that Fiery Trainwreck didn't put some thought into it? He/she certainly seems to grasp that the product was made by a corporate mentality - for a corporate mentality, and what that can/may mean for consumers.

Now, while the post was certainly passionate and "tools" was not the best word to describe future buyers of the system, Fiery Trainwreck very well may have considered what will transpire if enough consumers show acceptance for this product. And what will happen is the snowball effect. If the product gains enough acceptance then others will adopt the less than consumer friendly practices that it brings to the table. This doesn't just mean other companies in the Games Industry but, also other companies in other industries. A few years down the road you'll have an always on camera in your vehicle, on your coffee maker, on your television, on any product that can exert control over consumers and use that control for further monetization.

Companies will not only adopt the XBox One precedents - they will add to them. Then other companies will add to the new precedents, and it will continue unabated until consumers actively do something about it. And no, it isn't paranoid to think this. The snowball effect has been well established (countless times) throughout history (not just with corporations, but with governments and individuals as well). Pushing the envelope in order to get more will happen - as it always has.

So while I personally wouldn't use the term "tools" to describe those who will purchase the XBox One, I would certainly use the term "terrible consumers" to describe them. Whether their choice to purchase is built upon ignorance (willful or unintentional), addiction/obsession, a conscious uncaring of the precedent that they are helping to set, or some combination of these things, they are (will be) "terrible consumers". They are actively choosing to help erode consumer rights and consumer protection (what little there is of it) without any application of critical thought in order to feed their 'but, I want' mentality (which in and of itself is a knee-jerk emotional response).

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

To any prospective buyers, I can't stress this enough: you are a tool if you purchase this thing

I have to laugh at kneejerk commets like this. Why do you invest so much emotions when this console is not for you? You just come off as really bitter.

Because if enough people buy this fucking thing, all of their bullshit might just gain enough traction to one day become ubiquitous?

Why do so many think consumer transactions are some sort of one-on-one exchange that doesn't affect anyone else? What you buy influences the market place. What you're willing to accept, and which consumer rights you're willing to jettison, may very well end up affecting me and my choices in the market place. For this reason, I have every right to point at someone supporting Xbone and say "thank you for contributing to the worsening state of the industry, fuckwit".

Edit: and as for the disdain for my use of the term "tool", the pervading definition of the word, as an insult: "One who lacks the mental capacity to know he is being used." I think that very accurately describes a person who willingly installs an advertising machine in his/her home when a perfectly comparable (and far less offensive) equivalent exists.

 

[A Weakgeek]

Playstation 4 and get some insanely powerful hardware?

They are pretty much equally powerful. The gap between them is remarkably smaller than the X360 and PS3.

 

[HanabPacal]

state of the industry, fuckwit".

Edit: and as for the disdain for my use of the term "tool", the pervading definition of the word, as an insult: "One who lacks the mental capacity to know he is being used." I think that very accurately describes a person who willingly installs an advertising machine in his/her home when a perfectly comparable (and far less offensive) equivalent exists.

I get that, as I'm sure some others do as well. Unfortunately, too many people overreact to they very idea of a word (most of the time through socially accepted bastardizations of the real meaning) and become fixated on their anger/offense rather than on the message which was being imparted.

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

state of the industry, fuckwit".

Edit: and as for the disdain for my use of the term "tool", the pervading definition of the word, as an insult: "One who lacks the mental capacity to know he is being used." I think that very accurately describes a person who willingly installs an advertising machine in his/her home when a perfectly comparable (and far less offensive) equivalent exists.

I get that, as I'm sure some others do as well. Unfortunately, too many people overreact to they very idea of a word (most of the time through socially accepted bastardizations of the real meaning) and become fixated on their anger/offense rather than on the message which was being imparted.

That's fair. I could have worded things with greater care for what is probably the dominant meaning of the term in most social circles. Sorry if I offended anyone in particular.

 

[Auron225]

After everything else that's happened, I don't see this making much difference. The only people that would consider getting this thing now are the die-hard Microsoft fanboys. I highly doubt THIS of all things will be the reason someone decides to not get it.

 

[HanabPacal]

state of the industry, fuckwit".

Edit: and as for the disdain for my use of the term "tool", the pervading definition of the word, as an insult: "One who lacks the mental capacity to know he is being used." I think that very accurately describes a person who willingly installs an advertising machine in his/her home when a perfectly comparable (and far less offensive) equivalent exists.

I get that, as I'm sure some others do as well. Unfortunately, too many people overreact to they very idea of a word (most of the time through socially accepted bastardizations of the real meaning) and become fixated on their anger/offense rather than on the message which was being imparted.

That's fair. I could have worded things with greater care for what is probably the dominant meaning of the term in most social circles. Sorry if I offended anyone in particular.

You don't have anything to be sorry about, as you didn't do anything wrong. It's just unfortunate that with the overwhelming use of slang coupled with the overwhelming desire to paint others unfavorably that we have to tread so cautiously through the minefield that so many everyday words have become. Regardless, that was very magnanimous of you to offer an apology.

 

[irok]

Ah , thank you sir for this new, I had completely forgotten reasons 897 and 898 for no buying the xbox, I will catalog these and wait for next week when they announce it can only be plugged into Microsoft power outlets as that's about the only thing left they can do, that or go 360 on used games.

 

[Vrach]

work through your Halo/Gears withdrawals

Am I wrong or are there no more Halo games and the next closest thing is Destiny... which is coming out on the PS4?

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

Am I wrong or are there no more Halo games and the next closest thing is Destiny... which is coming out on the PS4?

MS still owns Halo, so someone is definitely working on the next installment for Xbone. Maybe the guys who did the last one? I honestly have no idea who, but it is undoubtedly on the way.

 

[Soopy]

Ah , thank you sir for this new, I had completely forgotten reasons 897 and 898 for no buying the xbox, I will catalog these and wait for next week when they announce it can only be plugged into Microsoft power outlets as that's about the only thing left they can do, that or go 360 on used games.

Nah, Microsoft will launch their own ISP and lock the XB1 to that network. Totally screwing anyone outside of the major US metropolitan area's.

 

[Doclector]

It's so absurd, it's become a saga, a full on epic sage of PR incompetence.

Hell, here's a timeline. http://cheezburger.com/7630810880

JUST LOOK AT IT. LOOK ADDIT.

It's like watching someone trip over a banana peel, fall down some stairs, roll onto a bed of nails, shortly before accidentally making an apple symbol in the dirt and being sued.

 

[Guy from the 80's]

state of the industry, fuckwit".

Edit: and as for the disdain for my use of the term "tool", the pervading definition of the word, as an insult: "One who lacks the mental capacity to know he is being used." I think that very accurately describes a person who willingly installs an advertising machine in his/her home when a perfectly comparable (and far less offensive) equivalent exists.

I get that, as I'm sure some others do as well. Unfortunately, too many people overreact to they very idea of a word (most of the time through socially accepted bastardizations of the real meaning) and become fixated on their anger/offense rather than on the message which was being imparted.

Saying you are not as smart as me because you buy a product I dont like is condescending at best. Its an insult.

 

[Anthony Corrigan]

Weeks and, weeks ago when Yahtzee said the Microsoft/ The XBone80 was the console he'd put his money on I thought he was downright high. He compared it to a cornered and, desperate dog (or something similar) and the past couple of weeks have shown that he was absolutely right. It seems like Microsoft are running back and forth trying to put out fires...but they don't realize that they are, in fact, a Charizard and their wildly flailing tail keeps on setting things on fire (mostly bridges though).

got a link to that?

 

[hornedcow]

Is anyone else reminded of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vsYnaqpIpE ?

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Weeks and, weeks ago when Yahtzee said the Microsoft/ The XBone80 was the console he'd put his money on I thought he was downright high. He compared it to a cornered and, desperate dog (or something similar) and the past couple of weeks have shown that he was absolutely right. It seems like Microsoft are running back and forth trying to put out fires...but they don't realize that they are, in fact, a Charizard and their wildly flailing tail keeps on setting things on fire (mostly bridges though).

got a link to that?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/7417-Next-Gen-Buyers-Guide

Next-Gen Buyer's Guide, posted back in early June. This was right after the XBone80 reveal and a few weeks before E3 so this was back when we thought the XBone80 would be COMPLETELY horrible instead of twitchy and, untrustworthy. The Microsoft thing I mentioned that he said happens around 3:20 or so. I almost completely butchered the metaphor too!