Okay, so now that the news has hit that Microsoft had done a 180 on their DRM policy for the XBOX One, I’d like to take a look at some of the feedback from the community and talk about what this means for the future or gaming and the XBOX One in particular.

Once again here are the reversals:

Here are some tweets put out by gamers (I’ve kept their identities private so there is no backlash against them); my thoughts on the comments follow:

“I understood the overall vision with Xbox One. Microsoft leaped out of the box. They wanted the future NOW. PS4 played it safe.”
HFFL: Really? So trying to go too far too quickly with tech and then not realizing there would be backlash was a good thing? Sometimes playing it safe is a GOOD thing. You can’t be a yes man to Microsoft.

“Pretty annoyed with the people who are complaining and saying Microsoft looks ‘weak’ for changing their policies. I mean really?”
HFFL: I don’t think it makes MS look weak. It does however show that they can eat humble pie.

“Xbox One Eighty”
HFFL: Best quote of the day!

“Holy shit Microsoft! I did not see that coming. Fair play. Region free makes me hard <3”
HFFL: Okay, if that makes you “hard.”LOL seriously thought, region free is GOOD.

“Wait. Does this mean game library sharing and Xbox Gold sharing goes away completely?? CLARIFY!!!”
HFFL: Yes, it means no library sharing. One of the features now gone with the reversal. I’m okay with this. While convenient, the other restrictions that would have been in place would have made this feature moot for me.

“Aw man, a few of the decent digital initiatives have been scrapped 🙁 That’s sad. I guess the future is too scary for some people.”
HFFL: No, the future isn’t scary. The constant always on creepy Kinect, having to check-in like we’re kids…THAT is what was scary. I’m a frakin’ adult. I do NOT want a gaming console to be watching and waiting for me, nor to I want to be forced to check in with it.

“There are good and bad points but people seem happy so that’s positive. I can wait another 10 years for digital gaming.”
HFFL: So can I. (Because likely I’ll be done with gaming by then. If not, there may eb something even BETTER!

“I’m all in for Kinect. Absolutely love it. But I hope there is another version for those that don’t want it.”
HFFL: Exactly. It’s about CHOICE. Pushing Kinect on people and charging $100 more for the console is still a sticking point with some people.

“I think Xbox just won The Console War. Your move Playstation”
HFFL: Um NO. MS only succeeded in catching up somewhat to Playstation. They’ve still got ground to make up. MS’s rep took a huge hit not only form E3, but the reveal of the XBOX One to begin with.

And this one…
“Used games only hurt the industry. I hope everyone at least acknowledges this. They are cheap, sure, but the devs deserve the money.”
HFFL: OMG, could you be any further up their asses? Really? Case in point, 343/MS made 220 MILLION dollars on Halo 4, plus with all the DLC, they made a lot more. Not everyone can afford $60 games. Some have to wait for sales. Also, think of it like this, for those who wait and get the game at a discount, many of them go on to purchase the DLC too. Whether that be at full price or discount as well, the developers get more money. Last time I checked developers wages were DAMN good. I don’t think they are hurting too much. As for all the recent layoffs at many studios? Well, I think that has more to do with not putting out superior product. Look, not all games are blockbusters. Not all games should cost $60 at launch either, IMO. I think if some start-ups want to really break into gaming, they might do better by selling their games cheaper and getting it into the hands of a broader audience than those with lots of extra spare cash who can buy “trendy” games. Again, statements like the above quoted one grind on me. I’m just not the “Yes-man” type.

And then I found this:
“Video games are no different. It’s just that used sales are easy to blame as opposed to bloated infrastructures & million dollar marketing.”
HFFL: There you go! Yes, that is in part to blame. Some studios just grew TOO big, and in some cases TOO fast, then couldn’t recreate another blockbuster hit game to keep the company going. It’s called BUSINESS folks. If your game is AWESOME, word of mouth, especially with the net, blog, podcast, etc., is going to do you much more good than spending SO much money on marketing pushing an inferior product down people’s throats.

Here’s another good quote:
“I just can’t blame a consumer and what they do with their own property for a company’s troubles when it’s the company who should be re-thinking how they do things to adapt to it. Blame the poor schmo, just hope nobody turns around and looks at the skyscraper our offices are in…”
HFFL: See, this is what I’m saying. The fat cats in the business suites making major bank off of we “lowly” gamers need to understand that without us, THEY are NOTHING.

I’m very glad Microsoft realized the mistake of trying to push too many restrictions on their consumers. Yes, some new features are wiped out due to the changes, but overall the majority of people are happy with this reversal.

For those saying, well, digital distribution could have changed the price of games (cheaper), but the internet messed that up for us too…I have to say BUNK! Do you really think that devs would charge LESS for their games when they know we are already now used to the $60 format for ‘AAA’ titles? Hell no.

Will there be a time and a place for the tech XBOX One? Sure, some of which is still coming with it.

Personally, I’ve come to the feeling that humanity as a whole is moving way to quickly for it’s own good. Maybe that’s just the “old guy” within me talking. I just do not need such sophistications in my gaming console, especially when they came with so many restrictions. I just want to play games when I want, offline or online without having to check in with “BIG BROTHER.” And on the off chance I want to buy a used game for cheap, I as a consumer SHOULD have that option. Playstation gave that to everyone. Now Microsoft sees that taking that option away just wasn’t what the CONSUMER wanted. And it’s THOSE people a corporation needs to pander too. Developers will still keep making games regardless. Maybe now, those developing solely for Microsoft will realize that they either need to go multi-platform OR make such a KICK-ASS game that we as consumers would be at a loss for not buying it when it originally releases.

-Sal