I'll admit it, I may have been an Xbox fanboy in a past life. I was all gung-ho about the 360 and gaming on Xbox. Then the announcement of the Xbox one would forever change my entertainment center.
My earliest gaming memories start on the Super Nintendo and the NES, but that's not the story I want to delve into. I never really "chose a side" if you will until the release of the Xbox 360. Without hesitation I made my purchase and never gave much thought to the PS3, simply because I did not want what they (Sony) were offering. Whether it be that awful boomerang controller (which they luckily got rid of) or the 599.99 U.S. dollar price point, I did not want anything to do with Playstation.
My earliest gaming memories start on the Super Nintendo and the NES, but that's not the story I want to delve into. I never really "chose a side" if you will until the release of the Xbox 360. Without hesitation I made my purchase and never gave much thought to the PS3, simply because I did not want what they (Sony) were offering. Whether it be that awful boomerang controller (which they luckily got rid of) or the 599.99 U.S. dollar price point, I did not want anything to do with Playstation.
That being said, through my life I’ve had every single Playstation and Microsoft console put to market. I had a PS1, then i got the Original Xbox. Towards the end of the Xbox and PS2 generation, with announcement of the new consoles, I went out and bought a PS2 and played all the amazing games that I missed, as I did more recently with the PS3 towards the end of the last generation.
As mentioned before, I bought an Xbox 360 day one - no hesitation. I was always happy with my 360, it was a great machine. Whenever discussing consoles with friends or passers by I was quick to defend the Xbox and denounce the Playstation. Discussions would turn into arguments and arguments would turn into battles that became ungovernable extremely quickly.
Then there came the announcement of the Xbox One. With the ingenious always online feature, the no borrowing games from your friends, and the TV centered capability. It was the ultimate entertainment box!
Weeks raged on as more and more of my friends, who were with me on my journey through the Xbox 360 years said they would not purchase an Xbox One, but that they might purchase a PS4 depending on information given at E3 that year. I fought tooth an nail to defend the console coming from a company i truly believed in. Then, one sentence, one absolutely passive aggressive, snarky, half witted, insulting comment was said.
As mentioned before, I bought an Xbox 360 day one - no hesitation. I was always happy with my 360, it was a great machine. Whenever discussing consoles with friends or passers by I was quick to defend the Xbox and denounce the Playstation. Discussions would turn into arguments and arguments would turn into battles that became ungovernable extremely quickly.
Then there came the announcement of the Xbox One. With the ingenious always online feature, the no borrowing games from your friends, and the TV centered capability. It was the ultimate entertainment box!
Weeks raged on as more and more of my friends, who were with me on my journey through the Xbox 360 years said they would not purchase an Xbox One, but that they might purchase a PS4 depending on information given at E3 that year. I fought tooth an nail to defend the console coming from a company i truly believed in. Then, one sentence, one absolutely passive aggressive, snarky, half witted, insulting comment was said.
"Fortunately, we have a product for people who aren't able to get some form of
connectivity, it's called Xbox 360." - Don Mattrick (Former Xbox Executive)
connectivity, it's called Xbox 360." - Don Mattrick (Former Xbox Executive)
Really? Are you kidding me? I was watching that interview live as part of the E3 coverage online. Very calmly at that moment, I shut the lid to my laptop, placed the laptop on the ground and let out a bloodcurdling scream. Something about what he said woke me up from my fanboy-comatose state. I said to myself "Okay, let me look at this again, am I really into what they are offering?”.
Then the Sony press conference happened, what a spectacular show by the guys at Sony. I spoke with some of my friends and they said they were jumping ship - announced they would be switching to preferring playstation this time around. I still defended Microsoft's console, at first. Then it got to a point, a turning point in what would be my first steps into the next generation. I didn’t want the Kinect, I didn't want to have to be online all the time, I don't want TV, I don’t want an entertainment box, I want a GAMING machine - made for gamers, by gamers.
I was sold, I gave in and before it hit store shelves I pre-ordered a Playstation 4. I have now had the Playstation 4 since launch and i could not have made a better choice. However, by no means does the current form of the Xbox One suck, its still a good console, and it sits right next to my PS4 on my entertainment center. I can honestly say now that there are many things about the Xbox One that I like more than my Playstation.
Before I complete this entry, there is one thing I would like to address. Even though I realize that Microsoft's reversal of everything in regards to the “always online” and “game sharing” is a good thing, I would have honestly respected them more if they had not. This is an extremely unpopular opinion, but I believe there are some points to be made. If they (Xbox) had stayed on board with their initial vision for the console, and just put a foot down and said "this is our Xbox, this is how we see the future of gaming, this is the experience we want you to be a part of" I would have still not bought one but i would be able to step back and think, yeah alright - maybe they see something coming in the future that we don't, much like with making the 360 only able to connect to broadband and high-speed internet. Indeed they would have sold so many less units than the 4.5 million or so that are actually in homes, they would have to take a big loss. Although, 4 or 5 years down the line, the vision they saw may become a reality.
Maybe if they integrate a VR headset with the Kinect - there could be something spectacular. Games are definitely going to be all digital within a few years - that is undoubtedly coming and i believe it is inarguably inevitable. As far as making new, fresh digitally streaming only television shows - yes that is a good idea, cable will be gone within 5 years. We already see success here with new original shows on Netflix.
In conclusion, I do believe Microsoft saw a future that is very plausible. I just believe they tried to precipitate a pre-developed movement that the general public is not ready for.
-Josh Tull (@JoshTull)
(This article is an updated version of a post I made on IGN.com)
Then the Sony press conference happened, what a spectacular show by the guys at Sony. I spoke with some of my friends and they said they were jumping ship - announced they would be switching to preferring playstation this time around. I still defended Microsoft's console, at first. Then it got to a point, a turning point in what would be my first steps into the next generation. I didn’t want the Kinect, I didn't want to have to be online all the time, I don't want TV, I don’t want an entertainment box, I want a GAMING machine - made for gamers, by gamers.
I was sold, I gave in and before it hit store shelves I pre-ordered a Playstation 4. I have now had the Playstation 4 since launch and i could not have made a better choice. However, by no means does the current form of the Xbox One suck, its still a good console, and it sits right next to my PS4 on my entertainment center. I can honestly say now that there are many things about the Xbox One that I like more than my Playstation.
Before I complete this entry, there is one thing I would like to address. Even though I realize that Microsoft's reversal of everything in regards to the “always online” and “game sharing” is a good thing, I would have honestly respected them more if they had not. This is an extremely unpopular opinion, but I believe there are some points to be made. If they (Xbox) had stayed on board with their initial vision for the console, and just put a foot down and said "this is our Xbox, this is how we see the future of gaming, this is the experience we want you to be a part of" I would have still not bought one but i would be able to step back and think, yeah alright - maybe they see something coming in the future that we don't, much like with making the 360 only able to connect to broadband and high-speed internet. Indeed they would have sold so many less units than the 4.5 million or so that are actually in homes, they would have to take a big loss. Although, 4 or 5 years down the line, the vision they saw may become a reality.
Maybe if they integrate a VR headset with the Kinect - there could be something spectacular. Games are definitely going to be all digital within a few years - that is undoubtedly coming and i believe it is inarguably inevitable. As far as making new, fresh digitally streaming only television shows - yes that is a good idea, cable will be gone within 5 years. We already see success here with new original shows on Netflix.
In conclusion, I do believe Microsoft saw a future that is very plausible. I just believe they tried to precipitate a pre-developed movement that the general public is not ready for.
-Josh Tull (@JoshTull)
(This article is an updated version of a post I made on IGN.com)