If this is true... Then... Wow...

[Mr.Mattress]

Thread from where this is. [http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=576869]

"Two of our most trusted neoGAF insiders have said that Microsoft is reacting hard to what has went down, and so they're going to try to dismantle PS4's image as a "for gamers" console by paying publishers and devs to not show their multiplatform titles during E3 on a PS4. In other words, even if the multiplatform version is coming out for the PS4, they won't be able to show them at E3, thus contributing to the perception that somehow Sony is getting significantly less support for PS4 than Microsoft is "for gamers."

Just Wow Microsoft. Just wow. If what I read is true, Microsoft is going to try to make the PS4 look Barren, by baring PS4 version of Multiplat games from E3. Just... Wow! This is, by far, the worst rumor about them I've heard! This is worst then Always On (Semi-Confirmed), no used games (Still Confused, but it seems like it's true in some sense), and mandatory Kinect (Completely Confirmed), I'm just... Wow!

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

Well we already know that the focus of the PS4 is games, unlike the XBone, so I doubt that strategy would have the results MS expects. Also, I doubt MS could pay the devs and publishers enough to go ahead with such a plan.

 

[suntt123]

How would this even work? Surely if they even took such a bribe people working at the e3 booths would still have to tell the truth about games being multiplatform if someone asks? Even then I'd imagine that ads for such games/ad from gamestop and the like would keep everyone in the loop about what platforms they're on.

Even if this is true (though I doubt it) MS would be spending a lot of money to (in the end at least) get virtually nothing accomplished while simultaneously putting their already negative image on the line.

 

[Leemaster777]

Wow, Microsoft must be REALLY desperate to pull something like this. This is quite possibly one of the sleaziest moves I've seen from Microsoft in quite some time. It's almost endearing in it's shamelessness.

I'm like, not even angry at them. At this point I'm more sorry for them than anything else. If THIS is what they're pinning they're hopes on, things are bleaker for them than we all previously thought.

Let's all congratulate Microsoft on hitting a new low. "starts slow clap"

(please note that if this turns out to be BS, disregard this post)

 

[skywolfblue]

They can try and pay publishers and devs to do that but the pubs and devs would be ignorant to actually do that as it would only hurt their own products. I wouldn't put it past MS to try something like this but it just isn't practical for the other businesses involved.

I'll second this.

Unless Microsoft is offering a really astonishing amount of cash, it really doesn't make sense for developers to go along with this and alienate nearly half their potential gamers, as well as possibly board the sinking ship that is the XBox One.

It's a desperate move and and does sound like something Microsoft would do.

------

Reading that NeoGAF thread, I'm surprised by how many hardware problems MS is having with the XBox One. It's not really revolutionary high tech stuff, but apparently they're having severe yield problems. It makes me wonder if they'll even be able to ship in time, or if the first wave will be plagued with technical problems like the 360 and the RRoD.

It's really not looking good for Microsoft at this point.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

No, even if it's true, I doubt the industry is going to go along with it. As some have already pointed out, it would be very counter-productive for publishers and devs to arbitrarily limit their potential audience like that, unless Microsoft throws huge amounts of cash at them.

Furthermore, imagine the potentially massive blow to their image (both M$ and any complicit devs/publishers) if it they got found out and it turns into big news. Not to mention how many lawsuits M$ most definitely be slapped with.

 

[Orange12345]

How would this even work? Surely if they even took such a bribe people working at the e3 booths would still have to tell the truth about games being multiplatform if someone asks? Even then I'd imagine that ads for such games/ad from gamestop and the like would keep everyone in the loop about what platforms they're on.

Even if this is true (though I doubt it) MS would be spending a lot of money to (in the end at least) get virtually nothing accomplished while simultaneously putting their already negative image on the line.

I think the misguided point is to try and stop devs from presenting at the sony press conference during e3 since most people don't actually go to e3, the conferences of the main 3 companies are usually the highlight for any online press

 

[suntt123]

I think the misguided point is to try and stop devs from presenting at the sony press conference during e3 since most people don't actually go to e3, the conferences of the main 3 companies are usually the highlight for any online press

I guess, though I don't really see that working either... Unless of course there's a trailer in there so epic that people just start pre-ordering which ever console they hear has it first XD

Even if MS gets them to present at their conference and not Sony's they cant just hide the fact that something's multiplatform from the online press. When the press does get wind of these presentations I'd assume they'd know enough to know which is multiplatform and which are actual exclusives unless MS can somehow hide that fact all the way up to release.

What I'm saying is they can't just steal hype with multiplatforms without offering something that Sony doesn't with it... Well... Not forever anyway.

 

[Terminate421]

I doubt this one is true.

Microsoft are being morons right now but I highly doubt they'd be this stupid. Plus devs and publishers would be losing money.

 

[Little Gray]

How would this even work? Surely if they even took such a bribe people working at the e3 booths would still have to tell the truth about games being multiplatform if someone asks? Even then I'd imagine that ads for such games/ad from gamestop and the like would keep everyone in the loop about what platforms they're on.

Even if this is true (though I doubt it) MS would be spending a lot of money to (in the end at least) get virtually nothing accomplished while simultaneously putting their already negative image on the line.

I think the misguided point is to try and stop devs from presenting at the sony press conference during e3 since most people don't actually go to e3, the conferences of the main 3 companies are usually the highlight for any online press

The thing is though the press are the ones who will be reporting and they will report which systems the game is coming out on. Nobody gives a shit which console the gameplay/trailer is recorded on. It does absolutely nothing at all to hurt Sony and it something most devs wouldnt do anyways. EA for example has been far closer to Sony then Microsoft the last couple years and even released Battlefield 3 dlc on the ps3 weeks before the 360. Bethesda and Activision will most likely show their games on the xbox because thats what they have been doing for years.

Why anybody would believe such an idiotic rumor is beyond me though.

 

[QuantumNebula]

If you can't beat the competition, buy out the competition. Typical Microsoft business tactics. Just like them making a big deal about COD timed exclusive DLC since they can't actually make a game that anyone one wants to play.

 

[Tactical Pause]

I don't know, it's been a couple of hours (on the internet) and this hasn't been outright disproven yet, but... it all just seems a tad too shady to be true.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this one just to see how it turns out, but I would be surprised if it ended up being spot on. Not because I don't think Microsoft would want to do it, but because I don't think they're foolish enough to actually try.

 

[suntt123]

I can't imagine any other company doing it. Capcom is far to invested in each console, Activision already called them out on exclusive claiming nonsense, and Ubisoft is so in love with the WiiU I think they might pop the question soon. And those are some of the worst publishers in the industry.

Methinks that's a bit unwarranted. Sure Capcom's decisions with regards to DLC on their fighting games was atrocious, but they're nowhere near as bad as Activision or EA....

Of course that could just be my opinion... I've never bought a fighting game and I'm in love with Okami and Monster Hunter, though I still disapprove of that whole On disk DLC thing not too long ago.
...Mega-man WHERE HATH THOU GONE!!!!

Also, what did Ubisoft do to get the title of one of the worst?

OT:
There is no way they could possibly think they could get away with this... But then again these are the same people who thought they could get away with a console reveal with nothing but TV, Sports, Kinect, and a COD trailer....

 

[Colt47]

That thread is pointing out more problems on microsofts end then just trying to pay out the competition. It sounds like they are in complete panic.

 

[shrekfan246]

Also, what did Ubisoft do to get the title of one of the worst?

They pretty much started the whole always-online DRM thing with Assassin's Creed II on the PC, and have had tenuous PR in relation to the PC crowd -- A year or two back they were pointing fingers everywhere, calling the entire PC demographic a bunch of filthy pirates and saying that 95% of the people who would play their games wouldn't legitimately purchase them.

OT: Wouldn't it be funny if the Xbox One wasn't actually originally intended to be a games console? Obviously that'd be silly of Microsoft, but it would make me laugh and laugh. Of course, I'm going to take this entire rumor with a big fat [Citation Needed] sign until we've got more than a few NeoGAF threads to go on.

 

[sanquin]

Kinda pointless imo. All Sony would have to do to counter this is to show at least a game or two, and then give a list of launch titles and soon to be released titles. Actual gamers don't need to SEE the games that will be coming out on the system, and make their press conference's focus point that the PS4 will be a gaming system. Just hearing the names of said games is enough. And there's no way that MC can prevent Sony from listing which games will be coming out for their system.