I originally posted this in the xbox poll, but felt it may be more appropriate as a separate topic.
I think I understand Microsoft's reasoning now.
Earlier, I thought they were insane, seemingly alienating gamers and consumers in general with their strategies, but now, this key point was made confirmed things for me.
The post is still incredibly vague on trading in games, with Major Nelson saying that "game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers." It's up to third-party publishers to make the call, but there's no word on what "participating retailers" means, or any other details that might clear up this issue completely.
I shall reiterate.
It's up to third-party publishers to make the call
They are not marketing the Xbox One to consumers, they are marketing it to publishers.
They are offering this used game paying service as a huge boon to publishers, and innocently stating they are not enforcing it themselves. They are probably now going to publishers, nudging them and saying 'if you make a game with us, you don't have to worry about used games at all.' They then hope the publishers will then turn to Sony and go 'why can't you offer us the same thing?'
If Sony doesn't, the publishers may give more exclusives to Microsoft, giving them the edge in the console war. The exclusives will
always win console wars.
And if Sony does bow down and do the same thing? Well great! Now the combined might of two of them will destroy used games utterly. Microsoft is sacrificing bad press now, for future sales. Either way, they win.
It really doesn't matter what the consumers in general think. They will swallow their disdain, and go with those exclusives.
So yeah, Microsoft doesn't even have to try to appease people or ease their worry. All they got to do is keep going, the publishers, and the games, will fall in line behind their console.
Any thoughts on this theory?
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