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

[Simalacrum]

It has to be said, this new show is fast becoming my most popular program.

So, what mess has Microsoft and their 'loveable' (*cough*) PR goons been up to this week? Well, its back to pandering to major corporate sponsors once again! So, a month or so ago it transpired that Microsoft is keen to put advertising into the new Xbox. We got some new details [http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/xbox-one-has-advertising-and-kinect-on-its-mind-1164251] recently, and the news is just as 'great' as from what we heard last time!

According to unnamed members of the Microsoft Technical Management team, the new Xbox will have "advertising on its mind", in comparison to the Xbox 360 in which it was an afterthought. Microsoft has also patented a method of giving players achievements if they watch certain videos or advertisements. Hurrah!

So, what do you Escapists think of this 'fantastic' *cough* news? Are you 'excited' *cough cough* as I am about this 'fantastic' *blood clot*? news? Let me know you 'ecstatic' *haemorrhage* thoughts in the comments-? Oh god, I can't do it anymore! TOo? much? sarcasm?! *dies*

 

[Anthony Corrigan]

the achievements are bad enough, especially when you couple that with the Kinect making sure you don't look away from the ad (or conceivably talk over it or mute it). However the talk of making game content available based on watching certain number of ads and the suggestion that you will have to hold up products for the Kinect to get rewards? That's abusive

 

[mbarker]

Advertising doesn't really excite me but I find it more acceptable that a type of reward system is being put in place for viewing the ads instead of just forcing them down my throat. MS might give a choice to view ads, which I can live with.

 

[Vegosiux]

Ach...

Ach...

*Okay, okay, I'm cool.*

ACHIEVEMENTS for watching ads? What the actual fuck!? Jumping zombie Jesus on a pogo stick on top of a velociraptor, imagine if Jehovah's Witnesses started handing out badges and cookies for taking your time to talk about our lord Jesus? Because that's about how I imagine this practice.

I want this nipped in the bud. And then have the corporate suits who thought of it forced to watch advertisements for 24 hours straight.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Hot damn the Xbox One gets more appealing by the day. Well done marketing team for a great job all round.

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

It's getting so bad that the internet can't even generate the requisite idiotic contrarian to stand up for Xbone. Anyone who even tries gets laughed out of the thread.

To any prospective buyers, I can't stress this enough: you are a tool if you purchase this thing. Even with all of the bullshit they've changed, this console is built from the ground up for other corporations - not for you. Grow a pair, work through your Halo/Gears withdrawals, and play elsewhere. There will be plenty of good games for PC and PS4, and none of them will require you to actively participate in targeted, interactive, intrusive advertising schemes.

 

[Vegosiux]

To any prospective buyers, I can't stress this enough: you are a tool if you purchase this thing. Even with all of the bullshit they've changed, this console is built from the ground up for other corporations - not for you. Grow a pair, work through your Halo/Gears withdrawals, and play elsewhere. There will be plenty of good games for PC and PS4, and none of them will require you to actively participate in targeted, interactive, intrusive advertising schemes.

People should simply start treating games as toothpaste. Sure, you're not getting this particular aroma of whatever is FOTM currently in your mouth if you go with another brand, but in the end, it's toothpaste. Pretty much equivalent products across the board. There are always games that are close enough equivalents to any platform exclusive, and there aren't enough hours in a day to play every new release anyway.

 

[King of Asgaard]

I don't know about the rest of you, but this makes me want to go out and buy 3 Xbox Ones and build a shrine to Microsoft's infinite wisdom. I mean, look at all these great incentives they're giving us to buy a One!

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

People should simply start treating games as toothpaste. Sure, you're not getting this particular aroma of whatever is FOTM currently in your mouth if you go with another brand, but in the end, it's toothpaste. Pretty much equivalent products across the board. There are always games that are close enough equivalents to any platform exclusive, and there aren't enough hours in a day to play every new release anyway.

Exactly! I mean what's the difference between a PS4/PC and an Xbone in terms of raw gaming? What are the odds that an Xbone will scratch your every gaming itch while a PS4/PC wouldn't do? In most respects, they're just so... equivalent. Until you start adding up all of the horrible shit MS has tried/is trying to shove down consumer throats. I feel like you'd have to be incredibly ignorant to buy an Xbone at this point, and I'm not seeing any good arguments to the contrary.

 

[Bat Vader]

the achievements are bad enough, especially when you couple that with the Kinect making sure you don't look away from the ad (or conceivably talk over it or mute it). However the talk of making game content available based on watching certain number of ads and the suggestion that you will have to hold up products for the Kinect to get rewards? That's abusive

What happens if people turn away, talk over the ad, and/or mute it? I find it really disgusting that people have to basically pay $560.00 to get the full X-Box One experience and that they still are going to be subjected to ads when using it. Only thing I am waiting to hear now is that they are going to pause a game someone is playing every hour or so that they are forced to watch an ad.

I am hoping it won't happen but I won't be surprised if they announce it.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

I rarely pay attention to what the dashboard of the 360 has featured. Disc goes in, game starts. Or I choose game from XBLA list, but either way its like a website. Escapist for example has the worst intrusive ads I've ever seen (see: the Sub and how it currently doesn't move down with the page and encroaches on my posting box). XBox doesn't require you to watch any of the ads prior to playing a game. Nor does it take over or encroach on your experience other than being present at the main screen.
Sure it can be annoying, but it doesn't really bother me or affect gameplay. Achieves won't get me to watch ads anyway so I really don't see this as a problem. Just more ammo for the people who already hate Microsoft. Seriously folks, don't devote so much time to finding reasons to hate it, devote your time to something else productive instead of "oh look at what they *might* be doing now!!!".
I know one thing, you aren't going to affect the people who already like Microsoft/Xbox and are planning on buying the new console anyway.
And I am withholding judgment on any new console until after release.

 

[GoaThief]

Advertising doesn't really excite me but I find it more acceptable that a type of reward system is being put in place for viewing the ads instead of just forcing them down my throat. MS might give a choice to view ads, which I can live with.

Um, there's no way to turn off the random ads that take up a minimum of 20% (and up to 50%) of the screen at all times that an actual application isn't booted up with the CURRENT xBox.

Why are you supposing the new one's going to be lighter on them?

There is a way to remove the ads on 360, block them at router level. Add rad.msn.com to a filter list in Open DNS or similar.

You're welcome. ;-)

 

[GoaThief]

imagine if Jehovah's Witnesses started handing out badges and cookies

THEY HAND OUT COOKIES?!?!?!

WHERE IS THE NEAREST JEHOVAH WITNESS?!?

I don't know about you, but I'm just going to try and seduce Jehovah's Witnesses the next time they show up at my door. At worst, they'll just leave me alone forever, and at best.....

OT: Eh, this really won't have that big an effect in the grand scheme of things. Both the people who were going to buy an XBOX one are such rabid fanboys that even if it released live hornets into their houses, they'd buy it anyway.

Or largely ignorant of what the Xbone 180 actually is compared to it's predecessors.

On a slightly off topic note; I was once in a punk rock band that featured a Jehovah's Witness as the lead singer. Tattoos of Jesus, H.R. Giger and everything. True story.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

I can see lots of people doing this:

1) Turn on Xbox.

2) Unplug Xbox from TV.

I suppose MS could use the Kinect they've shoved down everyone's throats to see whether people are still in the room, but that would be too Orwellian even for...

A additional step is required.

3) Create dummy to fool Kinect using pillows and old clothes (bonus points if a Guy Fawkes mask is used as the face).

 

[Guy from the 80's]

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.

 

[Nemusus]

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.

Well, isn't that kind of the point? Consoles are supposed to be for the consumer's use. It's the whole reason people are so pissed off at Microsoft- XBox One isn't for the consumer, it's for the publishers and advertisers. It's a system designed to bring revenue to Microsoft, and that's about it. Why the hell shouldn't we be pissed off that Microsoft has blindly assumed we'll be buying their piece of crap? Sure, they may have dropped all their DRM bullshit, but the fact that they even tried to implement such anti-consumer policies in the first place is just proof that they assume we'll buy whatever they try and shovel down our throats. So why the hell should we not be pissed that that's how Microsoft view their consumer?

 

[Ragsnstitches]

Well, to sum up my thoughts on this I offer you this:


I honestly can't believe how detached MS are from their consumer base... and how quickly the consumer base will just accept this.

 

[Guy from the 80's]

Well, isn't that kind of the point? Consoles are supposed to be for the consumer's use. It's the whole reason people are so pissed off at Microsoft- XBox One isn't for the consumer, it's for the publishers and advertisers. It's a system designed to bring revenue to Microsoft, and that's about it. Why the hell shouldn't we be pissed off that Microsoft has blindly assumed we'll be buying their piece of crap? Sure, they may have dropped all their DRM bullshit, but the fact that they even tried to implement such anti-consumer policies in the first place is just proof that they assume we'll buy whatever they try and shovel down our throats. So why the hell should we not be pissed that that's how Microsoft view their consumer?

(Forstarters would I like to say that saying as the person I quoted, that people who buy Xbox ONE are tools is just being an idiot)

I think it is for some consumers, just like its not for some consumers. Personally I cant see any reason to not buy the console, and despite all the nerd rage its probably going to sell well. But in the end I guess we have to wait and see how it goes. One thing is sure though, that if all the overly negative critics are wrong....well they are just probably going to become even more negative.

added : Even at the first presentation I thought it looked good. Everyone was focusing on the TV part "OMG NO, it has a tv feature its not a gaming platform" (ad nauseam) and the internet thing. The new interface is a natural evolution of the current system and it is a step in the right direction. A console thats also a home entertainment system? Yes please. Always on-line? Not a problem.