Mr. GOH!

Sure, they might. But MS stock has not really dropped all that much in the short term, and it's up year-over-year. MS's stock performance doesn't suggest that investors are mad enough that there will be public executions of middle management to save the asses of the executives, especially in a company as big as Microsoft.

If I were a publisher or developer, I would want to limit digital game sharing, even the time-sharing eleven suggests. Doubly so if it's enabled by a platform that routinely offers massive discounts on my games. I mean, c'mon; I've gotten games for $15 that were released mere months previously for $60.

Ethan: If the waiver is in the form of a click-through to an Xbone update reinstating some limited form of DRM, I'd give it pretty good odds of being enforced at the federal level. Not sure at the state level. But, anyway, MS won't do it like that. They won't suddenly require an online check-in for all existing software and hardware that will render customers' Xbones useless without checking in or what have you. Instead, MS will require some sort of check-in or DRM for new features or games. MS will market these features and games heavily, and they may end up being quite good games or features, so that customers will opt into the feature once they already have the Xbone. A spoonful of sugar will make the medicine of DRM go down much more easily. Much like current consoles, both the PS4 and Xbone will be noticeably less feature-rich while offline. I mean, it just feels sad whenever I turn on my current-gen consoles while they're offline. And since I don't really buy used games, this news about the Xbone doesn't really affect my preliminary decision to not buy an Xbone. ETA: Thursday, do you really think enough consumers know who Mattrick is to justify any sort of P.R. move on MS's part making him the bad guy?

It does seem odd that MS is making digital less of a value proposition while simultaneously removing the more onerous DRM. I mean, both MS and Sony WANT folks to migrate to digital, and I am certain that people will, eventually. They way to do it is to ease consumers into digital by making it a good proposition on your console when compared with physical retail discs on the same console. It happened on PC, so there's no reason it can't happen on console. MS just fucked up its strategy with the ridiculous DRM and phoning home requirements on the Xbone. ETA: Easiest way to encourage digital for the Xbone/PS4: same-day AAA digital releases discounted $10 for digital versions.

Cloud computing can be accomplished without the console itself requiring daily updates. In fact, the only real effect the daily check-on would have had is rendering offline games unplayable if you're not connected to the internet for more than 24 hours. That's an awfully hard thing to explain to consumers as a consumer-positive.

Is that really gonna be enough to drive sales to a profitable margin though? I think people are really underestimating the power of word of mouth. Just because a person doesn't play a whole lot of video games, chances are they probably know at least one person who knows the scene that they'll talk about it with. I honestly think about 95% of my friends have consulted me before buying a console. If somebody tells me they're buying an X-Box next gen, damn sure I'll be droppin some knowledge on them. Yes, over time. A shitload of teenagers with well-off parents will want and get it because they don't give a rat's ass about the price. Folks enamored with the kinect will happily buy it. Folks who can be swayed by Best Buy salesfolks will buy the Xbone. People who have to justify the cost to their families, significant others, whatever will buy it because they can argue it has extra functionality everyone can enjoy. There are lots of non-vocal target demographics out there who will drive the Xbone's sales. The target Xbone demo isn't going to be single dude gamers in their 20's; the word of mouth among that demo will remain bad. But it's not a huge demo, and mainstream acceptance will work in the Xbone's favor. ETA: that pastebin article makes tons of sense. I would not be at all surprised if MS wanted to emulate Steam's success. But I would be surprised if it offers deeply discounted sales with the regularity and breadth of Steam's.

Get a new wife, Vecha; she's clearly not a keeper. Or just get a TV for your PC gaming.

MJ: the casual audience includes many folks for whom $500 is not an unreasonable amount to spend on a console they'll use only occasionally.

Yeah. Seems to me that sales for the first year each console has been or will be available, will show PS4 in first place, Xbone in a medium-to-close second, and Wii U a somewhat distant third.

Stuck in Saint's Row 3. I think I'm in the second chapter, essentially. The Big Bad is a gang of guys in luchador masks. The only missions available are from the pimp with the vocoder, a female nerd and a boxer. Every single mission seems to just be a way to introduce the player to boring and,a t times, frustrating minigames. Maybe I was spoiled by going through some of the DLC first, but these missions have all been really bland. And I've been through at least six of them, and there appears to be no end in sight. Where's the zaniness promised in the opening hour of the game?

The PS3 did not fail, though. And the Xbone has more tech bling than the PS3 ever had. ETA: And the launch Xbone is still cheaper than the launch PS3 was!

Just backed this for $100. House GOH! shall conquer all.

The reviews indicate that the gameplay is mostly combat or optional stealth. Which is kind of what I expect. What did you expect the gameplay to consist of aside from combat and optional stealth?

Well, ThursdayNext, that is because you are a grade-A sucker. Ain't nothing a PS4 can do that my PC can't, except play a few exclusives about which I care not a whit. Though the release date will certainly matter, you're correct. I do think that the Xbone may risk a half-baked release; it may take months for MS to get its non-gaming media, social and otherwise, services up to speed. This is not necessarily what's going to happen, but there already have been several big tech product launches in which the core device is ready but several critical services are not. Such a release won't capture the kind of people who jizz their jeans over the Xbone's tepid promised media services

I want this game, but I have no time until July. I also am not fond of paying $60 for a game. PC gaming has spoiled me.

The Xbone will not fail. There are more than enough upper-middle-class folks who just do not give a shit about DRM, used game restrictions, online requirements, and the higher price tag. Hell, the higher price tag may signal that the Xbone is a superior piece of hardware to a good many consumers, especially families making over $150k a year. Just look at how tech sites like Gizmodo blew their proverbial wads over the Xbone because of its weaksauce multimedia functionality. Yes, it's half-measure bullshit, but people fucking LOVE half-measure bullshit when it's shiny and new-seeming. The PS4 will do well among gamers under 30. Gamers over 30 with money either will play on PC (like goddamn bosses) and gets both consoles eventually.

That last shot of the season is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable. HBO knows exactly what the fuck it's doing re: Danaerys's hubris.

Ethan: yes, that Kotaku comment was written by an idiot who did not read the article. Par for the course.

The Xbone will use "the cloud" for persistent gameworlds, storing of profile and saved game data, serving "digital" games, and that's it. 'The cloud" is just corporate-speak for "a shitload of servers." I hate both the term "digital" when it means "no hard copy," and "the cloud." ETA: people disappointed by the Xbone who then turn to the Wii U as their hardcore console gaming savior are morons.

Oh, great, an MMO light zombie shooter with skyhooks. *BIGGEST MOTHERFUCKING YAWN EVER*

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Tina would never date you, W&S.

Looking over the cart Dean posted, I am happy to see no need to buy a new console to enjoy the games I want to play. Damn it feels good to be a PC gamer.

Why is everyone mad? I thought the consensus is that MS fucked up and the PS4 will be a solid console.

It is clear that the Wii U version has vastly improved game mechanics, gameplay and writing.