Sony has upped their sales forecast for the PS4.

PS4 preorders are outpacing Xbone preorders with 3 sold to every 2 Xbone.    How many Xbone preorders are people doing what I did (and Soulchilde) by preordering as a precaution with intention to cancel if MS doesn't do a reversal?

Ok this wouldn't apply to me because I don't have this many friends period, much less over at my house at the same time....   

HOWEVER.... this disturbs and angers me just for the principle of the thing:

http://gamingtrend.com/2012/11/10/new-microsoft-patent-to-limit-kinect-audience-raises-concerns/

do NSA agents get to watch you have sex on the couch?

This was a post over on Octopus Overlords by Gavin.   I thought it summarized the situation nicely:

Let's not forget that Microsoft's desire to push cloud processing into the market will mean that not only are you going to need a decent connection, but you're going to need one for even single player games. I can't imagine a future where lag becomes a factor in single player experiences and yet Microsoft is setting the stage for that just because they want to force their cloud computing on developers/publishers.

I think it's important to note that the Xbone will be fun. It'll have good games and when everything works it'll be just like old times. But the problem afoot is that they've actively taken the steps to take control and choice away from the customer. When we have alternatives like the PS4 and computers it really just doesn't make sense to pay them more for things we don't want. While no single step (except the preowned games bit) are specifically death blows to the console, it's the combination of all of them that each put them at a slightly greater disadvantage. At the end of the day, I look at the ps4 and the Xbone that are competing for the same market space and I don't see any victory on MS's side this time around.

It's ridiculous. The ps3/360 generation made me think that Sony had no idea what customers wanted and suddenly with this generation they're responding in real time to our complaints with Microsoft. It shows they've changed and recognise who ultimately pays their bills. They even got our humor right with things like the instructional video on how to transfer preowned games. A company expressing humor has been a rare thing, but they're doing ok at it and that's surprising. Microsoft not only isn't getting us, but they're solving problems we don't have.

1. I have no desire/neet to run my cable through any other box before it gets to my TV. That's just another step for me. My DVR already records up to four channels and shows recorded it are playable anywhere in the house. Hell, my cable company allows me to watch any of my shows, live, from any internet streaming device.

2. Microsoft's dashboard is infuriating. Say what you will about the ps3 but the dashboard is clean and simple. Very easy to navigate. The 360 has a really cluttered environment that we have no control over and it is stuffed full of ads that so much as hovering over will blast a trailer/commercial your way. This meant my ps3 was my main media source and my 360 only saw action for the kinect of the few exclusives it had.

3. Pushing cloud computing for all games means Always Online DRM. They're the same thing. The fact that they purposely targeted weaker hardware just to push this feature AND are charging us more is insulting.

4. Forced kinect use. It is required during regular gameplay and is always on if your Xbox is anything other than completely powered off (not the sleep mode that it'll go to by default). Microsoft says that you can change the privacy settings but we have no way of knowing if maybe we missed a setting that still sends information or if they'll do what Facebook has done a few times where all the privacy settings got reset without you knowing and all the data gets sent then. If all games have to use kinect, what kind of stupid and gimmicky features will even good games try to throw in at the behest of microsoft? Either way, the fact that you can't turn it off while using the system is just Microsoft forcing something on consumers because they believe it's the way to go. Shame on them.

5. The 2 new games per month for Gold membership lie/misdirect. They clearly marketed this to detract from Sony's deal. See, PS+ members have been getting a really great list of high-profile titles for free ($50/year) for over a year now as well as access to a lot of neat features. The one-game per month thing just keeps happening and sometimes it's more. The fact that Microsoft announced that and hid the fact that it ends this December brings to mind the thinly veiled deceit that a company like EA would pull to justify doing something wrong.

6. The cost: Weaker machine = $500, the more powerful machine = $400. Sure, the kinect comes with the $500 but there's no choice in the matter.

7. Used Games shenanigans: Microsoft has created a tool that will give companies like EA the power to make sure we never own a game again. Instead, we're paying for a non-transferrable membership that allows us to play a game. That ability to give away a game? That's only if the developer allows it.

8. Hardware: Both systems have access to cloud computing (Gaikai for Sony) so Microsoft's promise of cloud computing doubling/tripling the system performance is a red herring. The PS4 is estimated to be around 50% more powerful than the Xbone. You and I won't really notice a difference there. I don't think so anyways. But developers will and we certainly won't see poorer performance on the ps4 since it's the same architecture as the Xbone and PCs. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digit ... s-xbox-one

Sony isn't even expecting to take a hit per console like they did with the ps3 so that the Xbone came in so weak is ridiculous. This is microsoft, they had the partners to make cost efficient hardware. There's really no exuce.

9. Their competitor, Sony, is providing every reason to give them a shot. They're trying to get out of the customers way and just let us enjoy the thing in our way. The only negatives with them are things Microsoft is doing too or already has been doing and it makes sense.

10. Microsoft's promiscuity. By making all these anti-consumer/privacy concern issues defineable at the developer/publisher level, they are essentially making Xbone owners also trust every company that microsoft is in bed with. I do not put it past EA to try to collect information we don't want them having that we wave away with some pre-game license agreement.

Both consoles have great exclusives though I also prefer Sony's titles. But everything preceding this would have been enough to make me pass on the Xbone, at least for the first several years, even if they had a noticeable advantage. But as is, for me, all roads lead to Sony.

Either there are fewer games getting coverage at E3 this year....or I'm just really bored of what I'm reading (on various sites). 

Just read a horrible story on Joystiq, talking about Disgaea D2 (I'm interested in said game), that literally had one sentence of real information buried among five paragraphs of fluff.   So damn bored this E3.

Sony kicked Microshaft's ass.

But I echo Lordnine.    You people get on the ball and leave your gates open for an hour per night or something.    I love the adventure of going to another town to see what goodies that person has collected and displayed.   I also love checking their stores for items I need.

MSDuncan is the only person I ever seem to catch online.  He has cooler stuff than I do. 

To make up for this I built a dead-fall in front of his house and then stole his pears... 

lol

It helps if people leave their 3DS going with the gates open (plugged into AC power) while they eat dinner, do other activities, etc.    It doesn't hurt the DS and it allows people time to come visit.    That has been my policy each evening.

I haven't gotten far enough where I can open my town yet, but I'm loving this one so far. Tom Nook is still a horrible creature.

Be sure and post your friend code.     Then be sure to open your town gate when you are hanging out in your town so we can come join you.

what if my Net is down for a few days?

Allow me fellas.   /clears throat

They have a console for that.    Xbox 360

Mine is also open.

Concerning preordering from Amazon:

I have my orders set up as Second Day shipping.    Does this mean I get it the day after release day, or it ships the day after release day and I get it a few days later?

I really hate having to wait a few days after launch for something like this, but I can't swallow the Gamestop usual tricks of bundling the hell out of these machines.    So my first instinct was to preorder both of them from Amazon.

Cheesy video, but it shows the PS4 interface and community features.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OegYm1dM9g

The irony here:

1.   PS4 has a video of a guy that is having trouble with a game and references a girl's uploaded video to help himself out.

2.  Microsoft puts a girl on stage for some sort of strange spectacle where she is made fun of for being an inferior 'girl gamer' followed by implications that she is being 'raped'.

I'm still leaning PS4.    I have both on Preorder and I'm holding Hark personally responsible for having me rooting through my closet and attic taking stock of what I can sell to raise money to own both.

Info on the Day One Achievement:

"DRM Cowboy!"

ARE YOU SERIOUS MICROSOFT??

GamingTrend just tweeted that a Microsoft executive was asked about the opposition to 'always online', and his response was 'stick with 360'.

They are making it extraordinarily hard to hand over 500 bucks to them by being total dicks.

While I can't deny that MS did some really stupid shit here, I also can't get behind the complete doom and gloom.  Personally the biggest negatives (other than price) that people have given it don't even affect me.  I'd be fine with a digital only atmosphere of no used games and always on.

I've had mostly good interactions with Microsoft support and I've had absolutely abysmal interactions with Sony support every time.  That's enough for me to still be on the route to grab the Xbox instead.

Damnit Hark, don't do this to me!     It's a testament to how much fun it is to game with you, Kato, and the usual crew that I read this message and it has me considering turning my decision on it's head and going with the Xbox.   

Maybe I need to start liquidating some stuff to raise money and just get both of the darned things if I can scrounge enough up.

Lordnine, could it be that you haven't added me as a friend yet?    Or perhaps I just missed you online.

I haven't really done anything yet but my city doors are open to visitors.  Just curious how visiting works right now.

I looked for your town, but I can't find it.      I have opened my doors for visitors and will leave it open while I go and eat dinner.

Wait... come again?   PS4 is region free??

Seriously?

MS, probably figured that they were MS and could do what they want...
Realistically, even though it seems that Sony one this round, I have no doubts that the XB1 will still have massive sales, thus reinforcing MS's position.. (PS4 will have massive sales as well)

If you read the rumors, MS has been caught very flat footed this gen - supposedly they have only been working on the Xbone for 2 years vs. 4 years for Sony. In addition, they supposedly approached publishers about the DRM, rather than the other way around. Just rumors, though.

That is the absolutely stupidest thing that you could possibly do if true. Why would you ask the publishers what they'd want when they're so extremely biased about used games?

Not that they asked them what they wanted - MS wanted a cut of used game sales, so they proposed this mode to the publishers.

Yes...remember we are on back peddle #3 by Microsoft.

When it was first mentioned it was implied that you would have to pay Microsoft a fee for used game activation.   When that got a violent reaction they said 'nah... we will let you trade it once to friends who you have on your list for 30 days'.    Then another back peddle today --  we will leave it up to publishers or something.

The motivation all along was that Microsoft wanted to grab money on used games.  Pure and simple.   Everything since has been a back peddle.

Preordered but I'll reserve judgment on the drm issue.  Can't believe MS added all that drm and Sony don't have to play by the same rules. 

or MS didn't add the DRM in exchange for some concessions we didn't hear about yet.  Even though they're getting my money I'll freely admit that MS's strategy is just batshit crazy.

Don't make the mistake I made some years ago.   I bought the PS3 at launch because I was determined to pick the titan that couldn't be beat from the previous generation.   I was quickly proven wrong and the Xbox 360 took over.    

This time around, it's exactly opposite.   I will NOT make that mistake again.   PS4 for me.

Preordered but I'll reserve judgment on the drm issue.  Can't believe MS added all that drm and Sony don't have to play by the same rules. 

Perhaps they followed the strategy I suggested in the Sony thread:

1.  Come out swinging at DRM and draconian used game policies
2.  Clearly win consumers and momentum for console
3.  Publishers have to drop objections because of the popularity of the console.   They aren't going to miss out on that much revenue from 1 of 2 successful consoles, let along the most successful selling console
4.  Watch whatever price point MS comes out with and immediately lower theirs by $100

Preordered PS4 from Amazon just a second ago.

Game over Xbox One.

HOLY SHIT.   $399 at launch!!!!!

It's not strictly an FPS.  It's an MMO.

GOD.  I am so *IN* on this game.   TO THE HILT.

It has loot.   I'm in.

Destiny game play debut coming up

engadget critics declaring Sony victory with those two statements.  

Crowd went utterly crazy.

Sony just brought the house down saying NO NEW RESTRICTIONS ON USED GAMES.

Anyone keeping score on actual launch titles?   So far I'm counting like 5 maybe?

ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE

Holy crap this game looks cool.

watchdogs does look good though.   

I hate to say this, but this is like a 4th quarter comeback for Microsoft.    Everything being shown by Sony is either 2014, or something that looks like it could be running on a PS3.

It was legitimately freezing.   Engadget folks talking about it.

Was that guy introducing these trailers from Superman's fortress of solitude or something?    

Wow.  Uh... this Final Fantasy game ACTUALLY looks *good*!