And so ends the “Summer of Mattrick”, not with a bang, but a silent ride off into the Farmville sunset.
Gametrailers is reporting that Don Mattrick, president of Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, is leaving the company to be the new CEO at Zynga, parent company of every game with a -Ville at the end of it. One has to wonder that even though it is a CEO position is it really a better job than basically being the head of the Xbox division at Microsoft?
Mattrick’s move comes after a few months of his…let’s say… inability to word things correctly when it came to the media and the Xbox One. From saying that whoever did not have the internet could just buy an Xbox 360 or complete lack of tact talking about our military, Mattrick has been one of the main reasons for Microsoft’s PR woes since the announcement of the system. Now the company has done a complete reverse on most of the unpopular policies for their new console and Mattrick is on his way out the door. Could this signal better days ahead leading to the [amazon_link id=”B00CMQTVK0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Xbox One[/amazon_link] launch?
Let’s all just take a moment and enjoy this, how about it?
What started as a rumor reported by Giant Bomb has now been confirmed by several articles, the most prominent coming from IGN: Microsoft has decided to rethink the always online / game pass code / no used games / rivers of blood / dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria protocols for their upcoming console. They did, however, still have this cryptic piece of info regarding when you first hook your console up:
“After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again,” Microsoft wrote. “There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360. Playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.”
…what the ^#*@ does that mean? Will people with absolutely NO internet connection still be able to play? Does the list of “launch countries” still hold weight for people who want to import a console? Still, it is nice that they finally backed down from their previous stance on the subject, which was essentially to give all detractors both middle fingers while doing the heli-cockter. As an added bonus, this will apparently not change the plan to have Xbox One games available for day-one download as well as retail purchase.
To acknowledge just how off-base and out-of-touch these ideas were, I give you Microsoft’s Don Mattrick:
“Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One. You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world.”
“These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold.”
“We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.”
The Nerds are certainly glad to hear this news, and it has genuinely changed how some of us are going to approach this holiday launch season. Of course, I have to imagine the general atmosphere around Microsoft offices is a little something like this today:
Conspiracy Corner
*Cue X-Files Theme*
Right now, I feel a slight sense of euphoria. I feel like “We did it! We stuck it to the man!” …but what if that’s exactly what they WANT us to feel? It would explain just how lost and unprofessional their entire E3 presence seemed. They let a rep openly dismiss the idea that alienating active military personnel was a bad thing, for heaven’s sake. This way, they get to instantly switch from the Big Bad Dickheads to the guys who “appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity.” Also, last time I checked, something as integral to the system operation (according to them, at least) wouldn’t seem quite so easy to just scrap five months before launch. I’m a tin-foil-hat believer on this one; how about you?
Well at least Microsoft is being reasonable about one thing. They have announced that first-party games from their development studios will cost $59.99. Some have wondered if the high price of development would be cause for a price hike to $69.99, but it seems we are safe for now.
Who else thinks it would just be funny as all hell if Sony announced tomorrow that games for the PS4 would be $49.99 just to f*** with Microsoft more? Won’t happen, but still…
Take a look a Microsoft’s big money deal with Pepsi and realize that as absolutely stupid as this may seem, it is still a smarter business move than anything Microsoft did this week at E3.
How would you get one of these Xbox One “packages”? Just go here and tell Major Nelson why you want this future heart attack at 55 more than anyone else. You should just tell him that you walk around with a t-shirt that says “If you don’t like DRM, you are a tool”.
Now, if you do not have an internet connection, Microsoft is suggesting that you take your poor ass to Wal-Mart and buy your own Mountain Dew and Doritos and don’t even look at these special ones with your dirty, grimy, hobo sack on a stick lives.
A visual look at the officially supported Xbox One “launch” countries.
The Facts
All of the ins-and-outs around the Xbox One’s always-online requirements are slowly coming to the surface as E3 wears on, and the latest update is Microsoft’s announcement that only a select list of countries will have full XBox Live support at launch. Since the release of the list, gamers (and even developers) in unsupported countries have been curious as to what happens if they just pick up a console from across the border. The official response from the Xbox Support twitter feed? “Unsupported countries would not have the full experience, and may not work.”
So who are the lucky winners in Microsoft’s global denial-of-service agenda? The full list of launch countries is below.
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States
The Opinion
Is this a fucking joke? Japan isn’t on your little list? JAPAN?! I’m sure Hideo Kojima is real glad MGS V is mutli-platform after this turn of events. Also absent is Poland, home of Witcher 3 developer CD Projekt Red. Their co-founder and joint CEO Marcin Iwinski spoke with Game Informer about his country’s absence: “I was just in a restaurant and saw the list. I was surprised, and I really hope that it isn’t final. I think Polish gamers will speak out loud. From my perspective, it’s a sad situation.” Also absent is the Ukraine, where Metro developers 4A Games is based; I took that one a little personally, I’ll admit. I would like to hope that community backlash might make Microsoft rethink their position, but considering earlier today one of their reps essentially said “Fuck You” concerning active military servicemen not having access to constant internet connections, I doubt it. I’ll also go on the record as saying that this is a way in which they are trying to combat the server loads (and crashes) that are sure to arise from their new system. I hope it’s worth it, assholes.
OK, so Sony basically turned their press conference into a prison rape scene from OZ the other night. But it’s not lost Microsoft. Just stay on point and keep focused on games and above all else, for the love of God, don’t say anything stupid.
Shit, who let Don Mattrick talk again?
Geoff Keighley at GameTrailers interviewed Mattrick about the always online aspect of the Xbox One and what this means for people without internet connection.
Check this shit out:
“Fortunately we have a product for people who aren’t able to get some form of connectivity; it’s called Xbox 360. If you have zero access to the Internet, that is an offline device.”
It gets even better when you hear of Mattrick’s loving way of saying that our military personnel would not be able to play their favorite games on an Xbox One.
“Seriously, when I read the blogs and thought about who’s really the most impacted there was a person who said, ‘Hey I’m on a nuclear sub.’ And I don’t even know what it means to be on a nuclear sub but I’ve got to imagine it’s not easy to get an internet connection. But hey, I can empathise; if I was on a sub I’d be disappointed.”
Doesn’t it make you all warm and fuzzy inside?
You should do yourself a favor and listen to the entire interview here.
“Free to play?!” I hear you exclaiming as your hearts get all a flutter with anticipation.
Pull it back a bit and let me explain. Didn’t you notice the asterisk in the title.
Yes, Killer Instinct will be free to play on day one on the Xbox One…with one character. When you download the game you will be given Jago for free to combo people’s asses to your heart’s content. Then if you want any additional characters get ready for microtransactions up the ass. Each character can be bought individually or in packs. Microsoft did not discuss pricing of the characters or if you will be able to just purchase every character in one fail swoop (you know, like buying the actual game).
Now while I do see the benefits of the one character, free-to-play model, something about this just doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe it is just because of Microsoft’s whole message as a whole with the Xbox One and when you hear about KI get microtransactioned to hell…I don’t know. Maybe it is just me.
With new consoles come the inevitable third-party accessories, but Nyko showed off one at E3 that actually caught my eye.
This is the Nyko Smart Clip and it is a simple idea that will most likely find its way into my living room. It is a plastic clip that attaches to either your PS4 or Xbox One controllers and had a rubberized grip that can hold any iPhone, Android, Windows or Blackberry phone as you game. With the integration of Smartglass and other second screen experiences, the Smart Clip looks like a useful option.
Also for someone, like me, that texts while gaming this is a huge help. Thanks Nyko!
The Nyko Smart Clip will release this fall. No price was given.
While I will readily say that Sony stole the E3 show last night, I was still very impressed with the games that Microsoft brought to the table at their press conference. The lineup was equally as strong as Sony’s (with Sony pulling ahead because of all the indie support) and the game that impressed me vastly was Ryse: Son of Rome. The Crytek developed action game has you in the role of Marius Titus as you lead the Roman army back to glory.
And how exactly will you accomplish this? Why by epic, brutal, bloody combat! The demo shown at E3 had a very “Roman Saving Private Ryan” feel as they storm the beach as arrows spill down around you. Combat looks to be a mix of real-time slashing and quick-time, eye-wincing kills delivered with your sword, shield or even sandal.
The game is stunning to watch the entire time and shows that Crytek has a firm grasp on next-gen gaming. But then again, it is Crytek, so no surprise there.
Ryse: Son of Rome will be a launch day title only on Xbox One.
Damn you, Microsoft. Damn you, all of you. I went into the Microsoft press conference hard pressed that I was going to wait to get an Xbox One and you had to go and throw Killer Instinct in my face.
RIGHT IN MY FACE!
I have very few weak spots as a gamer in my hard heart, but Killer Instinct is definitely one of them. The 30 second video has KI stalwarts Jago, Glacius and Sabrewulf putting out the combos on each other with ferocity. I got goosebumps when I heard the ever familiar ULLTRAAA COMMMMBOOOO. And as we all know, goosebumps are akin to tears for a nerd.
Killer Instinct releases this fall only on Xbox One.
