Xbox One

[CRTGAMER]

The DRM on steam looks to be close to what the xbone will have, with the exception of the online check. However, to really take advantage of the convenience of steam, you need to be online.

I don't like evrything they are doing, such as forced kinect integration, and the used game policy may be a mistake, but I find it interesting for some to say 'what, no used games? Time to get the Steambox!'

The games are cheaper, the service is better with more functionality and it doesn't cost a monthly fee. That's why people are up in arms about the Xbox One. It has worse features, costs a monthly fee to use and will cause the cost of gaming to increase.

Wait what? I buy an Xbox One game and then pay a monthly fee for Live online access to keep playing it. Change that buy to rent with Microsoft deciding when to drop support shutting down a "rented" game.

[Krejlooc]

A console is useful as it has defined specifications that can be used for game optimization. Your games will never be incompatible with hardware.

Really? Try running some of those early accolade and EA games on a later model Genesis. How well does any VC games run on the Wii Mini? How do you play Guitar Hero on a DS Lite?

[Jmustang1968]

A console is useful as it has defined specifications that can be used for game optimization. Your games will never be incompatible with hardware.

Really? Try running some of those early accolade and EA games on a later model Genesis. How well does any VC games run on the Wii Mini? How do you play Guitar Hero on a DS Lite?

Yeah lets take a few obscure exceptions and make it the rule. Are you just trying to be contradictory for the fun of it and impress everyone with these minor bits of trivia?

All those also ran on their intended original hardware.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I don't think TheSonicRetard is coming up with obscure examples. The Genesis thing has been a source of frustration for many retro gamers without a model 1. Recently, we've all seen how Wii games with GameCube controller support don't function as well on the newer Wii Minus (where the controller ports were removed). If we do want to get obscure, in my Tandy guide I touched on the fact that some older games don't work on newer systems. Point is, lots of software is still incompatible (either partially or completely) with hardware it's "supposed to" run on.

In general, console games are generally compatible with a given console, but the simple days of "pop it in and play" appear to be ending.

[Krejlooc]

A console is useful as it has defined specifications that can be used for game optimization. Your games will never be incompatible with hardware.

Really? Try running some of those early accolade and EA games on a later model Genesis. How well does any VC games run on the Wii Mini? How do you play Guitar Hero on a DS Lite?

Yeah lets take a few obscure exceptions and make it the rule. Are you just trying to be contradictory for the fun of it and impress everyone with these minor bits of trivia?

All those also ran on their intended original hardware.

Are you? Every difference pointed out between Steam and "console gaming" has been hand waved by you as "an exception" or "not fair." Example: We can't count external solutions inherent to the platform because they're not built into steam... despite the fact that Steam facilitates their inclusion via the open, non-invasive nature of the platform.

I mean, your point was supposed to be some sort of hardware standardization to ensure compatibility. That's the entire point of the steambox. So... your contention is what exactly?

I'm still not seeing any retort to the 24-hour reauthentication scheme, btw. Care to try and tackle that enormous difference?

[Jmustang1968]

Yeah you guys are listing a few examples that encompass maybe 1/2 of 1% of console games. Great you found a few hardware incompatibilities.

And no, I said 1 thing was unfair to compare, but well done on applying it to all of my arguments.

Steambox would ensure hardware compatibility, but the other poster was talking PCs in general, which has long been a complaint.

I also wasn't aware of any obligation to retort to every thing you bring up. I am no crusader for the XB1. I guess some how I am supposed to respond to everyyhing you post as if they were directed at me? I have some reservations about the news too, but it is too soon and on too little info to make final judgments.

Actually, I am one of the more PC centric gamers on this site, which typically has had a console leaning. I merely pointed out several pages ago that I found it interesting people were using the no used games issue as a reason to buy something else that has never allowed used games. Especially given the history that a lot of members have bashed on steam on this site. I have argued the benefits of PC many of times, and it is funny to see the roles reversed on here.

[Stark]

You should just take my approach by buying every console and having a PC that is at least current in the last 2 years. Then you don't have to worry about if you can play this exclusive or that one, or whether you have the hardware to play multiplat titles at the best resomolutions. (Somebody help me I have a sickness)

[BoneSnapDeez]

Actually, I have a suspicion that not being able to play used games on a PC doesn't bother a lot folks because the prices of (new/sealed) PC games tend to plummet in the years following launch. Just do some quick searching on Amazon - Trine is around $5, Divinity II is $8, Two Worlds is $1.50(!!!), etc... This isn't something we see with console games.

[BogusMeatFactory]

Actually, I have a suspicion that not being able to play used games on a PC doesn't bother a lot folks because the prices of (new/sealed) PC games tend to plummet in the years following launch. Just do some quick searching on Amazon - Trine is around $5, Divinity II is $8, Two Worlds is $1.50(!!!), etc... This isn't something we see with console games.

True. The game, The Cave goes on sale for crazy cheap prices on Steam and Amazon for more than 50%. I have yet to see it drop in price on the PS3/WiiU and it just came out a few months ago.

Not to mention the deals that pop up on Humble Indy Bundles. I am not gonna complain about buying new on PC. Plus, since when have we ever been able to buy used PC games? .....never. When have we been able to buy used console games? Forever.

[Curlypaul]

Actually, I have a suspicion that not being able to play used games on a PC doesn't bother a lot folks because the prices of (new/sealed) PC games tend to plummet in the years following launch. Just do some quick searching on Amazon - Trine is around $5, Divinity II is $8, Two Worlds is $1.50(!!!), etc... This isn't something we see with console games.

I think, that is the kernel of the complaint.

I'm one of the people that are suddenly more interested in PC (or Steambox) gaming after seeing the presentations on the new console platforms. And as much as I pefer physical releases to collect, I know that Steam offer great value for money.

At the minute we don't know what M$ will do in terms of costs for licence transferes, but I bet it won't be as cheap as Steam is. Why not I hear you cry? well take a look at the downloadable retail games on XBL, even when on sale I can still buy them on a disk for a third of the cost. Maybe M$ will suprise us all with a simple system at a fair cost, but we will have to wait and see.

For me its a wait and see game anyway as I only got a 360 6 months ago and I couldn't afford either machine at launch anyway.