The XBox One Trainwreck Continues: Mandatory Region Locking Confirmed - Polidicks

[QUOTE=RoboChimp;40799933]They had VCRs that could play NTSC VHS on PAL TVs, so it's no excuse.[/QUOTE] IIRC there were peculiar formats like PAL-SECAM that caused huge problems with a lot of TVs/VCRs. Most of those limitations were because of the format. A lot of the multiformat TVs and VCRs didn't exist until late into the game. Also in those days there were distributors for films in most countries that were the 'exclusive agents' for companies. This is the reason that a lot of music is region-locked on YouTube and why certain movies and games are unable to be found online. It is also the reason some TV shows cannot be found on DVD (because it isn't possible to secure rights for the music originally used as the contracts didn't take future formats into account). Even for software companies like Adobe, they had to go through a multitude of distributors to get their software sold around the world; since their move to cloud-only a few weeks back they will probably make far more money by cutting out the "physical distribution" side of things. There were 'regional' versions of Photoshop etc that supported specific language fonts. So if you wanted to do work in a different language, you would need a specific version of the software. [editline]27th May 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Makol;40799953]I'm actually surprised someone actually acknowledged this. So many people I know refuse to believe the game was ever a RTS or a Mac exclusive back in its early development.[/QUOTE] Well I started gaming on a mac a long time ago so I did briefly play Marathon (of which Halo was the spiritual successor) which is how I know. There were a lot of nice games around that time like Damage Inc: [video=youtube;HlA2ULmn2UM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlA2ULmn2UM[/video] But even Damage Inc was multiplatform, so was Future Cop L.A.P.D. (it included both the mac and PC copies on the same disc). It just seems like we've moved backwards in time from having 'good' games multiplatform. If a game is 'good' there is nothing that should stop it selling on multiple platforms (granted Mac has generally been a shitty platform for games except for back in the day)

[QUOTE=nigerianprince;40799900]PC? Call of Duty started on PC and became multiplatform. Halo was pretty much a mac game before Microsoft bought it out and was multiplatform for the first 2 releases. Gran Turismo is a game that is exclusive to the Playstation (and in this day and age makes no sense being exclusive) Forza is an xbox exclusive (again, no reason for it to be) Especially for simulation titles like Gran Turismo and Forza the PC offers a much better experience (multi monitor support without buying 3 xboxs and also you can use a far larger range of controllers as well as devices like TrackIR). I think there was a point where GPUs on computers were too expensive and 'specialist' for games to become as mass-market as they are now, but we passed that point long ago. Both the xbox and PS4 are being made from what are pretty much PC components. Once developers are able to exercise more independence from publishers (which they can do on platforms like Steam or GoG) we'll start to see things move to multiplatform. IMHO, the fatal flaw of the gaming community is continuing to support devices that empower modern-day publishers. If you want better games, support developers instead.[/QUOTE] I'd love to play Forza, or GT5 on my PC But I can't, can I? What about Red Dead Redemption, or at least for a few months, the new GTA5? And even if I can get said games on PC, what if I want to take it to a friend's place? All I have to do is take the small box and hook it up to their TV. Ever been to a LAN Party with PCs? It's just a hassle unhooking and hooking all this shit up, it isn't really viable to play on with your mates in the same place unless they also have their own. A console is great for some fun on a weekend with your buds and it's simple and easy to just take where ever, almost like a laptop. But there are only a couple to choose from, and they both have some bullshit that nobody likes, but we don't have a choice but to put up with it if we want a console

[QUOTE=nigerianprince;40799972] Well I started gaming on a mac a long time ago [/QUOTE] Same here. My first game was Myst on Mac.

[QUOTE=TheTalon;40799998]I'd love to play Forza, or GT5 on my PC But I can't, can I? What about Red Dead Redemption, or at least for a few months, the new GTA5? And even if I can get said games on PC, what if I want to take it to a friend's place? All I have to do is take the small box and hook it up to their TV. Ever been to a LAN Party with PCs? It's just a hassle unhooking and hooking all this shit up, it isn't really viable to play on with your mates in the same place[/QUOTE] Oh I know about the hassle. I only bought an Xbox 360 just so I could play Halo 3 with my best friend (we had played Halo 1 and Halo 2 on co-op mode). Then to get Red Dead Redemption (it was banned where I lived) I had to buy another xbox (the first one broke) and pay about $250 for 2 copies of the game so we could play with our consoles on LAN (the game was good, multiplayer was completely shit). Compared to my experience playing on Steam/PC; we just buy the games we want on Steam bypassing the regional pricing/restrictions and play via LAN or online (mostly online but at the same house). In fact if someone comes over and wants to play some shitty game like MW2 they just log onto their steam account on a PC. TBH, the experience of playing with friends online on PC has always resulted in being far more fun for me. I don't think I'll ever purchase another console. There are always new games coming out (either AAA titles or independent games). Even now in a different country its easy to play with friends that live all over the world with pretty much complete ease compared to a console experience (a lot of that is due to things like independent VoIP services like Mumble).

This affects me how? Oh it doesnt. This console is still absolutely fine for people who just want to have a mess about on BF4/Fifa. As is the PS4.

Meanwhile at Sony : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON-7v4qnHP8[/media]

[QUOTE=nigerianprince;40799972]IIRC there were peculiar formats like PAL-SECAM that caused huge problems with a lot of TVs/VCRs. Most of those limitations were because of the format. A lot of the multiformat TVs and VCRs didn't exist until late into the game. Also in those days there were distributors for films in most countries that were the 'exclusive agents' for companies. This is the reason that a lot of music is region-locked on YouTube and why certain movies and games are unable to be found online. It is also the reason some TV shows cannot be found on DVD (because it isn't possible to secure rights for the music originally used as the contracts didn't take future formats into account). Even for software companies like Adobe, they had to go through a multitude of distributors to get their software sold around the world; since their move to cloud-only a few weeks back they will probably make far more money by cutting out the "physical distribution" side of things. There were 'regional' versions of Photoshop etc that supported specific language fonts. So if you wanted to do work in a different language, you would need a specific version of the software.[/QUOTE]"Cloud-only" is the reason I stopped using Adobe stuff. Region locking only drives people to pirate content.

[QUOTE=chukkyjr;40798812]lol i think MS is paid by Sony to literally do this shit, how can someone shot himself more than one time?[/QUOTE] They've probably lost all notion of human customer and are just seeing us as floating moneybags. They probably looked at the demographic with the most potential, said fuck it and released a full console about them rather than the original target demographic. As for the whole DRM thing, they probably realized it's generally better to aim your console at tools who are ready to waste gigantic amounts of needless money into your system because they are easier to convince than people who actually care. This whole thing feels like Microsoft is trying to sort out its customer by taking out every single person who has a critical sense, only to keep the dumbest of the lot and sell them their shit at the highest price. [editline]27th May 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Puni;40800049]This affects me how? Oh it doesnt. This console is still absolutely fine for people who just want to have a mess about on BF4/Fifa. As is the PS4.[/QUOTE] It's not "fine" because it's a giant attack on our intelligence for a start and to a lot of liberties as customers that we do tend to take for granted (and it's justified). Microsoft is trying too hard to alienate its customers and it's going to cost them most of their current fanbase.

[QUOTE=Tark;40798825]Every day it just gets more and more [del]horrible[/del] hilarious.[/QUOTE] Horribly Hilarious... or Hilariously Horrible. It doesn't really matter which.

[QUOTE=RoboChimp;40800270]"Cloud-only" is the reason I stopped using Adobe stuff. Region locking only drives people to pirate content.[/QUOTE] "Cloud-only" is the reason I started paying for Adobe stuff. It's also a bit of a strange situation because it doesn't have much to do with cloud (there are cloud features but they are by no means central to the software). So Adobe did itself a disservice by using the 'cloud' buzzword. It isn't really region locked either (there are some stupid restrictions like being unable to change your Adobe accounts country), you are free to install it on two PCs (one is a backup though) and the software is virtually identical to what it was before. There really isn't a way to stop using Adobe stuff because there aren't that many alternatives that actually match up. The few alternatives for that kind of software (stuff like Final Cut Pro and Quark Xpress) haven't done a good job at adapting either. I mean, if you think spending $2000 on some CDs in the year 2013 is a good idea (that will become outdated in 2-3 years) then I suppose you're fair to do so, but taking a $2000 product and changing it to be $50 per month was the best decision Adobe could have made. Most of the people who are complaining about it are dinosaurs when it comes to technology.

I warned you about those consoles bro I warned you dog [editline]27th May 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=RoboChimp;40799933]All the stupid 8 to 14 year olds will probably still buy it.[/QUOTE] I know a few 14 year olds. They're not that dellusional, for the most part.

It's like watching a carcrash in slow motion.

[QUOTE=nigerianprince;40800405]"Cloud-only" is the reason I started paying for Adobe stuff. It's also a bit of a strange situation because it doesn't have much to do with cloud (there are cloud features but they are by no means central to the software). So Adobe did itself a disservice by using the 'cloud' buzzword. It isn't really region locked either (there are some stupid restrictions like being unable to change your Adobe accounts country), you are free to install it on two PCs (one is a backup though) and the software is virtually identical to what it was before. There really isn't a way to stop using Adobe stuff because there aren't that many alternatives that actually match up. The few alternatives for that kind of software (stuff like Final Cut Pro and Quark Xpress) haven't done a good job at adapting either. I mean, if you think spending $2000 on some CDs in the year 2013 is a good idea (that will become outdated in 2-3 years) then I suppose you're fair to do so, but taking a $2000 product and changing it to be $50 per month was the best decision Adobe could have made. Most of the people who are complaining about it are dinosaurs when it comes to technology.[/QUOTE]I'd rather own a product than rent one. I don't want it withdrawing money from my account and only working when my crap Internet connection is working. I was still using CS 5.5, I don't bother with upgrades, if it works, it works . And they're [B]DVDs [/B] ,not CDs. Anyway this the wrong topic for this thread. [editline]27th May 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=proch;40800450]I warned you about those consoles bro I warned you dog [editline]27th May 2013[/editline] I know a few 14 year olds. They're not that dellusional, for the most part.[/QUOTE]I hope not.

C'mon, this must be part of some genius plan. How can Microsoft screw itself over like that???

I think Microsoft is severely underestimating their control of the console market. Guys, I know you want to use your position to set some standards in the console industry, but shit like this will not fly when you have competition.

Microsoft has blocked youtube comments because of all the criticism :v: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0HgsIf-ps4[/url]

[QUOTE=RoboChimp;40801109]I'd rather own a product than rent one. I don't want it withdrawing money from my account and only working when my crap Internet connection is working. I was still using CS 5.5, I don't bother with upgrades, if it works, it works . And they're [B]DVDs [/B] ,not CDs. Anyway this the wrong topic for this thread. [editline]27th May 2013[/editline] I hope not.[/QUOTE] You don't need to be online for it to work (I think it checks home like once in a blue moon or some shit) That's exactly what I mean, all the people complaining about it haven't really actually looked at it and have just taken the 'cloud' work to be evil. And yes, they're stupid DVDs nonetheless; $2000 for a platform specific license is ridiculous.

[QUOTE=booster;40798760]It's like they're at gunpoint, forced to make the console as shitty as possible.[/QUOTE] It's obvious now, they bought a ton of stock in Sony and are making the Xbox One as awful as possible!

3ds is mandatory region locked as well, and no one is complaining about that.

[QUOTE=nigerianprince;40801202]You don't need to be online for it to work (I think it checks home like once in a blue moon or some shit) That's exactly what I mean, all the people complaining about it haven't really actually looked at it and have just taken the 'cloud' work to be evil. And yes, they're stupid DVDs nonetheless; $2000 for a platform specific license is ridiculous.[/QUOTE]This is not the place for this argument.

[QUOTE=plunger435;40801225]3ds is mandatory region locked as well, and no one is complaining about that.[/QUOTE] People where for a while, it's passed now.

I'm also getting kind of tired about the amount of Xbox One related threads when there is a mega thread for them.

I think angry joe summarized it best [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ekOtn7L1N0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ekOtn7L1N0[/URL] [B]"Its like watching, someone walking into the forest. Where the fuck are you going?!"[/B]

[QUOTE=booster;40798760]It's like they're at gunpoint, forced to make the console as shitty as possible.[/QUOTE] "OKAY OKAY I'LL REMOVE THE GPU JUST DON'T HURT MY FAMILY"

Microsoft does not seem to be at all in touch with their customer base.

[QUOTE=Durrsly;40799946]More affordable at the moment, and it has AV. That and I like having detachable controllers.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.vintagecomputing.com/wp-content/images/avfamicom/avfamicom_1_small.jpg[/img] Though this probably doesn't slot into your money situation, but it fulfills your hardware requirements. I went for an original for the appearance, though. I don't much like how the AV looks...

[QUOTE=a dumb bear;40799938]I'm wouldn't spend £500 on a shitty console just to be able to play Halo and Forza[/QUOTE] If I bought a PS3 just for Gran Turismo I can just as well buy an Xbox One just for Forza considering it's my favorite game franchise.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;40801604]Microsoft does not seem to be at all in touch with their customer base.[/QUOTE] More like Microsoft forgot who their customer base is

At this point it's pretty clear the One's entire design was dictated to Microsoft by publishers and copy-protection interests as a wish list of anticonsumer technology that would protect and enhance their profit flow. God I hope nobody buys this turd. I'm wondering whether Microsoft is paying off certain media outlets to not cover this stuff. It's been a week and all Wired has to say about the One is a "first look" article gushing about how wonderful it is.

I was arguing with my dad over the phone about how the Xbox One is going to fucking blow and his response was " Oh the controller is better for first person and is ergonomically correct blablahblah" and goes on about how the Xbox One is as powerful as 3 Xboxes when connected to Cloud and still continues to completely ignore every negative feature. I warned him.