E3 2014 Roast Beef Round Up: Microsoft

This year I was hoping Microsoft would open with a well thought out apology. They would apologies for all the issues they have had to correct, issues that were of their own doing, the latest of which was selling the Xbox One without Kinect. To my infinite sadness this did not occur.

A Window into the future

I don’t like Macs. I have argued on every front against the overpriced, form over function systems in defense of the more economically viable computers and the Windows OS. You see for the price of one of their new fangled Mac Pros, you could spec a Windows system that will be future proofed for years to come and more then likely have change left over . Yes custom building a PC often offers the best value for money when it comes to purchasing a new system, easily shooting down anything you can buy in an Apple store. But what about factory built systems that the everyday person will probably buy? Whilst there are some good pre-built systems out their, you may have to compromise in one area or another, the biggest flaw in them is their operating system.

The game has changed

Internet activism actually did something?!

Well that’s what you may be led to believe. Me being as cynical as I am like to think there was a more consistent reason for why Microsoft decided to change their policies on DRM in regard to the Xbox One, rather then the insentient shouts from forums and angry tweeters. Yes after what can only be described as a PR train wreck Microsoft has finally realized that people are not yet ready for an always online future, Leave us with our disc based media it gives us a sense of ownership, even if it seems somewhat outdated in this future world Microsoft envisioned for us.

Roast Beef Round-up Part 1 Microsoft

With all four Press conferences from E3 being in one day, we shall look at the in order, creating a publisher sandwich so to speak starting with Microsoft, enjoying the delights of EA and Ubisoft and topping it of with Sony.

So Microsoft. In order to combat the rumors and negative PR gained after their reveal event, they had to hold nothing back, and so they began to climb the hill of progress with what we wanted to see in the first place. Games. Yes opening with the cinematic trailer styling of wannabe film producer Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid 5 is coming to the Xbox One, Not exclusively as Microsoft’s Major Nelson accidentally tweeted. It does seem strange that Microsoft would open with a non exclusive title, but then again, being a Kojima game it speaks for itself in terms of a cinematic experience and showcase graphical potential.

The beginning of the end?

I’m not surprised, at how Microsoft’s little reveal conference played out, as well as being cynical I’m also somewhat pessimistic and after Sony’s reveal my expectations were in negative figures. I’m somewhat concerned how far Microsoft intends to go down this road they have chosen.

It started off well enough, we actually got to see the new console, which was a pleasant surprise after Sony’s mystery box, but then they told us the name, a name so stupid I thought they were joking. They weren’t. The Xbox one as they have called it is apparently the ultimate gaming platform, an EA executive has even been so bold as to claim that both the new Xbox and the PS4 are a generation ahead of the PC, at this point I can’t help but laugh. So how does Microsoft showcase the supposedly amazing abilities of this next-gen power house? with live streaming features and Kinect functionality of course, oh and don’t forget Internet Explorer and Bing, because you know, most people don’t just install Chrome or Firefox rather than use that disaster of a browser combo.If you draw your mind back to E3 last year you may remember some similarities in Microsoft’s objectives during their press conference, a conference where the focus seemed more on Kinect and features then it did on games. Talk about misunderstanding your audience.