nightfly
Member
Too bad they had to suck so hard with the Saturn.
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If Microsoft never entered the gaming space.
- Thread starter SNG32
- Start date
PS2 gen would have been extended without 360 pushing the PS3 out perhaps earlier than ideal. A more powerful ps3....prob wouldn't have changed anything latter half ps3 1st party games were absolute monsters regardless.
But with longer generations it would have been easier for devs to sell more games over longer gens versus having to "start over" so to speak more frequently.
Nintendo's Witch
Member
It was always irrelevant unless you live in USA or have abysmal gaming taste.
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Durin
Member
Nah, the 360 alone made online gaming a truly viable thing people would want to do, vs the PS3/Wii online multiplayer experience being dogshit by comparison, and the central reason at least Sony improved was because of them.
Same with supporting smaller developers, where Microsoft was early to supporting indie content through digital distribution via Xbox Live Arcade, and I think indie presence would be significantly smaller on consoles without that.
The biggest failure of Microsoft is they never followed that generation up with the same innovation or quality, but post-360 era I'd say they've slanted more negative.
Same with supporting smaller developers, where Microsoft was early to supporting indie content through digital distribution via Xbox Live Arcade, and I think indie presence would be significantly smaller on consoles without that.
The biggest failure of Microsoft is they never followed that generation up with the same innovation or quality, but post-360 era I'd say they've slanted more negative.
ResurrectedContrarian
Suffers with mild autism
This is basically how it felt when MS got into gaming -- incredibly inauthentic, corporate, and cynical down to every last detail
The other gaming companies at least had some real passionate people who propelled them into the space strictly because they loved the medium, not solely as a business venture. With MS, it was just one more avenue for acquisition and trying to solidify their software influence.
MrJangles
Member
PlayStaytion
Member
Technically, without the PC architecture, many engines wouldn't make it to this day and many projects will be shadow dropped and the community will remain clueless about what's going on inside studios which means their voices wouldn't be heard like making remakes using UE5 and RE from Capcom. The positive side would be games will get creative and devs won't get mad at us and magazines wouldn't be replaced by internet forums and sites, therefore, we wouldn't be here. Long story short, It's a very sad boring world we would be living on.
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ResurrectedContrarian
Suffers with mild autism
This is basically how it felt when MS got into gaming -- incredibly inauthentic, corporate, and cynical down to every last detail
The other gaming companies at least had some real passionate people who propelled them into the space strictly because they loved the medium, not solely as a business venture. With MS, it was just one more avenue for acquisition and trying to solidify their software influence.
Knightime_X
Member
Absolutely not.
In fact, xbox kept sony in check.
Now that xbox is gone, Sony is going to be horrific.
Ggs.
In fact, xbox kept sony in check.
Now that xbox is gone, Sony is going to be horrific.
Ggs.
Well if we judge on pricing yes but the last time Sony was dominant was PS1 and PS2 and to me those were the most diverse eras of ip. The PS3 was the start of Sony becoming more westernized especially since it was their western studios that were doing the heavy lifting in competing with the 360.
MisterXDTV
Member
Anything MS touches turns to shit....
Thank God they couldn't make it a monopoly....
They entered the market too late for that
Thank God they couldn't make it a monopoly....
They entered the market too late for that
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RAIDEN1
Member
You gotta hand it to Nintendo though, or applaud them should I say, many competitors - from Atari, to Sega, 3DO, NEC, Sony and even Microsoft have entered the gaming arena yet they've never been able to really knock Nintendo of their perch ...brand Mario is still going strong all these decades later, they owned the portable space with the Gameboy, the Lynx tried, the Game Gear tried, the Neo Geo pocket tried but NONE could match the sales of the Gameboy...
cinnamonandgravy
Member
if we keep screeching into the black void of the universe about a new sega console, somehow it just might happen
personally hoping for a weird combo, like apple+sega+saudi money+epstein
LavitzSlambert
Member
Nope.
1. Without Xbox Live, neither Sony or Nintendo would have supported a centralized online infrastructure. It would have been far too expensive and experimental to build out, and both companies lacked the expertise. We would have had different services and while I think eventually gaming would have endorsed online multiplayer, I doubt it would have looked anything like the landscape does today. I also don't think Valve would have invested in Steam's infrastructure as a hub as much as they did without the competition.
2. Halo would have gotten picked up by someone else, but it may not have made its way to consoles and became the phenomenon it did. We wouldn't have seen gaming break out as quickly to the mainstream, and its mechanics would not have caught as fast to improve dual analog FPS.
3. Competition to Sony was sorely needed in the 6th and 7th generations. Sega already called it quits nearly a year before the Xbox launched. As much as I love the Gamecube, Nintendo was no real competitor. Sony absolutely dominated with the PS2 and threatened several anti-consumer moves with the PS3. Xbox introduced a threat in a much needed segment, and the 360 humbled them. It actually made the PS3 a more compelling product with a back-heavy lineup.
4. Hard drive usage, really game installations was a huge improvement from limited optical read speeds. Expensive and annoying memory cards went away also, and you really never need to worry about game save space. I like this a lot, though I wish we had an easier way to transfer saves back and forth without having to sign into another console.
5. Xbox Live Arcade was an incredible platform to showcase indie games to a console audience. PC would have been that natural platform, but this laid the groundwork for the incredible indie scene we see on the eShop. It also introduced variable pricing and digital only storefront for console games that would never have made it to a physical release.
6. Digital backwards compatibility was huge, and Microsoft really pushed it forward. We now expect our digital and physical libraries to remain with us. Sony and Nintendo have done this on occasion, where practical. Microsoft's push has really cemented this as a given, especially in their digital storefronts.
7. Cross play. This wasn't a thing until Microsoft pushed, and even though it's not standard yet it's typically expected. Cross progression is another thing that would not be where it is if not for Microsoft's influence.
8. Debate it all you want, but there are many games that would not have been created without Game Pass and PS+. It's been a really great value (too great, perhaps), as was Games with Gold. We as gamers have benefitted immensely from Game Pass even if we never subbed.
1. Without Xbox Live, neither Sony or Nintendo would have supported a centralized online infrastructure. It would have been far too expensive and experimental to build out, and both companies lacked the expertise. We would have had different services and while I think eventually gaming would have endorsed online multiplayer, I doubt it would have looked anything like the landscape does today. I also don't think Valve would have invested in Steam's infrastructure as a hub as much as they did without the competition.
2. Halo would have gotten picked up by someone else, but it may not have made its way to consoles and became the phenomenon it did. We wouldn't have seen gaming break out as quickly to the mainstream, and its mechanics would not have caught as fast to improve dual analog FPS.
3. Competition to Sony was sorely needed in the 6th and 7th generations. Sega already called it quits nearly a year before the Xbox launched. As much as I love the Gamecube, Nintendo was no real competitor. Sony absolutely dominated with the PS2 and threatened several anti-consumer moves with the PS3. Xbox introduced a threat in a much needed segment, and the 360 humbled them. It actually made the PS3 a more compelling product with a back-heavy lineup.
4. Hard drive usage, really game installations was a huge improvement from limited optical read speeds. Expensive and annoying memory cards went away also, and you really never need to worry about game save space. I like this a lot, though I wish we had an easier way to transfer saves back and forth without having to sign into another console.
5. Xbox Live Arcade was an incredible platform to showcase indie games to a console audience. PC would have been that natural platform, but this laid the groundwork for the incredible indie scene we see on the eShop. It also introduced variable pricing and digital only storefront for console games that would never have made it to a physical release.
6. Digital backwards compatibility was huge, and Microsoft really pushed it forward. We now expect our digital and physical libraries to remain with us. Sony and Nintendo have done this on occasion, where practical. Microsoft's push has really cemented this as a given, especially in their digital storefronts.
7. Cross play. This wasn't a thing until Microsoft pushed, and even though it's not standard yet it's typically expected. Cross progression is another thing that would not be where it is if not for Microsoft's influence.
8. Debate it all you want, but there are many games that would not have been created without Game Pass and PS+. It's been a really great value (too great, perhaps), as was Games with Gold. We as gamers have benefitted immensely from Game Pass even if we never subbed.
bender
What time is it?
Js562
Member
It would be no good for me. OG Xbox was great and when modified even better. I loved the PS2 too it had the best games during that time and that was my main system. Until the 360, it was the best time for me for sure. Good marketplace with xbla and online the community was crazy with the shit talking .
Also Killer Instinct if it wasn't for them it would still be dead
Also Killer Instinct if it wasn't for them it would still be dead
Venom Snake
Member
Hard to say, probably not in general, but it was worth it for the lols.
diffusionx
Gold Member
KenaiPhoenix
Member
Yeah, we wouldnt need to pay for online...
But lets not forget how Microsoft pushed for graphics and give us incredible games like Halo (rest in peace), Gears of War. Also, lets not forget incredible moments like this:
I really think we need to separate xbox pre 2008-2010, when the corpos didnt smelled the money and what we have now.
But lets not forget how Microsoft pushed for graphics and give us incredible games like Halo (rest in peace), Gears of War. Also, lets not forget incredible moments like this:
I really think we need to separate xbox pre 2008-2010, when the corpos didnt smelled the money and what we have now.
ForAcademicPurposes
Gold Member
I used to be alive.
AeonGaidenRaiden
Member
Nor would we have achievements, nor would we have proper online conectivity and push for multiplayer. Love it or hate it, the 360 did a lot of things right. I mean look at Nintendo, even next to generations of PSs and Xboxs and they still have no clue how to make a proper online experience and on top of that they are still charging for their sorry ass service
bitbydeath
Gold Member
It also led to GaaS as a workaround, making FTP popular.Nor would we have achievements, nor would we have proper online conectivity and push for multiplayer. Love it or hate it, the 360 did a lot of things right. I mean look at Nintendo, even next to generations of PSs and Xboxs and they still have no clue how to make a proper online experience and on top of that they are still charging for their sorry ass service
I'd rather just have a simplistic free online version than all the baggage that came with it.
RickMasters
Member
Doubtful...THe PS2 killed off the DC and sega's hardware ambitions. peter moore pulled the plug, but all he really did was put them out of their misery,
RickMasters
Member
True. they sort of just dropped the ball around the second half of the X360s life cycle and never really recovered from the XB1 reveal simply because they never tried. just years of empy promises to their customers. They are not even the same company anymore.
Good online services on a console would have taken a bit longer. Paid DLC might have moved less aggressively as well. Otherwise the industry would probably be worse off. Dreamcast was going to die either way, leaving Sony and Nintendo. Both of these companies have shown time and time again that they are completely okay with anti-consumer moves. Games like Halo and Gears of War had a huge impact on the path that gaming took. It's likely the industry would have been much more Japanese style games. Less liklihood of something like Skyrim being a huge deal on consoles if Sony and Nintendo were the primary options. These are just my guesses.
CLW
Member
poppabk
Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
They became that for sure, but did they start like that?
This is basically how it felt when MS got into gaming -- incredibly inauthentic, corporate, and cynical down to every last detail
The other gaming companies at least had some real passionate people who propelled them into the space strictly because they loved the medium, not solely as a business venture. With MS, it was just one more avenue for acquisition and trying to solidify their software influence.
Baemono
Member
Hey that's my joke
crackajack
Member
I'd say paying for online makes some sense. Even though P2P would be best since then asking for money stops making sense and it allows easy preservation (might be a security risk though if unserviced)
But having no competition other than Nintendo and the PC space would have been horrible for Sony. They seemingly all need a hard reset every few years to refocus on getting things done.
But having no competition other than Nintendo and the PC space would have been horrible for Sony. They seemingly all need a hard reset every few years to refocus on getting things done.
Gamer_By_Proxy
About to beat off
Yes. Their biggest successes came from buying IPs and not creativity. Gatekeeping with their money. Gears of War and Halo for instance. Neither created by MS.
Majukun
Member
you would have had current sony (or worst) in 2006
If you finance a project you have as much of a part in its conception than the creative side
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Sohurmk833
Member
Yes.
A lot of the cancer in the modern console industry was either introduced or amplified by Microsoft.
Online gaming
PCification of hard and software
Tech arms race
Buying up studios
A lot of the cancer in the modern console industry was either introduced or amplified by Microsoft.
Online gaming
PCification of hard and software
Tech arms race
Buying up studios
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Panajev2001a
GAF's Pleasant Genius
Major Insano
Gold Member
500mil players can't be wrong.
And if we didn't pay for online every console MP game would be full of hacker trash like PC.
Naked Lunch
Member
We would be stuck with inferior symmetrical analog sticks.
Majima Everywhere System
Member
I'm willing to rewrite Xbox 360 was great. Online games tend to be as fleeting as SP, led to live service which killed Sonys output, Indy discoverability led to good games but we lost many more polished AA products, achievements lasted a couple years, and micro DLC is drying up leading to all sorts of new problems.
A lot of these things would happen eventually, but they happened when devs were most productive and derailed a glorious few more years of the better timeline.
A lot of these things would happen eventually, but they happened when devs were most productive and derailed a glorious few more years of the better timeline.
Truthtellers
Member
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Sohurmk833
Member
Ever heard of the GameCube?
Badlucktroll
Member
i thought would be interesting if they enterted during the ps1/saturn/n64 era.
the controller would have looked like this
the controller would have looked like this
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