Welcome! Sign up to remove the advertisements.

Breaking a Benjamin

Editorial | June 30, 2013 4:14 pm

Alright I am going to start this by saying I am not a Microsoft fan boy, once upon a time perhaps but not for a few years. I have played, spent more time and money and enjoyed the Xbox 360 more then the ps3 but I have played the big name titles of the ps3’s exclusives.

With that being said I will continue with what I want to talk about:

Since Sony came out and stated that the ps4 will be one hundred dollars cheaper then the Xbox One I have constantly seen people say they will be going over to Sony or choosing the ps4 over the Xbox one for that reason. Maybe that’s not the entire reason but it is still an adding factor for some people. Sony has even stated that the reason it is a hundred dollars cheaper is because they removed the Sony eye from their consoles. They may not have or will ever say this but the eye is no competition to the Kinect, 1 or 2.

I know there are a lot of people out there who do not want the Kinect; I’m in that group of people till Microsoft shows me a Kinect only game that is on par with any AAA title for the Xbox one. There are people who don’t want it to be required at all times for the Xbox one to work (for security reasons, power drain, always listening etc) but Microsoft has a vision of the future of gaming and it is full of gamers running, jumping, ducking, and using vocal commands for special abilities in games. Be it calling audibles in madden 25 or having your legion throw spears at enemies in Ryse. Microsoft has a history of dragging gamers into the future and it looks like it will be dragging some people kicking and screaming with the Kinect.

I have a simple question. Why? Why does One hundred Dollars really make a difference?

The extra One Hundred dollars may be going to the Kinect (most likely if not real reason), or maybe going to pay for the 300,000 servers Microsoft will have. There have even been rumors that all multiplayer games for the Xbox one will be played on dedicated servers. That is basically what the Microsoft cloud allows (among other things), it will allow games like battlefield 4,Call of duty ghosts, and Titanfall to create all sorts of tasks and be able to scale it up and down automatically as players come and go from the matches. Now i know that not everyone plays online first person shooters so dedicated servers isn't the saving grace for everyone but a large amount of the gaming community only plays those types of games.

Would the extra hundred dollars be worth it then?

I have the opinion and I’m sure many out there share it that if one hundred dollars really makes a big impact on whether you will get the Xbox One or choose the PS4 instead then you really shouldn’t be concerned about gaming. Maybe those individuals should be more concerned with getting a better paying job with their level of education/training, getting a better education so they can make more money in the future with that education, staying with their current gen console or simply finding a new, less-expensive hobby.

I know some people won’t like this opinion, but it’s the truth. As much as I love gaming, if the extra hundred dollars really affected me I would stop gaming and take care of other expenses first. We all need a hobby, that is obvious but nobody is forcing gaming down our throats but maybe if our games and consoles came with bacon we would gladly let them shove the prices down our throats.

Keywords: XboxOne

Options:

Archived: Article Discussion: Breaking a Benjamin

Posted Under: Articles

(Page 1 out of 2): 1, 2

Re: Breaking a Benjamin

06/30/13 4:15 pm | #2

I'm Meta and I endorse this article.

What say YOU?

This article was great, more people should submit editorials!

View Profile

Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 12:43 am | #3

Great article! I did read last week (don't remember which game site) that PS4 will make you have PS Plus to play online. Not sure how accurate, but it is interesting if true none the less

ahhh here: http://ps4daily.com/2013/06/playstation-plus-subscription-required-to-play-online-games-with-ps4/

View Profile

12/31/69 7:00 pm | #4

Deleted User

View Profile

Re: Re: Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 10:52 am | #5

Quote by Mudkip:

This was an ok article but I have one big problem that came at the end of your article.

Quote by Heaven In Vain:

Maybe those individuals should be more concerned with getting a better paying job with their level of education/training, getting a better education so they can make more money in the future with that education, staying with their current gen console or simply finding a new, less-expensive hobby.

This is probably the most insulting thing I have read regarding the Xbone or PS4 that hasn't included a M$ representative. Whether you like it or not $100 is a big deal to people who work, have families, have no type of assistance.

Basically what you are telling people is that if you can't fork out an extra hundred dollars then you are obviously unworthy to enjoy your hobby.

Now I have no idea what your living situation is like, but in these times $100 is a big deal. Sony knew enough that they could shave off a decent amount off the PS4 price. It works out for them in the fact that they won over a lot of consumers after the initial Xbone E3 presentation and the fact that they made it so the camera isn't required to have the system work.

im not saying anyone shouldnt enjoy their hobby but choose a less expensive hobby then or stick with your current generation

View Profile

Re: Re: Re: Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 12:42 pm | #6

Quote by Heaven In Vain:

im not saying anyone shouldnt enjoy their hobby but choose a less expensive hobby then or stick with your current generation

Or... Just throwing this out there- buy the cheaper console.

Here's why $100 is a big deal:

For people who don't like Kinect, they are being forced to pay more for something they don't want.

For people with families, $100 each adds up fast for multiple consoles.

For people who make $10 an hour, $100 is around 12.5 hours of work (depending on your tax rate)... So close to 2 full days of work just for the price difference.

For people who don't care for Microsoft exclusives, it's an extra $100 for games they won't even play.

For people who don't live in America, it's $100 extra for a console that won't launch with all the features functioning yet.

For people who care about specs, it's $100 extra for a weaker machine.

For people who can see the big picture, it's not $100, it's $100 MORE. It's $500.

If you've got nothing going on in your life, no one else you need to think about and not a lot to consider as far as spending, then there's not a ton of difference between $500 and $400. There aren't many people who fall into that category, though.

Your entire article is flawed. It boils down to "people don't like the Kinect, but Microsoft is requiring it so there's no choice." "People don't want to pay the extra $100 but Microsoft is requiring it so there's no choice" "If you don't want Microsoft, you shouldn't have gaming as a hobby- there shouldn't be a choice."

But... there is a choice. And people are free to make it without explaining their financials, family life or priorities to you. And you have no business judging anyone else's life choices, education or based on what freaking console they decide to buy. And saying "buy Xbox one or you're too poor to game" is the weakest argument I have ever hear as far as choosing one console over the other.

View Profile

Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 1:40 pm | #7

I agree with kat essentially saying "lol poor people get a job" is not the best way to convey a message.

View Profile

Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 1:46 pm | #8

It's kind of like saying that if someone goes out to buy a vehicle and they don't spend extra to get a snow plow on the front of it, they should probably start walking because they obviously can't afford to drive.

Your entire point just kind of makes you sound spoiled.

View Profile

Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 1:50 pm | #9

I am mostly glad to see people wanting to put their thoughts out here on the site, "speaking up" as it were.

Calling this an "editorial" may not be choosing the most accurate term.

I pretty much ignored the last paragraph of HiV's article here because I was focused on getting this published/available for XBA readers to get a conversation going.

What I took away from this article is "if you don't want to get the whole new package then stick with the current one."

The tone and color you used here Kat is the same that you criticize HiV for using -- implying that he has nothing going on in his life and no one else to care for. I agree that his summation reflects poorly but I also feel your reaction was incredibly hostile.

And "everyone else" "blowing smoke up [his] ass" is me saying I endorse the article and want to know what others think, and DeafLime saying it's a great article.

What I see as the actual problem here is that Lou abandoned both the PS4 and Xboner and is instead playing Candy Crush on his Ouya.

View Profile

Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 2:20 pm | #10

Lou still owes me Microsoft points.

View Profile

Re: Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 2:40 pm | #11

Meta, I edited my post, probably at the same time you posted this, and pulled out a bit of what you're responding to, but no- we don't have to say something is good when it's bad (and 2/3 of the comments counts as basically everyone else at that point). It's a rant, and it's narrow minded and sounds like it was written by someone with the financial sense of a kid. If it gets people posting, fantastic. But that doesn't mean it's good. Usually the bad stuff gets more responses anyway.

And it's the last 2 paragraphs, actually. Where he literally says "if $100 makes a difference to you, you need to reevaluate your life." So 2. Out of 6. And then he calls everyone fat (maybe they'd buy it if it came with bacon). In my opinion there's no such thing as too much hostility towards this article and someone who actually puts this forward as an opinion.

I didn't say he had nothing going in his life, my point was money means different things in different stages of life. He's saying that if $100 matters, go back to school or get a better career or whatever, but a 16 year old kid living with his parents working pt would have no trouble with $100. Neither would a bunch of people in college going in together, someone living off unemployment or welfare while they live in their parents' house, people on disability whose spouses work at Walmart- etc... Whether $100 is a lot to you isn't an indicator of a good career or a successful life. My tone, however, was absolutely intentional. You can't go around with blinders on saying that everyone who isn't the same as you is wrong. I deal with that a lot IRL, and those are the people who come off as petty, shallow, and ignorant. And if that's how you are, then dealing with people who feel that exact same way about you should be no big deal.

The "it's just $100" argument sums up everything that is wrong with the young people today. The reason consumers are losing more and more rights and are ok with it, the reason inflation has occured at an alarming rate and incomes aren't keeping up, the reason sellers are setting the prices instead of the buyers. Basic economic principles like supply and demand are being exploited and in some cases outright defied, because people in their late teens and early 20s have such a "keeping up with the joneses" mentality. They want to accrue "stuff" and show off what they have- and they're willing to give up whatever control over the market they normally would have and live paycheck to paycheck to do it.

If everyone who thinks $500 is too much for a console took a stand and bought the ps4 instead, the xb1s price would drop until it was competitive with the rest of the new gen consoles. Instead of "slum shaming" people, we should be encouraging consumers use of the free market to force prices down.

Don't think it works? It already has!

(the first ps3 price cut was mid oct 07)

View Profile

Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 7:05 pm | #12

$100 is a big deal to me I'm currently laid off and between paying for my house, 2 vehicle loans, car insurance for 4 vehicles and other bills money is pretty tight.

I have had money put away for next gen for awhile now and I used that to pay off my PS4 and that $100 difference will get me a new game and a year of PS+. I also preordered XB1 but I highly doubt I'll be getting it and will take that money and put it towards games.

View Profile

Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 8:27 pm | #13

Ok, I will honestly admit that I also somehow completely missed the part about bacon.

"Maybe they'd buy it if it came with bacon" is now my new favourite Xbone rally cry, relegating "Always-on? Deal with it" to second place.

View Profile

Re: Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 9:04 pm | #14

Quote by Meta:

Hahaha yeah for sure.

View Profile

Re: Breaking a Benjamin

07/01/13 9:14 pm | #15

Yeah. Pretty much what Kat said.

First off, I do have an Xboner on preorder in the hopes that I will be able to afford it when it comes out. I do not have a PS4 on preorder.

Second, I need to find a cheaper hobby because I find $100 extra too much to spend? I would like to explain to you the simple fact that $100 is a lot of money to spend. Congratulations that you are financially stable/excelling enough that it is not. However writing an article about how it is not a big deal to you doesn't fly in my book.

MS did more than just make the console $100 more expensive. They shoved new policies down consumers throats. Maybe they could have revolutionized the console gaming industry, however they did a piss poor job of selling that to the consumers, hence the change in policy. I don't want to hear any pissing about how they did a good job, their change proves they did not. So take away all these features many console gamers want, add a bunch they don't want, and add $100. Yeah that's pretty effing stupid in my book.

To be honest you are lucky I didn't get this article to review/approve as it would have been thrown right back at you. Expressing your opinion is cool, but you've no where argued any factual information that has been given to you by anyone other than Microsoft (300k servers, how it will be used, etc.). Then to slam people at the end of the article or <gasp> be amazed that $100 is a big deal implies narrow mindedness. Maybe you aren't but when I read this that is exactly what I get from it.

Oh and talking out of your ass =/= truth.

View Profile

(Page 1 out of 2): 1, 2

1 17266

This thread has been archived. When a thread has been inactive for an extended period of time, it becomes "archived." These threads may be viewed but may not receive new posts. If you have something to post relevant to the topic, try searching for a more recent thread or create a new thread.

Breaking a Benjamin

Options: Archived: Article Discussion: Breaking a Benjamin

Options:

Archived: Article Discussion: Breaking a Benjamin