Progress! Turns out that what's next is what's now. After watching two big press conferences for two big consoles (Xbox One and PS4), it looks like the future is being decided by the present.
It's still early, yes. But the knee jerk to Microsoft's Xbox One, and all that it entails, is severe. Whether it's the mandatory 24-hour online check in or the fee to sell used games, there's much to churn a gamer's stomach. It is all rather unsettling and unpleasant. Many don't like the direction Microsoft is heading!
This isn't about fanboys or fangirls. This is a very simple choice between the Xbox One and the PS4 that goes way beyond mere (and rather stupid) corporate allegiances. One console offers things many gamers want. The other offers stuff that many games do not want. That's it in a duck press.
Here's the funny thing: Two of the biggest things gamers want, they already have. You can sell and play used games, without registration or fees. You don't need to play online, which is certainly a godsend for those with shit internet connections, whether they are at home or stationed abroad. Then, there's the region free feature—something importers and expats very much care about.
So far, it sounds like the PS4 checks those boxes. But in most cases, those are boxes that the current gen already ticks. These are features we already have, and things we can already do. The future feels strangely like the present—or better yet, the past.
Gamers are a nostalgic lot. So many gaming memories are tied to one's life. But this isn't about nostalgia. This is about consumer rights, the ability to freely do what you want with the things you know, and not having a corporate body monitor what you are doing. I don't want that. Do you?
When we look back on this generation of game consoles, hopefully we'll realize how lucky we were. Until recently, we haven't. We've taken things for granted. But let me tell you, we've had it good. Damn good.
To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft.