My point is we (if you are being honest) are not the console audience -- not even a tiny fraction. The "it doesn't count because it is on PC"-argument is typically thrown around by Sony fanboys (for lack of a better term), who despite the PS4's lead are still somehow threatened by MS XBOX. People who may buy XBOX games on PC are people who likely wouldn't have bought an XBOX, anyway. XBOX Anywhere is the deal I have wanted since the 360...for all titles. Consoles simply don't perform to my preference and rapidly become obsolete.
Additionally, you claim to buy XBOX exclusives on Windows PC, which provide software sales revenue for MS, on the MS store, on a Windows platform. A sale of a Windows license is likely more profit than a sale of an XBOX console for MS. You should understand why MS doesn't necessarily need to sell someone in your case a console. The main concern for them is having more MS-platform exclusives with greater availability.
I have two highly capable PCs and ~200 games on Steam, alone. Buying a PS4 makes little sense in my case. No good set of exclusives were worth it until a year ago, and Nioh and Nier: A ended up on PC anyway. I do like the Yakuza games, and Bloodborne is two close to the Souls series to bother, when I own all the others. Buying another console when I don't have anywhere the near the free time to play what I own now is pointless. My XB1X is driving my 4K TV and getting the most out of the library. My PC monitors are 2560x1440 because 4K on PC as PC games should be played still isn't practical.
@CyberEarth: The thing is, virtually nobody who argues that ACTUALLY owns a capable PC to play on. The majority of people buy consoles because they don't have cash, and/or don't have the basic know-how to build a PC. It makes no difference if that MS releases their games on PC, however it makes them more money and benefits a wide swath of customers. MS doesn't care which MS platform you play their games on. Windows are XBOX are vehicles to reach more potential customers with MS software and services.
No one (in their right mind) wants to be held hostage by company, forced to buy inferior versions of games because they want to sell antiquated console hardware. Better to have the option to play on PC or console, or both. You know, like 99% of games released in the modern era. PS4 doesn't have a big lead because of a handful of exclusives -- the gap is the result of MS botching XB1's launch, and brand loyalty, to a lesser extent.
@Pierce_Sparrow: How many times have we heard the term "empowering" in the last couple years? Half a trillion. :)
It has become a power trip to see how many (powerful) men lives you can upend, livelihood cut off, instantanously. Power corrupts and ironically, no one has noticed the ease at which people are displaced and uprooted. This is a power-grab, akin to looting at this point. Thank god they're not into swatting.
@judaspete: I think it has less to do with 3D modelling tech and more to do with the developers attempting to de-feminize the character. An artist could make a 2D image attractive. They wanted a female lead character who's attractive, but no too attractive, as not to be taken seriously by some or "oversexuallized" by others.
You are also looking at video of the real person, who is attractive, and as well has full hair & makeup done.
@Gallowhand: I haven't been much of a Nintendo fan since SMB2, though they know how to exploit the longevity and wholesomeness of their iconic characters.
I agree that it seems sometime towards the end of 360's run, MS just kind of gave up on new IPs. That was the time to pump out a couple more. Even if the games did garner sequels, they would have filled a gap. OG XBOX had Crimson Skies, MechAssault, Yaeger, Breakdown...somewhere along the line, the industry changed.
MS seems locked in on gamey-games, while Sony goes for games as mainstream entertainment. I'm not sure if it is has to do with MS being a software company that branched into games and hardware, versus Sony being an electronics & entertainment company that branched into games. Halo and Gears have fantastic gameplay loops especially when you bump up the difficulty to heroic or legendary/insane). MP as well. Though the story (espeically in Gears) & cutscene presentation are largely after thoughts. Halo 4 was the first in the series to have good looking cinematics. Sony would definitely have better relationships in the Hollywood & entertainment worlds.
Not saying every game needs a great story when the gameplay is engaging, though it would be nice to produce a few other properties where plot and storytelling are treated with more importance. Remember the game, "The Getaway?" Clunky and ugly, over-ambituous for for PS1. Still, it was a sign of what Sony was going for. Heavy emphasis on the cinematics. Some attempts will fail, but eventually a team will produce something solid.
Personally, I like the "Core" MS stuff; they just need some company. Double up on franchises, mix it up and get a few one-offs out the door. Develop some ideas internally and hire 2nd party studios to implement them, or publish an independent studios games. I always enjoyed puzzle/story-driven/mystery/adventure games as well, and that is something I would like to see out of MS.
@alaannn: This generation MS has pushed several different technologies as part of the gameplay experience (Crackdown, Cuphead, Fable Legends, Scalebound), and we have seen multiple cancelations and delays.
Sony, on the other hand, stresses the "video" in "videogame." They stick to a proven (SAFE) formula and appeal to the masses.
Third person viewpoint so players can stare at their avatar and have addition awareness of the environment, while pulling back the camera to lower detail requirements. Hire script writers that heavily leverage existing movies and television, and reskin existing gameplay. Then put a hefty budget behind the graphics and more even to the CG cutscenes.
The games are as much movies and entertainment as a game, but it works. Not just because it is designed to grab the attention of the average moviegoer, but also because the teams can actually finish the projects. LOL.
Sony got over ambitious with TLG and development dragged on 10 years. David Cage can take his sweet time, too. There other big projects lately don't try to reinvent the wheel. When they hit a snag, the feature or effect can more easily get cut, whereas MS needs to scrap the whole damn project.
MS should get a few projects going that follow that particular example from Sony. Get some straightforward character/story-driven, cutscene-laden, entertainment-oriented games in the pipe, with predictable budgets and realistic schedules. That would fill in the gaps and buy them some time for the more risky projects.
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