XBox One: Why It Can't Work

So. XBox One. How about that television?

I don't think I need to repeat too much about it. It was revealed in their own personal conference and their big center was Television, Sports, Television, Television, and Sports. It wasn't until after it ended did it confirm that you can't lend or play used games on it. The disc is rendered useless. It installs into your own unique hard drive and if you give it to a friend or if they buy it used, they will have to buy the manufacturer price before they can play it.

If your unsure what this means, then here are a few videos that say it a lot better then I would.

The general anger isn't from the having to be online once a day. It goes down to the fact that purchasing used games and even lending a game to your friend would be non-existant in next generation of consoles... or, in this case, on the XBox One. This is pretty huge since you have to always buy it. They will have a system of pre-owned games but on their own terms in a controlled enviroment where all the proceeds continue to go to the company. They will have the power to control when prices go down, etc.

So why does it bother me? I'm not a console user, I am a PC Gamer. Everything I run on goes through a computer. It has been my preference since its a little easier to upgrade the hardware. I have zero interest in XBox One, Playstation 4 and even the Wii U. Maybe hand held gaming devices but that is really it. Why would any of this have anything to do with me?

Its a window to the future. This is the gaming industry looking to see how far they can go to remove the rights of the consumer from under their feet. So long as they give the "good stuff," they can continue to take their rights away under the name of combating piracy. This shouldn't be allowed, at all. Any support to Microsoft(and EA) is only going to set the line and spread this kind of practice through the rest of the industry. Not just Microsoft but to EA as well.

EA removing the Online Passes? It was great and I had thought it was a silver lining... but with all the deals they've made exclusively for Microsoft, it does make sense now. Why they refuse to make any games for the Wii U, etc. All of it.

I know the gaming industry is in a rough spot. Combating piracy and the complications in making the very game we enjoy and love is not easy at all. For any idea of how it works, I recommend watching Extra Credits. You can find it on Penny Arcade TV or a search on youtube. It has all the details of the gaming industry, how it works and all the work that goes into making the game you enjoy. It should give some silver lining to you.

But do we really need to remove consumer rights just for that protection? What makes the gaming industry special from other companies? I don't see any cars getting any income from used sales when they are sold at a used sales lot. What about CDs that a friend bought and decided to give them away to their friend? They don't see the used sales coming out of that. What makes their industry so different that they need this money?

Maybe there is more to it but I'm just not seeing it. This is something that can and will extend to PC gaming and other platforms and if we don't stop it now with our wallet? Then it is only going to get worse from here. Vote with your wallet. DON'T buy their products if your seriously that angry about it. The lack of sales will surely bring their attention and money does, indeed, talk.

Speak with your money if your that upset about it. I've been hearing good things about the Playstation 4, so far!