Major Nelson: Both PS4/Xbox One will "sell a ton", online hate "needs to go away"


Recommended Posts

According to Nelson, we should all just be glad that the consoles are selling well, whichever machine we favor. "Both new platforms are off to a great start," he wrote. "We all should be celebrating a healthy vibrant industry. Sony has done a good job and they should be commended. The hate that infects gaming in the online space needs to go away." Daww.

"Sony will sell a ton," Hryb added down the page. "We will sell a ton. The industry is doing well...and consumers have choice."

This echoes recent comments to OXM by Microsoft Studios headman Phil Spencer, who said of Sony that he "really respects their focus on investing in new things and creative things". Spencer also had praise for Nintendo, observing that "their first-party is such an amazing asset."

 

 

Source: http://www.oxm.co.uk/69631/microsoft-both-ps4-and-xbox-one-will-sell-a-ton-online-hate-needs-to-go-away/

 

Hard not to agree  (Y)

 

But hating individual decisions that make up the whole console(s), that's another matter. Sadly not every decision pushed through is rainbows and unicorns  :cat:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ironically both companies fueled the hate in the first place, which he fails to mention. They loved it last gen.

 

It used to be really bad but at least it's confined to conventions 99% of the time now, when the gloves come off during big announcements.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ironically both companies fueled the hate in the first place, which he fails to mention. They loved it last gen.

 

It used to be really bad but at least it's confined to conventions 99% of the time now, when the gloves come off during big announcements.

 

I guess they're just getting smarter and realizing the real battle now is won by hiding corporate/PR fluff behind intelligent faces. Shuhei/Kaz/Jack in recent times have done a good job of becoming internet "gods" simply by tweaking how they do the exact same jobs they've been doing for years. Not appearing as such cold hearted business ######, even although they're still trying to brainwash the minds of the masses into corporate loyalty lol.

 

MS needs some more friendly faces, Albert Pennello managed to brew one heck of a storm on GAF, the Major not fairing as bad, simply by trying to do the PR cloud/tech talk where it can't really be done. Don Mattrick was the worst though, good thing he's gone. And before anyone says GAF/Twitter/*insert gaming site is irrelevant*, sorry, the popular gaming hangouts of the internet are never irrelevant, regardless of your opinion on them. There are thousands of hearts and minds for the picking on such sites, not trying to win over people on them is simply not doing your companies relations any good.

 

That chap from Sony who ran the PSBlog almost single handidly in the beginning, Jeff, should get given some more limelight. I've always said MS need something to really compete with the PSBlog. Their social presence is really kind of lacking, or should I say charming social presence before anyone links me to MN's individual blog. They need to get the family feeling going, and hide the corporate face better.

 

One of the worst interview in recent times was the MN/AJ

 

Angry-Joe-Major-Nelson-4.png

 

The amount of pressure the MS execs must of been under to sell the heck out of DRM and defend it would have blown the average persons weak mind, but they're in these job roles and earning the money they do because they were deemed the right "men/women". Still, find me a recent Sony/Nintendo PR mouthpiece behaving like that on camera... (taking the mic/interrupting/being sharp) Online mindset really has been a thorn in MS' side, especially since E3 onwards last year.

 

I mean MS were even second to buttering up Boogie (youtube internet famous gamer, otherwise known as Francis). Boogie said both companies planned to interact with him, so it was good to know MS didn't simply see Sony do it and send out MN in a scramble. But still, Sony got their first and clearly won over Boogies mind more convincingly than MS. Just another example of online PR not going as well as it could have. 

 

Finally I know it's not a big one, as it's coming, but MS on form would have had Twitch on the Xbox much quicker than Sony. I mean they announced it first, most people thought they had exclusivity, demoed it at E3 and now it's still months away. It has a niche audience, but again it's that same old, loud, unafraid to speak and vicious internet niche audience. If you want to start winning that mindset sometimes focussing on the niche will have the loudest ripple effect. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

snip

 

I completely agree with you on everything there, but I think they've learnt now to finally shut up. Last year was probably MS' worst year to date PR wise and it'll take a long time til they're respected again by those they turned away. Major Nelson needs to learn to dial it back because after all, he isn't an engineer or software guy, so regardless of what is explained to him behind the scenes, there's no way he can comment with any concrete knowledge how easy or not it is to do something. Lest you end up with more AJ incidents which really hurt his integrity online from what I've seen. Don was great in his first few years, but as soon as the exclusives dried up and Kinect/Apps were on the scene, it was downhill and he didn't connect with the gamers anymore. I can't stand Phil Spencer (he reminds me of Jack Tretton early PS3-era). Albert Pennello needs banned from NeoGAF because the guy just doesn't know when to shut up.

 

It took me a long long time to warm to Sony with the PS3. Those first 4 years were excruciating to go through just as a consumer, god knows what it was like as a stock holder or employee. After the 2011 hack I think they finally realised that people respect and warm to the honest approach without the PR BS they'd been known for. I used to hate Jack's smarm attitude and I won't even begin on my opinion of Phil Harrison. I definitely think they've been lucky that MS have gifted them so many easy responses to the controversies X1 had, but they're much more tactile in their approach now too. However, at E3 and the months surrounding it, I can definitely see why people would be frustrated at them for the PS4 sharing video they did. It was a low blow but if anyone else was in the same position you'd not likely pass it up either. I doubt we'll see that continue and they'll go back to respectful ways from now on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He can't take the heat that Microsoft largely brought onto themselves in various ways.

 

.... what ?are you reading something else than everyone else here ? 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm PC all the way now, but I don't see why the hate between platforms needs to go away. Both of them need and are better with the competition.

 

Edit: Online hate, yes, of course. But not the war of the platforms in general.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The internet bubble is a tough place to be if your a company involved in a war between fans.

As far as MS specifically, they definitely brought the avalanche on themselves with poor PR, community involvement, and poor execution on their roll out plan for the X1. That doesn't mean people that go way too far have the right to do so, but it does mean that its harder to stamp them out when there is a real issue to deal with. MS seems to have learned the lesson, luckily before launch, and are trying to really engage with the community, so we will see if their PR has improved at the next E3.

In general, the problem is that MS, Sony, and so many other companies have encouraged this behavior in various ways in the past. So if they both want to try and ease the pressure, I'm happy to see them do it. Unfortunately, even if they don't encourage the behavior anymore, many of the websites that we in the gaming community bubble follow are happy to keep stoking the fires. 'Internet personalities' that populate twitch and YouTube also find it perfectly cool to stock the fires.

I don't think anyone is saying that their should not be discourse or discussions on what you like or don't like about a console. MN here seems to be talking directly about the people that take it too far. If everyone behaved and didn't become online jerks in the process of talking about this stuff, there wouldn't be a console war and I think more people would participate in the conversations. Talking about gaming online has a reputation among those that don't follow it. Most of my friends, for example, simply have no interest in joining the various forums and making comments because they see it as just a bunch of angry people trying to prove that what they like is the best. They will read reviews online and such, but that is as far as it goes.

I'm PC all the way now, but I don't see why the hate between platforms needs to go away. Both of them need and are better with the competition.

 

Edit: Online hate, yes, of course. But not the war of the platforms in general.

I'm not sure why a console war is required to spur competition. It just seems to make the whole gaming community look a little more childish to the outside world. Hate is not required. The only thing required for healthy competition is for people to speak with their wallets.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Source: http://www.oxm.co.uk/69631/microsoft-both-ps4-and-xbox-one-will-sell-a-ton-online-hate-needs-to-go-away/

 

Hard not to agree  (Y)

 

But hating individual decisions that make up the whole console(s), that's another matter. Sadly not every decision pushed through is rainbows and unicorns  :cat:

the truth is if Xbox one was outselling PS4 then this article wouldnt even exist... they will bitch about Ps4 saying its a failure

 

like this http://www.oxm.co.uk/64079/50-more-us-gamers-used-xbox-360-for-online-play-than-ps3-in-august-says-microsoft/

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

the truth is if Xbox one was outselling PS4 then this article wouldnt even exist... they will bitch about Ps4 saying its a failure

 

like this http://www.oxm.co.uk/64079/50-more-us-gamers-used-xbox-360-for-online-play-than-ps3-in-august-says-microsoft/

Possible, and yet Sony seems to be falling in line with MS on this kind of talk. It seems like both are interested in playing it differently than in the past.

Now, that does not mean both companies will stop putting out facts when they are on the winning side of those facts. MS just announced they sold the most consoles in December and Sony announced the same back in November. It just means they might not go that extra mile to rub it in, the kind of stuff that stokes the internet army so to speak. Putting out info like that is not what MN is talking about anyway. Its directed at the comments that take things too far, mostly originating from various forums and social media places.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The internet bubble is a tough place to be if your a company involved in a war between fans.

As far as MS specifically, they definitely brought the avalanche on themselves with poor PR, community involvement, and poor execution on their roll out plan for the X1. That doesn't mean people that go way too far have the right to do so, but it does mean that its harder to stamp them out when there is a real issue to deal with. MS seems to have learned the lesson, luckily before launch, and are trying to really engage with the community, so we will see if their PR has improved at the next E3.

In general, the problem is that MS, Sony, and so many other companies have encouraged this behavior in various ways in the past. So if they both want to try and ease the pressure, I'm happy to see them do it. Unfortunately, even if they don't encourage the behavior anymore, many of the websites that we in the gaming community bubble follow are happy to keep stoking the fires. 'Internet personalities' that populate twitch and YouTube also find it perfectly cool to stock the fires.

I don't think anyone is saying that their should not be discourse or discussions on what you like or don't like about a console. MN here seems to be talking directly about the people that take it too far. If everyone behaved and didn't become online jerks in the process of talking about this stuff, there wouldn't be a console war and I think more people would participate in the conversations. Talking about gaming online has a reputation among those that don't follow it. Most of my friends, for example, simply have no interest in joining the various forums and making comments because they see it as just a bunch of angry people trying to prove that what they like is the best. They will read reviews online and such, but that is as far as it goes.

I'm not sure why a console war is required to spur competition. It just seems to make the whole gaming community look a little more childish to the outside world. Hate is not required. The only thing required for healthy competition is for people to speak with their wallets.

Speaking with your wallet is easier in a more densely populated market, eg, PC components, brands of food, clothing brands.

You need to remember our choices for console gaming falls on the fingers of one hand. It really isn't easy to vote with your wallet at times, especially when your mind is saying no, but your passion for being a gamer still wants you to buy the latest, have the most modern equipment, etc.

Just saying that although I agree with the action behind the statement, I do empathize with how difficult it can be to actually go through with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Speaking with your wallet is easier in a more densely populated market, eg, PC components, brands of food, clothing brands.

You need to remember our choices for console gaming falls on the fingers of one hand. It really isn't easy to vote with your wallet at times, especially when your mind is saying no, but your passion for being a gamer still wants you to buy the latest, have the most modern equipment, etc.

Just saying that although I agree with the action behind the statement, I do empathize with how difficult it can be to actually go through with it.

I don't see why the hate needs to exist though. You can prefer one console over another but why would someone hate the other consoles? That neogaf thread on paid MS advertising is a prime example of this "hate" referred by MN.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't see why the hate needs to exist though. You can prefer one console over another but why would someone hate the other consoles? That neogaf thread on paid MS advertising is a prime example of this "hate" referred by MN.

 

Are you trying to say something positive should come out of that though? You cant simply expect no hate for shoddy decisions, as if its true that paid advertising really is simply a crappy decision and deserves hate. Tactics like that belong in an American politicians race, not the gaming scene. As I have said before individually crap decisions can be hated without blanket hating/accusations of it being blanket hate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are you trying to say something positive should come out of that though? You cant simply expect no hate for shoddy decisions, as if its true that paid advertising really is simply a crappy decision and deserves hate. Tactics like that belong in an American politicians race, not the gaming scene. As I have said before individually crap decisions can be hated without blanket hating/accusations of it being blanket hate.

Since when is paid advertising bad? How do you think the ordinary YouTube users make money? They do it because they love it but money is still the main motivation. Why/how do you think that fat guy got early access to ps4/XBO?
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Speaking with your wallet is easier in a more densely populated market, eg, PC components, brands of food, clothing brands.

You need to remember our choices for console gaming falls on the fingers of one hand. It really isn't easy to vote with your wallet at times, especially when your mind is saying no, but your passion for being a gamer still wants you to buy the latest, have the most modern equipment, etc.

Just saying that although I agree with the action behind the statement, I do empathize with how difficult it can be to actually go through with it.

I just don't think that constant arguing and back and forth is healthy for the market or community.

Of course emotions can play part in your buying choices, but my point still stands. You have the power to change markets with your wallet. You don't need to go on forums and rage about how much you hate something to do that.

You can educate yourself on the facts and then decide what you want to buy. If you let emotions alone be your guide, then your going to be unhappy in the end imho.

I can empathize too with the thought that its very hard to ignore your personal bias in the face of info that makes your choice look less than perfect. We all deal with that every day. In general, it applies to almost all the choices we make in our lives. Gamers are just regular people with a greater attachment to gaming. You could say we have a passion for it.

The tough part is controlling that passion. If more could that, we could have more useful conversations. Instead, many online allow their passions to get the best of them and their comments amount to 'Xbox sucks' or 'PS sucks'. I think it has gotten worse thanks to the internet and its anonymity. Some people just feel no responsibility in what they say.

 

 

Are you trying to say something positive should come out of that though? You cant simply expect no hate for shoddy decisions, as if its true that paid advertising really is simply a crappy decision and deserves hate. Tactics like that belong in an American politicians race, not the gaming scene. As I have said before individually crap decisions can be hated without blanket hating/accusations of it being blanket hate.

There it is again: hate

Hate simply shouldn't be part of it at all. Hate is what leads to the arguments in the first place.

No, a better way to say it is that everyone should point out the problems they see without making it personal or injecting so much emotion into it. How often do discussions turn to arguments all because of the 'tone' of a post. Even when there may be a perfectly reasonable point buried in it, the poster uses a tone or throws in words that start the war once again.

Call it being diplomatic or whatever, but I wish more posters online just respected the other guy a little bit more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While it's hard to disagree with the sentiment, it's probably a little naive to expect people to tone down their attitudes, especially on the net. I thought that kind of hostility only existed on the net until I met some people a little while ago who argued and behaved like idiots defending their platforms.

 

It might also be a little insincere: hyping people up and having loyal customers invariably creates consumers with extreme views and who will doggedly defend their device of choice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While it's hard to disagree with the sentiment, it's probably a little naive to expect people to tone down their attitudes, especially on the net. I thought that kind of hostility only existed on the net until I met some people a little while ago who argued and behaved like idiots defending their platforms.

 

It might also be a little insincere: hyping people up and having loyal customers invariably creates consumers with extreme views and who will doggedly defend their device of choice.

Isn't that a cop out though? To just throw up your hands and say 'oh well, its just na?ve to think people would be responsible'

I just think if enough people in the community wanted to spread the idea of toning things down, it could happen.

However, if most people don't care enough, then not much will change. It seems like missed opportunity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just doubt you're ever going to change it. These sorts of loyalties exist everywhere there is competition. Sports teams, operating systems, mobile phones & tablets, car manufacturers etc. 

 

When someone is sitting at their keyboard and they read something positive about a competitor or negative about their favoured brand they go all ape-###### and start calling everyone names and making incoherent arguments for/against whatever has annoyed them. They don't take a deep breath, remind themselves it is only game consoles/OS/car brand and go on with their life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since when is paid advertising bad? How do you think the ordinary YouTube users make money? They do it because they love it but money is still the main motivation. Why/how do you think that fat guy got early access to ps4/XBO?

 

Ordinary YouTube channels make money from channel views and subscribers, they put up a video and YouTube selects a product to advertise on their channel in the form of an ad bar or video before the video you actually wanted to watch starts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just doubt you're ever going to change it. These sorts of loyalties exist everywhere there is competition. Sports teams, operating systems, mobile phones & tablets, car manufacturers etc. .

Your probably right, I don't think that means ignore it though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The alternative is to give the jerks more oxygen which I think encourages them. Your average troll craves attention.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The alternative is to give the jerks more oxygen which I think encourages them. Your average troll craves attention.

Exactly. I'm saying that more people should ignore them. That includes say reporting them in forums or just ignoring their comments.

Its hard to do, I know. We feel like we have to respond in some way, but as you said, that just makes it worse.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Exactly. I'm saying that more people should ignore them. That includes say reporting them in forums or just ignoring their comments.

Its hard to do, I know. We feel like we have to respond in some way, but as you said, that just makes it worse.

While I will agree on the ignore aspect, as I actually have a one or two members in this thread on ignore and it serves its purpose, I absolutely am not in agreement that they should also not be reported. If a member continually insists on perpetuating a negative environment, then by all means report them.

I made a signature image at the height of the console wars for this very forum, and I checked, the date of the image is June 22nd, 2008, so 6 years ago, and it is probably older than that, just when I last edited it...

 

DL_I_Own_My.png

 

And that is truly how I have personally always felt. I show no allegiance to any corporate entity period, as I know at the end of the day they view me as a consumer and not much else. What I would rather see than hate disappear, although it goes without saying if hate were to disappear that would be good as well, but I really would prefer is people just actual be truthful about things instead of supporting every single thing their "chosen company" chooses to do. It is that type of behavior which makes me ignore the members I do, as there is simply nothing to gain by hearing their take on things as they are so clearly slanted in one direction or the other that their opinion negates itself as it clearly has no perspective whatsoever to it. I simply cannot take anyone seriously who sits there and insists that either MS or Sony has not done several stupid things on both sides over the years. Yet I still see people who simply cannot take constructive criticism about either company.

With all that said, the truth is the internet will never be "hate-free" as long as the internet stays similar to how they are right now. That is what it is at this point in time. It does not matter if it is video game consoles, or sports, or movies, or religion, or politics, and the list goes on and on and on. As long as there are at least two sides for people to take on any subject (such as video games) than hate, immaturity, blind allegiance, and this list also goes on and on and on, will exist, and it will always be bad.

The internet allows people to be *******s, especially your average commenter on forums, with little to no repercussions at all. As such even if a person just has a small leaning towards negativity, the anonymity of the internet just amplifies any negative traits an individual may have and allows them to act out on them in a way they would never dare to do in the real world. This will probably continue to get way worse before it gets any better, which honestly is not very likely.

 

The fact some websites have now had to disable comments completely is just one repercussion of it all, and we will continue to see more and more solutions along those lines. I know this is going to be absolute crazy talk to plenty of people, but I am actually starting to think the only solution is not to allow people to hide behind a screen name and that every action online should be under one's real name. I do not think that would ever eliminate the problem completely, but it sure as hell may make some people think twice before being such a douchebag, that's for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.