Bear with me on this one, I’m a bit disgusted by it. This is a rumour, published through our friends at StickTwiddlers, so take it with the pinch of salt you should reserve for all rumours. If true, though, it is a pretty gross development in Microsoft’s joyful skip down the pathway of shovelling as much marketing into your stupid pudgy little faces as they possibly can.
According to the rumour, Microsoft is soon to partner with the UK’s biggest specialist retailer of videogames. Game has emerged from their recent troubles with a newfound vigour for competitive pricing – some of their pre-Christmas sales were very good. Unfortunately, they also seem to have spent the party season drinking too much eggnog and talking to the people who are responsible for the Xbox 360’s dashboard and achievements systems.
The snuggling up of the two companies will include a bigger presence for Game on the dashboard, presumably in some of the myriad advertising slots that now populate that system’s front-end. That’s fine. Well it’s not fine, it’s really horrible, but we’re all pretty much used to it by now. What’s really a little bit icky about this rumoured deal is what it might mean for the Achievements system.
Game is keen to get as many of us as possible along to its midnight launches of big games. Microsoft understands the lure of an un-earned achievement badge to many of its most committed fans. Both companies might be about to exploit that lure to encourage people along to Game’s midnight retail events where they can leverage the urge for collection that’s so prevalent among their core customer base to coerce a nice early, full RRP, sale of a game. Gamers, or “humans” to give them another label, will soon be encouraged to earn a special (not included in the usual 1000 Gamerscore) Achievement for loading up a game they’ve bought at a midnight launch. I’ve just done a minisick.
We should stress that this might not be true, y’know, if there’s any sanity left in the world.
Source: StickTwiddlers via GAF
Bilbo_bobbins
What is happening to the gaming market these days. Just seems to be rotting away slowly.
hazelam
as far as the ads go, there will be ads anyway, i’d rather they were actually gaming related, rather than some women, attractive though she may be, standing around in a bikini selling deodorant, what does say about what they think of xbox users anyway? o_O
and the midnight launch for points thing.
i, sadly, can foresee the headline.
“microsoft killed my son”
when some parent blames ms for making their kid want to go to a midnight launch to get the few points and the kid getting stabbed by somebody stealing their game, while the parent doesn’t take any responsibility for letting them go.
is that a cynical or a resigned viewpoint?
McProley
You’re sadly very right. I can see the same thing happening
Starman
If its a seperate achievement list I don’t think it would be a problem, but for the completists (of which there are many) a unattainable achievement is gonna just stop them buying the game at all.
The Von Braun
Personally i’d only be disgusted by something, games wise if i opened the case to find a pubic hair sat in there (as has happened buying USED games before….)
On a more serious note:why are ‘we’ surprised? we’ve seen the Xbox dash become even more advert central (yet Gold remains a paid for service, something i admit i’ve bought into and joined for a year), talk of interactive ads via Kinect, seen even more sponsorship deals in terms of in game advertising, CIA Spy dude who never goes on a near death mission without packing his fav.gum etc, Halo 4 and brand name drinks and crisps etc etc.
Had pre-order DLC codes/unlocks etc.
But my rant would be aimed at people who are buying games just for gamer score etc, seriousily, THIS is why you got into gaming? whilst i find such things do add to replay value, extra incentive etc, IF it’s just numbers your looking for, might as well re-launch the Bar Code Battler!
And you just know IF it’s true, sigh..Sony will HAVE to follow suit and do a deal with Tesco or something (other money grabbing supermarket chains are avaiable).
McProley
I still have 2 Barcode Battlers, they were great fun. Will have to boot them up one day
Sympozium
Free Dairylea Dunkers themed in God of war?
Sympozium
..oh and a trophy.
wonkey-willy
spell check broken matey???
i believe you were looking for:
a·vail·a·ble
/əˈvāləbəl/
Adjective
Able to be used or obtained; at someone’s disposal: “refreshments will be available all afternoon”.
(of a person) Not otherwise occupied; free to do something.
Synonyms
disposable – accessible – serviceable – obtainable
but yes can see your point live is slowly losing its edge for me with is feeble apps and advertising.
but on the flip-side it still pisses all over the psn
cam_manutd
I’m sure Sony and Steam will look at this with jealousy. Bet Kaz Hirai is kicking himself while playing Ridge Racer.
Gamoc
He must be very flexible.
VINDICARE UK
Advertising, lack of investment / announcements in great 1st party exclusives, and the general attitude they have in gaming. If this rumour is indeed accurate and with Steam looking to get a foot in the console door – MS will have one hell of a job redeeming my faith in their ability to cater for “clued up” gamers.
Dom El
It’s definitely another step away from the core gamers, and I’ll be adding it to the list of reasons why I don’t have a 360 anymore.
I’m just hoping that studios stop making Microsoft’s console the lead version when creating multiplatform games next generation, or they’ll still have some form of advantage – assuming you can find the game icon in between all the adverts!
wonkey-willy
no different to extra achievements or trophies from add on packs or downloads…
why the heck should some have more achievements than me just because they bought a map pack or extra mode…..
but lets face it who in their right mind would pre order anything from game??