Here Goes the Neighborhood

[Hae-Yu]

Microsoft is planning one the dumbest moves in gaming history. It is now planning to allow Windows Vista access to the relatively cheat-free world of XBox Live. Of course they are charging for that access, and will probably make a quick short-term buck or two, but they are taking away the single most exciting things about XBL: the vast majority of games are cheat-free and the platform is equal.

In addition to the rampant cheating in PC gaming, the accompanying paranoia will rear its ugly head. No longer can a great player be recognized for his skill, instead they will be hounded out of games.

Additionally, everyone currently has the same standard platforms. The only differentiator are skills and network latency. Allowing PCs into the mix creates inequality.

Story here. (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129877-c,games/article.html#)

Sandboxing PC gamers from console gamers will alleviate this some, but I can't help but hope this effort falls flat. XBL was one of the few things MS got right on v1.0 and it has only improved. Apparently, the bean counters have taken over this department too.

[Nebula]

ehh...

I dont blame a corperation like microsoft to do anything to get an extra buck out of people. However, I do believe that its a stupid move as far as destroying the gaming experience on the XBOX VIA XBOX Live.

[Triple_6]

Nice analysis, Ultra. I agree this is a bad idea.

[thegreaterbad]

Sigh..I heard rumors of this months ago, but I assumed it died out.

I guess greed is the most logical answer for all of these recent incidents, i.e: Advertising in CS and now PC's in Console land.

But it really doesnt make sense....Ever since the Halo and Ghost Recon series came out, there has been no shortage of avid gamer's spending money like it's going out of style on the gaming world.
Gaming will never stop making money, but why have all these big name corporation's suddenly decided in the past year to dip their hands into the works? Havent they heard of the phrase, "If it aint broke, dont fix it."?

I am just confused by the fact that since I started gaming until now, company's would make a game, then they would step back and let the gamer enjoy it and just sit back and reap in the profit and now suddenly they just want to dip their fingers into everything and just piss content gamer's off. It's just not smart business....

[Hae-Yu]

I think some of it is in response to game development costs escalating. XBL - it is self-funding. I don't see problems with in-game ads on billboards or posters as a background texture. But this will ruin the XBL environment.

[Thunder]

I know that FFXI has been doing this for years with it's PC and PS2 based users. I think that an MMO is an easier environment to keep hacks and cheats out of though.

[zero]

FFXI is also a different type of game. This is really bad idea for any type of FPS. You just don't have the same level of control with console controllers as you do with a keyboard and mouse. You won't even have to cheat, you'll just destroy any XBox players because you have much more freedom in your movements. You can turn 180 degrees in a split second. I've tried playing FPS games with people on consoles and I just can't do it anymore, it's too aggravating because of how slow and awkward you move around.