90°

How Microsoft's New Content Rules could Cripple eSports

Microsoft has passed new content rules for games published under their company and the effects of these new rules could impact the eSports universe significantly. DefaultPrime's Lucas looks more in depth at the consequences of these new rules.

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defaultprime.com
cl19834254d ago

This has been policy for quite awhile. Microsoft has special for certain groups. All this says is that Timmy can't put up his videos and get paid.

dedicatedtogamers4254d ago

But that simply does not make sense. It's not like Timmy is uploading the actual game, just the gameplay of it.

Microsoft is only hurting themselves with their rules. The rules make absolutely no sense and all it does is limit the enthusiastic fans who want to post their videos of a game they love.

cl19834254d ago (Edited 4254d ago )

Timmy can still upload, but Timmy can't get paid. Doesn't hurt the fan base.

dedicatedtogamers4254d ago

@ cl1983

Okay, so what about "professional" eSports players who provide in-depth commentary about the game? In the end, who really cares? Microsoft should see it as free promotion for their game (since it doesn't cost them a penny).

Lvl_up_gamer4254d ago (Edited 4254d ago )

@ dedicatedtogamers

If a person is a "professional" eSports player, then they don't need the money from uploading game commentaries.

They make their living by winning tournaments and endorsements.

This is more towards those that are NOT making a profit from being a gamer and are simply just making a video on something game related using an MS IP and selling it to the community trying to make some money off it.

pompombrum4253d ago (Edited 4253d ago )

I can't see how many people can agree with this policy. It's win win for Microsoft really, it costs them absolutely no money what so ever for this type of advertisement, it turns IPs like Halo into so much more plus it gives users a chance to make a little bit of money from doing so.

What actual damage does this actually do to Microsoft? People aren't benefiting purely from the IP, they are benefiting from their personalities and the creative use of the IP.

Stuff like this also encourages tomorrow's generation to try their luck at making a bit of money on the side from something they love to play. While money shouldn't be the only factor, it does offer strong reward to give them the motivation to attempt such a thing.

Perhaps if users earn over a certain amount, they should be forced into some sort of partnership with Microsoft where they get a cut of the share however no matter how I look at it, just seems like the big man flexing it's muscles with no real justification to do so.

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legendof1174254d ago

I don't understand why everyone is getting so heated over this. Like Cl1983 said its just to prevent gamers like myself from making a headshot montage in Gears of War and then trying to sell the video.

No, you cannot get paid on YouTube either for your video.

nikoado4254d ago

"No, you cannot get paid on YouTube either for your video."

Well, there are a lot of people who upload walkthroughs or "let's plays" of games on youtube.

Some of them are now "youtube partners", so they actually do get paid.

However, the update on the news story about this that was posted on n4g yesterday implied that the language used in these rules only really applied to big companies, not individuals.

TalesFromTheBud4254d ago

I've never found "esports" to be anything more than laughable... sure, you're good at the game but I don't really care. The only time I like watching video of someone else playing online is when I'm feinding for a game that isn't out yet or one I just got but I'm stuck at work or something.

Sorry if you're into "esports" and my opinion upsets you. I just dont get it.

Ashlen4254d ago

It's not just about esports, it's Let's Plays, streaming sites, video walkthoughs, video reviews and basically anything/everything else.

TalesFromTheBud4253d ago

I thought it said something about only if they were advertising and making money off it... I skimmed.

Ashlen4254d ago

I'm disappointed to read that any gamer would support Microsoft on this issue...

cl19834253d ago

It isn't a bought gamers its a bought people illegally profiting from other peoples work.

Ben_Grimm4253d ago (Edited 4253d ago )

New policy, wasn't it already established that this has been around for a while now? Now all of a sudden when someone read the fine print now it's a big issue. No one as of yet has been sued or went to jail so why the hype?

Sure are a lot of negative articles about MS as of late. Hmmm, where are the usuals saying that...oh yea they stick to certain articles only.

150°

10 Biggest Xbox Mistakes of All Time (So Far)

The Xbox brand has done a lot of good over the years, but their various blunders are pretty wild to look back on in their magnitude.

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culturedvultures.com
piroh11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Ironically number 9 can save them at this point (releasing games on multiple platforms)

ChasterMies9d ago

By “save them” you mean make more profit for Microsoft. Xbox will still be a dying hardware platform.

OtterX10d ago

You could add the naming scheme for the consoles, it just confuses customers. I know they wanted to avoid traditional numbering bc it would always be lower than their competitor, but this whole 360 then One then Series thing is confusing af. Imagine a Soccer Mom trying to figure this stuff out. I still mistakenly call the Series X the One from time to time on accident.

RNTody10d ago

Don't forget about the Xbox One, Xbox One X and Xbox Series X! Good luck to Soccer moms around the world.

S2Killinit9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

They did that on purpose to confuse and direct attention away from the generational numbering.

MS doesn’t like reminding people that they joined the industry after others had already been involved in gaming.

For instance, they called the xbox “360” to combat PlayStation “3” because they wanted to seem like “more” than “3”, so instead of xbox 2, they opted for xbox 360. Also this had the additional benefit of selling consoles to uninformed parents who might purchase a “360” instead of a “3” by mistake, or because they thought 360 was more than 3. Kind of a disingenuous move.

They have been continuing with their confusing naming patterns for pretty much the same reasons. Frankly, it fits with who and what they are as a brand.

FinalFantasyFanatic9d ago

I can understand their reasoning, but whoever came up with that naming scheme should be fired, bad naming schemes have killed consoles (I'm pretty sure it was the major reason for the downfall of the WiiU). They should have had unqiue names like Nintendo and Sega have had for their consoles, far less confusing for the consumer.

rob-GP6d ago

@FinalFantasyFanatic "They should have had unqiue names like Nintendo..."

lol, you mean:

NES, SNES
GameBoy, GameBoy Advanced, GameBoy Colour, GameBoy SP
DS, DSi, DSXL
3DS, 3DS XL, New 3DS, New 3DS XL
Wii, Wii U
Switch, Switch OLED

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Cacabunga10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Phil Spencer is the worst that has happened to Xbox.
They built a respectable brand up to Xbox one. Then this guy took over and things became a joke

Reaper22_10d ago

He still has his job. Something you can't say about Jim Ryan.

Cacabunga10d ago

Both bad execs. One is on job and one thankfully retired.

FinalFantasyFanatic9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

I didn't like either person, both people damaged their respective brands and produced worse outcomes, but Phil did save the Xbox brand from being retired by Microsoft. Although in hindsight, he should have just let it die, rather than languish in limbo like it is now.

Rainbowcookie8d ago

Yeah but the one that was "bad" didn't even affect sales.

bunt-custardly9d ago

Phil Spencer was also on the team back when 360 was around, alongside Shane Kim, Peter Moore etc. I think the damage that did the most harm was the Don Mattrick "Always Online" console (ahead of its time basically). They handed Sony and Nintendo a free-pass when that was revealed. It went downhill from there. Then the corporate machine went into full swing to try and recover. They have to a degree as a games company for the masses, and less so for the core gamer. Outside USA, the Xbox brand does not sell as well as Japanese based consoles (citation needed).

Cacabunga9d ago

Want a decision maker. The always online and TV plans was a disaster yes, but they caught up by announcing 1st party games that gamers actually kept the hype going.. until this moron took over and introduced the PC day one release.. e all know where that ended..

S2Killinit9d ago

I dont think they were ever a respectable brand, not since the beginning, when their goal was never to be involved and share in the gaming space. I think the OG xbox was an exception because MS as a brand was still getting its foot in and so the people behind that were people of the gaming industry.

FinalFantasyFanatic9d ago

The 360 was the brand in its prime though, everything went downhill towards the end of that generation. Its staple games like Halo, Forza and Gears are what kept the console relevant and afloat for so long.

MaximusPrime_10d ago

Really good video.

I remember the days with RRoD was big news on here, N4G.

Microsoft had it turbulence number of years.

Looking at the success of Sea of Thieves despite being 6 years old, time to release Halo, Forza horizon 4 & 5 on PS5. It'll help their revenue

shinoff218310d ago (Edited 10d ago )

2 of the 4 games they did already sold really well. So it's definitely going down. Idk about halo or forza but I feel those studios they've bought in the last 5 years, their coming

ChasterMies9d ago

I found this video painful to watch. Can someone list them out?

Top 10 for me from are:
1. 2013 reveal presentation
2. Bundling Kinect 2 with Xbox One
3. RRoD or why rushing to market with hardware is always a bad idea.
4. Buying studios only to close them.
5. Ads on the Home Screen
6. Letting Halo die.
7. Letting Geard of War die.
8. Every console name
9. Charging for Xbox Live on Xbox 360 when Sony let PS3 players play online for free.
10. Cancelling release of OG Xbox games after the Xbox 360 launched.

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150°

Microsoft to Add Copilot AI to Video Games

Microsoft recently revealed its plans to incorporate Copilot directly into video games, with Minecraft being the first showcased example.

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xpgained.co.uk
Fishy Fingers14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

F*** AI

"Hey Copilot, what's a good meme to prove I dislike AI".... https://giphy.com/clips/sou...

Einhander197214d ago

Two trillion dollar company that just can't wait to put as many people possible out of work as fast as possible.

It feels like every single thing they do is making gaming worse and destroying the industry.

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darthv7213d ago

....you know it takes people to program the AI.... right? It isnt like it is sentient. We haven't reach skynet level of situation or anywhere close to the matrix just yet.

That's next Thursday.

Einhander197213d ago (Edited 13d ago )

It takes a people to program the AI then that AI is used for who knows how many games eliminating countless jobs which only grows as AI is used for more and more game creation functions.

What you're saying is so ridiculously short sighted and truly larking any kind of understanding and foresight.

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CaptainFaisal14d ago

Why all the hate? Im actually excited about this! Always wanted this kind of immersion, and an AI companion with me all the time helping me out knowing the status of my skills/inventory/progress and giving me tips on the best approach or how to craft something specific is game changing for the industry.

Hate all you want about AI, but this is just the start and I can see the potential already. You wont be complaining in the next 5-10 years about this, but rather complain if a game hasn’t implemented it.

MrDead14d ago

Yes we can't wait for the work of others to be used without the need to pay them so that MS can profit even more from the people they fire.

I_am_Batman14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

There is no chance I'd ever use something like this, especially if it's not part of the core game design, but a layer on top of it. It's way too much handholding. Many games already feel like busy work, because they don't let the player figure things out on their own. Having a real-time interactive guide defeats the purpose of playing the game in the first place in my opinion.

If this were to become the standard like you predict, we'll see more and more video games get away with bad design, because people will just be used to ask for help from the AI companion anyway.

Number1TailzFan14d ago

Well Nintendo don't need this with some of their games these days, with invincible characters, items, easy bosses etc.. they do the hand holding built in

helicoptergirl14d ago

Takes "hand holding" in games to a whole new level.

BlackDoomAx13d ago

Because human nature xD Almost every new technology had these kind of comments.

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70°

Activision team is opening a new game studio in Poland 'Elsewhere Entertainment' to build new AAA IP

Microsoft's Activision subsidiary announced today that it is opening a new game development studio to take advantage of the huge talent pool growing in Poland. It'll be the second Activision studio based in the region, joining Infinity Ward Krakow, although this studio is, in fact, not working on Call of Duty.

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windowscentral.com
Psychonaut8518d ago

They’re not working on Call of Duty? Give it time.