Console changes muddy the marketing

Now that Microsoft is aligning its Xbox One practices more closely with rival Sony’s Playstation 4, is there any reason to pick up one machine over the other? Will people even care about either machine and it’s unique capabilities?

Microsoft’s big announcements this week came as little surprise to gamers. The company will now ship Xbox One units without the Kinect motion sensor accessory, a glitchy add-on that has earned many complaints over the years despite interesting titles that focus a lot on movement. That puts the Xbox One at $399, the same price point as the PS4.

Microsoft also announced improvements to its Games for Gold program, the equivalent to Sony’s Playstation Plus program which offers many free games, discount prices on new games and online cloud storage space for game saves.

In other words, Microsoft is adapting to the market, which has rewarded the PS4 in the sixth months since both systems hit store shelves. Sony has sold more than 7 million PS4s thus far according to sales figures released last month. Only 5 million or so Xbox Ones have been sold over the past six months.

Responding to customer needs is a good practice, but Microsoft and Sony have a history of making their consoles too similar to the competition. Sony played catch-up with its Playstation 3 only a few short years ago when it mimicked the Xbox 360’s achievement system, among other Xbox accomplishments.

What this ultimately does is force gamers to buy systems based on brand name alone, which is a blessing and a curse for console companies. Nintendo was far and away the winner of the last console generation with more than 130 million Wiis sold worldwide. That’s in large part due to the Wii’s focus on more user-friendly content and less traditional mainstream games, along with the Wii’s unique controller and motion-based controls.

Sony and Microsoft’s systems don’t have that sort of differentiation, and a severe lack of console-exclusive games only hinders each system from showcasing its unique strengths on the market. That could be a big issue down the road, when both systems have many more units sold and have to rely on unique game releases. Each system offers gamers the chance to surf the web and watch online TV apps like Netflix and Hulu. Both systems offer the latest titles, from large mainstream games like “Call of Duty” to smaller, independent titles. Sony has exclusive series like “God of War” and Microsoft has “Halo.”

The average family won’t care about some of the smaller differences in graphics. They’ll care about the add-ons and upcoming titles. And in that department, Sony and Microsoft won’t differentiate from each other any time soon.

SportsPlus

Mower County

Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota won’t seek reelection, dealing blow to Democrats’ hopes to take Senate

News

Republicans advance anti-abortion legislation during control of Minnesota House

News

Feds to probe Minnesota State High School League over transgender athlete policy

Mower County

Hormel honors winners of Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

News

MnDOT announces winners of Name a Snowplow contest

News

US inflation got worse with rising groceries and gasoline prices

Education

With federal money at risk, Minnesota’s public colleges stress high stakes of state budget debate

Mower County

Snow, cold to impact region into tomorrow

Business

Hosting Legends: Mower CEO program promising big night with Local Legends concert

Education

APS School board authorizes bidding process for tennis courts reconstruction

Mower County

Austin Symphony Orchestra gets a little help in promotion for Sunday’s concert

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Convictions: Jan. 27-Feb. 3

Education

Local students advance to Southeast Minnesota Final Spelling Bee

Education

Education Briefs

News

Trump steel, aluminum tariffs likely to drive up car costs, industry leaders say

News

Republicans put fraud, measures to stop it in spotlight as they take Minnesota House reins

News

Most nations miss deadline for plans to fight climate change

News

Trump once again slaps taxes on foreign steel, aluminum, a move that proved costly in his first term

Education

APS Board votes to return to 2020 version of sex nondiscrimination policy

Mower County

Man already charged in two cases of criminal sexual conduct with a child charged a third time

News

Judge finds Trump administration hasn’t fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending

Mower County

Hormel Historic Home’s Harris Music Contest registration deadline approaching

Mower County

Percussive impact: MacPhail’s Cheryl Berglund being honored at state conference

Mower County

Mower keeps up septic progress countywide