The World According to Microsoft Gaming Division

Many people have tried to define the term 'Next Gen Gaming'. The most recurring theme seems to be an advanced graphical component to games. This is indisputable and no-matter what the nay-sayers eschew, Hi-Definition tv's and the games that we play on them have superceded most gamers expectations, to the point where any game less than stellar in this department is summarily dismissed as if it were the gaming equivalent of a leper. (Yes, yes the Wii! But like Neo, it is an anomaly, a marketing text book success story) I still remember playing Gears of War for the first time and having my breath taken away by the eye-candy, Uncharted on the PS3 being another prime example of what next gen graphics are all about.

There is one component that in my opinion is as important to this generation as graphics, it is one that has changed console gaming and pushed it even closer to the holy grain of untouchables (PC gaming - yawn) - and that is the convergance of the console and the internet. No longer can console gamers point and laugh at their PC gaming cousins as they download a 400MB patch for that brand new full-priced game. No longer do console gamers have to trudge their gaming machine to a friends house for a round of MP. Online console multi-player is here for all to experience. NOT.

At this point, lets give Sony credit where it is due. Their console arrived late worldwide but atleast the features advertised on the box were available to anyone who bought the PS3. Signing up to PSN you are struck by three things:
1) South Africa is actually in the list of countries
2) It's free
3) It's a little crap.

There is nothing more frustrating than opening up the box of your new Xbox 360 console (which was sold to you at full price, no discount offered for the lack of a major feature, but batteries are included) and seeing Xbox Live! blazeoned across the leaflets, the user guide, and the games cases. What kind of sick, sadistic joke is that? It's like paying for a 3 course meal and being denied the sweets. If you're like me, I only eat the starter and main as it's the done thing, I'm actually there for the desert. Depriving me of the sugary stuff only makes the whole meal a waste of time! (I haven't seen my feet for three years - throw me a friggin' bone here) It's around this time that we move from being a duped consumer to a criminal. Thanks Microsoft. Until recently they have ignored us as we provide false information and buy points and gold subscriptions so we don't have to play with ourselves (!) but that trend is changing. It started with IP blocking rated downloadable content but has progressed to banning accounts. These are worrying times.

Microsoft South Africa seem as helpful as ever, especially when one reads comments like this (wannabe PR's here comes a prime example of how to appease consumers and almost get away with it) :

Cindy White, Xbox 360 Group Manager: "Xbox 360 is a true next-generation digital entertainment experience, that with or without Live the experiences can be enjoyed."

[Source: http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_2110645,00.html]

Incidentally, that is about the last media briefing Microsoft South Africa has given regarding the matter! It's almost been a year.

Now considering the financial implications of hosting an online service in this country, which if done the way Sony implemented it are practically minimal, why can't Microsoft match the Sony offering. In fact, a quick poll amongst South African Xbox users will reveal that our request and requirements are meagre. We would be happy with the following:

1) Billing in Rands

2) Access to currently restricted content banned in Germany and by default any other unsupported territory.

(Keep your movies and music - If Apple hasn't managed to flex their online sales muscle in the South African music industry neither will you. It's okay. Additionally Telkom would never allow us to download 4GB of Hi-Def Hollywood madness anyway. Well, not without attaching our property first.)

You know between Eskom denying us power, Telkom denying us reasonable broadband and Microsoft denying us Live! I'm starting to believe South Africa is the country where people who have been bad in their previous lives are reincarnated. I've done the Live! dance (incidentally this includes spitting on anything Sony and actually buying Microsoft Office), signed the petition (http://www.sayyoursay.co.za/) and spammed countless forums with our plight but nothing seems to be working.

SOMEBODY HELP US!!!!1111!!!!!