Get free games as a Gold Member with Games with Gold...if it's available in your region

During this year's E3, Microsoft revealed a new feature called Games with Gold. This new "bonus" gives Xbox Live Gold Member two free games every month. Sounds amazing right? Free games are always a good thing. I was actually excited when the news broke, until I experience an issue this July that doesn't quite make any sense. Giving away region-locked titles on the Games with Gold promo?

For the second half of July, Gold Members gets a copy of Assassin's Creed 2 for free.  From July 16 - July 31, Gold Members are given the chance to get a copy of the game into their account. On July 17, I tried getting my free account on Assassin's Creed 2, but was welcomed with this.

It boggles my mind to experience digital products to be region-locked for a specific country, but that's old news and I should have known better. Legally, they are protected since if you dig deep enough, you will get the info that Games with Gold offer is only available in specific countries. But they are quite inconsistent since I was able to pick up Fable 3(June's free game for the month), and Defense Grid(Free game for the first half of July) with no problems. So what gives?

Games with Gold free games offer available 6/10/13-12/31/13 for qualifying paid Gold members only. Xbox 360 games (selected by Xbox) available for free download from Marketplace only during specified half-month window; available games may vary by country

The Big Problem

Not getting Assassin's Creed 2 for free is fine, I can live with that. The problem is they might actually get Xbox users considering this as an incentive to get gold. Just the thought that someone might go for the Gold service for the free games but to be greeted with region-lock issues bothers me. I'm sure there are instances already were people got gold status just to get Assassin's Creed 2, or whatever game offered during that month, and finds out they can't get a copy because the offer is not available in their region. The US is free and clear of course, but Microsoft again just doesn't do the extra effort to make it clear for consumers from other countries. All we get is this small text below giving the information.

This only strengthens the idea that Microsoft only focuses on specific regions. With region-locked present in Games with Gold, specific consumers get more based on where they live really. This has always been a problem even in Sony, and it's disappointing to experience first-hand that you are not given the same amount because of location. "Get two free games a month with Xbox Live Gold", right.

A friendly reminder

Xbox Live is still a good service, but if you live outside the US, do the research first. See if the games offered in Games with Gold will work for your region. Don't get swayed by the big text saying you get free games with Gold Membership. Also, be reminded that Games with Gold is only planned until the end of this year. It's not actually an added feature with Gold...just a promo. What happens with Games with Gold in 2014 is still unknown. So for the people considering a year subscription because of the monthly games, I suggest you rethink a bit as well.

CONFIRMED - Microsoft doing a 180, DRM policies have been reversed

We all raged, they felt it. Microsoft flipped the table with their new policies. All DRM issues like requiring internet connection every 24 hours and their policies in used games have been DROPPED. You can see the official statement below and the new changes to their policies. 

Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.

For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future.

Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One.

You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world.

So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:

• An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

• Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console -- there will be no regional restrictions.

These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.

We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.

Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year.

Mircosoft made the official announcement of the change here. The world is back to normal again. The DRM that concerned gamers since day one of Xbox One's reveal has been dropped and this is great news. You rarely see a company do a big change like this.

So let's clarify once again which policies have been changed:

• No more always online requirement
• The console no longer has to check in every 24 hours
• All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360
• An Internet connection is only required when initially setting up the console
• All downloaded games will function the same when online or offline
• No additional restrictions on trading games or loaning discs
• Region locks have been dropped

With that out of the way. How does the Xbox feel now?

[Source: GiantBomb, GameInformer]

Xbox One Region Locked - Will Not Work Outside of 21 Launch Countries

Were you considering getting a Xbox One? Interested in the exclusive games that it had to offer? Didn't mind the 24-hour check-ins and used game restrictions? If you live in the Philippines, Microsoft won't even let you. At least not just yet. According to a disclaimer on Xbox.com regarding pre-orders for the Xbox One, the next generation console will only be supported in these countries on launch:

Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada Denmark Finland France Germany Ireland

Italy Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Russia Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom United States

In addition to only being supported in these regions, the disclaimer also states:

Xbox One games are for activation and distribution only in specified geographic regions.

Twitter user Robert Hallahan wanted to confirm this issue and tweeted @XboxSupport, the official Microsoft Xbox Twitter account. A representative on the account confirmed the disclaimer's text. You can check out the full twitter conversation here.

If you were thinking of importing the console, that wouldn't work either. You would have to wait until the console and it's games are available in your region.

Source: [International Business Times]

E3 2013: E3 Press Conference Archives

Missed the live streams of the press conferences and media briefings at this year's E3? Don't fret for they have been archived on the interwebs for your viewing pleasure. Xbox: A new Generation of Games Revealed

EA Press Conference

Ubisoft E3 Media Briefing

SONY E3 Media Briefing

Nintendo Direct at E3 2013

Monday Impressions: Xbox One reveal

Last week, Microsoft finally revealed their next console naming it Xbox One. It was an hour long presentation. A presentation that answered one question, but created many more leaving viewers either disappointed, or confused. I was both.

When the event started, Microsoft didn't waste anytime at all. After a brief introduction, they revealed the Xbox One. Unlike Sony's reveal of the PS4, they showed the console upfront together with its new controller.

After looking at the console for the first time, I got excited. But all that excitement went away when the presentation went forward. The features were now being talked about, and this is when the confusion started. They started talking about the improved voice recognition, that allows you to quickly switch from game, to TV, to movies with a simple voice command. To sum it all up, the new features for the Xbox One are features gamers would ignore. They are indeed neat features, but I'd rather have an in-game demo of the console's power rather than a demonstration on something I might use a couple of times in the console's lifespan. These features gave me mixed signals, giving me the impression that they didn't focus much on what the device will be used most of the time, which is as a gaming device. I stopped watching TV when I was introduced to the internet, just letting you know Microsoft.

They then moved to EA Sports. At this point I was thrilled we are now moving towards games, but then I got disappointed at what was shown. Again let me sum it up with the order of which how they revealed the new titles - Sports games, Forza 5, one new IP, more sports talk, then Call of Duty: Ghost, that's it folks! And each one were just trailers of the games, not actual demonstration was done during the event. It's obvious that they are holding back on the games for other events because they did mention Xbox One having 15 new exclusives in the first year, with 8 of them being new franchises. That's great to hear, but I don't understand why they needed to hold back on the games, especially when they reveal the console for the first time. And as much as they want xbox to be more than a gaming console(that's what I got out of the presentation), it will always be treated as a gaming device.  I buy consoles based on the games that will be on the console, not because of Kinect 2.0, or any of the features shown during the event.

It should have been a no brainer for Microsoft to focus on why people buy their consoles in the first place. I was expecting game demo's, graphics demonstrations, neat features that would enhance the gaming experience, because at the end of the day, majority of your consumers are gamers, and that's what they want to see. The presentation didn't feel like it was catered to that kind of crowd. Microsoft did mention that during this year's E3, its going to be all about games, but I still can't get the concept of them leaving nothing substantial to create a good first impression, because one thing is for sure, Call of Duty: Ghost is not an eye catcher since it will be available in almost all platforms.

Putting the presentation aside, The Xbox One, based on the specs given, it could match what the PS4 can generate, but the problem is at this point, there's was no demo given to really have an idea of the Xbox One's performance. The new Kinect, which apparently is required at all times with the Xbox One, has went through a lot of improvements in terms of how accurate they capture your movements. The new controller has no new gimmick included in it as well. I like the new design, but aside from that, nothing much has changed. They are still deciding on what to call the select and start button which is funny because if there's one thing that shouldn't be changed, its that.

Will you buy the Xbox One?

At this point, I'll have to wait. I can't base the console on this lackluster presentation. But honestly, I think everybody that is considering a next-gen console should wait before making up their mind. How long? Until E3 at least, because that's when the big three companies go all in. Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft will definitely go all out in their games during the big event, so it all depends on what they have in store for us on the first week of June. Microsoft dropped the ball on their reveal for me, but I won't count them out yet with E3 only weeks away. Right now, PS4, and even the Wii U is ahead of Xbox One, but all that can change with one big event. The console wars has officially begun!

Did you watch the Xbox One reveal? What were your thoughts?