Home Entertainment Microsoft South Africa is listening

Microsoft South Africa is listening

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Melanie botha

Before jetting off to America, I was lucky enough to sit down with some key people over at the local Microsoft offices. I asked the questions that you wanted answers to, and got their responses on video. Here is the interview.

For those who don’t watch video, the first part is that we don’t have an answer on the recommended retail price (RRP) for the Xbox One when in launches locally. They assured me that it would be competitive with the PS4, especially now that consumers will have the choice if they want a Kinect included with the console.

As for the issue of the cloud and servers, Microsoft South Africa says that they are working hard to ensure that local users get a complete experience with the Xbox One. Yes, gamers will still have to connect to international servers (there are no plans for local ones as of yet), but a portion of the 300k dedicated servers that make up Azure have been allocated to South African Xbox Live users, something that should hopefully improve their experience.

Melanie Botha, the Director for the Consumer Channel, explained that Microsoft is aware that gamers were disappointed that the console didn’t launch when other countries did. However, she is sure that the experience on the Xbox One will lure back any who have changed, that the Xbox One has a lot to offer gamers. While she couldn’t reveal the specific plans, there are surprises in the works for the Xbox One launch in South Africa, as well as apps and other integrations to ensure locals get the most out of the console. Now we just need to teach it our local voice commands – just no one teach the Xbox what local swear words are so that we can still shout obscenities at the console without it knowing.

I was very impressed during the interview. It was apparent that the local Microsoft team really is trying their best to give South Africans the very best possible experience on the new console. No, we don’t have the market value of the US or Europe, but we are a valuable bunch of gamers and they want to make us happy. You can feel free to tweet at Melanie or Graeme to let them know your thoughts, dreams, desires or goals for Microsoft. I know not all of you watch videos, but I hope you’ll click play on this one – I found Melanie to be genuine and sincere in the way she answered the questions. I believe her when she says that they are doing their best to work with corporate overseas to ensure that locals get everything they’re asking for.

Of course, we want more than their best – we want it all. Are you keen for the Xbox One launch? Do you think Microsoft is finally on message about the new console, or are you waiting for the other shoe to drop? Melanie got me all excited about that controller again – gonna need to get my fingers on those vibrating triggers ASAP.

Last Updated: June 5, 2014

159 Comments

  1. oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

    June 5, 2014 at 15:36

    Via Kinect 2 😛
    KUDOS To Microsoft South Africa for fan service.
    SONY South Africa, your turn.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 5, 2014 at 16:02

      Action speaks louder than words really. Sony delivered their console almost a year earlier and gave us everything MS wanted to deny us at last years E3

      Reply

      • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

        June 5, 2014 at 16:05

        yip, talk about roll reversals.

        Reply

  2. Rincearbiterofhumour

    June 5, 2014 at 15:37

    Nice one Zoe!

    Reply

  3. Tauriq Moosa

    June 5, 2014 at 15:42

    I still can’t see a reason to get an Xbox One. I offer a chocolate to someone who can offer excellent reasons!

    Reply

    • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

      June 5, 2014 at 15:45

      Reply

      • Tauriq Moosa

        June 5, 2014 at 15:46

        Best reason so far.

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 5, 2014 at 15:45

      Titanfall!

      Reply

      • Kromas

        June 5, 2014 at 15:45

        Fairly unplayable on PC and with the servers not being local … enjoy.

        Reply

        • SojournZA

          June 5, 2014 at 15:47

          unplayable? I play all the time, whats the issue?

          Reply

          • Tauriq Moosa

            June 5, 2014 at 15:47

            On PC? If so, then maybe your PC and network is better? Unless all PCs are the same?

          • SojournZA

            June 5, 2014 at 15:51

            playing on PC yes from Port Elizabeth, dont think I have ever recieved a disconnect except for when I played the beta. I would think its a ISP issue with you Kromas

          • Kromas

            June 5, 2014 at 15:52

            Could be but since I pretty much do the online thing all the time it is weird that only Titanfall has these issues. (Uhm and BF4 sorta)

          • SojournZA

            June 5, 2014 at 15:53

            Well when I had Telkom as my ISP (/spit), all games worked fine except for Blizzard games, ping spikes from 300 to around 4k +

          • Kromas

            June 5, 2014 at 15:55

            Yeah Telkom is horrible. My blizz games stay below 200 ms always but I have a uncapped unshaped 1:1 contention connection. (That I am paying half a PS4 price for every month)

          • SojournZA

            June 5, 2014 at 15:55

            eekies, boys an there toys 😉

          • Kromas

            June 5, 2014 at 15:57

            MMO addiction can cost loads. 🙂

            Damn I forgot Wildstar is already playable.

          • Makes

            June 6, 2014 at 07:33

            It’s still the same Sojourn. Me and a couple of my buddies trying Telkom Accounts now. No problem to all servers besides Blizzard which spikes from time to time but noticed after 11pm it’s smooth sailing.

          • Kromas

            June 5, 2014 at 15:47

            Lag and disconnects mainly. Not really the games fault but rather the fact that we have no local servers.

          • Kervyn Cloete

            June 5, 2014 at 16:15

            I play regularly with a decent group of locals, all using different ISP’s/line speeds, and we very rarely have problems. There’s the odd disconnect yeah, but then it’s usually a general problem on the servers.

            Also, that games is built on the Source engine, so it’s damn scalable when it comes to performances on different hardware.

          • Mighty Meh

            June 5, 2014 at 16:34

            I’m in PE too but I’m having serious issues joining games. I just get the infinite loading loop. I usually was able to play over weekends but anything from Sunday to Friday night was pretty much a no go. Kinda killed it for me

            Don’t get me wrong though, the second there are local servers Ill be in like flint!

          • FoxOneZA

            June 5, 2014 at 16:38

            ISP needs changing.

      • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

        June 5, 2014 at 15:45

        low blow 😉

        Reply

      • Tauriq Moosa

        June 5, 2014 at 15:46

        Nope. Not impressed – also no local support.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          June 5, 2014 at 15:46

          Halo 5!

          Reply

          • Tauriq Moosa

            June 5, 2014 at 15:47

            Better! But having never played previous Halos, since this Halo isn’t Bungie, and I don’t want to buy an entire 60000000 rand system for one game (which others i can play on PS4 at better scales, etc.), still not good enough.

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 15:47

            LOL um, you can buy it without Kinect

          • Tauriq Moosa

            June 5, 2014 at 15:48

            eh?

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 15:49

            Kinect is optional now.

          • Tauriq Moosa

            June 5, 2014 at 15:55

            oh! yeh… what a lovely way to market something? IT NOW COMES WITHOUT THE ANNOYING THING NOBODY WANTED! YAY!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            June 5, 2014 at 15:56

            You’re forgetting all about the TV apps! that… no one also cares about :/

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 15:57

            Jeez well there’s the XBOX experience. I don’t know what it is but the mention it a couple of times in the video

          • Tauriq Moosa

            June 5, 2014 at 16:02

            What is that?

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 16:03

            Like I said I don’t know. Like when I was told the XBOX live experience is much better than Sony’s online play.

          • Tauriq Moosa

            June 5, 2014 at 16:06

            THE XBOX ONE EXPERIENCE IS THE TOTAL GAMING EXPERIENCE FOR THE MODERN GAMER, WITH FULL INTEGRATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE LATEST GAMES ON A POWERFUL SYSTEM.

            that was my attempt at PR speak that tells you effing nothing.

          • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

            June 5, 2014 at 16:07

            Murica!!!

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 16:11

            Fuck YEAH!

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 16:11

            So you gonna buy yourself a chocolate?

          • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

            June 5, 2014 at 16:12

            … Im still thinking.

          • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

            June 5, 2014 at 16:13

            GOT IT 🙂
            The right trigger on the control pad kicks the duelshock 4s arse.

          • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

            June 5, 2014 at 16:19

            where is my chocolate?

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 16:31

            hehehe

          • Tauriq Moosa

            June 5, 2014 at 16:15

            hahahahahaa

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            June 5, 2014 at 16:14

            Drop in some mention of infinite cloud power & you’d be hired instantly.

          • Kromas

            June 5, 2014 at 15:49

            So the NSA can only hear what you are doing and not see. Could make for some hilarious hijinks.

          • FoxOneZA

            June 5, 2014 at 16:10

            You should play Halo 4. It’s way better than anything Bungie has delivered to date. It’s so good that I’ll go as far to say it’s the best looking Xbox 360 game.

          • CAE9872

            June 5, 2014 at 16:12

            How about if MS confirm the Halo Bundle i.e. all previous Halo’s (1-4 anyway) in one box. Great deal and more importantly great games…well except 2 which is only OK.

          • Tauriq Moosa

            June 5, 2014 at 16:16

            Ooooh. I like that a lot! But still wouldn’t buy a whole system for that.

          • FoxOneZA

            June 5, 2014 at 16:20

            The there’s always the Wii U for you 😉

          • CAE9872

            June 5, 2014 at 16:21

            Then chocolate it is!

    • FoxOneZA

      June 5, 2014 at 16:08

      Forza Everything. I just need the console for that.

      Upcoming games like Quantum Break and Sunset Overdrive also look good.

      Reply

      • Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)

        June 5, 2014 at 16:11

        Not everyone are racing sim fans. Quantum “SABC tv show” Break looks interesting but I’ll reserve judgment until seeing more. And Isomniac’s previous game was a Titanic flop so don’t put too much money on S.O.

        Reply

        • FoxOneZA

          June 5, 2014 at 16:14

          Not a racing sim fan? There’s Forza Horizon 2 for you!

          PS: I don’t watch SABC TV shows so I can’t comment 😛

          Reply

        • Tauriq Moosa

          June 5, 2014 at 16:18

          >> Quantum “SABC tv show”

          Thanks, Martin. Whole office is wondering why I burst screamed out laughter.

          Reply

      • Tauriq Moosa

        June 5, 2014 at 16:17

        The only thing I hate more than racing is fighting games 🙂

        Reply

    • Mark Treloar

      June 5, 2014 at 16:11

      Because Zoe likes vibrating triggers?

      Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      June 5, 2014 at 16:13

      Girls like a man with a Bone?

      Reply

      • Tauriq Moosa

        June 5, 2014 at 16:17

        If you had said “women”, I’d be giving you all the chocolate in the world.

        Reply

        • Dutch Matrix

          June 5, 2014 at 16:24

          Aw Nuts!

          Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        June 5, 2014 at 16:17

        So do dogs.

        Reply

    • Wesley Fick

      June 6, 2014 at 08:04

      Forza Horizon 2 would be enough to tip me over the edge to buy one, but supporting two or more consoles at the same time is a big expense.

      Reply

      • Tauriq Moosa

        June 6, 2014 at 08:05

        I doubt I’d buy a console just because one or two good games were exclusive to it (also, for me, I hate driving games).

        Reply

    • Bad@$$

      June 6, 2014 at 08:30

      I have a good reason…………………….to use as an very expensive coaster for my cuppa joe

      Reply

  4. Kromas

    June 5, 2014 at 15:43

    Yeah. Let me make this perfectly clear from a networking perspective. No amount of servers will help if they do not sit locally. You can allocate us 5 million servers and we would still have massive latency and poor downloading performance.

    Reply

    • Pieter Kruger

      June 5, 2014 at 16:56

      Playing a lot online on the XB1 with no real issues!????

      Reply

    • RogueCode

      June 5, 2014 at 22:50

      Been playing Forza/BF4/Titanfall with no issues since they came out.
      While I agree with what you’re saying, our experience isn’t bad at all here (it just could be better).

      Reply

  5. Jedi JJ

    June 5, 2014 at 15:43

    Nice to see people paying attention to the gamers.

    Reply

  6. Hammersteyn

    June 5, 2014 at 15:47

    Again with the cloud, if it’s not available here (local servers) then there’s nothing to experience is there?

    Reply

    • Tauriq Moosa

      June 5, 2014 at 15:48

      The clooooooooooooooooooooooud *hand waves*

      Reply

    • HvR - THE Average GAmer

      June 5, 2014 at 16:05

      The cloud, WE’VE BEING HAVING IT!!!

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        June 5, 2014 at 16:09

        I wouldn’t mind that cloud at all

        Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      June 5, 2014 at 16:11

      Azure servers are already serving South African businesses well without being dumped locally.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        June 5, 2014 at 16:12

        That has nothing to do with XBOX or gaming yet…

        Reply

        • FoxOneZA

          June 5, 2014 at 16:23

          It does. That’s how it’s possible to jam Titanz from S.A .

          Reply

          • CAE9872

            June 5, 2014 at 16:24

            So can you confirm that you playing Titanfall on Xbox One in SA i.e. not the PC version? I’m just interested…

          • FoxOneZA

            June 5, 2014 at 16:27

            Did the beta on PC. Mr Kruger downloaded the game of the UK store and it works for him.

          • CAE9872

            June 5, 2014 at 16:28

            Hmmm interesting…

          • FoxOneZA

            June 5, 2014 at 16:32

            It’s best you check out the local Xbox forum as half the “facts” on sites overrun by fanbois don’t tell the full story.

          • Rags

            June 5, 2014 at 16:35

            But where are the servers located?

          • Pieter Kruger

            June 5, 2014 at 16:52

            Correct! Titans be dropping all over the place! ????

          • Pieter Kruger

            June 5, 2014 at 16:53

            100% correct sir!

          • RogueCode

            June 5, 2014 at 22:51

            I have. Works great.

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 16:29

            As I understand it it’s only possible if you buy Titanfall from overseas and play on an overseas server. Not that I would play it anyway

  7. oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

    June 5, 2014 at 15:48

    It just frustrates me that no matter how loud we shouted after the let down of the LIVE Bone reveal its taken 1.5 years to slowly start listening.

    A little too late. Like the success of the 360 over SONY it was launched a year before and created the install base first.

    I blame Microsoft America.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 5, 2014 at 15:48

      Seems they did a 180

      Reply

      • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

        June 5, 2014 at 15:49

        They can #DEAL WITH IT
        My funds have all been wired to SCEE, and I did wait as long as possible.
        Now if the BONE was able to play my very expensive 360 library then I would have waited even longer.

        Reply

        • Kromas

          June 5, 2014 at 15:50

          Mine is locked into ICEE. 🙂

          Master Race for the win!

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 15:54

            XD

        • Hammersteyn

          June 5, 2014 at 15:54

          Same here

          Reply

  8. Milesh Bhana

    June 5, 2014 at 15:51

    i wonder if they’ll have the DSTV integration done by launch?
    Some peeps who have imported have said that there is currently basic support for this, but no EPG yet.

    Reply

    • Pieter Kruger

      June 5, 2014 at 16:50

      I really think that is what they mean by “other integrations” as talks with Multichoice started just after the XB1 reveal last year!

      Reply

  9. Hammersteyn

    June 5, 2014 at 15:54

    It really is a nice interview but they don’t know anything or they do and they are gagged by MS USA. Words like “competitive pricing”,”complete experience”,”surprises” and “upping our game” doesn’t faze me

    The price will really be important. If it’s the same as the PS4 then game on.

    Reply

  10. Hammersteyn

    June 5, 2014 at 15:55

    Smartglass??? Still???

    Reply

    • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

      June 5, 2014 at 15:58

      One day real nerds will be in-charge of their hobbies (This one being GAMING, GAMES VIDEOGAMES) instead of marketing PR who were selling cars a year before.
      Remember, we were hating on Microsoft for using the Bone as a Trojan horse for Smart Glass, Kinect 2, and Windows 8 TO DOMINATE THE LIVING ROOM before SONY, 2 YEARS AGO!! Before the launch.
      GAMES Hell, have I just been taken back to a Lazy Gamer post from 2 years ago?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        June 5, 2014 at 15:59

        It would seem so.

        Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        June 5, 2014 at 16:12

        I wouldn’t be surprised. You old people tend to repeat yourselves. 😉

        Reply

        • Her Highness the Hipster

          June 5, 2014 at 16:20

          bwahahahahaha

          Reply

          • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

            June 5, 2014 at 16:23

            Shhh

        • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

          June 5, 2014 at 16:22

          Why do you think the same dicks with the same ideas are always in-charge.

          INDOCTRINATION.

          Reply

    • Brady miaau

      June 5, 2014 at 16:25

      great idea, kak app.

      Reply

  11. ilovegoogleglass

    June 5, 2014 at 15:57

    Awesome…

    Reply

  12. JHN

    June 5, 2014 at 15:58

    Still trying to make a decision, massive xbox fan boy but shit they burnt my respect for them by taking this long to bring the console to our shores, and also still not telling how much it will cost.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 5, 2014 at 15:59

      Probably close to what the PS4 sells for, I mean who’s gonna buy it if it’s R1000 more?

      Reply

      • JHN

        June 5, 2014 at 16:01

        Lets just be honest here tho Microsoft have done far stupider things than outpricing themselves so at this point nothing would surprise me .

        Reply

    • Tauriq Moosa

      June 5, 2014 at 16:05

      Unless you watch live TV, want sports, and sports, and sports, Xbox exclusives, there’s no reason to get an Xbox One that I’ve been able to see. Nothing is optimised for anything outside US, it’s weird and ugly, too.

      As someone who loves Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Sony PS+, and the system’s simplicity, (and that most games are cross platform and perform better on PS4), the answer is obvious to me.

      But it might be different for you, if you are already a Microsoft fan and love the exclusive stuff. I just don’t. Definitely not enough to fork out that amount of cash and subscription.

      Reply

      • JHN

        June 5, 2014 at 16:33

        Agreed all valid points, the only thing clouding my vision is my love for my 360.
        But in the end when i use my business mind and look at it properly Microsoft is asking me to pay more for less.
        Thats my main issue now is that I have to search for reasons to justify buying an X1 were as all the reasons to buy a PS4 are obvious.

        Reply

        • Jonah Cash

          June 5, 2014 at 17:09

          I sold my 360, and I had it for 9,5 years(3 of them RROD and all)
          I had a PS2, but couldn’t afford the PS3 and jumped on the 360 rather. I really liked my 360, it is such a cool machine. It does what it should without any hassles!! But the PS4 is just awesome man, I have had it since December and I have not regretted getting it one little bit!! Yeah the games were thin there for a while, but I am already seeing a backlog in the very near future!! Good luck, I had tears selling my Xbox 360. We had a lot of fun together, but Microsoft has bungled every decision so far with the Xbone. They made me chose the PS4, I now work so I have money to chose the best console and I am pretty sure that I made the right call!!

          Reply

        • Tauriq Moosa

          June 6, 2014 at 07:59

          You’re supposed to scream at me for being a Sony fanboy, etc., not respond like a business-minded adult with finite cash. The hell is wrong with you? You know this is the internet, right? Geez. I am disappoint.

          Reply

          • JHN

            June 6, 2014 at 08:34

            Im sorry I dont what came over me YOU DIRTY SONY FANBOY

          • Tauriq Moosa

            June 6, 2014 at 10:48

            HEY BRO SHUDUP YOUR FACE HALLO FANBOY – GO PLAY YOUR BRO SHOTERS! LOL! SONNY PALYSTASHUIN 4 LYF.

    • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

      June 5, 2014 at 16:16

      They made the Bone (Xbox Infinite) for AMERICANS and the 44million people who registered with XBOX LIVE. The other 48 Million off-line 360 gamers were expendable to fit the need of the original 24hour check in.

      Reply

  13. MakeItLegal

    June 5, 2014 at 16:04

    NO LOCAL SERVERS = FAIL ON SO MANY FRONTS

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 5, 2014 at 16:06

      They even say there are no plans for local ones as of yet. See I’m not completely biased so I’m willing to buy an XBOX One but the really need to up the love

      Reply

      • MakeItLegal

        June 5, 2014 at 17:01

        then you ARE supporting THEM not supporting YOU …

        after the 360 and the hoops and hurdles i had to jump through to get online and such …i just wont support another half baked idea , half implemented at FULL PRICE

        MS can suck it as far as i am concerned – If they had said , Bone was delayed to install the necessary AZURA data centres , then maybe ….

        Ps there is not one MS Data centre in Africa ….#thinkAboutThat

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          June 5, 2014 at 17:41

          That’s why I said they need to up the love. Make us want to buy one, not just to try and compete with Sony

          Reply

  14. shoka

    June 5, 2014 at 16:10

    be bazia bas gof vase tanavo ham k shode adam bash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

    • Tauriq Moosa

      June 5, 2014 at 16:19

      YEAH!

      Reply

    • oVgeeeeee Comet Drop

      June 5, 2014 at 16:20

      Is the BING translator broken?

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        June 5, 2014 at 21:43

        That IS the Bing translation.

        Reply

  15. Mark Treloar

    June 5, 2014 at 16:14

    Listening are they? Do not bring back the Start button for Windows 8. The Start button is for noobs. If you are a noob buy and Xbone.

    Good deed for the day
    Plugged Xbone so the noobs stay off PC….Check

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 6, 2014 at 07:31

      And how people raged over a start button

      Reply

  16. CAE9872

    June 5, 2014 at 16:19

    Still interested; but must admit my passion has faded – as a long time fan of Xbox brand and not being able to get it locally makes me realise MS don’t overly seem to care about us here in wintry SA. Yes I know marketing, distribution is difficult but still…

    And then we have the big issue of Xbox Live SA – its pathetic! I need to have a UK account to make sure I get ALL the content available whereas SA seems to have like 30% of the UK content which is just not acceptable (and I don’t mean apps as I understand the issues on these). But games? Nope – any reason provided I don’t buy as Sony can do it. Then so can MS.

    Don’t get me wrong – Xbox is great and I see it growing steadily but in SA they need to up their game and not think of us as 3rd rate citizens.

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      June 5, 2014 at 16:24

      um, yeah, what he said. Or she said. Or it said. But that

      Reply

      • CAE9872

        June 6, 2014 at 07:28

        Got it one

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 5, 2014 at 16:30

      Except we are 3rd rate. We live in a 3rd world country :/

      Reply

      • CAE9872

        June 5, 2014 at 16:33

        Yes but let’s not encourage them – they (US) already think we live in mud huts as it is and dress in tribal wear. And yip I was asked that once!

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          June 5, 2014 at 16:36

          True, now excuse me while I feed my chickens and get ready to hunt a kudu for dinner

          Reply

          • CAE9872

            June 5, 2014 at 16:38

            While playing Wolfenstein 🙂

          • Hammersteyn

            June 5, 2014 at 16:40

            LOL I’m starting WD tonight, work pending

    • FoxOneZA

      June 5, 2014 at 16:46

      Would you rather have it launch here with a handful of games and keep the prices up or pick it up a year later like we did with the Xbox 360 and have a large library of games to choose from?

      MS has brought us better deals with bundles than Sony. There’s always Christmas bundles to look forward too and even the controllers are well priced. There’s also other areas where they’ve excelled like by pricing the console in relation to the dollar rather than the GB Pound that would be of no benefit to SA.

      Xbox Live in S A needs a content overhaul. Maybe Games with Gold will push us into the same league as the US but that’s just wishful.

      Reply

      • CAE9872

        June 5, 2014 at 16:56

        I don’t think the argument of “waiting and seeing” is a good one – on that basis it shouldn’t have been released at all anywhere. I don’t think it was a mistake to launch when they did (both consoles it could be argued released too early), but if you going to launch then know your strategy.

        But for MS not to say a word, for 6 months, isn’t acceptable if they want us here (and other places) to take them seriously. At the very least tell us the plan, we can plan ahead, or whatever – instead we got silence!

        I am no console zealot, but I like to be informed about my hobby – call it “entitlement” if you must, but I want to support you (MS); but give me something to work with.

        And you talking to someone who imported both Xbox (1?) and 360 on launch. So yes I paid an absolute packet on them – but don’t regret it. But the market has changed and if they want SA in that sphere, at least pretend to make us feel important.

        Reply

        • Tauriq Moosa

          June 6, 2014 at 07:56

          >> “both consoles it could be argued released too early”

          I kind of agree with this. Though as someone without a console and still wanting to play games, I was glad PS4 launched when it did. But, if I was the majority of gamers (had a last gen console, for example), I definitely would not own a current/new gen console.

          Reply

    • Guest

      June 5, 2014 at 17:07

      Sony and Nintendo use the pegi system, in the eyes of the law they are pretty much putting up content that’s not rated. This is why so many games are missing. We chose to follow the law but getting all the games back on the store now would require every single developer to re-rate their title, most developers do not want to go through the pain of dealing with the FPB in general.

      We have found a solution and our store on X1 will not follow the same path as 360. We all feel your pain, believe me it’s not like we want to not bring the content to our store but the FPB is not the most accommodating place to get content rated in general.

      Reply

      • CAE9872

        June 5, 2014 at 17:39

        Thanks for replying – was hoping you trawling comments.

        I have heard the argument re: ratings board and how MS have tried to play legit. And that is fair enough, BUT as a consumer, with the vast resources of the internet, it is very hard to say “I will do without what others have.” Great game gets released and potentially we never get it because of red tape – not the best option as a consumer. Especially when you know there is a way to get around the local problem.

        I like the sound of the fact that X1 will follow different strategy/solution. I want to support local Live – but the content must be there for me as the consumer.

        At the moment the game fan in me NEEDS an Xbox One – and desperately wants one. The games are there.

        So I look forward to the local launch – I really hope it is successful; but more importantly I want to see SA get the love and attention we deserve as customers – and I mean from MS US…I am sure you guys/gals locally try your best but if it ain’t coming, not much you can do.

        Perhaps my “bitterness” stems from the fact the Aussie got the thing first – I thought they just like sheep…and Aussie rules!

        Reply

        • Graeme Selvan

          June 5, 2014 at 21:06

          We will deliver I promise. We have worked for a long time to make sure that the store will bring EVERYTHING the rest of the world has. It will happen!

          I am in the same boat as you as a gamer, so I understand the frustrations. I have serious FOMO when it comes to games.

          Reply

          • bluegoon

            June 7, 2014 at 07:16

            Stop that, you’re going to make me buy an Xbox One.

    • RogueCode

      June 5, 2014 at 22:56

      Just to be clear here, you’ll actually want to have a US account not UK (easily migrate-able though) as a lot of the recently announced apps are exclusive to US.
      Also the prices are better if you’re buying games digitally (which you really should be).

      Reply

  17. Viking Of Science

    June 5, 2014 at 16:22

    Me, deciding to stick to PC:

    http://i.imgur.com/RlpVCdQ.gif

    Reply

    • CAE9872

      June 5, 2014 at 16:23

      And so the Master Race appears…took a while actually 🙂

      Reply

      • Viking Of Science

        June 5, 2014 at 16:24

        was actually looking for a use for this chicken gif….

        I harbour no Ill will to my Console Gamer Brethren…. To each his own….

        Reply

        • CAE9872

          June 5, 2014 at 16:29

          I didn’t know chickens were the Master Race – thought that was mice *goes off to read Hitchhikers Guide*

          Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        June 5, 2014 at 16:30

        I was wondering the same

        Reply

      • Rags

        June 5, 2014 at 16:33

        We are omnipresent boet.

        Reply

        • CAE9872

          June 5, 2014 at 16:34

          The all-seeing eye?

          Reply

  18. Sageville

    June 5, 2014 at 16:46

    No because Titanfall

    Reply

  19. Happy Hamster

    June 5, 2014 at 17:16

    too many ummmssss in her answers

    Reply

  20. Pieter Kruger

    June 5, 2014 at 18:10

    Thnx Zoe, good read, watch!

    Reply

  21. Tulipdame

    June 5, 2014 at 18:26

    I am excited for the games to come. Already have an Xbox One though. Finally got to playing Watch Dogs and Wolfenstein. Waiting for Sunset overdrive to launch locally.

    Reply

  22. Mark Treloar

    June 5, 2014 at 21:34

    “300k dedicated servers have been allocated to South African Xbox Live users” so here’s the problem. this is the total worldwide not just for SA. What part of this is support for us?

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      June 6, 2014 at 07:44

      do you mean they messed up a thing like that?

      Reply

      • Wesley Fick

        June 6, 2014 at 14:03

        No, he means that there’s no way of knowing how many dedicated Azure servers are set aside for SA for game hosting. I’d wager that “none” is the number right now. 300k is just the number of virtual instances that they could run anyway.

        Reply

  23. Ch33seWh33L

    June 6, 2014 at 07:37

    This video reminds me of the How I met your mother episode, where they drink a shot for every “But Uhm” Robin says during the news… Drink for every “uhm” !!! Get your spare liver ready folks!!!

    Reply

  24. Wesley Fick

    June 6, 2014 at 08:02

    “Yes, gamers will still have to connect to international servers (there are no plans for local ones as of yet), but 300k dedicated servers have been allocated to South African Xbox Live users, something that should hopefully improve their experience.”

    Zoe, this is incorrect because the 300k server number was punted by Microsoft when they were talking about XBL coverage worldwide last year – we’re not that special to have that amount of servers (even virtual ones) allocated to us. There are still no Azure services locally and the nearest servers are (ping-wise) located in the UK and nearby European countries.

    Reply

  25. Bad@$$

    June 6, 2014 at 08:28

    I couldn’t give a rats ass about the Xbone 360 or anything MS………………. except the cloud servers. Just stop talking and give SA the @#$%^ Cloud servers so that game houses that insist on using them(spit ….. and again ) can host their games local. We have enough variables (telkom, ISP’s etc etc). If we can get the cloud servers the variables wont affect us so much!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  26. Bad@$$

    June 6, 2014 at 08:32

    ooh and it is true that MS SA is listening but they do not hear

    Reply

  27. xboxdude

    June 6, 2014 at 09:17

    I imported my console and have loved it non stop from day 1.. Xbox 1 is amazing!!!!!
    Of course I’m not registered in ZA so I have access to all features. Let’s hope they make the same available to ZA users too

    Reply

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