The Front Row

Everyone is asking. How much is this thing going to be? If we look at the premium experience Microsoft intends to offer. It’s probably going to be the first thousand dollar console. At least, that’s all the rumour right now. Is that really going to matter? Only if you want the best hardware.

The problem starts when we look at the average ‘console’ gamer and what they want. There is no doubt that PCs are becoming more popular. It’s this which leads me to believe that there is a market for what Microsoft is offering here in the living room especially.

Coming back to the point of the average ‘console’ gamer though. Looking at what Microsoft has offered with the Xbox Rog Ally. We’re finding out a little more each day about what to expect with Project Helix. The Series consoles are the last ‘traditional’ console offering from Xbox. That poses a bit of an issue. It’s not just the cost which could price most out of this ‘premium’ hardware. When you look at Sony and what they’re doing. They will no doubt stick to one hardware of the same specs with physical and digital options.

My concern with Project Helix. Isn’t that it’s not going to sell. It will do. They are however going to have to learn a lot from the Xbox Rog Ally. Microsoft needs to make sure they make this a comfortable experience for console fans as well with the extension of PC being there, but ultimately, they need to make it so it’s not in the way of us just being able to play our games from the get go without being some kind of an engineer.

That’s my only concern. I think for the vast majority of Xbox fans. They’re going to be there on day one. If they don’t find some of the existing fans joining them this generation. There is no doubt they’re going to find a market just based on the growth of PCs and people wanting new hardware and that ‘living room experience’. It just depends what the demand is and whether people can find a common ground with what’s being offered this time out.

It’s also going to be interesting how Xbox approaches its exclusivity of games. Sony has made their position very clear. They’re removing all of their PC presence and doubling down on their own eco-system. Exclusivity is going to be the basis of their whole PS6 marketing. That’s a daunting prospect because when PlayStation is on top with what they output they rarely have any competition. They will reel you in as a customer. If the next Xbox has no exclusivity. Where is the value in your experience coming from other than just really high-end hardware and different storefronts?

Obviously, Microsoft has been changing a lot of things behind the hood. They are now taking feedback requests. So how does Microsoft regain that momentum? They have to do what fans will love. That means, the best games, more innovations in the product so they can stand on their own within the PC space that they’re now moving towards.

Whether Project Helix is for you or not. It’s going to depend on what you want from your next generation hardware. It’s also going to depend on what each offers collectively and how that improves your gaming experience overall. It’s also going to depend on how much gaming is worth to you? And as we know, most gamers in generations have normally gone towards the most affordable option. So how does Microsoft break that tradition and can they even?

It’s going to be a challenging endeavour for Xbox and so many things are going to need to be ‘right’ in order for them to get the kind of pay-off that they want out of this.

We now have a few weeks of rest before we have some big games ahead. One thing is certain. If all our results this weekend go as planned, and as we want them to. We’re really in a good position with only so many football games left. Obviously, as injustices go in football, we’ve had our fair share over the last decade, so it’s only right that Manchester United put in their complaint with the authorities.

That standard of officiating cannot carry on being that way. It’s not the standard you want in any football match. It doesn’t matter if it’s Manchester United or even if it’s another team. We have to look at ‘being better’ there. It simply cannot go uncontested. There has to be a certain standard in the Premier League.

Some fans have been saying it’s not exciting ‘The Premier League’ because of the way certain teams play. Honestly, football is football but if you’re asking me if the standard of football has gotten better or worse over the years. I am going to go with the latter.

It all comes down to the players and some of the most influential managers in the game over the last decade in how the players have been influenced. The only real manager of merit who has played a positive style of football was back in the early days of Klopp. If you asked me who I’d rather watch as a neutral. It would be a Klopp team. Obviously not Liverpool, but the point remains.

Obviously VAR (debacles) haven’t helped since its debut and that’s dragged football down as well. There has been less ‘immense’ talent in terms of footballers in my opinion. When you’re looking for ‘quality’ it always starts with the players but the way they play can be influenced by the manager as well.

Look at what’s going on at Arsenal, they’ve influenced a sort of style ‘with corners’ but they’re in no way going to be bothered if it wins them the Premier League. It’s an influence of the manager but it’s one that’s working for them. So why wouldn’t they do it if you were in their position?

That goes for other teams that are fighting for their lives also. It’s a situation managed game-by-game.

Manchester United can almost smell Europe. We happen to be doing it in a way where we haven’t really been playing at the ‘levels’ we can play. Ultimately though, it’s about getting the results and in football that’s all that matters in the grand scheme of things.

That’s important because this is the biggest change in Xbox’s history. Bringing PCs more in-line with the Xbox brand and vice-versa. It isn’t a small feat but this has been ‘years’ in the making. It is however a necessary one. This is how Xbox will find its longevity and it’s how they find an audience with those that are comfortable in what’s going to be offered next generation.

How do you get people more excited? You start improving your product based on the feedback. You take the proactive approach and you then find that after years of maybe not doing enough to listen to Xbox fans. You’re starting to become proactive again and restore some of the faith that has been lost.

That’s an important step in a brand that’s 3rd place. It also goes a long way to saying ‘we hear you’ and we’re going to do all of this to make your experience better.

I think what most fans are hoping for. Is that we get a streamlined experience from the next generation Xbox. I do not see how that wouldn’t be the case. Especially when Windows is prominent for being the most accessible operating system and it’s the most used. Making sure you don’t alienate your core fans is going to be one of the core principles of the brand.

At least it should be when Sony will be keeping to their ‘traditional’ console approach. You don’t want your biggest customers leaving your brand and Xbox has a responsibility to make sure they keep things simplified. Which I believe they will do. Microsoft is not a trillion dollar company for no reason.

They do however, need to stop stepping on their toes and tripping over with some of their decisions involving Xbox.

Xbox needs a ‘win’ next generation. I think offering different price ranges of hardware will all happen. I certainly don’t think they will ignore the Series S console success but they will also learn from the mistakes of it as well. Why has my opinion changed on this from last year?

It’s because of what I am seeing with Xbox now ‘listening’ and being ‘proactive’. Personally, I feel like we could have one of the most exciting Xbox generations in a while. If you think about it. Xbox is the biggest gaming publisher. Whatever you think about that.

That tells you they are now firing on all cylinders. That’s only going to improve going into the next generation with Project Helix.

The platform is being progressive and there is ‘support’ from Microsoft that believes that ‘gaming’ is important in everything they do. Of course, actions speak louder than words. What we’re seeing now though is PC and Xbox becoming truly unified in its approach. While the jury is still out after so many years of uncertainty for the brand. It’s a step in the right direction Xbox fans have long been waiting for.

Now could Nintendo follow up in its own way for Nintendo Switch 2 games? I think it’s a possibility towards the half-way point when it gets its own pro console. I assume it will. Nintendo could see that as being a first in the hybrid handheld, console space. It could give them a lot of traction, and I certainly feel that they would get a lot of momentum from it.

Obviously, Nintendo will do what Nintendo does, but I think there is some substance to the fact that boosting performances in games is going to become a feature across the board. To a point where the shelf life demands it. It’s just something that I think the rest of the gaming industry is going to get onboard. Especially when Sony is having massive success with it. Whose to say the others won’t either for their own reasons?

Don’t be surprised if you see this happen more often with others also within the industry. There seems to be a common theme right now where performance and improvement of even past games is becoming an industry standard. I expect a lot more to come to fruition regarding this.

There is no doubt that the game is ambitious, but when it comes to being insincere about it being ‘complete’. It gets to a point where Sony and Microsoft need to step in if players aren’t happy with what they’ve purchased and provide full refunds.

I am not saying that developers shouldn’t try to create the most ambitious worlds that deliver where they need to. However, it’s a sad state of affairs when something that looks impressive falls short of the expectations of players and only eventually after many patches becomes the game we all want to play.

This unreliability just cannot keep happening when the majority of players know the score by now. It’s the casual players that see the game, those are the ones that need to be protected. Especially when you like the game, it promises everything but then doesn’t deliver where it needed to succeed – from the start.

It’s disappointing when this happens in the gaming industry. I am just pleased that people are wising up to these practices when they don’t see a console review version in sight. Even if the game is seemingly reviewing quite decently right now. There are just some things that cannot be overlooked and we all know what they are.

That’s not to say that this game will never live up to the hype ‘over time’. However, it shouldn’t ever be this way in modern gaming. It seems we’ve fallen into something that really isn’t the best of practices and it’s the ones ill-informed falling foul of it.

Seriously though, I have so many emotions going into how all this is going to finish. I haven’t seen Gen V’s second season yet. It’s on the agenda. ‘Homelander’ is no doubt going to be absolutely insane this season. Anthony Starr deserves a lot of respect for how much we both can enjoy the character and absolutely hate him at the same time.

It’s also going to be interesting what Anthony does next. Ever since he finished Banshee, I have been a big fan, and whatever his next project there is no doubt he’s going to be getting plenty of scripts.

June 13th, it’s all beginning again for the last time.

Sesko is also growing in confidence. Our super-sub. He’s still young and in that sense he’s progressing well no matter how he contributes or how he goes about it. Seeing us build back that momentum after the setback of the previous game. That shows character. Are we playing the most amazing football now? No, but we’re getting the results. I think if you give Micheal Carrick the opportunity next season based on a results driven business and you fully support him with the players he needs. You can build on where we are right now and where we’re potentially going to be next season.

Of course. You have to make these sorts of decisions on principle of merit, but also, what we’re seeing is the players responding even when there is a setback and when that reflects on the pitch. Ultimately, that’s 70% of what a manager is. The rest is how the club supports the manager and how the players endeavor to show their character on the pitch in a way that reflects the traditions of the club.

I went in early about Micheal Carrick being the manager. It wasn’t an easy decision but he’s bringing more faith to the management position than the whole of the last year and a half with no progress. It certainly feels like we’re moving forward.

Although football can be very fickle at times and there is every opportunity for things to change based on results. I am feeling a sense of ‘support’ from the Manchester United fan base that wants to see ‘one of our own’ back in the dugout with the full backing behind him. If that means a rolling contract, so be it.

The season’s not over yet. There’s a lot of football left to be played but if we can carry on with our momentum there is no doubt that the fans are starting to believe. When that happens at our club that’s when the old faithful start to believe and when that happens you start to restore some of the trust that was missing in previous years. Focusing on being a difficult team to play against while getting results, while also, bringing flashes of the United Way back into the picture.

Although, it’s not perfect right now. Who can say it can’t be if we remain on course? Champions League football being back with us is such an important step forward. It’s not just going to help the club financially. It’s going to get us back at the front of the queue in terms of getting the first and second choice players that might elevate us to be competitive if we do finish in the top four. Which is now becoming increasingly more likely.