Pat and Justin give the original Super Mario Bros. a shot.  They're actually pretty bad at it.  Give it a watch for all the war, death, and plumbing a person could reasonably ask for!

Microsoft today announced their upcoming Xbox One console will not be following the highly restrictive DRM procedures confirmed during this year's E3.  For most intents and purposes the use and freedom consumers have with disc-based purchases will remain the same on Xbox One as with Xbox 360.

Watching you sleep on the couch is now an optional feature

(photo: technobuffalo.com)

If you've been off in a cave somewhere, I should clarify how big a deal this is: it's a Big One.

Microsoft became the internet's boogeyman overnight, to an extent that it would have been suicidal not to backpedal their plans eventually.  I personally did not expect a response so soon, and it only speaks to the very-big-deal-ness of the situation for a software titan like Microsoft to put all of its gears moving in the opposite direction within nine days.  The announcement appears to be a victory for consumer rights and internet rallies -- it's probably more a response to Sony's impressive ability to capitalize on Microsoft's missteps, but hey, this sort of thing doesn't happen often so let's just give ourselves a pat on the back anyway.  Armchair activism wins one!

How much will this help Microsoft?  Well, a whole damn lot, most likely.  But damage has been done, an unquantifiable amount of which is permanent.  Microsoft has given pause to their loyal fanbase.  They'd better believe those heartbroken fans have spent the past week discovering peripheral reasons they wouldn't want to purchase a console perceived as highly invasive.  Undesirable price tag, mandatory use of the Kinect camera and microphone, a level of technical inferiority to the PS4 hardware, and a strong apathy towards Indie developers.  All hot topics throughout the past week, yet are consumers likely to drop these complaints solely because of messaging that their product ownership will be treated precisely as it should have been in the first place?  Will fans continue to feel scorned because a company they express devout enthusiasm for thought it could get away with last week's shenanigans?

I can't deny my own bias.  I'm a Sony fan!  I was thrilled to witness Sony's thrashing of Microsoft policies last week, and PS4's powerful showing pulled me back into a console race I had previously expected to opt out of.  The old console war mentality, the kind that had children in schoolyards arguing about hedgehogs and plumbers, exists in the back of my mind, and that drama-fueled piece of my mushy gamer brain is directly at odds with an ability to judge the Xbox One situation objectively.  I was kind of looking forward to the spectacular failure Microsoft's console was heading towards because nothing like that has happened to such an otherwise-competent participant in the "wars" since way back when Sega more or less thought they could sell multiple Kinect-like add-ons for a single console. 

It must have sounded really good in the board meeting

So, in a morbid way, part of my excitement for the coming winter was deflated today.  I'm sure it's only temporary, though; roundabout or not, Microsoft's move is a win for consumers, and a thick layer of consumer rights assaults no longer stand between fans and the ability to appreciate upcoming games.

Have Microsoft redeemed themselves for you?  Let us know in the comments!

Youtube is the new home of MOSTcast podcasts!  Credit for our wonderful gif here goes to...unknown! It's been making the rounds the past few weeks, so if somebody could tell us the source we'll gladly credit it!

E3 2013 happened! We laughed, we cried, we laughed, Microsoft cried, then Microsoft cried a little more, and Justin sounds like he's on a spaceship, and probably some other things happened. Enjoy!

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