Microsoft Addresses Xbox One Concerns

[Doom972]

This is going to be the most successful console of this generation. They effectively eliminate used games and make the user jump through every possible hoop to be able to play the games that the user "licensed" for a full price.

Not being sarcastic here. Why would it be the most successful? Because as soon as MS announces the exclusives we'll see more and more potential Xbone users trying to convince themselves and others that "it's not that bad", "they can live with it" and "you should give it a chance".

 

[Eppy (Bored)]

Well, that settles it. I'm not buying one, ever. I'll probably buy a PS4 a year or so after release. This whole thing is an insulting racket, and this Major Nelson guy needs a serious attitude adjustment. What a bunch of dicks!

 

[Baresark]

It's weird but, the only thing that really bothers me is the connecting every 24 hours. Anyone who has ever been subject to a large hurricane that results in extended internet outages, this basically makes it useless. When this happened to me, the only thing that kept me sane was video games. It took a week to get power back, then an additional week to get internet. Obviously, no one is playing a home console in the power outage condition. It's weird but, it's not the times that it's available and ready for me that actually concerns me. It's the times that this device would be most helpful and it won't be that bothers me. That is my irrational fear for this phone home bullshit.

I look at it this way. I am a PC gamer, and I own a stupid amount of games on Steam. Steam offline mode works for like a month at a time. What is the phone home every 24 hours about, really. If they were offering such amazing online features and cloud abilities (they advertise shit and make it sound like caviar, it's pretty much amazing that anyone would buy it), there would be no reason for someone to stay offline for an extended period of time. Besides, what'll happen is it will come out, some hacker will crack the thing, prevent online activation, and it will all be for nothing anyway. It'll be another form of DRM that only adversely affects honest customers and pirates won't have any problem with it. The shitty part is they are selling DRM and calling it a feature.

Also, that whole BS bit about creating worlds that continue after you are not playing... games running server side have been happening for quite a while now, they shouldn't act like that is a new feature that will change the worlds we game in. I swear, all the double talk and snake oil they are selling makes me angry.

 

[Roander]

We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers.

Shouldn't this be the other way around? The way it's phrased here makes it sound like giving publishers the option to allow us to trade in games is some new, useful, innovative feature, which it's not. When it should say is that publishers have the option of NOT allowing us to trade in games. Microsoft obviously phrased it like this to make the news sound better than it really is.

I think the way they phrased it is actually worse. "Publishers have the option" makes it sound like it won't happen by default. The same companies who complain about how used game sales hurt their business have to actually exert effort to allow people to sell their used games. Then, on top of that, you can only sell to or buy from "participating retailers". They haven't even started getting into the kinds of abuse that sort of setup might be open to.

 

[flaviok79]

Well, this sucks. I live in Brazil and it is true that most gamers here are pirates. But you know what? Me and my friends stopped pirating because we want to play online and use the MS Live services (that we bought in the USA). Even pirates need to buy consoles and peripherials.

I live in my state's capital city, with broadband and all, but these services are not as reliable here as they are in the US. I had many instances in which my broadband let me down for over 24 hours. Without internet, gess what did I do? I played my games. On Xbox. Original crazy expensive games (some arrive in our market in the USD 150,00 range).

This 24 hour window is a problem to me and all my Brazilian friends. And I own two Live accounts, one Braziliand and one American. Guess I'll have to wait for the PS4...

 

[Anti-Robot Man]

you can play games or enjoy applications that use data, such as videos, photos, facial expressions, heart rate and more, but this data will not leave your Xbox One without your explicit permission.

At what point do you give your consent to this. Is it per application (like using a credit card) or is it like a service (Sony [PSN], Microsoft [Xbox Live], Valve [Steam] signing away your right to class action lawsuit).

Both require my explicit permission.

You just know it's going to be one in one of those Terms of Service agreements that they force you to agree to, or block you from Live - which in this case will make the XBlox a useless brick.

Also they flat out say here:

"As we move into this new generation of games and entertainment, from time to time, Microsoft may change its policies, terms, products and services to reflect modifications and improvements to our services, feedback from customers and our business partners or changes in our business priorities and business models or for other reasons. We may also cease to offer certain services or products for similar reasons." http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/license

In other words they can change/take away anything they like at any time, and the customer has to like it, or lump it. So even if day one the thing sounded reasonable (which it doesn't), six months down the line they can institute whatever bullshit changes they feel like.

Also it looks to me like they're putting this out now in the hopes that it gets buried in all the news coming out of E3, you can bet they won't really touch on this during their conference (and they've already backed out of doing a Q&A).

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

The overdramatic pessimist in me believes the moves Microsoft made with the Xbone are actually pure genius.

No truly discerning customer will want the thing, leaving only the 'perfect' customers: gullible, indifferent people with large amounts of disposable income that will easily let themselves be exploited, nodding their heads at every word, fighting over whatever tablescraps they are given, without even so much as a stern word until it is too late.

Sigh, maybe all the doom and gloom is getting to me and I'm seeing conspiracies everywhere.

 

[CyberMachinist]

Well at least there is a possibly of one good thing that can come out of this.....

The in-the-dark, quick to please parents that buy this thing will get a good lesson in "doing their research before buying"..... The Hard way... yep just like pac-man for the Atari did for just about every gamerin the 80's that bought it.

of course their will be some that can meet these requirements, of course i question exactly how much money they make monthly.

then there's one other problem....... kids playing this console(if there will be any, and i get the feeling their shall),
do kids know enough about EULA's that they know what they are signing up for, and i don't think the parents would be much help either since i don't think they feel like reading a big wall of text.

 

[Easton Dark]

Pitching DRM as a service is not the way to get people excited about it. Because there is no way.

Consumers can be okay with it, can accept it, hate it, but there's no sane way to think "I can do less than I could before for a higher price" is a good thing, or an advancement of the industry. Microsoft, you bank hard on customer loyalty.

 

[LetalisK]

Steam offline mode works for like a month at a time.

It works as long as you want it to work. I spent about half a year without going online with Steam once and played any game I wanted that I had installed. The biggest issue with Steam's offline mode is that it was implemented in a half-assed fashion leading to some dumb situations. For example, even though I could not connect to Steam despite having internet, I could not enter offline mode if I had internet, meaning I had to pull out my internet cord and actually go fully offline any time I launched the Steam library and plug it back in after it launched.

 

[Mr C]

And just like that, I'm not buying the Xbone.

Likewise, I live in China. My internet connection is fast, but if the government turned around and decided to block Xbox Live I'd be f**ked.

F**k you M$, f**k you in your stupid arsehole. I bought both of your previous consoles and have to date over 150 360 titles and over 50 downloadable games. I have a PS3, but the 360 has been my primary console as it has better online (I can stomach $50 per year) and for me has the best controller and the best versions and exclusives I want to play. None of that matters to you, you greedy money-grubbing whore, f**k you again.

 

[Erttheking]

DRM: Yes

Spyware: No

Used Games: ehhhhhhhhhhhh

That's what I got out of this. Still not impressed.

 

[Lovely Mixture]

Steam offline mode works for like a month at a time.

It works as long as you want it to work. I spent about half a year without going online with Steam once and played any game I wanted that I had installed. The biggest issue with Steam's offline mode is that it was implemented in a half-assed fashion leading to some dumb situations. For example, even though I could not connect to Steam despite having internet, I could not enter offline mode if I had internet, meaning I had to pull out my internet cord and actually go fully offline any time I launched the Steam library and plug it back in after it launched.

I think some games on GWFL do it similarly IIRC.

For Dark Souls:
If you're connected to the internet and you select offline mode, it prevents you from accessing your saves.
If you're not connected to the internet, it gives you your saves.

 

[LetalisK]

its sad im playing my 360 now and wondering how things could have gone so wrong. also has ms mentioned in online play will still cost 60$ or is it free because if they are still charging us then they really are evil and stupid

Yep, paying for Xbox Live to play multiplayer will still be a thing.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

Ugg. Its almost sickening just reading this bullshit. Seriously, does Microsoft think people will get the idea that there's some kind of give and take with benefits here? "Hurr durr. We keep your console on and connected to constantly update you games and apps without looking". You know what also does that Microsoft? My fucking ps3.

I'm looking forward to seeing how normal news outlets report this. Its all been fine and dandy with most places reporting features and not commenting on the rumors but now that this shit is confirmed, I can expect a lot of confused adults next Christmas. I can guarantee every local news is going to comment on how "Microsoft is causing quite a stir on the Internet" and consumer reports talking about "How you can't use your X-Box One"

 

[Andy Farren]

Are there statistics on this? Is "everyone" on broadband now? I live in the UK, and there are still places where you can't get a mobile phone signal, let alone ADSL. I'm assuming that the continental US has enormous areas where broadband is not an option.

 

[LetalisK]

Steam offline mode works for like a month at a time.

It works as long as you want it to work. I spent about half a year without going online with Steam once and played any game I wanted that I had installed. The biggest issue with Steam's offline mode is that it was implemented in a half-assed fashion leading to some dumb situations. For example, even though I could not connect to Steam despite having internet, I could not enter offline mode if I had internet, meaning I had to pull out my internet cord and actually go fully offline any time I launched the Steam library and plug it back in after it launched.

I think some games on GWFL do it similarly IIRC.

For Dark Souls:
If you're connected to the internet and you select offline mode, it prevents you from accessing your saves.
If you're not connected to the internet, it gives you your saves.

I shouldn't be surprised, I guess. If Valve can't seem to get it right there is no way in hell GWFL would even get close. I can't believe that still exists.

 

[latenightapplepie]

And just like that, I'm not buying the Xbone.

Agreed. Shut it down. It was fun while it lasted, but that is a deal breaker. I will not be getting the Xbox One.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

kk, I won't buy it. Thanks for the clarification Microsoft.

Sidenote: Does this mean if you get banned from xBox live your console gets bricked? Cause that's really shitty of Microsoft if it does.

 

[bdcjacko]

Why do they want me no to play their games?