Microsoft Exec on Always Online Consoles: "Deal With it"

[ResonanceSD]

Pfft, "analysts are still wondering why the Durango failed to outsell the PS4" - No headline ever

 

[Treblaine]

"competition sells a hoover that doesn't need electricity. I buy that instead of the competitions"

#Ihatehashtags

 

[Starke]

Any bets on how long before he gets his ass fired?

He won't. Who do you think came up with the idea to make it always online?

When it comes to Microsoft, there is always a bigger fish.

And with how small their gaming sector is, I can promise you he really doesnt want to piss off one of those bigger fish. And running his mouth like a brain dead chimp will do exactly that.

The other side of that is, he's not likely to actually piss them off with something like this. Bigger fish, bigger concerns. Now, if the console dies on the shelf because of the connection requirement, or gets marked as unfit for sale in Europe because of it... then he might be looking for a new job.

Ah but you see, this doesnt effect only their gaming department like the only online thing would.

This is a microsoft exec running his mouth and being a douchebag to the public, people wont really care what part of microsoft he belongs to, he is microsoft and thats all they will care about, and that can create a signifiganr PR stink that someone has to deal with.

Except, so far as it goes, he really can't create a "significant PR stink". At least not so far as the people he answers to are concerned.

Here's the thing, and you seem to be missing this part. He works for Microsoft. The people he answers to came up in an era before the internet had the influence it does today. In fact, his comments say he did too. That he can say whatever stupid shit comes into his head there because no one cares.

Anyone who got into their position before, say, about five years ago, and this will look like a very, very, minor incident. The kind that'll be forgotten inside a week.

And, you know what? They're right. PR's turned out a formulaic mea culpa, and the story's dead. You may hate the guy, but his job isn't in any danger right now.

 

[jackinmydaniels]

Ok....I'll deal with it. I've decided not to buy the next version of the Xbox.

Dealt with.

(I hope this isn't too low content, I'm awfully new at this)

Pretty much this, if it's always online I won't be getting the new Xbox, consider me having 'dealt with it'.

Oh, and usually a couple sentences is good enough to avoid a low content post, as far as I've seen. Welcome to the site bud/

 

[Korolev]

While it is true that electricity does go out, we NEED electricity to power our devices. We don't and shouldn't NEED an always-online connection to play games. They don't have to put this in, and it inconveniences people (their customers) when they do this. It's really quite simple. Rather than say "Why are you upset about this? Internet connections are stable these days!", one should say "Why the hell do you need to put this in in the first place?"

 

[smithy_2045]

I actually agree with Mr. Orth. Every time I want to play a video game, whether it be a PC game or a console game, I'm connected to the internet. I don't need to be connected, but I am anyway. Always online is a complete non-issue for me.

The one thing I will say though is that it's crucial that any always online system is stress tested thoroughly, and you have to make sure you have next to no downtime. That was the biggest mistake EA made with their Sim City launch, their systems were completely inadequate to handle the huge volume of people interacting with their network.

 

[Killclaw Kilrathi]

And, you know what? They're right. PR's turned out a formulaic mea culpa, and the story's dead. You may hate the guy, but his job isn't in any danger right now.

Except there is one article, posted here, who has confirmed with one reliable source that this retard no longer works at microsoft, and are working at confirming it with another source.

So much for his job not being in any danger.

I wouldn't be surprised. But let's get something clear, so long as the console still comes out with always-on DRM, the sacking has no PR value whatsoever. The only way Microsoft will dig its way out of this hole is to make a press release not only apologizing for their (ex)employee's opinions, but also stating that they listened to the objections and have altered the design to allow for an offline mode.

Otherwise this is just a case of silencing a particularly douchy employee.

 

[onyx_sword]

Here's the thing, and you seem to be missing this part. He works for Microsoft. The people he answers to came up in an era before the internet had the influence it does today. In fact, his comments say he did too. That he can say whatever stupid shit comes into his head there because no one cares.

Anyone who got into their position before, say, about five years ago, and this will look like a very, very, minor incident. The kind that'll be forgotten inside a week.

And, you know what? They're right. PR's turned out a formulaic mea culpa, and the story's dead. You may hate the guy, but his job isn't in any danger right now.

It's funny you say that. I just finished reading this: http://majornelson.com/2013/04/05/official-statement-on-what-was-said-yesterday/

Microsoft issued a public apology.

 

[Death916]

Well, as im sure it's already been said; I won't be buying the next Xbox.

This makes me really sad though as I loved the first xbox and my first
console fps I actually wanted to beat was Halo CE. I also had a ps2, but I
fell in love with the 360 and the exclusive games it offered. I guess its Ps4 for me now.
Or Ill just stick with my sub-par gaming laptop. sigh..decisions.

 

[duchaked]

sigh...

the timing of this is perfect. my Internet has been spotty to say the least, and while playing Mass Effect 3 today the Internet (ethernet connection too) disconnected around 4 times throughout the final mission of the game. I could've just left it that way, but I was trying to see how long I could deal with "always on" essentially (double the frustration if a dc means the game resets x.x)

 

[Starke]

Here's the thing, and you seem to be missing this part. He works for Microsoft. The people he answers to came up in an era before the internet had the influence it does today. In fact, his comments say he did too. That he can say whatever stupid shit comes into his head there because no one cares.

Anyone who got into their position before, say, about five years ago, and this will look like a very, very, minor incident. The kind that'll be forgotten inside a week.

And, you know what? They're right. PR's turned out a formulaic mea culpa, and the story's dead. You may hate the guy, but his job isn't in any danger right now.

It's funny you say that. I just finished reading this: http://majornelson.com/2013/04/05/official-statement-on-what-was-said-yesterday/

Microsoft issued a public apology.

Yeah, that was the formulaic PR apology I mentioned... I didn't notice Major Nelson reposted it, but, you know, not very surprising, given that is a major part of his job.

In the range of me being a pedantic bastard, mea culpa is just basically Latin for "mybad".

 

[Starke]

And, you know what? They're right. PR's turned out a formulaic mea culpa, and the story's dead. You may hate the guy, but his job isn't in any danger right now.

Except there is one article, posted here, who has confirmed with one reliable source that this retard no longer works at microsoft, and are working at confirming it with another source.

So much for his job not being in any danger.

I'd take the 4player link with a grain of salt. It's not impossible, but it's a little suspicious they have a single source on this, and no other site, including Forbes has managed to get that.

If it's confirmed through the guy's linkedin profile, they get a couple more sources who confirm it, or someone makes an official statement, then, sure, have fun. In the meantime it sounds like a source who wants to sound like they're more in the know than they actually are, making claims to a journalist.

 

[chiefohara]

Christ... okay the guy is a douche, but he doesn't need to lose his job over this.

Its more than just him pushing for always online DRM you know.

 

[TomWiley]

Customers who don't like what you're selling won't buy it. #dealwithit.

Oh, Microsoft will deal with it alright. They are not stupid; they wouldn't consider always-online restrictions if they didn't know their system would sell millions anyway.

 

[themind]

I went from NES to Genesis, Genesis to PS, PS to N64, N64 to PS2 & XBOX, now I have a 360, and it looks like it'll be PS4.

If they go ahead with an online-only console, I hope they fail as a developer. Would serve them right.

 

[Username Redacted]

Here's the thing, and you seem to be missing this part. He works for Microsoft. The people he answers to came up in an era before the internet had the influence it does today. In fact, his comments say he did too. That he can say whatever stupid shit comes into his head there because no one cares.

Anyone who got into their position before, say, about five years ago, and this will look like a very, very, minor incident. The kind that'll be forgotten inside a week.

And, you know what? They're right. PR's turned out a formulaic mea culpa, and the story's dead. You may hate the guy, but his job isn't in any danger right now.

It's funny you say that. I just finished reading this: http://majornelson.com/2013/04/05/official-statement-on-what-was-said-yesterday/

Microsoft issued a public apology.

That's kind of an apology. A more substantive apology would be coming out with an announcement that their next generation console will in fact not require the console to have a constant internet connection in order to function.

 

[SageRuffin]

As it stands, I have no interest in a PS4. And, well... let's just say that PC gaming is looking more appealing by the day.

 

[TheSpyIsASpyWDZ]

SNIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Well, as someone who couldn't get any faster than dial-up 2 years ago, and whose current internet is a fraction as fast as broadband, I can say that you're hilariously wrong in your generalization of the entire country of the USA. Honestly, if the next XBOX quite literally needs an internet connection to run, then Microsoft are a bunch of brainless twats who didn't deserve my money for their console anyway. I really can't get any faster internet where I live in Beloit, WI. Not all of the United States has the population density of Seattle, and the people simply cannot get a reliable connection.

 

[saintdane05]

Microsoft has issued an official statement concerning employee Adam Orth's public sentiment that always-on DRM haters need to just "Deal with it." The company apologized for his comments, but refused to acknowledge rumors surrounding an upcoming Xbox with online requirements.

"We apologize for the inappropriate comments made by an employee on Twitter yesterday," said the Xbox platform holder. "This person is not a spokesperson for Microsoft, and his personal views do not reflect the customer centric approach we take to our products or how we would communicate directly with our loyal consumers.

"We are very sorry if this offended anyone, however we have not made any announcements about our product roadmap, and have no further comment on this matter."

<youtube=nR7HuJK_zPM>

 

[Atmos Duality]

Microsoft has issued an official statement concerning employee Adam Orth's public sentiment that always-on DRM haters need to just "Deal with it." The company apologized for his comments, but refused to acknowledge rumors surrounding an upcoming Xbox with online requirements.

"We apologize for the inappropriate comments made by an employee on Twitter yesterday," said the Xbox platform holder. "This person is not a spokesperson for Microsoft, and his personal views do not reflect the customer centric approach we take to our products or how we would communicate directly with our loyal consumers.

"We are very sorry if this offended anyone, however we have not made any announcements about our product roadmap, and have no further comment on this matter."

Notice how Microsoft separates itself from the offending statement, and then apologizes for it anyway.
So, they are in essence, apologizing for something they just said isn't their fault.

If this is standard PR, it's logically daft.