MS Confirms Online Connection, Game Borrowing and Used Game Details

[FireAza]

I really don't get why Microsoft decided they needed to implement something heavy-handed like require internet connectivity in order to prevent software piracy. I mean, was piracy even a big issue for the 360? There were a lot of technical challenges when it came to pirating software on that console, not to mention the high chance of getting your console banned from Xbox Live if it's detected you're using modified hardware.

For a platform with high piracy rates like PC, sure, I can understand why publishers might want to go iron fisted. But the Xbox? Really?

 

[Sonicron]

You know, M$ have raised quite a stink over their new console's atrocious features with us informed gamers... what kind of interests me is how the un[/i]informed ones are going to take the company's new business model. Recent history has already shown that paying customers are only willing to put up with so much crap before crying bollocks to the whole deal and not supporting a retarded system. Despite their strong influence on mainstream gaming with the X360, I have the suspicion M$ may have royally dicked themselves over, because I really don't believe the average consumer is going to accept the Xbone's nonsense (despite potentially high first-month sales before word-of-mouth gets around).

Personally, the Xbone is already dead to me. I wouldn't be averse to trying the WiiU in the future, since I mostly find Nintendo games fun to play, but not before the game library has a decent size and they've fixed the motion control and battery life issues. At this point my main hopes rest with the PS4, but the word is still out on the used games issue, and the implementation of social networking as a major feature bodes ill from where I'm standing.
If the PS4 should turn out unacceptable as well I might just wait for the Piston (AKA Steam Box), or get a new uber-awesome PC.

 

[Aldain]

My favorite part of Microsoft's epitaph so far is this:

"Because every Xbox One owner has a broadband connection, developers can create massive, persistent worlds that evolve even when you?re not playing."


Ummmmm What!?

"...every Xbox One owner has a broadband connection..."

It is highly probable that the quote is actually right. How much people own a Xbox One outside of Microsoft? They know who owns one and they will know whether this person (/employee) has a broadband connection.


I normally don't get the fuzz in these topics.

"OMG you can't play used games"
"Yes you can"
"OMG you can't play used games because ??"

 

[Wolfhowl the shadow lurker]

With my pc as my sword and my steam as my other.. more steamy sword i think i will be able to live and enjoy myself without the xbox one and from what im hearing this thing will bomb faster a then headcrab canister into St. Olga

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

The whole used game issue sounds like it will be really confusing and overly complex. Will it have "can not resell" on the box? Or will you have to wait till you scan it at a game shop? What about amazon, will people end up buying new games but instead get left with a used brick?

Just stupid. Either allow used games 100% or just dont bother. All this half arsing with it is ridiculous.

 

[zxvcasdfqwerzxcv]

Console wars are generally won by cost, and given that Microsoft is made money and was willing to take a massive loss per unit on the 360, it's likely that they will do the same again and undercut the PS4.

I'm going to reserve judgement until I see the console in action. Right now the internet media on the One is full of conjecture and hyperbole and frankly I won't be listening to anything til the console is released.

 

[vallorn]

You know, M$ have raised quite a stink over their new console's atrocious features with us informed gamers... what kind of interests me is how the un[/i]informed ones are going to take the company's new business model. Recent history has already shown that paying customers are only willing to put up with so much crap before crying bollocks to the whole deal and not supporting a retarded system. Despite their strong influence on mainstream gaming with the X360, I have the suspicion M$ may have royally dicked themselves over, because I really don't believe the average consumer is going to accept the Xbone's nonsense (despite potentially high first-month sales before word-of-mouth gets around).

Personally, the Xbone is already dead to me. I wouldn't be averse to trying the WiiU in the future, since I mostly find Nintendo games fun to play, but not before the game library has a decent size and they've fixed the motion control and battery life issues. At this point my main hopes rest with the PS4, but the word is still out on the used games issue, and the implementation of social networking as a major feature bodes ill from where I'm standing.
If the PS4 should turn out unacceptable as well I might just wait for the Piston (AKA Steam Box), or get a new uber-awesome PC.

Mostly you just have to point out to people the following:

Jake: "Hey bob you know those 360 games you own?"
Bob: "Uh. yeah?"
Jake: "Well if you buy them on the Xbox One you don't actually own them. You cant sell them, trade them with friends or put them on Ebay without Microsoft saying so. Oh and it tracks whether you have or not by making you sign in once a day even if their servers go down or your internet connection goes out."
Bob: "THEFUCK!"

God forbid Mr and Mrs Doe buying an X1 for little Timmy only to find that. Oh. Microsoft servers are down because of reasons. THAT would cause a few headlines in the 24 hour press.

 

[Goro]

So it looks like I'll be either buying a PS4 or building a gaming PC. Until the software revision comes out that does away with all this crap.

 

[Able Seacat]

snip

Alright, calm down, no need to get so defensive. I'm just speculating. But one of the articles you gave me did say; ''Sony's game studios chief, Shuhei Yoshida, told reporters that any requirement for users to register a game online in order to play it would be left to game publishers. Sony won't require that.'' so the cynic within me thinks that perhaps some 3rd party games will require an internet connection in some form even if it's just to register the game.

 

[Sarge034]

Well to be fair, this is a whole lot better than people were assuming... I'd feel a bit of a hypocrite to dish out total hatred for a system that essentially employs the same tactics as a service that I heartily embrace on PC. I know the arguments, that MS is removing a service for the Xbone that was available on the 360, Steam has had years of great service to build trust with consumers, and while I think that they are very valid arguments, it doesn't mean that I suddenly think the MS is the devil...

I'm in exactly the same boat. I think people forget that Steam limits your offline time as well (It's a longer limit sure, but it's still there).
The only difference is that with the Xbox One, you CAN sell games, albeit with some restrictions. With Steam, you're stuck with them forever. But no, people are up in arms over this because of ... Reasons? I'm still not sure why.

And I'm positively excited about not needing to change discs.

Because if I wanted to deal with PC DRM practices I would buy games for my fucking PC. Look at the reasons people buy consoles as compared to PC. Consoles have a quantifiable disadvantage to PCs in every measurable area and you can't mod, but still consoles sell. Why? Because you could be sure the game was gonna run without updating your drivers or having an incompatible part in your rig. You could buy, sell, and trade games without limitations. It was ease of use on the user that made consoles popular. So if you get rid of the ease of use what is the point? You are left with a shitty PC wannabe...

Also, Steam is different because it is digital content. We are talking about physical copies. Apples to Oranges, and all that...

OT- God I hope they crash and burn. If one of the largest industry leaders tries this and ends up with a huge revenue and stock loss no one will try it again. Unless they want to commit financial suicide that is. This whole Xbone revile just feels like a game of texas holdum. Me and MS are all in. First three cards are rumors. 60%-40%, player high. Fourth card, this bull shit announcement. 95%-5%, player high. Fifth and final card, E3. So MS, can you pull that ace of spades out of your ass? Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya? -.- <poker face

 

[Fredvdp]

I thought EA was bad... this is getting insane.

I think EA's handeling of the situation is quite amusing. They recently said "Hey fans! We listened to feedback, so no more online passes!" Of course, we now know that every XBone game comes with DRM that's even worse.

 

[Sonicron]

Mostly you just have to point out to people the following:

Jake: "Hey bob you know those 360 games you own?"
Bob: "Uh. yeah?"
Jake: "Well if you buy them on the Xbox One you don't actually own them. You cant sell them, trade them with friends or put them on Ebay without Microsoft saying so. Oh and it tracks whether you have or not by making you sign in once a day even if their servers go down or your internet connection goes out."
Bob: "THEFUCK!"

God forbid Mr and Mrs Doe buying an X1 for little Timmy only to find that. Oh. Microsoft servers are down because of reasons. THAT would cause a few headlines in the 24 hour press.

Believe me, I would love to inform every potential buyer of this nonsense, but try as you might, it can't be done. My money's on a post-release uproar from shocked buyers, with the potential added wrinkle of M$ taking initial high sales figures as official validation for the Xbone's array of bullshit features. Your 'littly Timmy' scenario is going to happen - a lot.

On a totally unrelated note, I feel I must congratulate you on your avatar. Chibi Alpha is boss.

 

[Zeh Don]

I think if enough people simply stuck informative flyers around Xbone promotional material - EB Games, JB Hi-Fi, Target and Big W for example (Aussie here) - then enough people would get the message to start the pendulum swinging backwards.

 

[V8 Ninja]

You know, when I think about all of the work engineers must have put into the Xbox One, I do feel a bit sad seeing it only result in hatred and negative press.

Otherwise, I DEFINITELY know I'm not getting an Xbone. Screw MS for making anti-consumer devices.

 

[Hannes Martinsson]

I think this might even be illegal by EU standards. According to me the best case scenario the XBone would become illegal to sell here. Of course I really want to see this f*ck*r crash and burn so hard.

 

[Colt47]

I think this might even be illegal by EU standards. According to me the best case scenario the XBone would become illegal to sell here. Of course I really want to see this f*ck*r crash and burn so hard.

Almost everyone does except for people being paid to "reputation manage" and those who seem to want to spite the world (or are living under a rock). It seems Microsoft found the "consumers get political" button.

 

[rofltehcat]

Notice how a many of those "features" are based on if the publisher allows their customers to use them.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

I have a horrible feeling that despite it being godawful the Xbone is gonna sell like hotcakes and everyone else is gonna do what it's doing because they think they can copy it's profits by copying it's borderline illegal practices.

 

[Hannes Martinsson]

I'm trying to go larger picture on this and figure out MS game plans. Because I don't think MS would implement something like this without a game plan on how to still beat Sony. There is three ways that I can figure MS doing this.

1. They think Sony is doing something similar with used games (I can't figure out what that would be since the PS4 don't require Internet). This means that either Sony is holding something back or someone pulled a fast one on MS.

2. Many of the big publishers are willing to go MS exclusive for starting to get a piece of the used games pie. I do think that is this was the case then some of those Publishers went "Holy SH*T!" with how people have reacted to this and they may try to back out of this PR nightmare.

3. Undercutting Sony's prices. This might work initially but I am thinking that there may be a major backlash on relying on this because this also relies on Joe Average just buying what is cheapest for his kid, and it just takes a few upset parents about either a camera always being on in their kids room or that they bought it and they did not notice that it required internet. Pissed of parents don't go to gamesites to complain they go to mainstream media and if this catches fire in the mainstream media then MS is effin toast.

 

[bluegate]

Well I don't mind Microsoft making all these stupid decisions with their next console, however, I am worried about people shrugging this entire thing off and stating that they are going to buy this piece of shit either way.
It is a sad day when consumers reply to their freedoms being taken away with the words; "Oh, that is not so bad.".
Shortsighted spineless meat-sacks...