Online Activation Codes or why there will be no second hand games (deja-vu) *SPAWN*

[trainplane]

The always on requirement would be a mistake. A lot of people can't or don't want their console to be online all the time. They don't want big brother and don't want to see a bunch of ads after turning on the console.

As for used games, it can be fought in one of two ways, by adding value or by prohibiting access. The former is more consumer friendly. If they really wanted to build a community and add value to games, they would allow modding. But I suspect they don't actually want users to linger on any one game for a long time but would rather have people play and let it collect dust on the shelves as they search out for new games.

If this is true, they need to implement a way to disable it on the OS level if the tactic is proving to affect their sales badly.

 

[dagamer]

I still expect there to be some kind of physical media since not everyone has fast broadband, however activation of the game will still require an Internet connection at some point (I doubt it needs to be constant, that's just silly). As long as there is a physical good, that means it can be discounted by traditional retailers like Amazon.

Honestly, worse case scenario, no one buys games at $60 and they are forced to drop prices. No different from how Steam is now. Even today, there are plenty of people who buys games at full price on Steam well knowing that Steam Summer sales give you crazy discounts. So I'm honestly not worried.

And I really, really, really wish people wouldn't get into a stir frenzy just based on rumors. The X-Surface crap from last week is proof enough that some gaming journalism outfits are full of shit.

 

[(((interference)))]

Apparently only 50% of 360s have ever been connected to the internet.
And that figure was from about a year ago.

MS look increasingly like they may shoot themselves in the foot with the 720, if there's a mass exodus of the core to PS4, are we really going to see casuals become early 720 adopters?
I'm betting they'll just buy tablets/smartphones

 

[Brad Grenz]

The 360 didn't have wifi built in for a really long time. I think that's the biggest barrier to internet connection they've had this gen. Awfully myopic of them in hindsight, considering how much more Live revenue they might've gotten if WiFi had been standard day 1. PS3's online rate was something like 80-90%.

 

[-tkf-]

Always on is just stupid, you end up annoying your customer base because you take away freedom and choice. The biggest problem Microsofts is facing is the Internet, they had the backing of every PC and XBOX nerd with the 360 while Sony was fumbling the ball like crazy and going from one PR disaster to another.

If this comes through only the hardcore "fans" will be nodding their head and saying "yes cool!"

 

[Cjail]

Apparently only 50% of 360s have ever been connected to the internet.
And that figure was from about a year ago.

MS look increasingly like they may shoot themselves in the foot with the 720, if there's a mass exodus of the core to PS4, are we really going to see casuals become early 720 adopters?
I'm betting they'll just buy tablets/smartphones

This article says that 73% of 360 are connected to internet.
78% of PS3 are connected to internet.

This is for the US but I don't think EU and Asia are far behind.

 

[Squilliam]

FEFRFFRFRFRFRFRFFRFRFRFRFRFR

Apparently only 50% of 360s have ever been connected to the internet.
And that figure was from about a year ago.

MS look increasingly like they may shoot themselves in the foot with the 720, if there's a mass exodus of the core to PS4, are we really going to see casuals become early 720 adopters?
I'm betting they'll just buy tablets/smartphones

Usually if it is too stupid to be true it isn't. It isn't always the case but what we have is hearsay and conjecture based upon what? Why would MS tell developers at this point the full details of their DRM?

 

[-tkf-]

This article says that 73% of 360 are connected to internet.
78% of PS3 are connected to internet.

This is for the US but I don't think EU and Asia are far behind.

So that is some 32-36 million consoles that wont play games that require "always on" brilliant if Sony and MS goes for this

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Except it could be those 30+ million decide to connect their devices now that they have to.

 

[Nisaaru]

Does nobody here get paranoid with always on and new Kinect cameras/mics? Perfect way to establish a spy network at most homes.

 

[patsu]

Does nobody here get paranoid with always on and new Kinect cameras/mics? Perfect way to establish a spy network at most homes.

I do ! With PS Eye, I unplug it when I'm not using.

There was a security alert a month or two ago for Samsung SmartTV camera. ^^

 

[Prophecy2k]

I was thinking, regarding the prospect of an "always-on" console.

Wouldn't it be possible for a company like MS to have a mobile data chip (think 3G/4G/LTE) chip on the Durango MoBo?

They could have it setup for authentication and verification connections only. That way it wouldn't use much data at all, and MS could negotiate a deal with mobile data network providers to allow *free* access to their network for a small fee per device sold. Similar to how Amazon does it with the Kindle.

Surely something like that would be possible?

 

[Prophecy2k]

Does nobody here get paranoid with always on and new Kinect cameras/mics? Perfect way to establish a spy network at most homes.

I walk round the house naked most of the time. So that way if anyone really is watching they'll quickly turn off the feed when they start seeing naked 6 foot black men walking round with hairy bums ;-)

 

[AlphaWolf]

Does nobody here get paranoid with always on and new Kinect cameras/mics? Perfect way to establish a spy network at most homes.

You can probably start this in rspc and get some traction from the usual suspects.

 

[wco81]

By coincidence, some clip for a show had one character asking why the light above the webcam was on when they were fooling around. One of them was married.

 

[patsu]

By coincidence, some clip for a show had one character asking why the light above the webcam was on when they were fooling around. One of them was married.

It's a valid concern. People have been asking the same privacy question since the tech industry conducted the very first video cam focus tests (about 20 years ago).

 

[bkilian]

I walk round the house naked most of the time. So that way if anyone really is watching they'll quickly turn off the feed when they start seeing naked 6 foot black men walking round with hairy bums ;-)

Aah yes. You should have seen some of the early Kinect Beta testing videos... Some folks clearly did not understand that the message saying "As a beta tester, some or all of your videos will be uploaded to improve the product" meant they shouldn't play kinect games naked, or in their boxers, or just a robe.

The audio had similar issues. People running voice collection often did not realize that the system can hear everything going on in your house, not just you talking...

 

[-tkf-]

Except it could be those 30+ million decide to connect their devices now that they have to.

Well they obviously don't have a choice if this is the future. But consider what they missed with these 2 consoles something tells me that being forced to always on isn't gonna be easy sold to those people. They might as well drop the next generation.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I think that's hard to call because so many other devices have become always on. People aren't afraid of their mobile phone always listening to and watching them. The social media phenomenon has people wanting to be always on. Provide Twitter and Facebook streams in any device and I think you automatically have acceptance.

We need a real assessment of why those people didn't connect and whether that's changed. For many, online gaming had no appeal, but network services might well do.

 

[(((interference)))]

Your mobile phone can work offline though, this will be a rare device that has absolutely no offline functionality - no tablet, PC, smartphone or other piece of consumer electronics has the same limitation (unless their main or sole purpose revolves around internet connectivity).

Just look at the PC space, where nearly all PC core gamers are connected to the net and yet there was still a huge uproar when Blizzard said Diablo 3 would only be playable offline.

For me, it'll just be a pain in the ass when I take my 360 on holidays where we don't have internet, or when my internet is down ( about once a month). And I'm sure army/dorm users behind restrictive firewalls will have trouble with it too.

The used game thing though, will be a real kicker - hopefully you'll still be able to play used/borrowed games after paying a $10 unlock fee or similar rather than not being able to play them at all.