I've written this before, but I live in university housing, and the internet here doesn't allow for online gaming. So, while I bought a 360 and have never once regretted my purchase, if the next console is always-online, that's a complete deal-breaker - I literally would not be able to play it, ever, at all. If it needs to be online, I won't buy it. It's that simple. I'd imagine there are thousands of gamers who are in the same sort of situation, either on campus, in rural areas, struggling with costs, or just in an area with unreliable or slow internet.
Always-on DRM is why I didn't buy Diablo 3 and Sim City 5, even though I wanted to, and heard both of those games were excellent. What's the point in buying a single-player game you can never play? So listen up developers; you're worried about losing money to piracy? Well this always online crap is already losing you money. It's losing you sales to people like me, avid gamers who want to buy your product, but can't because of the unnecessary online requirements. The sooner you realize this, the more money you'll make.
Sim City 3000 was one of my favorite games growing up. However, I won't - or, I should say can't - buy this game. I live in university accommodation, and the only internet I have access to does not permit online gaming, in any form. So, I won't buy this SINGLE-PLAYER game, because I flat out can't play it - the same situation, I imagine, for many gamers in remote areas, or who can't afford high-speed online connectivity. Connectivity is an absolute deal breaker
EA, and other developers, listen up. You're worried about losing money to piracy? Well, this 'always-online' crap, this right here? This is losing you money already. It's losing you sales - sales to me, sales to people like me, and sales to everyone else who would have bought your game, but can't because of your ridiculous idea that single player games should require an unwavering internet connection.
As a dedicated Xbox360 owner, if these rumors are true, then I won't be buying the 720. Not because I want to boycott the system, but literally because if it requires an internet connection, I CANNOT play it. I live in university housing, and - as I'd imagine with most university internet - our network blocks online gaming; which means an 'always online' requirement is a game-breaker.
I really, really hope these rumors aren't true. Game companies need to start realizing that not everyone has unlimited access to the internet, and that requiring that they do so will hurt their business.
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