What does it say about the supposed "importance of cloud-based computation" when 5 MONTHS from the release of your console, you can just say "OKAY OKAY, we'll make always offline capable".
I'll tell you what it says.
It says that Microsoft LIED about the "need" for the console to always be online to properly function. It tells us that the real reason for "always online" was TRIVIAL at best (DERP! Let's post your latest achievement on Facebook! DERP!) and GREEDY at worst (1. Lets make sure that you can never sell what you payed the full $60 price for. 2. Lets make sure we can advertise to you constantly with pop-ups. 3. Let's make sure used games never work).
The evidence for this is clear. If always online was so central to XBox One, then it would take a MASSIVE overhaul of the system to get it to function offline (something taking longer than a few months). The fact that they could so willy nilly change their mind is VERY telling...
For Microsoft to be so... SO... STUPID is INEXCUSABLE for a company that size. It is more likely that they were being GREEDY!
Well, either way, you done F$&KED up M$. And quite frankly, you have done damage to your brand (a brand that I was fond of with the beloved XBox 360).
And to Sony, you should get a diamond encrusted medal for your work here. You showed us what a company who made some consumer mistakes (with the PS3) should do to make an EPIC comeback.
I try not to base my arguments on emotion, but I can't shake the feeling that Microsoft is holding their (collective) nose at having to cow tow to the consumer (because they're greedy imbeciles).
Sony has shown nothing but care for the consumer since the unveiling of PS4. They SHOULD be rewarded for their efforts (and indeed, looking at the pre-order numbers, they are).
I'm supporting Sony PS4 this generation. Thank you for fighting the good fight Sony!
Microsoft: "Well, as you know I've been planning to rape you for some time now. But Sony's 'don't rape the consumer' plan is making me look bad. So I GUESS I won't rape you. Didn't know so many people see that as a bad thing".
I am SO proud of our gaming community for NOT BACKING DOWN on this!
And Sony? You literally SAVED this generation.
Just for that, your PS4 is on the top of MY list for console purchases.
And as for XBox One? I am still bitter over the fact that they EVER though this was a great idea in the first place. How STUPID do you have to be (I guess they thought we'd just bend over). HELL NO! Serves you right.
Again, THANK YOU SONY! You are a true gamer's company!
@Thanatos2k @sammoth To clear things up, I think that your blanket statement of "Buy it for PC. Don't give Microsoft a dime." was just BEGGING for a rebuttal (as the "likes" show).
Had you stated something like "Buy a PC. Short of Windows 7/8, don't give Microsoft a dime!" it would have caused no issue!
We all know what you meant, we were just poking fun.
I agree with you 100% that XBone should get a big fat NO from us gamers!
@sammoth @telaros I don't mind DRM, I think piracy should be combated.
But DRACONIAN DRM I do take issue with (as I have laid out countless times above).
Not being able to switch accounts does NOT prevent me from playing offline. So you have yet to make an equal comparison to what the XBone will do: Make even SINGLE PLAYER games unplayable without an always online connection (the 24hrs for all practical purposes IS always online)
@Thanatos2k @sammoth Indeed! It is impossible to "not give microsoft a dime" if you have LEGALLY acquired/constructed a gaming machine (it doesn't matter that it is assumed that you had the OS, you HAD to give Microsoft MUCH MORE than a dime to get it in the first place).
The only way not to "give microsoft a dime" would be to pirate the OS, and that's just wrong (I am a computer scientist, and I must say that MONUMENTAL work goes into making a freaking OS).
Should the OS be cheaper? That's another argument. But, you should purchase it legally or stick to Linux and wait for Steam to make more games compatible with it (you'll be waiting a LONG time before most games are compatible).
@paladin1459 Here is an elegant solution used by Steam and Origin that allows gamers to play offline indefinitely if they choose to do so (will play to the vast majority of people).
All new games MUST be registered and "checked in" upon first wanting to play the game (eg, after installation).
What does this do?
1. It ensures that all steam/origin games installed on ANY machine has at least ONE "check-up", which leads to:
2. A pirate in this case (eg, most cases) will HAVE to connect online at least once to play their new games, which means that any previous game installs they were trying to hid would be exposed. If they refuse to connect, they will only have this one game to play.
This applies to the vast majority of people (lets face it, they are not elite hackers). but the vast majority shouldn't be punished for the minority. Furthermore, if the minority are elite hackers, they will get around whatever DRM you put in their way EVENTUALLY!
@paladin1459 Firstly, you can absolutely use Steam powered games offline indefinitely. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise.
Secondly and more importantly, those people will EVENTUALLY connect to the internet (and those who are tech savvy enough to block communications are not numerous, and that's on the PC).
On the XBone, MS has a proprietary OS which even tech savvy will not be able to penetrate (you'd have to be an elite hacker). So when you eventually have to connect, the check could happen there.
But don't punish the vast majority of consumers who follow the rules because of a shady minority. The statistics do not conclusively show that piracy is a huge problem: http://www.techradar.com/us/news/gaming/the-truth-about-pc-game-piracy-688864/2#articleContent.
Is it a bad thing? Yes. Should it be dealt with? absolutely. But punishing the compliant majority is not the way to go.
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