Adam Orth, Microsoft game exec who insulted fans on Twitter, has left the company (updated) | VentureBeat Thoughts on his departure, and also the "always on" discussion at large?
Always online is stupid. Glad to see Orth go as his comments were driving people away. I know I was all but preordering a PS4 after #dealwithit.
I still don't believe it in the slightest. The "journalism" for this involves "OMG HE WUZ SAEWUDHOOOOOO WORKING ON NEXTBOX DURRRP" and did you see the screenshot IGN acquired from a "reliable source" that involved screencaps of the always online protection? It was a .exe installer that said "welcome to durango." I mean come on, it's the biggest load of bull imaginable. There is one source I do believe, and that is a hacker who got inside information on GOW3 before announcement and the original xbox360, and he said that he read the design documentation for the nextbox and saw nothing on this always online DRM. We will have to see.
I didn't understand any of that. What don't you believe? That the xbox creative director said he didn't see what the big deal was about always online, or that Microsoft is actually doing it? Because the first part is from a screen capture of the prick's conversation on twitter. The second part is just a rumor based on what various executives have stated as eventual goals. Few people think Microsoft would actually do it. It's the same as the early rumors that said the next xbox wouldn't have a disc drive, which is equally very unlikely and unfounded.
"Always on" will stop me from even considering buying the next Xbox, so whatever it's worth, here's hoping they don't do it.
The always online rumours are from from a "source" (as always I guess). I'll try and find a point of reference, but what originally started the rumour was an old (even at the time) design document which mentioned the device having an "always on, always connected" nature. That kicked up the original fuss, but there was a more recent reference to current design documents (I believe from the same source, but take whatever I say with several pinches of salt until I cite it, of course) which vaguely referenced the same thing, kicking up the rumour mill again. Basically, there's a reason this rumour has gained so much momentum, and not just because of how contentious it is. That's far from an indication that it's definitely true, but there's a little more weight behind the worry than I think you're accounting for, AFAIK. EDIT: The plot thickens, possibly complicated by the Xbox Mini? Xbox 720 Always Online Rumor Squashed By Xbox Mini?
Eh, The problem is that even that report about the Xbox Mini doesn't squash the issue, because, as they state, the sources are still saying the same things about the actual Xbox 720 requiring a connection to play games. Even if that connection is not going to be used to limit usage of used games or local content or whatever, if that connection is still required to even play any games or do whatever, people better hope they don't have network issues or their internet doesn't hiccup on them half-way through a level and automatically end their game. And that doesn't even take into account all the people who still simply don't live in an area where a suitable internet service is available (a situation that I was only last year fortunate enough to get out of), but may enjoy some of the titles that the Xbox has.
Agreed. It's not a great title for the article, and you're bang on that there are still huge problems with always online requirements even if they don't stop you playing used games. The thing is, this rumour is so persistent (and Orth obviously didn't help that at all) and in the public eye that I think it's gonna be the main thing people care about come reveal time. I think all the other speil is gonna be drowned out by everyone just wanting to know whether this is true or not. MS really have to play this carefully.
So much speculation to be had with this topic, Makes me wonder why this is even a thing. If always on wasn't even a possibility I doubt this would of happened so I'm expecting something suspicious from the 720, Maybe not always on in the worst possible sense but maybe something like games can only be bought though marketplace or need authentications or something or maybe its all fine, just speculation.