The Video Game Thread

[Cronos]

i wouldn't get the new xbox if it's always on. i'd either go playstation or just quit gaming (well, at least current games)

It looks like that's almost certainly the way Xbox is going on, given this whole twitter blow-up with Microsoft's creative director Adam Orth. Unless we hear Microsoft come out and say: "Orth's opinions do not necessarily represent the company's opinions blah blah blah", that is; but so far they haven't denied it.

Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Orth has taken to Twitter to angrily defend 'always online' technology.

The outburst comes following the re-emergence of rumours that the next Xbox will require a constant instant connection and will shut down games if you’re offline for more than three minutes.

Speaking on Twitter, Orth said that he didn't understand the outrage from consumers, saying, "Sorry, I don't get the drama around having an 'always online' console. Every device now is 'always on'. That's the world we live in. #dealwithit."

Orth was then challenged by someone explaining that internet connections are not reliable, or even available, everywhere. He responded by saying, "Why on earth would I live there?"

Which, let’s forget journalistic professionalism for a minute, is a bit of a dick thing to say.

It was at this point that BioWare designer Manveer Heir joined in the discussion, asking Orth whether he had learned anything from the disastrous launches of Diablo III and SimCity, both of which required always-online connections.

“Electricity goes out, too," he replied.

Of course, this bullish attitude inspired a backlash from followers. Orth has since protected his Twitter account, but not before a Reddit user captured a screenshot of some of his tweets.

Orth’s comments are the nearest we’ve had to an official confirmation that the next Xbox will require an always online connection. Hell, it’s the nearest we’ve had to confirmation that the next-gen console even exists.

And worst of all, it also indicates how bullish the platform holder is about potentially making such an unpopular decision. I’m gonna throw professionalism out of the window again. Orth’s basically saying, ‘Hey you don’t like it? F*** you.’

Welcome to the next-gen folks.

http://tinyurl.com/cm8r6nl


If Sony is smart and doesn't follow suit, they may have just gained a lot more customers.

[robbotis]

i wouldn't get the new xbox if it's always on. i'd either go playstation or just quit gaming (well, at least current games)

It looks like that's almost certainly the way Xbox is going on, given this whole twitter blow-up with Microsoft's creative director Adam Orth. Unless we hear Microsoft come out and say: "Orth's opinions do not necessarily represent the company's opinions blah blah blah", that is; but so far they haven't denied it.

Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Orth has taken to Twitter to angrily defend 'always online' technology.

The outburst comes following the re-emergence of rumours that the next Xbox will require a constant instant connection and will shut down games if you’re offline for more than three minutes.

Speaking on Twitter, Orth said that he didn't understand the outrage from consumers, saying, "Sorry, I don't get the drama around having an 'always online' console. Every device now is 'always on'. That's the world we live in. #dealwithit."

Orth was then challenged by someone explaining that internet connections are not reliable, or even available, everywhere. He responded by saying, "Why on earth would I live there?"

Which, let’s forget journalistic professionalism for a minute, is a bit of a dick thing to say.

It was at this point that BioWare designer Manveer Heir joined in the discussion, asking Orth whether he had learned anything from the disastrous launches of Diablo III and SimCity, both of which required always-online connections.

“Electricity goes out, too," he replied.

Of course, this bullish attitude inspired a backlash from followers. Orth has since protected his Twitter account, but not before a Reddit user captured a screenshot of some of his tweets.

Orth’s comments are the nearest we’ve had to an official confirmation that the next Xbox will require an always online connection. Hell, it’s the nearest we’ve had to confirmation that the next-gen console even exists.

And worst of all, it also indicates how bullish the platform holder is about potentially making such an unpopular decision. I’m gonna throw professionalism out of the window again. Orth’s basically saying, ‘Hey you don’t like it? F*** you.’

Welcome to the next-gen folks.

http://tinyurl.com/cm8r6nl


If Sony is smart and doesn't follow suit, they may have just gained a lot more customers.

Wow, count me as one of them.
I've been an XBOX guy since it came out when I was in college. I love my 360 and would by their new one. But if the 720 requires an always on internet, and the PS4 doesn't... My mind would be made up for me, and I'd buy the Playstation.

[Jocephus]

yeah thats an easy decision...plus, i wouldn't have to pay for xbox live anymore! unless sony is changing that service. but ya, screw that always online. show some respect to your gamers AND video game history. i'd rather play NES than have an always on xbox.

[IMADreamer]

This makes me think the new Xbox might not be in my future. BTW, does that guy still have a job? If I owned a company that basically just told potential customers to [expletive] off. I'd fire his ass in a second.

[JackofDiamonds]

Come to me, my sons. Join me in the one true system, for the internet is dark and full of terrors.

Sony is the lord of light, do not live in the shadows.

[ghostrunner]

I'll wait until it comes out and see how games are affected.

The Xbox is already always on if you're signed up for Live, though that's not required for games. You can't run any apps now without an internet connection, since that's what apps require anyway. At this point gaming has become a secondary function for me. It's rare that I'm going to be in the mood to actually play something AND be without Internet.

I would like it to have Blu-ray, which apparently isn't likely.

[JackofDiamonds]

I'll wait until it comes out and see how games are affected.

The Xbox is already always on if you're signed up for Live, though that's not required for games. You can't run any apps now without an internet connection, since that's what apps require anyway. At this point gaming has become a secondary function for me. It's rare that I'm going to be in the mood to actually play something AND be without Internet.

I would like it to have Blu-ray, which apparently isn't likely.

Yeah, that would be great if a console could have, what's that? The PS3 already has Blu-ray? The PS4 is going to have it as well?

Y'all Xboxers got played like chumps. Chumps I say.

[robbotis]

I'll wait until it comes out and see how games are affected.

The Xbox is already always on if you're signed up for Live, though that's not required for games. You can't run any apps now without an internet connection, since that's what apps require anyway. At this point gaming has become a secondary function for me. It's rare that I'm going to be in the mood to actually play something AND be without Internet.

I would like it to have Blu-ray, which apparently isn't likely.

If you're router suddenly spazzes- Your game is over!
If you wife has screwed up the network for the time being- Your game is over!
If you're modem has a hiccup or Comcast is having a bad day- Your game is over!

[Jocephus]

i dont think we xboxers got chumped. i wouldn't use my gaming device to play movies anyways, it's more wear and tear on the system (always install yer games). but this next gen, xboxers definitely may get chumped. also i've heard issues with the ps3 blu ray, but thats besides the point.

theres just something completely rude (to me) with the requirement for internet. obviously most things on the 360 are using internet but to not even be able to play a game...what if its single player only? theres no reason to be on the internet for single player. and the notion that you should move to a place that has more reliable internet is absurd. are they honestly telling their clientele, who spend a crapton of money on their products, that they need to move too? get the [expletive] outta here.

[ghostrunner]

I'll wait until it comes out and see how games are affected.

The Xbox is already always on if you're signed up for Live, though that's not required for games. You can't run any apps now without an internet connection, since that's what apps require anyway. At this point gaming has become a secondary function for me. It's rare that I'm going to be in the mood to actually play something AND be without Internet.

I would like it to have Blu-ray, which apparently isn't likely.

If you're router suddenly spazzes- Your game is over!
If you wife has screwed up the network for the time being- Your game is over!
If you're modem has a hiccup or Comcast is having a bad day- Your game is over!

That's not a huge deal to me, and it hardly ever happens. Most games are autosaving too. We're also assuming the connection is required to continue playing, as opposed to just starting it.

The main issue for me is the implementation. I won't adopt right away, and we'll see if they have EA-like server issues, but I'm guessing they won't.

Up to this point, I'm a really satisfied customer of Xbox Live and Comcast too for that matter. I like the Xbox layout, the controller, the apps, the Kinect. There's a fair amount of goodwill built up there.

I understand why this matters for some people, but it doesn't to me. I'm not going to defend the guy on twitter though. He's an ass.