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[Sakura]

I was pretty surprised anybody actually thought MS was going to require online in the first place. Sony would just run attack ads saying that "MS requires you to be online for your system to play games; PS4 doesn't." and then they'd 'win'. Not to mention, how would MS sell their systems in places with poor internet infrastructure.

In any case I am excited to see what May 21st brings. Hopefully they have cool stuff to show off, and don't just say "Xbox Infinite: Please be excited for E3".

 

[Izick]

You know, I don't even think the blogging sites even blatantly lied. I just think they have no goal to get rumors or source's information right.

I think the next Xbox had some bullet point on a slide that said "always-online" somewhere on a PowerPoint. Now, I don't know how many other people remember or did this, but do any of you remember the game "Telephone" that you would play in class? I think a couple teachers did it over the years, but I'll give you the quick and dirty:

The teacher tells a student secret phrase or story. All the kids get in a circle and the first kid tells the kid to his left the phrase/story. So anyway, by the time it loops back around to the original kid, the last kid has to stand up and tell the class the phrase/story. By the time he says the story, it is almost completely different.

So, in this analogy, the blogging sites are basically kindergarteners and the source the teacher. As the rumor spread farther and farther, it was muddled up, twisted for people's biases and less than desirable intentions. Basically a mix of fundamental misunderstandings of the basics of being a journalists, likely mixed with a dash of bias.

 

[Stripper13]

Sony has three forms of motion controls for the PS4 and is the company that made It Only Does Everything its slogan. They'll have a mass market strategy. At least I hope they do. It would suck to see them die. They've been clear that their initial pitch was to the hardcore, and the rest of the plan will reveal itself over the coming months. I look forward to seeing it. I hope their plan differs greatly from Microsoft's. I don't want to own HD twins again.

Yeah - I think I've brought this up in a previous post. Sony has catered to the hardcore crowd with their reveal... they did a great job. When the time comes though, they'll be every bit as 'casual' or 'media server' focused as Microsoft appears to be. Sony seems to be choosing how and when to relay their living room marketing, better than Microsoft has been.

 

[RoboPlato]

Sony has three forms of motion controls for the PS4 and is the company that made It Only Does Everything its slogan. They'll have a mass market strategy. At least I hope they do. It would suck to see them die. They've been clear that their initial pitch was to the hardcore, and the rest of the plan will reveal itself over the coming months. I look forward to seeing it. I hope their plan differs greatly from Microsoft's. I don't want to own HD twins again.

I agree, I just think Microsoft will be MORE mass market. I really think that there will be very clear differences in first party output from both companies and very different featuresets. I'm not a huge fan of Microsoft but as long as the console doesn't have Always Online DRM it's on my radar and I'll be keeping a close eye on what they do. I go where the games are and I'm excited to see what happens next gen. Both Sony and MS are at their best when they're being as competitive as possible. Sony has already come out swinging, I want to see MS do the same.

 

[driver116]

Multiplayer online even without internet, confirmed for PS4.

rainierwolfcastle.gif

Not having Always Online DRM will kill a lot of the negativity. I know a lot of my trepidation about the console is gone because of that. People are tired of waiting and all of the negative rumors have taken their toll. A lot of the hate will subside after the announcement.

MS was also in an unfortunate situation of not having announced while their competitor was outlining a strategy and philosophy that appeals directly to GAMERS.

Fixed.

 

[Satchel]

Did you lick your lips while writing this?

Does debunking rumors of online requirements somehow justify paying a fee for multiplayer, a web browser and apps that are free everywhere else?

Does the thought of Sony charging for multiplayer make you happy?

What the fuck am I reading?

So you haven't been in all the recent Durango threads absolutely bombarded with horseshit?

How long are we going argue the point of the Gold fee? Has it changed anything?.

I pay for Plus. If Sony throws multiplayer behind that, what changes?

 

[Bleedorang3]

Really now?

In literally every Durango thread there's a couple people who say "Sony is hitting all the right notes" or "Saying all the right things" to win over the hardcore, or that they're somehow "better with Indies".

They seem to conveniently gloss over a lot of things that would send GAF into a fervor had Microsoft used their language.

Will online play remain free? “We totally believe that we want to provide more functionality and more services and more content on the network. And so we are looking at how we are going to structure that. And we are not ready to talk about that.”

Shuhei Yoshida said yesterday that the PlayStation 4 won’t block access to pre-owned games. Whilst we’ve no doubt that that’s entirely true, what Eurogamer didn’t question is whether this means that the block will only be removed via an online purchase, much in the same way that online passes work now. You get a secondhand game, and then pay a fee to unlock it.

That’s speculation, of course, Sony aren’t talking details just yet. That said, Yoshida has today said that, when asked by GameSpot, activation codes are down to the publisher. “It’s a publisher decision,” he said, before adding that “we are not talking about it, sorry.” It’s not clear whether this is in reference to the current online pass style system, though.

Dat PR double talk

 

[oldergamer]

Could the next xbox be 3G enabled

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Are you going to try and argue the point?

Anyone who has been browsing the forum over the last couple of weeks should be well aware of the skew it has taken. It's not some GAF hive-mind thing. There is just an increasing number of threads and posts that clearly have agendas.

It'll go away to some degree when all is unveiled I imagine.

Yes, I will argue that point. There are members with these "agendas" on both sides of the coin, however most people are sane enough to appreciate it when a company does something in their interests as a consumer (such as offline gaming potentially coming true for the Durango) or denounce it when it's against what they want. I believe neither Microsoft or Sony is exempt from this and the current sentiment on these forums is because most enjoyed what they saw from Sony from the PS Meeting and because most rumors circulating around the Durango have been negative.

Of course when all is unveiled and both sides have completely laid out their plans and prospects, then we'll be able to accurately judge and determine which of the two platforms we prefer, but until then I do not believe there is any underlying bias for Sony or Microsoft from most people.

In literally every Durango thread there's a couple people who say "Sony is hitting all the right notes" or "Saying all the right things" to win over the hardcore, or that they're somehow "better with Indies".

They seem to conveniently gloss over a lot of things that would send GAF into a fervor had Microsoft used their language.

This just sounds like a conspiracy theory at this point.

 

[perineumlick]

Boy, I tell you; a lot of posters are showing their true colors in here. Getting all salty when MS catches flak, something Sony has been dealing with for years in the media and on this forum. Forget about the fact that one of the major negative rumors surrounding Nextbox appears to have been debunked, let's worry more about what the "haters" are gonna bitch about next. Shameful and juvenile, is all I can say.

I'm just glad that my major complaint seems to have been addressed. I'm eager to see what MS has under their sleeves, and can't wait to see what the console can do. I plan on getting both, just like last gen, unless one of them does something stupid, like launch at 600 bucks.

 

[Baconsammy]

Could the next xbox be 3G enabled

In much the same way that a Kindle is, sure. Could use something similar to Whispernet to verify licenses without a wifi connection needed. They won't do it though.

 

[ari]

No shit. Just wouldn't make any sense from a business point of view or consumer view. "Hey, can I play my madden on you 720? Nah man, its tied to your console...what?'

 

[oVerde]

"Well I'm disappointed Sony did this - but PS+ is awesome and no adddddds"

-Sony Warrior

Seriously though - this whole thing is getting old. I tend to avoid nearly any thread that mentions Xbox, Live, or Online gaming at this point - because it's filled with 'XBL is rubbish' style posts. I would have thought after this many years, we'd have formed our opinions on it and moved on.

And you are right on doing so.

 

[~Kinggi~]

The way i see this playing out for both Sony and MS is that they will initially launch a mix of games that are single-player and multiplayer, and gradually all single-player games will be phased out in favor of the Sim City always on system. Developers have said recently they are never making a single player game again. That doesnt mean they wont make single player content but it means all aspects of the game will have online hooks, therefore needs an internet connection. Like everything else this will just be a gradual screwing of the consumers as they accept it slowly more and more. In fact i wouldn't be surprised if all the leaks about the terrible online scenarios were intentional just to create a sense of good news when they deny them.

I imagine to get people to swallow it, initial experimentation will have to actually offer a gameplay mechanic that doesnt seem like a cheap gimmick. Then gradually that either evolves or they get lazy and it becomes a standard online-leaderboard integration.

 

[driver116]

Sony has three forms of motion controls for the PS4 and is the company that made It Only Does Everything its slogan. They'll have a mass market strategy. At least I hope they do. It would suck to see them die. They've been clear that their initial pitch was to the hardcore, and the rest of the plan will reveal itself over the coming months. I look forward to seeing it. I hope their plan differs greatly from Microsoft's. I don't want to own HD twins again.

Yoshida pretty much confirmed core gamers first, then appeal to mass market second with the touchpad for example. Its been the same pretty much for the PS3, PS2 and PS1 to an extent. Xbox 360 has a strategy along these lines, but I personally felt a little shafted in the process.

 

[Jabba]

To some, calling this a rumor means you're doubting it's credibility.

Reporting something a source tells you and your credibility go hand in hand. That's the way it is, right or wrong.

 

[Uno Venova]

You know, I don't even think the blogging sites even blatantly lied. I just think they have no goal to get rumors or source's information right.

I think the next Xbox had some bullet point on a slide that said "always-online" somewhere on a PowerPoint. Now, I don't know how many other people remember or did this, but do any of you remember the game "Telephone" that you would play in class? I think a couple teachers did it over the years, but I'll give you the quick and dirty:

The teacher tells a student secret phrase or story. All the kids get in a circle and the first kid tells the kid to his left the phrase/story. So anyway, by the time it loops back around to the original kid, the last kid has to stand up and tell the class the phrase/story. By the time he says the story, it is almost completely different.

So, in this analogy, the blogging sites are basically kindergarteners and the source the teacher. As the rumor spread farther and farther, it was muddled up, twisted for people's biases and less than desirable intentions. Basically a mix of fundamental misunderstandings of the basics of being a journalists, likely mixed with a dash of bias.

Which blog sites are you talking about?

 

[Silly.Mikey]

Ive got no problems with having it "always online" by default, as long as it still works when my internet goes down.

 

[Izick]

Which blog sites are you talking about?

I'd rather not name names, but if you look through the past Nextbox rumor threads, you can get a general idea.

 

[Stripper13]

Yes, I will argue that point. There are members with these "agendas" on both sides of the coin, however most people are sane enough to appreciate it when a company does something in their interests as a consumer (such as offline gaming potentially coming true for the Durango) or denounce it when it's against what they want. I believe neither Microsoft or Sony is exempt from this and the current sentiment on these forums is because most enjoyed what they saw from Sony from the PS Meeting and because most rumors circulating around the Durango have been negative.

Of course when all is unveiled and both sides have completely laid out their plans and prospects, then we'll be able to accurately judge and determine which of the two platforms we prefer, but until then I do not believe there is any underlying bias for Sony or Microsoft from most people.

I agree - but it snowballed. Read some threads - there is this assumption floating around that Sony is gods-gift to Indies/developers... that Microsoft is awful by comparison (despite not knowing what Microsoft has planned for Indies). There is an assumption that Sony is going to be amazing for Gamers - and that Microsoft is just chasing that Kinect money. Baseless speculation that Microsoft couldn't possibly change their hardware and are underpowered. Constant complaints about XBL & Paywalls etc.

Most rational people were happy with what Sony revealed - like I and many others were. Yet some negative rumours were enough to write-off Xbox/MS before they have even revealed.

And of course the biggest issue - the entire idea of an Always-Online console was ridiculous to begin with. I question anyone's ability to step back and use critical-thinking skills if they thought there Microsoft were going to go with that (or the even better - offline for 3 minutes and you get kicked off idea).

There's a big difference between - Hey Sony have done some great things, Microsoft needs to clear up these concerning rumours at reveal time (and having a rational discussion on the positives/negatives of the rumours) - in contrast to the Chimpanzee enclosure some of these threads boil down to.

 

[Penguins&PolarBears]

If this does turn out to be the case I think it's easy to see where the misunderstanding came from:

1.) Durango SDK says the system is always connected and always online. It does not say the system HAS TO BE always online and always connected to function. An important distinction. This could just be connected standby from Windows RT/8 (the OS updates apps periodically even while sleeping).

2.) The dev kits have a security feature with a 3 minute timer. After the screw up of sending out dev kits to SuperDaE it would make sense to add extra security to the devkits to make sure they didn't end up in the wrong hands again.

3.) Many big name games will require always online connections this generation: Bungie's Destiny, Respawn's new shooter, Sim City, etc.

Take these facts all together and it is easy to see where the confusion comes from.

 

[Satchel]

Ive got no problems with having it "always online" by default, as long as it still works when my internet goes down.

This is the way most have felt the whole time.

 

[Speevy]

It took way too long to debunk this moronic idea.

 

[EagleEyes]

I agree, I just think Microsoft will be MORE mass market. I really think that there will be very clear differences in first party output from both companies and very different featuresets. I'm not a huge fan of Microsoft but as long as the console doesn't have Always Online DRM it's on my radar and I'll be keeping a close eye on what they do. I go where the games are and I'm excited to see what happens next gen. Both Sony and MS are at their best when they're being as competitive as possible. Sony has already come out swinging, I want to see MS do the same.

I don't really see how Sony came out swinging other than the 8gb GDDR5 that they announced. They showed another Killzone and Infamous and a dancing Move demonstration. They had a guy come out and tell us the great possibilities of what their streaming service could be and then they showed a couple pictures of their UI/Dashboard. It was crystal clear to me that they jumped the gun with this announcement just so they could beat Microsoft to the punch. I'm not even gonna mention the fact that we didn't even actually see the console itself. If Microsoft comes out on the 21st and actually shows the device and we see the UI in action and what Xbox Live 3.0 is all about they will already be ahead of what Sony has shown. They also need to show some games though which i'm sure they will.

 

[perineumlick]

I agree - but it snowballed. Read some threads - there is this assumption floating around that Sony is gods-gift to Indies/developers... that Microsoft is awful by comparison (despite not knowing what Microsoft has planned for Indies). There is an assumption that Sony is going to be amazing for Gamers - and that Microsoft is just chasing that Kinect money. Baseless speculation that Microsoft couldn't possibly change their hardware and are underpowered. Constant complaints about XBL & Paywalls etc.

Most rational people were happy with what Sony revealed - like I and many others were. Yet some negative rumours were enough to write-off Xbox/MS before they have even revealed.

And of course the biggest issue - the entire idea of an Always-Online console was ridiculous to begin with. I question anyone's ability to step back and use critical-thinking skills if they thought there Microsoft were going to go with that (or the even better - offline for 3 minutes and you get kicked off idea).

There's a big difference between - Hey Sony have done some great things, Microsoft needs to clear up these concerning rumours at reveal time (and having a rational discussion on the positives/negatives of the rumours) - in contrast to the Chimpanzee enclosure some of these threads boil down to.

I still fail to see why stuff like this bothers people so much. I'd rather discuss the possibilities for the Nextbox going forward than what the consensus of GAF is concerning Sony and MS. If you focus on rational discussion with the level headed people, all that other stuff rolls right off your back.

 

[Satchel]

It took way too long to debunk this moronic idea.

That's why they shouldn't need to.

Because its moronic.

 

[Minions]

I don't really see how Sony came out swinging other than the 8gb GDDR5 that they announced. They showed another Killzone and Infamous and a dancing Move demonstration. They had a guy come out and tell us the great possibilities of what their streaming service could be and then they showed a couple pictures of their UI/Dashboard. It was crystal clear to me that they jumped the gun with this announcement just so they could beat Microsoft to the punch. I'm not even gonna mention the fact that we didn't even actually see the console itself. If Microsoft comes out on the 21st and actually shows the device and we see the UI in action and what Xbox Live 3.0 is all about they will already be ahead of what Sony has shown. They also need to show some games though which i'm sure they will.

They didn't really "jump the gun". The true "reveal" is at E3... which was a few months after the announcement. They still have another 6+ months until release to complete gaikai functionality. I completely expect Sony to announce a launch date at E3, and Microsoft not to. However only time will tell.

 

[TheDarkKnight774]

I hope it's true. The other rumor was too crazy for me to believe.

 

[RoboPlato]

I don't really see how Sony came out swinging other than the 8gb GDDR5 that they announced. They showed another Killzone and Infamous and a dancing Move demonstration. They had a guy come out and tell us the great possibilities of what their streaming service could be and then they showed a couple pictures of their UI/Dashboard. It was crystal clear to me that they jumped the gun with this announcement just so they could beat Microsoft to the punch. I'm not even gonna mention the fact that we didn't even actually see the console itself. If Microsoft comes out on the 21st and actually shows the device and we see the UI in action and what Xbox Live 3.0 is all about they will already be ahead of what Sony has shown. They also need to show some games though which i'm sure they will.

Not showing the console doesn't matter. They showed a lot more games than I ever expected and that's what you're going to be looking at when you get the system, not the box. The entire design philosophy of the console is completely different than previous gens and a huge step forward for the company.

 

[Biker19]

Sony has three forms of motion controls for the PS4 and is the company that made It Only Does Everything its slogan. They'll have a mass market strategy. At least I hope they do. It would suck to see them die. They've been clear that their initial pitch was to the hardcore, and the rest of the plan will reveal itself over the coming months. I look forward to seeing it. I hope their plan differs greatly from Microsoft's. I don't want to own HD twins again.

Me neither, though if I have a choice between the next Xbox & the next Playstation console, I'm probably going to most likely go for the next Playstation console, mainly because of two reasons:

1.) More 1st & 2nd party exclusives, &
2.) I'm guaranteed Japanese 3rd party support (even if it's just niche titles) along with western 3rd party games, just like with the PS3.

 

[Omnistalgic]

Man...can't wait for the 21st...

You guys r the craze'-)

Still love this place though...

 

[Tyrax]

Oddly, In spite of this, I'd still be onboard for always online. I'd be interesting to see if MS would put things like online leader boards as core parts of single player games

 

[perineumlick]

I know the franchise isn't what it used to be, but I can't help but be excited to see what a next gen Gears of War will look like. Judgment was definitely a step backwards in many ways, but I've always loved the series.

 

[Baconsammy]

I know the franchise isn't what it used to be, but I can't help but be excited to see what a next gen Gears of War will look like. Judgment was definitely a step backwards in many ways, but I've always loved the series.

Maybe I'm being a downer, but without Cliff involved, I just dont care anymore. I'd much rather have seen PCF make Bulletstorm 2.

 

[perineumlick]

Maybe I'm being a downer, but without Cliff involved, I just dont care anymore. I'd much rather have seen PCF make Bulletstorm 2.

I agree; Cliffy had some great ideas with Gears; PCF turned it into Serious Sam pretty much.

 

[Reiko]

Well this thread slowed down.

 

[DEADEVIL]

I know the franchise isn't what it used to be, but I can't help but be excited to see what a next gen Gears of War will look like. Judgment was definitely a step backwards in many ways, but I've always loved the series.

I'm with you. I'd love to see what the main team can do. I have had a lot of fun with Gears: J. but it's like a fun side dish like ODST was. A gift for the fans to play in the universe.

But, a true Next gen Gears would be amazing a few years from now. Bulletstorm was underrated and I don't think it will be People next project.

In my opinion, they should do Shadow Complex 2, a Kinect version of Infinity Blade for XBLA, a New IP from the main team and PCF, then follow with a new Gears after Halo 5 arrives. The fanbase will be starving for one by then.

Well this thread slowed down.

Yeah it's crawled to a pace of 5 minutes between posts now. lol

 

[BassForever]

So what was up with the person acting like an ass hat with the whole "electricity goes out I won't by a vacuum"? If always online was false from the beginning why even bother to say that.

 

[Satchel]

Well this thread slowed down.

Not as much to shit on anymore.

You need to start a thread relating to paying for Gold.

 

[Tyrax]

So what was up with the person acting like an ass hat with the whole "electricity goes out I won't by a vacuum"? If always online was false from the beginning why even bother to say that.

prolly working on a game that needs a constant connection

 

[Izick]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWa0dZMHYeE

 

[xJavonta]

Why would you need an internet connection to watch TV, anyways?

When my internet is down, so is my TV

U-verse and all that.

 

[Baconsammy]

So what was up with the person acting like an ass hat with the whole "electricity goes out I won't by a vacuum"? If always online was false from the beginning why even bother to say that.

Huge Diablo 3 fan.

 

[Courage]

So what was up with the person acting like an ass hat with the whole "electricity goes out I won't by a vacuum"? If always online was false from the beginning why even bother to say that.

Maybe he tried to "defend" his company without even knowing what's going on.

 

[Izick]

He was probably just sharing his honest opinions. I never understood why people thought that the always-online stuff was immediately true because Orth held that opinion. That's kind of the bad thing about twitter; people can share their opinions to a lot of people, very quickly, and there's usually no anonymity to it, so one mistake is basically game-over in terms of employment.

Such a shame too. The guy may have been out of line, but people calling for his head (not literally; his job, name-calling, creating memes) were just as shameful, if not a ton more so.

 

[nbraun80]

Didn't the Wii have a similar bullet point of "always on", like how it flashed blue when a new update or mii stopped by? That's the way I always interpreted the always on, in that when you got it connected the 720 could download updates for you while you were away, or maybe even dlc you have a season pass for so you can just start up and play.

the idea of it not working at all when not online was always ridiculous to me.

 

[spisho]

How long are we going argue the point of the Gold fee? Has it changed anything?.

I pay for Plus. If Sony throws multiplayer behind that, what changes?

Um, what?

People need to get it straight, charging for multiplayer is just fucking horrible. You can prefer XBL all you want, ain't nothing wrong with that, but have some self-respect and stop defending Microsoft's worst practices.

 

[Satchel]

Um, what?

People need to get it straight, charging for multiplayer is just fucking horrible. You can prefer XBL all you want, ain't nothing wrong with that, but have some self-respect and stop defending Microsoft's worst practices.

I'm not defending. I just said it is what it is.

Then he asked id get satisfaction out of Sony charging for online.

As I said, if they did, it technically doesn't affect me as I pay for Plus. So it wouldn't make a difference to me. Read the exchange.

 

[spisho]

I'm not defending.

You are.

Then he asked id get satisfaction out of Sony charging for online.

Let's look at the tape:

The real moistness will come when Sony announces they're charging for online play.

As I said, if they did, it technically doesn't affect me as I pay for Plus. So it wouldn't make a difference to me. Read the exchange.

Um, what? Sounds like you're defending something...

 

[Satchel]

You are.
Let's look at the tape:

Um, what? Sounds like you're defending something...

If anything, the chance for people to post in a positive news thread without people shitting it up.