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Microsoft Studios' creative director has some choice words about always-online
- Thread starter shinobi602
- Start date
freenudemacusers
Member
My computer is 'always online', but if I lose my internet connection, or if the iTunes store crashes/doesn't load for some reason, my music/tv shows/videos will still work. A subtle, but important, distinction. There is simply no benefit to me as a consumer to be locked out of the content that is stored on my system or physical media in the event of server-side authentication failure. Zero.
Chief Icaroc
Banned
I am talking about PS+.
You get free games with it until your PS+ subscription is over. Once your time runs out you can't play those games anymore.
Sounds a little like an "always on" connection right? People buy this right? It is a thing?
Ok so, (IF) you buy a new Xbox, you choose to "subscribe" to the "always on" connection. How time runs out is currently unknown. If it logs me out when my connection drops, I am going to be pissed because that is going to cause gaming interruptions which no one will like.
One is a Subscription to PS+ the other is a console.
Vote with your wallet is a terrible strategy, as you will often find that the average person isn't aware of these kind of issues. A lot of people are misinformed when it comes to security features such as DRM, and as such - people raging out on the internet is actually beneficial if it takes off. No company wants bad PR, and it's more likely to get to the average consumer if enough sites pick it up.
Not that you were against it. But just as important as "voting with your wallet" - is letting other people know the issues, so that they may also vote with their wallet (if they happen to agree). Just being quiet, and saying you won't buy it, isn't going to do anything.
I have been waiting for this gif for a while now, thank you kind sir.
There's a lot of talk, but this little incident really want do anything. Either the system is always-on required, in which case, the meltdown would have just come in a month or so, or it's not, and no one will care about this when the system is announced.
Come on. COME ON. Has gaf gone superstuipd? He had that twitter account long before VOX media even existed, and looong before Polygon.
"Aegies joined Twitter on Jun 27th, 2007 (2109 days ago)."
And look.. RIGHT IN HIS PROFILE.
"Tweets do not represent my employers."
This is not a defense of him or anything he's said. This is just me defending the fact that twitter posts are rarely official representations of anything but the person writing them.
Joe Shlabotnik
Banned
That's possible! Although offhand I can't think of one and would be curious to hear an example that is wholly beneficial to consumers (which includes being worth the trade-off of losing the ability to play offline).
But yes, I may not be thinking of other possibilities! It sure seems like something worth talking about doesn't it
UrSuLeTZuL
Banned
Epic! xD
I certainly agree that there is a real discussion to be had about the potential problems caused by an online only console, and other anti-consumer measures. However I think people wanting an MS employee to be fired for some smart assed tweets, or insulting Gies, does more to stifle that conversation than anything he tweets. There are a lot of posters with great points, but sometimes those points get lost in the vitriol.
Chief Icaroc
Banned
Until your PS+ subscription is up. Which has to be verified. Somehow.
cyberheater
PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
It's not just that though is it. It's about capturing usage metrics on our gaming habits and social networking.
ShroudOfFate
Member
Edit: wrong thread
Miles Quaritch
Member
I used to believe GAF is generally level headed. This thread has shattered that belief.
Only if you let it. He's not an authority on the subject. His comments only hold as much power as you give them. Ignore them or call him on those comments, there's no need to resort to insults and other vulgarities.
They still exist, they shouldn't. Call him disreputable, a joke to his profession, a poor journalist, etc, but it crossed a line when it veers into personally directed insults and other vulgarities.
To make it perfectly clear, I'm not defending him which some people will undoubtedly attempt to claim, I am only pointing out that personal insults shouldn't enter into this debate no matter how one feels about him.
Boss Man
Member
I know, I mean, why is it news? I just don't understand why people talk about things.
So basically Gies is saying #dealwithit
WHAT A SURPRISE ARTHUR GEESE.
It's baffling to me that a 'journalist' would say something like this. I mean, what is it that you do? Because apparently discussing something's merits is meaningless. Don't like something? Just shut up and ignore it!
Pretty sure they are more concerned with the trade-in market. TBH.
PJV3
Member
It only works if play Halo at the same time.
cyberheater
PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
I can see that being used a lot on GAF in the future. It's pure gold.
It seems like forms of media are moving away from ownership and more to access (think Netflix, Pandora, etc.). I don't see why games will ultimately be any different.
COD, Madden, FIFA, or Halo subs for $10 a month which get constantly tweeked and content added. No more sequels, just ever evolving IPs. The developers/pubs get a steady source of revenue and the potential for even more money than a one time sale. Consumers benefit from these companies trying to keep please as many players as possible to keep them subscribed otherwise they move on to the next thing.
Don't know how it could work exactly, but I do not think it must be the current $60 disc paradigm.
ONE YEAR timeout vs. THREE MINUTE timeout
$50 a year vs. $60 a game
Subscription Service vs. Physical Media
I go to sleep and the thread doubles... holy...
PS+ is not always on. You subscribe to it, download your games and they have a licence that lasts as long as your subscription, after that you could stay offline for a year and still play those games you downloaded.
If you want to get your new games every month you could just go online for a couple of hours, download them and then go offline again.
PS+ is not always on. You subscribe to it, download your games and they have a licence that lasts as long as your subscription, after that you could stay offline for a year and still play those games you downloaded.
If you want to get your new games every month you could just go online for a couple of hours, download them and then go offline again.
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
I don't see anything wrong with what he said. He is saying you should vote with your wallets. Like in every thread where anti-consumer practices are posted. All these companies have to learn the hard way. They rarely listen to their consumers.
Mammoth Jones
Member
By no means should if stifle a discussion. But at the end of the day gamers will speak with their wallets. Many devs consider gamers unwashed masses with no self control that will gobble up the latests console/game with no questions asked. This has led to the arrogance we see with this guys tweets.
At the end of the day gamers will have to take a stand. If they don't, then they have no right to complain. Can't have it both ways.
freenudemacusers
Member
Why is PS+ even being pulled into this discussion? I haven't had a PS3 in a while, but I don't recall compulsory subscription to the service.
flyinpiranha
Member
It's more than that. If you know his history he isn't that bad of a poster here, I had a neutral opinion of him with his "if you only knew!!" type posts in speculation threads.
That said, his bullshit stance about SimCity and "if you aren't Maxis, don't comment on shit" attitude is probably spreading into this discussion.
While the actual 144 letters don't say it, his demeanor, past, and various other 'outings' on twitter can be used to correlate what he's saying to "don't like, don't buy" which is a remark usually used when you have no argument or want to stifle a conversation. Much like the "deal with it" from the other guy.
Don't be so obtuse, it's not based on ONE tweet. Thinking that puts you closer to the crazy bin than anybody thinking otherwise.
One is giving hundreds of dollars worth of games to someone for paying a $50 annual fee, while the other makes it so I can't play anything unless I'm connected to the internet.
For there to be some sort of equivalence here, every PSN game you own would have to be timed.
If I took my PS3 with its hundreds of PSN games installed to a place with no internet, the games I bought would still work as long as the system did.
Foxy Fox 39
Banned
via reddit:
gaf>reddit>gaf
-Pyromaniac-
Member
Yeah but that will always happen. Earlier in the thread there were many people saying they hope he doesn't lose his job over it, including me. Regardless, he did bring it on himself with super ignorant and inconsiderate comments. And with such a hot thread people will always repeat things. Nature of the beast.
Uno Venova
Banned
Okay, this is something I never argued against though.
Man, I feel sorry for this guy right now, he must be following all of this in horror (or at least he was and is now drinking).
That said, I've been extremely disappointed with Xbox for years now, and this isn't helping. Microsoft has a LOT to prove to me in the coming years if they want me to buy another one of their consoles.
That said, I've been extremely disappointed with Xbox for years now, and this isn't helping. Microsoft has a LOT to prove to me in the coming years if they want me to buy another one of their consoles.
TacticalFox88
Banned
Tis only a matter of time.
GAF isn't one person.
And I can say my dick is three feet long. Doesn't make it so. If he didn't want it to represent his employer, he should take them off the page.
AstroNut325
Member
That Sunhi GIF's ending is icing on the cake! LOL!
wait. hold up. what.
Evolved1
make sure the pudding isn't too soggy but that just ruins everything
That twitter comment doesn't exist in a vacuum... there is precedent. Context, that you are ignoring.
Miles Quaritch
Member
There's certainly a hive-mind element, but you're right in that GAF isn't one person.
Woah now, let's not do anything we will regret later Wario...?
Are we still talking about this? FREE games are very different than ALL GAMES (AND APPS). PS+ is not required to function your console, it is not required to go online, frankly it is not required for anything other than a constant influx of "free" content. It's not like when you stop subscribing all of it is deleted. As soon as you resubscribe you have access to everything you previously got for free. You don't have to be online to play your games.
These "products" are honestly not even close.
Uno Venova
Banned
Yeah no, this is exactly what you should not be doing if you want a legitimate discussion and not a popularity contest.
Tripp Daily
Member
I'm not employed by MS. I'm not even defending "always online" (even though a lot of posters will automatically jump to that conclusion because I haven't voiced my opinion against it).
I am defending the option that Microsoft could be providing a gaming option or service that requires the system to always be online, but would also would increase my enjoyment of the medium.
Are you completely throwing that option out?