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Microsoft Studios' creative director has some choice words about always-online

Zinthar

Member
The people arguing that Microsoft doesn't have the manpower to "spy" on users are completely missing the point of this -- Microsoft will use Kinect to connect "anonymous" data on usage in tandem with the data being collected by what you're doing on the system in order to put together a set of data that collects variables on usage that media companies would salivate over.

No one at Microsoft will literally watch any Kinect camera, and I'd bet they'll make that technically impossible, to the extent that they can, to assuage privacy critics. But what they'll definitely do is collect data about who watches what movies and TV shows, and plays certain games. It may just be approximated demographic data (ie you watch a movie and Kinect thinks there's one male and one female, both 18-35 watching, and they pause the movie twice during lulls in the actions) that becomes meaningful when mined, and can be used for targeted advertising. Or it may track the same person (Kinect thinks it recognizes Person A, male, approximately 25 year old African American) and try to extract a pattern to his or her use of the console so that when it sees him in the room with the console on it immediately switches to his profile (hey, some minor end user benefit actually!), but more importantly so that the Xbox can tailor the advertising and suggestions in a way that Microsoft hopes will make him part with the maximum number of dollars from his wallet.

If the console isn't always-on, this Kinect data would have to be cached and couldn't respond instantly in the way Microsoft wants.

The grand scheme here, if you will, is for this Xbox to take control of your media consumption in a manner that most people aren't expecting when they buy a set-top box. I suspect that Microsoft sees this as a huge opportunity to data mine in the way that Google does with Gmail, except I doubt Microsoft will manage to be half as subtle about it.

The idea of being watched, even if it's only by a machine, is going to creep people out in a way that Google's gmail scanning doesn't, a la HAL.
 

watership

Member
It's true, he's actually on GAF under that name :lol

I'm not doubting his nick name or handle to be sweet billy. I'm talking about one person saying he's a dick and demanded to be called sweet billy. Which is weird, and has spread as one of the 'facts' of this incident to justify his 'dickdom'.
 

Acorn

Member
I'm not doubting his nick name or handle to be sweet billy. I'm talking about one person saying he's a dick and demanded to be called sweet billy. Which is weird, and has spread as one of the 'facts' of this incident to justify his 'dickdom'.

To be fair, his verified actions make him out to be a dick anyway. This would just be the icing on the dick cake.
 
The people arguing that Microsoft doesn't have the manpower to "spy" on users are completely missing the point of this -- Microsoft will use Kinect to connect "anonymous" data on usage in tandem with the data being collected by what you're doing on the system in order to put together a set of data that collects variables on usage that media companies would salivate over.

No one at Microsoft will literally watch any Kinect camera, and I'd bet they'll make that technically impossible, to the extent that they can, to assuage privacy critics. But what they'll definitely do is collect data about who watches what movies and TV shows, and plays certain games. It may just be approximated demographic data (ie you watch a movie and Kinect thinks there's one male and one female, both 18-35 watching, and they pause the movie twice during lulls in the actions) that becomes meaningful when mined, and can be used for targeted advertising. Or it may track the same person (Kinect thinks it recognizes Person A, male, approximately 25 year old African American) and try to extract a pattern to his or her use of the console so that when it sees him in the room with the console on it immediately switches to his profile (hey, some minor end user benefit actually!), but more importantly so that the Xbox can tailor the advertising and suggestions in a way that Microsoft hopes will make him part with the maximum number of dollars from his wallet.

If the console isn't always-on, this Kinect data would have to be cached and couldn't respond instantly in the way Microsoft wants.

The grand scheme here, if you will, is for this Xbox to take control of your media consumption in a manner that most people aren't expecting when they buy a set-top box. I suspect that Microsoft sees this as a huge opportunity to data mine in the way that Google does with Gmail, except I doubt Microsoft will manage to be half as subtle about it.

The idea of being watched, even if it's only by a machine, is going to creep people out in a way that Google's gmail scanning doesn't, a la HAL.
Doesn't Kinect already have that capability (to send some kind of usage data to MS)? And isn't there a way to turn that off?
 
I'm not doubting his nick name or handle to be sweet billy. I'm talking about one person saying he's a dick and demanded to be called sweet billy. Which is weird, and has spread as one of the 'facts' of this incident to justify his 'dickdom'.

The fact he has the username "sweet billy" here, which a redditor brought up and went into detail about his douchey behavior, and we've seen that firsthand both via his tweets now and convo between him and Jaffe 6 years ago, I'm heavily leaning toward believing it than not.
 

Master_JO

Banned
endo14-1600.jpg


Skynet ...Believe... :D
 

AkIRA_22

Member
Doesn't Kinect already have that capability (to send some kind of usage data to MS)? And isn't there a way to turn that off?

That would totally depend region to region, you would absolutely hope it's going to ask. But it's the primary conceit that it collects data on you, pure and simple, there really is no reason whatsoever for Durango to be online 100% of the time. They will tell us it's to "increase user experience" but how is being online going to be used for anything other than advertising, and sending content. I'm a little worried by Sony and their pushing content to the PS4 because their algorithm thinks you'll like it. However you'd have to assume that would just develop from purchase history, something Amazon does.
 
So you don't believe that videogame journalists have sources close to the situation, who report that he's been fired... because you don't believe that executives get fired for public meltdowns?
"Sources are telling 4Player that Adam Orth is no longer working for Microsoft. Currently tracking this down further...

...we've confirmed this with one reliable source but not two, and Orth's linkedin has currently shown no movement. We're considering this a high possibility but it currently lacks enough verification for us to confirm at this time."

Of course he could get fired for saying something silly on the interwebs, I never said otherwise. His supposed firing hasn't been picked up/reported anywhere else that I've seen. I have seen reporters "confirm" things live on the air on TV and they've ended up being completely wrong.

Dump her, she is no good.

You can do so much better Sweet Anton.
Hahaha.
 

Anton668

Member
Didn't mean to. It's just that protecting your tweets after the fact is like trying to suck a fart back in your ass after you've already cropdusted the entire bar.

definitely. once you pull the pin and throw the grenade, you cant go running after it, pin in hand, trying to undo the damage
 
I'm 100% sure it's already been discussed, but with that second hand market thread about Japan, does anyone think Durango would even release there if all the rumors turn out to be true?
 

saunderez

Member
Didn't mean to. It's just that protecting your tweets after the fact is like trying to suck a fart back in your ass after you've already cropdusted the entire bar.
I would've said it's like putting your fingers in your ears and screaming LALALALALALALA but your analogy is MUCH more apt in this situation.
 
Why should they? It was a waste for the 360 IIRC

Still a pretty big market, though. Hell, based on Media Creates, it's kind of catching up to the other super big players. Or more appropriately, the other regions are being hit hard while Japan is staying consistent and even showing some growth now and then.
 

TheSeks

Blinded by the luminous glory that is David Bowie's physical manifestation.
Didn't mean to. It's just that protecting your tweets after the fact is like trying to suck a fart back in your ass after you've already cropdusted the entire bar.

I'm going to have to save that one for sometime in the future.
 

Chaplain

Member
CliffyB, what is your take on "always online" for nextgen? I am extremely curious what your perspective would be on this.
 

Jea Song

Did the right thing
I travel. I don't always have an Internet connection when I bring my consoles.

I'd like to just play a single player game.

Nextbox won't allow this?

Where can I preorder my ps4?
 
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