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

R

RedNumberFive

Banned
Hero_of_the_Day said:
LOL. There is zero chance of there not being a disk drive. Don't get crazy now.
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The only use for a disc-drive is for users who want to play a game and can't be always online. Microsoft would rather you purchase movies from them, rather than loading up a Blu-Ray. Same goes for games. They want to have an Apple-esque store that they have full control of. If anything, I'm almost convinced that there won't be a disc-drive in the next Xbox.
 
A

AstroNut325

Member
The Penny Arcade comic is appropriate. We don't know or understand the implementation details and if Microsoft will compensate for the inclusion of "always online" with some other features, functions or cost savings.
 
M

Mortimer Brewster

Member
Mengy said:
Oh come on, MS is crazy, but they aren't that crazy.
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I agree, I think Microsoft is going to do all sorts of stupid and crazy crap with the Durango and release the most anti consumer electronic device ever but I don't even think them with their arrogance and current insanity are dumb enough to go this far. And if they do, they deserve to be utterly eviscerated by Sony this generation.
 
K

kinggroin

Banned
Microsoft is allowing these rumours to persist in order to start with much lower expectations. This way what would seem like expected, almost pedestrian features, will blow us all away come E3.
 
S

sykoex

Lost all credibility.
kinggroin said:
Microsoft is allowing these rumours to persist in order to start with much lower expectations. This way what would seem like expected, almost pedestrian features, will blow us all away come E3.
Click to expand...
Agreed. At this point I think the Durango is really going to surprise people, just because so many people have made up their minds about what it is without even seeing it. They'll be pumped when they see all the positive things MS will announce about it.
 
G

Graphics Horse

Member
Mengy said:
Oh come on, MS is crazy, but they aren't that crazy.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it's something they considered, Sony too, although they might want to keep blu-ray going to some extent.
Valve are certainly pushing for a diskless box.
Crazy is the thought of selling a machine with a disc drive 5 years from now, and nobody wants a PSPgo situation. Of course, if discs are useless while tied to an account, there wouldn't be an issue with launching a diskless machine further down the line.
 
D

DEADEVIL

Member
soul creator said:
what I could see is a potential model in the future that doesn't include it, as every game will be available on Games on Demand (and any disc games you may have previously bought will be able to be re-downloaded at any time, like Steam). But I think there will definitely be a blu-ray drive in the "standard" SKU.
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It's an old rumor. It goes along with there being a cable box Sku, but I doubt it's true.
 
C

commedieu

Banned
kinggroin said:
Microsoft is allowing these rumours to persist in order to start with much lower expectations. This way what would seem like expected, almost pedestrian features, will blow us all away come E3.
Click to expand...

I don't think MS is worried about their hardware at all. Last gen proved that hardware doesn't matter, as developers won't really spend the time to create experience on one, that can't optimally be reproduced on another. Mobile gaming just adds more to reasons not to go overkill on machine. If its more powerful than the PS4, great, it will be limited by the PS4's specifications when it comes to compiling time. Theres no real reason for them to announce their specs now. All the discussion is getting them attention without spending any money or doing PR.

It will be interesting to see, but if history is anything to go by, all of our games will look great this gen. Some will be the standouts(effort, time, budget, vision), but most will share a certain level of quality.

Well... Minus anything Dyack is working on.
 
A

Aeonin

Member
The only way I see online required working is if the machine is 99 bucks and all it does is connect to a new expanded Xbox Live to play over the cloud. Games keep looking better and better over time, but you don't really own shit. (if anyone wanted a 'positive' for online required).
 
T

TheSeks

Blinded by the luminous glory that is David Bowie's physical manifestation.
Someone should gif that kid knocking the 360 out of her hands.
 
L

Lionel Mandrake

Member
TheSeks said:
Someone should gif that kid knocking the 360 out of her hands.
Click to expand...

ioKTuNifAoB4F.gif


Edit:
Alternatively...
iEcQVQ34MjAt6.gif
 
H

Htown

STOP SHITTING ON MY MOTHER'S HEADSTONE
Orochinagis said:
I dont understand what they are trying to say in most of their actual comics.
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yeah the comic wasn't funny

PS here's a permanent link because that one won't work after tomorrow

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2013/04/08

And here's the news post that goes along with the comic:

It is amazing how long and how energetically we can discuss the unknown. If I were feeling philosophical, and this almost never happens, I would wonder aloud about how fundamentally human that is. The raw energy we dump into the unshaped void. The strange fish that return with us, home.

. . .

But he and many other people are grappling with the same information, and they don’t really know what to do with it: specifically, that they’re hearing from people they trust that the box requires a connection to execute entertainment software, and no-one can figure out why they would do that. They know why they’d want to, but they don’t know why they actually would. We’ve said that the “consumers” for a console before release are developers and publishers, a plurality of whom aren’t down with resale or the Black Flag, both of which are generally considered features by the playerbase. At what cost do you court one, and not the other?
Click to expand...
 
T

ThoughtsOfSpeaking

Banned
ashley678 said:
its interesting that people are saying ms will lose and sony will win, when infact sony is allowing devs to do this on ps3 if they so wish, well when third party devs start releasing games for durango and ps4 dunrago will be always and if the game is coming out on ps4 then it will be always online there too.
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even if Sony support this as an option, it's still a better situation because

1) Gamers can choose on a case by case basis. Many will have no problem with Destiny being Always online as its an MMO but would have a big issue with a single player game like knack.

2) If it negatively affects sales it's easier to turn off. If a publisher builds always on to a game, it's easier to patch out if it is affecting uptake of the game.


3) there will be many games that won't have always online functionality. to placate people who buy a always online game, you are going to have build in a huge array of social features. Another of indie titles won't have this level of development and to maximize sales are not going use the always online option onless it's proven that it will make them more money
 
O

OUT FOX EM

Neo Member
linkboy said:
People bitched about Windows 8 (and aren't buying it) and MS went full speed ahead.

MS has an agenda and they're not going to deviate from that because a vocal minority (we're a minority, regardless of what you thing) is bitching on-line about it.
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I'm not disagreeing. I said myself that it's probably just wishful thinking. I'm hopeful that MS will take this vocal minority more seriously and perhaps the right person will see it at the right time. It's certainly not too late to change it -- nothing has been announced.

But again, wishful thinking and all that.
 
W

Westlo

Member
jorma said:
While he did make it much harder for MS to control the narrative about how "always on" is perceived, i think sacking him was just weak and it makes me think less well of Microsoft.
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Da fuck? People get sacked for much less than what he said.
 
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