Next Xbox to require always on internet connection?

[Catalyst]

This is 100% about piracy.

[C47]

This is 100% about piracy.

Yep, and if the rumors of having to install everything to the HDD are also true M$ will put an end to used games on their console....

[Zaximus]

This is 100% about piracy.

Which is really silly anyway. I'd actually say it's more about used games than it is piracy. The thing with piracy, with movies/tv shows/games/music, MOST of the time that pirate wasn't going to purchase it anyway, so really, they didn't lose anything. That's why no one believes groups like the MPAA that say "we've lost this much blah blah" and then break summer records on movie sales. In the end, you just make life more annoying for the PAYING customer, especially on PC games etc, where the hackers crack any DRM or protection on release day yet the paying customers still have to deal with the annoying always-on stuff.

I've been playing mainly PC lately but I was at one point, over the last 4-5 years playing console a ton. This is about to completely just push me into PC 100% of the time, sadly.

[CCS]

It is 100% about killing used games. They've repeatedly bitched about used games and have repeatedly talked about locking games to one console in order to kill off the used game market. Not many Xbox users pirate games and they already have ways to brick the consoles of those who do so it's pretty pointless

[carpanfan96]

Here's an interesting stat for those that think it won't hurt their number bases.

The PS3 user base has a higher connected number then the 360. Sony's been at roughly 78% of system connected and online which is above the 360 numbers of 73%.

http://www.destructo...es-170797.phtml

Using these number's compared to systems shipped (76 million for the 360) you can get a number of those with a 360 that don't have it connected to the internet at all. So 27% of 76 million, which is

roughly 20 million people who aren't connected to the internet that are now likely out of the target demographic for the next xbox. That's a loss of roughly 20 million sales and the difference between a system being successful and a failure.

Comparing xbox sales to that of the 360 will produce a number close to 20 million. The original xbox was a failure sales wise in most markets outside of the US.

So MS forced online connectivity and HD installs will most definitely positively effect their overall sales and I'd imagine a huge increase in returns.

[SZ James (banned)]

uh you missed something

Not only is that a load of bullshit poll and not actual data (2,000 people in the U.S. is quite just a sliver of the global market), it's old (2010), and doesn't explain what "connected to the internet means". My xbox isn't connected right now because I hate having a hidious ethernet cable running through my apartment. I have internet, I can manage an always on system that has wi-fi.

Microsoft probably has a way of getting the actual numbers to accurately predict long-term sales and have weighed their options and came to the conclusion that they will have a profitable endevour. Not to mention all the crybabies on the INTERNET that are using AN INTERNET CONNECTION to bitch about being hooked up TO THE INTERNET that are gonna buy one anyways.

[YoungPanthers89]

PS4

[carpanfan96]

Lmao, it's the xbox. We don't have to do a global market, it really only sales in the US. lol

The fact that a survey of 2,000 people is a perfectly reasonable survey to use to gather information or make an argument on such a discussion as this.

Add to the fact that some global ISP's (including some in the US) that don't allow xbox live to connect through their connections plus the fact that there are only 30 million total xbox live (silver +Gold) users over the life of xbox live (that's counting the original xbox as well)

However this is interesting though.

http://kotaku.com/the-next-xbox-may-have-an-hdmi-in-port-so-472235857

Cue Tom Warren, tech site The Verge's ace reporter on all things Microsoft (he's got a very good track record with this stuff). This afternoon, he reported:

Multiple sources familiar with the company's Xbox plans have revealed to

The Verge

that Microsoft will introduce a feature that lets its next-generation console take over a TV and set-top box in a similar way to Google TV. We understand that the next Xbox will require an online connection to use the entertainment services, allowing them to be always-on for streaming and access to TV signals.

The functionality will work by taking a cable box signal and passing it through to the Xbox via HDMI, allowing Microsoft's console to overlay a UI and features on top of an existing TV channel or set-top box... Extended support for various cable services will be rolled out gradually...

[SZ James (banned)]

The fact that a survey of 2,000 people is a perfectly reasonable survey to use to gather information or make an argument on such a discussion as this.

you are completely out of your mind

[R0CKnR0LLA]

99% of the time I'm playing online multiplayer games anyway so this is a non-issue for me. I don't really care about the used game policy or having to install games to the HD either.

I'm just going to wait until both systems come out and then compare everything. I know I much prefer the XBox controller but if I can get a 3rd party controller that's basically a copycat of the XBox one then I may end up going with the PS4, just have to wait and see which system looks better overall.

[Bronn]

<- has never played a second of Xbox anything...

<- doesn't plan to start

I have, however, used the poo out of Windows' buggy OSs throughout history and am totally amazed at how secure they are, and impressed with the dent they've put on the piracy market... lol

[CCS]

If you want a good example of how this is going to work just look at the indie games section on XBL. For all of the indie games you have to be connected to live in order to play them. If you don't have internet a screen pops up saying that you aren't allowed to play the game, even if it is a one player game. Microsoft has also been known to completely block some of those games after you've bought them, effectively fuging you out of your money. Also, whenever microsoft stops supporting the 360 all of those games are going to be completely worthless. That's really no big deal for the indie games that cost $1 a piece but it's going to become a HUGE deal when we have to start paying $60 or more for a game that is eventually not even going to be ours anymore.

They're basically setting up a long term rental system which I am not going to support since I prefer to actually own the things I purchase.

[Zaximus]

I think if they are going to force this onto people, and kill the used game market, they should lower the price of games from $60 to maybe $40. However, they'll probably start them at $70 now. I haven't played console really in over a year, as I'm mainly went back to PC gaming almost 100%, and I'm so glad I did.

[Captroop]

I think if they are going to force this onto people, and kill the used game market, they should lower the price of games from $60 to maybe $40. However, they'll probably start them at $70 now. I haven't played console really in over a year, as I'm mainly went back to PC gaming almost 100%, and I'm so glad I did.

If there are no more physical disks, then they could save a ton on production and distribution costs. No CDs, no boxes, no shipping, not paying a graphic artist to design box art for goodness sake! With a totally electronic distribution methodology, Microsoft could save millions, and pass the savings on to us the consumer in the form of cheap new games!

They won't, though.