74 replies to this topic

[soul__stealer]

This ones for my good friend Scot, the Xbox fag fanboi.
The good news;
According to IGN, sources at Microsoft have revealed a new gaming system dubbed the Xbox 720 which may be released late 2013. The new system is expected to be up to 6 times faster then the original Xbox 360, rumoured to be using an Advanced Micro Devices 6000 series processor and offer 3D gaming. The device is also rumoured to come equipped with a Blu-Ray player putting it on par with the PS3 in that regard.


The bad news;

Quote

It has also been reported that the Xbox 720 may include some sort of anti-used game system, with users encouraged to download cheaper games via Xbox Live.

Gaming website Kotaku claims a Microsoft source said the new Xbox could link a copy of a game to a specific Xbox Live account to stop it from being played on another machine.

Why is this bad? If it's not obvious to you, you're an idiot... Whilst many games these days are released with online multiplayer only being supported by activating a VIP or Online pass (one of which is given with the game) this new 'technology' is going one step further, only allowing any specific game to be played on 1 account only. This affects both gamers and businesses alike for 2 reasons;
1) Gamers wont be able to trade in old games that they no longer play, which will reduce the number of games they end up playing, along as crippling many business and pawn shops who rely on the trade of games.
2) Businesses that rent Videos and Games will be crippled by being unable to provide games for this console. The only work around I see is 2 copies being available, one of which is a 'rental' copy which is unlocked but only sold to business which provide their rental licences. Even this would hurt business, as places like Blockbuster in Australia actually sell off old rental games that are no longer being hired very often in order to make way (and assist funding) for new titles.



Discuss

[Sida]

This will cripple Microsoft just as much as the others. If they go through with it, I know a lot of people that won't be buying that console.

[Strategist]

If this turns out to be true..... my allegiance will most definitely change to Sony.

[Sage]

I strongly doubt they're actually considering it, and even if they were, it'd test so poorly that they'd never go through with it. Microsoft is a lot of things but they're not stupid and they can't say 'fuck you' to their gaming customers like Nintendo did with the Wii.

[soul__stealer]

cuddlydemon, on 26 January 2012 - 02:35 AM, said:

I strongly doubt they're actually considering it, and even if they were, it'd test so poorly that they'd never go through with it. Microsoft is a lot of things but they're not stupid and they can't say 'fuck you' to their gaming customers like Nintendo did with the Wii.

You'd be surprised just how far they'd go in an effort to stamp out piracy. You'll find it wont necessarily be Microsoft that are the offenders here. Just because they add the possiblity for it, it will actually be the game developers who add the DRM software. If the developers don't get on board and do that then it wont matter.

[redlion]

Strategist, on 26 January 2012 - 02:32 AM, said:

If this turns out to be true..... my allegiance will most definitely change to Sony.

Even though I don't own a PS3, mine never left. My most current dedicated entertainment system is a PS2. Or my DS Lite, if handhelds count.

I never bought an Xbox, and I never will. Buying a copy of Windows is as far as I go in supporting Microsoft. Oh, and I suppose buying Apple products counts too, as Apple is minority owned by Microsoft.

[Yung]

The PSP GO alone should have been proof enough to the gaming industry just how badly a system does when it is download only that is exclusive per account. The PSP GO had the better technology but completely flopped due to the download only aspect...

*cough*unhackable*cough* didn't help either.

[Sage]

soul__stealer, on 26 January 2012 - 02:37 AM, said:

You'd be surprised just how far they'd go in an effort to stamp out piracy. You'll find it wont necessarily be Microsoft that are the offenders here. Just because they add the possiblity for it, it will actually be the game developers who add the DRM software. If the developers don't get on board and do that then it wont matter.

Microsoft will go as far as the profit allows them to; in the long run I doubt it'd be worth their while to do that at the hardware level. As far as game developers...eh, they already do that themselves, and games with built-in DRM that's too ridiculously restrictive tend to sell poorly and/or get returned a lot.

[Unseen]

I honestly have no issue with this. EXCEPT, I'd prefer they link it to the account, and if the account is signed in then the box can play it. That way I can at least play my games while visiting a friends house, and in essence loan the games.

[Sage]

Unseen, on 26 January 2012 - 02:40 AM, said:

I honestly have no issue with this. EXCEPT, I'd prefer they link it to the account, and if the account is signed in then the box can play it. That way I can at least play my games while visiting a friends house, and in essence loan the games.

I wouldn't see any issue with it that way either. Connect it to my account, not my machine. If they want to control my data so damn bad, they can be responsible for storing it (and keeping it safe), too.

[Yung]

Microsoft: "Oops! Our bad! After only six months we've accidentally deleted our database storing everyone's account info, purchase, and download history. Who would've guess we would accidentally delete three entire and very secure databases at the same time. Since we can't prove who had what everyone will just have to make new accounts and purchase everything all over again. Like we said... 'Our bad!'"

[Sage]

Yung, on 26 January 2012 - 02:46 AM, said:

Microsoft: "Oops! Our bad! After only six months we've accidentally deleted our database storing everyone's account info, purchase, and download history. Who would've guess we would accidentally delete three entire and very secure databases at the same time. Since we can't prove who had what everyone will just have to make new accounts and purchase everything all over again. Like we said... 'Our bad!'"

'Cept if they said it that way, they're admitting personal fault and not hacking, and are responsible for replacing everything that was lost (provided each user can reasonably prove what they had).

[Unseen]

cuddlydemon, on 26 January 2012 - 02:48 AM, said:

'Cept if they said it that way, they're admitting personal fault and not hacking, and are responsible for replacing everything that was lost (provided each user can reasonably prove what they had).

Also they're not stupid enough to sacrifice what little reputation they have for a quick buck. Look at all the Xbox 360 recalls, they LOST a lot of money just to keep people happy.

[Yung]

Microsoft: *cough* "-er what we meant to say was those Anonymous guys over there hacked us and, just like that fifty million dollar lawsuit you just tried to get, made everything disappear. So it wasn't our fault and we've already fired and hired a new team to keep the databases secure in the future... Our bad!"

[Sage]

Yung, on 26 January 2012 - 02:53 AM, said:

Microsoft: *cough* "-er what we meant to say was those Anonymous guys over there hacked us and, just like that fifty million dollar lawsuit you just tried to get, made everything disappear. So it wasn't our fault and we've already fired and hired a new team to keep the databases secure in the future... Our bad!"

At which point you demand proof of the hacking, since they're trying to justify charging you twice for the same legally-purchased product. That's the sort of stunt they pull when they don't want to pony up and are banking on everybody going "not worth the hassle." <.< Your nightmare scenario would really only work if the Sony hackings hadn't happened.

[Yung]

There are only two things you can bank on...

1. Corporations are thinking how they can squeeze the most money out of the consumer with as little expense as possible to maximize profits and increase shareholder revenue.

2. People will say whatever they need to in order to cover their asses 9 times out of 10 19 out of 20 times.

All I am saying is that I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to pull off some massive stunt, I am an avid and loyal Xbox 360 user. I have a PSP and a PS3 but I use those rarely. My 360 I use all the time. I am not bashing Microsoft, I am just used to dealing with them and I am frustrated that this is the direction they are moving in. Based on my personal experience of dealing with them and the recent events of Anonymous taking down as many sites as they have... It wouldn't be much of a stretch to try and maximize on a potential profitable venture. Regardless of how shady that may venture is in the end.

[Waser Lave]

I've only ever played an XBox one time for about 20 minutes whereas I've owned every Playstation so I'll be waiting for the next Playstation to carry on the lineage.

[Sage]

Yung, on 26 January 2012 - 03:02 AM, said:

All I am saying is that I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to pull off some massive stunt, I am an avid and loyal Xbox 360 user. I have a PSP and a PS3 but I use those rarely. My 360 I use all the time. I am not bashing Microsoft, I am just used to dealing with them and I am frustrated that this is the direction they are moving in. Based on my personal experience of dealing with them and the recent events of Anonymous taking down as many sites as they have... It wouldn't be much of a stretch to try and maximize on a potential profitable venture. Regardless of how shady that may venture is in the end.

For what it's worth, I'm not arguing anything out of loyalty, it's just a question of money. There would be an entire industry (rental and used games) rallying against them, I'm assuming a vast majority of their potential customer base boycotting them, and a perceived potential for retaliation from that wacky Anonymous group to eat into that potential profit from an idea like this one. It wouldn't be profitable for Microsoft, to enact or to maintain. They might be able to spin the rumors in their favor and get some PR out of it, though.

Edited by cuddlydemon, 26 January 2012 - 03:14 AM.

[Scot]

You know why it's called the xbox 720? When you see it, you turn 720 degrees and walk away

[Unseen]

Scot, on 26 January 2012 - 04:09 AM, said:

You know why it's called the xbox 720? When you see it, you turn 720 degrees and walk away

Spoiler

 Modify2.png   14.24K   38 downloads
Edit: because someone would complain.

Edited by Unseen, 26 January 2012 - 04:17 AM.

[Waser Lave]

Scot, on 26 January 2012 - 04:09 AM, said:

You know why it's called the xbox 720? When you see it, you turn 720 degrees and walk away

Or they have two Red Rings of Death this time?

[Cory]

Scot, on 26 January 2012 - 04:09 AM, said:

You know why it's called the xbox 720? When you see it, you turn 720 degrees and walk away

Where does this meme originally come from? Some guy posted it ( the 360 version ) a few years back on the warcraft forums and completely got trashed by other people. Wasn't sure if he was serious or if they were serious but was a big wtf is going on moment.

[Scot]

Cory, on 26 January 2012 - 05:41 AM, said:

Where does this meme originally come from? Some guy posted it ( the 360 version ) a few years back on the warcraft forums and completely got trashed by other people. Wasn't sure if he was serious or if they were serious but was a big wtf is going on moment.

GF LUE, circa 2005

[nymh]

I wonder if these will be as prone to failure as the 360's were. I have never owned an Xbox system - like Waser my only experience with one was for about 20 minutes and that was enough.

I don't know about you guys but in my area, game rental stores and used game shops are slowly going out of business anyway. We have lost two in the past three years in my town alone. Perhaps this has led Microsoft to think that further hamstringing these businesses isn't that big of a deal because their downfall is inevitable?

I think though that if they are going to make games one-shot deals, they should at least come down on the prices of new releases. Part of the reason it's OK (in my mind) to drop $60+ on a brand new game is that you'll be getting $15-20 of that back when you resell it.

If they are butthurt that they're not making any money off of the resale transactions, they could institute a system to profit past the initial sale. Since this new system will be linking games to your machine, maybe if you try to use it on a new system it could prompt you to pay a one-time fee to gain access to the game. Doesn't help the rental model but it at least solves the resale problem.

Or they could start doing what PC game manufacturers have been doing for years and make the disks merely content mediums. All transactions/subscription fees are handled through your account. Then it wouldn't matter where you got the game from, because the actual purchase would happen on the backend.

Alright enough procrastinating, time to do physics homework

Edited by nymh, 26 January 2012 - 08:16 AM.

[Turnip]

Wow.... That's so dumb! It's only gonna cause people to pirate more, heheh. Games are like $80 new, and what, $40, maybe less for used.

MS should really redesign the controller though, that thing is just so awkward and huge