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This how PC gaming has worked for a while now through Steam and other popular platforms, and console owners will eventually warm up to it as well. This is just

This how PC gaming has worked for a while now through Steam and other popular platforms, and console owners will eventually warm up to it as well. This is just a typical "DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING!@#$" reaction. In 5 years we most likely won't care, and the vocal minority will continue to talk about how gaming is ruined.

EvilTerran 14y ago
Steam doesn't require an internet connection for off-line play. Admittedly, it can be a little temperamental about it unless you've got it set up just right, but that's its intent nonetheless.
- kabdib 14y ago
  Some titles require a live connection; it's up to the publisher. Steam itself can work without a connection.
bilalq 14y ago
Steam at least offers an offline mode. You're not locked out of your games if your cable modem breaks.
- dj2stein9 14y ago
  This may in fact be the case for this new Xbox. That at least would be reasonable.
mikeash 14y ago
I agree that people likely won't care in a few years. But I don't understand your apparent gleeful tone. Do you actually like how this stuff is getting ever more locked down and inflexible?
- chucknelson 14y ago
  Not gleeful, I just don't understand why it is such a big deal to some. I think I'm jaded by all of the overreactions at Neogaf. Lots of people saying "I would never buy the system if they support that", but in all likely hood any gamer would probably give in for the latest shiny consoles regardless of the used game restrictions. Maybe it wouldn't be a day-one purchase, but Sony and Microsoft don't care about that in the long term.
  - mikeash 14y ago
    I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with the implications this sort of thing creates for the balance of power between the buyer and seller, and the potential problems for lost history. For the former, always-on DRM is already being used to severely curtail the avenues for redress available to purchasers. For example, one of the major consumer protections available today is to dispute fraudulent charges on your credit card if the merchant is uncooperative. However, try this with Steam, and you may find your entire account locked out, including completely unrelated, legitimate purchases. You essentially lose your right to third-party arbitration of disputes. The latter is more vague, but it seems likely that emulating bygone titles from today is going to be a lot harder than emulating bygone titles of the 80s is.

EvilTerran 14y ago

Steam doesn't require an internet connection for off-line play. Admittedly, it can be a little temperamental about it unless you've got it set up just right, but that's its intent nonetheless.

kabdib 14y ago
Some titles require a live connection; it's up to the publisher. Steam itself can work without a connection.

bilalq 14y ago

Steam at least offers an offline mode. You're not locked out of your games if your cable modem breaks.

dj2stein9 14y ago
This may in fact be the case for this new Xbox. That at least would be reasonable.

mikeash 14y ago

I agree that people likely won't care in a few years. But I don't understand your apparent gleeful tone. Do you actually like how this stuff is getting ever more locked down and inflexible?

chucknelson 14y ago
Not gleeful, I just don't understand why it is such a big deal to some. I think I'm jaded by all of the overreactions at Neogaf. Lots of people saying "I would never buy the system if they support that", but in all likely hood any gamer would probably give in for the latest shiny consoles regardless of the used game restrictions. Maybe it wouldn't be a day-one purchase, but Sony and Microsoft don't care about that in the long term.
- mikeash 14y ago
  I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with the implications this sort of thing creates for the balance of power between the buyer and seller, and the potential problems for lost history. For the former, always-on DRM is already being used to severely curtail the avenues for redress available to purchasers. For example, one of the major consumer protections available today is to dispute fraudulent charges on your credit card if the merchant is uncooperative. However, try this with Steam, and you may find your entire account locked out, including completely unrelated, legitimate purchases. You essentially lose your right to third-party arbitration of disputes. The latter is more vague, but it seems likely that emulating bygone titles from today is going to be a lot harder than emulating bygone titles of the 80s is.