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

Bowler

Member
iZ4Xc7uzxvJUA.gif

Perfect
 
The reason people hate Arthur Gies is that he goes out of his way to be condescending and dismissive of every opinion and criticism that doesn't align with his own.
 

llehuty

Member
What does Arthur not get, jesus.

1) You won't fully own your games. MS shuts any server down and you're done. You're playing on the console you bought, using a game that you bought, but on their terms. Where is that ever not a bad thing.

2) Alienate people who don't have access to reliable broadband (or any at all)

3) Even if you have a reliable and great internet connection, there's 2 sides to the coin. Something might happen on their end. And it will happen. Every time a big game is released. This has been shown in the past. Diablo 3 and sim city being the most recent examples. These never go well, ever.

4) Then there's the obvious slippery slope they'd be getting on.

Quoted for truth
 

Evolved1

make sure the pudding isn't too soggy but that just ruins everything
I'm not employed by MS. I'm not even defending "always online" (even though a lot of posters will automatically jump to that conclusion because I haven't voiced my opinion against it).

I am defending the option that Microsoft could be providing a gaming option or service that requires the system to always be online, but would also would increase my enjoyment of the medium.

Are you completely throwing that option out?

I think it's very unlikely. This is demonstrated by how, when asked, supporters cannot provide a single example of how this is "possibly" pro consumer.

Is it still technically possible? Sure. So are unicorns.
 

hirokazu

Member
I am talking about PS+.

You get free games with it until your PS+ subscription is over. Once your time runs out you can't play those games anymore.

Sounds a little like an "always on" connection right? People buy this right? It is a thing?

Ok so, (IF) you buy a new Xbox, you choose to "subscribe" to the "always on" connection. How time runs out is currently unknown. If it logs me out when my connection drops, I am going to be pissed because that is going to cause gaming interruptions which no one will like.

One is a Subscription to PS+ the other is a console.
PS+ uses a digital certificate with an expiry date as DRM for free titles you download as part of the service. It doesn't require you to be online except to authenticate and subscription renewals. You don't need to be online to play those games.
 

Shadders

Member
I am talking about PS+.

You get free games with it until your PS+ subscription is over. Once your time runs out you can't play those games anymore.

Sounds a little like an "always on" connection right? People buy this right? It is a thing?

Ok so, (IF) you buy a new Xbox, you choose to "subscribe" to the "always on" connection. How time runs out is currently unknown. If it logs me out when my connection drops, I am going to be pissed because that is going to cause gaming interruptions which no one will like.

One is a Subscription to PS+ the other is a console.

You only need a connection to download the games, you can play PS+ games offline.
 

dLMN8R

Member
The most frustrating part of this entire thing, as a Microsoft employee, is that "Creative Director" apparently doesn't actually mean anything.

This guy is 6+ levels away from Ballmer, works on "2WAY TV", and has one person reporting to him. He's a nobody, and after today, will probably be less than a nobody.

But his thoughtless tweets on his personal Twitter account and his "Creative Director" title are making people think he's actually important and influential. Thankfully he's not.
 
What does Arthur not get, jesus.

1) You won't fully own your games. MS shuts any server down and you're done. You're playing on the console you bought, using a game that you bought, but on their terms. Where is that ever not a bad thing.

2) Alienate people who don't have access to reliable broadband (or any at all)

3) Even if you have a reliable and great internet connection, there's 2 sides to the coin. Something might happen on their end. And it will happen. Every time a big game is released. This has been shown in the past. Diablo 3 and sim city being the most recent examples. These never go well, ever.

4) Then there's the obvious slippery slope they'd be getting on.

Excellent post. Post this on his twitter page, see how he reacts.
 

Minions

Member
yZXd0cY.png


Can we call him a clown yet?

Someone make a chart of total people in the world; Total people in the world with internet. Post the billions of potentially lost customers that have no ability to buy the console even if they wanted to. Reason enough. This is almost up there with intentionally targeting only "men" and pissing off all women in the process and hoping to sell more consoles than targeting everyone.
 
D

Deleted member 47027

Unconfirmed Member
I gotta say Gies is better at MS PR than Sweet Billy, even though it's not their jobs
 
If you are in a customer-facing position, anything you say in the public domain can and will be attributed to your employer. It's something my CEO reminds us of at least once a month.
Yep, this is very basic stuff that is hammered into your head over and over by management. I would suspect many, if not all, HR policies at every corporation members here work at have very clear guidelines about this stuff.
 

Speevy

Banned
S3SrRSa.png



There's a guy who works two minimum wage jobs. He just saved up enough money to buy the new 720 because he loves Madden. It's the only game he buys every year.

The problem is that he just moved out of his mother's house, so bills are tight. He doesn't have broadband because

1) It's expensive
2) Where he lives, the internet service providers don't have plans he can afford.

You just kept him from playing video games with your always-on connection.


Another guy just started college. He loved Xbox when he was in high school, but the college doesn't allow you to hook your Xbox up to the internet.

You just kept him from playing video games with your always-on connection.


There's a child who got a new Xbox for Christmas. His parents can't be bothered to set up the console so he can get on Xbox Live.

You just kept him from playing video games with your always-on connection.

There's a place out in the country that doesn't have any means of reliable broadband access. A family has scraped together enough money to buy a new Xbox.

You just kept them from playing games with your always-on connection.


Thunderstorm? No video games.

Poor people? No video games.

Not allowed? No video games.

Not tech savvy? No video games.


I don't know if Microsoft realizes this, but their brand was built on college-age males who aren't rich.

You're punishing them.
 
A non-snarky response? Sure, here you go;

Years down the line when MS turns off the game servers for every 720 game. They will become absolutely USELESS.

Do you also boycott Steam? If valve were to hit some financial problems and were forced to shut down steam how many games would you lose?
 
Yeah no, this is exactly what you should not be doing if you want a legitimate discussion and not a popularity contest.

.... So .. don't take somebody's history, non-professional behavior and past stands on arguments into account with current statements?

I must be misunderstanding you because that makes zero sense. Context should ALWAYS be considered and with this specific tweet, where only a few characters can be typed anyway, you HAVE to use context of the past discussions.

The most frustrating part of this entire thing, as a Microsoft employee, is that "Creative Director" apparently doesn't actually mean anything.

This guy is 6+ levels away from Ballmer, works on "2WAY TV", and has one person reporting to him. He's a nobody, and after today, will probably be less than a nobody.

But his thoughtless tweets on his personal Twitter account and his "Creative Director" title are making people think he's actually important and influential. Thankfully he's not.

I don't care where or what he works on, his statements seem to show he has knowledge of the always-on mechanic and it's only adding more fuel to the fire that the rumors that have already been leaked are going to be true.

Journalism, integrity, twitter ... all this shit DOES NOT MATTER. The problem people have and the reason this is "blowing up" is because it's further cementing the rumors that the next console will be require an online connection always.
 

Shads

Member
HR is definitely going to have a talk with this guy. Most companies, especially large publicly traded companies such as Microsoft, have a very strict Business Conduct Policy. Even where I work at, there's a strict guideline on what can be said on social networking media as it's very scrutinized even if you are just joking as any statement can be perceived differently from the public. And I'm positive it's a violation of Microsoft's Business Conduct Policy as I doubt they're that laxed over there. But basically, HR says its okay to comment online about how tired you are at work or excited about what you're working on, but it's a no-no if you mention what you're working or jokingly make some comment about what you're working on. I really do hope this guy gets an earful as there are no "buts" to what damage he already caused, I don't think he'll get fired, but there are certainly HR actionable items there.
 
Gies is trying to have it both ways. Out of one side of his mouth he's saying he thinks always online would be stupid for the next Xbox; out of the other side he's ridiculing people who also feel that way, telling them to deal with it or buy something else.

Now he's challenging people to write a well-thought piece on why always online is a bad idea but it can't be a post in this thread (as he is clearly taking a jab at us).

Hey here's a novel idea, Arthur: you're the 'journalist', why don't you write one?
 

BigDug13

Member
It is far fetched, when Microsoft still hasn't even announced a new console. They haven't even announced they're working on a new console. And this "always online" rumour still hasn't been put in to context.

What context? If your connection fails for 3 minutes, no more gaming. I don't care what kind of dress and perfume you put on this, you'd be a fool of a consumer to buy into that kind of ecosystem.
 

FyreWulff

Member
I guess Microsoft is going to need some way to enforce those 2-year contracts so they can sell you 600$ hardware for 400$ sticker price.
 
ONE YEAR timeout vs. THREE MINUTE timeout

$50 a year vs. $60 a game

Subscription Service vs. Physical Media

I agree that a 3 minute timeout would be atrocious. Very large penalty to the consumer. I have to say that if the nextbox does this, then it will not be popular in anyone's book. Mine included. Did that get confirmed by stating always on? I must have missed that part.
 

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
S3SrRSa.png



There's a guy who works two minimum wage jobs. He just saved up enough money to buy the new 720 because he loves Madden. It's the only game he buys every year.

The problem is that he just moved out of his mother's house, so bills are tight. He doesn't have broadband because

1) It's expensive
2) Where he lives, the internet service providers don't have plans he can afford.

You just kept him from playing video games with your always-on connection.


Another guy just started college. He loved Xbox when he was in high school, but the college doesn't allow you to hook your Xbox up to the internet.

You just kept him from playing video games with your always-on connection.


There's a child who got a new Xbox for Christmas. His parents can't be bothered to set up the console so he can get on Xbox Live.

You just kept him from playing video games with your always-on connection.

There's a place out in the country that doesn't have any means of reliable broadband access. A family has scraped together enough money to buy a new Xbox.

You just kept them from playing games with your always-on connection.


Thunderstorm? No video games.

Poor people? No video games.

Not allowed? No video games.

Not tech savvy? No video games.


I don't know if Microsoft realizes this, but their brand was built on college-age males who aren't rich.

You're punishing them.

Can I link your post to him on Twitter? I mean, you gave the explanation he wanted!
 

JaggedSac

Member
The most frustrating part of this entire thing, as a Microsoft employee, is that "Creative Director" apparently doesn't actually mean anything.

This guy is 6+ levels away from Ballmer, works on "2WAY TV", and has one person reporting to him. He's a nobody, and after today, will probably be less than a nobody.

But his thoughtless tweets on his personal Twitter account and his "Creative Director" title are making people think he's actually important and influential. Thankfully he's not.

Is this big news in the office today?
 

BigDug13

Member
Do you also boycott Steam? If valve were to hit some financial problems and were forced to shut down steam how many games would you lose?

STEAM has already stated that in the event of going out of business, they would make it usable offline.

PC gaming doesn't just "shut down" after years like outdated consoles do.
 
D

Deleted member 47027

Unconfirmed Member
I'll just wait for everything to be on the table about both systems before I decide whether or not I'm buying either.
 

i-Lo

Member
Gies is asking for well-reasoned, non-snarky arguments....

nQbV5uJ.png


What.

Yea, he is starting to piss off a lot of people with his short sightedness.

What does Arthur not get, jesus.

1) You won't fully own your games. MS shuts any server down and you're done. You're playing on the console you bought, using a game that you bought, but on their terms. Where is that ever not a bad thing.

2) Alienate people who don't have access to reliable broadband (or any at all)

3) Even if you have a reliable and great internet connection, there's 2 sides to the coin. Something might happen on their end. And it will happen. Every time a big game is released. This has been shown in the past. Diablo 3 and sim city being the most recent examples. These never go well, ever.

4) Then there's the obvious slippery slope they'd be getting on.

Pretty much sums it for me. That said, I think MS could saw to potential clients that before shutting down the servers they'll release a patch making it playable offline.

As aforementioned, I'd be okay with always online as long as it affects non critical functions (like auto cloud saving) instead of punishing people for losing connection.

I don't think people will vote with their wallets. They are fickle.
 
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