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[Lord of Blah]

What an ass. Microsoft needs to fire this guy right now; he's going to make everything worse than it already is.

 

[CambriaRising]

He owes someone $10 based on a bet, so while he uses his account to browse here he hasn't posted since he was called out on using the words "secret sauce". I personally think he should be banned. Not because of his hilarious, goal bending mindset, but the fact that he still comes here despite the fact he made a bet with another user and has played hush hush about it. Granted, he hasn't posted since being exposed, but that's probably why he stopped posting in the first place. He did not come to defend himself here during SimCity's debacle.

Does he think by playing silent everyone will forget the fact he owes a user money?

Well I forgot about it, but yeah. I don't know about being banned, but he should definitely have a tag if he ever decides to post again.

 

[Palette Swap]

Looking at the number of fixed broadband subs in the US and the average household size, I get 70% of population with access to broadband.
Which obviously doesn't account for:
- the fact these aren't only residential subscriptions.
- data caps.
- not always perfect availability.
- any LAN restrictions (from a college admin to a clueless dad)
So yeah, they're excluding people.

I'm on mobile but I'm pretty sure ITU and OEDC have a number of annual reports on this.

Nope. What we know is still sufficiently ambiguous.

Off topic but with what kind of miracle do they output 7.1 PCM over SPDIF?

 

[kaching]

Yes, let's not spend our time wading through vomit and diarrhea, let's take it to Twitter instead...

 

[Trickster]

honest question: Who is this dude?

Everything that's wrong with game journalism

 

[awa64]

Sure, there's more context but he seems to be only saying that defensively. He's the one who wants to hear reasons here, not Microsoft. (What, is he gonna forward those reasons to Microsoft?) if he's genuinely looking for valid arguments, why would you immediately discount them if the discussion forum they originate from simply for having a subjectively shitty title or poor quality of surrounding comments?

A valid point is valid independent of its source.

You're absolutely right, but source, context and tone are (sadly) often more important to whether or not anyone pays attention to that point than validity is.

 

[-COOLIO-]

Its funny that he's obviously reading this forum yet he hasn't the balls to post anything or even defend himself.

i think this is unreasonable. Even if he had something to say, trying to defend himself while GAF is in this kind of fervor would be an exercise in futility.

 

[daycru]

Dude is a troll and a bad one at that. He won't respond. He'll just hide behind his twitter account like he always does. Atleast JSchirer from Kotaku has the guts to post and defend the website and does a great job at it. Jaffe posts and defends things he says. Aegies? Ha.

Jason has proven himself to be a good dude and turns in some quality work. Geese is a gravy train riding punk.

 

[M.D]

I'm sure it's already been posted but,

Francis is MAD Xbox ALWAYS ON REQUIREMENT

sogood.gif

You know what I just realized? this upcoming gen/console war is probably the easiest way to become a YouTube hit (in the gaming scene) > profit

 

[educator]

Can't stand people like Adam Orth. Seen people like him before, they usually end up ruining their career because of their inability to listen to what other people have to say. Wouldn't surprise me if he walks around the office bragging about being a "creative director".

When will employees working in public relations learn NOT to use twitter for personal use, or any use of that matter? I hope Adam gets fired for his actions, I just can't see Microsoft letting this go.

 

[Phire Phox]

Dude hasn't posted on his gaf account since February.

 

[Sky Chief]

First of all, this guy is obviously an arrogant prick. Do I want him fired because of his statements? Not really, but I want XBOX to be successful and the chances are less if the people in charge are this arrogant.

Now to the issue of always on.

IF this is true, lets review the pros and cons:

Arguments for Always On:

+Game developers can focus more on online capabilities

This doesnt make much sense to me, game developers already do, as the majority of Xbox gamers are online. Why does the requirement of always online help here?

+ Games will be cheaper because companies will get more revenue due to blocked Used/Second Hand games sales.

This is almost a separate issue, but event if this is also true, I doubt we will see prices cheaper for XBOX than the Sony version.

+ Games can take advantage of cloud processing

They still could even if always online is not a requirement, although it makes it easier to design games around these features if it is a requirement. That said this is a true positive if and only if they can develop innovative real-time features here.

Arguments against:

- Alienates a whole subsection of gamers who cant help where they live, or if they or their parents can afford quality internet.

Not sure how many 360 users play offline, but this wouldnt effect me 95% of the time as I have FIOS Quantum at home and my house is wired for ethernet. I used to have comcast and it would go down all the time, sometimes for a day. I would hate it if I couldnt game offline because of Comcast. Also I bring xbox to my parents house during the holidays (when I usually get alot of new games) and they have no working internet in the Basement where I play. I typically play single player or split screen games with family down there and this would not allow that to happen. THIS IS A MAJOR NEGATIVE for a lot of people. Cant spin it any other way. Not sure if any of the positives listed above could even offset this one.

- Bugs If their servers go down or there are some networking hiccups causing bugs your xbox could become a brick.

This would likely be an issue at the beginning, but overtime they would hopefully figure this out. That said on launch it could be a disastrous if nobody can play their shiny new system due to XBOX Live outage. Just makes me nervous.

Bottom line is it is hard to imagine how the positives can outweigh the negatives unless we start saving mucho dinero. Microsoft better show me something amazing that offsets this.

I think the most important negative is that you really have no ownership of the product you are buying (the console or the games). At any time your console and games can be made completely useless and it is completely out of your control. If this is then combined with no used games this gives the consumer even less ownership (no ability to sell goods).

 

[Jomjom]

I guess Gies got turned down for the open EA CEO position so now he's jockeying for MS.

 

[HylianScribe]

My feeling is that an always online requirement for games that have no inherent online functionality is ridiculous. I'm supposed to be impartial or something, but it bothers me that Microsoft is considering this course of action. I just want to start up my game and play without having to worry about being disconnected in a single player game.

I hated how achievements and trophies have destroyed a generation of console games. I used to have the the freedom to share save data and screw around with a game to extend its life because it was fun to see what was possible. Now we're going to have to possibly deal with having our games locked out.

If companies like Microsoft want to know why people want to buy their games used, why they return their games faster than ever, it's because companies like them take control away from the players. Each time it gets worse, their response has always been to increase their grip. And they wonder why things are the way they are?

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

He cannot even keep his own thoughts straight.

If you're not Arthur Gies, you literally don't know what he's talking about.

 

[dragonbane]

Gies at his best. As usual...

 

[Revven]

sup, bro?

Come on, Gies. You're here reading all this "verbal diarrhea".

At least have the guts to back up your inane statements.

GOT'EM.

 

[Blueblur1]

Come on, Gies. You're here reading all this "verbal diarrhea".

At least have the guts to back up your inane statements.

Now that is funny.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Naw we can't say anything bad about him or his horrible arguments, especially not in posts to close to each other, we instantly become a hivemind.

Grow up and stop attempting to misrepresent valid concerns.

 

[Kyoufu]

Hey, here's an idea:

He is the "journalist". Isn't it HIS job to inform potential readers as to what the pros, cons and caveats of always online are and provide valid reasons for his obvious support for it?

Why should the people who have suffered at the hands of Diablo and Sim City (and others who can comprehend the inherent caveats) and are justified in their scepticism of this system owe HIM an explanation?

He's not a journalist. That'd be an insult to actual journalists in this world.

 

[Corto]

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.

If Microsoft goes through with this they're betting their future that the potential losses of users not capable or willing to comply with that requirement will be supplanted by the ones willing and able to accept it and pay for it. That's the bottom line that Microsoft is chasing.

 

[Birbo]

Maybe they should invade a city.

But a city with a better connection than Jamesville or Blackburg, right?

 

[Effnine]

Yeah, why would a "journalist" have to actually do research for anything. Come on guys, top ten lists just don't write themselves.

 

[StrongArmSteady]

If you're not Arthur Gies, you literally don't know what he's talking about.

lol! well played ser

 

[Mihos]

Day one I am going to have my 8 year old niece call Microsoft support and have them walk her through trouble shooting a network problem as to why she can't play Lego Batman before bedtime.

 

[Plinko]

So this thread started by ruining Adam Orth's credibility and has now proceeded to draw in Arthur Gies, who had any shred of credibility left absolutely destroyed.

Wonder if anyone else will wander into the pool.

 

[venne]

You know what I just realized? this upcoming gen/console war is probably the easiest way to become a YouTube hit (in the gaming scene) > profit

Chad Warden part deux, yo.

 

[Mpl90]

Make one-sided twitter arguments

Complain about internet conversation (complete with quotes)

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3tpz8a/

Quick job, I know.

 

[Neuromancer]

...this thread contains homophobic slurs directed specifically at Arthur Gies and features an animated .gif using sexual slurs against Microsoft as a punchline. (edit: see immediately above.)

"Vomit and diarrhea" sounds about accurate to me.

Interesting. Very interesting.

Also interesting (assuming this is the same awa64):

 

[Lombax]

Or better yet, let them know how you feel by not buying it in the first place. Again I have no idea who this guy is but yes in fact he is a clown.

 

[RetroStu]

Here's a quick answer:

Halo 2's online mode has been turned off. We can't play it anymore.

However, we can still play the halo 2 campaign, and multiplayer on LAN and splitscreen.

If that had been the Durango, we couldn't load up Halo 2 at all. Heck, we couldn't even play Halo 1 now. If you wanted to play Halo 1, you would have been forced to buy Anniversary.


An always online connected console is a terrible omen for the preservation of games and the games industry. Years from now we'll have a big ol' donut hole of history because nobody will be able to play anything created on that generation of hardware.

This is one of the worst things about gaming in the future for me, i'm a big retro gamer and it seems to me that a lot of games will be lost forever with stuff like 'always online' and then digital downloads in the future.
It stinks really as you know that the only way we will be able to play these games in the future will be on some Microsoft/Sony cloud based subscription/pay per game model, in other words our old games will be useless and we will have to pay twice for a game we have already bought!.

 

[hirokazu]

You're absolutely right, but source, context and tone are (sadly) often more important to whether or not anyone pays attention to that point than validity is.

You can point him directly to the relevant post responding to his Twitter call for comments that excludes all surrounding posts. It's a forum feature!

There are quality comments on YouTube sometimes. If I get linked to one, I'm not gonna say "Yeah but all the other comments are shit, so the argument is invalid."

 

[tusken77]

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.

Somebody just linked your above response to him on Twitter and he's publicly dismissed it.

 

[railGUN]

Me, in this thread.

 

[Mirk]

Holy shit can't believe a few tweets can cause 64 pages of drama.

 

[Spongebob]

+ Games will be cheaper because companies will get more revenue due to blocked Used/Second Hand games sales.

Dude, I hope that you don't really believe that.

 

[R_thanatos]

I just wanna say that during the PSN month of nothingness where you could NOT use their services , i played mass effect 2, gran turismo 5 and 3 other titles i had on my backlog.

So for me the simple thought of "always online" is just a big NO because my console shouldn't become useless if it can't reach an online service.

 

[TheSeks]

...this thread contains homophobic slurs directed specifically at Arthur Gies and features an animated .gif using sexual slurs against Microsoft as a punchline. (edit: see immediately above.)

"Vomit and diarrhea" sounds about accurate to me.

Hi, Arthur. Got an alternate account to duck that $10 payment to a GAF member huh?

 

[flyinpiranha]

...this thread contains homophobic slurs directed specifically at Arthur Gies and features an animated .gif using sexual slurs against Microsoft as a punchline. (edit: see immediately above.)

"Vomit and diarrhea" sounds about accurate to me.

So about 15 posts out of 1000's? There are a ton of articulated comments in here, for and against. If you lump an entire thread that's 1000's of posts long because of something as inconsequential as name calling and ignoring the rest, you probably didn't have an argument to begin with.

 

[Jarmel]

Come on, Gies. You're here reading all this "verbal diarrhea".

At least have the guts to back up your inane statements.

lololololol

All we need now is for Sweetbilly to log in.

 

[CitizenCope]

Just an observation that this thread has so many more hits and replys than the North Korea thread. Just funny when you think about it.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Somebody just linked your above response to him on Twitter and he's publicly dismissed it.

Oh dear. What did he say?

 

[Vamphuntr]

Also interesting (assuming this is the same awa64):

Detective GAF is on fire. This thread keeps on giving.

 

[freenudemacusers]

Also interesting (assuming this is the same awa64):

lol cards being pulled all day today. goddamn.

 

[Voice of Reason]

Come on, Gies. You're here reading all this "verbal diarrhea".

At least have the guts to back up your inane statements.

woah

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Somebody just linked your above response to him on Twitter and he's publicly dismissed it.

lol what a surprise.

 

[Uno Venova]

Grow up and stop attempting to misrepresent valid concerns.

No. A hivemind was literally what gaf was referred as recently, I didn't think that was a valid concern at all.

 

[cilonen]

He's not a journalist. That'd be an insult to actual journalists in this world.

The sad thing is that this is actually building his reputation. Next thing you know he's that "controversial" dude with "challenging" opinions that get gamers talking and more people start listening to what he says. We're helping build that future

 

[Ploid 3.0]

Hey, here's an idea:

He is the "journalist". Isn't it HIS job to inform potential readers as to what the pros, cons and caveats of always online are and provide valid reasons for his obvious support for it?

Why should the people who have suffered at the hands of Diablo and Sim City (and others who can comprehend the inherent caveats) and are justified in their scepticism of this system owe HIM an explanation?

Yep, though people say he's a review editor not a news editor for Polygon, Polygon should have some info on this news. This stuff is from a Microsoft employee, label it as rumor, they are supposed to follow leads and seek truth in stuff for scoops. People give Geoff flack for his ways of doing things, but he actually poke and prod people to try and find some info they weren't putting out for him on a silver platter.

This guy said something about this not being on a press release so he won't count it as news, that's the problem. These game journalists are usually glorified advertisements for game companies. They obey and talk about only what the game companies give them pretty much. Wait for a press release, outrageous!

 

[MirageDwarf]

Yet another thread focusing on useless shit person that is Arthur. I wonder if this is a part of his real job to make a fuss here so attention is diverted from there.