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[Voice of Reason]

I'm not defending always on (dont care either way, my country has 100% internet coverage) but if you have no internet is a videogame console really something you are buying? You probably have other things to worry about then.

We're not really talking about internet itself, but the quality of the internet. Some people's internet sucks just due to geography, and their financial situation has nothing to do with it.

 

[Alx]

great list. It isn't just 'always-on'. Its also 'always watching'. You'll inevitably be agreeing to T&Cs that basically sign away your anonymity so publishers/MS will know how often you use your console, what you use it for etc.

It doesn't need to be always online for that. And the current systems already have T&Cs allowing the provider to gather and analyze how you use its system. It's probably the case with any content provider with a dedicated portal : XBL, PSN, Steam, Netflix, .... Facebook is even more twisted since it can track your web activity even when you're not on a Facebook page.

 

[Madness]

Forced connectivity, ads, marketing, piracy, DRM, control etc.

Take your pick. They get your email, your name, your ip address, what games you buy, who you play with, what you play, how long, etc.

 

[Miles X]

Forced connectivity, ads, marketing, piracy, DRM, control etc.

Take your pick. They get your email, your name, your ip address, what games you buy, who you play with, what you play, how long, etc.

They have all of that from me already (and most people who go online with a 360), is it really a big deal?

 

[wildfire]

Selling data to marketing agencies.

.

 

[Cromat]

Ads that you can't look away from if you want to keep playing, thanks to Kinect.
Like that Black Mirror episode. If I remember correctly they filed a patent for this.

 

[Clear]

It enables them to externally terminate the "service" should you stop paying the monthly fees on your subsidized hardware. Just like buying a mobile phone on contract from any provider.

 

[Somnid]

I think the reason Ms would is to make all games digital. You can't track installed games any other way. So in that sense it would be a lot like Steam. It would handily circumvent the used market too which I'm sure is a plus.

 

[erawsd]

So that they can farm data about you and remind you to take a break and go grab a bag of Dorritos.

 

[5amshift]

I can at least see why Microsoft wants it, every Best Buy/Gamestop I have ever been in there has been a huge difference in used PS3/X360 ratio. If that's even why they want always on in the first place..

 

[nailbombxx]

To shove ads in your face all the time.

 

[Jack_AG]

Always on is fine for a network. Always on as a requirement for a game (Outside of mp/mmo/etc) isn't. They are two different things.

I like the idea of updates and the like when I'm not around as it saves time. But requiring it to start a game is a no no

 

[Anteater]

Information control. Emotion control. Single player contents control. Everything is monitored, and kept under control. He who controls the consoles, controls history.

Gaming has changed

 

[marjo]

If a constant internet connection is needed, they could require a subscription to their service to play even single player games.

That in turn would allow them to fully embrace the subsidized model of selling the console dirt cheap and requiring a regular montlhy fee.

Cell phones have shown that consumers have no problem being gouged, as long as it's only a little at a time.

 

[ScepticMatt]

prevents piracy
no used games
shoveling social features into games
ads

 

[Cth]

Here's my thinking..

They'll likely launch with a $99 subsidized model. This requires XBL, as such most going after that option will already have an online connection. I'd imagine it'd launch with a $499 unsubsidized model that is "offline" (web/call in system to register discs with consoles?)

As for positives, I wouldn't mind seeing something akin to PS3's Folding@Home where people can opt in to take advantage of the benefits of being "always online". Such benefits could include cloud computing ala Siri that would help improve Kinect 2 voice and skeletal recognition, something akin to bit torrent to help improve downloads for everyone, etc.

So basically, always on being for patches, etc with an added "opt in" program to gain extra benefits like the cloud stuff/torrent/etc.

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

An always online model is actually good for everyone (including consumers) so long as there are no connection issues.

No it isn't and it WILL have connection issues.

 

[Huggers]

Terrible decision but what if the new ad revenue meant a lower console price than Sony. Would that offset some of the inconvenience?

 

[Limanima]

I'm not defending always on (dont care either way, my country has 100% internet coverage) but if you have no internet is a videogame console really something you are buying? You probably have other things to worry about then.

I do have internet but my inlaws don't. If I go to their house on vacatin or over the weekend, I can't take the XBox for my kids to play because it will not work.

 

[dragonelite]

Control user monitoring so they can target adds to you.
When you're always online they can gather more data about your behavior.

Its what they all do even website track users to target content better.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Everybody keeps talking about it but theories as to why either company would consider such a thing despite the obvious drawbacks are rare to come by. So why would they want to do it and risk the negative PR?

Is it their way of ensuring games are tied down to accounts in order to be played, thus eliminating the second hand market?

adverts. lots and lots of in game adverts.

Drm.


IAP.


Monitoring game usage.

 

[SpinningBirdKick]

Because... Money.

/thread