"Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends. There are no fees charged as part of these transfers. There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once."
"With Xbox One you can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library. Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies.
are copied and pasted 'highlights'. See the rest at;
BTW, note the "Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends.". So even if you overlook the fact that you have to have the recipient of the used game on your friends list (which will kill your chances of selling the game back to the shop you bought it from), and that each game disc can only be resold (or given away) once, you're still at the mercy of the game's company in that you need their compliance to enable the game to change ownership :evil:
Still, companies like Electronic Arts are well known for their "put the customer first" attitude, so no doubt it won't be a problem. Just like George Lucas won't screw up the next Star Wars film, if Disney let him anywhere near it...
Right... Are you having a bad day, or you think people shouldn't voice their opinions on the 'net, or what?
Or did you just forget to append a smiley to your post?
Just solving a problem for you. It's what I do. I'm like the Jim'll Fix It of WoS. If it's a load of sh*t, don't buy one.
Don't know why you feel that needs a smiley. I'm deadly serious. I refuse to buy millions of sh*t products every day without blathering on about them on the intarwabs.
Just solving a problem for you. It's what I do. I'm like the Jim'll Fix It of WoS. If it's a load of sh*t, don't buy one.
Don't know why you feel that needs a smiley. I'm deadly serious. I refuse to buy millions of sh*t products every day without blathering on about them on the intarwabs.
Then why would you feel the need to post in a long thread that's composed almost entirely of (justifiable, as far as we know) complaints about something? I don't like motion controlled gaming, the CoD games, the Sim City DRM fiasco, etc, and I never felt the urge to post in any threads related to them, saying "If you don't like it, don't buy it".
I'm not having a go at you, I'm just trying to understand why you felt that posting something so obvious ("I recommend you don't buy one then, and forget all about it. Problem solved.") was worth the trouble of typing in. Do you honestly think that not purchasing said item had never occurred to us, or was it meant to be somehow amusing, or what?
We are discussing this as we regard it as interesting, important (at least as regards our hobby of gaming, granted it's not super important on a human level or anything) and relevant. The 'net has quite a few similar topics on the same subject, so we WOSsers are hardly unique in discussing our dissatisfaction (and frankly something approaching amazement) at how unattractive the new XBox seems to us gamers.
And saying "Don't buy it, if you don't like it", whilst being good advice in itself, is not only unnecessary (though who would follow that advice have already decided that way, whilst those who'd ignore it will put their money on the console anyway), but doesn't take into account the fact that the topic's discussion is in itself interesting. And the reason we log into WOS (into most of the 'net, really) is to find things to interest us and pass the time. And discussing something that interests us as much as up and coming consoles certainly falls under that category. If the XBox One does turn out to be as bad as it sounds, then I won't be buying one (well, unless some really *really* great games come out for it that don't exist on other platforms that I'd rather buy) but it will still be interesting to read and discuss it's strengths and shortcomings, at least until I know for definite that I won't be buying one.
I was wrong. Amazon are quoting all Xbone and PS4 launch games at ?89.99.
I hope those are place holder prices or we are about to see two of the most disastrous tech launches in recent years.
It's like Monty Python, isn't it? You could almost imagine they don't want you to buy a new XBox, and are deliberately making it sound as undesirable as possible. When we start seeing the adverts for it, they'll probably be things like; "Buy our console, it chainsaws kittens for you", with a picture of a kitten's dismembered head on the top of the blood soaked console.
I was wrong. Amazon are quoting all Xbone and PS4 launch games at ?89.99.
I hope those are place holder prices or we are about to see two of the most disastrous tech launches in recent years.
I'd think that they'll be place holders to be honest. I eall can't see anyone paying that price for cd based games. I'd expect a 59.99 price point at first, dropping to about 40-50 once the consoles have a wider user base. Xbox360 games had a 49.99 price point on it's release, but now retail at 39.99-44.99.
Although Sony havn't commented on preowned games etc, I'd expect them to adopt a similar system too, probably through pressure from the big games companys. I f Sony don't control 2nd hand games then we may see some of the greedier companys (EA for example) ignoring PS4 as they'll loose out on the 2nd had resales.
Having said that, I believe EA have receently said they are removing the need for those "online passes" to be activated. I've not checked though.
I'm just trying to understand why you felt that posting ... was worth the trouble of typing in.
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned exactly why I sometimes post in chit chat before: This entire universe (including you, and this forum) exists for my own personal amusement. And writing rubbish on the Internet amuses me a lot.
The more I think about the Xbone and PS3 the more I wonder "why?".
The basic on cost (ie console cost) is going to be around the ?500 mark by most estimates. The ongoing costs are going to be considerable, games cost, xbox live, high speed internet connection, netflix/lovefilm/whatever subscription plus, no doubt, others.
In the UK - elsewhere could be different.
Most people who are going to have pay TV are already tied into Sky, Virgin or BT who all provide all the functionality of the new consoles entertainment side. A perfectly functional Blu Ray/DVD player can be had for ?50(ish) so, as I see it, the only thing most people would gain over what they already have would be a games console. A very expensive games console.
I am just failing to see what part of the market they are actually aiming for.
The COD kids might make up the numbers but the cheque book is held by somebody who isn't going to willing to pay out twice for the same thing.
"Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends. There are no fees charged as part of these transfers. There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once."
"With Xbox One you can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library. Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies.
The more I think about the Xbone and PS3 the more I wonder "why?".
The basic on cost (ie console cost) is going to be around the ?500 mark by most estimates. The ongoing costs are going to be considerable, games cost, xbox live, high speed internet connection, netflix/lovefilm/whatever subscription plus, no doubt, others.
Isn't two of the reasons for buying a games console instead of a pc (powerful enough for games) that it's cheaper and easier, just pop the disk in and play. Now it cost's as much as a pc and is as much hassle getting the games to work as on the pc. Who cares for the TV stuff? Even new TV's today already have stuff like Netflix and other channels as well as a netbrowser inbuilt.
Here's a question, if (as some info/rumours say) the xbone has to validate once a day which would require an internet connection what happens if you go on vacation and don't use it for a few days/week, also if (like me) you turn it off a the mains while your away.
Here's a question, if (as some info/rumours say) the xbone has to validate once a day which would require an internet connection what happens if you go on vacation and don't use it for a few days/week, also if (like me) you turn it off a the mains while your away.
It's not a rumour, it's confirmed.
I imagine that (if it's been over 24hrs) when you come back home and turn it on the first thing it will do is attempt to connect to Live to validate your account/games library. If you don't have it switched on or don't play it for an extended period of time then it doesn't matter if it can't connect (because you aren't trying to play anything).
Great news for anyone worried that the human race isn't getting stupider - The Xbox One has become Asda's "fastest-selling pre-order console", proving that, yes, we are getting thicker.
Alright, so the news that the XBox One is "Asda's "fastest-selling pre-order console" isn't in itself proof that demand for the XBox One is higher than for any other console before it (in earlier days there were more (non-Asda) shops that sold consoles, plus I'd imagine that Asda online was used far less, if it existed at all, in the days pre-XBox 1/Gamecube/PS2, etc), but for any significant number of people to pre-order it on the strength of what we heard is proof that we must be mentally devolving.
By the way, the best explanation I've heard yet for the name "XBox One" coming after the XBox 360, was posted on another forum - it's called the XBox One because it takes 359 steps back from the current XBox!
That was before all the rumours were confirmed, of course. Not that I think that will have much of an impact on those Asda pre-orders. Game are also pushing Xbox One very heavily at the moment, with hardly any mention of the PS4 in my local stores.
I'm not against digital, but you'd have to be mad to trust Microsoft/Xbox with your future digital library of games given that they're just about to drop support for the huge existing library of 360 digital games on their new console.
That was before all the rumours were confirmed, of course. Not that I think that will have much of an impact on those Asda pre-orders. Game are also pushing Xbox One very heavily at the moment, with hardly any mention of the PS4 in my local stores.
I'm not against digital, but you'd have to be mad to trust Microsoft/Xbox with your future digital library of games given that they're just about to drop support for the huge existing library of 360 digital games on their new console.
Actually, my local GAME store is pushing Ouya and this Game Stick thingy harder than either PS4 or Xbox One at the moment! There's far more POS around for those than the big consoles. What advertising there is for the big 2 though is split about 50/50. Maybe you have a biased store manager there?
you have an Xbox one with about 20 games, played by the rules and paid for your gold account and had your system check up on you ever day and then microsoft bring out the xbox TWO and say the XBOX ONE servers will shut in two years time (forcing people to upgrade)
this means that the xbox one can't connect to the internet servers and will become unusable.
correct?
or like Sinclair , sega , CBM etc they pull out of the console/games market and shut their servers down again the XBOX ONE will become a door stop.
you have an Xbox one with about 20 games, played by the rules and paid for your gold account and had your system check up on you ever day and then microsoft bring out the xbox TWO and say the XBOX ONE servers will shut in two years time (forcing people to upgrade)
this means that the xbox one can't connect to the internet servers and will become unusable.
correct?
or like Sinclair , sega , CBM etc they pull out of the console/games market and shut their servers down again the XBOX ONE will become a door stop.
correct?
And when will they dump the 360? I've bought the odd digital title on it what happens if my console dies and I pick up a second had one and want to transfer the licence over to the replacement?
Were probably playing with the last generation of consoles that will be collectable.
you have an Xbox one with about 20 games, played by the rules and paid for your gold account and had your system check up on you ever day and then microsoft bring out the xbox TWO and say the XBOX ONE servers will shut in two years time (forcing people to upgrade)
this means that the xbox one can't connect to the internet servers and will become unusable.
Possibly. Or they'll release an update that no longer requires connection before they do so. Or just leave a couple of activation servers up, it's not like that would be particularly resource demanding once most players have moved on.
Much is made of this kind of argument, but the truth is it was mostly lost a long time ago. So many games these days have a massive online component that can be shut down on a whim by the publishers. And it doesn't make one spot of difference whether you're using an xbox one, as PS 4 or a PC when that happens.
you have an Xbox one with about 20 games, played by the rules and paid for your gold account and had your system check up on you ever day and then microsoft bring out the xbox TWO and say the XBOX ONE servers will shut in two years time (forcing people to upgrade)
this means that the xbox one can't connect to the internet servers and will become unusable.
correct?
or like Sinclair , sega , CBM etc they pull out of the console/games market and shut their servers down again the XBOX ONE will become a door stop.
correct?
Yes, other people have raised that concern. As yet there's no official reply (as far as I know), but hopefully before that happens, Microsoft will release a patch for each game (or one patch that alters the XBox One's firmware) to disable the checking, so that each game can be run on the (commercially obsolete) XBox One.
That's what we're hoping, but I don't exactly have faith in Microsoft. They dropped XBox Live! support for the original XBox a while back, and didn't provide any way for legitimate original XBox owners to either download the necessary game patches that were only available via XBox Live!, or for fans to set up their own multiplayer servers now that XBox Live! doesn't work with the original XBox.
Basicall, M$ just wanted people to stop using the original XBox. They might deny that (or likely couldn't be bothered to deny it), but they made no provision at all for people like me, loyal fans of the original XBox, who'd paid money (via the console and games) to Microsoft and now wanted to continue using the original XBox. Also, when the XBox 360 came out, games for the original Xbox pretty quickly stopped coming out, unlike the PS2, where PS2 games kept on coming out for the next five years or so after the PS3 came out. I don't know for definite why this was, but the (oft repeated) rumour is that Microsoft refused to allow games for the original XBox to come out after the 360 was out as they wanted to push users to buy a 360, and (if the rumour is true) Microsoft were the only ones who could make the discs, as they alone knew the checksum/code/whatever values that a disc has to be burned with to make it bootable on a (non-modded) original XBox. I don't know if that's true, but (a) it would explain the death of original XBox games when *lots* of people were still happy with the original XBox (and surely a userbase that large would not be abandoned by games makers unless the games makers had no choice?), and (b) it's Microsoft we're talking about - they are the poster child for uncaring companies.
By the way, I hated having to type "original XBox" instead of "XBox 1" in the above paragraph. Did I mention that I, and everyone above the amoeba level, think "XBox One" is a stupid idea for the XBox 3? And it will cause confusion for people, especially those of us who still use the original XBox, but that won't worry M$.
And when will they dump the 360? I've bought the odd digital title on it what happens if my console dies and I pick up a second had one and want to transfer the licence over to the replacement?
Were probably playing with the last generation of consoles that will be collectable.
Pathetic, isn't it? And as always, this DRM will only affect honest, paying customers. The pirates will use cracked/modded/soft-modded/etc machines, that allow them to run the games without any online checking, so probably the only way to play on an XBox One after Microsoft drop support for it will be to get a modded machine and use that.
BTW, the digital downloads you (and me, and everyone else) have paid for will not be compatible with the XBox One, so when the 360 support dies then we can forget the stuff we paid for for the 360, unless it's still on the hard drives of our 360s (and if they die then forget it). If Microsoft would allow us to back it up (ala Steam on the PC) then fine, but we can't do that.
Anyway, the E3 starts tomorrow, so within a few days we should know more. I doubt there'll be much good news, but let's hope, eh?
Much is made of this kind of argument, but the truth is it was mostly lost a long time ago. So many games these days have a massive online component that can be shut down on a whim by the publishers. And it doesn't make one spot of difference whether you're using an xbox one, as PS 4 or a PC when that happens.
Just because it can happen in other cases, and has already happened in some, doesn't make it any less of a concern. Like a lot of gamers, I have still have games on every system I've ever owned that I still like to replay now and then (Speccy, PC, N64, all the way up to XBox 360 and PS3) and luckily I still can, either via emulation or the real hardware (the latter is always available, the former depends on current emulation progress and PC power). Alright, so in some cases the online might be no longer possible due to the servers closing down (though I can't name any personally, as I'm not a big on-line fan), unless like XBConnect there's a way around this, but the single player games are always still playable, and that's true up to the end of even this generation. It's only the next generation that might prevent the single player games of obsolete machines from working.
Incidentally, does anyone know the legal position in this regard? Is it legal or not for Microsoft or anyone to deliberately (by their actions) limit the useable lifespan of games in this way? I suppose it is legal, as M$ can say that you're entering into a legal contract with then by playing the games, and this contract will say something like;
357b Microsoft reserve the rights to withdraw support for the activation/re-activation of any and all games, at any time, in both single and multiplayer (on-line or offline) modes.
Someone could no doubt test this in court, but it would cost a lot of money, and who can afford to go up against Microsoft? Apple, Sony, etc, could, but they'd no doubt prefer to see this business model succeed. The only people who'd oppose it would be gamers themselves, and we aren't rich or organised (can you name a gamers' union?).
Comments
"Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends. There are no fees charged as part of these transfers. There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once."
"With Xbox One you can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library. Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies.
are copied and pasted 'highlights'. See the rest at;
http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/06/06/microsoft-details-xbox-one-used-games-always-online
BTW, note the "Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends.". So even if you overlook the fact that you have to have the recipient of the used game on your friends list (which will kill your chances of selling the game back to the shop you bought it from), and that each game disc can only be resold (or given away) once, you're still at the mercy of the game's company in that you need their compliance to enable the game to change ownership :evil:
Still, companies like Electronic Arts are well known for their "put the customer first" attitude, so no doubt it won't be a problem. Just like George Lucas won't screw up the next Star Wars film, if Disney let him anywhere near it...
Right... Are you having a bad day, or you think people shouldn't voice their opinions on the 'net, or what?
Or did you just forget to append a smiley to your post?
Don't know why you feel that needs a smiley. I'm deadly serious. I refuse to buy millions of sh*t products every day without blathering on about them on the intarwabs.
It will still be very popular under CoD players but I care about my privacy too much to put an expensive, ugly video recorder in my home to watch ads.
Of course, your miles might vary.
(EDIT: Now that I think more about it, my main problem is still that I have no use for it. And all those other "features" definitely don't help.)
Games List 2016 - Games List 2015 - Games List 2014
I was wrong. Amazon are quoting all Xbone and PS4 launch games at ?89.99.
I hope those are place holder prices or we are about to see two of the most disastrous tech launches in recent years.
Then why would you feel the need to post in a long thread that's composed almost entirely of (justifiable, as far as we know) complaints about something? I don't like motion controlled gaming, the CoD games, the Sim City DRM fiasco, etc, and I never felt the urge to post in any threads related to them, saying "If you don't like it, don't buy it".
I'm not having a go at you, I'm just trying to understand why you felt that posting something so obvious ("I recommend you don't buy one then, and forget all about it. Problem solved.") was worth the trouble of typing in. Do you honestly think that not purchasing said item had never occurred to us, or was it meant to be somehow amusing, or what?
We are discussing this as we regard it as interesting, important (at least as regards our hobby of gaming, granted it's not super important on a human level or anything) and relevant. The 'net has quite a few similar topics on the same subject, so we WOSsers are hardly unique in discussing our dissatisfaction (and frankly something approaching amazement) at how unattractive the new XBox seems to us gamers.
And saying "Don't buy it, if you don't like it", whilst being good advice in itself, is not only unnecessary (though who would follow that advice have already decided that way, whilst those who'd ignore it will put their money on the console anyway), but doesn't take into account the fact that the topic's discussion is in itself interesting. And the reason we log into WOS (into most of the 'net, really) is to find things to interest us and pass the time. And discussing something that interests us as much as up and coming consoles certainly falls under that category. If the XBox One does turn out to be as bad as it sounds, then I won't be buying one (well, unless some really *really* great games come out for it that don't exist on other platforms that I'd rather buy) but it will still be interesting to read and discuss it's strengths and shortcomings, at least until I know for definite that I won't be buying one.
It's like Monty Python, isn't it? You could almost imagine they don't want you to buy a new XBox, and are deliberately making it sound as undesirable as possible. When we start seeing the adverts for it, they'll probably be things like; "Buy our console, it chainsaws kittens for you", with a picture of a kitten's dismembered head on the top of the blood soaked console.
I'd think that they'll be place holders to be honest. I eall can't see anyone paying that price for cd based games. I'd expect a 59.99 price point at first, dropping to about 40-50 once the consoles have a wider user base. Xbox360 games had a 49.99 price point on it's release, but now retail at 39.99-44.99.
Although Sony havn't commented on preowned games etc, I'd expect them to adopt a similar system too, probably through pressure from the big games companys. I f Sony don't control 2nd hand games then we may see some of the greedier companys (EA for example) ignoring PS4 as they'll loose out on the 2nd had resales.
Having said that, I believe EA have receently said they are removing the need for those "online passes" to be activated. I've not checked though.
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned exactly why I sometimes post in chit chat before: This entire universe (including you, and this forum) exists for my own personal amusement. And writing rubbish on the Internet amuses me a lot.
Oh, that's easily fixed. You quite like Karingal!
*prepares flame shield*
The basic on cost (ie console cost) is going to be around the ?500 mark by most estimates. The ongoing costs are going to be considerable, games cost, xbox live, high speed internet connection, netflix/lovefilm/whatever subscription plus, no doubt, others.
In the UK - elsewhere could be different.
Most people who are going to have pay TV are already tied into Sky, Virgin or BT who all provide all the functionality of the new consoles entertainment side. A perfectly functional Blu Ray/DVD player can be had for ?50(ish) so, as I see it, the only thing most people would gain over what they already have would be a games console. A very expensive games console.
I am just failing to see what part of the market they are actually aiming for.
The COD kids might make up the numbers but the cheque book is held by somebody who isn't going to willing to pay out twice for the same thing.
In a dodgy shell suit/doing lots of work for charidee/sexual predator kind of a way?
I'm not surprised,
it should have been called the XBOX RT
Isn't two of the reasons for buying a games console instead of a pc (powerful enough for games) that it's cheaper and easier, just pop the disk in and play. Now it cost's as much as a pc and is as much hassle getting the games to work as on the pc. Who cares for the TV stuff? Even new TV's today already have stuff like Netflix and other channels as well as a netbrowser inbuilt.
My guess is if Sony don't have all this bullsh*t DRM the majority of GAMERS will buy that.
God I hope Microsoft go bust....
I imagine that (if it's been over 24hrs) when you come back home and turn it on the first thing it will do is attempt to connect to Live to validate your account/games library. If you don't have it switched on or don't play it for an extended period of time then it doesn't matter if it can't connect (because you aren't trying to play anything).
Alright, so the news that the XBox One is "Asda's "fastest-selling pre-order console" isn't in itself proof that demand for the XBox One is higher than for any other console before it (in earlier days there were more (non-Asda) shops that sold consoles, plus I'd imagine that Asda online was used far less, if it existed at all, in the days pre-XBox 1/Gamecube/PS2, etc), but for any significant number of people to pre-order it on the strength of what we heard is proof that we must be mentally devolving.
Source: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a486826/xbox-one-becomes-asdas-fastest-selling-pre-order-console.html
By the way, the best explanation I've heard yet for the name "XBox One" coming after the XBox 360, was posted on another forum - it's called the XBox One because it takes 359 steps back from the current XBox!
I'm not against digital, but you'd have to be mad to trust Microsoft/Xbox with your future digital library of games given that they're just about to drop support for the huge existing library of 360 digital games on their new console.
Actually, my local GAME store is pushing Ouya and this Game Stick thingy harder than either PS4 or Xbox One at the moment! There's far more POS around for those than the big consoles. What advertising there is for the big 2 though is split about 50/50. Maybe you have a biased store manager there?
you have an Xbox one with about 20 games, played by the rules and paid for your gold account and had your system check up on you ever day and then microsoft bring out the xbox TWO and say the XBOX ONE servers will shut in two years time (forcing people to upgrade)
this means that the xbox one can't connect to the internet servers and will become unusable.
correct?
or like Sinclair , sega , CBM etc they pull out of the console/games market and shut their servers down again the XBOX ONE will become a door stop.
correct?
And when will they dump the 360? I've bought the odd digital title on it what happens if my console dies and I pick up a second had one and want to transfer the licence over to the replacement?
Were probably playing with the last generation of consoles that will be collectable.
Possibly. Or they'll release an update that no longer requires connection before they do so. Or just leave a couple of activation servers up, it's not like that would be particularly resource demanding once most players have moved on.
Much is made of this kind of argument, but the truth is it was mostly lost a long time ago. So many games these days have a massive online component that can be shut down on a whim by the publishers. And it doesn't make one spot of difference whether you're using an xbox one, as PS 4 or a PC when that happens.
Yes, other people have raised that concern. As yet there's no official reply (as far as I know), but hopefully before that happens, Microsoft will release a patch for each game (or one patch that alters the XBox One's firmware) to disable the checking, so that each game can be run on the (commercially obsolete) XBox One.
That's what we're hoping, but I don't exactly have faith in Microsoft. They dropped XBox Live! support for the original XBox a while back, and didn't provide any way for legitimate original XBox owners to either download the necessary game patches that were only available via XBox Live!, or for fans to set up their own multiplayer servers now that XBox Live! doesn't work with the original XBox.
Basicall, M$ just wanted people to stop using the original XBox. They might deny that (or likely couldn't be bothered to deny it), but they made no provision at all for people like me, loyal fans of the original XBox, who'd paid money (via the console and games) to Microsoft and now wanted to continue using the original XBox. Also, when the XBox 360 came out, games for the original Xbox pretty quickly stopped coming out, unlike the PS2, where PS2 games kept on coming out for the next five years or so after the PS3 came out. I don't know for definite why this was, but the (oft repeated) rumour is that Microsoft refused to allow games for the original XBox to come out after the 360 was out as they wanted to push users to buy a 360, and (if the rumour is true) Microsoft were the only ones who could make the discs, as they alone knew the checksum/code/whatever values that a disc has to be burned with to make it bootable on a (non-modded) original XBox. I don't know if that's true, but (a) it would explain the death of original XBox games when *lots* of people were still happy with the original XBox (and surely a userbase that large would not be abandoned by games makers unless the games makers had no choice?), and (b) it's Microsoft we're talking about - they are the poster child for uncaring companies.
By the way, I hated having to type "original XBox" instead of "XBox 1" in the above paragraph. Did I mention that I, and everyone above the amoeba level, think "XBox One" is a stupid idea for the XBox 3? And it will cause confusion for people, especially those of us who still use the original XBox, but that won't worry M$.
Pathetic, isn't it? And as always, this DRM will only affect honest, paying customers. The pirates will use cracked/modded/soft-modded/etc machines, that allow them to run the games without any online checking, so probably the only way to play on an XBox One after Microsoft drop support for it will be to get a modded machine and use that.
BTW, the digital downloads you (and me, and everyone else) have paid for will not be compatible with the XBox One, so when the 360 support dies then we can forget the stuff we paid for for the 360, unless it's still on the hard drives of our 360s (and if they die then forget it). If Microsoft would allow us to back it up (ala Steam on the PC) then fine, but we can't do that.
Anyway, the E3 starts tomorrow, so within a few days we should know more. I doubt there'll be much good news, but let's hope, eh?
Well duh...
Just because it can happen in other cases, and has already happened in some, doesn't make it any less of a concern. Like a lot of gamers, I have still have games on every system I've ever owned that I still like to replay now and then (Speccy, PC, N64, all the way up to XBox 360 and PS3) and luckily I still can, either via emulation or the real hardware (the latter is always available, the former depends on current emulation progress and PC power). Alright, so in some cases the online might be no longer possible due to the servers closing down (though I can't name any personally, as I'm not a big on-line fan), unless like XBConnect there's a way around this, but the single player games are always still playable, and that's true up to the end of even this generation. It's only the next generation that might prevent the single player games of obsolete machines from working.
Incidentally, does anyone know the legal position in this regard? Is it legal or not for Microsoft or anyone to deliberately (by their actions) limit the useable lifespan of games in this way? I suppose it is legal, as M$ can say that you're entering into a legal contract with then by playing the games, and this contract will say something like;
357b Microsoft reserve the rights to withdraw support for the activation/re-activation of any and all games, at any time, in both single and multiplayer (on-line or offline) modes.
Someone could no doubt test this in court, but it would cost a lot of money, and who can afford to go up against Microsoft? Apple, Sony, etc, could, but they'd no doubt prefer to see this business model succeed. The only people who'd oppose it would be gamers themselves, and we aren't rich or organised (can you name a gamers' union?).