If you look around the game sites you would see the mass of hate towards the Xbox One. Also the Sony Fan boys are out in masses with pitch forks screaming for the death of the Xbox One. While many others are genuinely concerned about the direction gaming is going. Especially with the DRM policy the Xbox One is following.
Sony fans bombarded twitter and Google + ( I know I was shocked to see the same hash tags over there to ) about NO DRM and USED GAMES. I even saw this very awesome GIF file on Google +
EPIC. So lets go on to IGN which did a very good blog with Microsoft setting the record straight before E3.
Always Online
As explained by Microsoft, “Xbox One is designed to run in a low-powered, connected state. This means your system, games and apps are always current and ready to play—no more waiting for updates. While a persistent connection is not required, Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend. Games that are designed to take advantage of the cloud may require a connection.”
“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.”
Microsoft added “because every Xbox One owner has a broadband connection, developers can create massive, persistent worlds that evolve even when you’re not playing.”
Used Games and giving to friends
Microsoft also spelled out its policies on game lending, trade-ins and rentals. “In our role as a game publisher, Microsoft Studios will enable you to give your games to friends or trade in your Xbox One games at participating retailers. Third party publishers may opt in or out of supporting game resale and may set up business terms or transfer fees with retailers. Microsoft does not receive any compensation as part of this. In addition, third party publishers can enable you to give games to friends.”
“We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games.”
Microsoft says “your friends and family, your guests and acquaintances get unlimited access to all of your games. Anyone can play your games on your console–regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you.” The company added that “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.”
It’s worth noting that Microsoft allows you to gift games to friends but they can’t borrow them. Microsoft added that “loaning or renting games won’t be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners.”
However, anyone can play games using your console. “Your friends and family, your guests and acquaintances get unlimited access to all of your games,” Microsoft says. “Anyone can play your games on your console–regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you.”
Xbox One will also allow you to give up to 10 family members access to “log in and play from your shared games library on any Xbox One.” Similar to Xbox 360, “a family member can play your copy of Forza Motorsport at a friend’s house. Only now, they will see not just Forza, but all of your shared games. You can always play your games, and any one of your family members can be playing from your shared library at a given time.”
Game installation and Digital Downloads
Microsoft says “you’ll be able to buy disc-based games at traditional retailers or online through Xbox Live, on day of release. Discs will continue to be a great way to install your games quickly.”
Players will be able to access their library from other consoles. “After signing in and installing, you can play any of your games from any Xbox One because a digital copy of your game is stored on your console and in the cloud. So, for example, while you are logged in at your friend’s house, you can play your games.”
Kinect Requirements
According to Xbox’s official site, “at Microsoft, we prioritize your privacy. We understand that your personal data and privacy are important. Xbox One and Kinect will provide tools to put you in control of your data.”
Microsoft stresses that “you are in control of what Kinect can see and hear. By design, you will determine how responsive and personalized your Xbox One is to you and your family during setup. The system will navigate you through key privacy options, like automatic or manual sign in, privacy settings, and clear notifications about how data is used. When Xbox One is on and you’re simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded.”
Players will also control whether Kinect is on, off or paused. “If you don’t want the Kinect sensor on while playing games or enjoying your entertainment, you can pause Kinect. To turn off your Xbox One, just say ‘Xbox Off.’ When the system is off, it’s only listening for the single voice command — ‘Xbox On,’ and you can even turn that feature off too. Some apps and games may require Kinect functionality to operate, so you’ll need to turn it back on for these experiences.”
Your personal data will never be available to anyone outside of your console, Microsoft stressed. “You can play games or enjoy applications that use data, such as videos, photos, facial expressions, heart rate and more, but this data will not leave your Xbox One without your explicit permission.”
So in a nutshell they are doing damage control and setting the record straight. The Sony Fan Boys was on blast and Microsoft answered with direct answers. Now for what I do not like.
- 24 hours is the maximum time I have to play offline is pure nonsense. I wonder which genius thought this was a good idea. Probably this person decided to alienate most of the gamers who love to go by their friends house and do LAN battles with great games like Gears of War and Forza. Not to forget the fighters who love playing Street Fighter in the summer when mom and dad decide to shut off the internet and conserve some cash. Really Microsoft. This is not cool. I personally do not have my current Xbox 360 online. I did not want to spend money on Xbox Live so I play most of my games offline. This is not cool. Let us not forget the army guys who HAVE NO INTERNET where they chill out at. I saw that Microsoft will give them a code or something. That is stupid.
- Giving and trading games seem very pointless. Almost saying that the game I bought isn’t truly mines. I understand you want to make sure the publisher gets their money but seriously what about people like me who don’t want to buy the game fully. Just want to rent it or borrow it for a while. The owner would have to buy it back from you and regain his rights. I am not to sure this will fly to well. More like you are encouraging to keep me from having friends. YES MY PRECIOUS! NO ONE ELSE WILL PLAY WITH YOU! I can only imagine micro transactions will become absolute to continue playing a game. Imagine playing Allen Wake for Xbox One and a new chapter is released. The publisher decides to spam you like crazy during this always updated game about the new chapter and tell you that you will need to upgrade or else. LOL I kid I kid but it may sound far fetched now but maybe that is where they are going with this. To control their game that you paid for. I won’t comment on the have to be a friend for 30 days on xbox live crap cause I don’t like the whole idea of YOU TELLING ME WHO IS MY FRIEND. I find a buddy online and want to share a game with him. Sorry Xbox One is telling me that MY FRIEND NEEDS TO WAIT 30 DAYS before HE IS MY FRIEND!!
- Kinect shouldn’t be mandatory. Simple. I should be able to leave it unplugged and not demand its presence. Some say hey just shut it off and stop crying. That is a good point. But why is it mandatory? I understand the voice recognition is awesome and very useful especially for hand gestures but some people want to play games and not fiddle around with TV switching and other stuff that is not important to some gamers.
Xbox One does do many other things great. Just wished that the number one issue I stated could of been fixed. I can deal with the DRM. I can deal with being watched. Just allow me to play my games when I want to. I shouldn’t have to worry about my internet suddenly shutting off and not getting to play A GAME THAT IS ON THE DISC. Screw watching a movie and watching TV. I am already doing that. I can deal with not using 85% of my Xbox because I am not living in the USA. When you tell me that I need to have internet to at least play games is a problem. Most times if I am home and everything is running the way it is supposed to then fine. I don’t have that luxury. Internet comes and goes. Sometimes for couple days. Those are the times when I pop in a game that isn’t about multiplayer but single player. From reading the comments some Xbox fans are not to pleased with it. Some are just gonna deal with it and see how it goes. For me I will see what they will bring at E3. I also want to see what Sony will do.
Right now they ain’t showed us the console and have not really talked about their stand on DRM games. It would be interesting to see even after the explosion of Twitter request and employees stating on twitter that they are listening still give us the shaft. Every Sony fan boy would commit suicide. As of now they are stating that almost every game must use the weakest crap feature I have ever used since the inception of the PS Vita. Remote Play. I doubt anyone ever fully used it. I did and on our pathetic internet I was only able to see my screen on my PS3. Don’t talk about play the game from another location. LAG CAN’T DONE. Even on my local network at home it wasn’t a great experience. Sony failed with the Vita. Thank God it isn’t required to play the PS4. Just saying. That much is sure.
To read up more on the article check it out here http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/06/microsoft-details-xbox-one-used-games-always-online
CaribGamer 