Adam Orth:'I don't get the drama' over 'always-on' Xbox

[ZakO]

Don't forget to take into account the failure rate of the early ps2. I had 7 break with laser reader faults. Ironically my first 360 lasted 3 and a half years.

Indeed, every person I know who had a PS2 got the laser read faults (I know, anecdotal, but still a large number). Over a 7 year period I had 6 broken PS2s, only had one broken 360 so far.

Anyway, an online-only games console would be a terrible idea, I definitely wouldn't buy it.

[JustGeorge]

Not sure why that's a big deal. Most game are online exclusive, so they're dead without a connection on any other device.

Plus, how many times does your connection sink? Since getting Time Warner, my connection has been steady 99.999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the time. I think I've had a service interruption once. Once. Wow. (And I live in the city).

Where are getting that info from?? None of my 360 games require internet unless I decide to use the multiplayer portions. Your internet stability is of no concern to me.

[BajiRav]

This :laugh: is funny!

In the context of the OP tweet that's what Orthy was trolling to other guy with, not about whether the device was powered on or not.

trolling? apparently it was a friendly banter that was used as fodder by anti-MS zealots.

[BavonWW]

Hey, why not call it the Netbox?

[AngelGraves13]

I don't see the big deal. If the internet goes out you're screwed I guess, but that's usually the case with almost anything that uses the internet.

Take Steam for example...even if you can start in offline mode, would you really want to play? I've had issues with achievements because of offline mode. They unlocked offline, but online it said it was locked. Only thing that cured it was a complete reinstall of Steam.

If my internet goes out, I find something else to do.

[trag3dy]

Geez can't believe people are annoyed about this approach. It's the future and was always going in the always on connection. To be honest, I'm surprised they still accept media.

Sure you might get some issues occasionally but honestly are you guys still on dial-up or switch off your modem when not in use to save 0.2c of power? Sometimes, I think these days some of you have it too easy. I was paying in excess of ?125 ($200) a month for internet back in '95.

I just hope there is more to it than DRM and marketing because there is the potential to add some really interesting features.

Sure is a good thing there are no recent examples of why always online requirements are bad.

[Dot Matrix]

Where are getting that info from?? None of my 360 games require internet unless I decide to use the multiplayer portions.

Most games are multiplayer exclusive. There was an argument about this a little while back discussing this very thing. Single player is going the way of the Dodo simply because no one bothers with it anymore.

[Nashy]

Microsoft have turned into douchebags, so I'm kind of expecting it anyway, so they can go jump. I simply won't purchase a console that requires an always on connection. If both next gens do, then I'm done with console gaming.

Most games are multiplayer exclusive. There was an argument about this a little while back discussing this very thing. Single player is going the way of the Dodo simply because no one bothers with it anymore.

I play plenty of games and have seen absolutely no evidence of this.

[Growled Member]

I guess I'll be going all PS4 and leaving my XBox far behind.

[Dot Matrix]

Microsoft have turned into douchebags, so I'm kind of expecting it anyway, so they can go jump. I simply won't purchase a console that requires an always on connection. If both next gens do, then I'm done with console gaming.

I play plenty of games and have seen absolutely no evidence of this.

You see it on the PC all the time, you need an active Internet connection just for setup. Then your machine is nicely hosed with either Steam or Origin, which chew up more bandwidth as you play your game. Hell, Origin needed to run even when I played single player Battlefield 3.

Also take a look when kids pickup the latest Call of Duty title, or Battlefield title... They hop right online to battle their friends, skipping single player entirely.

[Growled Member]

^ That much is true. The Internet is uber important these days. We can't live without it now.

[Torolol]

meh, i just looking in torrent for de-steamed games.

my torrent is not always on either.

[ichi]

Also take a look when kids pickup the latest Call of Duty title, or Battlefield title... They hop right online to battle their friends, skipping single player entirely.

CoD and BF are multiplayer games with a crappy excuse of a SP shoehorned in, but then what about Skyrim, BioShock Infinity, Arkham City, Farcry3, Assassins Creed, Hitman, MetalGear...

[BajiRav]

Most games are multiplayer exclusive. There was an argument about this a little while back discussing this very thing. Single player is going the way of the Dodo simply because no one bothers with it anymore.

Bioshock Infinite?

[techbeck]

Single player is going the way of the Dodo simply because no one bothers with it anymore.

What? There are plenty of single player games out there and there are plenty of games with good single player and multiplayer.

[Azies]

LoL Glad I switched from 360 to PS3 and vowed never to touch a Microsoft console again, paying off now I think. :)

[xWhiplash]

I agree, there are still many single player games out there. Why must I be forced to be online to play them? What if I go on a trip, or my internet goes out for a few weeks?

[ajua]

That sounds like a bad modem.

that or bad copper to the house, which the telecom is by law required to change then.

My ISP (Telmex) its the only one providing coverage to the are where I live.

I have talked to them several times. It's not the modem itself as all my neighbors and other friends in other cities with the same service from Telmex experience these reboots.

I've always used my own routers but with this service, they only provide one sh***y Thomson gateway/modem that can't be configured as bridge.

On topic: I would still probably buy the new Xbox if the always-on requirement is put into place but I know it can be a PITA with my internet connection. I guess several others will be in the same situtation.

Let's wait and see how it all pans out.

[Anibal P]

I guess non of you dummies are gonna buy an Xbox or next Playstation, they will both take advantage of an always on connection, but I bet 99% of you have no clue WTF you are talking about in the first place

[Athernar]

Most games are multiplayer exclusive. There was an argument about this a little while back discussing this very thing. Single player is going the way of the Dodo simply because no one bothers with it anymore.

Singleplayer isn't going anywhere, all that's happening is there is a current fad of Triple-A publishers trying to shoehorn multiplayer components into traditionally singleplayer titles to try and justify always-online DRM and unneeded microtransactions.

Sadly, suckers like you fall for it hook, line-and sinker and lap it up. And if that wasn't bad enough, you then go and spew your fanboy drivel on forums in defence of the corporation that bought you.

Thankfully the last two attempts at this (Diablo 3 and SimCity) have both been colossal screw-ups, and if recent word from Blizzard is anything to go by, this ugly fad is not long for this world. Good riddance.

[Apperson]

It's not OFFICAL don't get angry at Microsoft get angry at orthy

It's not OFFICAL don't get angry at Microsoft get angry at orthy

[xWhiplash]

Why would you want to play offline? Oh I do not know, maybe you are away from home at someplace that does not have wi-fi? Maybe you need to move and need to wait a few weeks before you get internet hooked up, routers in place, and cables (if you are not using wi-fi) throughout the house. Maybe the connection going to your neighborhood or even your house is having issues. Maybe your modem died.

There are so many reasons why you would want to play offline. Not everybody has a stable internet connection. If you do, then great. But not everybody does.

[Growled Member]

Why would you want to play offline? Oh I do not know, maybe you are away from home at someplace that does not have wi-fi?

This reminds me of the issue people have with Chromebooks being always on Internet devices. I guess the Internet scares some people.

[AngelGraves13]

In 10 years...kids will ask "was there a time when the internet wasn't always on?" not to mention 4K will be the standard. Damn...I feel old and I'm only 29.

[MightyJordan]

Following Twitter Tirade, Microsoft Creative Director Adam Orth No Longer With Microsoft

If the first rule of public speaking is to know your audience, then the first rule of Twitter is to realize that you are speaking publicly. Last week, Game Informer shared a rumor that the next Xbox would require an active internet connection at all times. Following that, Microsoft creative director Adam Orth (pictured above in his Twitter profile image) took to Twitter with some impolitic thoughts on the matter.

Game Informer has learned from sources close to the matter that Orth is no longer with Microsoft. A call to Microsoft's main switchboard confirmed this fact. Our sources, who wish to remain anonymous, suggest that Orth resigned in the wake of last week's events. We haven't been able to confirm whether this was a voluntary or forced resignation.

Microsoft isn't commenting on the "always on" rumor or today's talk of a May 21 reveal for the console. We can't say for sure if Orth's "deal with it" approach is confirmation that users will need to be online (though with news emerging today of television integration, it's becoming more likely), but we can safely assume that his employer didn't appreciate him commenting on the matter. The company issued the following apology last week in response:

"We apologize for the inappropriate comments made by an employee on Twitter yesterday. This person is not a spokesperson for Microsoft, and his personal views do not reflect the customer centric approach we take to our products or how we would communicate directly with our loyal consumers. We are very sorry if this offended anyone, however we have not made any announcements about our product roadmap, and have no further comment on this matter."

We have contacted Microsoft and Orth regarding his departure, and will update the story with their responses should they provide them.