With Microsoft’s Xbox One, we’ll all live in a room with a large television that shows adverts from Microsoft’s partners and TV shows based on their games. It will be connected to Kinect, a camera and microphone that is always listening and can even monitor your heartbeat.
New content, the almost limitless possibilities of an internet connection and what ‘the cloud’ can offer, and a powerful, sensitive device with which to control our entertainment future.
Xbox One sounds brilliant.
In George Orwell’s 1984, Winston Smith lives in a room with a large telescreen that shows propaganda and approved messages. It also listens to him and acts as a kind of surveillance camera that is so sensitive, it’s thought that it can detect a heartbeat.
Constantly being monitored, listened to, watched. Being served entertainment and current affairs coverage that’s pre-approved and tightly controlled. Our own living rooms reporting back to a central location about our habits and that information being used against us. Doesn’t sound so good now.
The Xbox One does not have a requirement to be always online. That is, as far as we know just now, a fact. So it doesn’t need a constant internet connection. Well, some games might, but that’s up to the developers of those games. Actually, it’s probably up to the publishers of those games.
It’s my experience that a game developer just wants to make his game and for lots of people to play it – a game publisher is more concerned about getting people to pay for it and then making sure nobody is playing it for free. So it’s the publisher that wants to make sure you’re authentic – by checking over the internet, if they can.
The Xbox does not require a constant internet connection but it does require a regular one. At least once every 24 hours, it will need to be online so that it can check that you still own the license for the game you’re playing. That’s exactly like the digital rights management Valve pushed on PC gamers with Steam, except there it’s a 30-day limit rather than 24 hours.
30 days gives much more leeway for people moving house, people on inconsistent connections and people who might not be able to count on their domestic connection and need to use some form of mobile internet to authenticate (many university halls, for example).
So, at some point as-yet-undefined, when Microsoft or their third party partners decide to switch off their authentication servers, all of your Xbox One games will expire. They’ll cease to work. Videogames now have a finite life.
And don’t get too complacent, PlayStation fans. This sounds like something Sony is considering too – they’ve said that they won’t have restrictions for used games but they’ll allow publishers to set their own rules for that stuff, to an extent. Microsoft’s own ‘clarification’ stipulated almost precisely that – except that they also defined the timings of checking on it.
In exchange for this frequent monitoring, Microsoft is allowing us to play our games on any console, as long as they can check our right to do so every hour instead of every 24. They’ll allow us to give away a game to someone who has been on our Friends List for more than 30 days and up to 10 people (‘family’ members) can be authorised to play a game on a different console via the cloud. So it’s not all bad, it’s just that what is bad is very bad indeed.
Kinect can be switched off. Microsoft confirmed that, at least. It can be deactivated completely and you can choose the option of never sending any data back to Microsoft. They’ve also said that, although it’s possible, Kinect won’t record you and send that data to them. It’s almost like they’re saying “We could be really, horrendously evil if we wanted to but don’t worry, we won’t. Promise!” I’m sorry, that’s not really enough for me.
Call me ‘conspiracy theory Pete’ but I’m not sure the word of massive, rich corporations is really all that dependable.
And perhaps more interesting than whether this most recent ‘clarification’ is actually terrible news or not-quite-as-bad-as-all-that news, Microsoft still hasn’t really managed to find a consistent, clear message in what is rapidly becoming an utter embarrassment of a PR disaster. There’s still confusion.
For example, and it’s only one example in many – for the sake of brevity – what’s the difference between a ‘friend’ you can gift a game to and a ‘family member’ who can play your games anyway? My guess is that the difference is a group Xbox Live Gold subscription for families but that’s only a guess because we simply don’t know.
Another point of confusion, and I quote: “Loaning or renting games won’t be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners.” So what about all that stuff about people being on my friends List for 30 days? Doesn’t that mean I can’t lend them a game? Does this mean they can’t return it to me when they’re finished?
It’s okay though, you’ll be able to trade in games, at a publisher’s discretion, as long as it goes to a “participating retailer”. So, as long as you’re trading in games in a way that someone with lots of money can make a bit more money, that’s fine. Sticking your own games on eBay to make a few quid to fund your next purchase? No chance, you grasping prole scumbag!
In the wake of the Xbox 360, there was an accidental consumer rights furore based around what became known as the Red Ring of Death. It looks like the consumer rights furore that will come in the wake of the Xbox One launch isn’t going to be accidental at all.
In 1984, Winston and Julia had a love affair that was illegal. Winston hired a room in which to conduct their meetings – a room that he thought was without a telescreen. In that room was a picture of St. Clement’s Church, a scene of simple joy that inspired the couple to sing the song about its bells. But the telescreen was hidden behind it, watching.
Will Forza 5 be our St. Clement’s Church?
Will we invite Big Brother in, to hide behind the next generation of entertainment media?
Fruitbat1919
Nicely written article.
I currently only play on a PS Vita, but am considering a main console. I have owned many before, including a 360. My obvious choice now would be the PS4, due to having the PS Vita.
I’ve been following the PS4 and XBone reveals with interest and like many have questioned some of the choices being made…DRM by having to go online; Used games fees etc. On the face of it, many of these choices would not seem to have a negative affect on my gaming. For example, I hardly ever buy second hand games and I have a reasonable internet connection, although I rarely play online.
Having read many articles and opinions, with much thought, I now to to the conclusion that I may indeed be greatly affected by these changes to how consoles will /may be. I will list my concerns….
DRM: Yes I go online, but if I am buying a product, I would like to have choice for how long I will be able to play it for. I am aware that we are really only buying a license to use a product, but why would I agree to no specified time limit? In affect, they can withdraw my right to use a product at any time. If this is the future, I will use my right as a consumer and not buy said product. I understand that online gaming is down to the servers and it being viable for the publishers to keep them running. I do not agree that the publishers or sellers are making it clear that single player games are only being rented…..this is what they are now making clear with 24 hour DRM that they can choose to take away when they want. If that is what we are being offered…..I will spend my money elsewhere!
Used Game Charge: Yes I can appreciate that when a game is sold second hand, that the publishers do not receive money….nor the designers…..nor the console manufacturers. I agree that in some ways it would be beneficial that they did receive some of that sale income. I also see that in many ways they already do! I appreciate that what I am about to say if may gut feeling and I cannot show firm evidence to support it, but here goes. I believe second hand sales fuel new high price game sales. As I said earlier, I rarely buy second hand. I also rarely buy full price games either! I buy £40 games when they are £15 to £20. So I do not get to play the latest game at release…..I do not care for bragging rights or have the money to buy all the latest….I have food to buy and rent to pay! I believe many more people have limited game buying funds than the internet sites give the impression of! So I believe that take away second hand game income and they will sell less games at initial release. This will have a knock on affect on how businesses will have to have greater cash flow before they recuperate enough to cover the initial game investment. This in turn may dissuade many more companies from taking chances on new ideas.
I think we all sometimes need to look at these changes in more depth. I could say much more, but I am now in ‘ranting’ territory. I will just say to Sony, Microsoft and whoever else….If you offer me these choices….I will decline, thank you very much!
Fruitbat1919
PS Did the title of the article change? Boot on face too much eh? lol
leeroye
Was just thinking that myself
ron_mcphatty
Aside from the DRM mess, I’m a bit upset over the finite nature of game ownership. My Game Gear is 20 years old and still plays the games, it’s upsetting to think that the same wont be true of consoles in the future. Maybe I’m being an overly nostalgic old fart.
Peter Chapman
I don’t think that’s overly nostalgic. Aside from any other consideration, I’d like it if games were considered important enough to warrant preservation. We’ve got libraries, art galleries and movie collections so why are games now considered utterly disposable?
If I was a publisher, I’d probably be pulling myself off with frantic excitement but if I was a developer, I’d be incredibly insulted by this attitude to my creative endeavours.
Fruitbat1919
nothing wrong with overly nostalgic old fart gaming….even the publishers caught on to rehashing old games to make money. I know some consoles simply will not last many years, but say Sony did the same as Microsoft and then went bust….the PS4 paperweight! I know many kids have got a lot of pleasure over the years from my hand me down consoles. The cheap gaming consoles is many kids way into gaming….they then grow up to be old nostalgic farts like us and the cycle of gaming continues…..
ron_mcphatty
Thanks guys, I often wonder if anyone else (like me) likes the idea of introducing their kids, nieces, nephews, godchildren, whatever to the entertainment that filled their youth. I keep a few things like gig tickets, photos from holidays, boxes of Lego and old board games just for that one miserable rainy day when you might be able to say ‘Have a look at this, this is what I did with my time when I was 21.’ The kids of course reply ‘Haha, stfu grandad, I’m going to the motorway to hover board between trucks!’ because in the future they’ll still say stfu and hover boards will definitely exist :)
RocketSOL
I was never going to purchase an Xbox One anyway but if the PS4 goes down the same route then i’m seriously considering not buying that either. I’ll just stick with PC..as much as the constant upgrades annoy me.
There are far too many people saying they will boycott the products and end up buying them anyway. That needs to stop otherwise there will never be an end to this!
double-o-dave
I can’t see why people would buy an Xbox One showing they abide by these rules. Its like Gibson putting an online finger print scanner on their guitars and if the person who’s playing isn’t the person who purchased the strings, they just snap. Or if I have no internet connection the scanner can’t verify its me so I can’t play my 2 grand guitar.
Fruitbat1919
Don’t give them ideas!!! lol
double-o-dave
Too late. I just broke a G String!
hazelam
sounds painful. ^_^
Zephyre
BRB, off to get granny to start knitting Kinnect hoods to stick over the lens covers.
Fruitbat1919
Too late…Microsoft have the patent!!!
Fruitbat1919
They ‘own’ the living room remember!!! Maybe they own my granny too! I wonder if they should pay me towards the next carpet I have to buy when worn out from the Xboss making my kids dance to the latest required dance moves?
Fruitbat1919
The day will come…..
me: “Xbone……play Grand Theft Playstation 3000”
Xbone: “Sorry Dave, but that game is not on the allowed list….would you not prefer to play Knit Master 2000? Only £50 for the started set of Kinect wool!”
Vandix
I think it’s funny nobody talks about the no renting part. Over here in the Netherlands it wasn’t allowed anyway, but for people in the UK with services like Lovefilm, could be a huge thing for some people.
Fruitbat1919
I think buying will be the new renting! “£40 buys you our game until we say otherwise…O except for the ending…..which is another £5….O and clothes for the journey will cost you £5 or Kinect camera will disintegrate your real clothes!! You have been warned”
JBoo
The Wii U doesn’t have to do all this stuff does it??? If it doesn’t then there might be a chance that SONY won’t do all this cr*p on the PS4 :-/
Fruitbat1919
Good point, but I could see the some publishers putting pressure on Sony unless the Sony console guarantees them return due to overwhelming numbers of consoles sold…but let us hope that sense prevails
Starman
I think the kinect camera is what will have the ms execs rubbing their hands together, despite the bad response so far to the xb1. “Xbox sees you’re on your own, here’s a dating advert, Xbox sees you’re eating a sandwich, here’s a subway advert” The possibilities are endless and its and advertisers dream.