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Microsoft Confirms Xbox One's Phone Home Requirement, Game Resale Rules
Following the confusion surrounding Microsoft's announcement of the Xbox One, the company has now clarified many of the hot-button issues in a set of posts on their official site. First, they confirmed that the console will need to phone home in order to continue playing games. On your primary console, you'd need to connect to the internet and check in once every 24 hours. They also announced that you'll be able to access and play any of your games by logging in on somebody else's console, but the internet connection will be required every hour to keep playing that way. Other media don't require the connection. Microsoft also explained how game licensing will work. On the upside, anyone using your console will be able to play your games, and you can share your games with up to 10 members of your family for free. The downside is the news about used games; Microsoft says they've "designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers." The key word there is can, which implies that you can't without the publisher's express permission. Finally, the company made a set of statements about how Kinect's audio and video sensors will collect and share your data. "When Xbox One is on and you're simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded." They also say data gathered during normal use won't leave the console without your explicit permission.
What does microsoft expect? Post a PR announcement saying that they heard the complaints and do nothing?
Well that just saved me the equivalent of whatever the new console would cost. Thanks microsoft for making purchasing decisions easier.
So, apparently Microsoft think that they're not selling you games. Given that a similar case was difinitively lost in Germany recently, it'll be interesting to see how this one pans out.
SJW n. One who posts facts.
Before the entire thing is reverse engineered and these issues are no longer issues.
So, in other words, all of the hyperbole and hand waving from users on forums that was washed aside saying it couldn't possibly be that bad... instead it turns out it's worse.
This article on Penny Arcade Report provides some detail that the OP lacks: http://penny-arcade.com/report/article/microsoft-outlines-their-system-for-used-games-licenses-and-family-sharing
All it takes is a single cracker/hacker and it's gone.
HELP MY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN HACKED BY AN ILLIBERAL ART STUDENT SET TO DESTROY THE INTERWEBZ!
They will buy them as fast as Microsoft can make them. No matter what Microsoft does, people will buy it. Look at Win8 for proof -- it's not selling well, but it's still selling. And both the XBox One and Win8 will be the only game in Microsoft Town soon enough.
blah
Well I guess I am getting a PS4. That was an easy decision.
I know everyone is going to focus on the 24 hour / 1 hour network ping and that is fair. But there are some really nice aspects to this for some people. Being able to share your games with friends and family (up to 10) is pretty awesome and in no way possible for normal people today. I haven't had an internet outage last longer than 1 hour in years, so unless I get all tinfoil hat about secret agents watching me play games this really isn't a concern for me.
Just add another device to the NSA collection list.
I can't imagine justifying the expense of a $400 console with these kinds of restrictions. A gaming PC is starting to look like a much better investment.
I love that part. You mean I can still watch TV without "checking in", just as I could if I hadn't bought the stupid fucking box in the first place?
Someone you trust is one of us.
Seriously, the need to phone home once/day is a deal breaker. Not being able to take a game over to a friends place without signing into my account is a deal breaker. Telling me how I can sell or giveaway my used games is a deal breaker.
There's nothing about this that I'm interested in. I don't play games online, my XBox isn't connected to a network because they started putting ads into the games, and I refuse to give them a channel for it.
So, my single purchase (or non-purchase) is insignificant, and Microsoft won't care. But of the people I know who own an XBox, pretty much all of them have said they don't want this either.
There's nothing about this new platform that sounds good for the consumer, and it certainly doesn't leave them much choice.
So whatever the first next-generation console is which can be ran entirely offline without any network connection over its lifetime stands a pretty good chance of getting bought. But Microsoft can eat shit if they think I'll pay them for the privilege of owning one of these (which I'm sure the EULA says we don't own anyway).
Either I and people like myself will pretty much be irrelevant, which is fine, or there's going to be a huge consumer backlash against this, and Microsoft is going to find themselves holding the bag on a gaming platform nobody wants.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
will soon be dubbed Xbox Pwned One and Pwned 4.
Lets see.. Microsoft shoots in the foot during the presentation and now just sealed the deal with a shoot to the head.
Does Sony CEO have the brain to use this to his advantage?
"They also say data gathered during normal use" .. does this mean they *can* upload the lidar scan of my living room? Or pictures? I really do not like. This is a reason to stop playing games! Its one of the reasons i avoid facebook apps/games. Stop spying on me!
I think it's the first time a new generation console gets more press because of its restrictions and BS than its features and games.
I owned a XBOX 1 and Xbox 360. I liked them better then Sony/Nintendo offerings. But this whole used game thing along with phone home. I haven't had my 360 plugged into the internet for 8 months now. I play most console games offline. If I want to play online with friends, that's what my PC is for.
So I had bought 3 xbox 360's, I won't be buying 1 One.
I've always resented Xbox. The annual subscription required for online use, versus Sony's free online, and lots of other things made me wonder why it was so popular. Regardless, it became a very popular platform. Today, Microsoft seems to be intoxicated with the power of its popularity and market share. from dictating crappy interfaces in Windows and Office, to this latest bit of customer abuse with XBox One.
I wound up buying a couple of XBoxes and paying the subscription fees for my son. But I absolutely will NOT buy another one. I'm interested to see if they will suffer any real backlash toward, what are in my mind, poor decisions with this new XBox. It is my suspicion that the majority of their audience are easily manipulated adolescents that are not footing the bill, so it will likely be a huge success.
I wonder if Sony's Playstation 4 will come from less usurious? Never mind, I should know better. Looks like I won't be buying any more gaming consoles. At least the wife will be happy.
...just like I'm sure the Obama Administration would never obtain the phone and email records for every American!
What?
Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)
http://www.lawrenceperson.com/
the act of pedaling Redmond into the earth takes careful planning. Some very important people have to get up very early in the morning and make some very poor decisions. if the selling points are 'only every hour' connections and 'wont record your private conversations' then id hate to see the downsides of the product.
Good people go to bed earlier.
When Xbox One is on and you're simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded.
Until Microsoft gets the same treatment executive order that Verizon got... Remember that the console has to send a transcript of what it has heard back home every 24 hours or it stops playing games (but continues to record?)
what is the time out for steam?
Think about what happens after this generation is over, in 10-15 years. Eventually, the XBO servers will be taken down, and none of the games will work.
It won't be like you pulling out your Dreamcast or SNES to relive fond gaming memories--this literally won't be an option. Now starts the time when gaming history eventually fades into nothing.
Don't get me wrong, any disc based game eventually will be in the same boat--as these discs will eventually decay. Whereas cartridge based game systems may work, no problem, in 100 years or more if kept in a dry place.
So you basically forgot all the crap Sony has pulled out over the years... (e.g. rootkits). At least Microsoft is being honest about it.
As someone else said, the solution is to forgo both PS and Xbox consoles.
I don't see why people are so willing to spend that kind of money to get screwed over.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
On the upside, anyone using your console will be able to play your games, and you can share your games with up to 10 members of your family for free.
As opposed to, oh, buying the game, owning it, being able to stick that game disk in any console, lend it to anyone in or outside the houshold as you see fit, and so on, and so forth?
Yea verily, arbitrary restrictions that seem generous are the new upsides to being able to do whatever you want. Because, you know, that's just too much freedom for you.
"When Xbox One is on and you're simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded." They also say data gathered during normal use won't leave the console without your explicit permission"
Except of course when a secret court grants the NSA permission to compel Microsoft to activate the video and audio sensors to conduct illegal suspicionless spying on American citizens.
Their name is finally starting to take on meaning. ...in all aspects of what that company does. I can't wait for the generation that doesn't know what a microsoft is, or why a company with such a name was ever the biggest company in the world.
Sure microsoft has made missteps in history (windows me, clippy....ms bob) but the most recent 2 "big things" turn out to look like piles of shit. microsoft always was able to at least fix the error (usually) pretty quickly. if you dont sell lots of winME, 2k (though for workstations) was right there, and anyone nerdy enough to be super dissatisfied could grab win2k. but the life cycle of a console is likely another 5+ years, and agreements with devs about their choice for used games cant easily be broken (they might be able to be paid out though). theres a hope that they patch and buyout contracts re: used games but don't hold your breath. i was going to get both new big consoles and a i preordered my gamepop and ouya, but now it'll be a ps4 in a threeway with my android consoles :)
It's been fun, Xbox, but this is where we part ways. None of these things are technically even huge issues for me- I have a stable internet connection and wouldn't want to bring the console to a cabin or anything. I never sell my games, since I like collecting them- and hell, I'm sure that in 15 years when they take the servers down they'll probably just gut the DRM or lock the games to a specific console and remove the online requirement or do SOMETHING to make sure our games don't become fancy, expensive coasters.
But it's a matter of principle. I don't want a console that treats me like I'm a thief, needing to check up on me once a day to make sure I'm not smoking pot or something. If I fall on hard times and need to sell somethings to get by, I want to know that for the 60 dollar game I bought that there's an option to do so and potentially feed myself for a week. I don't want to worry what will happen to my favorite titles in fifteen years, if I'll be able to play them- that's nothing someone SHOULD have to worry about (And honestly I still prefer Halo 2 to any of the later games anyway...)
I hope the generation that follows this learns from the mistakes being made here. Until then, I'll see you on the PC/Wii U.
The idea that you can share games with anyone on your list of 10 "family" members is honestly pretty useful. You can apparently also give a title to anyone who's been on your list for 30 days and it freely transfers permanent ownership. I've bought and sold a few games used and missing that will be a loss for some people, but for me the ability to buy a single copy of a game and share it between all ~5 xbox users I know will be a lot more useful.
"I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
Cause you take One look at it then turn around 360 degrees and walk away.
This is my sig. Its pathetic.
Thanks microsoft! This kills any need i have to continue paying you money for any reason at all!
There's plenty of companies willing to screw me over and spy on me for FREE!
Or at least alot less than you charge for a specific purpose but general capability and pretty outdated computer.
And i do appreciate finding out all this bullshit BEFORE i spent money on the xbox one. I'd have been really pissed had i bought one to find out this garbage.
Unfortunatly alot of people won't notice this stuff until after they buy it... So i can continue to hear about how shitty the xbox one is from plenty of pissed off customers for the next few years.
Microsoft... You do know nobody LIKES you right? We've only ever done business with you because we were forced to most of the time...
Gamers and games are the major reason you still exist for home consumers. Good job on trying to correct that. Once you get rid of the gamers and their support. Maybe we can finally get rid of you completely!
They also have a "We may also cease to offer certain services or products for similar reasons." clause. So even if you like a feature (like sharing a game with up to 10 family members), you might find that feature suddenly removed or altered in such a way as to make it useless.
My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
I think the bigger issue missed here is that rentals are simply no longer possible with Xbox One.
Microsoft has killed the game rental market in one fell swoop.
Personally, I think this is a dumb move... I've bought many games after trying them out as rentals; I doubt I am alone with that practice. That is a lot of potential marketing tossed down the toilet.
Even if the used game market survives (though I doubt it will ever be a factor again), the rental market is gone, gone,gone.
No thanks. My 360 and PS3 will do me jus fine.
What if I get banned from Xbox Live? Does this 24-hour check-in fail? Am I no longer allowed to play my single player games?
So no point in taking the console on vacation if you have no internet, also if you're internet is down for more than 24hrs you're screwed. The 10 person limit on playing your own games is laughable. No thanks M$, I'd would actually like to control the things I own.
Still no mention of the breaking PRISM scandal.
News for Nerds indeed.
"When Xbox One is on and you're simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded."
Considering the stories about the NSA datamining in both the telecom and computing services industries, I have two words to say:
"Likely story."
It will be turned on to record, to find "terrorists."
This gets a big "nope."
http://www.humorgas.com/image/1359731250348625995.JPG
--
BMO
Just like publishers of e-books CAN allow you to lend out a kindle-book to someone.
They don't though.
Granted, I haven't bought many kindle books, but as far as I can see none of my books are lendable.
Harald
What exactly does the always-on (okay, "on at least once every 24 hours") requirement serve?
I doubt it's for checking game licensing issues. That is better done when the game is actually launched (and probably will be anyway). It's stupid otherwise; you slot in a CD for a game your buddy owns and a day later it informs you that there is a licensing issue (or alternately, if the default is "always deny", you buy a game and you aren't allowed to play until the next 24 hour check-in)? So it's not about the games.
Anti-hack checks to ensure you haven't rooted your own hardware. It could compare the OS signature to some secure key on its servers. But that hardly seems workable; after all, if (when) the XBoxOne is hacked, that will be surely the first thing that is disabled.
Advertising perhaps; after all, the recent Dashboard upgrades have focused on putting more and more advertisements on your screen. Microsoft is surely going to continue in this direction with its newest console. But does that really require an always-on connection?
Maybe it's for uploading game or network metrics (or NSA monitoring, for the paranoid). But surely this is not such a necessary thing as to upset their customers to such a degree.
So, honestly, what makes this "always on" requirement so important that Microsoft is willing to risk sales over its inclusion? Why (aside from the boneheaded stubbornness that prevents them from backing down on any of their dumb decisions like the Ribbon or Metro) does Microsoft feel this is something they /have/ to foist on the public? Better to make the console work like the 360; it will use a network connection if it finds one but otherwise it is not a requirement for operation (at least, not for the console; games may still require an internet connection to license, but we already see that with current games).
This is a good test to see how many stupid fucking idiots are out there, because only a stupid fucking idiot would buy it.
Part of the reason people will buy a brand new release-day game is because they can hammer the shit out of it in a short time over a holiday break and sell it used to recoup some of the cost (over 50% for new titles, easily). If this isn't the case, the era of $60+ release-day console games is over.
Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
We used to play video games while deployed on ship underway. No internet to connect to, and the XBOX360/PS3 were the consoles of choice in our rec-room. This completely screws the active duty military in a lot of places. Looks like more military will be using their PC's instead of the consoles, however this also happened when 'SPORE' came out on PC.... it required an internet connection to play and the people who bought it for deployment were many unhappy people.
Looks like Xbox one is the new Windows 8. Going to fail bigtime..
...for at least "lubing it up," first! ;-)
I'm Erwin Schrodinger and I approve of this message, and I do not approve of this message!
On the upside, anyone using your console will be able to play your games
How nice of them not to implement biometric identification. Yet.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
They would rent it in that case. It would cost less than $30 for sure to rent a game for a break. That would be 15 days on RedBox.
Having looked at the Xbox One page on Amazon UK, all I can say is this:
NINETY QUID for a ****ing GAME?
At that price, they can keep it.
Never mind Spamassassin. When's Spammerassassin coming out?
Microsoft aren't entirely stupid.
Sony and Microsoft have decided to do this jointly. Both manufacturers know that customers will dislike the "discs aren't games any more" policy. They are hoping that by doing it at the same time, they will force customers to accept the new business model.
Sony must be rather worried by the bad publicity surrounding the Xbox One. You will have to tell us the bad news soon, Sony!
... unless the NSA wants it, of course. MIcrosoft is more than happy to cooperate with our friends in the government.
For our protection.
-- "So they told me that using the download page to download something was not something they anticipated." - Bill Gates
...because I can't think of any reason why someone would cover what's essentially a toy with enough legalese to require a couple of attorneys to understand.
Many people will buy the Xbox-one if it's released first because most people are impulsive and want stuff now...
If Sony will release the PS4 before MS the Xbox one they'll be in big trouble because not a lot of people will also spend money on a machine that's actually less worth
then what they already have.
Oh yea.. another thing I wont take the /. crowd for anything close representing the rest of the world because... that's just stupid.
Gamespy was a multiplayer matchmaking service that used to be bundled with many PC games. Last year they sold to GLU Mobile. GLU then decided to demand fees from the publishers who bundled the service with their game. Any developer who refused had their multiplayer matchmaking service shut down.
The result of this is many old PC games now have multiplayer features that no longer work.
Now, imagine if this incident applied to DRM servers.
There are old games out there made by companies that no longer exist, some of them, the IP rights are in legal limbo. Those games are still playable though because they don't have to phone home.
My internet connection isn't what concerns me, it's who owns the servers that continue to allow to play my game? What if Microsoft ever goes bankrupt or sells their XBox division off? What if they get tied up in court? Murphy's law tells me *something* within the next 20 years to render these games as drink coasters.
> "When Xbox One is on and you're simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded."
Says the company that jumped on board the PRISM train so happily and willingly....
Nice and clear message. Thanks for making it clear up front.
We will let you know how it works out.
Now if only people actually react to the message *sigh*
I think I'm going to sell all my stock in Gamefly right about now...
If anything, they might extend it. MS specifically states it's only calling home to check on games. Well I'm sure Sony would love to extend this to all AV- music/games... heck, they've been adding Cinavia updates to the PS3. I sure it has to do with pressure from their entertainment arm.
So this means that if I want to buy one of the next-gen consoles, I need to end my 15 year boycott of Sony products. Microsoft: you know you're really fucking up when you make Sony look like the good guys.
"On the upside, anyone using your console will be able to play your games, and you can share your games with up to 10 members of your family for free."
I can play my console with my family (more than 10+ persons at family reunion) for free right now. Pardon my language but this shit is not an upside it is a limitation.
C. Sagan : A demon haunted world:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345409469/
visit randi.org
I thought it was because it was the One console to Rule Them All (and in the darkness, bind them.) ...e.g. the darkness of your living room :P
"NSA has been storing audio and video data captured inside 90% of US homes via secretive exploitation of next generation XBox and Playstation consoles"
"and anyone in your home can play the game on your system." -- why, the hell, is that considered a feature!?
If you are enough of a masochist to have bought one in the first place, that is.
Unplug the network cable when not in use. Can't phone home. Can't be tapped by patriot act bs.
Not sure I am getting you, how is this any worse than all the cellphones/laptops/desktops/tablets with mics and cameras? Won't a simple software update to them enable the exact same thing? Okay, most laptop and desktop cams have a hardwired light that turns on, but almost all phones and tablets dont.
Why is the Xbox One being singled out here?
This space for rent.
Wow. I'm not a gamer, but this is impressive. If it didn't come directly from Microsoft I would expect 99% of it to be FUD thrown by the competition. Are the MS people FUDing themselves? Can you even do that? We need new terminology to describe this idiocy.
Internet confirms that nobody is going to buy the Xbox One
"There will be no fee to transfer your title to someone else"
Bet you $100 that this is only available if you are paying for a GOLD account, therefore you DO have a transfer fee, the cost of paying for an account that many dont use.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
So WTF is GameFly going to do?
Calling home every 24 hours, restricting games to accounts (even sharable), etc, these all required a lot of extra work to implement. As this is a commercial product, somewhere a manager has signed off on the cost of this effort, believing that this will increase profits, customer goodwill, or some other marketable resource.
Since these actually cripple existing functionality from a game-player perspective, make the product less attractive to game players, someone, somewhere must believe that some other 'customer' is going to pay more to make up the difference in lost sales, loyalty, and increased customer dissatisfaction.
It's not the retail stores, which are being cut out almost entirely - gamestop, best buy, walmart, or large rental agencies like gamefly, who's entire business model is inapplicable for xbox one games. If you can play your games at a friend's house without bringing the disc that means digital distribution for everything.
The only one that makes sense is the large game distributors, EA and their ilk.
I'd like to see the math that says EA & etc will make more money off this than will be lost. Seems like a risky gamble to alienate end customers in order to lock down a distribution channel.
will be able to play your games.
WOW this is a great feature that has been missing on my
Nintendo
Super Nintendo
Nintendo 64
Turbo Gfx 16
Sega
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
3DO
Atari Jaguar
PS1
Xbox
Nintendo Game Cube
Nintendo Wii
Computer
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
When I was in the Navy, the Xbox was the console of choice on many ships. With the introduction of requiring an internet connection, this box will not be purchased for troops and sailors deployed abroad.
Microsoft, what the fuck is wrong with you?
Always on camera, every 24 hours license checks, you have to ask permission to resell your games. If you agree to this you're a chump full stop.
Specifically, the European Court of Justice ruled last year on a case involving Oracle and UsedSoft, with the latter wanting to resell used Oracle software. The court found that licences could be resold, notwithstanding a claim to the contrary in Oracle's licence agreement. Interestingly, they also ruled that if Oracle was offering free maintenance updates to the original purchaser then they must continue to offer the same to the purchaser of the used software licence.
Obviously with any legal case you have to look at the specifics and not assume too much of a precedent, but still, this seems a clear shot across the bows of Big Software that they don't get to close down the used software market through either blunt legalese in the licence agreement or trying to tie related services to the original purchaser only.
For anyone wondering, yes, this ruling is sharply at odds with the US Ninth Circuit's view in the Autodesk case.
(I'm not a lawyer, just an interested observer, so don't read any legal technicalities into the above.)
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
MS having XBOX One being coming stream machine vs a game machine is not surprising;. I hardly see vey good and successful box stores selling games anymore. Used games was way for me try out things I may or may not like and get my money back. Since the industry is struggling this is way to trap gamers into playing way the industry wants. Walled garden for gamers is what this is. Sony bought a Streaming company in Japan, if you don't think Sony will be wise enough to not take same path as MS is going with Xbox One, I'd think you should prepare yourself. Sony always been touchy about used products such as their music, like the old DRM.
XBOX One does allow trading, but not without strings attached. Welcome to Walled Garden everyone.
MS failed in copying Apples hardware sucess so they're trying to out do Sony as the most anti consumer/propriatory system company.
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
This would have never happened if it wasnt for the so called "elite pc gaming race" buying crap like Assassins Creed and Sim City with always on DRM, supporting things like Steam which are a form of DRM and purchasing other things like that.
I am very excited for the PS4, I like my PC for games, PS3 still has some good games coming out for it and sony will continue to support it for years to come like they do with every system, and I like my 3ds (now that finally some good games are coming out for it that aren't just more Nintendo franchises). I don't want an xbox one.
Not to mention I don't like xbox in general because you have to pay to get online, used your Netflix account, have a friends list, play even the simplest of multiplayer games online, send someone a message surf the net, or do anything that uses the internet. At the same time I can do all of those things are more for free on my PS3 and PC. Microsoft actually gets away with charging their customers extra money just to do something everyone of their competitors lets you do completely for free.
I don't want my xbox one to phone home every 24 hours. I know I know "But most of us are online all the time anyway so it doesn't matter" well it matters to me. I shouldn't have to call mom every 24 hours and check in with her and if I don't she wont let me play my games. I am the customer, I buy the console and I buy the games and I play them I should be able to fully own everything I buy with my money but in this case I don't even own my console. If you buy a xbox one Microsoft wont let you play games unless you notify them once a day you are being good. Are you such a pussy coward corporate shill that you would just roll over and let a company that you are a paying customer of tell you what to do? This isn't a matter of it isn't a big deal, its a matter of I shouldn't have to do it at all and Im sick of being treated like dogshit for being a good customer, Im sick of Microsoft piling on little inconveniences one after another and saying "deal with it".
Screw you Microsoft, I am not buying your xbox one. I am getting a PS4 because it will have all the cross platform games anyway and they will have more exclusives than you, all while I continue to enjoy gaming on my pc, my 3ds, my vita, and my ps3 all which will keep me in 99% of all the new games to come out every year.
I do not need a xbox one. I don't want a xbox one. And I wont be buying an xbox one. I want to go and give my money to companies that treat me better than you do.
Microsoft denies working with the NSA full stop. It denies it puts backdoors into Windows for the NSA and other agencies to use, but it does. It denies providing the NSA with full data on users using its online services, but it does. It denies that the always on functions of the Kinect 2 system provided with the Xbox One allows the NSA to gather data on all users of the console, but it does.
Obama, and previous administrations, specifically allow partners of the NSA to lie to the American public without fear of consequence. Indeed, when you provide information to the NSA, it is a legal requirement that you lie about the fact. None of this is secret if you do even a few minutes research.
Microsoft dedicates 2 CPU cores, 3GB of RAM, a completely separate OS, a large chunk of the HDD, and multiple dedicated hardware blocks to the 'always on' feature of Kinect 2. While the console is powered, the Kinect sensors are spying on console users within the room (and the microphone array attempts to listen to sounds/speech in adjoining rooms). By default, the console identifies each person who enters the room, and records a photograph of their face, and the times of their presence, storing the information as encrypted data on the HDD, and uploading the same data at least once a day.
NSA and others with the console 'key' can place the console in signature or snapshot mode. Snapshot mode retrieves continuous image and sound data as 'samples', limiting the daily bandwidth of captured data to a level the user still won't notice, providing the console is left connected much of the time. Signature mode allows the console to accept up to multiple thousands of 'trigger' conditions (like a given sound, or a certain person in the room) which, when met, trigger steaming capture of data from the Kinect, either immediately uploading the stream if possible, or storing it on the HDD for later upload when the console is reconnected to the Internet.
The console will NOT function unless the Kinect system is fully powered and functional. Any attempt to externally block or defeat the sensors (by taping over the cameras or pointing kinect at a wall) causes the console to immediately pester the user to 'recalibrate' Kinect (ie., reposition it facing the full room). All games are required to begin with a Kinect calibration stage, even when the game makes no significant use of Kinect input.
A AAA game maxing out CPU and GPU console power has ZERO effect of the functioning of the Kinect system. XBox One is specifically designed to NEVER starve the Kinect processing system of resources, so that the spying can continue under all use circumstances.
It should disturb all of you that the Kinect is also specifically designed to identify when sexual activity is occurring in front of it. The body 'skeleton' tracking features of Kinect are vastly improved in version 2, and allow the console to easily guess the forms of physical activity of the people in the room.
In many ways, the XBone tests the sanity of ordinary people. It is half as powerful as Sony's PS4 for high end gaming, yet is currently set to be more expensive to buy (if Microsoft can even solve current hardware problems). Microsoft's approaching 'exclusive' games are pitiful compared to Sony's line-up. A miracle has truly happened with Sony giving up all of its bad old ways, and offering customers the clean, powerful, unencumbered console people always expected to buy from Microsoft.
Microsoft's intentions with the Xbox One are truly evil. However, no-one has to buy the NSA spy box. Then again, no German had to support Hitler, but tens of millions chose to do so of their own free will, years after the guy wrote 'Mein Kampf', and clearly laid out his beliefs and intentions. No-one can deny that the Xbox One extends the power of the NSA into your own living room. The shills that cry "tin foil hat, tin foil hat" should have no impact when everyone can read Microsoft's own statements on the workings of the XBone. You ALL know what it means to have an internet connected camera system pointing at you all the time. If you still don't care, you truly deserve your fate.
On announcement day, the Internet decided that it's called the xbone because it bones you.
You mean the one which were recentely slapped on the finger , because the judge were not fooled by a "perpetual" licence and consider it a first sale ?
C. Sagan : A demon haunted world:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345409469/
visit randi.org
Their description of Kinect privacy sounds an awful lot like the privacy policy on browser scraping in-game ads in PC games (disabled by blocking the application in the Windows firewall). In the case of the browser scraping, none of the data leaves your system, but if it looks like you're into skateboarding the game will fetch an ad for skateboard gear and show it in the game. That request for a skateboard gear ad DID leave the system. Maybe the same thing with Kinect? Hears you saying you'd like some pizza, fetches an ad for Pizza Hut, and hey none of your conversation was recorded or left the system right?
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Amazing how with each new product Microsoft always design in exactly the thing that would most make sure my money stays in my pocket.
Windows 8's hideous an massively inneficient GUI saved me from wasting $$$ on an unnecessary upgrade. Thanks Microsoft for reminding me that Windows 7 works just fine at work. (Still not as good as Linux Mint or other free Linux distros I run at home though).
Microsoft phones are just plain useless (so start out being totally undesireable).
I can't tell you how many cars I've crossed off my potential future purchases list because they have had "Powered by Microsoft" stickers.
Now this retarded "always connected" decision by Microsoft was exactly what it would take to make sure my household wont ever be buying any more Xboxes.
Just look at all the money Microsoft keep saving me.
Sony said that you could run an alternate o/s on their console ''' and then they changed ... won't leave the console without your explicit permission". ...
their minds. Now they say "data
This may hold until someone finds a way to make money off your data.
Oops hold one one
Whereas cartridge based game systems may work, no problem, in 100 years or more if kept in a dry place.
Cartridge-based games generally save state in battery-powered internal memory. Those batteries run down over time, probably long before any other component fails.
...Not a fucking one of them
Half the players of these games are non-internet connected teenagers at least in terms of their bedrooms. They can't buy $70+ games either as a rule. Microsoft just hasn't had enough strikeouts yet eh? Well they'll learn the hard way. All the next gen PlayStation has to do is be less draconian because the hardware is absolutely the fucking same.
I ain't buying that piece of shit.
You know, I'm probably not in the target demographic anyway.
I'm a 31 year old guy with some disposable income. I loved my NES and have nothing but fond memories of console gaming circa 1990. But the NES was the last console I owned for a loooong time, since I discovered PCs and PC gaming around that time. When I first saw Wolfenstein 3D and Rise of the Triad, I knew consoles were already relics.
Time passed, and eventually I caved. I bought an Xbox 360 S, which I figured would have had all the hardware issues ironed out. Boy was I wrong. While I did manage to avoid the 'red ring of death', it wasn't long before the optical drive died, the hard drive died, the WiFi adapter died. For a while I still played it, having replaced the hard drive with a large USB flash drive, the WiFi with an Ethernet cable, and the optical drive by re-purchasing games I already owned in the Xbox Online Marketplace. Eventually, the Xbox just stopped powering up entirely.
So for the next generation, I'm glad Microsoft has acknowledged these issues by focusing on adding more points of failure. With additional dependencies like internet access (to phone home) and third party developers' cooperation (to enable resale of used games), the XBone will be a must-have item I'm sure.
I just use Steam now. Less hassle, and at least I can buy reliable hardware on the open market. Fuck consoles. They blew it when they decided that build quality didn't matter and "it just works" was a nice-to-have.
Chuuch. Preach. Tabernacle.
Given how this system works, how on earth do you 'rent' a game for this system?
They've managed to put a rifle to the head of rental companies and pulled the trigger until the clip went click. No rentals when the system locks games to specific machines like this.
I do understand the outrage for the people that this does affect, but for the most part this does not affect me because:
1. I don't ever sell games
2. I rarely buy used games
3. I'm never offline for more than 24 hours at a time\n
I also have a gaming PC and will probably end up with all of the consoles, as that is what normally happens, since there will eventually be some games I want to play on each system. I tend to not get caught up with how evil companies are. I just use them for their products and if their products stop being useful to me, I will stop getting them.
My biggest concern at this point is one that Microsoft hasn't addressed, which is what happens eventually when they stop supporting this console. I don't like the possibility that in 10-15 years, I may never be able to go back and play any games that I purchased on this console.
While this is annoying financially, I also see it as a problem in terms of video game history. You can never tell somebody about an awesome game you play years ago and recomend they go check it out. It would be more like with MMOs, where if you didn't get to experience some game when the servers were still live, or you didn't get to experience vanilla WoW, then you never will. In the future, this next generation of consoles could completely disappear, and all that would be left to show for it is the Wii U.
Won't be possible under the XB1 model unless you pay for the "license" to play the game.
After PRISM do I really give a shit what Microsoft has to say about user privacy?
Always online is simply a code word for means of vendor assertion of control over you and the shit you paid for.
Their wording of sharing games with family is strangely worded. Do they mean that once you buy a game you don't need the media and you can share with any 10 people designated as within your family? Or do you still need the media and does that mean that there are only 10 IDs that can ever read a given piece of media?
Either way, the phone home is a deal breaker for me (this will be the first generation of console systems since 16-bit era where I won't have hardware that can play all of the games) as I don't like the idea of an expiration date for my games (what if my less-than-a-year-old nephew wants to play one of these games in his teens when the games are all now considered "retro"?), but I really wonder what potential upside MS is seeing for themselves from this that's worth the ill will that it's going to create.
Would this explicit permission be perhaps part of a EULA that everyone will have to agree to in order to use their Xbox?
They also say data gathered during normal use won't leave the console without your explicit permission.
They also say data gathered during normal use won't leave the console without your explicit permission or a valid court order
FTFY.
OK, active duty deployed military are probably not a significant market segment to MS, but this totally screws those guys along with anybody working on an oil platform, arctic outpost, ranger station, or are waiting out a hurricane. I don't care what MS analysis has shown the "trajectory" of persistent internet connection, there is a segment that will NEVER (ever) get there.
I retired a couple years ago after 21+ years in the Navy, and video games have become a huge part of underway entertainment for guys locked in floating jail for 6 months at a time. Plugging in to Navy networks is not an option. Same for ground based forces deployed to remote locations.
The MS business model is to a) buy / copy someone else's business plan / idea b) provide just enough quality and value to get a big audience and c) start taking where you really don't want to go but now they've set the hook and you are in their playground d) start fucking you and hope you like it enough to come back for more.
Apparently the new Microsoft motto is "because fuck you"
The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
Sounds like I can't get this- I work and live out of an RV, my only internet connection is a smart phone. Currently we can play the 360 when we are driving to the next gig, play when we are off duty, and play when the weather is too severe to work outside. Sorry M$oft I was excited, but checking in every 24 hours isn't going to work for me.
Period.
I hope this clarifies things for Microsoft.
I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
Whereas cartridge based game systems may work, no problem, in 100 years or more if kept in a dry place.
Cartridge-based games generally save state in battery-powered internal memory. Those batteries run down over time, probably long before any other component fails.
well that doesn't matter as long as the battery doesn't leak on the board.
except with some arcade boards etc which have suicide batteries(you run out of battery on the board and it wipes, meant to curb illegal clones), but roms for most of those have been hacked/preserved already so you can make new.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
I'll be buying a new console for the kids this Christmas. It most definitely WILL NOT be an Xbox. We'll see if the PS4 is any better.
Worse case, I forgo the console. There's enough entertainment elsewhere.
Well thats one less console to buy. #1 time i get to play my consoles is when my internet is dead.
When I buy a system, I want to be able to play any games I purchased whenever I want. At home. At the cottage (where I do not have any form of internet). At friends' houses. In the RV while traveling. I also have the right to continue playing them if my box has an accident, or needs to be replaced. It would be nice if I could upgrade to a better version of the box without having to jump through hoops just to keep playing my same old games. Maybe, I might even pick up a copy of last years' hot game, and play it for myself, now that I can score it for a discount at a trade-in shop. Because that's what I want to do with my money and time, I see absolutely no reason whatsoever to waste either on such a system. And no, I do not have anything associated with Steam. I like to play a lot of off-line games, as I have limited (or nonexistent) internet access. That, and I'm not able to even come close to competing (let alone surviving) the 15 year old twitch gamers, hyped up on Red-Bull. If this is the future of gaming, I guess I'll stay in the Stone Age, with my off-line games, playing them with friends over my LAN.
I sell the right to play an MP3.
And please let me know what a "Used MP3" is, because each time I play an MP3 I own, a copy is made of that to process through the routines that turn that into the music I bought. Therefore what does a "used MP3" look like, 'cos I say they don't exist.
For that matter, since the CD has not been worn or changed by my owning it, in what way is a CD sold "used"?
This simply isn't true. What is true is that there will be less TOTAL game sales.
Some people that would have bought used will buy new, others will not buy at all. But as long as even a few people buy new instead of used, that means more profit will go to the publishers. Even if publishers are only getting a bigger piece of a smaller pie, that can still result in more money for them.
Of course, it screws over the market as a whole, but they don't care about anything but themselves.
way I'm buying one then
Think about what happens after this generation is over, in 10-15 years.
You mean months, surely. As soon as FIFA 2015 is released, expect FIFA 2014 to stop working.
While it is good that MS is not hiding this defective by design crap from people, like a "Known to cause cancer" label on cigarettes, sadly it will not make much difference.
It occurred to me that complete idiots now play video games too, and they will probably eat this shit up. I guess I need to find a new hobby. They've screwed computer gaming too.
Yes. Mods, this is flamebait. Sorry. It's also factual and possibly prescient.
Most of what the Xbox One is about is not a deal breaker for most people, but I do think that a significant number of their 360 customer base will not be buying the xbox one. Not because of the always on DRM, but mainly because they can't just take their game to their friends house to play it on their friends console.
I think that the used game market and the ability to trade games with friends is a large part of why people buy console games. When people cant do that they will go somewhere else. And Microsoft is not kidding anyone, a lot of the game publishers will jump on the bandwagon at first and ban the sale of used titles. Oh, and the whole logging in on another console to play your game thing, when players start sharing their login passwords with friends, that is not going to last long. I predict either account sharing bans or the disabling of that particular feature altogether.
Of course MS could come to their senses about the whole DRM thing and listen to their customer base, but then again they did pull Windows 7 from the market push Windows 8 despite poor beta responses and against common sense.
As a HUGE Microsoft fan here are my thoughts.
I thought the Xbox 360 was the most awesome console ever. I have all the consoles. I rarely ever turn on my PS3. I had said I wouldn't buy another Sony console. I spent several hundred dollars on xbox live arcade games. I spent several hundred dollars renting movies and buying tv shows through xbox live. I always bought games on disc because I didn't want to worry about if I deleted them and then was unable to get them back. Eventually I started buying games on demand. I probably have bought around 75-100 games at $60. I've bought a handful used. Maybe 5 games that were used.
Now all this is useless. There is no backwards compatibility. This is a huge ripoff.
My Internet service has been out about 1 hour in the last 5 years. There was a time in late 2007 or 2008 that Xbox live was down for a month. Now it matters that I need a connection to play games I bought? They need to know if I bought them used or gave a game to friend?
I have no doubt that this would work fine for me since I have a solid Internet connection. However, knowing that something could go wrong on my end or their end and have the xbox one become a paperweight - I'm not dealing with it.
Here Microsoft, let me do the math for you in my situation.
75 new games * $60 = $4,500
5 used games * $20 = $100
-----
Total $4,600 (This is not counting all my digital wasted goods)
Money they think they "missed out on" for those used games - $60 * 5 games = $300
Total they wanted: $4,800
They missed out on about 4% of the money they could have made if they were greedy.
Here is the fun part. Now let's do the math now that they can get all the money this time around!
My Xbox one planned purchases
0 games * $60 or $70 = $0
Awesome job, they didn't lose any money to used game sales!
Microsoft, go f*ck yourself and your DRM.
It is a "feature" when it can spot the body and profile of the 10 family members they mention.
I wouldn't be surprised if they had an error in the system somewhere for "Your body profile doesn't match the 10 family members on file. Would you like to pay for an account?"
Democracy Now! - uncensored, anti-establishment news
NO RENTALS, CITIZEN.
I got an Xbox None
All of those previous systems are also preserved by having their games dumped and runnable in emulators. Emulators seem to be lagging behind current consoles a bit more than in the past, but game rips are certainly available. As long as games are released on discs, maintaining copies should be easy. Downloads will probably take a bit more work, but likely still doable.
With all of the comments referring to a EULA that mentions the fact that I'm buying a "license" to use the software, rather than the software itself...where exactly do I have the choice to not "sign" this nonexistant EULA? After the purchase and after opening the case (which means no return for my money back)? How is that legal?
No used game sales means less new game purchases
It is fairly trivial to show that the "recouped costs" as you put it will never allow more new game sales in a market that allows used sales.
If the used game market was 100% effective, then the new games sales would be the same between the two. However, the used market is far from efficient. It drains a huge percentage of the money that goes through it into the pocket of the dealers.
What is true is that a market without used sales will allow consumers to experience a lesser amount (not necessarily quality) of content. But if you want to make that argument, then I recommend that you first put your attention towards getting rid of copyright and intellectual property laws as they have the same effect.
From website " We can’t wait to show you what’s to come. " > People running to stores to buy a PS4, WiiU or an Ouya perhaps?
The 24-hour call phone feature is a dead horse. With people that have lame phone companies (like me) that give you residential Internet plans with free MEGABYTES (500MB or 0.10 US extra MB) for surf the Internet. I needed to wait for the official magazine for get updates (forget patches for games) so this is the last Xbox I will buy. I won't drive 1 hour to the nearest city for get a decent and free Wi-fi carrying my xbox every day or eat up my few Megas. :P Well they told us: Deal with it. No surprise!
It's an HD4000 core. I believe it was an RV770 deriv, which would place it as being a 4890 most likely.
OpenGL 3.3 and OpenCL 1.0 with broken Double Precision support.
So yeaaaahhhhh...
Same here.
Twinstiq, game news
No thanks M$, I'd would actually like to use the things I own.
There. Fixed that for you.
...one roll of tin foil. Folding instructions available at http://support.microsoft.com/omgstoplookingatme/
Note the phrasing, your conversations won't be recorded ... no mention of video. ... is there a default setting and if so, what is it and how obvious is it?
Note the phrasing, while you are playing, nothing will leave the Box without your express permission
MS is doing this with government subsidies. It will not suffer a loss because it will be compensated. More importantly for the government, there are many who will purchase and install the device in their homes. You don't need one in _every_ home to adequately monitor the majority of the population, after all, people do talk about other people in the privacy of their own homes.
Clarification: it isn't the 'government'. It is the NSA. They have all the info, and are blackmailing/controlling the politicians with it. They run the government and are on their way to running the world.
Sleep well.
"Consensus" in science is _always_ a political construct.
This makes Microsoft very anti-troop. Gone are the days of playing xbox in a warzone with no internet, when in the field on exercises, or on 24 hour duty.