Bonus Round:Is "Always On" A Turn Off?

Next-Gen Nightmare? Will gamers shy away from the next generation of consoles when they always need to be online?

[US8F]

Yes for single player games, no for multiplayer only games.

Good episode.

[JoGam]

Jaffe is funny. We was taking bet that he couldn't make a point with cursing. LOL Whats funny was the dude in the middle started cursing too. LOL

[Maddens Raiders]

to play single player games (if true)? ...yes, just as much as rhetorical questions.

[StrongMan]

I thinks it's a turn off for everyone. Haven't you seen all of the bad publicity about it.

[Roper316]

are you a PS+ member? Do you allow auto game updates & save backups? If your answer is yes your console is already always connected! How do you think Sony's network accesses your PS3 to do this? So are you turned off by your PS3 & Sony now?

Now if it stops you from being able to play your single player or any games while not connected that is a complete different story.

[badz149]

it's the HUGE difference between "optional" and "mandatory" and don't you dare trying to spin that one up!

it's like how "mandatory" install for the PS3 is a bad thing and "optional" install on the 360 is nothing but good but that's another story!

[JoGam]

I agree, the ps3 is always on. Im not sure is its everyone or just when u become a plus members however, it doesn't require you to be always on to play games. I believe that's the issue everyone is having. Always online required for playing single play or story mode games.

[Roper316]

@ Badz

Did you read my comment? Do you understand what you read if you did?

" Do you allow auto game updates & save backups? If your answer is yes your console is already always connected!"

do you see where I asked he if he allowed auto updates & game saves?

If I asked if he allowed it that means I know it's optional.

[Hicken]

And yet despite you, according to you, acknowledging that it's something he allows, you STILL try to equate it to a console that REQUIRES an always online connection.

The subject is a console that requires an online connection to play ALL your games; that should be evident by now. His comment is in reference to the fact that MOST(because some people are idiots) don't like the idea that a console would have to be online at all times to play its games.

Why, then, would you respond by questioning a conditional, OPTIONAL online connection?

Simply put, it was a stupid comparison.

[joab777]

It is period. I am almost always online but there are times when I don't want to appear online. For example, I take a day off to play a great game. Now everyone knows why I did it...lol. Also there are still many places that don't have high speed internet. Now u can play offline. What do u do when its always on?

[otherZinc]

@StrongMan,
I think its a "turn off" that a console starts off with backwards compatibility...then releases a slim model and takes backwards compatibility away.

[Themba76]

yes plain and simple if it's always on I want nothing to do with it.

[Rebo00]

I wouldn't be bothered about Always-On if I hadn't played SimCity...

[fOrlOnhOpe57]

It would be straining credibity for MS to go to the extent of an Always Online requirement for single player games - and no one could be that stupid or arrogant.
If I were an xbox player I wouldn't be worried. And yes, Im only into SP.

[Supermax]

Nope hast hurt PC game sales one bit,I wouldn't worry about Microsoft doin it as much as the game developers implementing it.

[iistuii]

Why anyone would spend all that money on a new console to only get 1/4 of the features is beyond me. Either the PS4 or new Xbox, if you don't wanna be connected you'll miss out on nearly everything new they have to offer. If they are always online, not a problem as my current consoles are always online so is my pc, bring it on I say, it won't change my mind about buying one.

[JoGam]

Honestly i don't think MS will make it always online for games. Meaning u need to be connected to play single player. However if they do require always online to play single player then wow. That won't fly for consumers.But why will they do it? MS isn't stupid. or are they?

[pecorre]

Always-on or always online is not the problem.

The problem is mandatory online connection while playing any game. You won't be able to play the games you buy when / if:
- The server shut down.
- Server maintenance.
- Server overload.
- Your internet is down.
- You don't have the latest firmware update.

If you played any game with online-only DRM you'll know that all those things WILL happen one day or another.

Do you remember when the PS Network went down for a month and a half? If the console was online-only, no one would have been to play any PS3 game.

A game console can be always connected and it can be a good thing, only if it's not a hidden DRM that will keep you from playing as soon there is a problem with the network.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I would agree that "The problem is mandatory online connection while playing any game". But I also happen to think this is a possible feature of the DVR and NOT gaming. Think about it, if your DVR connection was lost having a "warning" message come up would be necessary otherwise anything you had wanted to record would be lost.

Ultimately though...its all speculation still. MS and Sony both now know what most of the hardcore gaming community think about Always online and DRM. Its been made very clear over the past 2 months.

Now... we just need to wait for the 21st to see what MS has to show and E3 to learn more about what publishers also will be doing in this space. I think Publishers are going to play a bigger role in this space moving forward especially when we playing games that use their servers (i.e. EA Sports, BF4, etc...).

[FrigidDARKNESS]

Its not that MS is getting bad flack from the gaming community. You can add Sony to that list also. Word from the gaming underground is that the ps&4 will be always on and on-line gaming will no longer be free to play. We are in a new era of gaming and both Sony and MS are using always on to fight piracy.

[hazardman]

I think you made some good points but I still believe PSN will be free to play, but Sony maybe moves a couple things behind PSN+ pay wall. I also believe MS will keep things same but his time around have better incentives for the paying custy. Just my opinion.

[Supermax]

The ps3 is always online right now you just have the option of turning it off,it's no big deal if you have a cable box then your always online now.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

One of the better Bonus Rounds I have seen of late. Props to GameTrailers... good panel, good questions and good discussion.

On a funny side note, I love Jaffe. Regardless of if you like his games you have to love his candor as a developer. At one point I think the beeps were coming faster then words. LOL

[PooEgg]

As a person who mainly plays single player games, and unplugs her consoles when not in use, yes it is a total turn off.

[hazardman]

I didn't listen or watch I'm at work at moment. But I have no issues with always online. All my consoles are right now to a certain extent. I just want to play games whether offline or online. Oh... Lunch is over take it easy gamers!

[L6RD7BLU3]

What microsoft employees are saying to there fellow gaming consumers LOL

[BuffMordecai]

The always online and blocked used games rumors made my next gen boner flat line.