New Console Always-Online Requirements and You

[wraggster]

The new Xbox is almost here and the details (http://games.slashdot.org/story/13/04/26/1318214/paul-thurrot-predicts-november-debut-500-tag-for-xbox-720) appear to strongly suggest 'always on' is the way forward (http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/04/gears-of-war-designer-always-online-future-is-probably-coming-deal-with-it/). We all know that this is anartificial requirement (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21802508) and certainly there are plenty of people on all sides (http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/ingame/simcity-launch-disaster-continues-gamers-petition-ea-white-house-1C8769125) of the table. To paraphrase the user 'tuffy' who commented on this issue at Ars Technica recently; if you're trying to sell 'always online' as a feature of the future, there needs to be some benefit for me the customer (http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/04/gears-of-war-designer-always-online-future-is-probably-coming-deal-with-it/?comments=1&post=24276413#comment-24276413). There is not one. Or, rather, there is no sign yet of any actual clearly compelling reason why any end user would support this limitation to their purchase. So, what's the best way to express this? Spend your money on an Ouya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouya)? Contact (http://support.xbox.com/en-US/contact-us) the Xbox team? These are all valid options but they also lack visibility. What we need is a way that could help actually quantify the levels of discontent in the gamer community. Maybe E3 attendees could turn their backs in protest (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/17/protesters-turn-backs-thatcher-coffin) like some did during Thatcher's funeral procession. Or gamers could sign some useless petition. What do Slashdotters think? Is the upcoming Steam box (http://www.techradar.com/us/news/gaming/valve-steam-box-release-date-news-and-features-1127072) a reasonable plan? As a gamer, I'm of two minds about the whole thing. I really don't like it but I may roll over eventually and join the herd because I could get used to it. Then again part of me is rankled by this slow erosion of access to me and my data.

http://games.slashdot.org/story/13/04/27/0223212/new-console-always-online-requirements-and-you