A Wired interview was released whereby Phil Harrison said (after asked about whether content can be enjoyed in offline mode)
"There are a host of features which will be usable without an Internet connection — watching movies, playing certain single player games… all of which will operate offline"
Anyone else have a problem with this. I'm actually really pissed off. I hate how so many companies are blurring the line of consumer ownership. If I buy a console, I want to know I can play single player games without the console needing to call back to the mother ship.
It's almost an intrusion on privacy. Maybe this is a strong word, but if I buy a console I want to be able to enjoy it in the privacy of my home, without the need for a connection. Clearly, games that are dominantly multiplayer can be excused from this rant, the question is where do you draw the line between a single player and multiplayer focused title?! Where does Call of Duty lie? Whilst it began as a single player focused IP, it has since evolved to a title that renowned for its multiplayer. Many consumers purchase it knowing very well that they will not even touch the single player campaign. Personally, I love single player games. I always (when I used to play COD) played the single player campaign, and rarely played multiplayer. Call this weird, and call me an individual case, but this is my major worry with the new Xbox. I will want to play single player games without even thinking about being connected.
I understand that many of you will say 'You bought it knowing this, you idiot', and your argument is valid. However, it is the fact that this exists in the first place that annoys me. I understand that the system as a whole is designed to be online, and therefore perhaps this argument is nebulous. However, if we stand back from Microsoft, not see them as the sole problem, but rather a part of a much rather move in the entertainment/tech industry.
I don't want to always be connected or rely on connectivity. Sometimes I want to do things alone.
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/05/phil-harrison-xbox-one/
(ps. I know this is not well written. I suffer from dyslexia, so please excuse me)
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