I wonder if whoever's in charge of the new Xbox at Microsoft is bipolar or schizophrenic.

All that talk about the Xbox having a compulsory online check every 24 hours? That games couldn't be traded? Region lock?

They just pulled a 180 and dropped all that.

I've got a feeling someone didn't like the preorder numbers since E3...

I half-expected them to drop it too, because it sounded so stupid, but they still suggested it. They still floated that balloon. That means that, at some point, they considered the idea as a valid one.

The problem with an online check, assuming it's implemented, is what happens when the console gets old enough. They decide to pull the plug on the authentication servers. 24 hours later, your console because useless forever? One of the big upsides of consoles is that they work, under any circumstances. Hurting that convenience should be a big no-no.

I'm already annoyed enough with mobile games that require an online validation once in a while. If you can't validate your install every few days, you can't play your game. Simple as that. And that's a big problem for me:
1- I don't have a data plan. No Internet = no validation.
2- Even if I did, I mostly play those games during my commute, which includes a lengthy subway segment. Underground = no Internet = no validation.

Games are made for our enjoyment. If I can't play them easily, then they're being annoying and I don't want that when I'm supposed to be having fun.


On the other hand, I could be convinced to agree on the used sales thing. I don't look at the used games in Gamestop / EBGames / whatever as I know that the price difference between used and new isn't usually worth it. I think I ever purchased a used game from them ONCE, as it had a large price drop from launch and it couldn't be easily found anymore.