Latest Techdirt Comments

Latest Techdirt Comments http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130616/20142123500/games-war-designer-cliff-bleszinski-used-games-must-be-killed-order-unsustainable-aaa-development-to-live.shtml#c1760 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:43:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130616/20142123500/games-war-designer-cliff-bleszinski-used-games-must-be-killed-order-unsustainable-aaa-development-to-live.shtml#c1760 This certainly can't be an accident, launched today:

It probably was. GoG has a "twice a year extravaganza" (my words, not theirs) where they mark down most if not their entire collection. Usually right after Christmas, and at the beginning of summer break. I usually spend my entire entertainment budget for the month on GoG in December and June. They usually have limited deals (less than 9 hours each,) where they have deep discounts on some titles (picked up Alan Wake/Wake in America bundle for the normal cost of one of the games last night,) and most of their collection is either 33% or 50% off. Every once in a while I go in there and buy something at full price, but I spend a lot more during these times for games that I really have no interest in playing but merely want to check them out (so far, it's been in my favor as I've found a bunch of games I play often now that I didn't even know about until I picked them up at discount.)]]> Re: See http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c268 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:42:24 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c268 Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c441 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:41:10 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c441
It's just nice as an option rather than a requirement.]]> What's this? Mike FOR anti-trust? ... What about Google? http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/11215823532/supreme-court-says-pharmas-pay-delay-agreements-may-violate-antitrust-law.shtml#c14 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:39:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/11215823532/supreme-court-says-pharmas-pay-delay-agreements-may-violate-antitrust-law.shtml#c14 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c266 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:39:09 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c266 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS"

Gee, what a surprise.]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c438 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:37:36 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c438 Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c417 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:30:14 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c417
As for the 360, notice that they'll be continuing support for the system for sometime after the Xbox One comes out. You don't need to ditch your 360 when you get the One (and in fact, I'd highly advise against even considering such a foolish idea).]]> Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/10395523531/next-time-someone-says-twitter-is-killing-deep-thinking-with-short-quick-messages-show-them-this.shtml#c388 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:30:02 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/10395523531/next-time-someone-says-twitter-is-killing-deep-thinking-with-short-quick-messages-show-them-this.shtml#c388 Re: Re: Point of curiosity... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c248 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:29:29 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c248 Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/10395523531/next-time-someone-says-twitter-is-killing-deep-thinking-with-short-quick-messages-show-them-this.shtml#c381 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:28:31 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/10395523531/next-time-someone-says-twitter-is-killing-deep-thinking-with-short-quick-messages-show-them-this.shtml#c381
Nearly everything can be accomplished in less time than it used to take, and that has been a pretty much constant trend over time.]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c408 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:26:14 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c408
With no used-game market, and no disc manufacturing/distribution, there should be a significant price cut for digital-only games ;)]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c402 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:25:02 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c402 Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c381 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:24:50 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c381 Re: Not buying it... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c359 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:23:49 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c359
I thought they might have a problem with the EU and the regulations and did mention it on here somewhere , nice to know that they are backing down before the showdown and possible blocking of the xbone in the EU.
The problem is that this makes me wonder if they will return the restrictions once they have sold a few million consoles.]]> Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c339 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:22:32 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c339 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c316 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:22:04 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c316
Is anyone at Microsoft even remotely competent?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c304 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:22:01 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c304 Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c284 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:21:58 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c284 "Door-in-the-face technique" in practice. It goes like this:

- I want something that the people I want it from aren't going to like.
- I ask them for something far, far worse. They say "no way!" and (metaphorically) slam the door in my face.
- I come back and ask them for what I really wanted all along. They give it to me, because I'm suddenly sounding a lot more reasonable.

Keeping this in mind, let's look at what Microsoft actually said:

After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

- What I want: DRM on all games in the form of a universally required activation system. But gamers hate DRM. They wouldn't accept that.
- What I ask for: always-online DRM requiring a persistent Internet connection. Gamers slam the door in my face and let me know that there's no way I'll sell any consoles with an onerous restriction like that.
- What I give them instead: DRM on all games in the form of a universally required activation system. Gamers buy my console because I "listened to them" and did away with the always-on Internet requirement, which I never intended to actually implement in the first place.
- I laugh all the way to the bank.]]> Response to: S. T. Stone on Jun 19th, 2013 @ 2:37pm http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c261 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:20:28 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/13581923535/microsoft-capitulates-removes-online-drm-xbox-one.shtml#c261 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/10395523531/next-time-someone-says-twitter-is-killing-deep-thinking-with-short-quick-messages-show-them-this.shtml#c376 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:19:57 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/10395523531/next-time-someone-says-twitter-is-killing-deep-thinking-with-short-quick-messages-show-them-this.shtml#c376