An always-online requirement (as opposed to an always-online option) strikes me as incredibly, unfathomably stupid.
It has appeal for higher-end consumers, yet the need to be always online has enough drawbacks to make many hold off from purchasing the machine.
We're always online because they don't shut the Internet off.
More importantly, in Chrome Google is assuming we are always online, that connection is the norm, and that we will default to productivity in that mode.
Since SimCity was launched on 5 March, many players have blamed the "always online" requirement for causing bugs, in-game glitches and long waits to play the game.
Games makers may laud the always online requirement as the future, he said, but so far no studio had got it right or used that permanent link to do more with a game.
Unfortunately the latest rumors about the next Xbox console code named Durango and its always online connectivity are only being amplified, with new wrinkles pointing to Microsoft dodging or outright preventing used game sales.
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The concept behind the always-online, always connected SimCity is sound, interesting, and fun.
Both SimCity and Diablo III launched as always-online, always connected games and both have experienced extremely rough waters especially during launch.
For now, it appears EA will be placing all of its eggs in the always-online basket, and while this makes sense to some degree (tie-ins almost always do, to some degree) I doubt it will pan out quite the way the publisher has in mind.
The next Xbox may have an always-online requirement, according to sources across the internet.
Bradshaw tells us that the developer was following its vision for an always-online game.
And with support from HEAT, Mplayer, and UT's "find the server" feature, you'll always find online opponents.
Each new release of an always-online game built around a single-player experience is a good reminder of the latter.
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Of course, the question of ownership over your digital purchases is further complicated by the always-online nature of games like SimCity.
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CCSweets has locations in Central Park in CBD and the Village North in Sanlitun, and you can always order online.
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The always-online requirement won criticism from many players who said it was unnecessary and was more about preventing piracy than improving gameplay.
Those gamers who have been able to circumvent the always-online Digital Rights Management (DRM) issues have already logged nearly 8 million hours of gameplay.
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For those who just can't wait, well, there's always Aliens Online.
Diablo 3 is already garnering criticism for the always-online DRM method.
The always-online requirement is already causing problems for many gamers.
Why face the PR nightmare of an always-online system when most gamers (and non-gamers) will connect their system to their Wifi network and leave it connected?
Because the game was designed to be an always-online experience, even for single player, the millions of PC gamers who want to build their virtual metropolises need to log on to play.
The decision to make these games always-online is a big one that impacts the way games are played and enjoyed in a serious way, sometimes for the better but also sometimes for the worse.
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Thankfully, Sony will not have an always-online requirement.
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