My reaction to the latest rumors about the next Xbox. Is it RROD'd before it launches?

I find the recent NextBox rumors a bit troubling.  Assuming they are true, how could a console with no disc drive that locks games to one account appeal to the masses?  I know, they're only rumors and are completely unsubstantiated, but really, what if this is true?

For starters, it would mean no sharing of games like we now do with physical storage media, at least without some sort of practical account transferring system.  Maybe this would work for kids who regularly visit with friends, but for adults like myself who rarely game outside of my own abode I find this unacceptable.  I don't swap games nearly as often as I used to, but I still do.  Maybe 15% of the games I played this generation were borrowed from friends.

What about folks who aren't connected to the internet?  Are they supposed to buy a 32g flash drive and transfer games from a retailer?  

I'm having a tough time wrapping my head around this.  If this is true, my worry is that it will somehow succeed and Sony will take notice and follow suit.  There's obvious potential benefits that come with a digital-only distribution model as it would save on packaging and shipping, and mainline MSRP profits straight to the publisher/developer, but I've read arguments that claim server maintenance for said distribution could offset or exceed this cost.

The other potential benefit favors the consumer in the form of hope for cheaper games, but, as was proven with digital releases of recent games, the price remains the same.  Mass Effect 3 costs the same on PSN Store as it does at Wal-Mart.

I don't plan on buying the next Xbox, anyway, so it's kind of a moot point, but, like I said, what if Sony hangs back and decides to do the same thing?  I just don't know what to make of.  It makes sense for handhelds like Vita, but not consoles. 

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• David

  Posted: Mar 14, 2012 12:00AM PST by  BrokenH
  

  I love my hard-copy material media. Assuming this 100% digital content rumor is true, various tweaks and approaches could make it viable but I imagine there will be a long road weeding out loopholes, glitches, storage constraints, and overall limitations.

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  • Same here, Ben.

    Posted: Mar 14, 2012 12:00AM PST by  Raised_on_Nintendo
    

    The future of digital distribution has been discussed for a while, and as it comes closer to fruition I'm very opposed to it.  RE:Mercenaries was case study on the whole 1 game per console idea, and it didn't go over well.  It just wreaks of big business.

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• Hmmmm

  Posted: Mar 14, 2012 12:00AM PST by  cschultziv
  

  When I read an article stating they may just use a removable solid state card I just assumed they meant something similar to what the PS Vita and 3DS use.  Basically a cartridge.  Since you can get a large card for fairly cheap these days I thought that's what it would be.  This is interesting though.

  The reason I thought that is because I never believed Microsoft would use a Blu-ray drive.  You see, if they did they'd have to pay Sony a couple of cents with every one sold.  After all, Blu-ray belongs to Sony.  Can you imagine that?  Sony makes money when they sell their games and when they sell Microsoft's games.

  Anyway, now that you put it this way I'm a little worried.  I like my physical games as well.  I also rent a lot of games from my local Blockbuster for $16 a month.  It would definitely put a damper on that.

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  • Interesting @ card.

    Posted: Mar 14, 2012 12:00AM PST by  Raised_on_Nintendo
    

    ya know, I probably wouldn't mind that so much @ cartridge.  Who knows, maybe it could be like an MP3 player and have other practical uses.  If Nintendo can pack a screen in the WiiU controller, what's stopping anyone from creating a versatile transfer device like the iPod to download and transfer games to a console?  Granted, the iPod has it's limitations, but the potential for similar devices exists.

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• Excellent points

  Posted: Mar 14, 2012 12:00AM PST by  thetruth101
  

  On the flipside of this though (I don't plan on buying a xbox 720 or whatever it will be called either) if Microsoft does attempt this and it proves to be a failed medium, Sony, who traditionally releases its hardware after its competition might have learned what not to do.

  I think any company that goes for this model with a new home console is commiting corporate suicide. Sure it may be what 3rd party publishers want, but it's important to remember that all of us don't get what we want in life all the time, and sometimes it's for the best. A physical based storage medium is an absolute must which Sony learned with the PSP go. The Vita has the physical medium but makes it cheaper for you if you buy it digitally.

  Honestly I don't quite know the solution either, but if Microsoft is really considering this, they should just have their old Windows 98 programmers start digging a big hole right now, becuase they are burying themselves and they might not even know it.

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  • I want to believe that.

    Posted: Mar 15, 2012 12:00AM PST by  Raised_on_Nintendo
    

    I think in the end, though, the best business model will win the day.  The next console generation is quickly turning into the most interesting.

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• Digital

  Posted: Mar 15, 2012 12:00AM PST by  FAF101
  

  Eventually as we all know everything will be done to be purchased digitally, but I feel it's not the right time yet for consoles to do that (go fully digital). As well with the new xbox thinking it's an amazing idea to go without discs. I know previously when they mentioned they wouldn't allow used games, that unsettled me because I like buying used games from time to time. That was before they mentioned no disc drive though. Something you mentioned about the digital being the same price as the ones bought in stores, I feel they should not cost the same (for the new games).

  The way I see it, if this system fails, Sony is probably going to make a huge come back because they will probably be smart and avoid doing what Microsoft is thinking of doing. Also I am content with what I currently have and I am not planning on getting the new xbox anytime soon after it's released.

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  • Same here

    Posted: Mar 15, 2012 12:00AM PST by  Raised_on_Nintendo
    

    I'm content with the PS3 and probably won't upgrade that for at least 2 years.  I will, though, buy a WiiU fairly early.

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• Rumor..

  Posted: Mar 15, 2012 12:00AM PST by  cly5000
  

  I read that they were looking at a physical based-storage, but didn't exactly give any real details. Perhaps a mirco-cartridge or some similar form? Anyway, here's the article:

  http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-11086-Rumour--Next-Gen-Xbox-Won-t-Have-a-Disc-Drive.html

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  • The media format.

    Posted: Mar 15, 2012 12:00AM PST by  Raised_on_Nintendo
    

    If that's the case, I guess I'm okay with a microchip.  It's amazing how many gigs of data can fit on a chip the size of my pinky fingernail.  But that still doesn't solve the issue of locking games to one user account.  I generally don't endorse piracy, nor oppose it, but in this case I'm kinda hoping that hackers can find a way around this!

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• A lot of people were assuming that

  Posted: Mar 15, 2012 12:00AM PST by  PaulMC
  

  No disc drive/blu ray means only digital downloads, I honestly doubt that will be the case.  There are other forms of physical media that are out or could be in prototype stages for the new xbox.

  If you stop and think about it, the next generation of games will have much better graphics and sound. Those games might not even fit on blu-ray discs.  But more importantly, look at the performance.  When the next gen consoles come out, I DO NOT WANT BLU RAY.  Some of those games take really long to load.  Uncharted takes over a minute from the time you boot it up.  The load times will get exponentially larger with the next gen.  All the hardware needs an upgrade.  Disc drives and blu ray would be holding the system back with extreme load times.

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  • Not to mention

    Posted: Mar 15, 2012 12:00AM PST by  echosauce
    

    optical drives are notorious for burning out.  All of my old cartridge based systems still play my old games fine.  My current systems are already starting to fizzle.  So much for retro gaming this gen in the future.

    I agree, alot of people are jumping to conclusions when I don't think download only is where they will be with this system.

    I welcome a different form of storage.

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• I'm sure that

  Posted: Mar 15, 2012 12:00AM PST by  XextralifeX
  

  sure that games will be all digital soon. Just like music and movies are going that way. They're probably be physical media but not as prevalent as it is now. With rumors that Valve and Apple are getting into the home console market. I think it's  inevitable .

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  • Do I hear

    Posted: Mar 15, 2012 12:00AM PST by  Raised_on_Nintendo
    

    EA and Activision drooling in the background?