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Microsoft Studios' creative director has some choice words about always-online

I'm sorry, I don't understand your post. Can you elaborate further.

How would they get you to download, install the RAT program on a closed network like Xbox Live?

You asked how will they get you to download it and I said they'll disguise it as something you want.
You implied that Xbox Live is on a closed network I said they are using internet which is not a closed network.

A few years ago a guy in my country was arrested because he 'fixed' pretty girls' iphones. He told them that they needed moisture to heal so they should take their phones with them into the bathroom when they showered. My mind was conflicted over whether he was a sad perv or brilliant to get them to do it.

I assume the next step on his plan was to say: "Still not working? Let me check how you are applying that moisture." Some PR company should have grabbed him for his "talent".
 
You asked how will they get you to download it and I said they'll disguise it as something you want.
You implied that Xbox Live is on a closed network I said they are using internet which is not a closed network.

What exactly am I missing here? Disguise it as something we want? Who would? Hackers?

Wouldn't the risk be about the same as you would have with a smart phone with a built in camera always connected to some network (Internet)????
 

Ding-Ding

Member
Wouldn't work on consoles. How would they get you to download, install the RAT program on a closed network like Xbox Live?

Who is to say thats how they would do it?

Lets take some of the rumours. Always online, low power mode, instant boot, kinect etc

Now lets take a something that has been reported . Superdae, a hacker that was able to get an Xbox user's account info only by knowing their Gamertag.

So, with account details and an always on, always connected console that links to other win 8 devices. What exactly can you do to prevent a remote access and having that freak watch you when you sleep?

Now the same thing can be said about the PS4 if the account details can be obtained. However, choice of no internet, no need for the camera etc makes a difference. Unless of course you dont mind manually disconnecting everything on durango everytime you are not using it.
 
This is all speculation/my opinion:

Windows 8 was a response to the market shift from PCs to touchscreen mobile devices. MS sees the PC market continuing to shrink and doesn't mind stepping on a few PC desktop users toes to try to make people familiar with its mobile touch interface. MS isn't done with Windows 8, though. Eventually Windows OS will be an "online service" like Office 365 with a yearly subscription, where they can force you to only install approved apps and change the OS at their whim. Steam is already trying to get onto Linux ahead of the Windows endgame.

Xbox Loop is going to be a response to the market shift from dedicated gaming consoles that play single purchase games to convergence devices that offer games and other content as a service. They're going for a subsidized cable box model where the console is very cheap and tied to a 3 yr service contract. The bet is that they can squeeze more money out of fewer customers with a subscription model than they can out of offline gamers that buy at most a few $59.99 games a year. They can also do some interesting game and content concepts knowing each console will be always online. It could end up being ridiculously profitable compared to the traditional console model.

The best hardcore gamers can hope for is the PS4 and open source PC OSes to be successful.
 
I just saw this tweet from PlayStation Latin America:
https://twitter.com/playstation_la/status/320582174824857600

It says "We don't keep secrets from our gamers, Suscribe to our conversation about PS4" lol.

Meh, if they want to improve on their insulting arrogance pre-ps3 they should show what makes the ps4 the must have system, price, games and great online instead of being playground taunters

Market the system, not petty name calling
 

RetroStu

Banned
I'm sorry, I don't understand your post. Can you elaborate further.



They didn't. The base game gives you more than enough resources to build weapons. DLC is there for those who want don't want to or can't be bothered to collect those resources throughout the game.

If that kind of DLC and microtransactions only target that then i'm fine with it, i just have a feeling that they will make some games so hard to progress that you will end up having to pay for something to finish the game, hell EA did that in one of the Tiger Woods games from 2 or 3 years back where it was almost impossible to get your player anywhere close to 100% stats without paying for it.
 

Alx

Member
So, with account details and an always on, always connected console that links to other win 8 devices. What exactly can you do to prevent a remote access and having that freak watch you when you sleep?

Having access to a user account doesn't give you control on any hardware linked to that account. You can probably access any info that is stored server-side (private information, messages, friends), retrieve digital content bought with that account... But how would you stream video from a camera with that info ?
In a similar situation, if I get the facebook login of someone else, I can access all his info stored on his account, but I can't start his video chat app, even if there is an official FB one (there is, right ?).

I just saw this tweet from PlayStation Latin America:
https://twitter.com/playstation_la/status/320582174824857600

It says "We don't keep secrets from our gamers, Suscribe to our conversation about PS4" lol.

It reminds me of the Sega picture "we're sorry for the PS2 availability problems", or even the Xboat... I don't think that kind of communication gives a good image of your company, and it usually is the tool of an outsider trying to tarnish the image of the dominant company (also seen in the Bing vs Google, or Samsung Vs Apple ads).
 
You asked how will they get you to download it and I said they'll disguise it as something you want.
You implied that Xbox Live is on a closed network I said they are using internet which is not a closed network.

Apologies, I meant to say closed platform. The point still stands somewhat, they wouldn't be able to access Xbox Live without passing through MS Live Server Platform and various other security protocols they'll have set up in between.

I'm not saying they can't be hacked, but the idea that someone could hack them, upload a program to all consoles and then activate that program remotely before MS realise what's happening is so infinitesimal that it's hardly worth worrying or losing any amount of sleep over.
 

Ding-Ding

Member
I just saw this tweet from PlayStation Latin America:
https://twitter.com/playstation_la/status/320582174824857600

It says "We don't keep secrets from our gamers, Suscribe to our conversation about PS4" lol.

Pretty stupid move by Sony. I wonder if their Latin region had permission for that little titbit.

Best thing Sony can do right now is to keep quiet. If they get sucked in then the focus of this battle will be between Sony & MS. Right now the battle is between the consumer & MS, which should be absolute heaven for them

Really stupid move
 
Who is to say thats how they would do it?

Lets take some of the rumours. Always online, low power mode, instant boot, kinect etc

Now lets take a something that has been reported . Superdae, a hacker that was able to get an Xbox user's account info only by knowing their Gamertag.

So, with account details and an always on, always connected console that links to other win 8 devices. What exactly can you do to prevent a remote access and having that freak watch you when you sleep?

Now the same thing can be said about the PS4 if the account details can be obtained. However, choice of no internet, no need for the camera etc makes a difference. Unless of course you dont mind manually disconnecting everything on durango everytime you are not using it.

This. It's all about choice. Some people fear having an online presence. Rational or irrational is irrelevant, it should never be mandatory.
 

Takuya

Banned
Apologies, I meant to say closed platform. The point still stands somewhat, they wouldn't be able to access Xbox Live without passing through MS Live Server Platform and various other security protocols they'll have set up in between.

I'm not saying they can't be hacked, but the idea that someone could hack them, upload a program to all consoles and then activate that program remotely before MS realise what's happening is so infinitesimal that it's hardly worth worrying or losing any amount of sleep over.

Microsoft will be the one doing the 'spying' and data collecting and selling it off to people or using your Kinect camera data to target ads at you, or other things. That alone is enough of a deterrent to getting their machine.

Whoa...my highschool mates on Facebook are talking about this.

Word spreads quickly. Lot of my Facebook friends have been posting links to the articles.

Pretty stupid move by Sony. I wonder if their Latin region had permission for that little titbit.

Best thing Sony can do right now is to keep quiet. If they get sucked in then the focus of this battle will be between Sony & MS. Right now the battle is between the consumer & MS, which should be absolute heaven for them

Really stupid move

Why is it stupid? They've targeted ads before saying "Jump out", "Yoga isn't gaming", etc.
 

Valkyria

Member
They are certainly talking about PS4.

Si, pero dice que no guardamos secretos de nuestros gamers, no se si en Argentina es más usual decirlo así, pero yo diría No guardamos secretos a nuestros gamers.

For not Spanish speakers: Maybe in Argentina they use another expression but for me It will go as:

We don't keep our gamer's secrets. That means they don't keep info for you, it's common to say things this way.
 

Mik_Pad

Banned
Pretty stupid move by Sony. I wonder if their Latin region had permission for that little titbit.

Best thing Sony can do right now is to keep quiet. If they get sucked in then the focus of this battle will be between Sony & MS. Right now the battle is between the consumer & MS, which should be absolute heaven for them

Really stupid move
As far as I know Xbox doesn't have Latinamerican representation, if you think about it makes sense that they take advantage since the percentage of households with Internet is even lower than in USA.
 

Mik_Pad

Banned
Si, pero dice que no guardamos secretos de nuestros gamers, no se si en Argentina es más usual decirlo así, pero yo diría No guardamos secretos a nuestros gamers.

For not Spanish speakers: Maybe in Argentina they use another expression but for me It will go as:

We don't keep our gamer's secrets.
I understand what you mean but it doesn't makes sense in the context of the whole tweet since later they say to join the PS4 conversation to learn more about it.
 
Microsoft will be the one doing the 'spying' and data collecting and selling it off to people or using your Kinect camera data to target ads at you, or other things. That alone is enough of a deterrent to getting their machine.

Spying how? Data collecting is the norm across all devices, it's pretty much enshrined as a requirement in all ToS agreement for companies that have access to large volumes of data. Sony are no different in this regard.

So we're back to entertaining conspiracy theories. Oh Lord.
 

Valkyria

Member
I understand what you mean but it doesn't makes sense in the context of the whole tweet since later they say to join the PS4 conversation to learn more about it.

I see your point too, but I believe they try to relate both things. Anyway a poor choice of words, They could have used other words. Maybe we should apply for the job ^_^ .
 

Takuya

Banned
Spying how? Data collecting is the norm across all devices, it's pretty much enshrined as a requirement in all ToS agreement for companies that have access to large volumes of data. Sony are no different in this regard.

So we're back to entertaining conspiracy theories. Oh Lord.

There's no conspiracy about it, having an always online requirement and having Kinect connected being required is a bad thing.
 
There's no conspiracy about it, having an always online requirement and having Kinect connected being required is a bad thing.

Yes, absolutely, but it doesn't mean they are intending to using Kinect to watch or spy on you. That's the conspiracy aspect and it's ridiculous it's being entertained as a real possibility by otherwise level headed individuals.
 

Mik_Pad

Banned
I see your point too, but I believe they try to relate both things. Anyway a poor choice of words, They could have used other words. Maybe we should apply for the job ^_^ .
Lol, PlayStation Latam is still in it's early days so maybe they will get better down the line but they certainly have done an amazing job in marketing in my country.
 
I was part of this thread and was drawn along by it against my better judgement. I naively thought that most people were genuinely concerned with the idea of 'always online' and were genuinely insulted by Adam's comments about a particular section of America, but as this thread grew so did my doubts for its intentions.

I am still interested in the contents of those Tweets and the ramifications of what he said; however, this has now become something more. My life was made a misery at school because of vindictive bullies, so it stings when I see another person on the receiving end of something like this, regardless of whether I respect the man or not.

This has become nothing short of a witch hunt and clearly dozens of posters are now actually 'getting off' on the idea of participating in the downfall of another man. This sickens me to my core and I'm embarrassed at the fact that I trusted my fellow Gaffers.

We're talking about a human being here, not something evil that deserves to be ostracised. I will NOT be part of the bandwagon that finally brings this person down; I will not sit idly by while hundreds of others wait excitedly for the guillotine to drop on someone's career. Yes, he made a mistake but who amongst us hasn't? It's time to leave him alone and let him gather what reputation he has left and salvage some dignity.

If Adam DOE'S eventually lose his job over this, question the morality of feeling oddly satisfied with that outcome. I will feel shame ... I hope some of you do too.

This has to be the most melodramatic post ever on gaf. He is a grown man who decided to bullshit with his friend publicly online. No one's fault but his.
 
Going off topic, but every time I hear Office 365/2013 gets mentioned my blood just boils.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1TGUMG/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Urghhhhh

The fuck.

Microsoft updated the Office 2013 license. You may now transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you, but not more than one time every 90 days (except due to hardware failure, in which case you may transfer sooner). If you transfer the software to another computer, that other computer becomes the "licensed computer."

Jesus Christ! Greedy bastards.
 
Yes, absolutely, but it doesn't mean they are intending to using Kinect to watch or spy on you. That's the conspiracy aspect and it's ridiculous it's being entertained as a real possibility by otherwise level headed individuals.

All it takes is:
Hacker (Hope you weren't naked)
Government (Patriot Act) - They have spied on people they shouldn't have
(granted who cares, it's not like you are doing anything illegal)
Very lose TOS (for profit)

Let's not forget the children:
Pedophiles (Always online, always see you... Yeah this is what I want, some perv watching my kids play games): Talking to them trying to get them to do things when I'm not home.

No kid of mine will have access to a gaming console with a camera and internet required!
 

Fivefold

Banned
You asked how will they get you to download it and I said they'll disguise it as something you want.
You implied that Xbox Live is on a closed network I said they are using internet which is not a closed

So how are you getting your unsigned malware code to run on the console, and how are you making it available at all, considering MS has full control over software distribution channels?

This is not a PC where some dumbass can just open kristinahendrickstits.jpeg.exe and get infected.
 

RetroStu

Banned
Yes, absolutely, but it doesn't mean they are intending to using Kinect to watch or spy on you. That's the conspiracy aspect and it's ridiculous it's being entertained as a real possibility by otherwise level headed individuals.

If i get one, i'll definately be putting a bit of tape over the Kinect he he. Seriously though, alternative media have been talking about this stuff regarding cameras in stuff thats always online for years and not in a good way, i'm not saying i believe it but its rather worrying how much stuff they talk about that starts coming true a few years later!.
 

Takuya

Banned
So how are you getting your unsigned malware code to run on the console, and how are you making it available at all, considering MS has full control over software distribution channels?

This is not a PC where some dumbass can just open kristinahendrickstits.jpeg.exe and get infected.

As long as it runs any Windows kernel ,there will be plenty of holes to exploit.
 

bidguy

Banned
All it takes is:
Hacker (Hope you weren't naked)
Government (Patriot Act) - They have spied on people they shouldn't have
(granted who cares, it's not like you are doing anything illegal)
Very lose TOS (for profit)

Let's not forget the children:
Pedophiles (Always online, always see you... Yeah this is what I want, some perv watching my kids play games): Talking to them trying to get them to do things when I'm not home.

No kid of mine will have access to a gaming console with a camera and internet required!

Stick a band-aid onto the camera. Problem solved, you can stop being paranoid now.
 

Ding-Ding

Member
Why is it stupid? They've targeted ads before saying "Jump out", "Yoga isn't gaming", etc.

Thats because the attacks you mentioned was part of a battle between MS & Sony for the consumers trade.

This battle is consumer vs MS. Sony just need to sit it out and watch the sparks fly as this shit will spin itself.

Right now, MS can hardly start attacking the consumer so all they can do is to take the punishment. IF Sony get involved, then MS have something to aim at to try to deflect attention.
 
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