PS4 will require subscription to play online multiplayer.

[Sardukhar]

Mmm. Previously, no one paid extra for any servers. They were hosted on the users computer. While he or she played, others played with them. But that was a simpler, modem time. And early broadband. Some of us would take an extraneous, now-obsolete system we'd upgraded from and set it up as a server, increasing the value of the original system purchase past it's operating lifespan as a primary machine.

Now things are different, but many of us do miss the days of dedicated servers and user-run servers. I'm not even sure how such an infrastructure would work these days on consoles. On PCs, it's still pretty doable - many of the games Valve matches you for, you or someone else are hosting. Games also contain(ed) internal server browsers.

DayZ still does.

Marketing is so potent, you know. In a relatively free market, with supply and demand operating a healthy manner and an aware consumer base, value of product is determined by that market. Shite product, shite value. Great product, great value. Add in supply.demand adjustments, etc.

But marketing can convince an otherwise aware or undecided consumer to make what is actually quite a poor decision. And keep making it, reinforcing the business model of the producer to keep making shite product with good marketing.

In order to compensate, the consumer must fight almost a battle against clever marketers in order to perceive value clearly.

What a world, eh?

 

[dragonbird]

I can't argue with that - when something once free becomes monetarised, it's always sad, and often not obviously in the customer's interest.

 

[Neural_Cipher]

Just one step closer to a real CP2020

 

[jacqsynn]

So I read somewhere that MS decided to drop the need to be online 100% to play the games that are single player, and opening up the resale and trading of games letting folks continue doing what they have been doing for years. I just hope that means Sony will wake the F&%K UP and figure it out that gamers don't want to be locked in and not be able trade, resale, and loan a game out to a buddy. How do you guys feel about it?

 

[dragonbird]

So I read somewhere that MS decided to drop the need to be online 100% to play the games that are single player, and opening up the resale and trading of games letting folks continue doing what they have been doing for years. I just hope that means Sony will wake the F&%K UP and figure it out that gamers don't want to be locked in and not be able trade, resale, and loan a game out to a buddy. How do you guys feel about it?

You're a little out-of-date with the news - MS changed the requirement because Sony made big and very loud announcements at E3 that they're NOT introducing these restrictions.