Wii has a feature (WiiConnect24 I think) that puts the console in low-power-mode once powering down that keeps the console connected to the Internet. It downloads messages and stuff for the NintendoChannel in this mode. Was Nintendo creating the future here? Who avoided to buy a Wii because of this?

Discuss!

OMG I didn't know that.
Wii was the future, after all...

The 360 and the PS3 can do the same.

You missed the bit where a few sources rumored that on the next Xbox you have to be connected or you can't start any game or application, not even ones that don't require to fetch data from the web. That's what the commotion is about, not about being able to stay always connected for updates, which is a given.

What????? If that's true M$ will be doomed

You should catch up on the events of the last 48 hours.

this post sums up everything needed to known in this thread.

It's not the same though. What we are looking at here is the fact that you will not be able to play a game AT ALL unless you are connected to the internet ... even singleplayer. What this effectively does is add hundreds of pounds to the cost of playing games on the 720. I've had my PS3 for 3 years now and for 2 of those years I played games even though I had no internet, and the reason for that is that I couldn't afford the £25 a month (£300 a year) to do that.

The point is, we have so far wild speculations based on rumors. Surely it would suck, if you can play games only if you're online. Also the comments of this Orth-guy were pretty stupid and the shitstorm was justified. But seeing endless discussions about a speculation seems to lead to far. It is simple as that: if MS implements a DRM, that needs you to be online while playing even single-player, then they shall get every hate possible and I hope the sales will suffer. But the rumors of always on and always connected can be really many other things.

So I think it is OK to say, that IF MS considers such a restriction on gaming they should go to hell. But the discussion should also accept, that we don't even know if MS even considers this.

Its still a hypothetical situation. But if you take everything into account:

Random rumors popping up over months recently: Edge reporting, XBox leaked docs, Kotaku, Oarth and no denial or official response to that, its logical that people start to talk about it and start taking it seriously.

Wow, I'm so sick of these rumours being bought up again and again and again. Sony are the one with the patent, no one says anything, as said above, all 3 consoles from the previous gen can do it and nothing, nothing negative anyway. In my view, it's really not going to be as bad as people are making it out to be. Microsoft aren't stupid, you know that, right?