User Info: Nintendological Nintendological 7 years ago #1



The dangers of locked software have begat a platform on which users are required to submit to mandatory online authentications, mandatory installations, and authorizations for reselling a game, in one fell swoop. Gamers have had their right to resell a game impaired by restrictive software. Users will have to install games on a proprietary hard drive and can only access more space by purchasing a specialized drive from Microsoft. In a sense, the end user has now become a slave to a malicious system, all because we kept handing over our software freedoms in exchange for convenience.



The sad thing is, it will only get worse. The physical media for Xbox One games are just a placebo. You may buy a disc, but you have to register your software online and attach it to your account. So the illusion of having a product is there, when in reality what users hve is a service. And while some software should be a service (antivirus software), most software works best as a product for the user to own and use. What begins with buying discs and registering them online will one day soon become streaming your licensed software from the cloud. We can already see the beginnings of this with Microsoft Azure and the Xbox One cloud computing initiative.



Ultimately, Richard Stallman had incredible foresight in recognizing the danger of users giving up their sftware freedoms. And now, it seems that it is too late. "This topic is racist. Also, **** the Gungans" - GeneralCortez For those that don't know, Richard Stallman is the founder of the Free Software Foundation and the creator of the GNU operating system that powers GNU/Linux. For decades, Stallman has warned against the dangers of proprietary applications and their ability to strip users of the freedom to use software as they please. Many people laughed him off and called him paranoid, but with the Xbox One on the horizon, Stallman's words can be understood more clearly.The dangers of locked software have begat a platform on which users are required to submit to mandatory online authentications, mandatory installations, and authorizations for reselling a game, in one fell swoop. Gamers have had their right to resell a game impaired by restrictive software. Users will have to install games on a proprietary hard drive and can only access more space by purchasing a specialized drive from Microsoft. In a sense, the end user has now become a slave to a malicious system, all because we kept handing over our software freedoms in exchange for convenience.The sad thing is, it will only get worse. The physical media for Xbox One games are just a placebo. You may buy a disc, but you have to register your software online and attach it to your account. So the illusion of having a product is there, when in reality what users hve is a service. And while some software should be a service (antivirus software), most software works best as a product for the user to own and use. What begins with buying discs and registering them online will one day soon become streaming your licensed software from the cloud. We can already see the beginnings of this with Microsoft Azure and the Xbox One cloud computing initiative.Ultimately, Richard Stallman had incredible foresight in recognizing the danger of users giving up their sftware freedoms. And now, it seems that it is too late.

User Info: SORS_IMMANIS SORS_IMMANIS 7 years ago #2 This is the fault of capitalism, which is the fault of America.

User Info: DarkSymbiote DarkSymbiote 7 years ago #3 Will Xbox go home? Tune in later this year to find out! Interesting. Why did people laugh him off? It was obvious too much locking would be bad.

User Info: CaptainLuka CaptainLuka 7 years ago #4 DarkSymbiote posted...

Interesting. Why did people laugh him off? It was obvious too much locking would be bad.



People always point and laugh at what they think is paranoia. Rarely do people consider the possibilities of something. They don't have to believe that something - just keep their mind open to the possibility.



Instead you get name calling and shunning. GT/PSN - Tyrannikos

http://i.imgur.com/ZirY22H.gif People always point and laugh at what they think is paranoia. Rarely do people consider the possibilities of something. They don't have to believe that something - just keep their mind open to the possibility.Instead you get name calling and shunning.

User Info: DarkSymbiote DarkSymbiote 7 years ago #5 From: CaptainLuka

DarkSymbiote posted...

Interesting. Why did people laugh him off? It was obvious too much locking would be bad.



People always point and laugh at what they think is paranoia. Rarely do people consider the possibilities of something. They don't have to believe that something - just keep their mind open to the possibility.



Instead you get name calling and shunning.



*shakes fist* My Resident Evil 6 Review| My XCOM: Enemy Unknown Review

http://bitly.com/Z2CT6n | http://bit.ly/RJGjrn *shakes fist*

User Info: Nintendological Nintendological (Topic Creator) 7 years ago #6 DarkSymbiote posted...

Interesting. Why did people laugh him off? It was obvious too much locking would be bad.



Despite holding an advanced degree and having an education from Harvard and MIT, many people consider Stallman to be eccentric, paranoid and hostile and therefore deem him an idiot. Stallman is very passionate about software freedom to the extent of applying his beliefs to his overarching political ideology. Stallman believes that a free society requires free software (free as in freedom, not free as in "free beer") or else it will be in danger of being abused by those in power.



Given the recent developments with the new Kinect always being on and becoming a pitential spying threat, I can honestly say that Stallman may be aware of more than he is letting on. Either way, even now, Stallman is mocked for his seemingly hippie ways. But wisdom amd trith are like the rain, and fall upin everyone, without bias or prejudice. So even if people hate Stallman, the truth of his words will still ring true. "This topic is racist. Also, **** the Gungans" - GeneralCortez Despite holding an advanced degree and having an education from Harvard and MIT, many people consider Stallman to be eccentric, paranoid and hostile and therefore deem him an idiot. Stallman is very passionate about software freedom to the extent of applying his beliefs to his overarching political ideology. Stallman believes that a free society requires free software (free as in freedom, not free as in "free beer") or else it will be in danger of being abused by those in power.Given the recent developments with the new Kinect always being on and becoming a pitential spying threat, I can honestly say that Stallman may be aware of more than he is letting on. Either way, even now, Stallman is mocked for his seemingly hippie ways. But wisdom amd trith are like the rain, and fall upin everyone, without bias or prejudice. So even if people hate Stallman, the truth of his words will still ring true.

User Info: DarkSymbiote DarkSymbiote 7 years ago #7 From: Nintendological

DarkSymbiote posted...

Interesting. Why did people laugh him off? It was obvious too much locking would be bad.



Despite holding an advanced degree and having an education from Harvard and MIT, many people consider Stallman to be eccentric, paranoid and hostile and therefore deem him an idiot. Stallman is very passionate about software freedom to the extent of applying his beliefs to his overarching political ideology. Stallman believes that a free society requires free software (free as in freedom, not free as in "free beer") or else it will be in danger of being abused by those in power.



Given the recent developments with the new Kinect always being on and becoming a pitential spying threat, I can honestly say that Stallman may be aware of more than he is letting on. Either way, even now, Stallman is mocked for his seemingly hippie ways. But wisdom amd trith are like the rain, and fall upin everyone, without bias or prejudice. So even if people hate Stallman, the truth of his words will still ring true.



I suppose his staunch stance on free software was a bit too much. Liquor is powerful. But Soda is solid. I suppose his staunch stance on free software was a bit too much.

User Info: dearestnight dearestnight 7 years ago #8 It's rare I learn something new of value when it comes to a gfaqs post. This actually pushed me to do some research. Thanks TC, interesting read.

User Info: VirtuousHermiT VirtuousHermiT 7 years ago #9



Death to Kinect!

Death to Xbox!

Death to Microsoft!



So much for my former xbox brand loyalty... One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant. Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance. Indeed. This madness needs to stop. I just want a good sequel to the 360 but more powerful. Is that too much to ask? But the way Micro$ux is going about its business and its ideology is repulsive to me in the highest degree. All they managed to accomplish was alienate me and probably thousands of other happy 360 owners who were just looking for a solid console without putting up with MS BS and jumping through their hoops like ignorant little sheep.Death to Kinect!Death to Xbox!Death to Microsoft!So much for my former xbox brand loyalty...