Durango Implements Always-On DRM, Multi-GPU

[btarunr]

Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console, codenamed "Durango", will implement an "always-on" DRM, according to a VG 24/7 report. Always-on is a stringent anti-piracy measure that's already in use with some PC game titles published by Ubisoft, which requires the players to be connected to the Internet when playing. Even as its proponents (read: game publishers only), claim increased sales, it faces strong opposition from the gaming community. The Christmas 2013 (tentative) launch of Durango rides on the assumption that fast, always-on broadband Internet will have proliferated to every living room.

Next up, there's talk of Durango featuring a unique multi-GPU hardware design that doesn't resemble symmetric PC multi-GPU technologies such as NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire, but instead, the two GPUs will be tasked with rendering the same object redundantly. Perhaps Durango features native flicker-free stereoscopic 3D capability, and the two GPUs are merely rendering the two planes? Once again, there's talk that these GPUs will be designed by AMD. The CPU of Durango will feature "four or six" cores. Lastly, Blu-ray disc is back as the storage medium, in these latest rumors.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Jstn7477]

Gamers will probably miss the days where you could just plug the console into your TV and play/share games. I remember playing PS2 in the car years ago when I went on some road trips.

What happens when XBOX "3" no longer has support from Microsoft? Will that kill the ability to even have a working XBOX "3" 20 years from now when people could still have fully functioning NES/SNES/N64 systems that are free of restrictions?

I'm fine with Steam, but I'll hate the day that the Steam network ceases to exist (if the software now is still even compatible with computers then).

 

[AlienIsGOD]

What happens when XBOX "3" no longer has support from Microsoft? Will that kill the ability to even have a working XBOX "3" 20 years from now when people could still have fully functioning NES/SNES/N64 systems that are free of restrictions?

I have a NES in my closet, just needs its spring fixed and its g2g

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I said this was coming and there it is.

 

[hardcore_gamer]

Son of a:shadedshu

 

[Saidrex]

Greed knows no bounds. Fighting piracy this way hurts honest customers more than pirates.

 

[Suhidu]

What happens when XBOX "3" no longer has support from Microsoft? Will that kill the ability to even have a working XBOX "3" 20 years from now when people could still have fully functioning NES/SNES/N64 systems that are free of restrictions?

It wouldn't surprise me, considering the precedent set when Microsoft shut down the Original XBOX Live servers back in 2010.

The problem then was that XBOX Live was designed for no dedicated servers, Microsoft could shut down the last one. The problem now is that they're designing no "dedicated" way of allowing you to play games on your own next XBOX, Microsoft can allow you your last session.

 

[phanbuey]

There are two problems with always on DRM IMO:

1 - It is still crackable, so piracy will still be a problem for titles.

2 - It is a huge pain in the butt, wildly unpopular - and will actually hurt sales to some extent.

Some game devs will take advantage of the always on DRM, until they realize that it does not stop piracy to any extent, as there will be some exploit which will get around it.

 

[Kreij]

Xbox 720′s graphics units will be able to work independently, drawing separate items simultaneously.

but instead, the two GPUs will be tasked with rendering the same object redundantly

The quote from the linked article sounds like the GPUs will be drawing different items for display simultaneously, not the same items redundantly.

 

[Papahyooie]

And I try so hard to be good and not pirate... what they dont realize is, alot of times they force people who are generally honest into piracy to avoid stupid crap like this. I suppose you could actually buy the game and then "pirate" (download a cracked version even though you own it), but that just feels all sort of wrong. Why should I "support the developers" if they aren't going to support me? As it turns out, the guys supporting me are the ones doing the cracking, while the developers are trying to screw me.

 

[Mega-Japan]

And I try so hard to be good and not pirate... what they dont realize is, alot of times they force people who are generally honest into piracy to avoid stupid crap like this. I suppose you could actually buy the game and then "pirate" (download a cracked version even though you own it), but that just feels all sort of wrong. Why should I "support the developers" if they aren't going to support me? As it turns out, the guys supporting me are the ones doing the cracking, while the developers are trying to screw me.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I find this sort of thing to be simply unnecessary. Hell, other than MMO's (for obvious reasons), I find anything that MUST have you online to use, completely dumb. I travel a lot because of my job, and a lot of times I find myself without internet.

That's why I got sooo mad when I bought a retail box of Skyrim and couldn't play because the thing required Steam, and was forced to get a no-steam crack through other means. The crack did more than just taking care of the steam requirement though, and after being annoyed by the situation, and disappointed by the game on top of it, sold the unused serial key on eBay for $40, lol.

 

[nonkX3]

i just can't believe that geeks can be greedy too...

 

[Batou1986]

The quote from the linked article sounds like the GPUs will be drawing different items for display simultaneously, not the same items redundantly.

So no more MS dashboard lag?.... then again it lags on pc titles too.

 

[ZoneDymo]

VG24/7 also referred to durango still as Xbox 720.
I think we can take whatever they claim with a grain of salt.

 

[WhiteLotus]

The quote from the linked article sounds like the GPUs will be drawing different items for display simultaneously, not the same items redundantly.

Isn't that just like Crossfire/SLI?

 

[W1zzard]

Isn't that just like Crossfire/SLI?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_Frame_Rendering

 

[ensabrenoir]

D U M B :shadedshu

 

[TheMailMan78]

I think this is a great idea.......lol

 

[Disparia]

Pffffttt... second GPU. Used to increase performance when they could simply use a slightly more powerful GPU? ReallY!?! Of course not. The second GPU and always-on DRM aren't two seperate items, the second GPU implements the always-on DRM! It'll be able to capture, compress and upload the display steam to the MS mothership. Doesn't stop there either, they'll record your movements and scan the inside of your room via Kinect. Why else would they spend so much money brainwashing us into believing that "active" gaming is fun when it's not?

Shortly after, they'll release the "perfect game". With the information gathered, it'll adapt to the user, creating a scenerio where the add-ons, upgrades, and DLC will be nearly irresitable to buy.

Can't crack it, they're always watching...

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I think this is a great idea.......lol

Of course you would. Funny how you support corporations policing media but oppose government doing the same. DRM is not consistent with liberitarian ideals.

Pffffttt... second GPU. Used to increase performance when they could simply use a slightly more powerful GPU? ReallY!?! Of course not. The second GPU and always-on DRM aren't two seperate items, the second GPU implements the always-on DRM! It'll be able to capture, compress and upload the display steam to the MS mothership. Doesn't stop there either, they'll record your movements and scan the inside of your room via Kinect. Why else would they spend so much money brainwashing us into believing that "active" gaming is fun when it's not?

I think the logic behind this is that programers will program one GPU for one viewpoint and the second GPU always renders the second from a slightly different viewpoint for 3D. It makes all games 3D compatible without requiring any effort from the developers.

I wouldn't be surprised if the secondary GPU could be repurposed for, for example, physics calculations. Games tend to either be graphically heavy and physics light or graphically simple and physics heavy. Two discreet GPUs allows the hardware to cater to that.

 

[Octavean]

I might buy one but I likely wont play any games on it. I may use it only as a Media Center extender if that is still a feature. The dig there is if the console is sold at a loss, they will never recuperate that loss from me.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Of course you would. Funny how you support corporations policing media but oppose government doing the same. DRM is not consistent with liberitarian ideals.

I support people protecting their property. Thats very consistent with libertarian ideals. However forcing people to give hard work away for free for the "good of man" tends to be a communist attitude. Honestly Ford I didn't peg you as a commie.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Implying guilt is not liberitarian. It's like forcing everyone to buy health insurance because they could be guilty of using health services without paying for it. So, everyone must buy DRM just because you could be a pirate. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

"Property" is implied as something tangible like a house, a computer, a car, or the clothes on their back. Not something intangible that can be copied a billion times a second without the original "owner" losing anything.

...but, I digress. No need to turn this thread into another one of those so I'll stop there.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Implying guilt is not liberitarian. It's like forcing everyone to buy health insurance because they could be guilty of using health services without paying for it. So, everyone must buy DRM just because you could be a pirate. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

"Property" is implied as something tangible like a house, a car, or the clothes on their back. Not something intangible that can be copied a billion times a second without the original "owner" losing anything.

...but, I digress. No need to turn this thread into another one of those so I'll stop there.

Its called intellectual property. However you have to have real intellect to understand that. But I agree we should stop there.

 

[Mistral]

Always-On, eh?

Late April's Fool or just a lame rumour on the first paragraph? You decide~!