PS3 News: No, I Don't Like Being Connected When Playing Campaigns - PS3 News

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No, I Don't Like Being Connected When Playing Campaigns

Call me a dinosaur, call me paranoid, call me whatever you want. I don't really like being connected online when enjoying my single-player experience.

Here's the thing- I don't need everyone on my Friends list to know what I just did in the game I'm playing. And when Ubisoft asks me every single time to enable my UPlay passport when returning to Assassin's Creed III, I reject the offer...every single time.

It seems to me that we're not even allowed to play by ourselves without some automated services chucking out updates to anyone in a position to see them. Am I the only one who finds this annoying? Or am I just living in an era where the definition of privacy has been drastically altered? The age when someone staring down at a screen at a dinner table can't comprehend that such behavior is insanely rude...?

Sorry, that's a tangent. But my point is that I almost want to take my PS3 offline whenever I go to play a game. I know it doesn't mean much to have your Friends know what you're playing, and I know things like the UPlay passport don't mean I'm being spied upon. I get that. And that isn't the point. The point is that I've always enjoyed my single-player experience because it's just me, having fun and relaxing in my own way. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't believe that needs to include everyone I've ever met in a digital capacity. I mean...why?

And for my own part, I have zero interest in knowing what my friends are playing or how they're faring in that game. I really, really don't. Just thought I'd rant a little. :)

Tags: assassins creed iii, assassins creed 3, aciii, game servers, video game industry

1/9/2013 10:04:37 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (35 posts)

Knightzane
Wednesday, January 09, 2013 @ 10:50:47 PM
Reply

I kind of liked reading that i was #2 on the leaderboards the first couple of days that ac3 was out. Afterwards it became annoying. So i get what your saying

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Temjin001
Wednesday, January 09, 2013 @ 10:52:11 PM
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yah, it's probably best you just set your internet connection to off, Ben. During those times you need to run a system update you can just re-connect and then run the update or whatever game patches are out there for you and then disconnect.

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fatelementality
Wednesday, January 09, 2013 @ 10:55:22 PM
Reply

It took a while playing Journey to realize that I was alongside another person. The great thing was that they couldn't talk to me or interfere with the gameplay so I didn't mind as much.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, January 09, 2013 @ 10:59:20 PM

It makes the experience in Journey actually cool.

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MartyRules
Wednesday, January 09, 2013 @ 11:12:47 PM

The way Demon Souls did it was cool too

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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, January 09, 2013 @ 10:58:46 PM
Reply

The Uplay thing on ACIII is already driving me crazy!

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ethird1
Wednesday, January 09, 2013 @ 11:51:13 PM
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I love playing with peeps in long adventures. If you played Phantasy Star Online you would change your tune. Nothing better than chatting with friends and doing a full 4 level adventure together to the final boss.

Just like playing Borderlands 2. It is so much better playing with 3 peeps. What makes matters worse is that it is really fun to play by yourself in Bordland's 2 as well. So take that as you will.

I have ALWAYS wanted a complete 3d redo of FINAL FANTASY 1 as a MMO where you can take 3 other pals and go through that story, which imo, was just awesome.

End of Line.
Last edited by ethird1 on 1/9/2013 11:54:14 PM

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 1:28:00 AM

You're talking about multiplayer-oriented games. That's completely different. I'm talking about playing a single-player-oriented adventure and being "connected" all the time.

And no, I wouldn't change my tune, anyway, because I hate MMOs.

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BikerSaint
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 12:36:24 AM
Reply

I don't mind being connected while playing, and I care less if people know what, or when, I'm playing.

And I don't mind being connected to Ubi's Uplay servers either, cause I can usually earn a few in-game rewards from them after completing certain areas of their games.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 1:13:24 AM

I don't wanna sign up to that thing. So there should be an option to turn the prompt off.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 1/10/2013 1:13:40 AM

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homura
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 1:33:11 AM
Reply

I did get used to the "you have no internet connection press O to continue" every time I start a game published by EA. What I'm dreading for is when there's a sentence "You need internet connection to play this game" everytime I'm gonna play in my console. I'm only playing 2-3 hours a day sometimes 6, the monthly fees for a 1Mbps internet connection in a month in my country is worth 1-2 ps3 games.

@Ethird

Check out Ragnarok Online especially their War Of Emperium or Guild Sieges videos, or The Orc Hero Party Boss hunt videos in youtube. It's an MMORPG, I think you might like it, especially the graphics. Hehehe.

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Lawless SXE
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 1:59:22 AM

Heh... I can't even get a wired broadband connection where I'm living. If it comes to a necessity to be online, I'll be boned :D

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Lawless SXE
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 2:02:40 AM
Reply

Just unhook your PS3 for a week. No updates, no friends, no nothing. Just a message when you start most games asking if you want to sign onto PSN that you ignore. On one hand, I'm glad that I'm not connected because of all that, but on the other, I miss out on all the updates to LBP, GT5 Spec II, Bloody Palace in DmC Devil May Cry, Second Wave in XCOM and well... post release updates in general.

Choice between that and playing games that are functional with no interruptions though... I'm happy enough with the latter.

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homura
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 5:15:02 AM

Hehe, GOTY and Gold Edition of games is for us.

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PSTan
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 2:11:19 AM
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Activating your Uplay passport is an access to multiplayer features and is only used once. The fact that you didn't activate it, Ben, explains why you didn't really touch on the multiplayer aspect in you AC3 review.

As for always being connected, it should always be an option to turn on or off. What I don't get is the negative connotation people associate with when games are deemed "social". Then again, times change.

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CH1N00K
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 5:02:32 AM
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I know what you mean, like the new NFS most wanted..it not only says what you're playing, but also what you're driving, as though it really matters. Although I do remember when I got into the resistance 2 beta, I always had a little fun with that one, because it always showed up online that I was playing a game called "girl with a stick". Why insomniac decided to call it that I have no idea, but it confused the hell out of a few people on my friends list...

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Lawless SXE
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 5:31:01 AM

Girl with a Stick was the working name of what was going to be their first PS2 game. Can't remember the full story but it was scrapped and they ultimately created Ratchet and Clank in its stead. A nice little homage, methinks.

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___________
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 6:34:48 AM
Reply

uplay passport is for the MP, there constantly asking for it in the hopes you bought it used so they can make more money of ya.
always on BS is one thing i HATE about PC gaming!
every single god dam time i open up steam it has to update.
2 hours later finally finished i want to play this game.
oh sorry you cant play this till it updates.
its finished updating, oh look theres a new driver update.
christ, before you know it 6 hours have passed and its 4 in the morning and you still have not played 1 minute of your game!
one thing i REALLY hope next gen consoles dont adopt too, this constant update your game otherwise you cant play BS!
i really hope next gen games come with FW updates too.
so many times ive bought a game that requires a new FW, so i have to wast time waiting for my ps3 to update which always takes hours!
why cant we have the FW on the disk?
that way those people who dont have internet connections, or dont live in japan with unlimited download usages and ADSL2+ access, can still play their games!

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Lawless SXE
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 1:51:02 AM

I assure you, 100% that firmware updates are included on disc.

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Beamboom
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 7:34:00 AM
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Just hit "OK" once and you're done, Ben. Give in. Give up. Big Brother WILL see you.

;)

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 11:14:51 AM

Not a chance. ;)

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Gabriel013
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 8:29:51 AM
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I'm sure I'm not imagining I had a game that wouldn't let me load a save because it couldn't verify the dlc. When I connected to the internet it worked fine. This annoyed me as I only like to connect when I want to actively do something online.

Can't recall if this was ME1 or ME3 on the XBox

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Simcoe
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 8:55:09 AM
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Save for two weeks when I first got my PS3, I've always had my PS3 set for manual login to the PSN.

What really annoys me is that we have to login to PSN to run the youtube, netflix, crackle and other apps that have no reason for PSN verification.

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Excelsior1
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 9:14:28 AM
Reply

I don't care if my friends see what I am playing online. In fact I like it and I like being able to see what games they are playing. Maybe they are playing a game I am interested in. Well I can ask them about the game. That's pretty cool.

I suppose if a gamer is really so anal about it they feel the need to complain they can divert that energy into doing one or two things about it. Hit the PS button and scroll over to your avatar and sign out of the PlayStation network. I just tested it and it took me 3 seconds to do that. You can do that in the middle of the game if you want to. Another thing that can be done to prevent your friends from seeing you is scroll over to settings in PS3's menu and disable your internet connection. This has to be done before you start a game. Ofcourse remember to enable it when you want to get your PS3 back online. :)


Last edited by Excelsior1 on 1/10/2013 9:15:38 AM

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 11:16:18 AM

You completely missed the point. You actually think the article is about how difficult it is to not be connected? Really?

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 12:55:57 PM

Why should people have to take extra steps not to be splashed all across the internets?

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wackazoa
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 10:19:41 AM
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I actually never log in to the PSN unless Im playing a multiplayer FPS. I still get updates and all, I just dont care about my friends list or who knows what else.

Heres a conspiracy for you.... The always on connection thing is becoming so normal, for all games systems, the I do believe they are lulling us to sleep with it. The more I think about the rumors of the console ID tag the more Im thinking its false. I do believe the next gen consoles will include DRM. It only makes sense and with broadband so prevalent nowadays, every new console will require a constant internet connection.

My thoughts anyway.

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Ultimadream
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 11:15:27 AM
Reply

I had the same irritation with Final Fantasy XIII-2's Facebook status updates, of course I did not link it up but the mere principle aggravates me. I am not one to complain about commercial items appearing within games. If a game set in reality like a racing game has banners of Coca-Cola - fine. But Facebook invading a fantasy based game... i cannot think of much worse.

I don't mind having a firends list active whilst playing a game. That doesn't break the immersion at all for me, though I can see how it would for some. I can't say I have ever had a single player experience interupted by someone nagging me. If I were to I doubt I would reply until I was finished.

As for Uplay, I don't see the point it in Ubisoft creating their own achievement system. I used it in Assassins Creed II but from what you have said it seems far worse on ACIII.

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riptide8
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 12:14:52 PM
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I really don't care either way as long as Im not pitched garbage based on what they read from my activity.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 12:57:29 PM

You can bet there's a computer somewhere building a profile on your gaming habits.

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Ninja_WafflesXD
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 12:15:41 PM
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Meh, I only ever sign into PSN when I'm playing online (i.e hardly ever).

Otherwise, I see no reason to sign in.

Occasionally, I might see one of my friends is playing a game that i'm interested in, but haven't played yet.
From there an interesting conversation might be sparked, but that's about it :/

It really annoys me when I have to sign in to PSN just to use Netflix....doesn't make any sense.

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TrophyHunter
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 4:41:47 PM

Did you know that you need a Golden Subscription to be able to use Netflix on Xbox??, That makes even less sense.

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tlpn99
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 1:42:42 PM
Reply

I admit I have to agree with you Ben. The reason for this is I know if im online playing a single player game someone will message me to jump on COD or something else. So I play what I want to play offline and then connect when I do want to play COD or whatever. :)
Last edited by tlpn99 on 1/10/2013 1:42:55 PM

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AcHiLLiA
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 3:04:29 PM

I been getting that to, it's gets annoying.

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trumpetmon65
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 10:26:53 PM
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I agree with the article. Unless it's dark souls or demon's souls. Those are really the only games I want to have connected. Speaking of which, remember all those times demon's souls was supposed to go offline? awesome. but this is coming from someone who is also in danger of being a dinosaur

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