Used game block rumors gaining strength

Terrible, terrible business plot. Going to destroy gaming for lower class players.



Though I wonder if game sharing will become more prominent. If they will make it a forefront feature to propose the false idea that they have the gamer in mind. Also, if this is true, game prices had BETTER take a serious drop. Or at least you should be able to create a digital license of your hard disc games. So if your shit breaks, you don't have to shell out full price for it again.
 
Hmm..... I just may invest in a WiiU.
Blocking used games is bullshit, and they can kiss my ass.

I'm with BBBLP.
If game prices don't take a serious drop with this "used games block" in mind, then they can just f*** off!!!!
I sure as hell don't want to pay twice for some shit that I already bought.
 
Mark my words, blocking second-hand games screws over ALL gamers, not just those on a budget who don't have very much disposable income. On the economic side of things, if Sony and MS are dead serious about this, then they'd better slash the standard price of their games by at least $10 a pop, otherwise they'd be looking at a huge decline in sales (especially if they fully expect gamers to either pay the full $60 price tag or do without completely, with no option to buy second-hand, or even rent the damn game; if you buy a crappy game, you're stuck with it permanently...and don't even get me started on the abusive DLC practices we've been seeing lately out of Capcom, EA, etc...).

But here's how it screws everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status; remember when you were a kid and you and your friends and/or family went to each other's homes and played each other's games on each other's consoles (even bringing your own games with you)? That's gonna be out the window if Sony and MS pull this off! We know for a fact that the Wii U won't have ANY of this second-hand block technology, so if Sony and MS pulls this off and still expects us to pay $60 a pop (PLUS whatever the devs wish to charge us for content already on the disc), then I fully expect Nintendo to regain their former dominance over the gaming industry! Screw the consumer over and expect to get screwed yourself!

These aren't rumors anymore! We now have a confirmed patent to back them up! Seeing as how Sony now has that patent, the ball's in MS's court now!
 
I can tell you this much, though. Sony can be hit in the wallet hard by not only consumers, but also retailers. The latter can always refuse to stock Sony's next console. It's happened before. Remember when the Saturn was launched 4 months ahead of schedule just so they could get a head start over the PlayStation? Turns out the early launch was only available for 4 retailers, and most other retailers who felt betrayed by their exclusion (such as Walmart and KB Toys) retaliated by supporting Sega's chief rivals (for instance, KB Toys was so outraged that they completely refuse to stock the Saturn at all), and in some cases, even went as far as pulling everything Sega-related from their shelves and using that space for Sega's competitors. This was one factor that led to the Saturn being discontinued in North America after 3 years, and eventually, Sega pulling out of the console market completely (the Saturn's commercial failure also cost Sega $267.9 million and 30% of their workforce).
 
Tarkatan Trash said:
they'd be looking at a huge decline in sales (especially if they fully expect gamers to either pay the full $60 price tag or do without completely, with no option to buy second-hand, or even rent the damn game; if you buy a crappy game, you're stuck with it permanently...and don't even get me started on the abusive DLC practices we've been seeing lately out of Capcom, EA, etc...).
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You pretty much nailed on the head my biggest problem (underlined and bolded).
It would suck to get stuck with a shitty game and be out $60 because you already paid for it.

Even movies have rentals so that you don't pay $25 for a shitty movie that you didn't like anyways.
Music on iTunes has a preview so that you can listen to 30 seconds of the song before you buy it.

Videogames that aren't allowed to be rented or purchased used would be bad for business.
 
On the other hand, PC games have DRM up the wazoo for a over a decade, yet people still buy them. It is somewhat softened by digital distribution services offering huge discounts, but you never really own the game, just the right to use it.
 
FlawlessVictor said:
On the other hand, PC games have DRM up the wazoo for a over a decade, yet people still buy them. It is somewhat softened by digital distribution services offering huge discounts, but you never really own the game, just the right to use it.
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The difference with PC games, like you mentioned, is that there are such HUGE discounts on Steam that if you pay $20 for a discounted game on Steam that's normally $60, you aren't really losing much if the game is shitty.
The discounted sales on Steam are borderline RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP most of the time.
 
I'm pretty sure rental specific copies will still be made. I can't wait for the ps4 to be hacked. Slap an eye patch on me and suck this hook hand.
 
Well, even if rental-grade copies were made, I'm still convinced that Sony and MS are being reckless with this whole anti-second hand shit, and not even thinking about the repercussions of it. All they see is the almighty dollar.
 
I seem to have caught myself agreeing with Tarkatan Trash more than I normally do, but I also agree with going to a friend's place with a game, rather than bringing the whole damn f****** console with you.


Imagine this scenario:

John:
"Hey, Commander. A few of the guys and I were going to order some pizza, chicken wings and beer and thinking of getting a few rounds of Mortal Kombat in before the shitty Dolphins game. Wanna bring your game and hang out?"

Commander: "Sure, John. Let me just disconnect my whole console, the controllers (I keep them charged), the power cable and the HDMI cable, pack it up, and I'll be there after all of that shit is in my car."

**Commander gets to John's house**

Commander: "Oh, cool. The pizza, wings and beer have arrived. Just give me a little while to set all this shit up, AGAIN."




Then I'd have to disconnect it all again to put it all away, to then set it up at my house again. -___- LAME
 
I completely agree with you. If I buy your product, you should have no god damn right to tell me what I do with it. If you want to limit what I can do with the game, you had damn well better give me a limited price
 
Araknyd_Commander said:
The difference with PC games, like you mentioned, is that there are such HUGE discounts on Steam that if you pay $20 for a discounted game on Steam that's normally $60, you aren't really losing much if the game is shitty.
The discounted sales on Steam are borderline RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP most of the time.
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Digital distribution helps, though people still pay for physical copies. I prefer physical copies because I like to have them in case a downloadable version is no longer available. What I really hate though is when software have limited install activations, especially if unexpected situations require me to delete and re-install a program.


I don't think Blizzard in particular has any games available on Steam or any other outside digital distributor. Anyways, their sales haven't been hurt despite of DRM implemented. Unfortunately, I believe this is giving video game companies the idea that consumers are so hopelessly addicted that they will buy the games anyways no matter what anti-consumer measures are placed.


back said:
I'm pretty sure rental specific copies will still be made. I can't wait for the ps4 to be hacked. Slap an eye patch on me and suck this hook hand.
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My concern is that rental versions may be gimped. I remember when a friend and I rented some movies from Redbox, and found out the bonus content were blocked. I'm not sure if this applies with video games, but it would suck a big one if they start doing that.
 
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FlawlessVictor said:
My concern is that rental versions may be gimped. I remember when a friend and I rented some movies from Redbox, and found out the bonus content were blocked. I'm not sure if this applies with video games, but it would suck a big one if they start doing that.
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That's Redbox, though.
They NEVER have the unrated or special edition versions of those movies.
It's different when you order from Gamefly or one of those services, where you need to fill out credit card info and have an account with them.

Any kid can go to a Redbox, put in the zip code of the credit card and get whatever movie they want from a Redbox machine.
I believe that's the main reason why they do that.
 
I agree this is terrible and everything but frankly I just think it won't happen because they're in for a shi@storm of epic proportions if it does. Firstly there's the problem of justifying how this benefits the consumer; they can't, the backslash will be huge and Sony will be the Internet explorer of gaming consoles. Thankfully there's choice and COMPETITION, consumers won't choose a product that clearly leaves them worse off when there's better alternatives available, as businessmen they know this once the public see you as a villain it's over. Secondly if they do go ahead with this tech, Microsoft and Nintendo will DESTROY them in sales unless they collude and all do it which is unlikely as their rivals will welcome all the people who switch consoles with open arms and there's the fact that Sony patented it (Making that tech strictly theirs for a few years which they wont share). Thirdly, if both MS and Sony do it over the years gamers will slowly but surely move onto the other existing platforms (Wii, PC gaming) or ones which will rise as a result of this, Steambox anyone? It's just way too big of a risk for an established company like Sony to take if they mess up this badly once they'll never recover in the gaming industry unless they undo this tech (somehow) which isn't really an option as it will cripple them financially.

TL;DR - Seems way too problematic to work, negatives>benefits, the company that DOESN'T use this technology will laugh all the way to the bank.

I think if they are going through with this, it won't be anywhere as bad as some are assuming. After all Sony isn't feeling suicidal, they do want to stay competitive and take all our money.
 
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This is gonna be a pain in the ass for the competitive scene. Especially in tourneys where they ask people to bring their own setups. "Dude, lets switch consoles, time for street fighter"
 
I'll have to disagree with you there. WiiU has the tech of current gen consoles, so when the next gen rolls out, WiiU will likely be getting dumbed down versions, similar to the Wii now.


Which means, either you deal with our shitty practices, or you say goodbye to the new CoD, MK, Resident Evil, Prototype or whatever else tickles your fancy.


We also kinda saw that with the Wii. Ten dollars cheaper than its rivals, and yet multiplatform games usually sold less on the Wii. Because of quality. Sad truth
 
Will it be for the PS3 or PS Orbis? If they start doing this with the PS3, they'll probably make us download an update that's mandatory, just skip it, I don't mind not playing online anyway
 
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