Nvidia Stops Promotional Game Resales by Tying Codes to Hardware

DPI said:
Because generation entitled.

This is long overdue though, the graymarket created by people reselling their GeForce keys was devaluing games.
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Generation entitled?
I'm almost 40. What generation is that?
If i get a game, i expect to get a real game that i can do what i want with.
Forcing a hardware check and tying it to some software no one wants is pretty damn shitty and shifty imo.
 
Update: Nvidia has confirmed that while GFE checks to ensure a user has installed a qualifying graphics card like a GTX 1070 or GTX 1080, the game itself is not permanently linked to the hardware. GFE's hardware check is based only on the wider product range, and not on a specific serial number.

Shitty reporting by ARS Technica, my apologies.

It would seem that the code is likely tied to GFE and that of course requires an NV card to run. But not a specific NV card.
 
Shintai said:
I dont think Nvidia cares in any way what you do with a free game or games. But the publisher do. If you think NVidia is doing this for the lulz you couldn't be more wrong. And I wouldn't be surprised to see AMD following suit. Because they are forced to do so by publishers.
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They aren't forced to do shit. Nvidia have more clout than they give themselves credit for.

They could simply say "fuck you." and the publisher would play hard ball, but eventually come around. The publisher wants the game sold so they can tell share holders how many games they sold to boost stock...making money off their game is secondary, or else they wouldn't do bundles in the first place.
 
OEM said:
They aren't forced to do shit. Nvidia have more clout than they give themselves credit for.

They could simply say "fuck you." and the publisher would play hard ball, but eventually come around. The publisher wants the game sold so they can tell share holders how many games they sold to boost stock...making money off their game is secondary, or else they wouldn't do bundles in the first place.
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Stockholders care about revenue and profit, not volume.
 
DPI said:
Because generation entitled.

This is long overdue though, the graymarket created by people reselling their GeForce keys was devaluing games.
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And maybe the games NEED to be devalued. Maybe the people not buying $60 games is because they are too much money.

Software publishers should not be allowed to control the after market sale of their software.
Once the publisher makes the initial sale, it's none of their damn business what happens with that product.

The publisher should not be selling the games so cheap to the GPU OEMs then if they are not willing to
accept that level of profit on their product. But they do sell the keys cheap and then they whine about it.

The publishers are reaching into people's pockets long after the initial sale, that's just wrong.

.
 
I have an email into NV for more clarification on this as well. Will update the news page when I get it.
 
Shintai said:
Nope. The assumption is a lot of those getting the free games wouldn't have gotten it else. When people start selling the games it becomes a loss and confirms the assumption. Then you got a lost sale for 60$ and that's why publishers are unhappy.
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If I get the game in a bundle and don't want it, I list it for $30. Chances are the person who bought it from me would of waited until the game was $30 anyways or cheaper, or by that time the sequel is out.

This doesn't equal a lost sale. Whoever buys from me could go on to buy DLC or they liked it so much they buy the sequel at full price.
 
meh. people complain too much. nvidia should just stop bundling any kind of games with their card in the future. even if you give them free games they still angry because they cannot make their own profit from it.
 
So I guess theoretically people could sell the codes with the stipulation that you have to have a 1070 or 1080 to claim it?
 
scojer said:
If I get the game in a bundle and don't want it, I list it for $30. Chances are the person who bought it from me would of waited until the game was $30 anyways or cheaper, or by that time the sequel is out.

This doesn't equal a lost sale. Whoever buys from me could go on to buy DLC or they liked it so much they buy the sequel at full price.
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What do you think Nvidia pays the publisher per game?
What about those that are willing to pay 60$ but just got a good deal for 30$?

Is that a good or bad deal for the publisher?
 
MavericK said:
So I guess theoretically people could sell the codes with the stipulation that you have to have a 1070 or 1080 to claim it?
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Yes.

grtitan said:
Still bad for the consumer.

It means that you will not be able to play your game if you switch to AMD or any other player that might come in the future.

Honestly, give a rebate or something and keep the game, i dont need this type of lock down.
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Its just the one time activation it seems. You still redeem it in steam etc. Its certainly not locked forever to 1070 and 1080.
 
Shintai said:
What do you think Nvidia pays the publisher per game?
What about those that are willing to pay 60$ but just got a good deal for 30$?
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Not sure how much Nvidia pays, but the publisher still got that money.
That answers both your questions.
Sure it isn't the full $60 at first. Like I mentioned though, they could buy DLC or even the sequel.
 
scojer said:
Not sure how much Nvidia pays, but the publisher still got that money.
That answers both your questions.
Sure it isn't the full $60 at first. Like I mentioned though, they could buy DLC or even the sequel.
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The amount is so little that the amount isn't worth on discounting the cards instead. Remember far from all buyers want these games or may already have them. I think we are talking 10$ area.
 
Shintai said:
Yes.



Its just the one time activation it seems. You still redeem it in steam etc. Its certainly not locked forever to 1070 and 1080.
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But seems locked to NV hardware and like I said, how about if I switch to another brand/company?
 
Shintai said:
If that's the case you got the games for free. Whats the issue?
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I would love to get games for free. However in this case it requires a purchase, meaning it's not free, it's included in the cost of the purchase.
That's what i mean by if you get the game as part of a promotion with something else that you paid for, then you paid for the game.

Or are you trying to redefine what free means? I'm just curious.
 
GFE, Founder's Edition, G-sync, GTX 970 Memorygate, recent driver issues and now this. Nvidia appears determined to help boost AMD video card sales.
 
grtitan said:
Still bad for the consumer.
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Vote with your wallet.

grtitan said:
But seems locked to NV hardware and like I said, how about if I switch to another brand/company?
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No, activation is tied to GFE. Once the product is activated on whatever platform, it is yours. I do not see how NVIDIA could police that at all once the game is say in your Steam account.
 
Shintai said:
Stockholders care about revenue and profit, not volume.
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Volume to share holders is profit because share holders are fucking morons that have no idea about the business they bought into. "If they're moving more units, they must be making money."
 
The update doesnt really make it any better. ITs still as dumb now as when Sony did it to my Vaio software in 2001. Its still as dumb as when EVGA Precision asks you for a serial number. Its a huge waste of time and energy and causes more headaches than it solves and makes you look like a control freak.
 
Are people buying video cards often enough that this is something worth crying over? I generally hate the term "first-world problems" but geez.
 
grtitan said:
If thats the case, then fine, but as you stated, GFE is required, so it will be locked down to NV hardware.

Lets see if Nvidia clears that up.
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Nvidia has confirmed that while GFE checks to ensure a user has installed a qualifying graphics card like a GTX 1070 or GTX 1080, the game itself is not permanently linked to the hardware. GFE's hardware check is based only on the wider product range, and not on a specific serial number.
 
Shintai said:
The amount is so little that the amount isn't worth on discounting the cards instead. Remember far from all buyers want these games or may already have them. I think we are talking 10$ area.
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It's the publisher's choice to sell their product for $10.

That game is NOT FREE to the consumer.

Tell you what, open up a GTX 1070 box at the store and take out the FREE game coupon.
Then tell the police when they come to arrest you that the game is free so no problem.

The consumer is covering the cost of that game, it's NOT in any way free to the consumer.
What the consumer chooses to do with that game after the sale is none of anybody's business whatsoever.

.
 
It seems like it'd be easy enough to write a device driver for a fake video card, and to stick it in a VM if GFE checks for AMD cards installed alongside?
 
OK, this is what I got from NV. Italics is NV's answer. Bold is me.



Game coupon codes that are bundled with a qualifying GPU or PC purchase are intended for use by the purchaser. Repurposing the code is a violation of the bundle’s terms and conditions. As part of the coupon redemption process, NVIDIA uses GeForce Experience to perform a hardware verification step to ensure the coupon code is redeemed on the system with the qualifying GPU.

Terms and conditions state that a valid bundle redemption must be tied to a qualifying GPU purchase. If the game is separated from the GPU purchase, this becomes a violation of the terms and conditions and NVIDIA wouldn’t be able to offer the game.


If I sell that code to someone else...it will require GFE for activation, correct? Yes

• Graphics Card Requirements- Some coupons can only be redeemed on selected graphics cards. These coupons are typically tied to a graphics card purchase or promotional giveaway. Please make sure your graphics card is installed before redemption.
• Regional/Country Requirements- Some coupons require that they be redeemed in specific regions or countries. Please redeem the code in the appropriate region/country.
• Age Requirements - Some coupons have age restrictions due to sensitive content. Please check that your NVIDIA Account meets the age requirement

What if that person has a 980 or 960 card? Since that game code came with a 1070, will it work with a 980 or 960? No

Or does the code require a 1070/1080 card to be redeemed? Yes

 
Thanks for the clarification Kyle.

These corporate overlords still need to understand that we as consumers find their control offensive.
We really don't care what their deal with the game publisher is.

.
 
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lilbabycat said:
I'd rather they just kill the free game bundle then.
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No good deed ever goes unpunished. It's really not a hardthink concept to see why a publisher might not appreciate the race-to-the-bottom glut of greymarket $15-$20 steam keys created by GPU bundles and circulated on ebay, forums, and third party key sellers all trying to make a quick buck - all while the game just launched and the publisher is selling it for $60 retail.

And if publishers back away from wanting to participate with their latest-greatest AAA's, then all the people complaining here will be the first ones bitching "THE GAYMES SUCK NAO".
 
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Shintai said:
Then you got a lost sale for 60$ and that's why publishers are unhappy.
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That's incorrect.

The publisher is not out $60. Anyone here who thinks that, has it wrong.
However, anyone who thinks that the publisher is not out anything is also wrong!

The reality is that the publisher will have gotten ~$15-20 for their game, instead of $60. That means they've taken a hit forf $40 and not $60.
However, how do you explain games which are released and then are put on sale after only a couple months at like $20 off? (I'm of course NOT referring to games that have bombed. I believe Civilizations IV did this.) That brings the hit the publisher takes down as well, no? [NOTE: I don't know for certain on this next part] Does Steam prevent you from buying a game when its on sale and prevents you from being able to put it in your Gift inventory in order to trade/gift/sell later on? As someone who has bought a number of Humble Bundles, I've often given away some of the games that are either duplicates or I simply don't want, so if they don't permit it with Sale purchased games, I'd be surprised.

SIMILARLY... you who are saying this is a good thing for publishers by preventing lost-sales, are forgetting the whole DLC aspect. When you make it so it's harder/impossible to re-sell these codes, that is also harming the publisher, and probably more than letting them re-sell it! The logic behind it is the person who is forced to keep the game, that they really weren't interested in anyways, means a loss of DLC sales. So now that $20-40 loss becomes a potential $5-100 loss, since it's quite likely that these people who would've purchased the code will have also purchased some DLC.

People need to consider that not everyone who is able to buy a new graphics card is able to continually shell out $60 for games, no matter how much they may love the game. Sure they may have dropped $60 if they COULD, but that's where this code selling actually benefits everyone. The game gets played, then there's the potential that they tell someone who buys it, or they want to play MP with friends who buy it, or they buy the DLC since it's way more affordable than the games are out-right... etc etc etc.

I'm not saying either side here is "right" or "wrong". Though, I won't stand by and say that it's "better" in the end. Like said before me, this only pisses off the consumers, and they'll not be as informed, meaning they'll chalk it up to a greedy developer or an asshole company. When that happens, they'll boycott the publisher or company bundling, who now WILL lose money.


I think Zarathustra[H] summed it up for me. This is the kind of crap that nVidia pulls that makes me dislike them as a company. In no way did my bias against them influence what I've said above, though. That was just me being a realist.

(I apologize if anyone else had already brought up these same points on Page 2, but only Derangel had sorta touched on it from what I saw on the first page.)
 
Formula.350 said:
That's incorrect.

The publisher is not out $60. Anyone here who thinks that, has it wrong.
However, anyone who thinks that the publisher is not out anything is also wrong!

The reality is that the publisher will have gotten ~$15-20 for their game, instead of $60. That means they've taken a hit forf $40 and not $60.
However, how do you explain games which are released and then are put on sale after only a couple months at like $20 off? (I'm of course NOT referring to games that have bombed. I believe Civilizations IV did this.) That brings the hit the publisher takes down as well, no? [NOTE: I don't know for certain on this next part] Does Steam prevent you from buying a game when its on sale and prevents you from being able to put it in your Gift inventory in order to trade/gift/sell later on? As someone who has bought a number of Humble Bundles, I've often given away some of the games that are either duplicates or I simply don't want, so if they don't permit it with Sale purchased games, I'd be surprised.
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Think of this too - these bundles probably look great on the publishers balance sheet. They are basically pre-orders being made after the game is released. If NVidia pays for the licenses up front then I think from an accounting perspective they show a surplus and if NVidia pays as they go they have a revenue stream (IANAAccountant)
 
DPI said:
Pretty much. No good deed ever goes unpunished. It's really not a hardthink concept to see why a publisher might not appreciate the race-to-the-bottom glut of greymarket of $15-$20 steam codes created by GPU bundles and circulated on ebay, forums, and third party key sellers all trying to make a quick buck.

And if publishers back away from wanting to participate with their latest-greatest AAA's, then all the people complaining here will be the first ones bitching "THE GAYMES SUCK NAO".
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LOL...... "good deed"?!!!

Yeah.... that's it, these companies are doing good deeds, that's what it is.

I fully understand that they may not like the grey market sale of their game codes.
They need to figure this into their pricing structure, not attempt to control consumers in *what should be* illegal ways.

.
 
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Problem i see with this is what if you already own one of the games (or both) and wanted to give it to a friend to play that doesn't have such hardware required to redeem? You get a copy of a game you don't need or want really. So you kind of are screwed and that is why alot of people sell the keys because either they don't like the options or they may already have whats offered.
 
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