Why Next-Gen Gaming Consoles Will Let You Play Used Games

CommanderFrank

CommanderFrank

Cat Can't Scratch It
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Industry insiders are speculating that the next generation of gaming consoles will not exclude the use of used games, if for nothing else than to increase the company sales and profit. Neither Sony (PS4) nor Microsoft (Xbox720) is willing to bet on the other to exclude used games. Both are expected to err on the side of caution and support their user base, initially at least.

Both Microsoft and Sony must know that banning used games from their consoles would be a massive mistake that would limit sales and thus, increase risk.
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This whole not playing used games thing is such bullshit! If they do that then every games better be 19.99-29.99 tops. And if they don't i smell another console crash.
 
MajorDomo said:
Neither Sony (PS4) nor Microsoft (Xbox720) is willing to bet on the other to exclude used games. Both are expected to err on the side of caution and support their user base, initially at least.
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Both are expected to err on the side of caution and care about their customers, initially at least.
 
Since when has using logic been the forte of media companies? They will spite their customers for less than any one would bet.
 
sir-gold said:
Both are expected to err on the side of caution and pretend to care about their customers until they can get them used to not being able to buy/sell/trade/ games with MP taxes on used games and the like,, initially at least, then they will strip used sales from the equation..
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more fixed
 
Well, I don't think Sony or Microsoft would immediately slam the brakes on used game usage, but it wouldn't surprise me if they do build in such feature into their next gen consoles and leave it there initially, and gradually find ways to "test the water" with such DRM on consoles.
 
when you buy a console, your SUPPORT this garbage industry.


Stop supporting it, the games are crap anyway
 
sir-gold said:
Both are expected to err on the side of caution and care about their customers, initially at least.
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The key words are really "initially at least". Sooner or later,greed will win out and they'll kill the used game market for consoles the same way they did for PC's. And console players deserve it for subsidizing mediocrity all this time.
 
This is such a brilliant idea, lets apply to cars/houses and other electronics too!
 
michael.pa2 said:
The key words are really "initially at least". Sooner or later,greed will win out and they'll kill the used game market for consoles the same way they did for PC's. And console players deserve it for subsidizing mediocrity all this time.
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I just want to point out that the used PC game market wasn't killed, it never existed in the first place. The only reason that the used console game market could exist was because nobody copied cartridges (unlike floppies, which were trivial to copy)

While it would be silly to attempt to block used game sales, I imagine that used games will start to die off on their own as we move away from physical media entirely. Why stand in line on release night when you can sit at the computer and hammer the refresh button?
 
I enjoy video games. Console, PC, it makes no difference to me as long as the game itself is good but I will not purchase a console if I can't rent, borrow or play used games. I buy 90% of my console games through Gamefly and will have no problem avoiding this next gen of consoles if I can no longer do that... At least until console prices drop bellow $300 and most exclusives drop below $30. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem paying full price for new games that I know I'll enjoy and that I feel are worth it but unfortunately most games today are over priced (for me) given my playing habits.
 
Do these people not realize that many many gamers sell their games to fund the purchase of new games? It's not like they sell them for giggles. If they can't sell the games that will just result in decreased sales of new games. Shooting themselves in the foot.
 
Yep, more people will never buy a marginal title, if it's a one time buy and that's it I would not bye on impulse. I hope they do this so they kill there own market.
 
bildad said:
Do these people not realize that many many gamers sell their games to fund the purchase of new games? It's not like they sell them for giggles. If they can't sell the games that will just result in decreased sales of new games. Shooting themselves in the foot.
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This is exactly the problem with this notion of blocking used game sales. GameStop has (last I checked) something like 25% of the market in new game sales. They've repeatedly shown that a big portion of that is funded with trade-ins. At best, breaking the ability to play used games would result in a net neutral rate of new game sales - more likely, it would result in a reduction in sales. Whatever uptick you get in sales that might otherwise have gone to a used copy you lose in purchases that heavy gamers can no longer afford to make. Someone who is buying every big new release by trading in last months games isn't going to magically start to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars more every year to continue fueling that habit.
 
They will eventually block used games. What are you going to do? Not buy the systems? Supply and Demand. We wont but they dont care about serving people like us nor should they. We are never happy
 
I just can't wait to see these game companies collapse with no one buying their Shit titles.
 
I really hate how the concept of physically owning something and it being yours is dying out. When I buy something, it's mine, and I should be able to do whatever the fuck I want with it. I don't have a problem with buying games through Steam, knowing I can't resell them, because of the convenience and other services it offers, but console gamers are getting absolutely screwed with these "used game" MP codes and other crap. You're already paying for your online connection (at least on Xbox) so I can't see what right they have to charge you again to play a game you buy online, just because you bought it used.
 
These console companies and publishers really need to take a hint from Steam. Sell the games cheap and people will buy them, even if it's just a weekend sale.

Also, Microsoft needs to stop charging publishers for updates.
 
Please do this... This will just push more people back to computer games and the relentless war on retarded DRM.
 
The game companies already got their money for that license, so after the initial purchase, they have zero say, unless they really do believe that the license magically renews itself and becomes a new fresh one, in that way of thinking, piracy is not stealing at all if the license can magically recreate itself.

They aready sold X copies, the used game market doesn't suddenly create more that they feel they are getting ripped off on as they already got their money for that copy, so support for x amount of games is still support for x amount of games no matter whos house the game is located.
 
KarsusTG said:
Please do this... This will just push more people back to computer games and the relentless war on retarded DRM.
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I love pc gaming but the cost of it and it's upgrade cycle would keep many people from affording it esp now. Consoles sales help keep gaming as a whole going it dies and pc gaming dies too! PC Gaming is way to expensive for too many always has been.
 
I still think there is a court case bound to happen over all this, and I would think the console mfr's will loose.
 
If they dont want used games to be played then it needs to go the way of steam.. Each unit should have about 2tb of space & all downloaded games. Otherwise if your selling media anyone who has it should be able to use it.
 
In reality PC Gaming is becoming cheaper thanks to the console holding the whole industry back in terms of graphics. If you look at what you really need for games these days hardware wise you could spend 800-1000 on a gaming pc (minus monitor) and game on that hardware for 2-3 years easily. Sure you might not be able to max out all the graphics settings for the last year but you could still technically play the majority of the console ports. Hell my AMD 5870 still plays every game thats been released on medium. If i don't mind a but of lag at times I can rock BF3 at high when its OC'd. As console manufactures continue to take away cost savings from their customers more will start looking at PC as a viable alternative.

I won't even get into the whole red ring issue and the fact that hardcore console players could be replacing their console every 2-3 years anyway.
 
blech... that makes me sad :( I was so hopeful they would finally stop supporting those parasitic scumbag companies... what you just bought that game new yesterday for $60? here we'll give you 8 for it.
 
What do you expect? When you buy a NEW videogame you are entering a contract with the producer/developers that you will get the full functionality of that game (as advertised obviously expansions/dlc are their own deal). You then own that game and you can do whatever you want with it. If it's in physical form you can sell that physical form to someone else. By selling your physical copy you have now entered into a deal with someone else, however that person has not made a deal with the developer. Honestly it makes perfect sense to me that you wouldn't get the full functionality of the game and I feel like it's just luck that console gamers haven't had to face the reality of the situation.
Like let's say I sell you a chevy volt and say that if you buy it from me you can charge it off my houses electricity. Well and fine but then you realize you don't really want it (or your SO said nope) so you sell it off to someone else. Clearly in this situation it would be unreasonable for the person who got the car from you to expect to use my power to charge it.
TL:DR: Contract between Seller/Buyer concerning an object. Buyer sells object to second buyer. Seller/buyer contract does not transfer unless Seller expressly allows it. (and why would they do that when they don't get any money for their trouble?)
 
HisSvt76 said:
I love pc gaming but the cost of it and it's upgrade cycle would keep many people from affording it esp now. Consoles sales help keep gaming as a whole going it dies and pc gaming dies too! PC Gaming is way to expensive for too many always has been.
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Not really. Sure,not all gamers could afford a top of the line system,but you don't need one to match the capabilities of today's consoles. Plus you get all the other functions of a real PC.
 
lasserith said:
What do you expect? When you buy a NEW videogame you are entering a contract with the producer/developers that you will get the full functionality of that game (as advertised obviously expansions/dlc are their own deal). You then own that game and you can do whatever you want with it. If it's in physical form you can sell that physical form to someone else. By selling your physical copy you have now entered into a deal with someone else, however that person has not made a deal with the developer. Honestly it makes perfect sense to me that you wouldn't get the full functionality of the game and I feel like it's just luck that console gamers haven't had to face the reality of the situation.
Like let's say I sell you a chevy volt and say that if you buy it from me you can charge it off my houses electricity. Well and fine but then you realize you don't really want it (or your SO said nope) so you sell it off to someone else. Clearly in this situation it would be unreasonable for the person who got the car from you to expect to use my power to charge it.
TL:DR: Contract between Seller/Buyer concerning an object. Buyer sells object to second buyer. Seller/buyer contract does not transfer unless Seller expressly allows it. (and why would they do that when they don't get any money for their trouble?)
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When you buy a game, are you buying an item, or entering into a contract? that is the real question here. (the courts have ruled that you are buying an item)

To take your chevy volt example further, what if your house was the only house in the world that had compatible electricity and the car could only be charged there? Just like you can't take a used online game and play it on someone else's server, you need access to the original server in order to use the product (by design ofcourse, god forbid they allow lan-play)

For an offline-only game, such as skyrim, the example is even more stupid, its like saying "i'm selling you this bicycle, but it only works if you lock it to MY bike-rack at least once a day, and I can't just give away bike-rack access for free.. "
 
bastage said:
If they dont want used games to be played then it needs to go the way of steam.. Each unit should have about 2tb of space & all downloaded games. Otherwise if your selling media anyone who has it should be able to use it.
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Umm... This is no more acceptable a solution than discs that can't be resold. I'm not buying any console that does this, and I will be looking for lawsuits to happen if they try this.
 
sir-gold said:
When you buy a game, are you buying an item, or entering into a contract? that is the real question here. (the courts have ruled that you are buying an item)
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Where? When? I only know of 3 cases of first use doctrine being in courts, and all 3 have not yet been settled. The only one that has come close is autodesk, which originally ruled in favor of first doctrine, then upon the appeal was reversed and is still sitting as undecided.
 
People only have so much to spend. Making it more expensive just means the poor people are being targeted. Amiright?
 
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