Sony Patents Pre-Owned Game Blocking Technology

http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/sony-patents-pre-owned-game-blocking-technology/

Thoughts?

Edit: http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/sonys-pre-owned-game-blocking-technology-patent-causes-a-fall-in-gamestop-stock-prices/.

like one guy said in the comments, what if my system breaks? Then what?

not a good idea to me. I think they should continue to do block part of the game content for used games that have online.

Will be sticking to this gen (ps3, 360, Wii-U)

Gamestop will fight it to the death!Sophette

How?

[QUOTE="Sophette"]Gamestop will fight it to the death!Terrencec06

How?

Gamestop IS the used games market. They have deep pockets and would find some way to bully Sony or any company that tries that. They could simply refuse to carry their products, imagine the lost revenue for Sony.

In reality, I doubt Sony will actually use this tech. Probably just safeguarding themselves. Lots of these patents get awarded and are never used. It's common with big companies. It would be suicidal for any next gen system to do this, look at the backlash removing Linux caused.

We own two PS3's and two Xbox's, if my family cant use the games we buy, whats the point??...but we all know they dont care..My feeling Sony has been trending toward a hateful relationship with gamers.

We already severely limit our purchases due to ports not working, downloads and installs taking days, server issues, etc.. This isnt going to get me to spend more money..

[QUOTE="Terrencec06"]

[QUOTE="Sophette"]Gamestop will fight it to the death!Sophette

How?

Gamestop IS the used games market. They have deep pockets and would find some way to bully Sony or any company that tries that. They could simply refuse to carry their products, imagine the lost revenue for Sony.

In reality, I doubt Sony will actually use this tech. Probably just safeguarding themselves. Lots of these patents get awarded and are never used. It's common with big companies. It would be suicidal for any next gen system to do this, look at the backlash removing Linux caused.

Gamestop wil just replace shelves of games with download cards in a case so there is something tangible to buy.. But sales will shrink dramatically due to no used games or trade in towards purcahses..

I've been a loyal sony fan since i can remember. I had all ps systems including psps and ps vita. But if sony is really doing this then I guess i'll be looking at other systems. Or maybe even stick to this gen. The truth is that sony is clearly not doing well with business. This is a really really bad call.

In reality, I doubt Sony will actually use this tech. Probably just safeguarding themselves. Lots of these patents get awarded and are never used. It's common with big companies.

Sophette

I agree. IMO the inclusion of such "counter-measures" on a console will a) force the savvy consumer to look elsewhere and b) increase the amount of piracy on said console.

out of my 30+ games I have on my PS3 only 2 of them were used and I think I only borrowed one game ever so I wont really mind it. Nengo_Flow

I purchase all of my games new too so the inability to buy pre-owned games isn't a factor for me personally either. However, being deprived of the ability to resell that which I've purchased and no longer require most certainly is.

Main downside for me is that certain games are just impossible to find brand new sometimes.....for a reasonable price.

Dont worry guys, Companies make hundreds of patents a year sometimes, Sony isnt going to do this.

like one guy said in the comments, what if my system breaks? Then what?

not a good idea to me. I think they should continue to do block part of the game content for used games that have online.

Terrencec06

In other words it would work exactly like an online pass, meaning games would be attached to your account, not console.

Some times the logic behind getting a patent is to ensure that OTHER people can't who would possibly use it. I don't think there's anything here to get excited about until there's something to get excited about. This type of move isn't unheard of in lots of different industries.Kravyn81

Fight this everyone!! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-Sonys-used-games-ban/121922617975926

like one guy said in the comments, what if my system breaks? Then what?

not a good idea to me. I think they should continue to do block part of the game content for used games that have online.

Terrencec06

Either way, this is bad and Sony should feel bad. Doubt they are stupid enough to implement this tech in PS4, though. I wouldn't worry about it.

I used to mostly buy used games but nowadays, the new games have been getting such great deals so I pretty much stick with buying new games.

The thing that really stinks is that there are plenty of games which I didn't like or simply hated so I sold them on ebay. I would hate to have a bunch of coasters laying around because I got stuck with some bad games/simply overplayed games without any option to sell them.

If Sony does this they will have made the decision on whether to buy the PS4 for me... won't tolerate this.

I hardly doubt this will become reality, big companies always patent numerous technologies without ever seeing light of day. However, if this would actually happen it won't stop me from purchasing next generation PlayStation simple because over 95% of my games were bought new with majority when the price dropped down. I choose very wisely which game I spend 60$ on and that usually means maybe 2-4 games a year.

Those expenses are rare but for a fantastic game, I won't hesitate to buy it in first month of the release.

Companies patent thousands of things that never see the light of day. At least internet commentators have something new to overreact to.MethodManFTW

This....x1000. There's nothing new to see people, it just a PATENT not an IMPLEMENTATION of that said patent. As MethodManFTW pointed out this is just standard business practice, there is no definitive proof it will come to fruition or not, until a 'physical' system is created and Sony officially states they've put such technology into it. In other words: it's just words on a piece of paper. It's nothing for people to jump to conclusions about yet.....of course, I know that will more than likely fall on deaf ears w/ some Chicken Littles out there. :|

I hardly doubt this will become reality, big companies always patent numerous technologies without ever seeing light of day. However, if this would actually happen it won't stop me from purchasing next generation PlayStation simple because over 95% of my games were bought new with majority when the price dropped down. I choose very wisely which game I spend 60$ on and that usually means maybe 2-4 games a year.

Those expenses are rare but for a fantastic game, I won't hesitate to buy it in first month of the release.

Sokol4ever

Of course, this also counts for me too. So if something 'should' happen it's not really a biggie to me b/c I don't buy used that often. Now I don't know what that will to in terms of my GF subscription but I'll figure out how to cross that bridge, should it ever get to that point.

HMMM the PS3 is a region locked, used game locked, nondedicated server, nonrooted UI, Internet capped, Operating system locked, nonbackwards compatible Game System. Oh wait??? Wasnt that what Sony advertised the PS3 was capable of doing? IF the PS4 has any of this it will be even more of a joke then the PS3.

Xbox 720 here I come. H_M_1

I won't buy any system that blocks used games.

[QUOTE="Terrencec06"]

[QUOTE="Sophette"]Gamestop will fight it to the death!Sophette

How?

Gamestop IS the used games market. They have deep pockets and would find some way to bully Sony or any company that tries that. They could simply refuse to carry their products, imagine the lost revenue for Sony.

In reality, I doubt Sony will actually use this tech. Probably just safeguarding themselves. Lots of these patents get awarded and are never used. It's common with big companies. It would be suicidal for any next gen system to do this, look at the backlash removing Linux caused.

LOL......thinking Sony or Microsoft will be bullied by GS.

Xbox 720 here I come. H_M_1

Microsoft is also looking into this.

I used to mostly buy used games but nowadays, the new games have been getting such great deals so I pretty much stick with buying new games.

The thing that really stinks is that there are plenty of games which I didn't like or simply hated so I sold them on ebay. I would hate to have a bunch of coasters laying around because I got stuck with some bad games/simply overplayed games without any option to sell them.

BH14

Bingo! These days, every games goes onsale sooner than before. Plus you have BB and Amazon always having good deals.

i can't imagine that they would actually do this, unless both xbox 720 and ps4 are gonna implement this. if they do i hope they atleast like reduce the price of new games or something. i got hitman absolution for $30 the other day so maybe games are getting cheaper? i usually buy new anyway but still, i do end up selling a lot of the games that i either finish with or just don't like.

All it will take is one battle in court to demolish Sony's theft practices. According to the law the people have the right to buy and sell freely in the free market . Any attempt Sony makes to use viruses to cause property damage to a persons legally purchased games is illegal and the victim can sue in court for destruction of property and/ or conversion ( meaning Sony has illegally confiscated the game to convert it to it's own use against the law) which is what this software is. Also they should know I won't buy any more of their systems or games ever if they use this technology. It's high time the laws caught up to the digital media era and started reigning in the unfair practices of media companies. This is a good example of why.arcangelgold

the court already has ruled purchasers own the instance of the game/media and it is in fact no longer the property of the manufacturer, arcangelgold

edit// From the US courts.

Also, once games have clearly outlived their lifespan, it's time to mark them down. It's insane that the PSN store sells digital copies of older games - like the Ratchet and Clank, Jak & Daxter, and Metal Gear Solid games - for the same price, if not more than, physical copies. There's zero incentive to purchase those, when I can buy the physical copies for the same price or less and then still recoop some of that money by trading/selling them. If a physical copy would cost me $15-$20, then they need to sell the digital versions for $5-$10. thedarklinglord

NEVER gonna happen, not on any APPRECIABLE timeline, anyway... Look, gamers let the vampires into the house already, there's no stuffing this genie back in the bottle... Too many folks have paid into the current price structures, too many people are USED to paying $60 for a new game no matter the format, too many people are content to be lazy and not go out and SHOP for what they buy when it can be delivered right to their HDD (thank you iTunes, for ruining audio quality of the average collection whilst increasing prices & sloathful behaviors exponentially, now that the hook has been set!) so Sony (and M$), and their various licensee companies, will continue to ask for top-dollar/euro/shekel/etc., - Thinking it will ever change now that they've got a certain cross-section accustomed to the bleeding, is patently absurd.

They're getting away with it ALREADY. Why change ANYTHING??? Don't be silly...

:lol:

Just because you and I don't buy, that doesn't stop the sheeple out there from doing it, and praising them all the while.

;)

If Sony were to do this it is like punishing people. What wrong if I want to lend my PS4 game to a friend? No PS4 game rentals? Finally if your PS4 gets RROD, YLOD, Or DRE and you need a replacement console. Then your whole game collection won't run on the new console.

This would backfire on Sony. The first Sony computer entertain flop on PS4 the 8th Generations version of Lair, or Haze. Not allowing the customer to return a bad game.

Another experiment if Sony tries it will be very bad for Bussiness.

I do not think this patent will permenantly block used games. Instead of charging $10 for online usage for used products, Sony will probably allow users of second hand products to be fully playable at a price. Instead of unlocking the online content for $10, people will just unlock the entire game for $10.