Sony Joins the Offensive Against Pre-Owned Games

Wow Sony, 20 bucks just so you can play your used game on-line ? :?

I don't think this is going to go over very well with the fans.

What ya think SW ?

The Story

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"In a move to counter sales of pre-owned games, EA recently revealed DLC perks for those who buy new copies of Mass Effect 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Now, PlayStation platform holder Sony has jumped on the bandwagonwith similar plans for the PSP's SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3. '[Players] will need to register their game online before they are able to access the multiplayer component of the title. UMD copies will use a redeemable code while the digital version will authenticate automatically in the background. Furthermore ... anyone buying a pre-owned copy of the game will be forced to cough up $20 to obtain a code to play online."

I think it is more to stop piracy than it is to stop people from buying used.

personally I think the used game market hurts the industry and lets gamestop rip off gamers. However, my issue is not with that, but it means I can't lend a game to a friend to try out?!!?!blue_hazy_basic

I definitely don't see this blowing up in their faces...
What's worse is the outrage that will follow when Sony shuts down the servers for these games.

- Well it does seem to be anti-pirate as well. But charging gamers who buy a pre-owned copy $20 is lame IMO.

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Here's my dilemma with EA's Mass Effect 2 "perks":

- My 360's ethernet port is literally malfunctioned. That means I can't connect to XBL! So, I put my HDD into my bro's 360 to download Zaeed and other stuff....Only to find out later, I can't access that information once I put my HDD back into my 360 (says the data is "corrupted").

- Not only that, my most recent game save is locked/ corrupted on my HDD! :| Damn, I'm glad I practice saving my games (especially RPGs) on multiple slots. Learned that with FF 7, 8, & 9 and "corrupted data" crap.

Is this even legal???

That is like buying a used Corvette and then having to pay Chevy $20,000. just to be able to drive it on the street!!

These dirty tactics is what will eventually destroy this industry. You can only piss off a customer so many times before they never comeback again.

Do you want to reduce the sale of pre-owned games, make new ones more affordable. Also a tiered pricing plan would be good. Why does a game with 20+ hours of play time cost the same as a game with 5 hours of play time?

Why does a game like Uncharted 2 cost the same when new as Barbie's Horse Galloping Adventure?

Why after 10+ years does Twilight Princess still cost the same as when it came out? Ok 10+ years might be a bit much, but you know what I mean. :D

All these things make people turn to the used market. I would be the first one to be happy to see Gamestop's business model ruined, but there is a need for it, and they are just providing a service.

Is this even legal???

That is like buying a used Corvette and then having to pay Chevy $20,000. just to be able to drive it on the street!!

These dirty tactics is what will eventually destroy this industry. You can only piss off a customer so many times before they never comeback again.

EG101

I understand people's concerns with this. But some people I just don't. Some people claim to be morally superior to pirates when they buy used games. When paying money to support developers is involved they suddenly get cold feet. Those kinds of people shouldn't be weighing in on this - and even then, used games don't get money to the devs. Ubiquitous car analogies don't work here either: seeing as games don't lose value if you're buying second hand (you don't buy new games from gamestop with shrink wrap anyway), and you don't own the game anyway, just a licence.

Do you want to reduce the sale of pre-owned games, make new ones more affordable. Also a tiered pricing plan would be good. Why does a game with 20+ hours of play time cost the same as a game with 5 hours of play time?

Why does a game like Uncharted 2 cost the same when new as Barbie's Horse Galloping Adventure?

Why after 10+ years does Twilight Princess still cost the same as when it came out? Ok 10+ years might be a bit much, but you know what I mean. :D

All these things make people turn to the used market. I would be the first one to be happy to see Gamestop's business model ruined, but there is a need for it, and they are just providing a service.

coasterguy65

Is this even legal???

That is like buying a used Corvette and then having to pay Chevy $20,000. just to be able to drive it on the street!!

These dirty tactics is what will eventually destroy this industry. You can only piss off a customer so many times before they never comeback again.

EG101

Of course it's legal. Why should you get to play their game and they make no money. What does that sound like? P I R A T I N G.

I understand people's concerns with this. But some people I just don't. Some people claim to be morally superior to pirates when they buy used games. When paying money to support developers is involved they suddenly get cold feet. Those kinds of people shouldn't be weighing in on this - and even then, used games don't get money to the devs. Ubiquitous car analogies don't work here either: seeing as games don't lose value if you're buying second hand (you don't buy new games from gamestop with shrink wrap anyway), and you don't own the game anyway, just a licence.

Firebird-5

In my opinion used games is good for the industry it's how many people afford to buy new. Yes, there are some cases where a person waits to buy the game. Don't forget each used game was new at one time. HarlockJC

[QUOTE="EG101"]

Is this even legal???

That is like buying a used Corvette and then having to pay Chevy $20,000. just to be able to drive it on the street!!

These dirty tactics is what will eventually destroy this industry. You can only piss off a customer so many times before they never comeback again.

Espada12

Of course it's legal. Why should you get to play their game and they make no money. What does that sound like? P I R A T I N G.

[QUOTE="HarlockJC"]In my opinion used games is good for the industry it's how many people afford to buy new. Yes, there are some cases where a person waits to buy the game. Don't forget each used game was new at one time. blue_hazy_basic

[QUOTE="Espada12"]

[QUOTE="EG101"]

Is this even legal???

That is like buying a used Corvette and then having to pay Chevy $20,000. just to be able to drive it on the street!!

These dirty tactics is what will eventually destroy this industry. You can only piss off a customer so many times before they never comeback again.

HuusAsking

Of course it's legal. Why should you get to play their game and they make no money. What does that sound like? P I R A T I N G.

Their methods maybe extreme but the situation calls for them, I see it as console's DRM.

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="HarlockJC"]In my opinion used games is good for the industry it's how many people afford to buy new. Yes, there are some cases where a person waits to buy the game. Don't forget each used game was new at one time. HuusAsking

I certainly wouldn't. If I saw the exact same game priced $5 cheaper I'd buy that edition. Unfortunately I don't get that because I am a PC gamer. The average customer isn't educated on things like this.

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="HarlockJC"]In my opinion used games is good for the industry it's how many people afford to buy new. Yes, there are some cases where a person waits to buy the game. Don't forget each used game was new at one time. HuusAsking

Sometimes the savings are 20 dollars. Also gamestop has an interesting policy that allows you to take the used game back for a refund within 7 days. Main reason I buy used.

Personally I feel this is epic BS and I hope it blows up in Sonys face. I also don't think used game sellers like Gamestop are going to take it lying down. Theres also the case with older games where new copies are hard to find. Basically any game made prior to 2008 that wasn't a mega hit.

Honestly this is just going to piss gamers like me off. If they want to stop a legitimate buisness of reselling property you own, they should move to Digital distribution.

Works perfectly with PC games. Stops piracy on the platform to a degree. Hardly a bad thing considering how terrible it is on the PSP. And of course you have incentives like what EA is doing on multiple platforms. So expect entering keys into games to become all the more common console gamers.skrat_01

To be honest I'd probably just quit buying games and just go back to playing snes and nes.

Theres also the case with older games where new copies are hard to find. Basically any game made prior to 2008 that wasn't a mega hit.

Pixel-Pirate

To be honest I'd probably just quit buying games and just go back to playing snes and nes.

Pixel-Pirate

You could but ultimately when people want to play X game they conform.

I'm surprised they're doing this so late.

By the way, does anyone else smell something here?

When piracy countermeasures are applied everything is perfectly fine, but when second-hand sales countermeasures are applied instead everyone's screaming. *sniffs* The smell of hypocrisy is so strong you can almost taste it.

I fully expect the new generation of consoles to have cdkey activations.

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"][QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"] But when GS sell a newly released used game for $5 less it essientally is cancelling out a new game sale and giving 100% of the profit to GS.Pixel-Pirate

Sometimes the savings are 20 dollars. Also gamestop has an interesting policy that allows you to take the used game back for a refund within 7 days. Main reason I buy used.

Personally I feel this is epic BS and I hope it blows up in Sonys face. I also don't think used game sellers like Gamestop are going to take it lying down. Theres also the case with older games where new copies are hard to find. Basically any game made prior to 2008 that wasn't a mega hit.

Honestly this is just going to piss gamers like me off. If they want to stop a legitimate buisness of reselling property you own, they should move to Digital distribution.

i will happily download games for free and screw them...they deserve to be ripped off considering they ripped off the people who buy the games who get told they have to pay more and more!daveg1

It was bound to happen.. People say piracy is a big deal on the PC.. But the used game and rental services are even worse, every one uses them and its cheap and legal.sSubZerOo

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]It was bound to happen.. People say piracy is a big deal on the PC.. But the used game and rental services are even worse, every one uses them and its cheap and legal.HuusAsking

:| No they don't they just do it.. They need no incentives out side that they can make more money.. This is going to happen sooner or later, people need to realize this.. Furthermore rental is damaging to the industry because companies have already put forward the idea of making games unique to their specific system, unable to play on others.. Based on the logic of these companies use for piracy, every rental = 1 copy profit lost..

[QUOTE="daveg1"]i will happily download games for free and screw them...they deserve to be ripped off considering they ripped off the people who buy the games who get told they have to pay more and more!skrat_01

I dont think its legal at all!!!

To the guy who said " why should you play the game and they get no money for it" ? Sony got money from original sale and the person who bought the game can share or sell the game to any one who wishes, ITS HIS PROPERTY NOW!!!!

How is that any different from used car market, used clothes, used TV, House market. When i buy a product its mine , if company wants more money then they need to have better marketing so they can sell more products.

When I sell my car person who is buying the car only pays me he does not pay me and honda or if i decide to sell my samsung tv im the only one who gets money for it and not me and samsgung.

Only reason game companies are complaing about all this now is because used game market is a big market now and they want piece of the pie!!!!! ITS CALLED GREEED!!! As i said if game companies want more money then they need to eitehr lower price of the games or market their games better so they can have better sales.

[QUOTE="daveg1"]i will happily download games for free and screw them...they deserve to be ripped off considering they ripped off the people who buy the games who get told they have to pay more and more!skrat_01

I can't say I'd lose any sleep over it.

This also screws over the rental industry, doesn't it? People like to you know, try the game before putting down 60-100+ dollars on it.

I dont think its legal at all!!!

To the guy who said " why should you play the game and they get no money for it" ? Sony got money from original sale and the person who bought the game can share or sell the game to any one who wishes, ITS HIS PROPERTY NOW!!!!

How is that any different from used car market, used clothes, used TV, House market. When i buy a product its mine , if company wants more money then they need to have better marketing so they can sell more products.

When I sell my car person who is buying the car only pays me he does not pay me and honda or if i decide to sell my samsung tv im the only one who gets money for it and not me and samsgung.

Only reason game companies are complaing about all this now is because used game market is a big market now and they want piece of the pie!!!!! ITS CALLED GREEED!!! As i said if game companies want more money then they need to eitehr lower price of the games or market their games better so they can have better sales.

IFBB-PRO

Its been used on the PC for years.. Furthermore you are not paying for the physical product like you are for the car, clothing etc etc.. You are paying for the rights to use the software..

I dont think its legal at all!!!

To the guy who said " why should you play the game and they get no money for it" ? Sony got money from original sale and the person who bought the game can share or sell the game to any one who wishes, ITS HIS PROPERTY NOW!!!!

How is that any different from used car market, used clothes, used TV, House market. When i buy a product its mine , if company wants more money then they need to have better marketing so they can sell more products.

When I sell my car person who is buying the car only pays me he does not pay me and honda or if i decide to sell my samsung tv im the only one who gets money for it and not me and samsgung.

Only reason game companies are complaing about all this now is because used game market is a big market now and they want piece of the pie!!!!! ITS CALLED GREEED!!! As i said if game companies want more money then they need to eitehr lower price of the games or market their games better so they can have better sales.

IFBB-PRO

I agree. Once you buy a game you should be able to resell it or destroy it or do anything that doesn't break the law with it.

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"][QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]It was bound to happen.. People say piracy is a big deal on the PC.. But the used game and rental services are even worse, every one uses them and its cheap and legal.sSubZerOo

:| No they don't they just do it.. They need no incentives out side that they can make more money.. This is going to happen sooner or later, people need to realize this.. Furthermore rental is damaging to the industry because companies have already put forward the idea of making games unique to their specific system, unable to play on others.. Based on the logic of these companies use for piracy, every rental = 1 copy profit lost..

It's only for the online part of a game. I don't see what the problem is.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"]For a reason. Rentals still help the devs since rental copies sell for significant premiums. As for used copies, that's guaranteed under the Copyright Act, and a license is itself a salable good. If publishers want to prevent used game sales, they need to provide incentives (and preferably positive incentives) for people to retain their copies.HuusAsking

:| No they don't they just do it.. They need no incentives out side that they can make more money.. This is going to happen sooner or later, people need to realize this.. Furthermore rental is damaging to the industry because companies have already put forward the idea of making games unique to their specific system, unable to play on others.. Based on the logic of these companies use for piracy, every rental = 1 copy profit lost..

Defect to where? If all systems do it, you have the choice to be a gamer or not be a gamer.. Seeing as gaming is only growing they really could care less.... If this were the case for your second part, the PC wouldn't have done this sense the mid to late 90s, and it has.. Consoles are no different.. You are paying for the license and its their right to decide what they think its legal and illegal for their intellectual property.. When you buy the game and play it, your enterting a contractual agreement to what you can do and not do, if you don't like it return it or don't buy it what so ever..

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"][QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

:| No they don't they just do it.. They need no incentives out side that they can make more money.. This is going to happen sooner or later, people need to realize this.. Furthermore rental is damaging to the industry because companies have already put forward the idea of making games unique to their specific system, unable to play on others.. Based on the logic of these companies use for piracy, every rental = 1 copy profit lost..

sSubZerOo

Defect to where? If all systems do it, you have the choice to be a gamer or not be a gamer.. Seeing as gaming is only growing they really could care less.... If this were the case for your second part, the PC wouldn't have done this sense the mid to late 90s, and it has.. Consoles are no different.. You are paying for the license and its their right to decide what they think its legal and illegal for their intellectual property.. When you buy the game and play it, your enterting a contractual agreement to what you can do and not do, if you don't like it return it or don't buy it what so ever..

It's only for the online part of a game. I don't see what the problem is.

dmaximum

I dont think its legal at all!!!

To the guy who said " why should you play the game and they get no money for it" ? Sony got money from original sale and the person who bought the game can share or sell the game to any one who wishes, ITS HIS PROPERTY NOW!!!!

How is that any different from used car market, used clothes, used TV, House market. When i buy a product its mine , if company wants more money then they need to have better marketing so they can sell more products.

When I sell my car person who is buying the car only pays me he does not pay me and honda or if i decide to sell my samsung tv im the only one who gets money for it and not me and samsgung.

Only reason game companies are complaing about all this now is because used game market is a big market now and they want piece of the pie!!!!! ITS CALLED GREEED!!! As i said if game companies want more money then they need to eitehr lower price of the games or market their games better so they can have better sales.

IFBB-PRO

Sorry if a whole industry wants to ride on my product I better be getting money out of it.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"]And sooner or later, you're going to alienate the audience, causing them to defect. As for the "registered" game, why do you think Sony didin't go through with it? Because anyone could then sue Sony under the Copyright Act--licenses are themselves salable goods, and the First Sale Doctrine can apply to them--otherwise, any used merchandise market is illegal.HuusAsking

Defect to where? If all systems do it, you have the choice to be a gamer or not be a gamer.. Seeing as gaming is only growing they really could care less.... If this were the case for your second part, the PC wouldn't have done this sense the mid to late 90s, and it has.. Consoles are no different.. You are paying for the license and its their right to decide what they think its legal and illegal for their intellectual property.. When you buy the game and play it, your enterting a contractual agreement to what you can do and not do, if you don't like it return it or don't buy it what so ever..

A) That is a fail comparison.. Videogames pre 1983 were not a multi billion to trilion dollar franchise even when you account for value of money.... B) That is not relevent, its against the law to trade games like that for the PC.. Now is it enforced? Not really but most do not buy it due tot eh whole cdkey fiasco... They will once this starts having, before you can play/install the game you will have to agree to a contract with this under stipulation, which is fully in their rights of doing it.. There is nothing you can do about it.

I think it is more to stop piracy than it is to stop people from buying used.

RAGINGxPONY

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"][QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

Defect to where? If all systems do it, you have the choice to be a gamer or not be a gamer.. Seeing as gaming is only growing they really could care less.... If this were the case for your second part, the PC wouldn't have done this sense the mid to late 90s, and it has.. Consoles are no different.. You are paying for the license and its their right to decide what they think its legal and illegal for their intellectual property.. When you buy the game and play it, your enterting a contractual agreement to what you can do and not do, if you don't like it return it or don't buy it what so ever..

sSubZerOo

A) That is a fail comparison.. Videogames pre 1983 were not a multi billion to trilion dollar franchise even when you account for value of money.... B) That is not relevent, its against the law to trade games like that for the PC.. Now is it enforced? Not really but most do not buy it due tot eh whole cdkey fiasco... They will once this starts having, before you can play/install the game you will have to agree to a contract with this under stipulation, which is fully in their rights of doing it.. There is nothing you can do about it.