The difference between Microsoft doing this and Valve doing this is platform and support from game developers. Most of use have been able to carry our steam accounts/games across a standardized platform and continue to play games that we purchased over a decade ago. Valve does not guarantee the compatibility support from them or developers but it is much more justified for the resources to be used by [Valve] and game developers with the knowledge that the PC (platforms alike) cannot drastically change to the point where users would not be able to run the software all together.
Every game console has a shelf life, additionally a limit to the amount of time it will be warranted and supported. Things like backwards compatibility become an issue and the given lack of compatibility with other consoles. The reliance people have on a centralized standard platform like this gives you the comfort of knowing, that a simple upgrade can be performed in 5-10 years that will enable you to still play these games and share them.
Support from developers and an larger unified community allow PC games (especially on steam) to continue to be modified and updated as well.
Maybe I am incorrect and other users do not see things this way. But if Microsoft and other console manufacturers could guarantee this generation will become a universal standard at some point, where concerns about broken unsupported consoles and backwards compatibility are a thing of the past then the need to trade in or sell games would be minimal.
The only reason I trade in games is because I believe by the time I want to play a game again my console will be broken/outdated or not supported. On PC there is a lot less fear of this because the platform is so unified.
The difference between Microsoft doing this and Valve doing this is platform and support from game developers. Most of use have been able to carry our steam accounts/games across a standardized platform and continue to play games that we purchased over a decade ago. Valve does not guarantee the compatibility support from them or developers but it is much more justified for the resources to be used by [Valve] and game developers with the knowledge that the PC (platforms alike) cannot drastically change to the point where users would not be able to run the software all together.
Every game console has a shelf life, additionally a limit to the amount of time it will be warranted and supported. Things like backwards compatibility become an issue and the given lack of compatibility with other consoles. The reliance people have on a centralized standard platform like this gives you the comfort of knowing, that a simple upgrade can be performed in 5-10 years that will enable you to still play these games and share them.
Support from developers and an larger unified community allow PC games (especially on steam) to continue to be modified and updated as well.
Maybe I am incorrect and other users do not see things this way. But if Microsoft and other console manufacturers could guarantee this generation will become a universal standard at some point, where concerns about broken unsupported consoles and backwards compatibility are a thing of the past then the need to trade in or sell games would be minimal.
The only reason I trade in games is because I believe by the time I want to play a game again my console will be broken/outdated or not supported. On PC there is a lot less fear of this because the platform is so unified.
@bdixon76 I doubt that it was the Eye alone, there was probably some other benefit such as software to go with it or a game of some sort. There has never been such an obvious markup before without reason or some other benefit.
@Megavideogamer That argument makes no sense. With that logic. A computer a decade old PC with Windows XP and older hardware would not be able to play in the same multiplayer game as one that was built today with Windows 8 or even Mac OSX or Linux. Steam Cross-play anyone?
Better yet. PSVita and PS3 offer crossplay for PSASBR, which is a very similar type of game. The graphics don't necessarily look the same.
EVEN BETTER YET. Monster Hunter on WiiU and 3ds allow cross-platform play!
Ccooly's comments