Will Next-Gen Consoles Block Used Games?

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

Now, now I know this is GameStop but its actually a good read:
http://www.gamespot.com/features/wil...374875/?page=1

One of my favorite parts.

Arvind Bhatia - Sterne Agee

"We believe blocking used games would cause a consumer backlash. That is why despite the fact technology to block used game already exists, Microsoft and Sony are unlikely to take a stance that is unfriendly to consumers. Also, GameStop, which is obviously the leader in used games, remains a critical partner for the console companies. It has 25 percent to 30 percent market share in the Xbox 360 and PS3 new software markets and often in the initial weeks of a new game launch garners 50 percent type market share. This is another reason the console companies' actions are unlikely to be harsh. Ultimately, the console companies will continue to aggressively push DLC as a way to prolong the life of their games and slow down sales of used. Interestingly, Nintendo has not complained much about used games being a factor. Do you know why? We think it's because customers who buy Nintendo games often play them for years i.e., they don't sell them used for quite a long time."

Read it and share your thoughts. =3

[GameGeeks]

Thread has already been created for this. Why another?

http://www.animeforum.com/showthread...-of-Used-Games

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

Thread has already been created for this. Why another?

http://www.animeforum.com/showthread...-of-Used-Games

Cause I can. And just read the article...it's kind of different (since this is industry analysts getting more into the subject) and it's good enough of a read to warrant it's on thread. (And it would get overlooked as a post)

Just read the article.

[Anime Forum]

Cause I can. And just read the article...it's kind of different (since this is industry analysts getting more into the subject) and it's good enough of a read to warrant it's on thread. (And it would get overlooked as a post)

Just read the article.

So you can post this but my Dead or Alive 5 thread was a bad creation <_<?. Same thing, since my thread added discussion and the old one is long forgotten. Sorry but gotta be the hard type' xD.

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

So you can post this but my Dead or Alive 5 thread was a bad creation <_<?. Same thing, since my thread added discussion and the old one is long forgotten. Sorry but gotta be the hard type' xD.

Yours was a duplicate with little info.

This an a decent enough article. You can't compare because it's not really duplicates.

I mean this contains an actual debate.

[Anime Forum]

Yours was a duplicate with little info.

This an a decent enough article. You can't compare because it's not really duplicates.

I mean this contains an actual debate.

I know. Was just joking. I read the article btw.

[Samuru]

Yes, a block on second hand games would be very unfriendly towards the users. Especially to the people that just can't affort to buy a new video game for 60 bucks. I have a few hand-me-downs, as the original was no longer on sale. I also think that this will cause a lot more illegal downloads of console games.

[.:neuko:.]

I just thought of a profit-maximising brainwave: Force all gamers to initially pay through the nose for glitchy, unfinished and goalless titles, then with DLC as their only option for further gaming, force them to constantly pay extra for content one would normally expect of games in the first place (if not otherwise crap). Now if only there's was some DRM-centric firmware designed to stop gamers from playing second-hand games on their own consoles that could turn that idea into reality. Oh wait... there is!

Although I prefer to buy my games new these days, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about a possible future in which "used" games are actively blocked by games consoles. Just as DRM has penalised gamers owning legitimate copies of games and ironically driven up piracy, I'm fairly certain that this "restriction" will do nothing more than hurt first owners of "new" games and simply incite frustrated gamers to turn to "unlocking" their consoles.

Btw, don't get me wrong, I do care about the market for second-hand games as well. It's just I find it rather sad that it exists mostly because games are disproportionately overpriced in the first place.