A designer at Saints Row The Third developer Volition has welcomed reports that Microsoft's Xbox 360 successor will include some kind of anti-used game system, saying such a measure would be "a fantastic change for our business."
Writing on Altdevblogaday, design director Jameson Durall says that online passes work, and welcomes Sony's announcement that digital versions of PS Vita games will cost less than at retail. He reserves special praise, however, for Microsoft's reported intent to block pre-owned games at hardware level.
He writes: "Personally I think this would be a fantastic change for our business, and even though the consumers would be up in arms about it at first, they will grow to understand why and that it won't kill them.
"In the end, I fully believe that we have to do something about these issues or our industry is going to fall apart. People don't understand the cost that goes into creating these huge experiences that we put on the shelves for only $60.
"They also don't seem to realise how much they are hurting us when they buy a used game and how pirating a copy is just plain stealing. Maybe something as simple as educating them could help solve the problem."
Reports late last month claimed Microsoft was planning on including "some sort of anti-used game system" in its new console. The same report claimed the Xbox 360 successor would use Blu-ray discs and come with a next-generation version of the Kinect sensor.
Source: Altdevblogaday
Comments
12Maybe something as simple as educating Mr Durall on how many people traded something in towards part or all of the cost of Saints Row the Third would help him understand how this would hurt him. Or how many used copies of the (better) second game kept the brand alive.
Also, I have no sympathy for you when people are buying pre-owned games if the new version is not available in store. Until you sort out making more of the bloody things, I'll happily sell a second hand copy to anyone who walks in the door without a shred of guilt.
Wow, the man is clearly delusional if he can't see that it won't absolutely cripple the business.
Also, way to completely belittle the consumer.
If prices for games came down over time, full price for the first 4 months 25% off for the next 2 months, 50% off after 6 months and so on. It would allow people to buy games based on their budgets and keep the industry alive with the money going to the right people.
However this would probably be a death blow to companies like Game and Blockbuster who rely on traded in products as part of their business model, and would also kill the rental industry.
Unfortunately chances are by eliminating the middle man companies could keep the prices artificially higher for longer and make gaming more elitist, by making games less affordable for younger gamers and those of us who can’t afford to fork out a days pay for a new game on a regular basis.
From a creative point of view, some people buy a new game every few weeks, as soon as they’ve finished it they trade it against something else. If people were prevented from doing that, how likely would they be to take a chance on something new while waiting for the next new release?
What about all the people that are simply not buying Volition's game at all? Surely these people should be next on the hit list, after all, it's taking money out of publisher's pockets by NOT buying stuff. The dirty skanks.
"Only" 60 dollars? What a fucking idiot. And now he seems to think that we shouldn't even get to own it when we buy it for sixty bucks? If this kind of arrogance and detachment from the consumer is what is coming from the gaming industry, maybe it deserves to fail.
If I was the developer of a series that is in danger of running completely out of steam very soon I'd probably fear used game sales too.
Why let people buy older Saints Row games when you can force them into your latest turd?
If I can't get a copy of my favourite games from x years ago brand new, then I will, with or without Mr Duralls consent, buy it second hand from someone lucky enough to own it. I will also continue to sell games as long as there is demand for cheaper, used games on the likes of eBay and Play.
Believe it or not, not everyone can afford a £49.99 game everyday.
If I were to get this new X-Box console and built quite a collection of games........then, say, a year or two later and the console malfunctions.......technically speaking, if I get a replacement won't all the games I already own be worthless? Because they will be deemed 'pre-owned' on a new console?
Speaking of which, don't consoles bring out slimline, or other new, models later on? Would upgrading to those mean existing games will also prove worthless?
It's impossible to tie physical media like a blu ray disc to a specific piece of hardware, unless they demand some new way of manufacturing discs with a unique ID on them or something.
Likely you would be buying a game with an online pass in it that ties it to your XBL profile and your machine would have to be 24/7 plugged into the internet to work. The actual value of the game would just be in the key code it comes with; the data on the disc would be worthless without it.
I would never buy a console that required that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hoHds88Slk
So if i want to take a new game to a friends house (creating the potential for a new sale if they happen to like it) i will have to enter some sort of code and ask permission? I'm affraid we will just play something else instead, i'm not jumping through hoops for these twats.
I mainly buy used games and appreciate everyone's ire ...but...
When was the last time you bought a used game on Xbox Live? Or bought a used game on your iPhone?
Face it, used games are going to die out in the next generation. We should all make the most of them whilst we can.