GameStop Warns Against Anti-Used Game Technology

[Beautiful End]

Late inb4 hate for "money grabbing, greedy, dumb Gamestop bastards"

However, I'll have to agree. If my next gen console doesn't play used games, then I'm not buying that consoles. I have a Wii, a 360 and a PS3. The WiiU didn't do it for me. So if the next 360 doesn't play used games, I'll fully embrace a PS4 that does.

 

[Zouriz]

Does Microsoft really want to kill of the market of people that sell their old games to buy new ones? Games are 60 dollars now, not everyone can afford to buy every new game they want. An anti-used game system will only hurt them in the end.

 

[Irridium]

Yeah, I seriously doubt MS would require an always-on connection for their next console and limit used games. It's just beyond stupid, even for them. For a couple of reasons.


1) A decent portion of 360 owners aren't connected. Requiring a connection will mean abandoning them, which leaves them nice and ready for the competition's console.
2) Sony would jump on this so fast. "Buy PS4! We don't require an always online connection and you can play used games on it!"

It would be suicide for MS to make the next xbox always-online and block used games.

 

[Rednog]

There has already been precedent made for forcing steam to allow games that are bought to be resold

Actually, no. The ruling was simply one of if people are able to, they should be able to sell their license to a game to another person. While this is out there, there is no legal precedent saying that companies are forced to provide a service through which you can sell that licence.

 

[LackofCertainty]

This feature will not affect me, because I don't buy used games in general. (I own 3 used games total across the 5 consoles I own)

Honestly, I would be completely fine with a used-game block as long as they also add in a decent store into the console. I like steam, because I can get games massively discounted during their sales. If the console makers were smart, they'd incorporate sales, rentals, and game trades into their own online stores/services, so that they'd completely cut out the demand for used games. It'd be simple enough for them to cannibalize Gamestop's business model even if they go completely digital with it.

 

[Nurb]

Always online consoles? Hahaha, that's hilarious; now that movies are close to being completely seen as a service and not a product on physical media, people will have nothing to do if their cable goes down or servers have issues. I guess everyone will have to read a book again since they couldn't play games or watch movies.

They shouldn't get anything at all from used sales. They sold their product to a customer, that's it, they don't have the right to demand money from used sales. There is no other industry where this argument is going on, and in fact, this wasn't even an issue until this generation where these big publishers are getting too greedy, and started whining about "ohhh the used sales are just killing us! Ow ow ow!"

The used game industry was just fine with everyone until these guys started attempting to control every aspect of how customers use their product so they can nickle and dime us to death on full priced games, and what is crazy to me is how gamers so willingly fall in line with their BS.

The big publishers are making more money than any company generations before, breaking records, but used games suddenly are a problem after nearly 25 years, including years they didn't exist yet? They're shaking us upside down for every penny, treating us like criminals, and they're saying it's our own fault.

 

[LackofCertainty]

Why does everyone latch onto the "Used Games" part of these stories while ignoring the absolutely atrocious part. You must always be online to use the console.

Maybe I'm the only one that lives in the dark ages, but the internet is a very expensive thing (especially at the speeds they'll require)and until recently I didn't even have access to high-speed at all. If any console requires that I be online to play my games - whether or not they allow used game sales - I simply won't be able to justify purchasing the console nor the games. I don't know when I'll be forced to cancel my internet subscription and I don't know when I'll have to move down the street where there isn't cable access...

Yes. Yes you do live in the dark ages.

The most recent statistics I've heard on internet access are that 71% of households have internet access.

The immediate argument is that 29% is still a big number, but you have to consider a couple things.

1. A large portion of that 29% are poor families.
While poor people do enjoy video games as much as the next person, they are unlikely to be able to afford a new console. If they do buy a console, they're likely to get a previous gen one, from a garage sale, so they are not potential customers for sony/microsoft.

2. Of that 29% a large remainder are senior citizens.
I will be the first to admit that gaming is constantly broadening it's demographics, but most senior citizens don't play video games. The few that do are most likely also the few that are tech-savy enough to have internet access as well, so this also isn't a big concern for sony/microsoft.

3. Console gaming -should- get it's online stores fixed for this gen.
The current gen was the console makers treading the water for online sales. This gen should see much more robust online services/stores. So long as the console makers aren't completely braindead, they're likely to take notes from the current successful digital distributors (like steam) which means we're likely to see a lot more sales and discounts in our next gen digital stores. (this gives poorer consumers a viable alternative to used games)

 

[RJ 17]

Don't forget that it would also assassinate the game rental business, not just the used game business. Obviously if all copies must be bought new, you can't go out and rent a game. Microsoft would be taking out (well, perhaps seriously injuring) two birds with one stone.

That said, I know we've been trained to believe that everyone in the gaming industry with a few rare exceptions are a bunch of ass-hats, but I really can't imagine a guy in a developement meeting saying "Hey! You know EVERYTHING that gamers hate these days with the online passes and the DRM and the always-connected stuff? Why don't we roll all that into one big pot! We could call it the F.U.Box! You know how much we've been wanting to drastically tarnish our brandname and piss off all of our customers, right? Well this is the way to do it!"

 

[Nurb]

Yes. Yes you do live in the dark ages.

The most recent statistics I've heard on internet access are that 71% of households have internet access.

The immediate argument is that 29% is still a big number, but you have to consider a couple things.

1. A large portion of that 29% are poor families.
While poor people do enjoy video games as much as the next person, they are unlikely to be able to afford a new console. If they do buy a console, they're likely to get a previous gen one, from a garage sale, so they are not potential customers for sony/microsoft.

2. Of that 29% a large remainder are senior citizens.
I will be the first to admit that gaming is constantly broadening it's demographics, but most senior citizens don't play video games. The few that do are most likely also the few that are tech-savy enough to have internet access as well, so this also isn't a big concern for sony/microsoft.

3. Console gaming -should- get it's online stores fixed for this gen.
The current gen was the console makers treading the water for online sales. This gen should see much more robust online services/stores. So long as the console makers aren't completely braindead, they're likely to take notes from the current successful digital distributors (like steam) which means we're likely to see a lot more sales and discounts in our next gen digital stores. (this gives poorer consumers a viable alternative to used games)

You are forgetting that 71% includes people who still use dial-up and DSL, connections that don't support heavy streaming use that modern gaming demands. And the Elderly absolutely are using the internet, not in huge numbers, but they do use it to check on email and browse, or are just plain heavy users like anyone else. The proper speeds for gaming are expensive. I have only one choice in my area and it's 60 a month just for the net.

Besides, every time cable goes down, or servers have a problem, the customers are unable to use their prodect whenever they want, and that's wrong. When I lived in LA recently, the service went down often, and when I couldnt use the net, I played games.

 

[Cecilthedarkknight_234]

So the WiiU wins the next generation by default if these rumors are proven true??? Well then I'm going back to my retro game collection then. Hell I will have more fun playing Sega Saturn, Genesis, 32x, CD, Nes, Super Nes, N64 or Play-station games.

 

[Lazy Kitty]

No more preowned games? Oh well, I never liked the idea of used games anyway. Unless it's being sold/traded within the family.
Would be pretty bad if one person bought a game, played it and the sold it, repeating it until everyone in the world has played the game with the exact same copy...
Plus... I might like hoarding my games...
After all, they're mine.

 

[RWillers]

I want to believe that even if Microsoft or Sony were to block the used games, they'd be smart enough to see that there's good money to be made there and they could copy the Steam model for the PlayStation Store and XBox Live. That is, sales, discounts, promos, etc.

What I find hard to believe is an always online system for all their games. Once again, I don't think they're really that stupid. They saw what happened with Diablo 3 and I don't think they'd want to risk having the same backlash Blizzard had when their servers went down.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that companies like Microsoft and Sony aren't trying to screw their customers because, well, we're the ones paying for their products. But it wouldn't surprise if they're trying to kill GameStop and the like just so they can get the "extra" cash the retailers are making. Or maybe not even kill them, just get their piece of the cake... like 99.9% of the cake.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I do believe I only own a handful of preowned games. Call of Duty 2, Dead Space, Shadow of the Colossus...and I really think that's it. I prefer to buy my games new on release day. So this wouldn't affect me too much.

However, I do let my friends borrow my games (one is currently playing Halo 4), and there is the very rare occasion when I trade a game in. And I really can't see Microsoft pulling this. I just can't. The backlash would be something amazing to see, and I'm certain that even people inside the company would be warning against doing something like that. Still, I suppose it could happen, and it will be frightening to watch if it does.

As for the always online thing, I can't see that happening. Blizzard got a slap in the face from that, but there's a bigger issue. What if the servers go down, like they did for the PlayStation Network last year (or was it the year before)? What then? Will we not be able to play ANY of our games because their servers got hacked, therefore the game can't tell that we're connected and thus it won't run? If the crash around Diablo III's launch was bad, having gamers lose all there games for nearly a month would be...
I'm pretty sure the world would end.

 

[Epona]

They're right, but the fact that this is coming for a company that is a big reason behind why Microsoft and Sony would be considering this leaves a bit of a bitter taste. Why not work something out with the publishers to do with the used sales, because at the moment (if the rumours would be true, that is) it would be a lose-lose situation, it would just be who loses more.

It's funny that gamers think publishers hate Gamestop when they continue to give Gamestop exclusive deals. Gamestop sells more shit for the publishers than any other retailer besides Wal Mart.

Also, what do you mean by "work something out"? Do you mean that Gamestop and other used sellers should pay the publishers a percentage? That would do everlasting harm to consumers and should never be considered.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

Uh, guys? I love Steam, too, but it's pretty much the poster child for buying games new and being unable to resell them. If MS/Xbox wants to chase Steam's coattails, no-used-sales no-game-stop all-digital-distribution consoles make good sense.

The remaining brick-and-mortar digital product stores are all staring into the abyss which Tower Records, etc., long since fell into. They're dinosaurs.

I'd be interested to see whether total demise of resale leads to better discounts, a la Steam, or leads to price gouging on a scale as yet unseen before.

Since this is Microsoft we're talking about, though, I know which one I'm betting on.

 

[tehroc]

Why does everyone latch onto the "Used Games" part of these stories while ignoring the absolutely atrocious part. You must always be online to use the console.

Maybe I'm the only one that lives in the dark ages, but the internet is a very expensive thing (especially at the speeds they'll require)and until recently I didn't even have access to high-speed at all. If any console requires that I be online to play my games - whether or not they allow used game sales - I simply won't be able to justify purchasing the console nor the games. I don't know when I'll be forced to cancel my internet subscription and I don't know when I'll have to move down the street where there isn't cable access...

By next gen almost every game will be multiplayer games with single player adventures tacked on (EA is already on board), so it makes sense for the system to require internet connection.

 

[Kinitawowi]

Yeah, add me to those LOLing at the notion of Gamestop telling Microsoft not to kill the used game market when said market provides the majority of Gamestop's business model. If you (and others, Game) didn't run this racket in the way you did then companies wouldn't have had to resort to these sorts of steps.

The ironing is delicious. [/Bart Simpson]

Newsflash: Microsoft - and most other console manufacturers - aren't that bothered about mates lending each other games or selling them on to each other. They're bothered about professional operations.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

They are biased, but they are also correct. People will simply wait for price drops or switch to PC. Less hassle, and Steam deals are awesome.

but as i say, i doubt MS will, maybe when consoles go digital only but then hopefully games will be cheaper and thus the used game market wont matter. Look at steam...at that price who cares about used.

Ehh, all the games I want to play come out on steam nowadays anyway. ... If anything I think that's what Sony and Microsoft should be scared of happening, not used game sales.

Uh, guys? I love Steam, too, but it's pretty much the poster child for buying games new and being unable to resell them. If MS/Xbox wants to chase Steam's coattails, no-used-sales no-game-stop all-digital-distribution consoles make good sense.

The remaining brick-and-mortar digital product stores are all staring into the abyss which Tower Records, etc., long since fell into. They're dinosaurs.

But Steam sells for a hell of a lot cheaper than Microsofts digital copies or hard copies from, say, GameStop.

I've often thought about the fact that I can't sell my Steam games, but then I remember that most of them cost me less than £5. And the ones that cost more are ones I want to keep to maybe play again.

I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's definitely better than what Microsoft currently offer. We'll have to wait and see how this turns out. If they do this, but actually offer affordable prices for their digital games I wouldn't mind as much.

 

[Epona]

They are biased, but they are also correct. People will simply wait for price drops or switch to PC. Less hassle, and Steam deals are awesome.

but as i say, i doubt MS will, maybe when consoles go digital only but then hopefully games will be cheaper and thus the used game market wont matter. Look at steam...at that price who cares about used.

Ehh, all the games I want to play come out on steam nowadays anyway. ... If anything I think that's what Sony and Microsoft should be scared of happening, not used game sales.

Uh, guys? I love Steam, too, but it's pretty much the poster child for buying games new and being unable to resell them. If MS/Xbox wants to chase Steam's coattails, no-used-sales no-game-stop all-digital-distribution consoles make good sense.

The remaining brick-and-mortar digital product stores are all staring into the abyss which Tower Records, etc., long since fell into. They're dinosaurs.

But Steam sells for a hell of a lot cheaper than Microsofts digital copies or hard copies from, say, GameStop.

I've often thought about the fact that I can't sell my Steam games, but then I remember that most of them cost me less than £5. And the ones that cost more are ones I want to keep to maybe play again.

I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's definitely better than what Microsoft currently offer. We'll have to wait and see how this turns out. If they do this, but actually offer affordable prices for their digital games I wouldn't mind as much.

Normally, Steams prices are exactly the same. Sales are the exception, not the rule. For example: Skyrim is still $60.

 

[bdcjacko]

Didn't we just go through a news story like this with the PS4?

I will believe it when I see it.