Sony Patents a Way to Sabotage Used Game Market

[jollybarracuda]

So it pretty much makes a boxed game equivalent to buying it from somewhere like Steam, if they tie it to your account ID. I guess that's not woefully terrible, though it would be a shame to see the used market go away if this were to ever really take off (which i still doubt it will). I just wish the game publishers and such would target places like Gamestop that aren't giving them the profit from a used sale. It's that kind of practice that wouldn't hurt the consumer, and would get these developers the profits they need to deal with the ridiculously high production costs they go and put on themselves.

 

[Deathfish15]

Here's some issues that will come up with this:


1) If my PS4 breaks, and I have to send it in for a MFG warranty repair/replace (or buy a new one), does this mean that all my games that are encoded to the old system are rendered unusable on a new system?



2) If my power's out, yet I want to play a game that I have and my brother doesn't, I go to his house and yet cannot play the game on his PS4 because my PS4 is encoded to that game? (essentially screwing LAN parties with people's different games/systems).


3) Will there not be a legal battle for those that own these products in saying that they cannot do with what they want? For example, what if I decide 6 months into it that I no longer want to have a PS4. Well, I can sell the system but now I can't do anything with the software, cannot resell it or anything (unless it goes with the system.,..but gamestop won't take it like that, that's for sure).

 

[BrotherRool]

Steam already does this. Any game bought on a disc which requires Steam will be forever locked to one Steam account. Sony just aren't forcing you to register online for your singleplayer game too.

Conclusion. Both companies suck

The difference is that Valve lets you download the game an infinite amount of times from their servers to any computer you own. I can't imagine Sony letting you download it again from their servers, and there I wouldn't be surprised if the game is bound to your console :C

Sony let you download your PSN games onto multiple PS3s at a time, and it takes a couple of seconds to log onto your account from any console, they say its tied to the account not the PS3, and you still have the disk, so I don't think thats particularly likely.

By contrast Valve makes it awkward to log into a steam account on someone else computer. You need to send and reply to a confirmation email first, if your account is old and your email account has become inactive it's practically impossible

 

[LordFish]

Dear Sony,
Kindly crawl into a ditch and die.
Kind regards, The Human Race.

 

[Zipa]

I like how the companies within the video game companies seem to think they are fucking special compared to the rest of the free markets and industries in the world.

If I buy a used car , a Ford from another garage that had it traded into them part exchange Ford do not get a cut of that sale. 100% of that sale goes to the garage that sold me the used car.

So fuck you Sony, this is another in a long list of reasons that I won't go into here that I will never buy your console. This is like taking the downside of Steam and slapping it on a console without the advantages.

 

[Zipa]

Steam already does this. Any game bought on a disc which requires Steam will be forever locked to one Steam account. Sony just aren't forcing you to register online for your singleplayer game too.

Conclusion. Both companies suck

The difference is that Valve lets you download the game an infinite amount of times from their servers to any computer you own. I can't imagine Sony letting you download it again from their servers, and there I wouldn't be surprised if the game is bound to your console :C

Sony let you download your PSN games onto multiple PS3s at a time, and it takes a couple of seconds to log onto your account from any console, they say its tied to the account not the PS3, and you still have the disk, so I don't think thats particularly likely.

By contrast Valve makes it awkward to log into a steam account on someone else computer. You need to send and reply to a confirmation email first, if your account is old and your email account has become inactive it's practically impossible

Valve don't make you at all, Steam guard is optional and is turned off by default.

Steam ----> settings ---> account tab -----> manage Steam guard account security -----> disable/enable steam guard.

 

[Callate]

Because Sony has always tread so lightly on the possibility of pissing its consumers off? Pardon me while I laugh out my spleen.

They'll do it, if not now, then soon. And some jolly soul will trot out the "They're a company, they're in business to make money, what do you expect them to do" excuse that seems to be the carte blanche for anything that can be described as a business doing whatever ill they choose.

When they do this, your duty as a consumer is to burn them to the motherfucking ground (metaphorically speaking). No goddamn excuses.

 

[DoveAlexa]

By contrast Valve makes it awkward to log into a steam account on someone else computer. You need to send and reply to a confirmation email first, if your account is old and your email account has become inactive it's practically impossible

I put my account on another computer 2 days ago and in less than 5 minutes, with no sweat, tears or frustration. The email was already in my box when I got onto my hotmail and then I just typed in the code and it let me on through without anymore issue.

I can honestly say I appreciate this extra protection feature as it reduces the likelihood of people I piss off in games or forums being able to steal my account. It's come up.

The news pop-up however still pisses me off, hangs up my whole system sometimes...

 

[Detroit]

Hmm, I've got a bad feeling about this. I've got a bad feeling about everything but still. Lucille 2? Thanks for letting me know captcha.

 

[Adon Cabre]

Looks like they're trying something out, maybe it works out. But something tells me that it might backfire. Just have to wait and see.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Oh boy! A potential reason to boycott Sony in the not too distant future! Hopefully Sony won't use this with the PS4 or potential new models of PSV. I was just beginning to look favorably upon Sony too for having a bunch of exclusive titles too but if the PS4/PSV-Mini or whatever ends up using such tech I'm just not even going to bother. Then again this kind of thing has been hinted for years and years without it actually coming up yet...hopefully this kind of thing is just going to remain a stick that isn't used but used to threaten.

Edit because more importantly: this isn't stopping me from buying old Genesis or SNES carts so all is still well and good.

 

[04whim]

Well, I see their point in a way. I got Assassin's Creed 3 second hand and I know they're not seeing any revenue for it but have provided me with 32 hours of entertainment at this point. But I only got it second hand because I couldn't afford the £50 price. Why would I pay £50 when I can pay £32? I may buy a Uplay passport to give them some money, mind.

But on topic, I can see this work, if and only if, they bring down the price of new games quite drastically. If they had sold Assassin's Creed 3 for new, for a reasonable price I would have bought it new. It's not the used game market hurting their income, it's their own overcharging greed.

 

[uncanny474]

As a PC gamer, I hope this will be used. (Because I would love to see more people come over here, and buy PC games instead of this, so there would be more games designed for the PC.)

At the risk of going off-topic, it's not like PC gaming doesn't have it's own heinous problems (*cough*Windows8*cough).

OT, though, I won't be buying a console that even restricts used-game sales. Hell, if the steam marketplace does what I think it's going to do, even PC games won't restrict right-of-first-sale. This is disgusting, and I'm not going to put up with it.

 

[Charli]

...I some days wonder if Sony just hates everyone. In fact all companies in Japan trying to cling to their hatred of anyone outside their little bubble always seem to suffer heavily for it. (Looking at you Sega Japan)

But oh well, if that's the way they wanna play. Let them. Let them make it more and more inaccessible to people. Let them dig their graves.

PC gaming is quickly becoming the poor mans gaming world, and it's glorious. And game developers are starting to realize where the bigger market is (what with all these ports and assurances that their next installment will be PC friendly).

 

[fenrizz]

In Sony-iet Russia, game own you!

Damn you for making me laugh!

OT:
If this technology is implemented I shall have to pass on future Sony Computer Entertainment products.

Having been a loyal customer since around 1996 I must say it's been a while since I've felt the love from good 'ol Sony.
In fact I sometimes get the impression they don't really value me as a customer anymore.

EDIT:

PC gaming is quickly becoming the poor mans gaming world, and it's glorious. And game developers are starting to realize where the bigger market is (what with all these ports and assurances that their next installment will be PC friendly).

It really is, isn't it?
I've been playing less and less console for the last 2 years and it's mainly because Steam has oh so many sweet deals.
Also, some of my favorite genres just feel more right on a PC.

 

[gibboss28]

As a PC gamer, I hope this will be used. (Because I would love to see more people come over here, and buy PC games instead of this, so there would be more games designed for the PC.)

At the risk of going off-topic, it's not like PC gaming doesn't have it's own heinous problems (*cough*Windows8*cough).

Windows 8 isn't a problem for pc gaming in the slightest though

 

[Ken Sapp]

What a laugh, Sony has a bad track record when it comes to implementing poorly considered DRM or avoiding pissing off its customers. Anyone remember the trojan they included on music discs they produced in the early 2000's?

 

[Dragoon]

If this happens I won't be buying a PS4, plain and simple. As a student I can barely afford used games let alone new ones so this a a big no no for me.

 

[Entitled]

As a PC gamer, I hope this will be used. (Because I would love to see more people come over here, and buy PC games instead of this, so there would be more games designed for the PC.)

At the risk of going off-topic, it's not like PC gaming doesn't have it's own heinous problems (*cough*Windows8*cough).

The main difference is, that in the end, the PC can't get truly closed. You can always crack it, mod it, pirate it, offer alternatives, publish them without authentication, and generally make your own choices.

 

[Torrasque]

On one hand, I would love to see this actually happen because it would be the worst thing that Sony could possibly do, and that would amuse me.
On the other, I don't want them to do this because it is really fucking stupid and really bad.
But since it is Sony, they aren't likely to do it unless Nintendo does it first.

Heh, captcha is: save face
How suiting.