Kotaku: We asked 3 questions to Sony about DRM and Used Games
- Thread starter jbug617
- Start date
Not just clarify but actively use it as ammo against MS. They should have been screaming from the fucking rooftops that PS4 has no DRM of any kind the second it was revealed that MS was pursuing in for X1. Yet they haven't.
Pirzolaman
Banned
The sad truth..
They didn't, they just want clicks from google searches on the topic
Sure it is when No news can be pretty telling in and of itself and just the fact they actually asked the correct questions people were wanting is news.
We can't complain about bad game journalism and then complain when they asked the right questions and get nothing but PR non response.
It's almost certainly going to be "the publishers choice" and they will get a free pass from gamers because it's not their fault.
I don't get how people still have hope that Sony will come to the rescue and save at least some consumer rights in the age of DLC, when a simple google search reveals that Sony has been pushing for a block of used games with patents long before MS. Sony among others also took a Japanese trade in chain called ACT to court over the sale of used games in 2001, stating that the commercial trade in of second hand games was massively damaging to the industry. The irony is, that case backfired and led to the lift of the ban of used game sales in Japan back in 2002 by the highest court. I doubt though based on the recent patents that their ideology has changed at all since then.
And they still ran with the blog post. Kotaku...
This. Sadly.
oldergamer
Member
Thats BS. Sony is providing a method for this just like MS is. The only difference is people are NOT screaming at sony about it...
Knux-Future
Banned
There will be DRM on the PS4..
there is some on the PS3.
it's just gonna come down to how restrictive and how many pubs use it. It seems to be mandatory on the XBone but maybe Microsoft can back off of that (or loosen up that goddam authentication timespan....make it a month or some shit...or not at all lol).
Moral victory is probably the best one can hope for. That being not always online but with a more restrictive pass system.
Not great either but basically what is in place now.
there is some on the PS3.
it's just gonna come down to how restrictive and how many pubs use it. It seems to be mandatory on the XBone but maybe Microsoft can back off of that (or loosen up that goddam authentication timespan....make it a month or some shit...or not at all lol).
Moral victory is probably the best one can hope for. That being not always online but with a more restrictive pass system.
Not great either but basically what is in place now.
lightlamp4
Banned
I don't know why they just don't tell us now. Why leave uncertainty for these coming weeks just to score a cheap shot a E3?
Miles Quaritch
Member
Reporting that Sony gave no answers is just as important as reporting any answers they may give.
ttocs
Member
In most cases, sure, but not in this one. Sony are just trying to avoid making any PR disaster statements like Microsoft basically did post reveal for the Xbone.
A good way to get journalists to stop listening to your criticism is to complain no matter what they do. There are plenty of valid critiques of the gaming media on NeoGAF, but who's going to take them seriously when they're constantly surrounded by noise like "omg I can't believe Kotaku posted the questions they asked Sony CLICKBAIT!!!111"? Pick your battles, guys.
funkystudent
Member
Random thought.
Rumour has it MS's DRM isnt just eliminating used games but its actually finding a way to monetise them and bring some of that money back to them and the games publishers.
What if whatever solution Sony had didnt do that and was just a simple "lock game to account" steam like solution and completely killed used games on the platform.
Now that Sony has a idea what MS is doing they are panicking and are stuck trying to come up with a solution similar to MS's and dont want to comment on the ps4's DRM because they know its still up in the air.
I mean Microsofts idea of making money from every "used" games sold is definitely a better idea for 3rd parties then killing used games altogether. If Sony didnt think of that idea as well it will probably take a lot of work to get a system in place that allowed it. Maybe it wont even be up for the ps4 launch.
If Sony launched with a DRM that killed used games while they worked on a similar solution to Microsofts not only would it piss off 3rd parties who have a extra revenue stream on xbox but it would piss of retailers having zero used games sales on the ps4.
Would be quite the clusterfuck.
Rumour has it MS's DRM isnt just eliminating used games but its actually finding a way to monetise them and bring some of that money back to them and the games publishers.
What if whatever solution Sony had didnt do that and was just a simple "lock game to account" steam like solution and completely killed used games on the platform.
Now that Sony has a idea what MS is doing they are panicking and are stuck trying to come up with a solution similar to MS's and dont want to comment on the ps4's DRM because they know its still up in the air.
I mean Microsofts idea of making money from every "used" games sold is definitely a better idea for 3rd parties then killing used games altogether. If Sony didnt think of that idea as well it will probably take a lot of work to get a system in place that allowed it. Maybe it wont even be up for the ps4 launch.
If Sony launched with a DRM that killed used games while they worked on a similar solution to Microsofts not only would it piss off 3rd parties who have a extra revenue stream on xbox but it would piss of retailers having zero used games sales on the ps4.
Would be quite the clusterfuck.
Miles Quaritch
Member
I think it applies in all cases. It gives us, as consumers, an insight to what's going on based on how the non answers are phrased.
I don't particularly like Kotaku's general approach to gaming news, but I will give credit where it's due and applaud them for trying to get some answers from Sony and then reporting on what was said.
Simply saying, "Nope no DRM for the PS4" would hardly be a PR disaster or anything that is very complicated to understand. Especially given the red hot horrible backlash that MS is getting. Even the lowest PR employee could be schooled in correctly answering that question without any problems.
If their DRM or lack of DRM on the PS4 is that complicated then it might be an issue for consumers.
GoofsterStud
Member
That's impossible if a console doesn't required you to be online.
Knux-Future
Banned
I don't normally agree with Jason but THIS.
Like come one, you guys want them to do their jobs instead of putting up fluff articles but when they do...you still bitch?
who cares if there weren't any legit answers, they still did their goddam jobs. You can't give Kotaku shit for everything they do, that's just childish and like he said makes you entire crusade against the shitty journalism kind of toothless.
Ace Harding
Member
Shocker.
OT, but I've seen multiple people post "not clicking on a Kotaku link."
Really? Is it 2009? Kotaku's reporting has vastly improved and (aside from doing shorter news stories) they do some really great investigative stuff. I would think people would want to support that.
smh
OT, but I've seen multiple people post "not clicking on a Kotaku link."
Really? Is it 2009? Kotaku's reporting has vastly improved and (aside from doing shorter news stories) they do some really great investigative stuff. I would think people would want to support that.
smh
Man-is-Obsolete
Member
Could you go out today and say "nope, no DRM for the PS3"? The answer is not black and white and is why it is not one to be answered in May in response to probing from Kotaku. It's a little more complicated.
ttocs
Member
Vastly improved? Not sure what Kotaku you've been visiting. They get a good report here and there, but overall it's a crap site.
mysteriousmage09
Member
I think the main thing at this point is, what made you think you had a chance in hell getting an answer less then 2 weeks from E3, especially after the fact that they haven't said anything despite the massive Twitter movement.
It's not that you asked it's that you asked at an obvious "lips are sealed until E3" moment, and everyone that reads the article is automatically going to think "no shit they didn't answer".
Knux-Future
Banned
It's silly but that entire exchange is what gives me my slight optimism. The otherg guy (who's name exscapes me but I don't want to misspell it.. He is a gaffer) also joked along with it. It gives me hope that whatever they have planned it wouldn't result in much rage.
Once again...the system will have DRM or at least be capable of it. The Vita and PS4 have it if you wish to be technical.
Have hope guys.
I think you've been doing great lately. I couldn't possibly comment on your editorial line or the quality of your articles before the last 6 months (I wasn't a reader), but you've been spot on with your rumors, and some of the work you've been doing is really good. Don't let the hate get to you!
GAF is on warriors' mode right now with the launch of the two next-gen consoles; everybody caught in the middle of the battle will become collateral damage at this point!
It's just a general mistrust of a site/brand. When you believe that most of their content is fueled by cheap bait tactics (ie. flame baiting/shock journalism) - even articles like this are questioned.
While this article doesn't do any of the above (no shock or baiting etc.), it could have easily been done in a cheap way to get quick hits off a hot button topic. Shooting an email over at Sony (even a low level PR rep) and getting a generic answer, then posting it would be an easy way to get hits. But again, it really has to do with the mistrust of Kotaku.
BlastProcessing
Member
I understand your point, but I hope you aren't generalizing the comments here into some sort of monolithic NeoGaf Collective. It becomes very easy to dismiss legitimate criticism by attaching it to the hyperbolic, silly stuff.
I liked the article and I wished journalists would do more pieces like this. Too often it feels like journalists will just drop a story when they get a "no comment". I like it when the "no comment" becomes the story. It is a good way of holding people accountable.
funkystudent
Member
I would be any solution they come up with will at the least require a quick online check the first time you boot the game. That isnt a lot and its far better then always online or a check ever X number of hours.
quickwhips
Member
PS3 is the only console with first party DRM right now so....
But look,
Gamestop give you say, $5 when you trade the game in.
Then they have to pay an, I dunno, $15 activation fee.
Now they have to charge $20 for the game, just to break even.
The economics of this suggestion do not make sense to me.
sublimit
Banned
where are your receipts for this claim? Im still waiting
First of all, we ask questions all the time even if we don't think we're going to get an answer. It's courtesy to give companies the opportunity to get their perspective in a story, even if we know they're not going to answer anything.
Second, in this particular case, we asked because Geoff Keighley said he had heard that Sony is planning similar DRM for the PS4. We actually sent in those questions before the Twitter movement even started. We've been bugging Sony for a few days now, and last night we finally got a response, so we posted it today.
Hope that helps.
ttocs
Member
Kotaku fishing for clicks as usual.
That's all they do nowadays. I do like Totillo though, but the rest are just horrible. Brian Ashcraft and he is strange sexual fantasies he constantly posts about is one of the main reasons I stopped visiting the site.
jacksepticeye
Member
I usually hate Kotaku like most sane people but these are very straightforward and simple questions. Sony's late and vague reply is kind of worrying.
I hope they're just not saying anything until E3
I hope they're just not saying anything until E3
Miles Quaritch
Member
Genuine question, but why you do care what some people on here say? Ignore it. Continue doing reporting like this, if all some can do it bitch, leave them to it, but know that some of us, who might not say it, really appreciate reporting like this.
Now if only this kind of reporting could be applied to the entire site...
There's always the old software method of calling a phone line, giving your product key, and getting an activation code back . It's easier to break, but it's technically possible to have an authentication without requiring an Internet connection. Not that I think Sony will go that route, I more expect the console will work 100% offline, but certain games will require offline activation.
crusadernm
Banned
Why won't Sony answer? Just clear it up now.
ttocs
Member
I'm sure they are scared to say anything that could cause a backlash like it did with Microsoft.
Because they see how much shit Microsoft is getting and don't want to receive it too. Better for it to remain nebulous to keep hype levels high until after E3. They're going to drop the bomb then.
It would only be a backlash if it was bad news. Otherwise it would be a perfect opportunity to capitalize and spotlight MS's current choices on the matter.
Sony is one of the publisher that will use it.
By that logic, you could email any publisher 50 questions and once you get the standard 'no comment' reply, you can update your own blog site with 50 articles a day.
If you think no news is news, you're doing it wrong.