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[MrTroubleMaker]

I don't like this.

 

[Izick]

Quick question - do the publishers of books, CDs, DVDs and Blu Rays get a percentage of second hand sales from places like Amazon, CeX etc? I was under the impression that they didn't.

If they don't, what makes games publishers think they are entitled to extra money from second hand sales?

No, but those are different businesses. Since prices are so low (except for BR's to a degree), there's usually smaller incentive to buy used, not to mention the markets targeted and hit make gaming look completely niche, once again likely due to high prices of consoles and games.

 

[Biggzy]

I'd consider it if Xbox live were free, and we see a severe, I mean SEVERE mark down in the price games.

Xbox Live is free.

 

[PBY]

The game creators got their fair cut the moment they sold the copy of the game to the retailer and the first buyer paid retail price for it.

That first buyer covered the creator's share, whether he keeps the game himself forever or whether he sells it on to someone else. The creator was paid for one copy of the game. How many hands it passes through during its lifetime is completely irrelevant.

It is relevant, because those are potentially lost sales.

 

[Dr.Palutena]

I really don't believe it, but If true, yea....no .

 

[Sapphire Dreams]

Used games is worst than Piracy...

WHAT!? How so?

 

[Projectjustice]

Sony is doing the same thing. You will see.

 

[Soi-Fong]

I can see both console mKes implementing anti used game tactics, and but MS will really screw themselves over with always online req.

 

[UrbanRats]

Always online would be the real killer. Unless they are utter morons this is not happening.

Even Ubisoft had to backtrack on that, they can't be this imbecile.

 

[Gnub]

The library imposition might be for easy ports to PC.

The one use/no resale thing is going to murder gamefly and the red box equivalent.

The always online thing just flat out can't be try. Too many people not on the internet buy these consoles. Isn't that why the Xbox SKU without the hard drive exists?

 

[Diablohead]

Always online? cd key with every game?

nope.

I don't trade often and I sort of want to go digital only next gen but all these things sound horrible already.

 

[Foffy]

So serious question from a non-PC gamer; but doesn't the PC crowd already deal with DRM routinely?

You have alternative choices as a consumer, such as platforms that don't have DRM. And, if you really want to be anal about it, pirates easily circumvent DRM. On consoles, you have far fewer options; you are more literally on a "my way or the highway" approach as a consumer. There is a lot wrong with the console structure these companies will not dare address and here they are, trying to get even more going their way. Digital distribution on consoles is a fucking nightmare compared to what it is on PC, and yet there are fools in this topic happily obedient to the idea of these same platforms limiting their choices even further?

 

[Delio]

If this is true of course Sony will run with it. Nintendo wont buckle to it so third parties will have their MS/Sony only type of deal. Also this wont even affect their sales at all.

 

[H3xum]

When these rumors first popped up months and months ago I was really hoping they would just go away.

Sad day for gamers. PS4 will most certainly follow suit to keep the Activisions and Ubis of the world happy.

 

[Dantis]

I won't believe it until Microsoft say it.

It's an easy rumour because it's so widely feared.

 

[Kadayi]

Games journalism.

*Chortles*

So true through.

Not sure how to take the rumours. I figure always online is going to be a huge gamble, as would the lack of secondf hand sales, unless they're intending to lower the prices overall in order to expland the initial sales base.

 

[Into]

If anyone thinks for a moment that Sony will not be following suit (provided XB3 really does allow people to not play second hand games) then he/she may be setting him/herself for disappointment. I think this comes courtesy of third parties negotiating with both the manufacturers to root out the second hand business much like it is with the PC platform.

This could mean earlier fall in game prices. And while it is unfortunate, I'd rather my money go to publishers. But the always online part is the one that I am shaking my head at in disbelief.

I do not see Sony following suit in regards to always online, especially since they have a presence in emerging markets such as Brazil, India and China. They will not make a system always online, or at least i do not think they will, it goes against what they have been doing the last couple of years.

Now the whole second hand games thing, yeah i can imagine Sony will do the same.

 

[Portugeezer]

I already planned on ditching MS next gen, if this is true it will be easy.

 

[dead monkey uk]

Could it not be possible for MS to sell you a new code that will allow you to play a second hand disk. The retailer could buy new codes from MS to put in with second hand copies. This would keep both retailer and MS happy.

Something similar is done with second hand games to unlock multiplayer etc at the moment.

 

[Elginer]

Weren't there a lot of rumors of this happening at the beginning of this gen as well and it all turned out to be bullshit?

 

[TunaLover]

I think it's a smart move from a financial standpoint MS keeping 3rd party happy, but terrible for users.

 

[-Cwalat-]

If anyone thinks for a moment that Sony will not be following suit (provided XB3 really does allow people to not play second hand games) then he/she may be setting him/herself for disappointment. I think this comes courtesy of third parties negotiating with both the manufacturers to root out the second hand business much like it is with the PC platform.

This could mean earlier fall in game prices. And while it is unfortunate, I'd rather my money go to publishers. But the always online part is the one that I am shaking my head at in disbelief.

Sup bro,

Yeah that might be true. If they all made a deal to take this route than second hand market is dead.

If they compensate by lowering game prices... then i'm all for it. But they need to consider the fact that internet connection isn't universal yet and what about those times when internet providers fail to provide you the connection needed?

 

[GAMERG0D]

Looks like I'm building a PC.

 

[op_ivy]

this article screams FUD. gotta be FUD. please be FUD.

 

[Mael]

In an ideal world... the publisher of Genji would see that its not selling at full price, and reduce it until it hits a point where people are more okay with impulse buying it. Currently they can't do that BECAUSE of used games sales.

AHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
That's a good one.

 

[Raptor]

No second hand games?

Yeah good luck Microsoft, no buy for me.

 

[Into]

Sony is doing the same thing. You will see.

Source?

 

[Felix Lighter]

That argument is not true though. Besides the steam sales every now and then, steam is a rip off. That doesn't look cheap to me? I can get it cheaper on ps3.

If you make zero effort to find a deal or wait for a sale, you can over pay on PC like any other platform.

 

[Jucksalbe]

So basically as soon as the infrastructure for this is taken down (a few years after that generation ends), you won't be able to play games anymore if you haven't already activated them? Or even not at all if the "always-online" rumor is true, too.

 

[Boss Man]

Looks like I'm building a PC.

So you can use Steam?

 

[phosphor112]

Xbox Live is free.

Don't kid yourself.

 

[Dead Man]

Even Ubisoft had to backtrack on that, they can't be this imbecile.

Never overestimate the ability of large companies to identify what their customers actually want.

 

[panty]

Disgusting.

IF this is true Sony you have a chance to take over the market.

IF both consoles actually use this kind of crap I'm out. Going to stick with the PS3.

 

[Withnail]

I think MS and Sony will either both block second hand or neither will. Neither would want to give the other the competitive advantage. However I believe they both want to do it, and third party publishers are pressuring them to do it, and I would not be at all surprised if they had agreed with each other to do it this gen.

 

[The_Monk]

I'd consider it if Xbox live were free, and we see a severe, I mean SEVERE mark down in the price games.

Why would they make Xbox Live free? There are people who like to pay to play. I don't see them throwing away free, easy money to be honest.

I'm all for the new Forza 5 and even PGR5, but Sony here in Europe has made an incredible job, PS Plus is the best service this Gen and they now how Europe like his consoles: Full of games.

I'm a PS360 owner and I do like them both but for me there's a clear winner for me because I want a Console to play games and nothing else.

 

[sublimit]

What if i buy a game and i end up hating it? It's my right as a consumer to sell a product that i'm not satisfied by it.

 

[Ding-Ding]

Lastly, if true and Sony and Nintendo do not adopt the same stance, would publishers/developers prefer to give MS increased exclusive deals on either full games or DLC based off of this?

You can bet it would gain them some exclusives early on but I have a feeling that revenue will drop as gamers reject the console, therefore hitting publishers expected sales.

To me, it wouldn't matter if MS had twice the amount of exclusives at launch because of this, I still wouldn't be a customer as all these proposals would be dealbreakers

 

[digita1alchemy]

I'd buy the games I want new, at fair prices, if it were easy to do so. I am not planning to buy the new MS system right away, so if this is true I am already worried about how hard it will be find new copies of games I missed out on initially. Yes, I could buy digital, but I really, really don't want to. If this is true, I wonder if games would receive much longer print runs, like DVDs/Blu Rays do? The reason I buy used the majority of the time is not because it's cheaper but because the game is out of print and cannot be purchased new.

 

[Dysun]

I dont even play used games but I wont support MS if they try this shit + always online.
Sony take my money provided you dont do the same

 

[Bjoern the Smexy]

If this comes true then I will gladly skip this console.
Seems like some people think that second hand games kill the market when it's actually nothing like that at all.

 

[Anfony O]

Wasn't this online always thing, the BD and the enhanced Kinect mentioned a while ago in the leaked document? The only thing new here to me is the the used games ordeal.

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

So serious question from a non-PC gamer; but doesn't the PC crowd already deal with DRM routinely?

Also; I also think that if this is true; MS has done their homework on what they think will be the standard deviation with either decreased or increased sales and that other companies will follow suit.

Lastly, if true and Sony and Nintendo do not adopt the same stance, would publishers/developers prefer to give MS increased exclusive deals on either full games or DLC based off of this?

Yes but we have cheaper prices at launch and frequent sales for both retail and digital download from a variety of providers. DRM has settled down to an activation code again for many purchases or they just go with Steam registration.

Sure, there are few games we can trade-in or lend out but if you're patient you can get great deals which nullify all but the most entitled DRM schemes. Even Ubisoft dropped their Always online mode for many of their PC games.

The problem i can see is that publishers are going to make everything online required even when not necessary. Look at Diablo 3 or the new Sims City both have no offline mode. I won't be buying either of them.

PC owners aren't that bothered by no second-hand sales but for many of us an always online requirement is useless to us so we don't buy.

 

[Mr. Pointy]

Truthfully, I can kind of almost see the always-on as a requirement thing happening. But, that anti-used games thing would just piss off retailers, who, though their market is shrinking because digital era and crap, are still important.

 

[H3xum]

People that think game prices will drop drastically are cute.

 

[Router]

LOL just when you think the Next Gen Hype Train is calming down after that bumpy corner IT FALLS OFF THE DAMN CLIFF.

Haha this article is total bullshit people.

 

[Eusis]

Kind of hope it happens because I want to see what the next excuse for game sales plummeting would be and because it would bring an industry crash and reset.

That's if both Sony/Microsoft do it, as I could see the other sort of winning by default if enough of the public cares and wants one of their systems. I'd bring up Nintendo, but I do think if they wildly succeed while those two fail it WILL result in something akin to a crash.

 

[PBY]

What if i buy a game and i end up hating it? It's my right as a consumer to sell a product that i'm not satisfied by it.

Where do you find that right?

 

[glaurung]

Always online would be the real killer. Unless they are utter morons this is not happening.

I think they will do this, based on the DRM effect for Ubisoft titles.

But how they can really shoot themselves in the foot: online features tied to gold sub. Once you lose sub, all your games stop working.

$$$$

 

[Delusibeta]

That argument is not true though. Besides the steam sales every now and then, steam is a rip off. That doesn't look cheap to me? I can get it cheaper on ps3.

This is because you aren't shopping around. For example, yesterday I bought Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing Transformed from Green Man Gaming for £15 (for comparison, the cheapest place to get a console version is currently £18) and is provided by a Steam code, never mind the bonkers bargains Amazon runs on occasion (Five Microsoft-published XBLA games for the PC for $10/$5 with coupon which activates on Steam, anyone?). I haven't even bothered to mention retail, although granted that's not much of an option for the US. (But, for example: Dishonored PC, £18 from ShopTo, activates on Steam)

Granted, it's a bit like Netflix: if you're looking for a specific new game at any one time, there's a high chance that you'll be disappointed (such as your Dishonored example: no digital distributor is currently having a discount on it), but if you keep your eyes peeled, you can still see some great stuff (e.g. Spec Ops The Line is currently $7.50 on GameStop/Impulse, activates on Steam. It's not quite the best ever price for it, but that's still a deal).

That's the fundamental difference between digital distribution on PC and digital distribution on consoles: more competition on PC means more sales which means more happy customers.

 

[Soriku]

If 3rd parties are pushing for this Sony will do exactly as they say or risk losing 3rd party support which will kill them.

Considering the Wii U has had no indication of this happening I'm not sure if third parties are pushing that hard.