Support NeoGAF

[adamsapple]

Chrono Cross And Other Classics Suddenly ‘Expiring’ On PS3, Vita

As if it wasn’t already hard enough to play old PlayStation games like Final Fantasy VI

kotaku.com

-


No, this is not because of the Chrono Cross remaster... probably, maybe.

While at first this felt like an attempt at encouraging Chrono Cross fans to purchase the new Radical Dreamers remaster, Kotaku quickly found evidence of this same problem occurring with different games.
Chrono Cross worked just fine for content creator Words, but not its spiritual predecessor Chrono Trigger, the license for which somehow lapsed 40 years before the game was added to the PSOne Classic library.
Steve J over on Twitter asked PlayStation directly why the expiration date for his copy of Final Fantasy VI was changed to 1969, but never received a response.
Reddit user Gyrocop reported their PlayStation 3 giving them guff about Rune Factory: Oceans (subtitled Tides of Destiny in North America) earlier this week. They were also told that their license for the digital purchase ran out in 1970. Switching to a different console didn't help.
Two separate threads on the Vita subreddit shared the same story, with one poster claiming that their entire library of digital games remained affected even after trying solutions like re-subscribing to PlayStation Plus and factory resetting their system.
And finally, someone on GameFAQs reported a now-familiar 1969 expiration date for the PSOne Classic version of Final Fantasy Origins three days ago.

 

[TGO]

Interesting.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Coincidence??

I do not think so.

Which version is better for you, PS1 or Nintendo Switch?

 

[InfiniteCombo]

I have a decently sized catalog of digital games I purchased on my PS3. But recently I had to factory reset my PS3 due to a hardware fault (and haven't yet re-downloaded my purchases games).

But it's very simple. Each PS1/PS2 game I bought on PS3 that "disappears" from their store, is another game I'll be playing on RetroArch instead

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[Fuz]

Yet another proof that gamers are idiots.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Square management is literally Shinra

Please be excited

 

[omegasc]

IT people probably messed up date field, or date format. Dec 31st 1969 is a common "default" date when it is missing a value, for example.

 

[Kacho]

Jimbo!

 

[Ozrimandias]

What the actual FUCK, I have both of these games digitally on PS3.
Damn it Sony!!

 

[SLB1904]

Jimbo!

when did sony buy square? i must be out of the loop

 

[SSfox]

This is like they're asking people to go Full PC X HACK PIRATE mode.

 

[Northeastmonk]

Does no one at PlayStation know how to fix this or what?

I haven’t tested my games yet. I have a lot of the PS1 classics on my PS3 and Vita memory cards. There’s only a handful that I don’t own.

I feel like PlayStation’s legacy options could be amazing, but they cherry pick what they focus on.

 

[Barakov]

Hell of a reason not to plug that ethernet cable in to your PS3.

 

[plasmawave]

Since FF6 is mentioned in the article I just tried it and it works fine, but it's a JP copy so it might also be a regional thing.

 

[Notabueno]

Does no one at PlayStation know how to fix this or what?

I haven’t tested my games yet. I have a lot of the PS1 classics on my PS3 and Vita memory cards. There’s only a handful that I don’t own.

I feel like PlayStation’s legacy options could be amazing, but they cherry pick what they focus on.

What do you mean "you have them on your PS3 and Vita, that you don't own"?

 

[Keihart]

I have a decently sized catalog of digital games I purchased on my PS3. But recently I had to factory reset my PS3 due to a hardware fault (and haven't yet re-downloaded my purchases games).

But it's very simple. Each PS1/PS2 game I bought on PS3 that "disappears" from their store, is another game I'll be playing on RetroArch instead

Good luck redownloading those games now that the webstore doesn't support the PS3 and Vita catalog.
It's a fucking slog

 

[Northeastmonk]

What do you mean "you have them on your PS3 and Vita, that you don't own"?

I paid money for a license to use/play the PS Classics many years ago. There are only a handful of licenses I didn’t pay for on the store. I still play those games. The future of this whole “buying digital” it showings the cons of buying digital passed a certain period of time. I haven’t tested my games yet. I would imagine, if Sony wanted to be up there with Steam, they’d come up with something. Even Nintendo has issues with digital games with the 3DS/Wii U stores closing at some point.

Worst part is scrolling through the PSN Library when you want to download something. It isn’t super easy cause a lot of games aren’t listed in their store. My PS3 digital library is just under 900 items. I just wish things were easier for a consumer who didn’t pawn their PS3 or Vita away. Those who still care about their digital PlayStation libraries.

 

[ZehDon]

No issues on my jail-broken Vita

 

[March Climber]

Just go all digital bro, what could go wrong, they said.

It's an entire licensing and video game industry issue, not just digital. Having to pay 300 dollars on ebay for a used edition of a game that is no longer in print is just as bad as it being removed from a digital store.

 

[Rest]

This is just another sign that the all digital future is what is best for gamers! This is exactly what you expect when you purchase a game, to have a third party eliminate your ability to play it st a whim! You don't want those worthless ones and zeroes wasting space on your hard drive! THEY'RE DOING YOU A FAVOR! SMILE WHILE YOU EAT CORPORATE SHIT! SAY THANK YOU AS THEY SHOVE A FUNNEL DOWN YOUR GULLET WHEN YOU CAN'T EAT ANY MORE! THIS IS WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU!

 

[ArtHands]

Well one of the numerous reasons my main library is on Steam Too bad for Playstation fans

 

[Barakov]

This is just another sign that the all digital future is what is best for gamers! This is exactly what you expect when you purchase a game, to have a third party eliminate your ability to play it st a whim! You don't want those worthless ones and zeroes wasting space on your hard drive! THEY'RE DOING YOU A FAVOR! SMILE WHILE YOU EAT CORPORATE SHIT! SAY THANK YOU AS THEY SHOVE A FUNNEL DOWN YOUR GULLET WHEN YOU CAN'T EAT ANY MORE! THIS IS WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU!

 

[Captain Toad]

Square management is literally Shinra

Please be excited

Square is sucking human souls out of the planet to use as fuel?

 

[rabbity-thing]

This is why companies like Limited Run are so popular these days.

 

[TheBomb]

Well, all things come to a end.

 

[Fuz]

Well one of the numerous reasons my main library is on Steam Too bad for Playstation fans

Like it's any different.

The day Gabe won't be in charge anymore will be the day your library gets fucked.

 

[DragoonKain]

This is why I support piracy for older games.

 

[Midn1ght]

Well one of the numerous reasons my main library is on Steam Too bad for Playstation fans

Seems like one of the safest place right now for digital after GOG maybe but even on Steam I'm not holding my breath. Most companies out there just don't want you to own and hold on to your games forever, specially when they keep remastering, remaking and Director's cutting most of them.

I'm on PC but still only buy physical for consoles. I wonder if patching and updating these physical version will still be possible when they're no longer available to purchase online? I feel like if we give it enough time, even that won't be possible and all we'll be left with are buggy/unfinished pre day one patch games.

I hope there are groups out there trying to preserve all that data cuz if not then even physical is kinda doomed in the long run.

 

[Rest]

Well one of the numerous reasons my main library is on Steam Too bad for Playstation fans

Your Steam rentals will expire too.

 

[March Climber]

I hope there are groups out there trying to preserve all that data cuz if not then even physical is kinda doomed in the long run.

There are. They're doing what they can, but it's extremely difficult task.

Video game preservation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Also this:

This is why companies like Limited Run are so popular these days.

Again though, this is more than just a digital-only issue, but some people are more intent on focusing on the smaller picture.

 

[DavidGzz]

More fuel for me to continue only buying exclusives for the PS5. You can't trust any of these corps but I trust them the least.

 

[cragarmi]

Tbh this just looks like human error to me, someone has messed up the database with an incorrect field, and the date for expiry just defaulted. Hopefully someone will realise and correct their mistake!

 

[vkbest]

This is a bug/glitch on PSN servers/Database. That expiration date is the default on Linux when date is incorrect.

 

[Dream-Knife]

Your Steam rentals will expire too.

PC has less problems with that if it were to ever happen.

 

[ArtHands]

Like it's any different.

The day Gabe won't be in charge anymore will be the day your library gets fucked.

This hypothetical imaginary scenario that didn't happen, sounds scary I guess. Just like the 'Steam will have paid online very soon' doomsday scenario I been hearing for the past years.

 

[Fuz]

This hypothetical imaginary scenario that didn't happen, sounds scary I guess. Just like the 'Steam will have paid online very soon' doomsday scenario I been hearing for the past years.

Basically the same thing people said about horse armor.

 

[ArtHands]

Seems like one of the safest place right now for digital after GOG maybe but even on Steam I'm not holding my breath. Most companies out there just don't want you to own and hold on to your games forever, specially when they keep remastering, remaking and Director's cutting most of them.

I'm on PC but still only buy physical for consoles. I wonder if patching and updating these physical version will still be possible when they're no longer available to purchase online? I feel like if we give it enough time, even that won't be possible and all we'll be left with are buggy/unfinished pre day one patch games.

I hope there are groups out there trying to preserve all that data cuz if not then even physical is kinda doomed in the long run.

Fortunately Steam let you download most if not every delisted games that you purchased before the delist.

Basically the same thing people said about horse armor.

Good thing none of the doomsday scenario you mentioned STILL doesn't happen today on Steam.

 

[Sophist]

Your Steam rentals will expire too.

I have a few games that have been removed from the store but are still in my library and playable. Valve doesn't remove acquired games except if it is a scam/fraud.
For example, Prey (2015). Thumbnail says SOLD OUT!, the store page doesn't exist anymore (https://steamcommunity.com/app/3970). yet i can install and play the game.

 

[Rest]

I have a few games that have been removed from the store but are still in my library and playable. Valve doesn't remove acquired games except if it is a scam/fraud.
For example, Prey (2015). Thumbnail says SOLD OUT!, the store page doesn't exist anymore (https://steamcommunity.com/app/3970). yet i can install and play the game.

So far.
Your rentals will expire one day.

 

[Corndog]

So far.
Your rentals will expire one day.

After he’s dead most likely. Physical doesn’t last forever. Neither option is perfect.

 

[Davevil]

Antoher thread drama on game that you never play anymore or if you want ...you can play in "other" way

 

[Neff]

Each PS1/PS2 game I bought on PS3 that "disappears" from their store, is another game I'll be playing on RetroArch instead

That's what I'm doing anyway from this point on. I'm the same, I have tons of PSone games from PSN, but they look SO much better with good filters.

 

[Aion002]

So far.
Your rentals will expire one day.

Everything will expire one day.

So...

 

[stranno]

R* style.

 

[The_Mike]

Just go all digital bro, what could go wrong, they said.

The only platform where digital is slaughtered is on playstation,and also Nintendo.

All my x360 games, and my pc games for the last fifteen years are all still available to me.

Just because Sony and nintendo are anti consumer doesn't mean every platform is.

 

[InfiniteCombo]

That's what I'm doing anyway from this point on. I'm the same, I have tons of PSone games from PSN, but they look SO much better with good filters.

 

[adamsapple]

Is Retroarch significantly different than running a PS1 game... say via the new epsxe with the plugins and stuff ?

 

[TidusYuna]

 

[InfiniteCombo]

Is Retroarch significantly different than running a PS1 game... say via the new epsxe with the plugins and stuff ?

Fantastic question, but sadly I don't know; I've never done PS1 emulation outside of RetroArch.

But now I'm curious and over time will experiment with this, especially since I'm now permanently using emulation for PS1 games I bought on my PS3.

My PS3 (an ultra slim) got this bizarre issue where it will no longer connect to WiFi, AND can no longer connect to Bluetooth devices; the former means I can't re-download the games without a wired connection, and the latter means I can't use my DualShock 3 controller wirelessly. So until I either solve the hardware issue (not sure how; after a lot of Googling still can't find good answers) that PS3 is effectively useless.