Opinion: THE DRM AND USED GAME ISSUE

A look at how the Used Game debate is defining issues with the gaming industry.

[Narutone66]

Sometimes it can't be help. Some niche games are out of print and are not being published anymore. Second hand/used games are my only option.

[Bigpappy]

I don't see this issue like most of what I read is seeing it. I but and support the used game market. But I also understand that Digital Distribution is the way forward. I see many benefits to DD over physical. I will list some: convenience; impossible to damage; easier to adjust the price; Better sharing... ; but we need to focus on having owners ship over digital content we buy (Like how amazon sells music as apposed to apple). I think the ownership fight is worth fighting, but the use game fight is really not that important. It will be gone sooner that you think.

Gamers tend to like to try and hold on to thinks that are familiar. But, you need to look at this realistically. Physical media in gaming will soon be insignificant, whether you accept it or not. If the DD is release at the same time as physical and is priced compitatively

[eots]

I would agree that digital distribution is going to be the future. However I do prefer physical media, mainly because I know that when whoever switches off servers etc in the future I will still be able to play the games just by sticking a disc/cartridge in.

I have a digital library on my 360/ps3 and think PS+ is great. But my concern is the one form of DRM that keeps threatening it's head is having to be always online to play. What happens to SimCity for example in 10-15 years when EA have replaced it with a new one(s) and switched the old servers over/off. How will I be able to play the game I paid full price for if it needs to connect each time I want to play it and there is nothing to connect to?

I doubt EA will keep a server running just for the weirdo's like me who play old games every now and then just out of nostalgia.

[Bigpappy]

I don't agree with having to be always online to play, even though I am always connected. What if they allow you to store all your content locally as a back-up? This is what I am getting at. We need to demand the distributors of Digital content give us more ownership of what we by and still enable flexibility of sharing and trading digitally. we have that with physical, but that is going to go away.

[bjmartynhak]

Most of the times at Game or Entertainment Exchange (UK) a 6-month used game is more expensive than a brand new one on the internet. GoW Ascention was £20 used and £15 new at Amazon.

So, the only benefit for me it being able to sell the discs that I don't want anymore. If someone is not clever enough to find cheaper anywhere it is not my problem.

I do like to borrow my games to friends. If digital and physical are at the same price, I prefer the disc.

Most of the times digital, PSN or Live, is more expensive than retail. As long as retailers don't start selling digital versions of the games, just like PC, we won`t have competition and Sony and MS prices will keep more expensive.

[Animal Mutha 76]

I support the right as a consumer to be able to sell something you own if you wish when you wish. As a partial collector I like to be able to keep my old systems with their most well known titles in storage knowing that they will likely work fine if I use them or sell them in years to come.

The grey area and the one that annoying know-it-alls keep quoting me is the issue of licensing. In the old days when you bought a game on floppy or cd you buy the game. You own it and it's protected by copyright etc. I can still load up sonic - its mine and can't be turned off remotely or stopped fom being sold.

These days when you buy a game on physical media it feels like you are only buying the right to use the game on their terms, that it isn't really truely ever yours to do with as you please. They can enforce restrictions now because we have allowed them to do so. I know this is a simplistic overview of software licensing but it's how it's perceived by average consumers like me and I don't think I have as much freedom with my belongings as I used to.

This will probably become a one way road to digital and I for one will resist it for as long as I can because I hate the idea of not having full control of my stuff within the law. If I sell my Beatles CD, the record company doesn't get a say in it or a cut of the fee. Same with my car.

Games seem to be heading toward a counter position where they are treated like commercial software.

I think the success of the used game market has actually been its own worst enemy and the resulting response from publishers will end up killing it and the freedoms of ownership that we currently enjoy. You know they must hate the thought of game shops making money out of second hand in such volumes but is it much different to CES or Music Magpie in the UK or a used car dealership?

I normally only buy new games when the price has come down a bit. Hardly ever buy used except for my collections or the odd older PS3 game that I never got to play.

[mcstorm]

I did not have an issue with the DRM but I see why people did. I think if Microsoft ect could come up with a way to deregister the game your self when wanting to sell the game could help get around the issue. For me one of the big things I liked about the one was jumping from game to game without the disk and it would be nice if we could still do that.

I think next gen will got down the drm rout and im sure they will find a way to let you activate and deactivate the game for selling and giving it to friends.

[WitWolfy]

The only reason SE said Tomb Raider tanked in the sales department was because they hoped that this game alone would get them out of their financial straits. Which tried its best but couldn't do it alone IMHO.

TOMB RAIDER 2013 is a brilliant game and I'm sure it made back every penny plus more it costed to develop it in the first place. But not enough according to its over demanding developer.

It's SE own fault its where it is ATM, ignoring fans on certain games they requested for, for years. Then releasing shovelware to the public that almost nobody wants!