The Coming War on Used Games

[trag3dy]

All three of those are microtrans supported Free to Play >.> Those are the very definition of nickel and diming. Free to Play only exists because a sizable amount of the playerbase doesn't, in fact, mind being nickel and dimed.

Not really. You can play Tribes Ascend competitively without spend a penny. Firefall doesn't have a cash shop, but even if it did (or will?) you can play just fine without spending any money. But I'll admit I don't know much about the Dust 514 game so you may have a point there.

[Cheatyface]

Not really. You can play Tribes Ascend competitively without spend a penny. Firefall doesn't have a cash shop, but even if it did (or will?) you can play just fine without spending any money. But I'll admit I don't know much about the Dust 514 game so you may have a point there.

The point is, you can play without paying a dime, but the games' continuing support is funded by the people who *do* pay. Those who agree with the nickle and dime a la carte method are allowing you to play for free. Also, Firefall will be supported by microtrans just like the others.

[trag3dy]

The point is, you can play without paying a dime, but the games' continuing support is funded by the people who *do* pay. Those who agree with the nickle and dime a la carte method are allowing you to play for free. Also, Firefall will be supported by microtrans just like the others.

The point still stands. You don't have to pay money to play the game if you don't want to and still have access to the entire game. If others choose to spend money on the game is beside the point.

[Cheatyface]

The point still stands. You don't have to pay money to play the game if you don't want to and still have access to the entire game. If others choose to spend money on the game is beside the point.

No it's not. The very fact that others are accepting and making liberal use of the cash shop *is* the point. "Nickle and diming" has become the standard and is getting bigger because contrary to your belief that publishers and devs are wrong to think people will continue to accept it, people are *very* accepting of this method. You would not be able to play for free if other players weren't subsidizing the non-paying players by using the cash shops and buying DLC. You can argue it all you want but it's the truth.

[Alladaskill17]

/uninformed and fearful of next Gen! I want cheap used games...

[(Spork)]

For those that don't know quite a few games recently have been released with a code that you have to enter in order to play. (Kind of like CD-Keys) If you buy used you get very limited features and if you want all the features you have to pay $10. So assuming they go with something similar it won't actually kill used game sales, it just means that you won't actually be saving any money unless GameStop/EB/etc sell their used games for cheaper than they do now. If they don't sell their used games cheaper then you aren't saving any money by buying used and it makes buying new more appealing.

what games are these ? i play a lot of games and have not come across any of these and have 2 buddies that are managers at gamestop and i have not seen this

if you talking about the code for the extra goodies ? then WHY should a used copy be allowed to get the goodies ... imho they shouldn't

[FDM80]

I think this was done with Batman: Arkham City with the Catwoman content. If you bought the game used you need to pay extra for that content.

[Fourjays Veteran]

I think it will stifle innovation eventually as people become less likely to try new IPs (and developers less likely to make them).

On the PC where there this restriction has existed for many years I tended to stick to the "known entities" in games - series I previously enjoyed and the few genres I knew I liked (WWII FPS and C&C style RTS games). Games were expensive and if they were rubbish I was stuck with them (*cough* Spore). Then I got my Playstation 3 and started being more adventurous with games. My whole out look on gaming has opened up and I've found myself trying series and genres I'd never have previously considered (best example is RPGs - I was dead against these before trying Fallout). Simply because if the game wasn't any good, I could sell it on (via eBay) and try something new. Now we're back to square one... I'm being far more careful with games. I've already got a copy of Dirt 3 sitting on the shelf gathering dust because it wasn't my thing. A friend wants me to get Driver: San Francisco for MP but I'm unsure if it will end up a waste of time (what if neither of us like the MP?).

However, I can see how they might be peeved at the game trading stores that make whopping great profits by basically ripping people off (hence why I use eBay - my experiences with trade-ins is you get peanuts while they sell them on to unwise consumers with a massive markup). Unfortunately, developers have decided to start penalising legitimate customers instead rather than going after the real "villains".

On top of this not nearly enough games have a full or representative demo. :/

[ShiZZa]

If I buy a used car, should I give money to Toyota to be able to use the car with full functionality? That's how stupid Sony and MS sound.

If its a certified pre-owned you did pay money back to Toyota for the seal.

[compl3x]

what games are these ? i play a lot of games and have not come across any of these and have 2 buddies that are managers at gamestop and i have not seen this

if you talking about the code for the extra goodies ? then WHY should a used copy be allowed to get the goodies ... imho they shouldn't

I think he is talking about online passes. You can play single player content, but you have to input a code to be able to access multiplayer.

One question I have: if games get locked to systems, which some people are suggesting might be the case, what happens to the rental system?

Another issue here is that used game retailers are huge douchebags. Really, they are. They push used games onto consumers, which are only marginally cheaper than a new copy, and make massive profit margins in the process. You also get very little return when you walk into a used game joint and ask how much even a very new, popular title will get you.

I think tying a game to a console is a horrible idea, but I have no love for used game places either. I guess you have to pick the lesser of two evils.