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New Xbox unable to play used games. Say what?!

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ffxik:
I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this, so yeah. ;>.>

The rumor mill is a buzz today over the prospect of the new Xbox having software in it to make used games completely inoperable.  I for one do not see this going very far for a number of reasons.  In no particular order.

1. Life of the console.   We're going to have hardware issues.  No if, and, or but about it.  New console it's pretty much inevitable.  Making any game purchased completely useless for the new console.  Time to buy them again.  People just aren't willing to cough up $60 for a game they already purchased, because the launch quality of the console is crap.

2.  We all know that games go out of print.  So unless they intend to print them for many years, even if demand is low overall.  It'll end up costing too much in the long run.

3.  Fanbase.  You tell a gamer that your system cannot play a used game and he/she will tell you where you can subsequintly shove said console as they buy a competitors system, that will play used games.

4.  Not everyone is made of money.  We can't plunk down the cash for a new game all the time.  

5. Gamestop does sell new games.  Albiet my definition of new and theirs is "slightly" different.  They would have to completely change their policies.  That is the only good that comes of this.

I know this is supposed to curb the empire that is used game sales.  Unless everything goes digital (heaven forbid) I don't see this happening.

scott:
How would the system be able to tell that the game is used?

Also, that would hinder the game rental industry, since all of their games are "used". Of course, Sony and Nintendo gamers would still be able to rent stuff. But imagine the hit places like GameFly would take if all those Achievement whores out there couldn't rent a ton of crap games for easy points. ha

ffxik:
I don't know how the system would be able to tell unless it was a one time use code.  Something like the EA online codes.  

Rental industry would be screwed.  No question.

jobocan:
How would the system be able to tell that the game is used?
--- End quote ---


The system would have to be online at all times (which in and of itself is a terrible idea), and each disc would need some kind of ID in it. When the disc is inserted in the system, the game's ID would be registered online along with the system's ID, and then that particular disc could only work after an online verification that this particular disc is in the right system. Unless they make their next console cartridge-based, then that whole process could be done within the cartridge itself... but that's unlikely.


When I first heard this rumor, all I could do was facepalm. It's already hard for game companies nowadays to make people spend 60$ on their games at launch, but making that the only option is just stupid. People will be less willing to spend 60$ on a game that they're completely uncertain if they'll want or not if they have no way to try it out beforehand, so niche games will die out and even the slightly less popular games now will have even more trouble finding an audience. Some people like lending their games to friends and stuff. Renting games will be impossible, and renting games is a GOOD thing for game companies (people can rent a game to see if they want it or see if they want to buy the sequel, in the end game rentals become potential profit for game companies). Add to that all the problems ffxik mentioned and it's clear to anyone that it's a terrible idea.

If this ends up being true, I don't see Microsoft staying in the console gaming industry very much longer. The only way this could work is if they end up selling the games for dramatically less than the competition... and that's not happening.

ffxik:
The system would have to be online at all times (which in and of itself is a terrible idea), and each disc would need some kind of ID in it. When the disc is inserted in the system, the game's ID would be registered online along with the system's ID, and then that particular disc could only work after an online verification that this particular disc is in the right system. Unless they make their next console cartridge-based, then that whole process could be done within the cartridge itself... but that's unlikely.
--- End quote ---


That's probably right on the money.  The system is Blu-Ray so carts aren't happening.


If this ends up being true, I don't see Microsoft staying in the console gaming industry very much longer. The only way this could work is if they end up selling the games for dramatically less than the competition... and that's not happening.
--- End quote ---


Maybe that's what they want,  maybe.

I already hate that the Xbox has region encoding.  This means I will not be buying another system from them, if rumor is true.

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