BAHAHAHAHA Sony are screwing themselves over so bad

[thatbloke]

This will quite simply NOT work for consoles.

Pretty sure this will kill off their console...

 

[Ki!ler-Mk1]

The note about gamestop stock would tend to leave me in agreement, though its not too different to steam, I would hope it would be used to physically link the disc to an account rather than to a console, unless they plan to have lifetime warranties and all of the nuances that entails.

It would seem that a simpler solution would be to do away with the disks altogether, already several firms assume you have high speed internet, though not in such an exclusive methodology.

 

[Zhar]

Sony stocks have been plummeting for a long time already.
Let's hope this kills the man.

 

[Dragon]

The note about gamestop stock would tend to leave me in agreement, though its not too different to steam, I would hope it would be used to physically link the disc to an account rather than to a console, unless they plan to have lifetime warranties and all of the nuances that entails.

It would seem that a simpler solution would be to do away with the disks altogether, already several firms assume you have high speed internet, though not in such an exclusive methodology.

The difference is that I can still give you my account details, you install the games on your PC via my Steam account and there you go. If you set it to offline mode and cut your connection you can even do that infinitely.

This would mean that I can play at home with my own Steam account while you can still play with the offline version on your PC.

Quite a significant difference to Sony's plans imo

 

[Panda with issues...]

It's been incredibly impressive how sony released arguably the most successful console of all time in the ps2, then managed not to understand what made it so successful, then drove their games div into the ground, whilst also failing in all sorts of other business ventures.

 

[BiG D]

It's been incredibly impressive how sony released arguably the most successful console of all time in the ps2, then managed not to understand what made it so successful, then drove their games div into the ground, whilst also failing in all sorts of other business ventures.

Not entirely true. I think they understood what made the PS2 successful. The problem is the industry took a big turn towards online functionality right after that success, and they underestimated the importance of an ecosystem that allowed you to play games AND message your friends at the same time...

The PS3 did, however, push the HD video war in bluray's favour, so it's almost certainly still a win for them.

 

[Panda with issues...]

Not entirely true. I think they understood what made the PS2 successful. The problem is the industry took a big turn towards online functionality right after that success, and they underestimated the importance of an ecosystem that allowed you to play games AND message your friends at the same time...

The PS3 did, however, push the HD video war in bluray's favour, so it's almost certainly still a win for them.

I think that those are some good points actually.

I also feel like they've been hampered by some general trends in the industry too. One of the biggest strengths of the PS2 was the breadth and depth of exclusive games, and with spiralling dev costs, most big releases have been released across multiple platforms.

 

[Kasatka]

Also its worth mentioning that the WiiU has console locked games too, so its not just sony that are combatting used games sales.

I mean from a business point of view there are two options for the games companies :
1) Lock titles to platforms so resales can't happen. More profits for the developers, publishers and hardware people this way.
2) Push through laws worldwide that state that a % of every resale MUST go the original studio/publisher that produced the game.

Personally i can't see the latter happening so yeah...

 

[Ki!ler-Mk1]

Another option, one which has been imagined within the steam system, is allowing trading of titles registered to accounts, creating a 2nd hand trade whose economy is player driven.


The system could counter certain complaints through simple locking of new titles for 6 months after purchase and say 9-12 months after release, while also making it so that after trading a title it becomes locked to the buyer for 30 days.

They could also allow permitted resale who pay to bypass the 30day lockout and are as a consequence allowed to hold multiple copies.

Nets more money for the console developer overall, though requires complete digitalisation of the distribution system.


Though with modern postal systems, it would not be hard for the console to check your net speed and if predicted download speed is outside a select speed, you can request a disc for a small fee, eg less than £1.



I do not, as everyone also appears not to, think that the move as it is benefits the companies mentioned.

 

[Ghostwolf67]

I feel like I should make a pithy comment but I just dont have it in me.

I find the implications of this interesting from the perspctive of value. After you've installed the game wouldnt the disk in essence become monetarily worthless but the value of the console itself increase.

 

[Wol]

It's a shame that valve havent just brought out a console based around steam.

Oh wait

 

[VibroAxe]

There is an interesting point in the article

Here is a question, what if my Playstation 4 broke and I had to replace it with another console, what then? Would that RFID chip be able to tell that? I doubt it

I'm actually more curious about the following: what happens when sony releases a slightly upgraded version of the PS4. (I'm thinking bigger hard drive/different paint job/PS4 Slim here) Does this now mean that all of the games I have legitimetly paid for and own and wish to use for myself, now can't be used on the new version of their own console. Surely this decreases the upgrade potential of the PS4 as well. I have no idea what % of the market is rebuy, but I certainly know a fair few Xbox 360 owners who are on their second 360...

 

[Wol]

I'd assume that it would be tied to your account, which is in turn authorized on the console. So you can swap the console around, activate your account on a new console, and get access to all your games.

 

[Ronin Storm]

I'd assume that it would be tied to your account, which is in turn authorized on the console. So you can swap the console around, activate your account on a new console, and get access to all your games.

Which is pretty much how Microsoft handle Xbox Live Marketplace content.

 

[Ki!ler-Mk1]

A major change of the perceptions of consoles is that when they first hit the world (prior to consoles with the internet), you bought a game, not a software license, or rather I doubt the consumer made this distinction.

Though if i recall the law clarified rather quickly that a software license could be resold.

The change here, is that the companies don't want licenses to change hands, while the world(gamestop) is still living in a world where "games" are not licences.