RipTen Videogame Blog » used games

Rumors Say The Next Xbox Will Play Blu-rays, But Not Used Games

Todd Schlickbernd — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:30:57 +0000

We just heard about Kingdom of Amalur‘s online pass content, and have been hearing about online passes for years now. People are pretty not-down with online passes, but the industry has a bone to pick with used games and Microsoft may have a strategy which, if successful, will reduce the used game industry to nothing but, well, bones. According to Kotaku, the next generation Xbox might be implementing a system which prevents used games from being played. Now what this means is rather specifically unstated, whomever informed Kotaku doesn’t know how Microsoft plans to do it. However, we do know what it means if they do implement it, sadness. Or at least that’s the immediate reaction. Let’s explore something here.

Most people were pretty shell shocked holiday 2011 with the impressive lineup of AAA titles being released from September to December, and we eventually realized one thing: we can’t buy them all. Not without selling organs, and even then some people probably had to take other people’s organs if they wanted all that the holidays had to offer. However, this crazy lineup of full price games didn’t stay full price for long, Need for Speed: The Run, Assassin’s Creed Revelations, and many other AAA games went on sale rather soon after their release because they had to compete.

Now, imagine that there was no way to buy those games used. Well now people are really pinching pennies (which is very rude to penny-kind, by the way) and only buying the games they really, really want and sometimes having to avoid even those games for a time. There’s no “I’ll buy this one now, and get the other one used later”, because there will be no used! So instead the logic might follow, “I’ll have to wait until they both drop in price”, and when an entire group of consumers thinks that way, prices will start dropping. At least in theory. Also it’ll mean the end to online passes because there would be no point. Scary as this all sounds, it’s important to consider that while the industry will (hopefully) be making all their intended revenue, there’s give-and-take and when gamers and non-gamers alike can’t afford games like they used to, the industry will have to respond.

Beyond that controversial bit, included in the rumors was the fact that the Xbox 360 will play Blu-rays, a noticeable 15 – 35gb size limit increase over that of DVDs. Yay, Blu-rays, higher graphical quality, Blu-ray movies, and… oh wait, remember what happened with the PS3 and backwards compatibility? Uh oh. Well let’s hope that plays out favorably. I didn’t pay $600 for a console six years ago and I won’t do it two years from now. I’ll just duct tape my 360 to my 720 or whatever the new console will be calling itself. I’m thinking… the Ybox. Or the Wbox, depending on the perspective.

Lastly, there are apparently features planned for the new Xbox which will better accommodate the Kinect and allow it to detect users more accurately. There’s a rather good chance the new device, if there is one, will be called “Kinect Movement Extra” and will be a small cube rammed somewhere into existing Kinects. All of this is speculation, but along with the recent news of the possibly super amazing graphics, the next Xbox may be able to land at a late 2013 release.

Obsidian Wants To Go All Digital… To “Stab the Used Game Market in The Heart”

Catherine Cai — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:31:01 +0000

Obsidian Entertainment is apparently not a fan of the used games market, which is pretty understandable, considering the videogame industry doesn’t make any profit from used videogames. Online passes and undeletable saves have all been attempts by developers to chip away at used games, to no avail.

Obsidian wants to try a different approach. One that probably won’t anger fans quite as much, although it will surely piss off gamers that love “owning” their videogames in the form of a hard copy.

In a recent interview Obsidian’s Chief Creative Officer and keeper of all Fallout lore, Chris Avellone, says he wants Obsidian to go all digital:

“Our eventual hope is that we can stockpile enough resources to release our own titles digitally,”

“Smaller games can be very satisfying projects to work on, and it would be great to do that. But it’s going to take time for us to get there; we want to make sure we do it right.”

“Of course, one of the greatest things about digital distribution is what it does to reduce the used game market. I hope digital distribution stabs the used game market in the heart.“

Besides hurting the used game market, Obsidian will also no longer have to worry about ship dates since a digital release could be delayed without any monetary impact.

This is definitely an interesting move on Obsidian’s part. I wonder how much, if at all, Obsidian will be hurt by going completely digital. It’ll also be interesting to see if Obsidian has a lot of success with this method, and if other AAA publishers will follow suit.

via [VG247]

Capcom Won’t Let You Clear Saves in Resident Evil 3DS So You Can’t Sell It Used?!

Justin Carter — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:56:10 +0000

You remember you were a kid, and when you had something, your parents said that having it was a privilege? Well, someone at Capcom has that saying to heart. The Sixth Axis reports that you can’t reset your progress or delete your save in Resident Evil: The Mercenaries for the 3DS. If you’re done playing, and your friend wants to play from the beginning, they’re SOL. It can’t be deleted. At all.

On the back of the box for the US version, it’s noticeable, but apparently not enough for bigger news. Capcom’s reasoning for the save lockout is for secondhand game sales.

“The game’s value at second-hand in the UK,” says Capcom, ”is not affected by whether or not the game can have its data reset. Customers in the UK will not experience a second-hand value should they wish to trade in their purchase.”

This is pretty weird. To the extent of my knowledge, no game has ever denied the standard of deleting saves. I’ll be going to Gamestop today and will update with a picture as soon as I can. In the meantime, sound off on this below.

Used Game Market Could Become Used Game Black Market

Gavin Bard — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:20:37 +0000

While the case itself is actually between Autodesk, the developers of AutoCAD software, and a user who purchased it and attempted to sell it on eBay. Autodesk got a hold of that news and did not take kindly to it, suing the user for breaking the EULA. The End User License Agreement states that the program is licensed and not sold, and thus the users’ license is non transferable. It should be easy to see how this can be applied to our wonderful world of vidja games.

The legitimacy of the used games market has been debated more heavily in recent weeks, so this is poised to be in the limelight for a little bit. Do not fear used game dealers and the enablers who enable it, as this ruling actually overturns the previous court’s decision in 2008 that the user has rights to sell used software. This will probably continue to go back and forth depending on how corporate the judges, juries, or executioners on that particular case end up being so it will surely be a while before any effect is seen on video game reselling. The effect could be quite serious thanks to the wording of the court;

We hold today that a software user is a licensee rather than an owner of a copy where the copyright owner (1) specifies that the user is granted a license; (2) significantly restricts the user’s ability to transfer the software; and (3) imposes notable use restrictions.

Many major companies already have phrasing in their EULA that puts a big red check next to number one, and the Lemarchand’s box that companies tend to attach to their titles and call ‘copy protection’ makes sure two and three are accounted for. It will be incredibly interesting to see what comes from this if it’s held up until the end. I would have said ‘if anything comes from this’ but the sheer amount of money to be made if the law can drive a seven inch wooden stake through ~~my Philadelphia~~ the used game market’s heart sort of guarantees that this will be utilized.

[Source: Gamasutra]

Report Shows Used Game Sales Tenth of New Game Sales

Dylan Duarte — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:18:30 +0000

According to the NPD group, total games industry sales in 2009 added up to a little over $20 billion, while a study by JJGames shows that used game sales amass about $2 billion, roughly a tenth the number of new game sales.

You may have heard that used game sales were destroying the gaming universe as we know it. I can give you around 20 billion reasons why they’re not. Get it? Each one of those reasons is a dollar pulled in by new game sales. That’s just a little comedy for you.

Ahem. Here’s a fancy chart you can look at.

Headline Image Credit: Eric Gooch

Cliff Bleszinski On Used Game Market: Honey Sells, Vinegar Smells

Brandon Fenty — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:18:28 +0000

Game developers have always had to deal with consumers buying games used. The developer doesn’t make any money on a used game sale, and for years have tried to entice consumers to buy the game new. In general, developers include exclusive, but non-essential DLC with the new game as an incentive. EA has started going with a new model, “Project Ten Dollar”, where used game buyers have to spend $10 to get access to content that is free to new buyers.

Gears of War 3 developer Cliff Bleszinski openly criticized this practice in an interview with Joystiq at E3. Referring to the practice of charging extra to used gamers, “Penalizing is not the best way to deal with things like that. You attract more flies with honey than with vinegar”

Cliff seems to think a better way to keep new sales high is to give a lasting experience. Gears of War has had great after-sale support in the past, with DLC and regular updates and bugfixes. The developer is looking to continue that trend. “You want to make a game that has a great single-player experience, but continues online, continues to breathe.”

Here’s hoping the Gears model wins over Project Ten Dollar.

Mass Effect 2 DLC Plans Reveal “Cerebus Network” Aimed At Minimizing Piracy and Discouraging Used Game Purchases

Chad Lakkis — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:01:31 +0000

BioWare has just announced their plans for the first two DLC additions to Mass Effect 2, and both will be accessible free to those who buy the game new via a new platform the company is calling “The Cerberus Network (TCN).”

Non used game buyers will be able to use TCN to download the first DLC for free on January 26th, in tandem with the game’s release, and the second DLC sometime after that. Used game lovers will still be able to access this content, though they will need to purchase a non transferable “new activation code” to access The Cerberus Network. Full press release below.

BIOWARE UNVEILS ‘THE CERBERUS NETWORK’ – AN IN-GAME PIPELINE FOR DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT IN MASS EFFECT 2

On January 26 Mass Effect 2 Players Can Download Exciting Bonus Content

Edmonton, Alberta (January 19, 2010) – BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today revealed ‘The Cerberus Network’, an in-game portal in Mass Effect 2 that will keep fans engaged with the rich and dynamic Mass Effect universe through downloadable content (DLC) and news. ‘The Cerberus Network’ is activated exclusively by original purchasers of Mass Effect 2 through a single-use unlock code that comes included in retail and digital versions of the game worldwide. ‘The Cerberus Network’ is a conduit for players to receive bonus content as well as daily messages and news on upcoming releases for Mass Effect 2 for no extra charge. For players who do not buy the game new, ‘The Cerberus Network’ can be unlocked through a one-time, in-game purchase of a new activation code*.

Mass Effect 2 is the first blockbuster video game release of 2010, having recently been named as one of the “Most Anticipated Games of the Year” by the New York Times, IGN and Wired.

“The Cerberus Network augments and extends the rich universe of Mass Effect 2,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “We’re thrilled to be able to reward loyal BioWare and Mass Effect fans with ongoing, high quality content and provide a direct channel for our players to dive deeper into the intriguing lore of Mass Effect.”

Players who access ‘The Cerberus Network’ will receive the first DLC pack on January 26th (launch day in North America) featuring new missions and in-game items. Included in this pack is a mission that introduces Zaeed, a rugged and deadly gun-for-hire who is recruited to join Commander Shepard’s mission to save mankind.

After launch, BioWare will release another DLC pack for Mass Effect 2 that introduces the Hammerhead, a new vehicle in the Mass Effect universe. This agile hover tank features improved handling on rough terrain and maneuvers deftly in combat — a necessity for players traveling across harsh planetary environments throughout the galaxy. In addition to this new vehicle, BioWare will release new missions and unique in-game items, including Cerberus Assault Armor which boost shields, health and heavy weapon ammo and the M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun.

The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding a crew of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, stunning space exploration and emotionally engaging characters, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.

Mass Effect 2 is scheduled for release on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC on January 26, 2010 in North America and January 29, 2010 in Europe and has been rated ‘M’ for Mature by the ESRB and ‘18+’ by PEGI (please visit www.esrb.org and www.pegi.eu for more information on ratings). For more news from the development team, please follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect2 or visit the game’s official website at http://masseffect.bioware.com/.

* Activation is tied to a specific EA Online account and is non-transferable.

Thumbs Down Potential Criminal! Florida Used Game Sellers Now Require Fingerprinting

Chad Lakkis — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:40:31 +0000

A while back, I wrote an article about an individual I believed to be pawning a stolen console to a local GameStop. I was a little taken back by the obvious nature of the situation and the lack of hesitation by the GameStop employee who happily took it off her hands.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted any type of police intervention in these daily occurrences, but in Florida, that’s exactly what the gun carrying law enforcers of the Sunshine State are doing.

In accordance with recent changes to Florida Legislation, used videogames are now to be treated as second-hand goods sold at pawn shops. In short, this means that any store accepting an opened game, with the intent of resale, is required to take a thumbprint and additional personal information from the individual returning/exchanging the game.

Detective: Ok, when was your game stolen son?
Victim: Yesterday. I play it every day and I woke up today and it was gone.
Detective: Can you describe it for me?
Victim: Sure. It’s a copy of Gears of War.
Detective: Any other unique characteristics?
Victim: Yeah. I wrote my name on the back with big black marker.
Detective: Good thinking kid. We’ll put out an APB. If they sold it around these parts, we’ll find the culprit.

I love a happy ending.

Source: New Times of Broward-Palm Beach (Via: Kotaku)

Sorry, The Last Boss Fight Costs Extra — Some Devs Willing to Ship Incomplete Games

Chad Lakkis — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:31:08 +0000

A few days ago I published an article talking about the impact of used game sales and rentals on developers. The piece revolved around comments made by Frontier Developments’ founder, David Braben and his idea to create two price points/versions of a game — a model he compares to the film industry.

I really disagreed with the idea as well as the notion that the used game market is the root of the problem. Instead, I discussed an alternative solution which involved DLC content or “additional incentive” to buy a game new. That said, never in a million years did I think devs would be willing to consider making a vital part of a game — such as a final boss fight — accessible only via DLC.

Well, if you believe the comment made by Epic Games president, Dr Michael Capps, it seems that this concept has its share of supporters:

“I’ve talked to some developers who are saying ‘If you want to fight the final boss you go online and pay USD 20, but if you bought the retail version you got it for free‘. We don’t make any money when someone rents it, and we don’t make any money when someone buys it used – way more than twice as many people played Gears than bought it…”

Are you shitting me? A game that ships with no accessible ending? That is the best solution these assholes can come up with? Screw over the gamer? When I said that I supported DLC content as added value — I meant it. Added value doesn’t mean you strip away a game’s ending.

What a shame. If it ever comes to the point where large corporations start utilizing these types of tactics to improve their bottom line — I have one wish. I hope the greedy SOBs at the top all find themselves sick in a hospital bed at some point. Desperately in need of an organ transplant to live, they are greeted by a good doctor who walks in and utters the following words:

Sorry, organ donors are impossible to come by these days. Dr. Phil had a show on it. It seems that the lack of used products available to consumers has made people bitter. The overwhelming feeling is, if we can’t benefit from another person’s used stuff, then they won’t benefit from ours either. It’s a shame really — I wish there was more I could do.

Call me a sick fuck, but it would serve them right, and I sure as hell wouldn’t feel sorry for them. The moral o the story, be careful what you wish for.

Source: GI.biz

Used Game Market Not the Problem, Lack of New Purchase Incentive the Real Issue

Chad Lakkis — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:57:02 +0000

Look, I’ve been reading a heap of articles lately citing both the Eurogamer and GI.biz sit down with Frontier Developments’ founder, David Braben, and I simply couldn’t take it anymore.

For those of you that missed the hoopla, Braben’s gripe is that the used game market will eventually kill the single player aspect of games and force all developers to focus instead on multiplayer due to its high replay factor. While I agree that multiplayer does offer a much higher replay value, I certainly don’t agree with his proposed fix.

My argument is that for every game there are two versions. One is personal, not for resale and it’s made abundantly clear you can’t sell it. And it’s made available for something like GBP 25 [$40]. And a resale and rental copy, which in film is actually about GBP 80 [$130].

Huh? That has got to be the most ass backwards solution I’ve ever heard of. I understand the need for a developer to generate higher revenue, but handcuffing a consumer to their product is not the answer.

The better solution, which is admittedly more difficult, is to come up with incentives that motivate gamers to buy games new. Companies and retailers alike are already putting this plan into action. Look no further than the upcoming release of Gears of War 2 to see this in action. Those who buy the game new will get access to fan favorite levels from the original Gears. Other titles like LittleBigPlanet have been offering up tons of exclusive costumes, levels, and even real world branded merchandise for pre-order customers.

While both of these games have multiplayer aspects, there’s nothing preventing the creators of single player only titles from utilizing these tactics as well. They may not have the luxury of relying on an internet connected consumer, but that wouldn’t prevent them from embedding content into their games that requires a one time use code to unlock via telephone, smoke signal, bong juice, or bat signal.

The point I am trying to make here is that there are other options. And when you’re a company comprised of the type of talent and creativity capable of putting together an interactive game, I have a hard time feeling sorry for you. If you can’t think up ways to help strengthen your consumer bond without the use of restraints, you need to stop pointing fingers at consumers and retail chains and instead point them at yourself.

Chains like GameStop have every right to sell used games without developers pointing their fingers at them in disgust. Looking at the situation realistically, chains like GameStop will cease to exist as soon as more consumers begin to realize that they don’t need fancy middle man pawn shops, offering ridiculously low trade in value, in order to connect with gamers looking for used content.

Personally, you will never catch me selling a used game to a chain like GameStop, but that’s not because I don’t believe they should have the right to sell used products. It’s because I believe the price they offer consumers in exchange for their game is highway robbery. If I have games (or anything for that matter) that I want to sell, I use this lovely tool called the internet created by Al Gore in the 70s. And when I don’t feel like doing that, I whip up a yard sale sign and sit my ass in a lawn chair on my front lawn.

In closing, the solution is not to offer us less by doing away with single player content and it’s not forcing us to retain our copy by placing legal copy on the back of each box. Gamers will respond unanimously to one thing and one thing only — a superior product. If that means the addition of multiplayer, do it. If that means going above and beyond with extra promotional content, do it. Knapsacks, notebooks, pencil sharpers, condoms, lunchboxes, viewfinders — whatever it is — do it, do it, do it, do it.

Deliver a high enough quality product and gamers will not only never sell your title, they’ll worship your box art by framing it on their wall for the whole world to see.

Afterthought: Ok, my rant time is over. What say you loyal readers? Have I lost my mind? Is Braben on to something or should games come with boat loads of swag and other cool perks if we are willing to dish out the cash to buy them new?