Sony America boss against the blocking of used games
- Posted May 14th, 2012 at 06:44 EDT by Mike Harradence
- 9 Comments
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) boss Jack Tretton has revealed he’s none too keen on the idea of next-gen consoles blocking the ability to play used games.
That’s at least according to Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter, who revealed Tretton’s stance on the blocking of used games in the latest episode of Bonus Round.
It is Tretton’s opinion that second-hand games are “great for consumers” and to remove the ability to play them would be an “anti-consumer” move. Quite how the bigwigs at Sony Japan feel on the subject is another matter altogether, however.
Chatter on the blocking of used games for next-generation consoles has been doing the rounds for a while now, with DICE’s Patrick Bach suggesting such a move could be both ‘a win and a loss.’
Meanwhile, Rasmus Hojengaard, director of creative development at Crytek, said that an anti-games initiative for the next batch of hardware would be “absolutely awesome” from a business perspective. However, he later added that his comment “was not intended to be taken seriously.”
Rumors have suggested that Sony’s next-gen platform, codenamed Orbis, will implement anti-used games measures.
Stay tuned.
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Comments
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Beasley2K
- 8:28am EDT - May 14th, 2012
- 1
This doesn't really bother me, as I buy all my games new anyway. The inclusion of an online pass or a code for free DLC in new games was a brilliant idea, as this rewards those that do buy it new. Anti-used measures will be great for developers, despite being bad for many consumers and retailers. Developers will be making more money, therefore leaving them with more funds towards producing more games. They will have higher budgets, which may result in higher quality titles. Also, this will prevent all the trophy wh***s from buying cheap games second hand and trading them in a few days later and getting most of their money back, just so they can get a few extra trophies. Additionally, this concept seems to be more rewarding to the true gamers like myself that hold on to their games, supporting the gaming industry, whereas others will happily trade theirs back in to get their money back. They will be the ones who are losing out. After all, if all games are being bought new, maybe this will mean games will be cheaper?
I know many people will be outraged by this, but I personally think it's a good idea, as I never buy pre-owned games for myself anyway, and I'll be getting a PS4 regardless.
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ruskie |
nhOmega- 8:36am EDT - May 14th, 2012
- 2
I mainly buy new. So far I've bought 3 games used(Dark Souls Limited edition - nobody carried it that I could find, Fallout New Vegas(on treally my style but still interested) and some NDS title). I lend the games I'm not playing or have finished playing to friends and co-workers that don't have quite the budget for entertainment that I do(either no job or to many other costs). I don't sell games back to the stores at most I'll sell it on to a friend or a co-worker. And I don't consider this to be bad. And frankly I consider #1 to be dripping with sarcasm. Why not reward me(DLC, poster, artbook etc...) for buying new than penalize me for buying used(pay us for an online pass - though I can accept that as server upkeep isn't that low)?
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hrashid124
- 9:47am EDT - May 14th, 2012
- 3
I will never buy a Sony console which will not allow me to play pre-owned games. My loyalty as a Sony fan has been severely tested and this really would be the last straw. Get a grip, Sony!
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Dantess
- 11:29am EDT - May 14th, 2012
- 4
last gen I used to ONLY buy preowned games for my Playstation 2, but as the price of preowned games has increased with Blu-ray and trying to keep up with the latest titles, all I buy these days are brand new titles. If I had a larger harddrive for my PS3 i'd download more titles. As much as I appreciate pre-owned games and as much as I enjoy owning the physical packaging of a title, I would find it quite awe-inspiring to download all the latest AAA games straight to console!
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Gameoholic007 |
Demented007- 11:56am EDT - May 14th, 2012
- 5
I hope Sony doesn't go that direction, things wouldn't look good if they did. Some of you here don't seem to realize what effects would take place in the gaming market, if they got rid of used games. Think about it, all those used games that are sold, rented, and traded, through out each year, gone. That means, billions of $'s lost, thousands of jobs lost, which all helped support the gaming market, gone. Well over a million people still without jobs, and counting. It wouldn't be a smart move, specially when they would be doing it all because of $.
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timmyho
- 3:58pm EDT - May 14th, 2012
- 7
Beasley
This effects every gamer, people need to get this through their heads. It's not just about buying games used. I buy all my games new also. It's about Rentals, sharing games between friends and family members. I love gaming, I play a lot of games, there is no way I would be able to buy all the games I have played. Then there are those games that your on the rope about buying, but not sure if you should spend the $60 to buy only to get it home and the game sucks worse than the E.T. game. Yet there are games that are a no brainer due to the developers history. This is going to hurt the Industry just as much as the gamers. The gamers are going to start getting more picky about the games they buy instead of just winging it because Joe Shmoe says it's his favorite game of all time.
This already blows with the Online Passes, I took Twisted Metal to a friends house for a night of gaming, only to find out that we couldn't go online unless I purchase an online pass so we can play my brand new $60 dollar game on his machine. This is a crock and if this is the way gaming is going, I'm out after 30 years of it. -
TreKKiker |
Helm_of_Darkness- 4:04pm EDT - May 14th, 2012
- 8
@hrashid124
He just said he doesn't like the idea. -
Lynster
- 12:21pm EDT - May 20th, 2012
- 9
have been with Sony since it's first console. I buy New and Used games. I will not buy the next console if I can't play what I want to play on it. I will not pay for an online pass just to play a game I already purchased new at a friends house for one night. If that is where Sony is going on this they will not have my money in the future. They will lose a lot of fans and consumers if they do this. There is a real problem with hackers and cheaters on the multiplayer games online which makes me not want to play them anymore much less pay for another new game. And why can't we have backwards compatibility?
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