Notes

The War on Used Games
As we plan the coming wave of next generation systems, we have to be anticipating improvements on all of the good things we associate with the current crop of systems. Continue we expect: better graphics, faster processors, more engaging games, you obtain the idea. But not precisely what we're anticipating will be a progressive movement for gaming. At least, so far as Sony and Microsoft are worried, it is possible to wave goodbye to playing used games on their systems. Although destiny303 are just rumors at this stage, it wouldn't be surprising if they came to fruition. It's very plausible, especially when considering that several game publishers have previously fired shots at the used game market.

Perhaps most obviously is Electronic Arts(EA), who became the first publisher to institute the practice of charging gamers, who bought used games, a fee to access codes that come with the game. To elaborate, Downloadable Content(DLC) codes are included with new copies of a particular game and only with those codes, can that content be accessed. EA expanded its project to add playing used games online. Gamers would now have to pay $10, as well as the cost of the used game they purchased, to be able to have access to the web the different parts of their game. Ubisoft has since followed suit, requiring an online pass because of its games as well. It is possible to identify the games which require an online pass as they bare the,"Uplay Passport", logo on the box.

Ubisoft decided they'd take things a step further and implement Digital Rights Management, a practice more regularly associated with DVD or CD anti-piracy efforts. Assassins Creed 2 was the initial game to be effected by this practice. As a way to play the PC version of Assassins Creed 2, gamers are required to create an account with Ubisoft and remain logged into that account to be able to play the game. Therefore if you lose your internet connection, the game will automatically pause and make an effort to reestablish the connection. However, if you're unfortunate enough to be unable to reconnect to the internet you need to continue from your own last saved game; losing any progress you may have made since then. This will be the case for several of Ubisoft's PC titles, regardless of one playing single-player or multi-player. While Digital Rights Management has been used to combat DVD and CD piracy for a long time now, this can mark the very first time it's been used for a video game. In light of Ubisoft's implementation of DRM, Matthew Humphries of Geek.com, cautions that it is feasible that eventually even console games will demand online registration in order to play them.

So what's the reason behind all of this? In accordance with According to Denis Dyack, the top of Silicon Knights, the sale of used games is cannibalizing the profit of the principal game market. He also claims that the used game market is somehow causing the price of new games to go up. His proposed solution would be to move from physical disks and embrace digital distribution. Essentially he'd prefer to see services like Steam or EA's Origin replace traditional hard copies. destiny303 can find even rumors that the X-Box 720 will embrace the exclusive use of digital downloads and not use disks at all. Whether Microsoft will in actuality continue with that plan remains to be observed.

You can argue that Sony has recently laid the ground work with preventing used games from functioning on their future system. At least, they've already made quite an effort to make used games considerably less desirable. Kath Brice, of Gamesindustry.biz, reported that the latest SOCOM game for PSP, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3, will require customers who purchase a used copy to pay an addition $20 dollars to receive a code for online play.
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