Sony files patent to block the use of used games

[SuperPlay]

Source: Neowin

http://www.neowin.net/news/sony-files-patent-to-block-the-use-of-used-games

[soop]

Grrr, dicks.

[Opethian]

one step closer to a gamestop-free world...

[Bernie]

Insane... greed..  ugh.

[Necromancer]

Hopefully few developers will choose to implement this (or Sony's other patent for using RFID to get around requiring online access), and any game that does implement it is shunned by buyers.  If it does catch on, rest assured that it'll get hacked and end up being a useless tool that only pisses off good customers.

[NightWolve]

So I'd have to sell the system that my used games were tied down to ? Moreover, in order for this to work, it'd require the system to always have an Internet connection available ? They would have to force you to connect up before loading a game in order for this to all work... I think eventually it'd be more like, if used game detected, demand some kind of charge rather than just reject the game completely. Sounds too rigid/absurd right now if this is serious.

Imagine if the movie industry demanded something like this for used DVDs/BluRays... This kind of reminded me of something that I recently learned in Chicago: the auto industry has a little help from a city ordinance that is often abused where, basically, if you put a "For Sale" sign on your car and you're parked in front of your house on a public street, you will be ticketed. It's more about the city raping its citizens for cash though, than helping out the auto industry by making it more difficult to sell your used car. There used to be a ban on putting your own "For Sale" sign on your house here too (instead of one by an official real estate agency), but that was taken to court eventually and found unconstitutional.

[thesteve]

and the fun continues
as the gaming console becomes more like the PC running ultima, the gaming console becomes less important.
this will mark the end of the gaming console, unless they cut the price way down

[Necromancer]

... it'd require the system to always have an Internet connection available ? They would have to force you to connect up before loading a game in order for this to all work...

Don't worry, they've got that problem covered.

[NightWolve]

... it'd require the system to always have an Internet connection available ? They would have to force you to connect up before loading a game in order for this to all work...

Don't worry, they've got that problem covered.

Oh, I get it... Pffft. It sounds like an easy thing to hack and reset then, though. If the region and copy protections can be hacked and disabled with existing systems, this would be no sweat I imagine. While I actually respect the right of a producer to implement a copy protection system to a degree and understand it, I totally reject region protection and an absurd idea like this... I dunno how complex they think they can design the system to withstand the eventual circumvention which will have rendered it all a waste of time/resources, and the idea behind it being to kill off the used game sales market is something I can't even respect morally... It's low class/offensive.

[Arkhan]

yeah that shit's going to be bypassed super easy, I bet. 

[tggodfrey]

I dont see this being a problem.  If Sony makes a console that requires internet connection, sales wont do well.  too many protective parents out there.  Even if that is no longer a factor, the data will need to be saved on a memory chip located on the motherboard, if they dont you will simply see hard drive flopping of some sort.  A work around is inevitible.

The only issue I see software companies getting away with it is if the software requires online registration.  As a solution you can bet the greedy bastards will just add fees for additional registration keys.  I would expect that to be owned by the software company though.

[HercTNT]

I just don't understand why if I pay $60 for a game, I still don't own it. Mike equated it to eleasing the game and I agree. Remember when it was those damn pc game pirates that was supposed to be the problem. In reality, its those selfish a$$holes that dare try to sell something they should already own when they are done with it. go figure.

[bartre]

It sounds to me like sony would like to become obsolete.
I buy new games, but i also buy used, just depends on how bad I want the game.
that said, there are plenty of games I wouldn't have picked up at $20, which seems to be the absolute lowest any place will go with new PS3 games

[grimm]

Well, technically from the companies point of view and the agreement you sign as you pay, you dont pay to own the game. You pay for the license to play and the software to play it. Its in the fine print. You dont buy the actual game in their point of view. Here in sweden the consumer law does not recognize these contracts, however when it comes to buying mmo/mmorpg's where you sign a EULA, its different. You wont have any backing if you break the EULA and get suspended from service as a result.

Regardless, i got upset when i first heard of these plans sony (and microsoft is looking into the same thing) has for their next console many months ago. The speculation back then was that you also lock your game to the account itself, and not the console. Making it impossible to have several accounts for the same game (at least without paying for that "privilage"), like if you want personal accounts while playing online, for each family member. Its all money grabbing and stinky tactics, but i dont believe people will "rise up" and not conform to this, people rarely do, they bend over and take it. People have also speculated if hardcopies will even be an option, but i dont know if thats how it will turn out. I hope and believe they will offer both hardcopies and digital copies of the games.

I have no plans what so ever to get the next generation of consoles if they make stuff like this a reality. ps3/360 may be the most modern consoles i will own, if you discount the Ouya ive yet to receive.

[SignOfZeta]

Well, I guess if Sony wants to make it impossible for me to play their games used, then I won't play their games used.

And I won't play them new either. Its not like Sony has been responsible lately for much of anything that's actually worth making sacrifices for...or even paying for...or spending time on. They're in a downward spiral.

Maybe the plane will run out of gas before it crashes...but how will they land then?