This week it was announced that EA has a new plan for dealing with used copies of their games. For their next NBA sports title, one of the modes will be locked and require a code on the manual, once used it is tied to that account. If you trade that game in or otherwise sell it then the person who bought it will have to spend $20 to get a new code to have access to that content if the code was used; there have been rumors regarding having content only unlocked for new copies of a game with another title. Ladies and gentlemen I believe we’ve gone down a dark road of digital distribution
If there are two things publishers hate more then piracy they have to be used game sales and game rentals. Both allow gamers access to game content without having to pay the publishers anything. We have entered a time where thanks to online access; game companies can control more of their game content then in the 90s. This issue goes into the argument of game ownership and if there is an effective compromise. There are two sides to this issue, the publisher/developer and the consumer/retailer.
Let’s look at the publisher first, in this industry a lot of companies live and die by each game sold. Unless your company just created the next Halo or GTA, money will no doubt be tight and a few more copies sold could mean the difference between going under and creating a new game. Sadly just because a game is great does not make it a great seller. People who buy used or rent their games are not counted when the publisher looks at how many copies were sold. As the only people who receive profit are the game stores. Publishers feel that they should receive money whenever someone plays one of their games and that the content is 100% theirs.
Retailers/customers see things differently, once a game is bought and in the hands of the customer, they feel that it is there copy do what they want with it not counting illegally uploading it. How many people lend their games to friends to play with? Now imagine if games were tied to the specific console, how pissed off would people be? The reasons why people buy used are because it is cheaper, and sometimes that is the only way to find the game. Should customers be punished for buying a game used? There is also the “big brother” factor, of having game companies control their content over the Internet. Other used markets (books, music) seem to flourish from having their content bought and sold. The reason is that it is easier to spend money on something if you know that once you’re finished with it, it could be sold to pay for something else. The problem with the games industry is that games are much more expensive then a book or music cd. Which is one thing retailers used to convince you to buy used, lower the price considerably (in most situations) compared to the new version.
Where does that leave us then? While the IP itself stays with the developer/publisher, the actual copy of the game belongs to the consumer in my opinion, and they should be able to sell them if they want. I think this is one of those times that the industry needs to take the step back, as right now this plan from EA is going to hurt gamers first. The problem with stores like Gamestop is that the used titles are right next to the new titles, which lets them have their cake and eat it too. One solution I had was that retailers can only deal with used games, or new games, not both in the same outlet. If publishers are supposedly being hurt so much by used game sales, then how did the industry survive and flourish in the 90s when it was completely out of their hands?
I know people are going to say it’s because of game complexity and technology are the reasons that games are expensive, I have to call BS on that. Technology may have become more powerful, but at this point it should be getting less expensive. Until we reach Matrix like involvement with games there will be a tech ceiling we’re going to reach at some point. Also once again, what makes a game is the game play not the graphics. Game companies need to become more organized and perhaps 8 year game development cycles will be a thing of the past.
The PC game industry is already needlessly complicated as is, with copy protection, drivers, upgrades, etc. We don’t need to make console games as tough to play with requiring online access and locked game content. Look I’m a private, paranoid person and I intend to stay that way. (Try saying that 10 times fast)
Josh
