It’s a “fantastic” idea, says the developer.
It was Volition designer Jameson Durall, one of the Red Faction: Armageddon designers who made such claims. Praising the move, if it were to be implemented, as something that could really start to “shake things up”. He’s alluding to the used game market.
“Personally I think this would be a fantastic change for our business and even though the consumers would be up in arms about it at first… they will grow to understand why and that it won’t kill them,” Durall said.
“The system is already there for Microsoft, all they’d have to do is use the DLC and codes model they have to tie a game to your Xbox live account.
Each retail disc would likely need that unique key somewhere in the code so the account would be able to link it properly. Ideally it would tie a full version to the console it is registered on so family members can play even if the main account isn’t signed in, but this is exactly how their model works now anyway.”
Durall admits that the new system would have problems, especially pertaining to the rental market, and gamers wanting to lend their games to friends, however he believes Microsoft could create some sort of workaround.
“I could see Microsoft implementing their own rental service which would maybe give them a code that activates the game for X days and they are charged a small amount,” he continued.
Adding: “This could work when you borrow the disc from someone or even with digital download of the full version. It would also send a percentage of the rental to the Developer with each rental… likely improving the overall revenue we would receive from it.”
To conclude, Durall said that: “In the end, I fully believe that we have to do something about these issues or our industry is going to fall apart.
People often don’t understand the cost that goes into creating these huge experiences that we put on the shelves for only $60. They also don’t seem to realize how much they are hurting us when they buy a used game and how pirating a copy is just plain stealing.
I know that some will say I’m not considering the retail games stores and the impact something like this would have on them…but remember they were doing fine well before the Used Games market became such a staple of their business.
The truth is, they aren’t concerned with how this business is affecting us so why should I care how these changes will affect them?”
Thanks, CVG.
This is coming from a failing company, a dev who created a total bomb of a Red Faction game that got the series shelved and caused an uproar among fans. He is the last person I would take advice from. How do you go from a wide open Red Faction game to underground with no versus multiplayer. If this goes into place then they need a new pricing scale for games. I cannot lay down $60 every time a new game comes out. If it is a true AAA title like Uncharted and Gears then yes $60, but for a game like Red Faction Armageddon, it should only be $40 or $50 tops.
This dose get right on my nerves! If this is try with the new xbox getting a DRM people should not buy it! The 2K dev is saying good points but you shouldnt be making the consumers pay, if used games are affecting their bottom line that much then they should stop selling their games to the shops that offer trade-ins; there should be an arrangement between the devs and the publisher and the shops NOT THE CUSTOMER!
we really just need to get stores paying developers for preowned sales and for rentals.
that way developers are getting paid for there work, and retailers are not being so greedy.
only reason i dont buy or trade games is because you get seriously ripped off!
i traded batman arkham city yesterday, a 2 month old game and i got 30 bucks for it!
THIRTY!
saw it in the store today, same store and they had 0 preowned copies when i traded it, for 80!
so there making a 50 dollar profit on it, now thats just BS!
10 bucks more then a brand new copy?
really?
why the ^%$# do people buy this shit, especially if its only 10 less?
retailers need to stop being so greedy, and give the developers a small percentage of what there making on preorders and rentals.
then theres rental services like gamefly, there free arent they?
so you get to play the game for what, a week?
for free?
thats piracy!
i can see why developers are so pissed about used games and rentals, its just not fair there not getting anything for there hard work, and those who sit behind a desk doing nothing get 50 bucks profit!
and thats on 1 transaction, what if another guy trades that game in and someone else buys it?
buy and sell the same game 20 times, the trade in and purchase price will stay the same.
my god these people are making a fortune for doing pluck all!
Nick, when I buy a game at a store, I’ve already paid the dev. This is all foolishness. Devs are just pissed because there’s a thriving market that they’re cut off from.
I mean, when I purchase a vehicle for full price at a dealer, I can resell to anybody the any amount. I don’t see the dealer coming after me, crying foul.
not if your buying it used your not.
cant liken a car to games, used cars dont take away from sales of new cars like games do.
buying a game used your loosing some DLC thats about it.
buy a car used you loose warranty, risk breakdowns and such.
people go looking for a car they want, so having used cars is not hurting the sales of new ones like the sale of old games is hurting the sales of new ones.
“Cant liken a car to games, used cars dont take away from sales of new cars like games do.” – It’s just as bad or even worse…. I know dealers when I could buy an almost brand new Escalade for a drastically lower price than the original… And I”m talking brand new vehicles.
@Nick, Gamefly is not free. You have to pay a monthly price to rent games. I pay $25 a month to have 2 games out at a time. Also, rental places have to pay a premium for those games that they let people rent.