Friday, May 9, 2014
Thirsty Conversations: Would You Buy A Console That Blocks Used Games From Working?

Thirsty Conversations: Would You Buy A Console That Blocks Used Games From Working?

Posted by: Ernice Gilbert February 13, 2013 in PS4, Thirsty Conversations, Xbox 720 19 Comments

People in the industry can’t seem to stop talking about it, GameStop shares tumbled because of it, and executives are sharing their opinion on it. I’m Talking about the advent of PS4 and Xbox 720 blocking used games from working, hence effectively killing the second hand market. Today, the question is straight forward…

…Would you buy a console that blocks used games from working?

Let’s talk. Do it here: The Official Games Thirst Moment of Truth.

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About Ernice Gilbert

Ernice Gilbert here. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Gamesthirst. Thanks for stopping by, make yourself at home!
  • Ghost250

    1 word: NOPE

  • http://www.gamesthirst.com Ernice Gilbert

    Haha! So you’d skip PS4?

  • Ghost250

    yes i would, probably just go play current or older consoles. there is still stuff from past gens i never got play.

  • http://www.gamesthirst.com Ernice Gilbert

    You know, to be honest, I’ve never purchased a used game, but that’s because we usually don’t get the great deals around my parts.

  • Ghost250

    how come you don’t use amazon? games are like really dirt cheap on there.

  • foxton

    No! definately not! Unless it brought the overall price of games down then i may consider it. This would be a bad bad idea, not just for the high street which needs all the help it can get at the moment, but for gaming in general. Admittedly companies may sell more copies because people cant buy games 2nd hand, but ive lost count the number of games ive got into by buying them second hand, and then going on to buy sequels etc. games that i wouldnt of even considered paying full price for. Its just pure greed and id refuse to out of principal. You wouldnt even be able to rent a game because they are effectively 2nd hand are they not?! Bringing this in would kill the gaming industry off in my opinion!

  • benzo

    I would buy a console that blocked used games. I think that while the gaming industry contracted and lost awesome studios, Gamestop and other used game places thrived. These place give you practically nothing for a trade in, but then sell the used game for $5 less than a new copy. Gaming devs, publishers, and distributors lose in this equation. I think that any blocking of used games should be paired with a decrease in the cost of new games. That is the only fair way to do this, in my opinion of course. I’ve been a gamer for more than 3/4 of my life and I hate to see good companies fold and people lose their jobs. We all get online and say how terrible we felt when 38 studios folded and we all nervously awaited word on Vigil games and we were heart broken when they werent picked up in auction. But I ask you…how many of you supported Kingdoms of Amalur with a NEW purchase? How many of you gave your hard earned money to Vigil Games in support of the Darksiders series? When I say I feel bad I truly do, because I support them with a new purchase and spread word of mouth about how awesome they were. So if I have to pay higher taxes to take care of those less fortunate than myself so be it. And likewise, if blocking used games on a system with help keep good devs open, I’m with it.

  • Ghost250

    @benzo i didn’t support neither vigil or kingdoms of amalur. but its not because i bought their games used its because frankly i had no interest in their games. sometimes it isn’t used games as the reasons these companies lose money. its the fact that maybe the games just don’t catch any consumers interest. everyone is so quick to blame used games as the reason why these companies lose money. but no ever questioned that maybe their games frankly don’t look good at all. i’m gonna be honest kingdoms of amalur & darksiders look like shovelware to me. an maybe others feel the same way. an judging from no publisher buying the darksiders IP they must of also thought it was shovelware. plus you can’t say vigil went under because used games. the reason why vigil went under is because the fact that THQ made bad business decisions. THQ wasted money on licensing for kids games and so no return in revenue and the whole udraw fiasco was the final nail in the coffin for that company. lets be honest THQ was never a top tier publisher they were always mid tier and their library shows that.

  • http://www.gamesthirst.com Ernice Gilbert

    @Ghost: On Amazon, that’s a great point! O-O

  • http://www.gamesthirst.com Ernice Gilbert

    @Foxton: Great post, man. I thought of the same things… Second hand games many times lead gamers to purchasing sequels brand new… And about rentals, you’re right, it’s bad overall. But man, would I be able to skip PS4? Not sure about that.

  • http://www.gamesthirst.com Ernice Gilbert

    @Benzo: Strong points! I agree!

  • http://www.gamesthirst.com Ernice Gilbert

    @Ghost: Your last comment made some fair points too. THQ handled business bad, but many reckoned Darksiders would a solid game. Kingdoms of Amalur, too. Outstanding? Maybe not, but solid nonetheless.

  • Ghost250

    specifically speaking with 38 studios, whay they should have done is started off small before embarking on a big project like kingdoms of amalur. that game was in development for like 3 years. one could only imagine how much it took to make that that it caused the studio to go bankrupt. basically what im saying they shouldn’t have put all their eggs into one basket. they should have started off small and got their name out there in the game industry by making indie games or handheld games before moving to big projects.

  • http://www.gamesthirst.com Ernice Gilbert

    True that. It was actually bad management that threw them out of the race! True point, Ghost.

  • benzo

    I see where you guys are coming from with the mismanagement thing. But new IPs didnt sell well this gen. Everyone wanted to play the next Mass Effect or the new CoD. Nobody was willing to open their minds to a new experience. And in the case of the specific games of Kingdoms and Darksiders 2, I firmly believe that sales were effected by the used market. CoD sold tens of millions on the first damn day and all Darksiders 2 needed to do was sell 2mil to break even. MS and Sony boast of all the systems they’ve sold, yet with all the people out there who own gaming systems, new IPs sell like s**t. I’ve heard count less people say”well it looks good,but I will just pick it up used when its cheaper”. They like the game, and the dev gets not a cent from that used sale, and they way we as consumers show our appreciation is by spending out $$$.
    _______________
    On a lighter less preachy note…I dont want any system to block used games. But if it is going to happen, I want gamers to get some benefit from it, like cheaper games.

  • Alex Mason

    Nah, why would I do that? I know it would hurt developers and other people, but imagine how many hurt consumers wouldn’t give a fuck about you anymore. Just imagine.

  • Mezzo

    Yes, i would. I cannot afford to miss out on KZ4, UC, inFamous, Motorstorm, etc.
    ————–
    Don’t get me wrong, it would really suck, i myself do not stand for this. But if i have no other choice, i will cave in for all those games.

  • Alex Mason
  • nick

    of course you would, anyone would!
    people are not going to sit there and read reviews of next gen games, watch reviews, watch youtube playthroughs and just let themselves miss out.
    especially over something so small and trivial!
    i say both parties need to make a compromise though.
    if were blocking used games, than fine but at least drop the RRP of games.
    we flex, you flex thats only fair.

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