Used game sales, game rental, and piracy hurts software game sales. This is not a new news. With current generation console, it is not cheap to develop a game. Therefore, developers and publishers needs maximum return for their product.
There are ways that developers tried either by forcing the customer or giving incentives for buyers, and it is getting more and more complicated.
EA test out the market with Mass Effect 2, providing free DLC for people who buy a new copy. For those who rent or buy used copy, they need to buy the DLC. And was proven successful. It will come into no surprise that EA might do this again. In fact, they already did, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will come with a code, should one purchases original copy. It can be redeemed for multiplayer map.
Sony themselves joined the band wagon. Recently announced that Socom Fireteam Bravo 3 will require registration to PSN to play its online feature. While buying the digital copy will have no problem, hard copy will not be straight forward. And of course Sony will still let used game buyers to enjoy the online feature, only they have to shell additional USD 19.99 to buy the license because the license is unique and cannot be transferred.
Ubisoft come out with their own "DRM" that force PC users to connect to the internet during their gameplay, even a single player game like Assassin Creed 2. The game will connect to Ubisoft master server and saves the progress via cloud computing.
The logic seems understandable, it lets Ubisoft to verify authenticity of the game, reduce pirates and increase the sale of the software.
Only it back fire to them. Should there is a network glitch like router reboot or momentarily pause in connection, the game jump back to the title screen. Not only that, you will lose all your unsaved progress. The worst part if somehow Ubisoft master server is down, the game is entirely unplayable. This can lead to frustration.
So I think that used game business will face shrinkage because of this effort that developers make to increase their profit. I have nothing against it, because it is their right to implement the system to counter piracy as well as second hand market. But again, sometimes it is confusing for customers. Some customers might not know that Ubisoft Assassin Creed 2 PC needs a constant internet connection, and not all of us have good broadband connection. That will makes the game unplayable for some people.
And I certainly won't be happy if next time they cut some part of the story just to urge you to buy a new copy, cause hey, we aren't all millionaires and game is expensive, we too sometimes like to buy second hand game or rent the game for various reasons
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Fight to increase game software sales is getting more complicated
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Well, no matter what they do, pirates find a way to counter it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what's going to happen to Assassin's Creed 2, there will be too many complaints, and eventually they will have to get rid of it. (BTW Command & Conquer 4 is also like this, you have to play solo while connected to the internet)
Infact, these stuff will always backfire, the more you make playing games legally complicated, the more people will be willing to use other means to play these games, like pirating.
One thing I have always believed, is that instead of using these techniques, you just have to make people understand that pirating, like theft, is bad for the game industry.
As an example: many people use a hacked ds to play games (with pirated software), not because they're thieves, but because the hacked ds lets you copy many game images on a microSD, so you don't have to carry a bunch of cartridges around with you.
These people usually buy the original games and put them in a drawer, so they wouldn't be stealing.
this article might be intresting for you:
http://kotaku.com/5152992/pc-gaming-alliance-piracy-has-been-good-to-us
Interesting article if you are looking on the bright side :) the thing is they are not only punishing pirates but second hand market as well. People that buy used game, which is legal, means that they won't get the full content as well.
ReplyDeleteFor the pirates, well I know a lot of people want to play games but not willing to pay for it, not because they're poor, but simply they don't care. Yeah I think education to the people is important, but also need some more law enforcement from the government to be more efficient in combating pirates.