Poll: What are you really buying? An attempt to spark discussion about the games you buy and DRM

[incal11]

They are advertised as commodities, and should be treated as such. If so, then why are publishers so against the idea of USED GAMES? Using the (fast-becoming tired) car analogy: Once I bought and fully paid for my car, I can re-sell it so that it can benefit me rather than gather rust and stay useless. What makes games any different? Oh right! You actually bought licenses!

I don't know if you've read my first post. To make the tired car analogy more accurate, try to imagine that after selling the car you could keep the experience of "driving". To give up on the driving after selling the car is then more of a conscious choice, with the understanding that it "is not right" to keep driving after selling the "car" (the physical support of "driving", the only thing that can effectively be re-sold).

But why isn't it right ? Because then you wouldn't want another car ever again ? Of course not. The only reason you would automatically think it's wrong to "drive" without acting as if you are completely dependent on the "car" is if it was called something with a negative connotation. Like "piracy" for example.

Is there truth behind the negative connotation ? Many try to stay on the apparent moral high ground by moderating their own opinions with "however I do not condone piracy". Showing how easily we are manipulated by simple words. Consider this then:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/music/bittorrent-piracy-increases-sales-of-leaked-albums-study/

With things like steam the only thing you buy is the experience, The conditions that makes it "buying a license" are entirely artificial. A misguided attempt at manipulating a paying public into paying even more. If you do not recognize the "license" (the issue of the social contract being part of a larger topic) then you do not "buy", but you can always "reward".

Finally? I have no interest in getting into a debate when I am certain I do not hold a majority opinion. I have learnt that this website is not a place for such debates. It is a place to bleat the same song as the crowd, whatever crowd that may be in any given thread.

I have learned that if you look long enough and do not give up you can find some good people to argue with. As you can see my opinion is not the majority's either. If you want to develop your position I'd be happy to help.

 

[roushutsu]

For the most part, I see myself as buying a product, whether it's on a disc, through a digital distribution platform like Steam, or simply buying and downloading from a site like with Minecraft.

Where I tend to get a little divided is with MMOs, especially the free-to-play ones (which I tend to play a lot of from time to time). On one hand I can totally understand the license/service side of the argument when it comes to them, but even a lot of those games have a cash shop that you spend money on trinkets, inventory space, mounts, etc. that sometimes can affect gameplay depending on what you buy. Would that be enough to push it to the product side of the argument?

 

[Dastardly]

Topic partly sparked by the Facebook comments section of the latest (Diablo 3) episode of Jimquisition.

So, when it comes to games (this could apply to any SOFTWARE, but for the purpose of this discussion, let's stick to GAMES), what are you REALLY buying? This is key to the issue, because your rights as a consumer and the appropriate analogies that can be drawn will depend on what it is you actually bought.

The issue at hand is one of OWNERSHIP. That's the root of the "Entitlement Problem". If you buy spend your cash on a product that will be with you for an indefinite time until you give it away or resell it, I would sure as heck like it to slap a label on that thing that says "Property of Syntax Error".

I also hope this topic will bring out good arguments from both sides.

I buy a car. I physically own the car. I can do with the car what I want to do... except drive it however, wherever, whenever I want.

I have to separately get a license to legally operate that car. And, while using the car, I have to abide by the terms of that license and the rules of the licensing body (the State). If at any point I do not, I can be stripped of the license. Now, the DMV is not going to take the car (my property), but they can effectively prevent me from using it as a car.

EDIT: I should mention, this happens regardless of the cost of the car. Million dollar car? Still just decoration without a license. What's more, the license must be occasionally renewed, and I'm responsible (thanks to state inspection laws) for keeping it in good working order.

 

[incal11]

I buy a car. I physically own the car. I can do with the car what I want to do... except drive it however, wherever, whenever I want.

I have to separately get a license to legally operate that car. And, while using the car, I have to abide by the terms of that license and the rules of the licensing body (the State). If at any point I do not, I can be stripped of the license. Now, the DMV is not going to take the car (my property), but they can effectively prevent me from using it as a car.

The need for a driving license is a matter of public security, it's a little different than a license to use a cultural product in that no one will loose his life if you play your music a bit too loud, copy it on your computer, or lend your CD to your friend. You could argue that it may endanger the artists' livelihood, but again only if sharing culture was actually a bad thing for the artists. Which I could prove you is not the case

Otherwise, the question of the legitimacy of a cultural license aside, "driving without a license" is indeed a more accurate image than "stealing the car".

 

[goodman528]

I'm buying a license, with the ability to play multiplayer with the majority of the game community, and access to patches at the first opportunity, also buying time and convenience, because downloading from steam is faster than searching for it on a pirate site and downloading and installing that (especially in case of rips).

That's the real difference between buying a game and pirating it.