X1 pre owned game strategy revealed! (now can we stop with the hate threads and get excited for e3?)

[shirkbot]

I'm actually in favor of developers getting a cut of used game sales, but this is the wrong way to go about it, and Microsoft itself has no right to any of that money whatsoever. It's their platform, awesome, but I don't see ASUS taking a cut of every game I buy on Steam just because I use a laptop they built. Not to mention the way this will distort prices. Just reading a recent Escapist article on the same, apparently retailers will be required to sell at 10% under the original RRP, rather than the up to 50% people are used to.

Unrelated: Because of the requirement for using Azure, if I want to give a game I own to a friend (Not common, but I've been known to do it when they like it much more than I do.) will I have to go to an Azure authorized retailer, sell them the game and then have them resell it to my friend, just so they can use it without my account?

 

[Something Amyss]

I don't know that people are creating their own version of the truth.

People are cherry-picking whichever rumours suit their narrative and bitching about them as though fact. That is creating your own version of the truth.

 

[Timmey]

I don't know that people are creating their own version of the truth.

People are cherry-picking whichever rumours suit their narrative and bitching about them as though fact. That is creating your own version of the truth.

Not sure what you, or Microsoft for that matter, were expecting. If you only allow rumors and tid bits of information out into the world, that what people are going to discuss, and form an argument out of. If they don't want people trying to work these things out for themselves, then they should answer the questions with facts. Rumors are all we have to go on, so that's what people will go on.

 

[rob_simple]

I'm not sure why OP expected this to quash the rumour mill when an update in the linked article has already been dismissed by Microsoft as just another rumour; either because they're keeping their cards to their chest or, as I rather suspect, they have no clue what they are doing.

If there is any truth to the retailers being forced to pay a slice to Microsoft, then that absolutely means they are going to put the price of their used games up to recoup their (undeserved) profits, which in turn gives publishers an excuse to push up the (often equally unjjustifiable) RRP of their first-hand copies.

Well, you spacemen that are still onboard can enjoy the future; I'll be riding my PS3 train to the bitter end.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Well that seems to be one concern laid to rest. Now lets redouble our efforts on hating the Always On.

 

[Tom_green_day]

I feel that the XO reveal and E3 are different things, and even if XO looks terrible I can still get excited for E3 because of the new games that will be shown. I look forward to see what Microsoft will have for XO, and I look forward to see what Sony have in store for PS4. I also look forward to see what Nintendo can do to please this Wii U rush.

 

[Something Amyss]

Not sure what you, or Microsoft for that matter, were expecting.

I'm expecting EXACTLY this. I was simply addressing Gorath's statement that people weren't creating their own narrative.

Honestly, I don't know why I have to have some sort of investment in this to correct a statement. You don't need to be a meteorologist to say it's raining.

 

[Genocidicles]

It still requires a connection to Microsoft's servers every day or so, and there is plenty of reasons to ***** about that. Some people have shoddy internet. Some people have no internet at all. my main problem with a console reliant on a connection to Microsoft is that one day Microsoft is going to switch off these servers so they can focus on the xbox two or whatever the next console will be called.

Without those servers for the xbone to connect to it will stop working and will be a worthless piece of junk unable to play singleplayer games, multiplayer games or even watch tv. Seeing as how Microsoft isn't bothering with backwards compatibility any more, any xbone games games will be worthless as there wont be a console to play them on.

If you think they'll never turn the servers then think again. They turned off the xbox live servers for the original xbox back in 2010, and they'll turn off the 360's XBL servers too when they're 100% focused on the xbone. The main difference being that it'll still be possible to play singleplayer or local multiplayer on both of them.

I can still pull out my PS1 and play all my old games for it, 15 years after I bought it. That won't be the case with the xbone, and because of that I can't even begin to get excited for it.

 

[ItouKaiji]

Doing things this way just makes trade-ins worth even less. Someone is going to have to pay the cut to Microsoft and I doubt Gamestop is going to eat the cost. As it is you don't really get all that much value on your trade ins and now if you buy a game and don't like it or whatever you'll get even less value. Plus, it lets Gamestop corner the market on used games because it won't be possible to buy through Ebay or from friends so still kind of sucks.

 

[GonzoGamer]

The PS4 is also going to attack used games too, by the way. They famously dodged the 'can we run used games' question around the time of their reveal in a penny arcade report interview. You don't dodge a question like that if you've nothing to hide.

Jack Tretton, CEO of SCEA:
"That is the dumbest rumor I've ever heard."
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/117253-Pachter-Sonys-Jack-Tretton-Totally-Opposed-to-Blocking-Used-Games

Sony doesn't need to lock out used games because they have digital distribution on lockdown and have a free trail system in place. They have said several times that the PS4 will not lock out used games and find the rumor insulting.

To be fair MS isn't exactly locking it out either, they're making it a big pain in the ass for the consumer & retailer. As I recall, Sony was very careful about discussing used games on the ps4 and while they assured us that we could play used games on the ps4, they didn't say much more than that. I'm thinking that they are/were considering a similar system but are rethinking it now.

As for the OP: that article doesn't chill any of my fears on the subject. Maybe because the article keeps getting updated and it seems they don't really know whats going on either.

 

[Silenttalker22]

With the 360, you had to put in a 16 digit code and wait about 10 minutes for them to release the hostages.

I lol'd. Good show sir. Also created this annoying crap scenario:
If you saved a game of Mass Effect on one 360, that involved DLC, replaced the 360 inevitably, and the the EA server was down or your internet was out, you couldn't load that save, cuz they couldn't verify you owned the content belonged to your box.

I couldn't play a saved game of ME1 that wasn't even currently in the asteroid DLC content cuz of that.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

I think Microsoft can make this bizarre system work. The most logical thing to do is require the system to connect to Internet only if you want to play without the disk. If you have been without an Internet connection for 24 hours, then you have to play with the game in the disk tray. It shouldn't be much simpler than that. Of course, Microsoft's whole treatment of their new console has been anything but logical. The only reason to require installs in the first place would be to have more control over their customers

 

[Dryk]

So the party that has the least valid claim to a cut of used sales is the one that's getting the cut? Not the developers? Not the publishers? Microsoft... great...

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

So there will be no fee for the user for buying a used game, but they are going to push preowned prices up through limiting retailer profits.

I scarcely need to say how stupid an idea that is.

And as for them checking in on you every day to see that you haven't replaced your legitimate game with a pirated one, fuck knows why that's necessary.

So the party that has the least valid claim to a cut of used sales is the one that's getting the cut? Not the developers? Not the publishers? Microsoft... great...

Publishers get a cut as well. I don't know how much, nor with Microsoft, although I can see how Microsoft may try to pass their share off as use of their infrastructure.

EDIT: Sony have responded indignantly to rumours of a stance against used games, and the most they've said is that it's up to the publisher. What I assume from this is that it will be at most as bad as it is now, which is online passes.

 

[ellieallegro]

Meh. Don't care about the used games thing, one way or the other. Haven't set foot in a gamestop for many years. The always on thing gets me though. Two words: Hotels and unreliable internet (that you might have to pay for). The whole point of a console for me is the portability of it. You can pack it up and play it on the road with just a tv hookup. What if you live where you don't have great internet and could give two f's about sports, sports, tv, sports, tv, trending, kinect, sports!

I have no hate for people who still want to game on consoles but it seems the next generation of them are not for people like me. One less thing for me to spend money on, I guess.

 

[runic knight]

Every reveal or attempt to undermine the rumor mill makes things that much worse. Hell, I expect them to reveal a goat need be sacrificed every month on your controller or the great lord satan will no longer allow you the privilege of using the game you bought.
I'll be over here, on my pc, rubbing my hands in glee as this slow motion trainwreck kills the games division of microsoft. Hopefully with a big enough bomb, not only will the games industry wise up some, but microsoft itself might learn to stop trying to be every thing it is not just because that is making more money right now. The kinect gimmick in chasing the wii, now this attempt to make a game console be everything under the sun, chasing apple and netflix and everything else. I never really like the xbox, but this actually makes me wish it dies a slow, horrible, financial crisis causing meltdown for microsoft. This behavior doesn't need to be punished by lack of success, it needs utter failure. Virtual boy levels of failure.

Steam gets away with DRM and lack of selling used games because of convenience and cost effectiveness. You aren't getting a solid product, you are getting a digital version for pennies on the dollar many times. And I even hear there may be ways to resell games forthcoming anyways (though supply and demand would probably mean it would be barely worth the time for anything but current games). Also, I can play offline if need be. Plus, and here is probably the most important part, it isn't a console. It isn't suppose to be a self contained gaming machine, it is a service that lets you play games and offers infrastructure to stay connected. Why the hell would anyone want to buy a $500+ box that does an even more draconian version of what you can already get on the pc? And have to pay a monthly fee for the privilege to do so? I just don't gt why any customers would look at this and think it a good idea, and if a business can't at least look at things from a customer perspective, they deserve to fail.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

First they say you won't have to pay to install used games, then they say that you totally do. Apparently we aren't worth the effort of a proper explanation.

I expect nothing but garbage from Microsoft at E3. I argued against the rumors of their next console locking out used games, not being backwards compatible, and always needing an internet connection. I was sure Microsoft wasn't that stupid, but apparently they are exactly that stupid.

Microsoft needs to get it's head out from the ground and stop giving such unclear statements. Give us the truth about what we want, it may be hated but it still is better than all of the confusing that will drive people away more than the straight truth.

 

[SecondPrize]

"According to retail sources speaking with MCV, retailers will be able to charge whatever they want for secondhand Xbox One games, but Microsoft and publishers will receive a cut of every transaction."

So ya now what companies are going to want to go through the trouble of used game sales if they are going to try to get in on it and what kind of cut is it going to be to lend your game to someone? this isn't like good news, just bad incomplete news.

I have seen this sentiment a lot.

But there is one thing people dont consider.

If you are lending a game to a friend, why not just log onto your profile on your friends console, so that the game, which is locked to your profile, will be able to be played there?

Because when I buy a copyrighted product, my relationship with a seller begins and ends with our transaction. As long as I don't violate their copyright, I have the right to give it away, lend it to a friend or sell it to whomever I feel like, whether the purchaser is a large company who is part of this Azure thing or the kid down the street.
In discussions of this topic online, many have been painting Gamestop as the bad guy. All Gamestop does is facilitate OUR rights to dispose of our legitimately purchased copyrighted material as we see fit.

 

[Batou667]

So what does this mean for selling your used games on ebay or craigslist? Or giving it away to a friend or family member?

This whole situation is pretty damn ugly.