The bleak future of video games

[cyanfrost]

Ok, firstly let me say that I don't think the future is bleak. I only have that title to the thread because of the article which I read with that title here: http://maryvillepawprint.com/2012/04...f-video-games/

The gist of the article is that the new consoles will attempt to lock games to accounts and reduce 2nd hand sales. What I wanted to comment on was the following bit in the article:

2- No more discount games.

One of the ways kids, especially broke college kids, afford video games is to wait until a month or so after the game is released and then buy a used copy at a much discounted price. This provides the consumer with a cheaper copy of the game and provides companies such as game stop with an extra revenue stream. Take that revenue stream away and stores will have to mark up prices on new games even more in order to make any profit.

Firstly, this statemet didn't make sense because if they switch to a digital medium then we won't buy physical products from the stores anymore which means guys like BT Games and Gamestop need to change their business models. I'm sure they're already losing out on PC Game sales because of Steam and the like.

I find that all these negative views of the future of games is driven by fearmongers who want to hold onto the 2nd hand game market. If digital distribution is the future and Telkom gets its butt in gear then the future of gaming can look great indeed if you're able to download an play the latest games on the day of release for half the price!

[Drone]

Interesting read, I don't agree with with everything he says. Digital distribution is the future and most people are ready for it. But there is still so many games who don't have internet, so Microsoft and Sony are giving them the big F-you.

This means that if you lend out your game to your friend they will be unable to access most to all of its content. So for video game night you have to bring more than just your video game, you have to bring your whole system.

This is just dumb, you can just log into your PSN account on your friend's console...

[Squirly]

One of the main ways that Sony is planning on battling pirating is by tying each game to a specific code, which will be kept on your PlayStation alone.

It's console locked. Not user-account locked.

Also, this whole thing is getting so ridiculous I don't even have any words left. The extent they go to make things more difficult for the end-user is amazing. We must be the only industry where customer inconvenience is something actively sought out by the seller.

[Cleric]

Things change, the market adapts, new methods are found, new equilibrium prices are reached. This is not unique to gaming, it is the nature of growth.

Digital distribution and the cloud are the way of the future. Bandwidth is getting cheaper and faster everywhere around the world, and the convenience factor is going to far outweigh the cost of a connection. Remember, 90% of gaming revenues come from the first world countries, where pretty much everyone who is into gaming has a quality connection.

@Drone: to my understanding, a recent PSN patch scuppered the ability to give others access to your online games through using your account on their console to download it, ie he wont be able to play it from his own account anymore. I couldn't be wrong though.

[Drone]

^That's crap, didn't even know that... My PS has been sitting and collecting dust for 5 months now. :( Doesn't anyone here know where I can get it fixed without being charged R1000 for a power supply?

[McDangerous]

My biggest problem with having digital distribution on consoles is that it will limit the social aspect they possess at the moment. That's one of the major reasons I got an Xbox, because my buddies could bring along their games and we could have a good time playing some games without the hassle of lugging around your entire PC. If they set it up like Steam, where you can log into your account on another console and then play your game on someone else's system, then I'd say go for it. If that is the situation, I have no problem with digital distribution.

Even though the publishers should drop their game prices if digital distribution goes mainstream on consoles, I highly doubt that they will.

[cyanfrost]

See, you guys are doing the same thing. :)

I'm hoping for an environment where games are cheaper so that we pay 2nd hand game prices for new games! There was a time that the 2nd hand game market didn't exist and gamers had no problem buying PS2 games new. Sure we used to troll the Cash Crusaders and the like but we still bought most of our stuff new because they didn't cost an arm and a leg back then.

[McDangerous]

Very true! The bad part is that if you don't have R600 for a new AAA title and you wait until it's more affordable, which is unfortunately usually when the sequel has been released, then no-one's playing online anymore. You're basically forced to buy a game at the initial sale price if you want to play online, which is stupid.

[Squirly]

It's not just about the bandwidth issues that might screw us third-world gamers. It's things like tying the sale of a game to you and you alone and you still don't actually own it. If I buy a ****ty game I regret putting down money for the publisher will just go "har har thanks sucker". ANY OTHER INDUSTRY WOULD BE IN DEEP **** IF THEY TRIED THAT. I don't have to keep a book or a car if I think it's a piece of ****. I can sell it at a second hand dealer and recoup some of the losses, allowing me to get something else. Not here. This also means you have to buy new all the time, according to them. **** THAT.

And finally, the fact that they can deny you playing the game for arbitrary and sometimes completely ridiculous reasons. Again, falls into the 'you don't actually own what you paid for' category. Download-only, online authentication, always-online - it's bull**** that comes with extra baggage whose downsides out-weigh the supposed benefits that publishers get from this. Less piracy? How many console games these days are pirated? I thought it was the PC that was the big culprit. And it's the god-awful DRM that's causing so many people to pirate even more than before. Second-hand sales? Like already mentioned, it's an existing part of A LOT of industries, but because they think they've found a way to prevent it they're forcing it on the consumer.

[McDangerous]

I'd agree though that the second hand console game market actually reduces the chance of games being pirated. All of the pirates I know do so because they think that new game prices are ridiculous, and they're all PC players. I don't know one console gamer that has any pirated games, because if you don't have the money for it, buy it second hand.

[cyanfrost]

I like the current Android model where if you don't like the software you have 24 hours to apply for a refund of your purchase. While the games are generally smaller to download I do like the approach they've taken to help satisfy customers and make them more willing to try out games.

Maybe games publishers can let you download trials of games and then let you unlock the full play on the spot? I'm more likely to buy a game after trying it instead of reading a review or looking at a box in the store.

[cyanfrost]

Actually, what would be cool is if they offered a service where you pay X per month and you have access to any 10 games in their catalogue. When you're done with a game you swop it for another one in the catalogue. I do this with Safari Books online and I find it much cheaper than buying new computer books every few months.

I don't generally play my older games once I've finished them (even though I really want to) because there's normally some new games which are vying for my attention and awaiting completion. It's nice to have a wall of games boxes with cool cover art but space comes at a premium now too.

All I'm saying is if they change the model to a win-win situation then maybe things will be better!

[x-scon]

I like the current Android model where if you don't like the software you have 24 hours to apply for a refund of your purchase.

Off Topic: Actually it was changed months ago. You only have 15 minutes to get a refund.

You have 15 minutes from the time of download to return an application purchased on Google Play for a full refund. You may only return a given application once; if you subsequently purchase the same app again, you may not return it a second time.

[cyanfrost]

Ah. I haven't had to refund an app for a long time but I like the model anyway. They could experiment with the refund policy. I'm just saying there are untapped opportunities to moving digital. They could even sell "download vouchers" at retailers which allow you to buy the game with cash or a debit card if they really want to keep retailers in the loop and allow for non-credit card purchases.

[Skin]

I'd agree though that the second hand console game market actually reduces the chance of games being pirated. All of the pirates I know do so because they think that new game prices are ridiculous, and they're all PC players. I don't know one console gamer that has any pirated games, because if you don't have the money for it, buy it second hand.

Thank you. When I can’t afford a game I really want, I either wait for it to drop in price or see if I can find it at BT second hand. I’ll be extremely unimpressed if the second hand market fell away.

[hideinlight]

The entire point of a console is suppose be convenience and accessibility...

Anyways NEWLY released "Legends of Grimrock" on Steam for $15. What an awesome deal.

[Tmc]

seems I'll be stuck with this generations hardware.my Xbox doesn't even know what the internet is.