Thoughts On Why “XBOX 720” Used Game Block is a Bad Thing
It is sad that one of the main talking points around the rumored XBOX 720 is that it will block used games (maybe). I think it is bad to start the hype for your new hardware with such a contentious topic. I don’t typically buy used games, I like to support developers and make sure that they get paid for their work. I also don’t like GameStop and the practice of giving you $25 to trade in your new game and then turn around and sell that used game for $5 less than a new game.
Now, I’m not being all high and mighty here. I used to buy used games all of the time. I also used to buy new games and trade those in for credit toward more new games. This is one of those points that is an argument FOR trading in games. In a lot of ways it can be a way to keep the industry going in economic downturns. For instance, I can use myself as an example here, I would buy a new game, beat it, and then trade it in for credit towards another new game. That would be the best way to keep me buying new games. I didn’t have to shell out the full $49.99 for the next new game that I wanted. I would use partial credit, which means nothing to developers, they are still getting the full payment when that game is sold. Now, I understand that there is a group out there that only buys used games, and that is sad. That is a clear area where developers are losing money, and there is no upside. The thing is though, that those people probably wouldn’t buy anything if it wasn’t at the discounted used price. So they are not your target demographic anyway. Your target demographic are the people who are like I used to be. The hardcore gamers…with money.
Used game sales aside, the other area that this would hurt is the game loaner. There are a number of games that I have borrowed from friends, liked, and then gone out and bought a copy of for myself. Grand Theft Auto III is the one that stands out the most. My best friend had purchased the game and had told me how awesome it was. He came over one night and brought it with him so that I could check it out. I popped it into my PS3 and was hooked. When we went out to get pizza that night, I stopped at GameStop and bought a copy (new). The point is, loaning games can be beneficial to devs. There has only been one game that I have ever borrowed from someone, and played all the way through. That was Heavy Rain, and even though I beat it, I went out and bought a copy because I liked it so much. I realize that I may be the exception and not the rule in this regard, but I have to imagine that this happens outside of my small circle of friends.
So, while I believe in making sure that people who spend the time to make the games that I love get their money, I have to say that taking away the option to borrow games from a friend or trading in the crap game that I just bought pisses me off. This little post here by IGN has a little portion in it that talks about trading games feeling like a right because we have been doing it for 30 years. Which I also understand. The last thing is that I have a number of games in my library that were not very good, and that I just stopped playing. I will at some point go trade those in. There is no reason that I want them in my collection. I’m not going to give “Too Human” to my son and say “here son, play this. It’s a classic.” Super Mario Brothers, sure, but not a boring game.
This post has gone on much longer than I had intended, what it comes down to is this: If Microsoft implements that software that blocks used games, I won’t buy the console. I will pass on it until they get rid of the block or all together if they refuse. Which is too bad, because I love Gears of War. I hope MS doesn’t give me that ultimatum.
#gaming
