Okay, maybe I was being too hard on the Xbox One yesterday. Let’s start fresh with an examination of Microsoft’s plans to let gamers lend and borrow the videogames that they’ve purchased.
Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends. There are no fees charged as part of these transfers. There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once. (Via.)
Well, that’s two more restrictions than games have had until now, and two more restrictions clearly made to make game publishers’ lives better, not consumers’. But hey, at least Microsoft is letting gamers buy used games from and sell used games to whoever they want letting publishers consider if they want to allow gamers to buy and sell their used games at participating retailers.
Today, some gamers choose to sell their old disc-based games back for cash and credit. We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games. (Via.)
Aw, no fee? How considerate! And I’m sure publishers will be lining up to support this, considering how they start hissing and clawing whenever anyone says “used games.”
Sony, meanwhile, unveiled their PlayStation 4 last night—and not only were they somehow able to avoid making any rape jokes during their presentation, they also announced the PS4 will cost $100 less than the Xbox One and not have any pain-in-the-ass, anti-consumer restrictions on used games. Here’s how Sony explained their policy on used games, which is a little bit less complicated than Microsoft’s.
I shouldn’t love that ad so much, considering it’s basically just saying, “Hey, look, we have some common fucking sense.” But man, I do love it so much. I guess this week, pointing out that you have some common fucking sense is a bold statement.
Ha! Brilliant!
The kinetic device has the ability to monitor you and transmit that data back to Microsoft at all times. It never shuts off. See Government, you’re not the only one’s who get to harness the power of the panopticon.
I know how most consumers feel about their “right” to sell used games, but from an IP creator or publisher’s perspective it is pretty unfair. When you buy a game you don’t own the game, you just bought a license to play it. (I don’t own that Mrs. Pac-Man cabinet because I put a quarter in it.) And yes, you should be able to transfer/sell that license, but the original creators of the works should benefit in some part from that.
Of course, this same argument totally applies to books/movies/music, which I feel differently about, which makes me a hypocrite. I don’t know, I’m just saying I understand the logic behind Microsoft’s direction on that particular issue.
My first instinct was C&B’s; fuck these entitled “I should have everything I want forever” gamers.
Not that anyone gives a fuck, but here’s how (after four seconds of thought) I would revamp everything digital entertainment (or, where everything seems to me to be headed might be a better description):
Everything is run on subscription fees tied to a credit card or bank account. The pricing structure would reward people for a) choosing to buy something early and b) committing to own it forever. If you didn’t commit to owning something forever, you are continuously charged each month you own the product. After some period of time, the monthly cost would tail off to something very close to nothing, e.g. a song would be a penny a month at some point, or an album 5 cents, or a movie a dime, game $1, or whatever. There is no legal secondary market. The hope would be that the long payment tails (and the easy tracking) would be able to keep prices across the board quite low.
You have a single app that tracks all of the digital content you’re renting/bought and ending (or choosing to skip some period of) a subscription is as simple as checking a box.
My guess is not too far in the future, this will all be from your phone and TV. Movies can be flipped from the phone to TVs, and music from phones to speakers. Games would bluetooth to TVs the same way. I will be allowed to marry the dolphin of my choice.
Colin: I think you’re right. And I think that’s the way Microsoft is both reacting to the market and attempting to shape it. Their Smartglass app is really forward thinking in that regard.
People tend to get easily up in arms regarding video game consoles and taking sides, but I’m just saying some of this stuff makes sense when you step back a bit.