Considering the Xbox 360 sold ~75million units and they have roughly half of that number in XBL subscribers, I don't think they care much about people without internet. Best case scenario, everyone who bought a 360 also bought a Slim Model and they are all connected. Worst case, only half of those that bought a 360 are connected to XBL. Either way, the chances are people without internet actually spending $500 on a console are probably pretty slim.
The only real concern I see is for people outside of the US with low data caps because we don't know exactly how much data the Xbox One uses.
There is a simple technical solution to this.
First, I like the idea of always installing and not needing the disc.
If each disc is physically different, but only insofar as a unique ID is concerned, then when you install it that ID gets associated with your Xbox account. Now, if you want to sell it or trade it, you have to deactivate (over the internet). Now, next person who installs it has no issue because youve just detached yours. Alternatively, dont even deactivateif another system gets it installed with that physical disc and unique ID it automatically deactivates any other system associated with it. At the most youre then playing it for 24 hours (assuming internet is needed every 24 hours).
When we install a lot of software we already have to put in a code, and Ive had to with some xbox games for extra content, so its hardly a big step to take. There would be some small (?) extra cost burning discs that are slightly unique (but only that part of the disc that is holding ID information).Heck, that's even better, no need to type in crap, obviously it reads from the disc.
I need someone to educate me as to why this is so convoluted and difficult.
Someone getting a used game doesn't get an unused CD key so they can't register the game with MS and tie it to their XBL account... so in order to play the game they need to register a new CD key to their XBL account.
- Every game bought has a CD key stuffed in the package
- Every game needs to register online with MS
- Every game is tied to an Xbox Live account
It's like PC gaming through any of the online activation DRM services. I'm not even sure why we got on the tangent of unique keys tied to each disk. It's not necessary if MS makes XBL accounts required to play any game.
Granted this thread moves fast and maybe I missed something but it seems pretty close to PC gaming and pretty simple to enact. Console gamers have never seen this kind of DRM before but it's not exactly new.
Yes it is unbelievable that they would do a subscription model for the Xbox One that is absolutely required. You give it a 50/50 chance? Really? I give it a 0% chance.
I need someone to educate me as to why this is so convoluted and difficult.
Someone getting a used game doesn't get an unused CD key so they can't register the game with MS and tie it to their XBL account... so in order to play the game they need to register a new CD key to their XBL account.
- Every game bought has a CD key stuffed in the package
- Every game needs to register online with MS
- Every game is tied to an Xbox Live account
It's like PC gaming through any of the online activation DRM services. I'm not even sure why we got on the tangent of unique keys tied to each disk. It's not necessary if MS makes XBL accounts required to play any game.
Granted this thread moves fast and maybe I missed something but it seems pretty close to PC gaming and pretty simple to enact. Console gamers have never seen this kind of DRM before but it's not exactly new.
The convoluted part is their "beating around the bush"-ness regarding selling the used games. If it was entirely impossible, then yes it would be exactly like PC gaming with online activation.
Except, they have stated they allow you to play USED GAMES without a fee. So, it is not like PC gaming where you can't transfer licenses, because if these games have licenses, being able to buy a used one means it has to be deactivated / reactivated through some measure, which an enterable code would be so outlandish nobody would do it.
I thought it was fairly obvious as soon as MS went down the XBL account tie ins as to what they wanted to do.
Now, they might do something like a $10 transfer fee from one XBL account to another to facilitate a used game market. I'm actually surprised STEAM hasn't done this to make a lot of money... :biggrin:
I need someone to educate me as to why this is so convoluted and difficult.
Someone getting a used game doesn't get an unused CD key so they can't register the game with MS and tie it to their XBL account... so in order to play the game they need to register a new CD key to their XBL account.
- Every game bought has a CD key stuffed in the package
- Every game needs to register online with MS
- Every game is tied to an Xbox Live account
It's like PC gaming through any of the online activation DRM services. I'm not even sure why we got on the tangent of unique keys tied to each disk. It's not necessary if MS makes XBL accounts required to play any game.
Granted this thread moves fast and maybe I missed something but it seems pretty close to PC gaming and pretty simple to enact. Console gamers have never seen this kind of DRM before but it's not exactly new.
Okay, more information about used games is coming out. I stole this link from DaveSimmons in another thread and it is pretty informative about what we know so far AND contains some good speculation.
http://penny-arcade.com/report/arti...ontrol-of-the-second-hand-market-could-be-the
OK, if they pull that off, and prices either drop or its easier for publishers to have Steam like sales, I am ALL in. Regardless of mandatory Kinect and unusable live TV features and all that crap.
Digital distribution is here, and if I'm not having to pay $60 to digitally get a 2 year old game like now, this'll change consoles for the better!
While, I agree, the problem arises as who will host this content? Is MS going to run their servers to host a copy of every game released on the Xbox One, similar to how Steam does? This introduces a few more unknowns that hopefully get cleared up at E3.
Okay, more information about used games is coming out. I stole this link from DaveSimmons in another thread and it is pretty informative about what we know so far AND contains some good speculation.
http://penny-arcade.com/report/arti...ontrol-of-the-second-hand-market-could-be-the
OK, if they pull that off, and prices either drop or its easier for publishers to have Steam like sales, I am ALL in. Regardless of mandatory Kinect and unusable live TV features and all that crap.
Digital distribution is here, and if I'm not having to pay $60 to digitally get a 2 year old game like now, this'll change consoles for the better!
Do you even have to pay $60 for a 2 year old game now?
Don't know of any game that is 2 years old (unless they are extremely rare) that would sell for full price.
If Microsoft announced that games were going to be $45 or $40 new because of this system I could be all for it but without any new pricing model in place than this only hurts the consumer until a different pricing model is established.
How exactly does keeping the current pricing hurt consumers more than it already does? The used game market has been a plague on publishers for awhile. They see what PC software has done and how that market adapted to licenses rather than owning software. They even made special models for things like business (floating licenses and such).
Consumers there are really hurting with all those Steam sales. How on Earth are they making the rent each month not being able to sell that $3 game they bought on Steam to someone.
How exactly does keeping the current pricing hurt consumers more than it already does? The used game market has been a plague on publishers for awhile. They see what PC software has done and how that market adapted to licenses rather than owning software. They even made special models for things like business (floating licenses and such).
Consumers there are really hurting with all those Steam sales. How on Earth are they making the rent each month not being able to sell that $3 game they bought on Steam to someone.
Because you cannot buy used games or sell your old game.
Current pricing model I can buy a game for $60 if I want it new and resell it for $45-50 on craiglist after beating it in a week or two. I can also buy it on craigslist for $50 a week after it comes out and resell it for virtually the same price a week later. This also destroys the market for highly collectible games. There are some PSX and PS2 games that are worth a bunch even used.
New pricing model I pay $60 and trade it in to MSFT for whatever they deem it to be worth. Everyone that is going to buy it is going to pay $60 for a long time until they want to lower the price. Used games that are 10 years old are worthless.
Any of you catch the new about your xbox having a subscription and not your account? I guess that's why they dropped the family pack.
Collectible market? Let's be realistic here. There are maybe 10 games in the history of gaming worth anything NEW, let alone used.
The used game market might be hurt by this, but it hasn't hurt the PC industry at all. Games go on sale within weeks of being released on Steam. You don't have to pay $10 less a week after launch for a used copy, because 3 weeks after launch it is on sale for 50% off.
New pricing model isn't based on what MS thinks the game is worth. They are not the sellers, the publishers are. If EA thinks Madden is worth $60 until the next one comes out, well there is not much you can do about that, even in today's market. Most used games sale happen from Gamestop. You buy a game, beat it in a week, and they give you maybe $35 for it and resell it for $55, unless it is a horrible game then they give you $5 for it and resell it for $25. The market is already getting screwed over. How do you know MS won't be offering you 80% of retail for your licenses, no matter the quality of the game? We don't.