Comments on: A shot of reality when it comes to the games industry http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/ Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:03:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Brad McGraw http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-200 Brad McGraw Sun, 30 May 2010 21:24:48 +0000 http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/#comment-200 Well my view is that anything that is available from the first purchase at retail/digital is core gameplay. If you then take that away after a second hand sale its wrong. If the video game industry gets away with it, what else is next? Cars? Maybe they 'log' a brand new car to a specific owner and when they sell it off the person who bought the car used then has to pay Ford a fee to activate the power windows, air conditioning, heating, and radio. All not vital to get the car from point a to point b, but still a function of the car. That would be easy to do considering the amount of computers in today's cars. Its the slippery slope that I am worried about. Well my view is that anything that is available from the first purchase at retail/digital is core gameplay. If you then take that away after a second hand sale its wrong. If the video game industry gets away with it, what else is next? Cars? Maybe they ‘log’ a brand new car to a specific owner and when they sell it off the person who bought the car used then has to pay Ford a fee to activate the power windows, air conditioning, heating, and radio. All not vital to get the car from point a to point b, but still a function of the car. That would be easy to do considering the amount of computers in today’s cars. Its the slippery slope that I am worried about.

]]> By: Cliff Riseborough http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-199 Cliff Riseborough Sun, 30 May 2010 21:01:22 +0000 http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/#comment-199 It's possible a lawsuit could come over this. The question is...are we the outliers for thinking of the multi player training camp section as a core mode of the game? If we are, the suit goes nowhere. Quite frankly, the chance of a suit going anywhere seem pretty remote to begin with. It’s possible a lawsuit could come over this. The question is…are we the outliers for thinking of the multi player training camp section as a core mode of the game? If we are, the suit goes nowhere. Quite frankly, the chance of a suit going anywhere seem pretty remote to begin with.

]]> By: midfingr http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-198 midfingr Sun, 30 May 2010 19:13:26 +0000 http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/#comment-198 It appears we agree on this premise with respect to DLC/used sales. Sure, paying for something that isn't in the original game is fine, as long as it has some value. In regards to game development, I think the industry has become too complacent with Microsoft's DirectX. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but there are alternatives, such as OpenGL, unlimited detail and so on. This is the first time since owning a computer that I think upgrading is a waste of money. There is nothing that has come out in the past 3-4 years game wise it cannot run. In fact, even my 2004 machine can run a good portion of what's available today. I now also 'get' the Windows XP syndrome. Millions of users are quite content to play their Sims and Sid Meier games, along with the flood of online flash games. There's very little need or incentive to upgrade a PC, both hardware and software wise. It appears we agree on this premise with respect to DLC/used sales. Sure, paying for something that isn’t in the original game is fine, as long as it has some value.

In regards to game development, I think the industry has become too complacent with Microsoft’s DirectX. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but there are alternatives, such as OpenGL, unlimited detail and so on.

This is the first time since owning a computer that I think upgrading is a waste of money. There is nothing that has come out in the past 3-4 years game wise it cannot run. In fact, even my 2004 machine can run a good portion of what’s available today.

I now also ‘get’ the Windows XP syndrome. Millions of users are quite content to play their Sims and Sid Meier games, along with the flood of online flash games. There’s very little need or incentive to upgrade a PC, both hardware and software wise.

]]> By: Brad McGraw http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Brad McGraw Sun, 30 May 2010 07:57:24 +0000 http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/#comment-196 That's where I see this as double dipping. They are taking away a core function of the game, and giving it to you only after you pay for it. I will not be surprised if someone tests this in court in the next year. As for DLC, I don't have a problem with buying a used game, then having to pay for the DLC as well. That isn't in what was originally bought at the store itself. That’s where I see this as double dipping. They are taking away a core function of the game, and giving it to you only after you pay for it. I will not be surprised if someone tests this in court in the next year.

As for DLC, I don’t have a problem with buying a used game, then having to pay for the DLC as well. That isn’t in what was originally bought at the store itself.

]]> By: Cliff Riseborough http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-195 Cliff Riseborough Sat, 29 May 2010 22:16:58 +0000 http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/#comment-195 I hope not. Like I said, I'd like to see extra buy in content limited to things that most people would define as 'extra', not core features that are being used to promote and sell the game in he first place. I hope not. Like I said, I’d like to see extra buy in content limited to things that most people would define as ‘extra’, not core features that are being used to promote and sell the game in he first place.

]]> By: midfingr http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-194 midfingr Sat, 29 May 2010 20:59:53 +0000 http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/#comment-194 Yes, in terms of Xbox live, that example was a moot point. However, I'm asking, is that still going to be the case in the future now that the concept has been realized? Yes, in terms of Xbox live, that example was a moot point. However, I’m asking, is that still going to be the case in the future now that the concept has been realized?

]]> By: Cliff Riseborough http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-192 Cliff Riseborough Sat, 29 May 2010 20:18:53 +0000 http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/#comment-192 Well, I've already said that I don't like core aspects of a game, such as the online capability, being something a used buyer has to pay for down the line. However, what I'm fine with are certain DLC packages (as was done with Dragon Age, for example) costing extra. The used player doesn't need that content to complete the game and enjoy the experience. I see that more as giving incentive and reward for a new purchase than punishing a used buyer, and I don't have a problem with that. As for your first example, that's a moot point...original Xbox games no longer have Xbox Live access on either the original console or the 360. Well, I’ve already said that I don’t like core aspects of a game, such as the online capability, being something a used buyer has to pay for down the line. However, what I’m fine with are certain DLC packages (as was done with Dragon Age, for example) costing extra. The used player doesn’t need that content to complete the game and enjoy the experience. I see that more as giving incentive and reward for a new purchase than punishing a used buyer, and I don’t have a problem with that.

As for your first example, that’s a moot point…original Xbox games no longer have Xbox Live access on either the original console or the 360.

]]> By: midfingr http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-191 midfingr Sat, 29 May 2010 20:02:36 +0000 http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/#comment-191 In some respects, okay, it a reasonable offering. However, in the longterm, how is this going to stand up? For example, you purchase a used XBox (original) game, say, Doom3, would you lay down $10 bucks to play online? Remember too, it's backward compatible on the 360 and then there's the additional cost of the online service, courtesy of Microsoft. In the consumer's mind, the yearly online subscription cost is sufficient. Fast forward to 2018, you purchase Battlefield: Bad Company 2, used. The cost of games has risen, along with the subscription and now it's $20 extra to play online. We've seen this with DRM, where publishers refuse to remove the protection 5-10 yrs after the fact. Who's to say this will not be any different? Would it be unreasonable to say that fear of the unknown (the future) is a concern for both the consumer and publisher? In some respects, okay, it a reasonable offering. However, in the longterm, how is this going to stand up? For example, you purchase a used XBox (original) game, say, Doom3, would you lay down $10 bucks to play online? Remember too, it’s backward compatible on the 360 and then there’s the additional cost of the online service, courtesy of Microsoft.

In the consumer’s mind, the yearly online subscription cost is sufficient. Fast forward to 2018, you purchase Battlefield: Bad Company 2, used. The cost of games has risen, along with the subscription and now it’s $20 extra to play online. We’ve seen this with DRM, where publishers refuse to remove the protection 5-10 yrs after the fact. Who’s to say this will not be any different?

Would it be unreasonable to say that fear of the unknown (the future) is a concern for both the consumer and publisher?

]]> By: Brad McGraw http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Brad McGraw Mon, 24 May 2010 03:30:42 +0000 http://www.thedrmnews.com/just-my-opinion/a-shot-of-reality-when-it-comes-to-the-games-industry/#comment-178 You disagree with me? Blasphemy! But you do make good points, even if I don't agree completely with them. The problem is that the gaming industry has become less of a black and white issue and more and more grey. Its easy to see why there are four or more opinions on one issue. You are right though, that the problem is at both the consumer end and in the industry. You disagree with me? Blasphemy!

But you do make good points, even if I don’t agree completely with them. The problem is that the gaming industry has become less of a black and white issue and more and more grey. Its easy to see why there are four or more opinions on one issue.

You are right though, that the problem is at both the consumer end and in the industry.

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