PS3 Won't Play Used Games ?

[Zeus]

Joystiq report the latest rumor, generated from several patent sites, claims that Sony has secured a patent for a disk technology that prevents the use of used, as well as pirated, software.


The latest rumor, generated from several patent sites, claims that Sony has secured a patent for a disk technology that prevents the use of used, as well as pirated, software. From the registered patent description:

”A device and method for protection of legitimate software against used software and counterfeit software in recording media… A specific title code is read, and if this title code has been registered, the main unit shifts to a normal operation. If the code has not been registered, verification software is initiated… If matching does not occur, the disk is processed as illegitimate software… Since only titles for which legitimate software has actually been purchased and which have been initially registered in the machine table can be used, resale (so-called used software purchase) after purchase by an end-user becomes practically impossible.”

Does Sony plan to employ this technology in the PlayStation 3? Not likely. If so, PS3 owners would not be able to rent (used) games or borrow their friends’ games—or even purchase used games! Sure, the technology could be used for Blu-Ray movies, but for games? It just won’t go down like that… right?



Original News Source: <a href="http://www.gamerandy.com/archives/2005/11/playstation_3_t.shtml" target="_blank">Gamerandy.com</a>

[waddpsw]

That is scary. I hope it is not true and is just another myth.

Fair enough they try and stop pirated games but it is not right that they are trying to stop "used" games.
If we cant rent a title and try it out then we are stuck with buying games that end up being crap. The video store chains would have to be some of Sony's biggest customers, surely they wont alienate them as well ?

It is a bit like the rootkit software SonyBGM have started using, great for them but not great for the consumer. They are taking our rights away. Soon we wont be able to sell our old games to get cash for new ones :(

Regards

Wad

[Social-Zero]

Sony isn't gonna shoot itself in the foot like this. They are stupid, not retarded

[bootyhuntah]

If Sony decides to employ that technology, one thing is clear, I need to go buy stock in Microsoft---cuz' their gonna be a whole lot richer with all their 360 sales. You know what I'm saying!? :eek:

[MANHUNT]

BULL SHIFT
There is NO way they would even get close to doing something like that, this would be stopping the sale of used games which would put a BIG dent in the gaming industry in general.

[kgonepostl]

I really don't see how this would be possible as a used game can only be detected by the media itself. meaning it would have to write back to the media......am I missing something here?

Example.....

friend A. tries out new final fantasy game on his/her system. the only thing that's standing between friend A. and B. is the game itself. Friend A. takes game over to friend B's house tries it out and don't work? I gotta be missing something here.

To me this is just another copy protection scheme......but obviousely this is way too far ahead in the game for even I to brave one and make a prediction.

This may be a serial key algorythm that's embeded into the system and verifies such as sony's online servers. HEHE great thing is though that this idea has been circumvented with the ps2 so as long as you crack the algorythm you may just be able to patch your game. Used games I don't know.

[Phonebone]

I really don't see how this would be possible as a used game can only be detected by the media itself. meaning it would have to write back to the media......am I missing something here?

Example.....

friend A. tries out new final fantasy game on his/her system. the only thing that's standing between friend A. and B. is the game itself. Friend A. takes game over to friend B's house tries it out and don't work? I gotta be missing something here.

To me this is just another copy protection scheme......but obviousely this is way too far ahead in the game for even I to brave one and make a prediction.

This may be a serial key algorythm that's embeded into the system and verifies such as sony's online servers. HEHE great thing is though that this idea has been circumvented with the ps2 so as long as you crack the algorythm you may just be able to patch your game. Used games I don't know.
I thought that was the basic idea behind the patent...
That it would actually write a type of key to the media, to link it to your hardware. So basically, no more renting games, trading in games or borrowing games from friends.

And since Sony consoles aren't exactly known for their durability, this probably means you would have to buy all of your games all over again if/when your PS3 breaks down.

They say it's to counteract piracy, but the only people Sony's really hurting with this, are honest consumers. It feels like a desperate move to rake in extra cash, from a company that's been severely in debt as of late.

IMO, things aren't looking so hot for Sony this generation. They're really alienating people with news like this (as well as the constant confirmation of a high price point for the PS3).

[animerocks]

Well I can see know this, You won't trade in your old games for cash or for newer games and also no more business to those Video Game Stores especially the famous online Video Game Rental Store Gamefly.com ..

NO PLZ SONY DON"T BE LIKE BILL GATES!!!! DON"T MONOPOLIZE!!!! :eek: :mad:

[bootyhuntah]

I think it would be a great idea if everyone gave their opinion on this issue in hopes that Sony might visit the forum and take notice.

[TheBoyEclectic]

I respect the right to protect intellectual property. However, time and time again, history shows that the tighter one squeezes a hand, the more sand slips away...

I have to admit that the idea of locking media to a particular piece of hardware would be a horrible business move on Sony's behalf. I don't know how many of you remember that Divx was an actual disc-based format that competed directly with DVD initially in the late 90s. A quick piece of history - when you bought a DiVX disc (for under $5 USD), it functioned as a rental and once you started playing the disc you had a couple of days to view it. At the end of that point, you couldn't play it again unless you paid an additional fee. You had the option to unlock the disc for unlimited playing, but it ONLY WORKED ON YOUR PLAYER. Sound familiar?

Though the Divx codec is still alive and kicking, the hardware-based business model barely lasted a year before it was folded. No one liked the fact that they couldn't take a movie to a friend's house without taking their player with them. I can't believe that Sony would have missed such a valuable lesson in this market and would try to repeat it. Whether it be for the games, the movies, or both.

Furthermore, eliminating the used gaming market for PS3 games by locking them into the original system would drastically affect initial sales. You see, like many gamers who are excited about a particular new title, I am not too worried about buying a game the day it comes out because if I don't like it, I know that I can trade it in at a used game store for a fairly decent amount of credit. The used game industry provides me with a minimal safety net if I am an early purchaser. However, without that safety net, I doubt that I'd buy a game until I had read all of the reviews and played a demo version of the title. It's not worth the risk.

I doubt that I am the only one with this belief and when tens of thousands of people hold back buying new releases, it will have a detrimental effect on industry sales. Unless Sony has planned for an alternate business model to deal with the more conservative purchase approach, they will lose their shirts.

Personally, I doubt that they're seriously considering this approach. I recognize that they might perceive that every used sale is one less new sale of a given title. Yet, I know many friends who buy games the week they come out with every intention of playing the heck out of them, enjoying them, but then selling them off or trading them back in a week or two. If there was no capability to do that, they wouldn't buy half the games that they do because they never intend to keep them in the first place.

Only time will tell. All I hope is that Sony doesn't shoot themselves in the foot. This type of decision would seriously hurt a company that is already suffering from a nasty profit slump.