Playstation Next-Gen -> Anti-used-game technology?

[Ed Oscuro]

Angry Birds is a fine game, actually, and I didn't notice any randomness when I played it in Chrome a while back. If "randomness" is your sole objection against the game, in any case, you're being way too simplistic in how you judge it.

Plants vs. Zombies isn't bad either.

When I look at some classics in MAME like Who Dunit, or all the shit that passed for shareware in the 80s / 90s, it's hard to see how the new stuff is "soulless" while the old stuff is not. All I am seeing is a shift to new ideas (not all good, of course) about what constitutes a good game design for handhelds, and improving production values even for small efforts (like Skykid's friend's game); even that isn't rubbing out the idiosyncratic feel or look of many small efforts.

If we want to talk about "soulless" games, I'm sure that there is a pile of Renegade or Bad Dudes clones on the NES and even the ZX Spectrum waiting for us. Hell, Street Fighter 2 clones are arguably worse (from Way of the Warrior to some of the stuff Kaneko put out).

And for the record there are only a couple lightgun shooters in MAME I've met that I didn't like. I even like Who Dunit. It's all about having fun and not giving a damn, though of course I prefer good games to the bad.

[BrianC]

Angry Birds has random physics, for crying out loud. It's that way so terrible players can eventually succeed by retrying enough times.

I thought unpredictable physics were the point of physics based puzzle games. I thought it was that way so you couldn't win by doing the same move every time.

I know it's not what you are referring too, but I was thinking of this Who Dunnit. Very fun pinball.

[Wenchang]

If this actually happens I don't know that I will bother with next gen outside of pc games and handhelds.

Didnt arcades (in the US anyway) have their own crash around that time?

A bit before, but yes. It had an impact on the more famous console game crash which people gloss over for whatever reason.

[Marc]

Personally, I would be fine with locked-out games if the entire pricing structure was reworked. That's never going to happen of course, so next gen may be the first in a while I sit out, and I doubt there will be another by the time that's over.

[Friendly]

If you are fine with an anti-used system (online activation, console locking), then that means you are fine with being deprived of your rights. Because then you will be purchasing games, but not own them.

Of course this won't bring prices down, either: People will have less money to spend, which means fewer games will be sold. And since there will be no competing used-market, there is little reason to lower prices (unless a game is getting old and a sequel is released).
Just look at current digital game distribution: Since there is only one fully controlled distribution channel (=no competition), there is no reason to sell cheaply and lower prices. Yes, of course they could be selling full retail console games online via digital distribution for 5 USD a pop right now, but why should they? There is no direct competition. Yes, there is competition between Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo, but that market situation is a oligopoly, which means neither of them has any incentive to lower prices.

Now imagine the used market going away as well: Even less competition. To think that removing used games will lower prices is deluded; the opposite will happen.

[Kaiser]

I for one am looking forward to the new video game crash, why? Look, the industry's going to shit, so it might as well go to shit fast so we can less put up with this. Why I hate the industry and want it to die:

1) It tries to be too much like Hollywood, that includes finding ways to bang over the customers. Including content already on disc for money.
2) They want to take away our basic consumer rights.
3) They leave no place for competition, for smaller companies leaving them on the bankruptcy edge all the time.
4) They have been pardon the language, fucking ruining many of our favorite franchises just to sell them more and alienating everyone at the same time.
5) The publishers are worst thing to happen to gaming of all time, seriously you don't even realise how much they restrict the developers. Forcing developers to make shitty games for fast buck, this is the problem 90% of time, not the developer itself.

Hope you enjoyed my little rant but it's the brutal and honest truth. If you disagree with all of this, this means you are ruining the industry too dear modern gamer.

[burgerkingdiamond]

how did Capcom save shmups? I don't get it.

[Eaglet]

Kaiser:
I agree. The industry needs to die if we ever want to be able to enjoy products based on creativity and initiative instead of the spoon-feeding interactive B-movies that passes for games these days.
I think we should be able to go back to the days when publishers didn't dictate the market and dev teams didn't consist of 200+ people.
Kickstarter projects and indie releases seem like the least evil of all available options.

[Marc]

how did Capcom save shmups? I don't get it.

I was wandering the same. About the only thing they did here was to release GunBird 2 and Giga Wing on the DC when official 2D releases were pretty much dead. Given the panning they got from stupid magazines, I don't think it made any difference either.

[BIL]

how did Capcom save shmups? I don't get it.

I'm guessing he was referring to the various collaborations with Cave, Psikyo, Takumi and Raizing/8ing around the CPS2/Dreamcast years.

But now we'll never know. Apparently. :[

[Udderdude]

Don't worry everyone, I'm going to SAVE GAMING with my super hardcore games designed specifically with interesting gameplay in mind .. >_>

Really though, maybe another videogame crash is for the best. The indie/casual market is so bloated that it's not out of the question. What if everyone playing cellphone/facebook games decides 99c timewasters and barely-disguised online casinos aren't cutting it anymore? And then they try to move on to console games, only to find it's so locked down that everyone is running from there, too .. lol game industry.

[BIL]

I just wish all my favourite Japanese game series weren't being outsourced to third-rate fucktards.

Anyway, I own more than enough games to enjoy for the rest of my life. The entire industry can die screaming in a Greyhound whose elderly driver has expired peacefully at the wheel sending it careening through a safety rail and into the Grand Canyon where it rolls a few times before exploding in a blinding hail of debris for all I care.

[Friendly]

While Nintendo is no stranger to milking its customers, surprisingly they haven't resorted to any of the DLC / always online DRM / online pass bullshit yet...
If the anti-used rumors of Xbox 3 and PS4 are true, then Wii U (despite its anti-consumer region-locking) suddenly begins to look like a very viable next gen alternative for people who refuse to be shat on...

[Casper<3]

I think I'm pretty much done after this generation is over. I'm not buying a Orbis or Durrango.

[Jeneki]

Another big concern for me is if they try to enforce a "must be online" system to even play games. I travel with my consoles, bring them to events, etc, so that would make them about as useful as a doorstop to me. Not all businesses have wireless, and some hotels charge crazy prices for internet access (I know a few locally that are around $100 a day).

[neorichieb1971]

If the software side of the game industry disappeared tomorrow I wouldn't really notice.



I don't mind if anti used game technology comes out as long as its only for system seller games. In the end the only people who will get screwed are the paying customers. Its likely that within 18 months to 36 months whatever the protection is will be cracked,

It basically puts the customer in the frame of mind of "If I can live without it I will". Which can't be good for anyone really.

[Marc]

I don't think there will ever be another crash as huge as the 80's, gaming is simply too big now. Didn't they just outsell cinema as a whole for the first time ever over a year? I guess there's a pretty good indication of the way things are headed.

[Udderdude]

It doesn't need to be a full-on crash to have a big effect. Even a slump would hurt a lot of companies badly .. unfortunately they would be the wrong companies (small ones that can't survive it .. )

[Marc]

That's the problem - the corporate horrors are here to stay. People piss and moan, but never seem to vote with their wallets. The whole inustry is such a mess now it's not even funny.

[DJ Incompetent]

Can't wait for the 3rd industry crash. Die, EA, die.

End the used market. Chasing 200%+ used game prices sucks. I'm tired of the scarcity bullshit.

It'll take a lot of worthy games to get me hype on a next gen console. A friend bought me my 360, I don't see that happening again.

'Steam 'n OnLive will probably become my thing.