New Sony Patent Blocks Second Hand Games
Discussion
Sony has reportedly patented technology that will prevent the use of second hand games on consoles.
The patent application was filed on 9 December 2012 by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, and will work by linking individual game discs to a user's account without requiring a network connection meaning any future attempt to use this disc on another user's console won't work.
The use permission tag stores the terms of use of the game and determines whether a combination of the disc ID and the player ID conveyed from the reproduction device fulfils the terms of use or not.
The patent explains that games will come with contactless tags that will be read by your console in much the same way as modern bank cards. When a disc is first used, the disc ID and player ID will be stored on the tag. Every time the disc is used in future, the tag will check if the two ID’s match up and, if not, then the disc won’t work.
The document goes on to explain that such a device is part of Sony's ongoing efforts to deter second-hand games sales, and is a far simpler solution than always-on DRM or passwords.
It's worth noting that Sony has not confirmed the existence of the device, and the patent doesn't state what machine it will be used in, with later paragraphs also mentioning accessories and peripherals.
It does raise some concerns though. Firstly, the impact on game rental stores would be catastrophic as surely this means they'd no longer be able to do business? Given publishers' usual desire to keep retailers sweet by not undercutting them on prices and the like, this would be an unusual move.
There's also the issue of what happens should your console break and need replacing, or if you have more than one console. Will the games be linked to your PSN account, meaning they can still be used, or the console, meaning an entire new library of titles would need to be purchased?
http://m.uk.ign.com/articles/2013/01/03/report-new...
The patent application was filed on 9 December 2012 by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, and will work by linking individual game discs to a user's account without requiring a network connection meaning any future attempt to use this disc on another user's console won't work.
The use permission tag stores the terms of use of the game and determines whether a combination of the disc ID and the player ID conveyed from the reproduction device fulfils the terms of use or not.
The patent explains that games will come with contactless tags that will be read by your console in much the same way as modern bank cards. When a disc is first used, the disc ID and player ID will be stored on the tag. Every time the disc is used in future, the tag will check if the two ID’s match up and, if not, then the disc won’t work.
The document goes on to explain that such a device is part of Sony's ongoing efforts to deter second-hand games sales, and is a far simpler solution than always-on DRM or passwords.
It's worth noting that Sony has not confirmed the existence of the device, and the patent doesn't state what machine it will be used in, with later paragraphs also mentioning accessories and peripherals.
It does raise some concerns though. Firstly, the impact on game rental stores would be catastrophic as surely this means they'd no longer be able to do business? Given publishers' usual desire to keep retailers sweet by not undercutting them on prices and the like, this would be an unusual move.
There's also the issue of what happens should your console break and need replacing, or if you have more than one console. Will the games be linked to your PSN account, meaning they can still be used, or the console, meaning an entire new library of titles would need to be purchased?
http://m.uk.ign.com/articles/2013/01/03/report-new...
Meanwhile at Nintendo... http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/rumor-used-wii-u...
Methuselah said:
It does raise some concerns though. Firstly, the impact on game rental stores would be catastrophic as surely this means they'd no longer be able to do business? Given publishers' usual desire to keep retailers sweet by not undercutting them on prices and the like, this would be an unusual move.
There's also the issue of what happens should your console break and need replacing, or if you have more than one console. Will the games be linked to your PSN account, meaning they can still be used, or the console, meaning an entire new library of titles would need to be purchased?
http://m.uk.ign.com/articles/2013/01/03/report-new...
You'd hope that the 2nd biggest console manufacturer in the WORLD would have thought of that...There's also the issue of what happens should your console break and need replacing, or if you have more than one console. Will the games be linked to your PSN account, meaning they can still be used, or the console, meaning an entire new library of titles would need to be purchased?
http://m.uk.ign.com/articles/2013/01/03/report-new...
Hoofy said:
Sony like to p
s off their customers. Didn't they do something anti-customer before?
They had a "copy protection" on audio CDs that basically installed a rootkit on your PC.s off their customers. Didn't they do something anti-customer before?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_CD_copy_prot...
I fail to see the problem with selling games 2nd hand personally.
y2blade said:
A few mainstream games have codes you have to put in to use online already, rendering them pretty much useless as a secndhand game once the code has been used by the first owner.
It's an absolute shambles really, rip off merchants all of them. They say that they dont recieve any of the revenue generated by the sale of a second hand game. It's the equivalent of a car manufacturer saying they don't recieve any money from the sale of a second hand car so they limit the car to 30mph unless you give them 1/5 - 1/6 of RRP. (Yes it's £6-8 to buy a code to unlock multiplayer on some games.)So you'd purchase a second hand car with an RRP of £20k then have to pay £2-4k to get it delimited.
cH3wY said:
It's an absolute shambles really, rip off merchants all of them. They say that they dont recieve any of the revenue generated by the sale of a second hand game. It's the equivalent of a car manufacturer saying they don't recieve any money from the sale of a second hand car so they limit the car to 30mph unless you give them 1/5 - 1/6 of RRP. (Yes it's £6-8 to buy a code to unlock multiplayer on some games.)
So you'd purchase a second hand car with an RRP of £20k then have to pay £2-4k to get it delimited.
Actually that makes a bit of sense according to the business model they're using. Since Sony doesn't charge for online gaming, all of the costs of running multiplayer servers have to come out of the purchase cost. That's calculated to include a certain number of hours of online play before the owner buys something new and relegates it to the back of the shelf to gather dust.So you'd purchase a second hand car with an RRP of £20k then have to pay £2-4k to get it delimited.
If that game is resold, Sony (or whoever is running the server) have a bit of a problem because they're then losing money on the multiplayer service. Not handy.
Of course, Microsoft will include similar technology in the 720, and still charge. Gits.
davepoth said:
Actually that makes a bit of sense according to the business model they're using. Since Sony doesn't charge for online gaming, all of the costs of running multiplayer servers have to come out of the purchase cost. That's calculated to include a certain number of hours of online play before the owner buys something new and relegates it to the back of the shelf to gather dust.
If that game is resold, Sony (or whoever is running the server) have a bit of a problem because they're then losing money on the multiplayer service. Not handy.
Of course, Microsoft will include similar technology in the 720, and still charge. Gits.
They should be honest enough to charge separately for online (as MS do)If that game is resold, Sony (or whoever is running the server) have a bit of a problem because they're then losing money on the multiplayer service. Not handy.
Of course, Microsoft will include similar technology in the 720, and still charge. Gits.
davepoth said:
Actually that makes a bit of sense according to the business model they're using. Since Sony doesn't charge for online gaming, all of the costs of running multiplayer servers have to come out of the purchase cost. That's calculated to include a certain number of hours of online play before the owner buys something new and relegates it to the back of the shelf to gather dust.
If that game is resold, Sony (or whoever is running the server) have a bit of a problem because they're then losing money on the multiplayer service. Not handy.
Of course, Microsoft will include similar technology in the 720, and still charge. Gits.
So you would be happy having to pay the manufacturer a commission on top of the purchase price of a second hand car? You wouldn't. They should just charge it separately from the start, Sony already have this service, it's called Playstation Plus and its £40 a year. They shouldn't offer the 'free service' if they can't afford it. The entire point of online playstation gaming being free was as a selling point vs the Xbox who charge £40 a year. Extra costs providing the free service should have been recouped from extra sales generated because of this selling point.If that game is resold, Sony (or whoever is running the server) have a bit of a problem because they're then losing money on the multiplayer service. Not handy.
Of course, Microsoft will include similar technology in the 720, and still charge. Gits.
Looks like the management at Sony are determined to alienate their customers.
Apparently the consoles have been losing out badly to tablets and phones already.
The resale of games probably means they sell more new games than they otherwise would have done. People buy used games because they can't afford new ones. Looking in Game I wonder how many of the used titles are just discounted new ones.
Apparently the consoles have been losing out badly to tablets and phones already.
The resale of games probably means they sell more new games than they otherwise would have done. People buy used games because they can't afford new ones. Looking in Game I wonder how many of the used titles are just discounted new ones.
wolves_wanderer said:
They had a "copy protection" on audio CDs that basically installed a rootkit on your PC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_CD_copy_prot...
I fail to see the problem with selling games 2nd hand personally.
Ah yes, that was it.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_CD_copy_prot...
I fail to see the problem with selling games 2nd hand personally.
Agreed re selling secondhand games. What next? VW forbids owners from selling its cars?
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