Sony - 1 disk one system debate

[lordxixor101]

I actually saw this started in another thread, but then it died out (and it wasn't the topic of the thread).

If Sony can introduce something so that you are forced to buy new games (each game only works in one system), are they set up for not only a PR disaster now, but a potential financial disaster later. Think about it, both launch Playstations and PS2's have had issues (the good old DRE's). Can you imagine if someone buys one of those bundled packs where they get 10 games with their system, and then their system breaks in a year or 2. Now, all the games you have are completely useless. Don't think there won't be a class action lawsuit on Sony to replace all the games that won't work on the new system. Even if Sony wins and doesn't pay, it's a PR nightmare. If they have to replace the games too, it's worse.

It's for this reason (and this reason alone) that I don't think Sony will do this.

[Chacrana]

Um... okay. They already said they weren't going to.

[javeryh]

This won't happen unless someone is trying to completely destroy the video game business. I can't possibly count how many games I've bought because a friend loaned his copy to me or I rented it from Blockbuster and loved it. I can't possibly count how many sequels to games I've bought because I was able to try out the original game. This type of market penetration would be completely taken away if there was one game for one system.

[BustaUppa]

Sony tends to make stupid decisions based on intense copyright paranoia. This seems too stupid for them... but if anyone were to end up doing it, I'm sure it would be Sony.

They were one of the main labels to push those horrible copy-protected CDs, the kind of technology that shows outright contempt for the consumer. And MiniDisc players were ridiculous with all this "check-in/check-out" nonsense you had to go through to move date between the disc and the PC. You could record data with a microphone, but it wouldn't let you transfer that to the PC because it wasn't copyrighted. Sony is just out of control with the DRM stuff so I hope it really bites them in the ass one of these days.

[wbc1228]

Um... okay. They already said they weren't going to.

yep, that is correct.

[Puffa469]

Never going to happen.

[psiufoxx2]

This won't happen unless someone is trying to completely destroy the video game business. I can't possibly count how many games I've bought because a friend loaned his copy to me or I rented it from Blockbuster and loved it. I can't possibly count how many sequels to games I've bought because I was able to try out the original game. This type of market penetration would be completely taken away if there was one game for one system.Good thing you didn't post this on Kotaku, or they would have made it headline news and quoted you as stating "[Sony]... is trying to completely destroy the video game business." ZOMG!

[evanft]

This thread shouldn't exist.

[camoor]

Sony tends to make stupid decisions based on intense copyright paranoia. This seems too stupid for them... but if anyone were to end up doing it, I'm sure it would be Sony.

:rofl:

Yeah, because Microsoft has always been on the up-and-up with IP consumer rights and even-handed DRM.

Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Sony OR Microsoft did this. I might be a little surprised if Ninty did it, but seeing as they are on record as saying they want to kill the "depriciating price of games" business model, only a little.

[epobirs]

It simply isn't viable with current technology and infrastructure.

Down the road, when everybody has gigabit rate internet access, then it would be viable to eliminate media sales at retail and do everything by realtime download. Games will be bought either on a individual pay-per-view basis or an all you can eat subscription. This eliminates a major portion of piracy, nearly all used game sales, and makes life a hell of a lot easier for small publishers on tight budgets.

This could start happening in some regions within ten years.