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The article itself is rather short, but if this is true, then I really don't know why sony would make a move like this. Granted, Valve Software pretty much does the same thing with Steam, but I think its weird that when you buy a game, you only buy permission to play the game. Then again Games Radar did contact Sony to see what they have to say about this recent news, but didn't accept or deny it. =/

http://www.gamesradar.com/gb/ps3/gam...sectionId=1006

Here is the article for those who are to lazy to click.
[PS3] Sony makes moves to stamp out lucrative second-hand market
Words: Matt Cundy

Wednesday 24 May 2006
High street games shops have been told by Sony that there will be no PS3 pre-owned sections in their stores as it will be illegal for customers to sell any next-gen PlayStation games that they've bought, retail sources have revealed to GamesRadar.

It seems that Sony is planning to adopt a licensing system that will mean gamers won't own the PS3 titles that they've paid money for. Instead, they will only be purchasing the licence to play the game and that the software itself will still be Sony property - meaning that the disc won't be the customer's to sell.

We assume that the thinking behind this move will ultimately be to stop PS3 games being resold several times - which currently snatches potential sales away from Sony - and to counter the impression in consumers' minds that games are only really worth their pre-owned price and are not worth buying new.

When we contacted Sony, it issued us with the following statement: "We have made all of the official announcements at E3 and cannot make any further comments at this time. We will be announcing more news running up to PlayStation 3's launch."

I can honestly say, without any hesitation, that this would prevent me from ever buying a PS3.
I love my PS2, PSP, DS, GC, 360, and all systems I've had before in equal measure. I would love to own a Wii as well, but Sony is making really hard for even a multi-console guy like me to feel good about buying a PS3.

I mean, how many ways can they possibly F us in the A?

Ahh, its interesting that this is coming up again.

My initial reaction was that this must be old news but it is dated may '06 so it looks like its back in the spotlight again.

Maybe they're really trying to test their theory of "people will buy the PS3 no matter what"

This sounds false. With the high price tag already in place, Sony would not be stupid enough to shoot themselves in the foot by banning pre-owned games. I can see them selling licensed downloadable games though.

My God, this rumor is like a year old. When are people, let alone "journalists," going to stop with this story?

Yeah, I don't buy it...

Well, it might -really- work for PSOne/Two games, if sony could actually sell the code [case free, or perhaps as a download] and license you to play it, then it would be NO DIFFERENT than virtual console. Imagine being able to play Lunar, Grandia, Suikoden, and other rare ones at a cheap price? A collapse of the eBay market and used game stores might really make new prices cheaper.

And technically, you don't own the games you buy, you own the media they are on and their packaging, the game is exclusively the developer's and in part Sony's. I used to remember playing Genesis games and always getting

PRODUCED BY OR UNDER LICENSE FROM SEGA OF AMERICA

right before the game starts. It makes sense, the game either belongs to Sega or was licensed by Sega, the game belongs to Sega or belongs to developer who has the rights to release it on Sega Genesis format. The cartridge is yours, the box is yours, but the code isn't. Tampering with the code, like it or not, is against the law.

Of course, no police officer or copyright law writer in their own mind would sue someone for a pokemon palette edit.

If the license system works out though, it would be a big step for preserving old games. Sometimes I tremble in fear thinking 100 years from now a playable copy of Shining Force II won't exist anymore.

Originally Posted by Ugamer_X My God, this rumor is like a year old. When are people, let alone "journalists," going to stop with this story?

This is a separate story entirely. The first story was about some technology that would prevent you from doing this. What they're talking about now is preventing retailers from carrying used games in their stores. It will still be physically possible, but Sony wants to make it illegal.

This won't work here, from a legal standpoint, simply purchasing the item does not enter you into a contract. Also, there is the right of first sale. Companies have tried things like this before with books, and have failed.

I dont beleive it. They cant stop you from selling your old games if you want to, and they cant stop someone from buying them from you. At least not in America.

All they could do is somehow require a game to be registered so that it would only play on a single registered PS3 console. That would even stop you from bringing your game to a friends house to play. It would also prevent stores like Blockbuster, or gamefly from renting PS3 games. I just dont see that happening. It would be suicide for Sony. Especially if the 360 and the Wii didnt also do the same thing.

This is most likely not true, but it would be a wet dream for both Sony and game developers if this actually happens. It would also cement my (and I would assume MANY, MANY gamers) decision to not buy a PS3. Only instead of me not buying a PS3 until a price drop, I would not buy a PS3 ever.

I had also heard it was a machine built in register thing per disc and each disk could only be registered once. after that it was going to be useless but I thought atht awhole theroy or rumor was debunked.

Originally Posted by Snake2715 I had also heard it was a machine built in register thing per disc and each disk could only be registered once. after that it was going to be useless but I thought atht awhole theroy or rumor was debunked.

That had to do with a patent that Sony filed. The technology does exist, it was a rumor/theory as to whether it would be in the PS3.

Originally Posted by organicow I mean, how many ways can they possibly F us in the A?

Those are some harsh letters...

Originally Posted by Stryffe2004 This sounds false. With the high price tag already in place, Sony would not be stupid enough to shoot themselves in the foot by banning pre-owned games. I can see them selling licensed downloadable games though.

You'd be surprised what is born out of arrogance.

That thing you call arrogance, its marketing jargin...


Backfired on them though because of some of the stupid shit they did.

Originally Posted by GuilewasNK You'd be surprised what is born out of arrogance.

And on second thought, it really is no different than the PC market right now. There is virtually a zero used PC games market. By specifically selling licenses, they make it official. Sony is marketing the PS3 as a computer, so who knows? Also, the "official response is that they are not going to limit games to one console. There was no word on whether they would sell licenses. They have to make up that money for the blu-ray somewhere.

I having a feeling that many of you will feel that Sony has no right to to state that you can't sell their games. (and you are right) However, I think Sony can deter you from selling their games. One such example is Half Life 2 and Valve.

On Steam, once you install Half Life 2 the cd key is binding to your account, and the only way to play the game is to validate your cd key online. Then Valve provides you the necessary files to run the game. (When you buy Half Life 2 you do not get all the files required to play the game until validation) However, Valve does provide you a way to unbind that cd key if you want, but you must pay a fee. In my opinion, this is pretty shady but valve isn't stopping you from selling Half Life 2, only deterring you.

So what it all comes down to is the licensing agreement. (Yes, I know every single one of you never read that legal contract that comes with every piece of software) If Sony decides to follow this route and if its in the licensing agreement then they skip happily to the bank, but I really don't know how the console market will react to this as the PC market is completely different.

The PC used game market sucks because a lot of douchebags buy the game, use the CD key to register, copy the disks and then sell the game. That renders it useless for online play because they have online accounts registered to that key.

That, and PC games drop in value really fast. Additionally, PC games are still only $40-50 while they've been more graphically advanced for almost a full year now and still look better than the next gen console equivalent.

Originally Posted by Stryffe2004 And on second thought, it really is no different than the PC market right now. There is virtually a zero used PC games market. By specifically selling licenses, they make it official. Sony is marketing the PS3 as a computer, so who knows? Also, the "official response is that they are not going to limit games to one console. There was no word on whether they would sell licenses. They have to make up that money for the blu-ray somewhere.

I think this type of policy would only work if Sony were the only console manufacturer on the market, or if MS and Nintendo decided to do the same thing. If they did this it would be too easy to ignore the PS3 entirely and just buy a different system and games.

If there wasn't some type of validation system, would bootlegging the games still be illegal? I mean if owning the disc isn't owning the software then owning a copy of it isn't really owning an illegal copy, just playing it "without permission."

Originally Posted by dafoomie Companies have tried things like this before with books, and have failed.

And with music CDs. And what was one of the big companies on the "You're not allowed to resell CDs" bandwagon? Oh, that's right: Sony.

Anyone who finds this implausible just isn't aware of Sony's track record as a business.

EDIT: Link about the above-mentioned CD broughhaha -- http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive...-93darts-4.asp