Playstation 4 / Orbis discussion and speculation

[Comrade Porn King Mikhail]

Saw the latest on my Twitter Feed from Gamespot and Kotaku.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/next-playstation-to-lock-out-used-games-6368582

http://kotaku.com/5896996/the-next-playstation-is-called-orbis-sources-say-here-are-the-details/

At first I thought this was an April Fool's joke, but it's four days early.

The main points are:

• No backwards compatibility with PS3 games
• Lockout of used game titles
• All games locked to a single PSN account
• User must be connected to PSN to boot up game, no offline startup

I'm troubled by all of these, particularly the requirement to be connected to PSN for startup. This pretty much places a specific lifespan for any game title that drastically ends should Sony go out of business with no replacement business model. Game Informer had a similar article this month addressing games that are on their way out, like Star Wars Galaxies, due to servers being shut down.

I hope it's a great April Fool's prank. If the rumors are indeed true that both Sony and Microsoft are implementing the majority of these ideas in their next consoles, I may just stick with the current generation for a much longer period than previously anticipated.

 

[Yodd]

[*]Lockout of used game titles

Fuck them.

They just saved me hundreds of dollars.

Thanks Sony!

 

[subcons]

Yeah, that stuff is all pretty much negative from a consumer standpoint. Interested to see how accurate these speculations are.

I think saying used games are strictly locked out isn't quite accurate though. From that Kotaku article, it sounds more like you'd just have to pay a fee to unlock a used game, or maybe just a feature, like online. A lot of higher profile titles are already doing the latter and people have seemed to generally accept it when the price of admissions is an additional $10. Curious to see how much further game companies can push without some actual push-back from the consumer (i.e., just not bothering to buy their games).

 

[Yodd]

So, save $10 for a used copy only to have to turn around and spend $10 to get back features that should have been there in the first place?

Awesome.

 

[subcons]

So, save $10 for a used copy only to have to turn around and spend $10 to get back features that should have been there in the first place?

Awesome.

I didn't say it wasn't stupid.

The game companies are seeing how much they can squeeze out of game consumers without pissing them off too much. They want to find out what those limits are. People are accepting the cutting out of content that is ready upon release (day one DLC) and paying $15 for 3-5 new maps for CoD. They'll just keep upping those prices and seeing what is acceptable to us until we stop giving them money for this stuff.

 

[Yodd]

I am waiting for the 2nd Game industry crash.

Idiot consumers taking it up the ass on shitty games and sequel after sequel of equally crappy games.

 

[ki_atsushi]

I am waiting for the 2nd Game industry crash.

Idiot consumers taking it up the ass on shitty games and sequel after sequel of equally crappy games.

Me too, I sold off all current gen stuff and went back to my NES and SNES. I'm done with all this new bullshit.

 

[Magician]

If there's something I absolutely have to play...I'll buy it, eventually.

Chances are that wait will be several years after its launch, as I did with the PS3 and now the Vita.

 

[Yue]

Talk about greedy!

Would anyone really wanna buy this?

 

[norton9478]

Shit, I know people who have systems but no Internets.

I know I won't be buying one. I don't need another blu ray player/media server.

 

[cannonball]

• No backwards compatibility with PS3 games

This is BS, but I didn't have my hopes up to begin with.

• Lockout of used game titles

I love the lockout of used games, but I wish they could do it without having to do the following:

• All games locked to a single PSN account
• User must be connected to PSN to boot up game, no offline startup

If you're forced to buy new games, you should be able to play them forever without an internet connection. I'm not sure that's possible though. Really sucks for everyone. Developer and consumer.

 

[Taiso]

My prediction is that none of this will come to pass under the current console business model.

If all their services go cloud based to cut down on various costs, I see this as more of a reality.

 

[Sixth]

User must be connected to PSN to boot up game, no offline startup

 

[WoodyXP]

[*]Lockout of used game titles
[*]All games locked to a single PSN account
[*]User must be connected to PSN to boot up game, no offline startup

Yuk. May as just stick with PC gaming.

 

[supergoose]

I don't think that they will be able to pull this off. They're probably stupid enough to try some of this but they will notice when they're in the red and might fix this mess with a firmware update to get more sales.

I don't even own a ps3 yet and the only games that i'm really interested in are the last guardian and ni no kuni. Otherwise there's way too much crap on the system that doesn't warrant a purchase.

 

[Michael Yagami]

And it looks like I won't be jumping on the PS4 train, or the new Xbox train if they also pull this bullshit.

 

[NeoTurfMasta]

I know I won't be buying one. I don't need another blu ray player/media server.

this.

 

[N30_G30_speed]

I am waiting for the 2nd Game industry crash.
Idiot consumers taking it up the ass on shitty games and sequel after sequel of equally crappy games.

That sure would be a nice thing to put real gaming priorities into perspective for all the companies that have been trying to feed off users like insatiable leeches.
just like alfred said... "Some men just wanna see the -nowadays gaming industry- BURN..."

Me too, I sold off all current gen stuff and went back to my NES and SNES. I'm done with all this new bullshit.

I've been on this plan for a while now, it gets better and better everytime a friend of mine with an xbox or a ps3 casually mentions to me the retarded privacy policies or DLC scams.
Believe me it's a one way ticket to what gaming should have never stopped being like years ago, enjoy your piña colada in your pixelated beach and remember the pixelated waitresses-hookers are for free, you now? no DLC crap.

 

[Tacitus]

It's illegal and if they try to pull the "used" game trick they're in for a rude legal awakening.

Don't think Gamestop and the like won't push back on this... hard.

 

[aria]

It's illegal and if they try to pull the "used" game trick they're in for a rude legal awakening.

Don't think Gamestop and the like won't push back on this... hard.

What is illegal?

 

[Loopz]

Dude...this approach is like 120% stick, no carrot.
You wanna wipe out GameStop and have people switch to digital copies?
Offer these games the same day for $10-15 less. Easy, peasy, Nipponeasy.
You'll have tons of people ignoring the pre-books and all that bullshit. Let gamers pre-load that shit, too.

Fucking stupid, greedy cunts, all of 'em.

 

[CrackerMessiah]

Fuck them.

They just saved me hundreds of dollars.

Thanks Sony!

Yeah- I had no idea it was going to be this easy putting off a purchase. What's to put off if there won't be one in the first place?

Granted, chicks haven't hatched quite yet, but Sony's approach these past few years has bred a very, very valid cynicism. So cynical, in fact, that unless a new Legacy of Kain game is put out on it, I'll have no valid interest in this console at all.

Again, it might not be true. But if it is... well, it was fun and relatively free while it lasted.

 

[Lagduf]

Has anyone actually articulated what the "threat" of second hand game sales to the video game industry really is?

Because I just don't buy it.

 

[Tacitus]

What is illegal?

In my humble legal opinion, I believe this would violate the Sherman Act. It would satisfy the "3 points" and if you found the "right" judge or jury... or if all of the VG companies sign up with this.. you could definitely pursue it. If you consider the second hand game market in competition with the new game market, it would certainly restrict trade and unreasonably choke the market.

I'd be interested in your opinion.

 

[cdamm]

next gen is nintendo's to lose.