Business ramifications of piracy *spawn

[ERP]

I don't think Sony or any other publisher is trying to stop all piracy.
All they really have to do is make it more complicated than download and play, or have the pirated version have significantly less value (no online play) and they stop the vast majority of casual piracy.
People who'll go to significant lengths to pirate probably wouldn't buy anyway.

 

[joker454]

I don't think Sony or any other publisher is trying to stop all piracy.
All they really have to do is make it more complicated than download and play, or have the pirated version have significantly less value (no online play) and they stop the vast majority of casual piracy.
People who'll go to significant lengths to pirate probably wouldn't buy anyway.

Sound like you won't be able to borrow games from friends anymore either though if they implement a serial code system.

 

[Squilliam]

Sound like you won't be able to borrow games from friends anymore either though if they implement a serial code system.

But seriously from a practical user perspective I see this as being another hair-brained rumour from the likes of the famed 'Sony defense forces' in the hopes of sealing this percieved infraction against the mothership.

I cannot see Sony making people sit down and type in a fricken 12 digit or 16 digit security code with a console controller and especially if that code is alphanumeric. They'd drive legitimate users away more so than they would protect themselves. Beyond this places like Gamestop would take offense at what they would rightfully percieve as an attack on their business model.

 

[RobertR1]

Until there is an official Sony countermeasure (if any), it's probably best to not argue about random rumors and it's impact. I expect all sorts off the wall rumors to circulate.

 

[aaronspink]

I cannot see Sony making people sit down and type in a fricken 12 digit or 16 digit security code with a console controller and especially if that code is alphanumeric. They'd drive legitimate users away more so than they would protect themselves. Beyond this places like Gamestop would take offense at what they would rightfully percieve as an attack on their business model.

Honestly, I'm not sure that any of the majors give a flip about gamestop, esp the console makers. gamestop is a pure parasite in the biz model. If something pisses them off but doesn't piss off walmart et al then I'm pretty sure they will be all for it.

 

[Squilliam]

Honestly, I'm not sure that any of the majors give a flip about gamestop, esp the console makers. gamestop is a pure parasite in the biz model. If something pisses them off but doesn't piss off walmart et al then I'm pretty sure they will be all for it.

They do give a flip about Gamestop, they are the ones who are driving those big upfront sales that publishers need to recoup their investments quickly. They may not like some of their business practices but at the same time the used game market means a lot more points of sale for their product than would otherwise exist.

Which still doesn't leave out the fact that you have to enter a code to play a game. I always hated those stupid codes, anything which makes the user experience worse is something which could cost them sales.

 

[AlphaWolf]

They do give a flip about Gamestop, they are the ones who are driving those big upfront sales that publishers need to recoup their investments quickly. They may not like some of their business practices but at the same time the used game market means a lot more points of sale for their product than would otherwise exist.

Which still doesn't leave out the fact that you have to enter a code to play a game. I always hated those stupid codes, anything which makes the user experience worse is something which could cost them sales.

Game sales wouldn't stop if gamestop went out of business, they'd just move to Walmart, target and bestbuy.

 

[Squilliam]

Game sales wouldn't stop if gamestop went out of business, they'd just move to Walmart, target and bestbuy.

I never said that it'd stop. However if they lose Gamestop they lose the specialist game retailer.

 

[eastmen]

I never said that it'd stop. However if they lose Gamestop they lose the specialist game retailer.

Does it matter if the same specialist game retailer would rather sell a used copy for $5 bucks less. I don't think any major retailer will care if they loose gamestop and if anything gamestop will just become a new game seller only

 

[BoardBonobo]

I cannot see Sony making people sit down and type in a fricken 12 digit or 16 digit security code with a console controller and especially if that code is alphanumeric.

Wouldn't need to type anything if you've got a PSEye. What would be even better would be the use of RFID in the game case and a blue tooth reader.

 

[Toaddio]

But seriously from a practical user perspective I see this as being another hair-brained rumour from the likes of the famed 'Sony defense forces' in the hopes of sealing this percieved infraction against the mothership.

It actually sounds more like something an "Xbot" would say to try and spread FUD.

 

[aaronspink]

Does it matter if the same specialist game retailer would rather sell a used copy for $5 bucks less. I don't think any major retailer will care if they loose gamestop and if anything gamestop will just become a new game seller only

kind of hard for gamestop to do, most of their biz model is dependent on selling used games for higher margin than new games.

 

[aaronspink]

They do give a flip about Gamestop, they are the ones who are driving those big upfront sales that publishers need to recoup their investments quickly. They may not like some of their business practices but at the same time the used game market means a lot more points of sale for their product than would otherwise exist.

There are a lot more retailers than gamestop that sell games and pre-sell games. gamestop is just another store, nothing more or less. Amazon, best buy, et al also all do pre-orders as well. For a lot of people, amazon is even cheaper. The only thing that keeps gamestop around is the used market.

 

[corduroygt]

The only thing that keeps gamestop around is the used market.

Well, there's also the "I want a game now!" factor, and Best Buy and Amazon are also accepting trade ins.

 

[Squilliam]

Does it matter if the same specialist game retailer would rather sell a used copy for $5 bucks less. I don't think any major retailer will care if they loose gamestop and if anything gamestop will just become a new game seller only

You forget that the specialist game retailer also drives a lot of day one or week one sales in America. Thats an important source of revenue for the major publishers who are often able to recoup their initial investment very quickly. If Gamestop becomes a new game seller only then they'd close down about half their retail outlets.

Wouldn't need to type anything if you've got a PSEye. What would be even better would be the use of RFID in the game case and a blue tooth reader.

I don't really see how RFID would would with Blu Tooth, however reading a special symbol in the PS Eye could work quite well actually. Thats a good idea for implementing codes.

It actually sounds more like something an "Xbot" would say to try and spread FUD.

Waaaat? PC gamer here. I've just noted a large number of crazy rumours and speculation about how Sony can save themselves and spank those naughty pirates. Its even been crazy seeing people defend several quite 'anti-consumer' ideas because they benefit Sony. You could replace 'Sony defense force' with 'industry defense force' if you're talking about draconian measures which would effect all game buyers.

There are a lot more retailers than gamestop that sell games and pre-sell games. gamestop is just another store, nothing more or less. Amazon, best buy, et al also all do pre-orders as well. For a lot of people, amazon is even cheaper. The only thing that keeps gamestop around is the used market.

For all the other stores, games is a sideline business and something they hardly give significant attention to. For Gamestop, games are their business and they are able to put outlets in malls and shopping centres where you wouldn't find the larger retailers. They fill in the gaps of the game distribution network because a small store can be sited nearly anywhere in comparison to larger stores which need specific sites. Even if they sell used games, the economic benefit to the game industry in having Gamestop is larger than what they apparantly take by selling games used.

 

[Toaddio]

? PC gamer here. I've just noted a large number of crazy rumours and speculation about how Sony can save themselves and spank those naughty pirates. Its even been crazy seeing people defend several quite 'anti-consumer' ideas because they benefit Sony. You could replace 'Sony defense force' with 'industry defense force' if you're talking about draconian measures which would effect all game buyers.

Haven't you noticed the large number of idiots exclaiming that this is the end of Sony?

 

[Squilliam]

Haven't you noticed the large number of idiots exclaiming that this is the end of Sony?

Nope.

I have noticed a large number of intelligent people discussing the ramifications this might have on their business model and their overall lifetime profitability with the PS3 especially over the tail years of it's life.

 

[Toaddio]

Nope.

Consider yourself lucky.

 

[Nesh]

Whenever I see the words "Sony" "Defense" and "Force" posted together in the Beyond3d forums, I feel shivers through my spine. Come on. Lets not bring the paranoia here too

 

[Tap In]

Whenever I see the words "Sony" "Defense" and "Force" posted together in the Beyond3d forums, I feel shivers through my spine. Come on. Lets not bring the paranoia here too

did you feel the same when you read this?

Haven't you noticed the large number of idiots exclaiming that this is the end of Sony?