Rumour: The next Xbox won't play used games

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I think a lot of people here don't understand how willing consumers really are to accept digital downloads. Likely because many of us collect physical media. Look at the iTunes App Store for instance.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if the new Xbox is digital only (I wouldn't buy one anyway though). Over the last few years, I've really lost the desire to have only physical media. It just takes up space.

At least here in the USA, Steam has become the primary PC distribution platform. While it is DRM, it provides services that in my opinion, vastly outweigh the positives of having physical copies. The ease and convenience of games that use Steamworks and the tons of sales usually make it a no brain-er for me.

Besides, I really don't have the room for my 100+ PC games if they were all physical media.

Though it has been mentioned, PC has been transitioning since 2005ish, and DRM has always been prevalent on PC since the 80s. So perhaps PC gamers are more "used" to the idea than people who primarily play consoles.

[gtmtnbiker]

Over the last few years, I've really lost the desire to have only physical media. It just takes up space.

Totally agreed.

[sabrage]

I, for one, will always prefer a physical copy over a digital one. I consider digital downloads to have a "reverse premium" in that I will only ever buy them if they are deeply discounted.

Luckily, as a PC gamer, there's always something deeply discounted.

[NesimLE]

After spending some time thinking about my position on digital downloads, I've realized I'd have absolutely no issue paying for downloads if I didn't feel like these large companies are trying to screw you and take your rights away. Based on the ToS issues with Sony, Microsoft and EA, the DRM that they place on everything they release and the way that they try to limit how you can use software you already own in a physical sense, I'm vastly concerned that if these companies get even more control over your purchase, they will abuse that control to take away even more of our basic rights as consumers.

The reason I don't mind buying games on Steam, is because I trust the company. I expect to be able to access my games even after the service vanishes, and the DRM isn't too intrusive. When it comes to a company like EA or Microsoft, that trust doesn't exist. Without that trust, I'd much rather stick with a physical copy that I'll be able to use just as well ten years from now.

[DinnerX]

I expect to be able to access my games even after the service vanishes, and the DRM isn't too intrusive.

Valve isn't obligated to remove the DRM if the service closes as I recall. It's in the agreement.

But I hope they would.

EDIT:

At least here in the USA, Steam has become the primary PC distribution platform. While it is DRM, it provides services that in my opinion, vastly outweigh the positives of having physical copies. The ease and convenience of games that use Steamworks and the tons of sales usually make it a no brain-er for me.

This is what makes Valve so slick. The present the DRM and other services as a single unit even though they are separable theoretically.

Besides, I really don't have the room for my 100+ PC games if they were all physical media.

Just to be clear: I'm not completely opposed to downloads with no DRM. I've got numerous games from GOG.com on my computer.

[Ivo]

I think a lot of people here don't understand how willing consumers really are to accept digital downloads. Likely because many of us collect physical media. Look at the iTunes App Store for instance.

(...)

I agree with what Ryan wrote, this and the other pretty good points he made.

Ivo.

[pakopako]

Besides, I really don't have the room for my 100+ PC games if they were all physical media.

Just to be clear: I'm not completely opposed to downloads with no DRM. I've got numerous games from GOG.com on my computer.

This works wonders. Although GOG is a bit too loose (is there anything preventing me from transferring my GoG games to someone else?) and Steam -- last I remembered -- still was pissy about logins from multiple machines.

[DinnerX]

This works wonders. Although GOG is a bit too loose (is there anything preventing me from transferring my GoG games to someone else?)

No there isn't and that's pretty much why I buy games from them. Anything less loose and the games are no longer DRM free.

[Niode]

Besides, I really don't have the room for my 100+ PC games if they were all physical media.

Just to be clear: I'm not completely opposed to downloads with no DRM. I've got numerous games from GOG.com on my computer.

This works wonders. Although GOG is a bit too loose (is there anything preventing me from transferring my GoG games to someone else?) and Steam -- last I remembered -- still was pissy about logins from multiple machines.

It sends an email when you log in from another machine for the first time. To help stop account theft. Then you just need to put your password in every now and then. Hardly a massive ball ache really... I've never had any issues going between my desktop and my MBP.

[MrPopo]

There is one very slight issue if you use categories for your games. The cloud likes to drop your categories if you sign in to a second machine while the first one was still signed on; it kicks you off the first machine but sometimes the cloud sync isn't finished or something, and the categories get wiped. Quite annoying to have to re-categorize your games. Signing out on the first and then signing in on the second keeps this from happening.