EA: "DRM is a failed dead-end strategy"

[Shozuki]

None of the console manufacturers will be blocking used games - the amount of people that rely on being able to use old games to fund new ones is massive. Without the ability to do that console manufacturers and game developers/publishers alike would lose a lot of sales. It would be masochistic - cutting their nose to spite their face...

I have no doubts that they will do their best to push digital sales and perhaps many developers will push that medium for smaller scale titles. But were nowhere near the end of physical media/used games.

[nakamura]

It doesn't seem to be hurting Steam.

[Shozuki]

It doesn't seem to be hurting Steam.

Steam users vs. Console users... The size difference is massive... the mainstream audience aren't ready for it yet...

[EvilBoris]

I still think that it's going to creep in, neither manufacturer is going to launch their console with single use games as the only option.
It will creep in though, slowly but surely.

First it will be games that are online/multiplayer focused.

Then it will be certain 'hardcore' titles that are digital only.

Both manufactures will offer all games as a digital option, then before you know it it's on the news that people are queuing outside HMV in London to collect their redeem code for the Latest COD.

[nakamura]

Steam users vs. Console users... The size difference is massive... the mainstream audience aren't ready for it yet...

I think you hugely underestimate the mainstream. All it will do is reduced the amount of big budget games in the market and mix it with more indie stuff for the less mainstream.

[Neon Ignition]

Unless they're scrapping online passes because they only make X amount from them and are hoping that if they reopen the floodgates they'll grab more $ via the tons of DLC that they're ramming down the throats of every title they plan to release.

[wakka]

None of the console manufacturers will be blocking used games - the amount of people that rely on being able to use old games to fund new ones is massive. Without the ability to do that console manufacturers and game developers/publishers alike would lose a lot of sales. It would be masochistic - cutting their nose to spite their face...

I don't think the manufacturers will be blocking used games either. But I think they'll put the facility in there, because the pressure to do so from big publishers is massive. The fact is that we're in the midst of a move towards digital-only distribution, which will naturally lock used games out anyway, so they're probably not thinking of it as that big of a deal.

Like Boris said, it will slowly creep in (as these things always do). CoD may well be the first title to go this route.

Steam users vs. Console users... The size difference is massive... the mainstream audience aren't ready for it yet...

Honestly I think people are more than ready for digital distribution. All the video rental chains are in the toilet, even Sky are using 'catch up' streaming TV as a selling point, Netflix is going from strength to strength, and the App Store is doing millions of dollars worth of business a day.

Not to mention the fact that Spotify and similar services are in the process of usurping sales of MP3s - this is effectively 'stage 2' digital distribution, where consumers have moved from buying single items digitally in the way they did when they were physical, to paying for access to a library of content that they rent on a monthly basis.

These aren't 'geek' or 'hardcore' services, they're used by 'norms'. Even girls!

[charlesr]

Good post.

I'm there already with Netflix (and previously Lovefilm DVD rental) - I haven't bought a film in years. I'm not there with music yet. For some reason, I'm really keen on getting CD quality rather than streaming quality music, but not for film. Maybe it's because I never had a Bluray player, so much of my amp's features are as yet untested (HD audio). When the Xbox3 or PS4 arrive in my lounge, maybe I'll go back to lovefilm for blurays, but I still can't see myself buying any blurays.

[originalbadboy]

I would never use streaming over blurays, for major films bluray is the only way to go, especially with a proper surround set up and a big screen or projector in this case. Streaming is fine for TV series etc though, I can handle that.

I am not as much an audiophile though so it doesn't bother me streaming from Spotify, they use 320kb/s anyway so unless you are very sensitive the difference is negligible, although I can tell the difference. Hopefully at some point they will start using FLAC or similar.

[englishbob]

Lenslok is the future of copy protection! Long live the Lenslok! It will also kill off the digital distribution channels overnight and therefore the horrendous price fixing, and bring about a glory day return to the high street of physical product!

[charlesr]

Yeah, most of my streaming is for TV series on netflix (currently on Burn Notice). I don't watch a lot of films. I think if I was a film buff, I'd be using bluray.

[Neon Ignition]

If publishers start locking out games I don't think CoD will be one of the first, Activision have been suprisingly reluctant to put any of this gens fads into CoD. They've avoided online passes and charging subscriptions, they've even been slow about none map pack dlc. They seem cautious about adding or enforcing anything that will rock the boat with the existing fanbase. If anyone makes the push it'll be either EA or or Ubisoft, they absolutely love obsessive control

[wakka]

Yeah I think you're probably right there CTN, I didn't consider that. I was just trying to think of a franchise with such overwhelming popularity that they could probably get away with any bull****.

[Brad]

I would never use streaming over blurays, for major films bluray is the only way to go, especially with a proper surround set up and a big screen or projector in this case. Streaming is fine for TV series etc though, I can handle that.

I am not as much an audiophile though so it doesn't bother me streaming from Spotify, they use 320kb/s anyway so unless you are very sensitive the difference is negligible, although I can tell the difference. Hopefully at some point they will start using FLAC or similar.

Whilst I currently insist on having FLACs of all my music I don't insist on listening to the FLAC versions because my current setup can't tell the difference between that and a 320k mp3 or Apple equivalent. Just future proofing myself I suppose although by the time I get kit that can take advantage of flac my ears will be too broken to appreciate it I imagine.

I can still tell a blu-ray from a streaming HD though but barely.

[Neon Ignition]

Yeah I think you're probably right there CTN, I didn't consider that. I was just trying to think of a franchise with such overwhelming popularity that they could probably get away with any bull****.

That's FIFA borked then