Latest Ubisoft DRM measure - all SP saves stored on a cloud server - by EvaUnit02
Fafhrd on 3/3/2010 at 03:36
Yeah, unless packaging is really super important to you, the software you bought second hand is identical to the software that was purchased originally. The table you bought second hand has innumerable scratches, dents, stains, probably wobbles a bit from when the leg broke and was glued back on, is missing one of the leaves so you can't extend it as far it's designed to go, etc.
gunsmoke on 3/3/2010 at 03:44
Damn, what kind of tables are you used to bro?
Fafhrd on 3/3/2010 at 03:47
The kind that I buy second hand.
Phatose on 3/3/2010 at 04:13
At any rate, I'm inclined to believe that any PC DRM is only directed at the used market in so much as widespread piracy makes it easier to get this stuff through and the PC can act as a test platform.
I'd even go as far as to say publishers anger against the secondhand market are almost entirely directed at Gamestop.
Yakoob on 3/3/2010 at 04:16
I think the problem could be fixed if all games simply self-degraded their data over time :D
Phatose on 3/3/2010 at 04:46
After a fashion, Bioware agrees.
lost_soul on 3/3/2010 at 04:47
Quote Posted by Fafhrd
Yeah, unless packaging is really super important to you, the software you bought second hand is identical to the software that was purchased originally. The table you bought second hand has innumerable scratches, dents, stains, probably wobbles a bit from when the leg broke and was glued back on, is missing one of the leaves so you can't extend it as far it's designed to go, etc.
If you take care of your stuff, it will last. This goes for *almost* anything. I've got a ZIP drive from thirteen years ago that looks and still works great, for example. When we purchase goods second-hand, we are taking a chance. We have no way of knowing if the seller is lying and if the disk is actually scratched to hell. There are ways to fix that though, with a disk doctor and the like. Fortunately for me, every product I've purchased (whose seller had advertised it as "like new") was in that condition.
lost_soul on 3/3/2010 at 04:51
Quote Posted by Yakoob
I think the problem could be fixed if all games simply self-degraded their data over time :D
Well, they could start selling games on '35 records. They could store them as analog noise, the way digital data used to be stored on audio tapes. Now, how many crates of records would it take to hold one of today's games? :)
Fafhrd on 3/3/2010 at 04:52
Quote Posted by Phatose
I'd even go as far as to say publishers anger against the secondhand market are almost entirely directed at Gamestop.
You'd be right. Especially considering how in a year that saw pretty much every major publisher take a net operating loss (including Activision), GameStop made a pretty massive profit. EA's 'Project Ten Dollar' is all about trying to hurt GameStop, and GameStop knows it and they're pissed off about it.
Chade on 3/3/2010 at 05:07
But games do degrade over time in many important ways - and much faster then tables, as well!
The bytes stored on a game cd are worthless - it is the game experience which has value. And the game experience can definately age over time. Just look at the words we choose: Graphics "age". Once sparkly game mechanics become "overused".
What does it mean for something to degrade? I'd say a good measure is percent reduction in market value over time. How much value does a game lose five years after it's release, compared to a table five years after production?
