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Bleak Future for Videogame Customers

Posted by michael on from the imagine-a-boot dept.

jvm writes "A recent commentary on Curmudgeon Gamer speculates on the future of the videogame market. Among the predictions: no more rentals from video stores, no used games market, no lending games to friends, less upgradeable computers, pay-as-you-play software subscriptions, and other consumer-unfriendly changes. In all, less gaming value for your hard-earned dollar."

8 of 399 comments (clear)

  1. Bleak? by sczimme · · Score: 5, Funny


    With a name like 'Curmudgeon Gamer', would you expect an upbeat article?

    :-)

    --
    I want to drag this out as long as possible. Bring me my protractor.
  2. Keep Trying Harder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    If they try hard enough, maybe they can kill off the gaming market althogether.

  3. Damn, now I have to compromise national security by John+Jorsett · · Score: 5, Funny
    Quake players didn't find themselves looking for a no-CD hack and Half-life players didn't need to connect to a master server to play single-player games, but DooM III and Half-life 2 owners just might have to.

    This is going to make it really tough playing it at work in a DoD Tempest-shielded room. I may have to drill a hole to run a net cable ...

    (Just kidding, guys: put away your ISP subpoenas)

  4. Problem will solve itself by fleener · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't worry. Any self-respecting gamer who has played with voice chat on Xbox knows pay-for-play is doomed.

    The idea seems cool, until you strap on your headset and start listening to your teammates' squeaky prepubescent voices. No thanks. I'll stick to lan parties.

  5. Re:Poorly written and poorly conceived. by Babbster · · Score: 2, Funny

    Of course. Also in "the future," I will also have a jet pack and a robot maid.

  6. The Sky Is Falling by superultra · · Score: 4, Funny

    Also in the news, e-books from Amazon will obiliterate the printed book market, grocery delivery services will annihilate the brick and mortar grocery stores, DigiScent smelling PC devices are the next video cards, broadband video retails are the wave of the future, and PointCast rocks.

    (I'd have thrown in more digitally oriented links, but the websites are all, well, gone)

  7. Re:Physcal media is dead, long live the bit... by MMaestro · · Score: 2, Funny
    Only certain games have that, and thankfully I haven't run into any games like that. The last thing I wanna have to tell my friends at a LAN party is :

    Me : "Hey guys we gotta go out and by X copies of the game for CD keys because we can play!"
    Them : "Its 1 AM, shut up and find up a CD key generator then."
    Me : "Right-o, looking for a CD key generator."

    Hmm, nevermind then..

  8. Re:Physcal media is dead, long live the bit... by SScorpio · · Score: 3, Funny

    They don't need cracks because they are crack.