Sony May Use Downloads To Fight Piracy

Gamaustra reports that Sony may be planning to use game downloads to deter piracy in Asia. From the article: "According to the article, Yasuda is quoted as saying that the 2006 plan of SCE Asia is to construct a PlayStation 3 infrastructure on which software makers can distribute software digitally ... selected developers will get prototype funding from KIPA, and additional post-prototype funding from SCEJ, as well as free technical support and PlayStation 3 development kit rentals. Further online reports have indicated that digital downloads of game material, as currently available for the Xbox 360, should be relatively simple with the PlayStation 3, though details of the PS3's online service are still closely veiled." Kotaku, meanwhile, reports that some Korean developers don't like this idea.

Comments

I am not a lawyer

[SmallFurryCreature]

But if you read the conditions for the korean developers then it seems to translate pretty much as, we ownerz you. But with more leet speak.

No wonder they are offended. Oh well, sony getting public relations wrong. Gee, that is a new one.

What I find odd is that no mention is made of how the bloody hell you are going to download games on a machine with no HD. Oh yeah there will an add on but that makes it hardly a tool to deter pirating is it now. Have the game for free OR get a small discount on the game + buy an expensive addon. Now that is an easy choice. I got a great new idea to deter PC pirating. How about you have to upgrade to vista and an ALL new DRM PC and if you do that we knock 10% of the game price.

There is a far simpler move to combat piracy. It involves 3 steps. First game length related to price. Full price == baldur gate type length. 8 hour play time == $4.95... canadian. Second, don't fuck with paying consumers, there is no point copy protection, only paying customers are affected. Finally, make it worth buy the fucking game. I am old but I remember the days when games game with full manuals with listed not just the keys but also had background info. Make it worth opening that box and getting that magic feeling of holding a new game. Who ever invented PDF manual on CD should be shot.

It has been a long time since I was really excited about a new game. Perhaps I am getting to old to game or perhaps recent games just are to meh.

Re:I am not a lawyer

[drewmca]

I agree wholeheartedly. I remember the days of the old Origin games, where you got full color maps, supplements, a history to read, etc. It was just fun, and made you feel like you'd got your money's worth. Now, PC games just throw a reference card in (if you're lucky) and have a CD booklet with install instructions. Console games have 5 page manuals, 3 of which include seizure warnings, a blank "notes" page (what the hell for?), and a diagram showing the buttons on the controller that DOESN'T even show what the buttons are used for in that game (it just shows the controller so you know what "A" and "B" refer to). The 2 pages of actual game material are in 20pt font and mostly tell you how to put the disc in the drive.

The glory days of buying a game and getting excited to take it home are long gone. I guess too much money is made licensing out to Brady and Prima for game guides. And even they're not that engaging.

You know why this is?

[absurdist]

Simple.

Because people keep BUYING the games without them.

Artwork, maps, and the like are an added expense. And as long as customers are willing to whine, moan, and complain... but keep buying the product... why would you expect publishers to do otherwise?

Things like this are why I got out of gaming when I sold my C-64. Sure, the graphics have gotten better. But is there anyone here who can honestly say that the game play has improved so much that it's worth being treated like a thief on the one hand and an open wallet on the other?