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Sony Refutes 'No Used Game Sales' Rumour

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the why-do-we-keep-hearing-the-rumour dept.

Eurogamer reports that the possibility of no used games sales for the PS3 has been vociferously refuted by Sony. From the article: "'We have definitely not been communicating that,' UK spokesperson Jennie Kong confirmed. 'It's false speculation. We don't have any further knowledge about this topic - either officially or unofficially, to be frank. ' It would appear that the report is based on the resurrection of a much earlier rumour in this regard, which surfaced most recently last November with claims that PS3 software would 'bind' to the first machine it was played on, and would be unusable on any other system." We discussed this possibility on Wednesday.

38 of 56 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting by flooey · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It's interesting the way they phrased their comments. The quotations in the article from the present never say they aren't planning on it, they only say that the rumors about them telling people they're going to are false. The one quote in the article that says that every PS3 will be able to play every disc comes from a November statement (though the PR person does say "there has been no official comment on this since the story that came up a few months ago - it hasn't changed since then").

    1. Re:Interesting by dbhankins · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Even the way the previous comment was phrased leaves loads of wiggle room.

      "It won't be copy-protected to a single system". Well, it's not copy protection that's being contemplated here, so that doesn't make them liars if they nodelock.

      "Any PS3 game will be playable on any PS3 system." Again, this would be true even if they nodelocked it. A nodelocking game disk will play on any system you put it in...once. And if you take "game" to mean "title" rather than "disk", it says even less; it only says that PS3 systems will play PS3 games.

      And we all know that "We have no plans to do that" is bureaucracy-speak for "We're working feverishly on our plans for doing that but haven't finished those plans yet. But when we do have plans, we'll do that thing as quick as we can." The statement they made was even weaker than "We have no plans." It's "We don't know about any plans."

      In other words, their denial is a non-denial that actually communicates no information, besides "I hear nothing, I see nothing, I know *nothing*!", or at best, "I never said *that*!"

    2. Re:Interesting by Bogtha · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's interesting the way they phrased their comments.

      You can say that again. Is that what passes for English these days? Here's a handy translation:

      We have definitely not been communicating that

      We didn't say that.

      It's false speculation.

      It's not true.

      We don't have any further knowledge about this topic - either officially or unofficially, to be frank.

      I don't know anything else.

      It sounds like she needs to read Orwell's Politics and the English Language.

      --
      Bogtha Bogtha Bogtha
  2. RE by Alex+P+Keaton+in+da · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When it becomes illegal to sell used products, we will know that teh corporations have won. Wouldn't Ford/GM other car companies love it if you could only buy new cars?
    Sony would also like us to only sleep with virgins too, right?

    --
    And All I Ask is a Tall Ship And a Star to Steer Her By
    1. Re:RE by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sony would also like us to only sleep with virgins too, right?

      It's not like there aren't any countries where that is pretty much how it is. Durka durka!

    2. Re:RE by Jimmy+King · · Score: 1

      Sony would also like us to only sleep with virgins too, right? Who wouldn't like to only sleep with virgins. I fully support Sony's plan for me to only sleep with women who have no way of judging that I'm terrible in bed.

    3. Re:RE by Tweekster · · Score: 1

      The question is...who would want to sleep with a virgin.

      --
      The phrase "more better" is acceptable English. suck it grammar Nazis
    4. Re:RE by Jazzer_Techie · · Score: 1

      I really think from a business standpoint, banning used game resales just doesn't make much sense, especially with games being $50+. In my experience at least, those who have a little more money buy the games new, and then when they resell them, that money is usually invested right back into new games. If I only have $30, Sony isn't going to get a new game sale. But with a good used market, I can buy GTA VIII from the guy down the street, and while that money isn't going directly to Sony, there's a good chance that he's going to reinvest it in new games.

    5. Re:RE by LunaticTippy · · Score: 1

      People who are threatened by a lover who knows what they want.

      --
      Man, you really need that seminar!
    6. Re:RE by Mistshadow2k4 · · Score: 1

      "Who wouldn't like to only sleep with virgins"

      Me. Virgins reach orgasm in seconds and don't how to give even half-decent oral sex, leaving a woman looking for a guy with a modicum of self-control and knowledge of how to soemthing with his tongue other than bragging to his friends about how many bitches he's slept with. Oh, wait, you're talking about female virgins, right? Then I'm definitely not interested. But I probably wouldn't be even if I were male, as I'm not the type to use someone once and then throw them away.

      --
      I dream of a better world... one in which chickens can cross roads without their motives being questioned.
    7. Re:RE by ignatz72 · · Score: 1

      I, for one, welcome our virgin peddling overlords!

      But nodelock me, and the next virgin through the door better be hot and carrying an xbox under one arm and a wii in the other...

    8. Re:RE by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      On the other hand, I only buy games that I will never sell. I only buy games that have enough replay value that by the time I'm done with it, it's only worth maybe $10 used, so I really don't have much incentive to buy it. There's a couple games that I've considered getting rid of, but for the most part, all the games I buy have given my tons of play time.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  3. Any other clarificaitons? by crummyname · · Score: 1, Informative

    I hope Sony also vociferously refutes speculation of a $600 price tag for the PS3.

    --
    Help kill corporate productivity!
    1. Re:Any other clarificaitons? by Headcase88 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Agreed.

      --
      "When the atomic bomb goes off there's devastation...but when the atomic bong goes off there's celebraaaaation!"
  4. Whatever by mcc · · Score: 1
    If you don't like the way they phrased that denial, here's the other denial they issued:
    "These rumours are unfounded and, to my knowledge, SCEE has no plans to change our business model to adopt such a system."
    Note that's from Games Radar, the site that originated this rumor in the first place.
    --
    Irritable, left-wing and possibly humorous bumper stickers and t-shirts
    1. Re:Whatever by mcc · · Score: 1

      The rumor they are denying here was never reported as concerning any portion of Sony except SCEE UK in the first place.

      --
      Irritable, left-wing and possibly humorous bumper stickers and t-shirts
  5. Not surprised. by Halloran · · Score: 1

    First there is a high price point, and now there are rumors of stringent license/pricing restrictions on software.

    Sounds like this console is not being guided in a positive direction...

  6. Remember... by SoCalChris · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is the same company that basically said "Most people don't know what a rootkit is, so it doesn't really matter." and "The PS3 would sell 5 million units, even if we didn't release any games."

    I'm taking everything they say with a large grain of salt.

    1. Re:Remember... by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      along as it's negative

      Go through life expecting the worst, and you'll occasionally be pleasantly surprised.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    2. Re:Remember... by Amouth · · Score: 1

      "I'm taking everything they say with a large grain of salt."

      Well i found a sufficient supply for you... althought i don't recommend it (may be toxic to your health)

      http://www.pnl.gov/energyscience/03-00/ws.htm

      --
      '...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  8. What's true is a lot more scary for Sony... by ofcourseyouare · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Okay, so this story seems to be an urban fairytale. Like the one that Sony faked the BluRay demo a couple of weeks back.

    But together these stories reflect something real and very scary for Sony: that since Rootkitgate or maybe E3, they've fallen into every PR guy's worst nightmare - a black hole where people resent a company so much that they believe anything bad they hear about it. This is the real story, and Sony needs to be very worried about it...

    1. Re:What's true is a lot more scary for Sony... by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      But together these stories reflect something real and very scary for Sony: that since Rootkitgate or maybe E3

      As a percentage of the population, practically nobody knows about the 'rootkit' thing (It wasn't even a rootkit, but we all call it that now ever since the telephone game changed it from 'uses rootkit technology' to 'rootkit'). Same goes for rumors like this. Most people don't follow day to day platform news.

    2. Re:What's true is a lot more scary for Sony... by NoodleSlayer · · Score: 1

      EXCEPT for the fact that Sony has a PATENT on this... It's much more then a simple rumor. Does them having a patent mean they're going to use it? No. Does it mean that they've thought about using it? Definately.

    3. Re:What's true is a lot more scary for Sony... by ClamIAm · · Score: 1
      [Sony's fallen into] a black hole where people resent a company so much that they believe anything bad they hear about it.

      When you say it like that, it sounds pretty bad. But is it really all that different from entities like Microsoft, EA, or even the Bush Administration? I don't think it is.

  9. Right of first sale Vs. Service fee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Attacking used/rental game sales is not the right way to increase profit. For a long time to come, there will be other consoles that support used/rental games and the consoles that don't will be at a disadvantage for adoption.

    The method that will be used to increase profit is to continue the trend of associating a "service fee" with online playing. That way, even if the user has a second hand game, the company still continue to collect if the user wants to take advantage of the full functionality of the game.

  10. Very interesting times by TommyBear · · Score: 2, Insightful

    OT, but what the hell. I've been sitting back watching all this fuss directed at Sony with some interest. What seems to be happening here is that Sony is the whipping boy of the month. There is so much FUD, and yes it is FUD, being spread by Sony's competitors and fanboys of other systems that's it not funny anymore.

    This particular FUD which ./ has seen fit to propagate in previous stories, is based on some patent Sony filed in PS1 days and pertains to CD-ROMs from all accounts. Why the hell would Sony want to attack users and their retail partners? While appeasing publishers, moves like this would hurt adoption. No adoption, not content investment.

    I'm not impressed with any of the consoles at the moment, but all this FUD being thrown at Sony is unfair, and the ./ crowd know what it feels like more than anyone else, so how about giving it a break.

    1. Re:Very interesting times by TommyBear · · Score: 1

      sorry that was meant to be:

      No adoption, no content investment.

    2. Re:Very interesting times by Doodlepants · · Score: 1

      I agree that FUD is being used here.

  11. Well to quote blackadders dad by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1

    Only one of you needs to be a virgin.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  12. A quick poll by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1
    How many of you had to look up what "vociferously" meant? (I did)

    And how many of you commented on the story anyway without knowing what it meant?

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:A quick poll by barefootgenius · · Score: 1

      Vociferous
      adjective
      Vociferous people express their opinions and complaints loudly and repeatedly in speech, and vociferous demands, etc. are made repeatedly and loudly.

      Damn, I read it as veraciously....

      --
      /. bug #926803 - Why I can post.
    2. Re:A quick poll by ClamIAm · · Score: 1

      I think a larger number of us used our reasoning skills to deduce the meaning from the surrounding words. It's a component of something called "reading comprehension".

  13. Sounds good! by jpardey · · Score: 2, Funny

    That means that once she is no longer a virgin, she is nodelocked to me!

    Then again, that is already enforced in some cases, with shotguns. We must think through the terrible possibilities of our policies before making any such blunders.

    --
    I have freaks! I did something right...
  14. There should be a large public backlash... by Hamster+Lover · · Score: 1

    Regardless of whether this story is accurate or not, there should be a large and vociforous reaction from the public that they will not tolerate restrictions on used game sales. It seems that damaging public relations, and by extension a corporation's bottom line, is the only way to get our message through. Likewise with the rootkit fiasco, the next time we even get a whiff of Sony adding new copy protection controls on their CDs, benign or not, we need to twist the knife in that wound to our benefit. God knows Sony are happy to use every lever they have in Congress to achieve their own ends.

    Sorry, Sony.

  15. Here's a thought for you... by KitesWorld · · Score: 1

    What if this is something that they *are* actually doing? Who would they be targetting this funcionality at? Tip : It's not the end user. The cost of education (and incoming litigation) regarding this would be extremely expensive, and the lost goodwill would do more damage to the company than even *we* can imagine. If it was implemented, chances are that there would be a bit set in a header somewhere on the disc that says 'this game binds' or 'this game doesn't bind'. The developers or publishers could then set that bit at will. Why would they do that? To stop internal development copies bieng used outside the company. Think about it - you set the bit to 'on' for all development discs - the ones testers are using, for instance. They then get locked to the machine of the respective tester. If the disc gets 'lost' or leaked, the finder (or reciever) cannot use the disc, and gets nothing from it. IE, it's a great way to improve internal security for your projects. Turn the bit back to the 'off' position when it's time to publish (or else make sure that the mass production presses wont stamp an image that has the 'on' switch set), and the general public can use the finished game the same way they always have. They'd never know differently. If one of the console developers ever implemented a system like that, this is what its most likely to be used for.

  16. bah, formatting... by KitesWorld · · Score: 1

    Same post, set to 'plain old text'.

    What if this is something that they *are* actually doing? Who would they be targetting this funcionality at?

    Tip : It's not the end user. The cost of education (and incoming litigation) regarding this would be extremely expensive, and the lost goodwill would do more damage to the company than even *we* can imagine.

    If it was implemented, chances are that there would be a bit set in a header somewhere on the disc that says 'this game binds' or 'this game doesn't bind'. The developers or publishers could then set that bit at will. Why would they do that?

      To stop internal development copies bieng used outside the company. Think about it - you set the bit to 'on' for all development discs - the ones testers are using, for instance. They then get locked to the machine of the respective tester. If the disc gets 'lost' or leaked, the finder (or reciever) cannot use the disc, and gets nothing from it. IE, it's a great way to improve internal security for your projects. Turn the bit back to the 'off' position when it's time to publish (or else make sure that the mass production presses wont stamp an image that has the 'on' switch set), and the general public can use the finished game the same way they always have.

    They'd never know differently. If one of the console developers ever implemented a system like that, this is what its most likely to be used for.

  17. No promise for the future Sony?? by Lifelike · · Score: 1

    I thought it was interesting that, semantic quibbling aside, Sony is screaming that they have never told us about any plans to specially protect their software from second-hand sales- yet they make no promise to not do it again. Hell, they could just as easily come out tommorrow with an announcement that the PS3 will be nodeprotecteed and hell, they wouldn't be contradicting themselves. For me I'd be a lot more reassured if Sony would promise to never nodeprotect any of their software, not that they have "definitely not been communicating that". Geeze. And voiciferously sounds like voice+forcefully to me, so that's the way I remember that little SAT gem.