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Vital Parts of Games As DLC?

Posted by Soulskill on from the drm-by-any-other-name dept.

Epic Games president Michael Capps did an interview recently with GamesIndustry, and he had some interesting things to say about the future of downloadable content, and how it will affect the retail games market. He also discussed the trend toward social gaming, and Epic's plans in that regard. Quoting: "I'm not sure how big it is here [in Europe], but the secondary market is a huge issue in the United States. Our primary retailer makes the majority of its money off of secondary sales, and so you're starting to see games taking proactive steps toward that by ... if you buy the retail version you get the unlock code. I've talked to some developers who are saying 'If you want to fight the final boss you go online and pay USD 20, but if you bought the retail version you got it for free.' We don't make any money when someone rents it, and we don't make any money when someone buys it used — way more than twice as many people played Gears than bought it."

3 of 446 comments (clear)

  1. Right of first sale by syousef · · Score: 5, Informative

    We don't make any money when someone rents it, and we don't make any money when someone buys it used -- way more than twice as many people played Gears than bought it."

    So what? A car manufacturer doesn't make money when a second hand car is sold. An actor doesn't get more money when a movie is rented.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine

    This fiction that every time a product is used, the people who made said product deserve to be compensated just shows up how greedy these people are. It's never worked this way before, and if you take this position and have ever bought anything second hand you're a hypocrite. Get a clue.

    --
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  2. Re:They're insane. by GigaplexNZ · · Score: 3, Informative

    Of course, this also begs the question: if a game can be sold at profit for less down the line, how the fuck can you justify the high price at release as something other than a money grab?

    To cover the initial development investments. Once they are paid off, profits are made and prices drop.

  3. Re:They're insane. by stormguard2099 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Of course, this also begs the question:

    no, that simply raises the question. begging the question refers to a logical fallacy where one uses circular reasoning.
    http://begthequestion.info/

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