Game Endings to become DLC?

orderoftheflame · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:09

Out of interest.

How many people know people that phsyically can't (read can't, not don't or can't be bothered to set it up) connect their xbox/ps3 to the internet.

Streeteh · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:12

orderoftheflame said:
Out of interest.

How many people know people that phsyically can't (read can't, not don't or can't be bothered to set it up) connect their xbox/ps3 to the internet.

Well, i know 2 guys with 'next gen' consoles, out of those, one of them can't connect it to the net... the other can't be bothered.

orderoftheflame · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:16

Streeteh said:
Well, i know 2 guys with 'next gen' consoles, out of those, one of them can't connect it to the net... the other can't be bothered.

In what way can't he connect?

I was thinking along the lines of people with no physical DSL connection in their home etc.

If you can move your xbox to a connection point, download some updates and then move it back I'd say you can connect.

Chronictank · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:17

orderoftheflame said:
Out of interest.

How many people know people that phsyically can't (read can't, not don't or can't be bothered to set it up) connect their xbox/ps3 to the internet.

I can physically do it, but it involves running taking a tv and console downstairs to the router and plugging it in

I bought a console for ease of use and quick gameplay, not spending a hour moving things about and waiting for the last level to download...
Put bluntly if it needed to be on the net for everything i personally wouldnt bother getting it at all/pirate it simply because i refuse to fund stupidity
Let alone pay for live (which will inevitably happen when you HAVE to download the extra content if you start giving concessions to the developers like this)

This completely ignoring people with dl limits etc.. on their internet packages

Streeteh · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:19

orderoftheflame said:
In what way can't he connect?

I was thinking along the lines of people with no physical DSL connection in their home etc.

If you can move your xbox to a connection point, download some updates and then move it back I'd say you can connect.

Well, he's moved into a flat without a 'connected' phoneline (£120 to get it connected) and virgin refused to fit cable as he's on the second story, apparently that makes it impossible despite being in a cabled area. He uses one of those t-mobile broadband dongle thingies that basically restricts him to only browsing the web on his laptop, it doesn't even allow things like bbc iplayer, let alone xbox live.

He's planning to cart his xbox over to my flat and hook it up to my router when the NXE comes out, would that count as access to a net connection by your terms?

Chronictank · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:21

The real question should have been is it practical to connect their xbox to the net

orderoftheflame · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:24

Chronictank said:
I can physically do it, but it involves running taking a tv and console downstairs to the router and plugging it in

I bought a console for ease of use and quick gameplay, not spending a hour moving things about and waiting for the last level to download...
Put bluntly if it needed to be on the net for everything i personally wouldnt bother getting it at all/pirate it simply because i refuse to fund stupidity
Let alone pay for live (which will inevitably happen when you HAVE to download the extra content if you start giving concessions to the developers like this)

This completely ignoring people with dl limits etc.. on their internet packages

Calm down!

It was just a quick question to see how many people it actually would effect. I'd have thought the benefits of Live even on a silver account would be worth buying a couple of homeplugs for. Even for most people.

You don't have to pay for a silver live subscription (and I doubt it would ever be phased out), and I'd have thought it was more likely that devs would include a code for the last level, not charge you to download it.

Streeteh said:
Well, he's moved into a flat without a 'connected' phoneline (£120 to get it connected) and virgin refused to fit cable as he's on the second story, apparently that makes it impossible despite being in a cabled area. He uses one of those t-mobile broadband dongle thingies that basically restricts him to only browsing the web on his laptop, it doesn't even allow things like bbc iplayer, let alone xbox live.

He's planning to cart his xbox over to my flat and hook it up to my router when the NXE comes out, would that count as access to a net connection by your terms?

Nah I'd say he doesn't have a net connection.

Kreeeee · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:25

Margaret said:
Not everybody has their consoles connected to the net.

Also if they did that and the same disc image was around the net thousands of people could all have the same copy trying to play at once.

Er... what?

Everyone would have an identical disc but they use a cd key when they first play the game. You don't need the internet for it and the whole point is that if all the pirates try to use the same key at once then they can't play it online.

I'd really appreciate you expanding on your points because either I've misunderstood them or you seem to be confused about what a cd key is.

Chronictank · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:26

orderoftheflame said:
Calm down!

It was just a quick question to see how many people it actually would effect.

You don't have to pay for a silver live subscription (and I doubt it would ever be phased out), and I'd have thought it was more likely that devs would include a code for the last level, not charge you to download it.

Sry

Just getting a tad tierd of the "jump through our hoops" mentality games developers seem to be adopting nowdays
I also honestly doubt they would drop the game prices at all, simply add another fee on top

Regarding the subscription, i was more meaning "you get x ending level for free, if you want x additional ending levels then pay for live" type thing

Bigpig · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:32

Dint epic have a big mad whinge about unreal on the pc? They starting to get on my ****

Don't they know that a lot of people sell there second hand games so they can aford new ones ect?

Margaret · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:34

Kreeeee said:
Er... what?

Everyone would have an identical disc but they use a cd key when they first play the game. You don't need the internet for it and the whole point is that if all the pirates try to use the same key at once then they can't play it online.

I'd really appreciate you expanding on your points because either I've misunderstood them or you seem to be confused about what a cd key is.

Well, my point is that for example my Call of Duty 2 PC cd-key can be used by multiple people at the same time, not all at once I believe as you'll get kicked off if I remember correctly. It's not tied to an account.

But what's to stop people renting a game, copying it then passing that image all over the net, unless they don't specify the cd-key that rental will be ruined for online play.

If they attach the cd-keys to your gamertag then that will also ruin the rental and second hard market.

Kreeeee · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:43

Margaret said:
Well, my point is that for example my Call of Duty 2 PC cd-key can be used by multiple people at the same time, not all at once I believe as you'll get kicked off if I remember correctly. It's not tied to an account.

But what's to stop people renting a game, copying it then passing that image all over the net, unless they don't specify the cd-key that rental will be ruined for online play.

If they attach the cd-keys to your gamertag then that will also ruin the rental and second hard market.

Their aim is to stop pirates and the second hand market as neither of them get the developers any money. I agree with your point that it stops rentals and offline piracy will still be an issue but offline piracy can never be stopped, and using cd-keys to play online would stop an awful lot of pirates (How often do pirates get online in modern PC games?).

PiKe · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:00

Kreeeee said:
Their aim is to stop pirates and the second hand market as neither of them get the developers any money. I agree with your point that it stops rentals and offline piracy will still be an issue but offline piracy can never be stopped, and using cd-keys to play online would stop an awful lot of pirates (How often do pirates get online in modern PC games?).

They run their own cracked servers on PC though, on the 360 they wouldn't even have that option, so arguably, it would work better.

rjk · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:01

i think they run the risk of turning console games into pc games by doing this

TwoSaints · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:03

The second hand market does make money for the developers and publishers of games, sure it isn't direct, but there are a lot of people who trade in games in order to be able to afford new ones. each time that happens the game shop still pays the same amount of money to the developer for the new game purchased, and it is the shop that loses out until it can shift on that 2nd hand game.

Also there are a number of customers who will buy games with the attitude: 'well if i don't like it I can trade it in'. If they can't trade in in the future they will put more thought into their purchases which will slow down considerably the new game market IMO.

I think if there was no second hand market then the new game market wouldn't be either as healthy or as varied as it is.

PiKe · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:03

rjkoneill said:
i think they run the risk of turning console games into pc games by doing this

What? lol.

rp2000 · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:15

Stupid idea tbh. I thought it was a good idea for gears 2 originally, but then I realised the map packs alienate offline players. They paid the same amount for the game as me yet have less maps to play in LAN or system link mode etc.

If they pay specifically for an online function, then sure you get benefits, but that is what Gold membership is for.

I don't think it is unreasonable to say 50% of people who buy these consoles are offline for some reason.

Obviously games developers/publishers/companies have their reasons for doing/suggesting this. But not enough people have broadband compared to the actual userbases involved, nor, I suspect, have the capacity/inclination/desire to be downloading huge chunks of games to play. The great thing about consoles is the plug and play nature, this is moving away from that for the average user imo.

Better off spending more money securing their systems rather than inconveniencing average joe users because they are unable to.

rp2000

PiKe · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:20

rp2000 said:
Stupid idea tbh. I thought it was a good idea for gears 2 originally, but then I realised the map packs alienate offline players. They paid the same amount for the game as me yet have less maps to play in LAN or system link mode etc.

Chances are if they can't be bothered to plug in a LAN cable for live, they won't for system link either.

rp2000 · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:23

PiKe said:
Chances are if they can't be bothered to plug in a LAN cable for live, they won't for system link either.

Why do you assume people who are not on live can't be bothered to plug in a LAN cable? I would hazard the reason most people are not on Live is due them not having Wifi on their 360, not having broadband etc (cost reasons, not lazy reasons).

Plus even then, if they pay the same amount for the game they should get the same features, bar Gold features which you pay a different unrelated subscription for (i.e. not specifically for this 1 game).

rp2000

PiKe · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:24

rp2000 said:
Why do you assume people who are not on live can't be bothered to plug in a LAN cable? I would hazard the reason most people are not on Live is due them not having Wifi on their 360, not having broadband etc (cost reasons, not lazy reasons).

rp2000

Probably the same people who pirate games then if they can't afford broadband, no great loss.

Good job I don't work for Microsoft isn't it?