Next Xbox pre-owned block "would be fantastic"

A design director at developer Volition has claimed that any next-gen move to block the use of pre-owned software would be fantastic”.

I think this would be a fantastic change for our business and even though the consumers would be up in arms about it at first they will grow to understand why and that it won’t kill them,” Jameson Durall stated.

The system is already there for Microsoft, all they’d have to do is use the DLC and codes model they have to tie a game to yourXbox live account. Each retail disc would likely need that unique key somewhere in the code so the account would be able to link it properly.”

Durall even goes on to speculate how Microsoft could tackle some of the issues such a strategy would introduce.

It does have its faults that would have to ironed out like game rental,” he added.I’m a fan of rental companies because they have to buy copies of the game to be able to rent them out and if someone likes the game, there is a chance they would purchase it for themselves.

I could see Microsoft implementing their own rental service which would maybe give them a code that activates the game for X days and they are charged a small amount. This could work when you borrow the disc from someone or even with digital download of the full version.

As would perhaps be expected from a developer, Durall also has grave predictions of what will happen to gaming if the ‘problem’ of pre-owned is not tackled.

I fully believe that we have to do something about these issues or our industry is going to fall apart,” he argues.People often don’t understand the cost that goes into creating these huge experiences that we put on the shelves for only $60.

They also don’t seem to realize how much they are hurting us when they buy a used game and how pirating a copy is just plain stealing. Maybe something as simple as educating them could help solve the problem.

I know that some will say I’m not considering the retail games stores and the impact something like this would have on them…but remember they were doing fine well before the used games market became such a staple of their business. The truth is, they aren’t concerned with how this business is affecting us so why should I care how these changes will affect them?

Every game I buy is NEW fromAmazon.comand it arrives at my door on or close to release day, shipped free with no tax. The proper revenue also gets to the Developer that created it…how could a retail store ever get more convenient than that?”