Dice: Used games block ‘win and a loss’

A next-generation used games block would be a mixed bag for consumers, says Dice interim CEO and executive producer Patrick Bach.

"Yeah, I heard about that. I think that can be a win and a loss," he told CVG.

"I think it’s a loss if it only means that you will be able to get fewer games for the same money. But in theory you could see it the other way, because a lot of companies making games today are struggling based on second-hand sales."

Bach thinks that though customers would lose out on price-point, they would benefit from an industry more capable of taking finacial risks.

"If you think there are too few new IPs on the market, no one can take that risk if their game is at risk of being resold too many times."

This, he claims, is the reason so many online shooters are popular – and so formulaic; publishers want to push games that appeal to the largest market for new copies.

"So on the positive side you could see more games being created because of this, and also more new IPs, because there’d be a bigger market for games that don’t have for instance multiplayer."

"There could be awesome single player-only games, which you can’t really do these days because people just pirate them, which is sad."

The controversial pre-owned block could mean higher price points, and if rumors of online verification are true, then those without internet access would be unable to get next-generation games.

Last week, Crytek hastily withdrew a remark made by creative director Rasmus Hojengaard, claiming his statement that a used ban would be "absolutely awesome" was never meant to be taken seriously.

For Bach, it’s all a matter of perspective.

"If you want to buy as many games as possible then this could be a problem, but if you want more diverse games then it’s a more positive thing than negative. The only thing I know is that people are not doing it to be evil and stupid, it’s about trying to create some benefits for consumers."