Gaming
New Xbox: Volition welcomes used game lockout
Published Tuesday, Feb 7 2012, 09:49 GMT | By Liam Martin | 21 comments
Saints Row developer Volition has welcomed plans to lock out used games on the new Xbox.
Calling the proposed new system a "fantastic change for our business", Volition's Jameson Durall said that the technology was already in place for Microsoft to usher in a used game lock.
"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 your Xbox 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," writes Durall on #AltDevBlogADay.
"Ideally it would tie a full version to the console it is registered on so family members can play even if the main account isn't signed in, but this is exactly how their model works now anyway."
Explaining how developers make zero revenue from second-hand game sales, Durall said that he wasn't opposed to video game rentals, and that Microsoft could implement its own rental service.
"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. It would also send a percentage of the rental to the developer with each rental - likely improving the overall revenue we would receive from it."
Durall even suggested a game-lending policy between friends similar to the one used on Kindle.
"The license of the game could be transferred for a set time to another Gamertag and the original owner won't be able to play during that time. Seems like it could work."
Last month, it was claimed that the new Xbox will employ a technology to restrict used games. How the system would do so was not specified.
Other rumours suggest that the Xbox 720 will be six times more powerful than the current Xbox 360, will launch in October or November 2013 and will be available in two different editions.
One of the rumoured editions, codenamed 'Loop', will be "far cheaper" and more focused on the Kinect system.
The new Xbox is expected to be announced at E3 in June.
Watch a video of the Xbox's latest dashboard update below:
Calling the proposed new system a "fantastic change for our business", Volition's Jameson Durall said that the technology was already in place for Microsoft to usher in a used game lock.
© THQ
© Microsoft Games
"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 your Xbox 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," writes Durall on #AltDevBlogADay.
"Ideally it would tie a full version to the console it is registered on so family members can play even if the main account isn't signed in, but this is exactly how their model works now anyway."
Explaining how developers make zero revenue from second-hand game sales, Durall said that he wasn't opposed to video game rentals, and that Microsoft could implement its own rental service.
"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. It would also send a percentage of the rental to the developer with each rental - likely improving the overall revenue we would receive from it."
Durall even suggested a game-lending policy between friends similar to the one used on Kindle.
"The license of the game could be transferred for a set time to another Gamertag and the original owner won't be able to play during that time. Seems like it could work."
Last month, it was claimed that the new Xbox will employ a technology to restrict used games. How the system would do so was not specified.
Other rumours suggest that the Xbox 720 will be six times more powerful than the current Xbox 360, will launch in October or November 2013 and will be available in two different editions.
One of the rumoured editions, codenamed 'Loop', will be "far cheaper" and more focused on the Kinect system.
The new Xbox is expected to be announced at E3 in June.
Watch a video of the Xbox's latest dashboard update below:
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