On Download Content (DLC) for Core Features

[sakanagai]

The trend is almost disturbing, but there is a distinct effort to get console games to shed one of their last remaining advantages over PC games: transferability. You buy a PC game, you buy the license where the only item of value is the product key or serial number that gets permanently tied to your computer or account. The resale market is

Comments

[guyblade]

The worst part is that while the consoles are becoming more PC-like through DLC replacing CD-Keys of old, PCs are becoming an almost untenable place to play major releases. Ubisoft's "must have a perfect internet connection" DRM is quite frankly ridiculous and I suspect things will only go down hill from there.

[sakanagai]

This is indeed a bleak future for gaming in general. Luckily, as gaming engines get more complex, pushing the limits of what can be done on a PC, scaling is also working in the other direction. Even the lower end graphics cards can run most games with reduced quality at most standard resolutions. And massive jumps is requirements have Been fairly infrequent recently. Heck, Crysis is still the prime benchmark for gaming.

DRM is working against PC gaming by presenting a needlessly restrictive environment for no other reason than protecting against a threat that they themselves helped foster. As DRM fails us as it did with Assassin's Creed 2, the negative attention detracts sales and provides motivation to change tactics. Steam is a step in the right direction, supporting offline gaming with limitations and presenting a solid community and content management that some see as a value added. Still, we have also seen Steam titles using third party DRM so even that shift can be tainted.

DLG = downloadable games

[pinano]

It's all over for resales once the console market completely transitions over to games on demand. You're just leasing games at that point.

Re: DLG = downloadable games

[sakanagai]

One of the primary reasons I haven't cared at all about the PSP Go and still buy physical media when available. I'm not sure what I'll end up doing once that option is no longer available.