Sony Blocks Online Play On Used Copies Of PSP SOCOM Game

[Alby_da_Wolf]

czecherychestnut said:
1. Who says its Sony attacking used game sales. Seems that if the code came along with the game, then even second hand you should still have access to online so long as the code comes with it. Unless I'm missing something.

2. As for the used car analogy, in the real world used car sales help new car sales by lowering the cost of ownership of a car. Lets say person A buys a $30k car. 3 years later he decides he wants to purchase a new car, which is also $30k. Now with used car sales, person A could sell their first car for $15k to person B, who could only ever afford a $15k car. Then person A goes and buys the new $30k car. Total cost = $45k.

In an alternative world where second hand cars were either banned or financially crippled (or taxed off the road like Japan), person A would have to greatly reduce the price of his 3 year old car to sell it, due to any potential owner having to spend big on whatever financial road blocks a company may put in. End result is person A pays more overall to purchase a new car, so they either buy a cheaper car that the car company makes less money on, or they purchase cars less frequently, making the car companies less money.

Its tempting to think that if used cars were banned, people would have to purchase new cars and so more money is made, but people only earn so much money each year, so for many if they couldn't buy a used car they would have to purchase a new cheaper car far less frequently, which flows onto richer people purchasing fewer cars because its more expensive for them to replace their current cars. End result is car companies make less money.

I don't see how game sales would be any different.

1. Yes, I noticed it too, actually if the used game comes with its code there should be no problem, so that measure, if we understood correctly, should hurt only pirates and people who buy from sloppy used games retailers that buy and sell them not complete of all their parts. This should acquit Sony and furtherly prove wrong those attacking used games market.

Edit @Tallgeese101: I didn't know the code is single use.

2. I agree, well explained too. BTW, used games market helps the most avid gamers to self finance their passion and increase their purchase: they'll buy new games if they have the money, while it's not so sure that those buying used games from them would buy as many games at full price, so used games ban would hit new games market even more than doing the same in the car market, as cars are necessary, games aren't. Not to mention that piracy would increase.