[Source Kotaku]

Today in worlds worst ideas...

How'd You Like Your Game Ending to Be DLC?

Downloadable content as a weapon against second-hand resales is, nothing new, but Epic's Mike Capps has heard other ideas for how it can be used with devastating effect. If you hated the idea of DLC weapons in Bad Company, well, you're really going to hate this.

“I’ve talked to some developers who are saying ‘If you want to fight the final boss you go online and pay USD 20, but if you bought the retail version you got it for free’. We don’t make any money when someone rents it, and we don’t make any money when someone buys it used - way more than twice as many people played Gears than bought it.”

That would reduce everything but a retail sale to a demo, in my view. This doesn't sound like Capps specifically advocating such a bastard-ass move. But these two sides — developers and retailer/resellers — need to arrive at some sort of truce or else the only ones who'll get screwed are the gamers.

I can't imagine the Amazon and Metacritic reviews for such a game. It would make the Spore DRM backlash look like a polite disagreement. Seriously, games industry, you want to start spewing douchewater like the RIAA, go for it. They can tell you what it's done for their sales.

Capps: We Really Need to Make Strides Against the Secondhand Market [Videogaming247, via Bingegamer]

And I understand they just want to be paid for their work, I just think it's a terrible approach.

*shakes head*

People just don't get it. You can't treat your customers like criminals. In the end, you'll lose the ones that pay while people will still figure out a way to pirate your stuff.

Capps isn't really advocating this kind of douchebaggery, but you know some developers are.

I would advocate burning these people in effigy, yea, and then peeing on the ashes.

Forcing it on people...?

Lol @ that concept. Why would anyone buy the game if it's not worth its price and its just easier to rent it? forcing a purchase is better, right? douchy approach.

I'm not really sure what he means, he says if you get the retail copy, the final boss is free..... so do the rental copies do not have it (that would be rubbish because the rental places have to pay more for their games) or just those who downloaded it.... but if these games aren't downloadable, I am finding it quite confusing

I would not purchase said game if that ever happened.

Like twesterm said, ask the RIAA about that. Sales are down and with good measure.

People who buy the game new will get the full game (the game would come with a code for a free download). 

People that rent the game or buy it used would be forced to pay $20 if they wanted to finish the game.

-edit-

You also have to wonder about people that don't have a broadband connection for their console.  Would they just be screwed no matter what the option?

well, the secorom scandal didn't really get me mad at maxis/ea for spore, but this would probably make me pay people to NOT buy their game just to see the evil swine go bankrupt.

Yeah I was just thinking about those people, totally and utterly srewed. I would not mind if there was an extra chapter that you could download for free first hand, (as I always buy my games new) but I still think this is entirely pointless. If they really wanted to cut down the second hand market, they can just limit games to be played on a certain number of PSN/XBL accounts.

That would still be horrible, and Epic cannot complain, I read that Gears 1 was in development for a few years, with a max of about 30 people working on it at a time, using their engine, and then sold 5m copies, they are not exactly short of money from Gears.