Consoles → Re: New Xbox Always Online, Game Activation Code Rumors

You can guaran-damn-tee that there will be some enterprising hackers/modders who will see to it to find a way to break such DRM systems if they are indeed the case. The fact that it's on a console doesn't mean much in that regard. However, such unfriendly DRM will motivate those who feel it is in their ethical mandate to go do so.

Many PC titles that are released with such draconian DRM are usually patched/hacked or successfully pirate-able within a week of release... or even "going gold." All such DRM will do is piss off paying customers.

Another thing that was brought up was about how sales on Steam seem to be alluded to as a way of making such a system work. Well, the reason that it works, is because at least on PC and Mac, most any (r)etailer will not accept a return of a game that doesn't work under any circumstance, and the ability to really resell such a thing has been mostly killed off well before Steam entered the arena. But the sales and deep discounts Steam offers should be an example of how the console makers could actually motivate people to adopt digital download purchases if that's the route they want to go.

But the problem is, neither Sony, Microsoft nor Nintendo will ever do it. I most recently ended up buying Paper Mario on 3DS because it was a game I wanted, and Nintendo was offering an additional bonus at the time for buying the download version. However, they would not cut any kind of price break for getting it on download instead. And to date, they've yet to offer any games for any kind of discounted rate. WiiU might have some "discounted" rates for downloaded VC games right now, but said discounts only apply if you already owned the Wii version of said download game in question. Even that grossly cheapens the effect. Now, if it were possible to actually purchase download copies of a game for a significant cost savings vs. retail and having more 'friendly' DRM (say, like steam where it only matters what account is logged in to play it), then I would expect to see digital downloads for consoles and handhelds actually start to gain momentum.

But that being said, I also am on the camp that if I can get a physical copy, I should be able to resell it, play it at a friend's place or trade it in. The developers have already got their money when it was purchased new. Why gripe on us now?

I was reading that the "blame" for this lays at the feet of smart phones and tablets, and Steam.

Meaning people are getting used to buying an App, and not being able to trade it in. But the difference is that few apps cost 60 bucks a pop.
I think the most I spent on an app was 20 bucks, and it wasn't a game. Heck, I think the most I spent on a game app was 10 bucks.

I don't mind digital downloads, as long as I can re-download the app onto a new device, when I migrate from the old one.

But if I am going to shell out 30 plus bucks for a game, I better get a chance to test drive it before I buy it.
I've paid 60 bucks for games that sucked, or had a short play time, before you had to buy DL content.
So besides gamestop, this will also impact game rental companies like Gamefly and Blockbuster. Though Gamefly has started a digital [PC only] rental service. Not sure how good it is.