Sony Promising To Make Pirates Walk The Plank
Yes, Sony makes swords now!
The PlayStation Portable has undergone a number of transformations, but the elephant in the room has always been the platform’s piracy levels. Sony is hoping to change things up.
SOCOM: FTB3 has interesting anti-piracy measures.
SCEA Senior Vice President of Public Relations Rob Dyer recently stated:
“I think we had a great lineup last year. The biggest problem that plagued PSP was piracy; we have not been able to slow that down. We think we have some answers going forward, but we’re not ready to talk about that publicly at this point. So we’re working on fixing that, because that’s been a big problem. Publishers, when they put out good games, are not getting the same sales results that they got a few years back. So piracy’s been a big issue and we’re working on that very diligently to bring about some solutions”
One of the ways we have already seen this in action is with the recently-shipped SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 that requires people to pay for the online component of the game if they bought it used/stole it. So the answer may be in the software/PSN instead of in a redesign of the motherboard. With the latest PSP2 rumors, the real test for Sony will be in the next generation of handheld consoles.
19 Responses to “Sony Promising To Make Pirates Walk The Plank”
I find that you need to pay to play online if you buy the game used is total BS. Sony already made money from the game once, why the hell do they deserve to make ti twice? A car manufacturer sure as hell doesnt make money of a used car sale even if the warranty transfers.
Back on topic though, good get rid of the pirates. ALso im pretty sure it will not be a PSP2 but rather a PSP phone that we will see at E3.
I was very upset when I saw the extra file needed for online play in the new Socom. I’m not into piracy, and I never have been, but $60 for a PSP game? I shouldn’t have to pick up the slack because of crooks.
@Superstrokey1123
“I find that you need to pay to play online if you buy the game used is total BS. Sony already made money from the game once, why the hell do they deserve to make it twice? A car manufacturer sure as hell doesnt make money of a used car sale even if the warranty transfers.”
You could say the same thing about Gamestop. They make money on games twice and I’m sure on occasion more than twice.
@ wolverine,
But they are taking all the risk of buying it and reselling it. They also have the store front and that to pay. SOny is literally doing NOTHING else and still want a cut of the pie? I dont think so.
@kwietstorm
nobody should have to pay extra because of piracy but we all do anyway , this is just not a hidden cost
it’s the same with anything – store prices have a high margin to make up for shoplifting losses , car insurance rates are higher than they could be because of theft claims etc. — there is always extra markup because of losses from theft or piracy ( same thing as stealing from the store )
if software piracy was stopped completely the games would sell more copies , in turn profits would rise leading to cheaper game prices and better games because they could spend more on development .
I don’t know how often I’ve seen someone online asking how to get free games or saying they’ve bought a new psp and need to mod it — these people never buy games or support the industry , they probably wouldn’t walk into a wal-mart and stick a game in their pocket but because it’s online they think it’s acceptable , wrong ! theft is theft .
arrrgghhhh im a pirate XD
@FJ1100
I still dont agree with splitting the online component from the single player, especially in a game known for the online play. That’s a very direct move.
@SpeCtR – thanks for my laugh of the day!
I have never bought a psp game brand new you know why sony? the prices 60 dollars for a psp game? like come one I could buy a ps3 game with that. I have never hacked my psp but i do buy used games. I say mess around with firmwares instead of attacking the whole psp market
You only pay if you get it used or it’s stolen. So I don’t see the big deal. Nobody seems to mind paying for a damn near full priced used game from Gamestop. This is a way to stop piracy and they have a right to get a cut from the used games sales.
@ Foxy007
Dude, where do you get your PSP games from? $60? I live in NY and they don’t even approach that amount.
You people can’t read. It only costs you money if the game isn’t brand new. That means, if you bought it used or if you pirated it, you have to dish out an extra $20 in order to play online.
The real BS is the mark-up on a used game versus what they give you if you trade it in.
How can you justify giving me 20bucks for a used game that you will resell for 54?
And for the record, its not 60 bucks for a psp game and the online isnt separate. You only buy the entitlement if you bought the game used. Buying a new game or buying the game off the PSN does not require the entitlement.
When you buy the game it registers the game to your psn account. If someone sells the game back, that game is still registered to them. So when you get that used game you buy the entitlement so you can register it to your account.
In other words, you are a complete moron for buying Socom FTB3 used unless its less than $28.
In reality, Used games hurt just as much as piracy. The developer doesn’t see any of the profits, nor does it effect the units sold.
Sony might get a little action from the entitlement, but really its the developer who will benefit. Sony wants them to feel the profits of their game so they will continue to make games for Sony.
Also remember there would be no need for any of this if people didnt pirate games. So in the end, thats who you need to be mad at.
A more complex analysis of the car industry and the video game industry will reveal how stupid comparing used cars to used games is.
@ shaper of form
Well said. Only pirates and hackers would be upset about this.
I think people just need to quit being douche bags and stealing stuff…that is all
So pirates can still play….it just cost $20. So their message is you can save money if you pirate?
It’s a cash grab plain and simple.
whats that wallpaper? does anyone have a link?
…..sexy wallpaper
I feel more bad for those who walk into Gamestop and end up getting the used copy not knowing about this then having to pay an extra $20 to Sony to play online. So in reality your paying $20 to Sony and just spent $35 for a game that locks out online play. Its a bold move by Sony to get more people to buy games brand new. Still I wonder how this is going to affect Gamestop? I bet anything Sony will do this with future PSP games that have an online component.
ironic isn’t it. How whenever a company does something to stop piracy it hurts the gamers more then the pirates.