Xbox One: Microsoft defends pre-owned games rules

[kingwilly]

Xbox One: Microsoft defends pre-owned games rules



Confusion arose after it appeared the company would impose a fee for playing pre-owned games, a move that was highly unpopular with gamers.

The company has now said in a statement that games can be traded in, but only at "participating retailers".

Games can be freely passed on to friends, Microsoft added, but only once.

"Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends," the statement said.

"There are no fees charged as part of these transfers.

"There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once."

The Xbox One will come up against Sony's new console, the PlayStation 4.

Sony is yet to show off the console and has not set out its policy on pre-owned games.

Its worldwide studios president, Shuhei Yoshida, told news site Eurogamer that used games would not be "blocked" on the console, but would not specify whether there would be a fee for using pre-owned titles.

Always online
The Xbox One has also come under fire after it emerged it might have to be always online to play games.

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After signing in and installing, you can play any of your games from any Xbox One because a digital copy of your game is stored on your console and in the cloud”

Microsoft
Microsoft explained on Thursday that while the console did not have to be online to play, it did need to connect at least once every 24 hours.

The company said: "You can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library.

"Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies."

This policy would "raise a few eyebrows" in the gaming community, one technology blog wrote.

But Microsoft argued that these policies allow individuals greater access to their games, even if players are not on their own console.

"After signing in and installing, you can play any of your games from any Xbox One because a digital copy of your game is stored on your console and in the cloud.

"So, for example, while you are logged in at your friend's house, you can play your games."

As the console is always on, it allows developers to create "massive, persistent worlds that evolve even when you're not playing", Microsoft said.

BBC News - Xbox One: Microsoft defends pre-owned games rules

[Butterfly]

30yr old gamers OwnED

[Nokturnal]

With this Playstation will destroy the new Xbox... As it is you already have to pay a monthly fee on top of you're existing bill for home Internet, Playstation network has been and will continue to be free as it should be. Not allowing games to be sold second hand is quite obviously a gouge at the consumer. But I think overall the reason why Sony will dominate is due the fact that Xbox has always been full of school kids whereas Playstation tends to have a more mature base overall.

Nothing wrong with gaming at 30 for fun, It's actually good fun playing online with people from all over the world. I gather that middle aged Belgian homos aren't keen on having fun outside of anal cavities and ladyboy cock

[harrybarracuda]

Way to knock sales on the head before you've started selling them, wankers!

[Nokturnal]

^Exatly. And as I've mentioned already Microsoft was already at a disadvantage for a number of reasons, First charging something like 10$ per month to play games online when Sonys console games play for free online (well you pay your monthly ISP bill, but not extra bill for playing PSN) .. Also Sony focusing mostly on gaming whole Microsoft try's to "take over the living room" with an all in one console approach.

How can a company as huge as MS fok so many things up year after year? I realize they can afford it now, Thats for now... MS needs to get their shite together. Like android which is also beginning to suck.

[harrybarracuda]

How can a company as huge as MS fok so many things up year after year? I realize they can afford it now, Thats for now... MS needs to get their shite together. Like android which is also beginning to suck.

I'm not sure why M$ even got into gaming, but they need to prove to people it's irreplaceable before they start ripping people off.

[Nokturnal]

Actually Xbox 360 was a great overall console... My only gripes were having to pay monthly to play online on top of my existing net bill... That's bullshit. Also most of the mouthy little bastard kids play on Xbox live so if you're into online gaming you can either switch off your headset or allow your mind to be overtaken by teenage wanker lingo and behavior.

Hell even if they just quit the monthly charge for live online is be a bigger fan of MS.... Not more than Playstation mind you.

[Neo]

Looks like I'll be changing back to Playstation, but still need to wait for the reveal.
I think Microsoft have dropped the ball with this one.

[Dillinger]

I'm with Butterfly on this, a ps3 or ladyboys joystick are a lot easier to handle than that mammoth of an xbox controller

[nidhogg]

How the hell did the word abortion "pre-owned" come into vogue??

"Second hand" or "used"..........

[kingwilly]

How the hell did the word abortion "pre-owned" come into vogue??

It has been in use for at least a decade or so.

[nidhogg]

How the hell did the word abortion "pre-owned" come into vogue??

It has been in use for at least a decade or so.

Its bloody horrible.

Anyway, curiosity sent me on a look around. Merriam has the first use in 1956 (!!):

Pre-owned - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary


and most likley the word originated with the used car (sorry, pre-owned car) industry:

BBC World Service | Learning English | Keep your English up to date

I am not any type of linguist - but that word grates like hell.....

[kingwilly]

Its bloody horrible.

I do not disagree.

1956 ?? Holy moly!

[nidhogg]

Holy moly!

1880 onwards, although "Moly" has far earlier origins.

Online Etymology Dictionary

Popularized in the 1940s by :

"Holy moly was a exclamation of the character ‘Captain Marvel,’ (comic books first written by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck in 1940).

Holy Moly

[Butterfly]

Nothing wrong with gaming at 30 for fun, It's actually good fun playing online with people from all over the world.

nothing wrong either with 30yr virgins watching online porn from all over the world,

[Nokturnal]

^ Or 40-something queers spending all their free time at gay Thai clubs..... Jerkoff.

[Butterfly]

what about 30yr old virgins playing online games and watching gay porn ?

[Neo]

Definitely going to be a PS4 then, though I might have to wait until spring 2014 for the queues to die down.

PlayStation 4 will launch this Christmas in Europe and North America for 399 USD / Euros or £349 GBP, Sony has announced.

Microsoft has officially announced an Xbox One release date window of November 2013 in 21 markets and a price of £429 / $499 / €499.

SCE also addressed the controversial issue of pre-owned game and always-on internet restrictions, confirming that that PS4 games do not require a regular online check in and disc games can be traded or sold to friends.

PS4 will have a subscription fee similar to Xbox Gold to play online and 20 confirmed titles for the first year. It looks funkier, it's smaller too. The only advantage Xbox One has is that it comes out a month earlier, however both are still priced out of the range of kid gamers and would be an expensive gift, so I can see the Xbox and PS3 rumbling on for at least 18 months until the prices are slashed.