We’ve been hearing the rumblings for awhile now about how the next generation of consoles will use counter measures against the nefarious used game scourge. Until now they were just rumors as neither company seemed to have a concrete way to lock out second hand games. Now Sony has filed a patent for an “electronic content processing system, electronic content processing method, package of electronic content, and use permission apparatus.” Short line is the console would scan a tag inside the disc and then lock said tag to the console. Effectively eliminating the used game market.

The question begging to be asked and answered is: Has Sony shot itself in the foot? Most of the biggest sellers of Sony products all have some form of used game section. From Gamestop to Best Buy, these movers of new product have a vested interest in the high markup in profit form selling your unwanted copy of Call of Duty. They don’t make much off that brand new game someone just bought so they’re going to find a way to scrape out a few bucks. They could either stop selling Sony merchandise or more likely, ignore the M.S.R.P. and charge a higher premium for Black Ops III on PS4. Which would push more frugal gamers to the new Microsoft console.

What about the gamers? In a gaming ecosystem where $60 is the norm, how many new games can one afford? Where publishers push out crap like NeverDead, doe one want to buy new? Sure we’ve had some great hits come down the pipe but we also had NeverDead. No one should have to pay new prices for that, ever. If Sony pushes ahead with their patent to block used games, I see a significant number of cost-conscious players either not adopting the new system or switching to Microsoft – if they don’t go down the same path.

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What about the time honored tradition of loaning a game to a buddy? Being able to say “Check this out” and letting them experience it for themselves. I can’t count how many games I bought (new) based upon a friend loan. Word of mouth advertising is really only the second most effective form of advertising.

Hopefully Sony backs down from this rather near sighted strategy and cuts the average gamer some slack. Let us buy games how we can, loan them out or even rent them if need be. We still buy plenty of new gear, new game and new consoles.

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