Is GTA V the answer to the pre-owned problem?

Opinion: Whispers point to digital-only GTA V release - and John Dean likes what he's hearing...

Whether or not you like it, pre-owned games are a problem. We know you love them, and we understand why - but none of that makes the issue any better.

[tigertron]

Digital download only? no-no-no-no-no and finally...NO!

I doubt this will be the case anyway.

[geddesmond]

I don't know man. One of the big issues Rockstar had with GTA4 was Disk space on the Xbox 360. They even said they had to cut content so it would fit on the Xbox 360s DVD9. Releasing it as Digital only is killing 2 birds with one stone.

They'll combat the used game sales market and they'll be able to release the game as big as they want it. This is GTA man. These games sell consols so if people have to download to play the game then they will.

[TOO PAWNED]

yeah because we all have 100gb free space, on top of internet speed to download it in an hour. GTFO t..l

[Jake_the_Dog]

I bet they would just ship it on multiple disks for the 360, like other recent titles.

[geddesmond]

@Too POawned

Well I see why you have 1 bubble. For starters the game won't be 100 gbs idiot. Secondly it takes me 2 hours to go out and get a game in the shops cause of travel and such so YOU GTFO BIATCH

@Rigby

GTA4 is an open world sandbox game that can't be split among disks without ruining the experiance.

Heres what Rockstarr had to say about it. http://www.computerandvideo...

I don't know I'm just saying that previous Rockstar comments give merrit to a digital only game. Only time will tell us though

[radphil]

"These games sell consols so if people have to download to play the game then they will."

No they won't

Not everyone has the same internet speed, lack of restrictions, or space size to do it.

If this was a world where EVERYONE had the same stuff, same ability of technology, etc, then maybe.

[Saladfax]

Eh... I think some folks might be underestimating the willingness of a motivated consumer. Think of if Call of Duty wasn't sold in stores. Now, considering the heavy online multiplayer focus, it seems unlikely sales would suffer from people not having access to internet, so perhaps it's not the best example.

However, if a game has sufficient hype, clout, and is desirable enough for consumers, and assuming they don't have internet already themselves... Well heck, most people at least *know* someone/somewhere to get internet access.

Think of it this way, if there are any huge PS3 fans in here. If Uncharted 3 was digital download only, you'd still day one purchase it, right?

[radphil]

"If Uncharted 3 was digital download only, you'd still day one purchase it, right?"

Doubtful, considering that people would not only have to trust in the game as they can't return it, that's also resources and time they have to spend LONGER getting it than just getting a physical copy at the store.

Relating to your example, CoD is all about arcade and fast paced style. For the millions that play it, do you think they're going to sit down patiently and wait for gigs worth of downloading? And then, what's the true potential in them liking it, because some people hated Black Ops but liked MW.

[DarkTower805]

How many people would this alienate because of bandwidth caps? Or just poor internet speeds? Its not going to happen. Not even in the future unless providers change bandwidth caps. Who's going to buy games when your ip will charge you insane amounts for going over the caps? Especially as games keep getting larger and larger. If they want to pave the way for digital downloads publishers need to lower download prices and ip need to erase caps.

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

LOL digital only?? if thats the case then the intrest that was kindled in me today from the trailer will be instantly extinguished and I will not buy it.

This will not happen tho, what about the people without internet(or slow internet, bandwidth caps etc) or xbox without HD??

They wount be able to sell to those people so I dont understand why it would be digital only if it comes to consoles? maybe if it was true then the 360 version would have to be Downloaded so it isnt split up across disks??

I really dont know why they would make it digital only, they would cut off potential customers and piss off others.

[Mr_cheese]

I hope this isn't the case, can't see it happening because its such as massive gamble regardless of it being GTA. But I also like to own the physical product so it can be shelved with the rest of the collection.

[MasterD919]

There is no chance in hell a GTA game won't release on retail disc.

They will be missing a huge chunk of change if they go along with a digital release mentality.

[chadachada123]

Hell no. The point of having a disc is that I can play it wherever I want. While it'd be nice to be able to play on different systems, I don't see any publishers EVER going for that idea unless they can find a way to force extra $$$ out of you.

Publishers could solve this problem pretty easily by selling the game for cheaper from the start.

Additionally, no one but an idiot would buy a used game for $55 when the new one is right beside it at $60, so I fail to see the point of including that in the article.

[Saladfax]

The world is filled with idiots, so I'd strongly argue that more than a few people will save $5 on the used copy. Hell, from a purely consumer standpoint (not considering developer support, etc), an individual is always foolish to pay more money when a cheaper option entailing no effort is present.

[Dno]

well that idiot has a pre-owned discount card which takes off another 5-10 bucks for used games only so now that used game is 45 bucks....

Then that idiot has to buy 3-4 games for the idiots sons and now its 45 bucks for 3 games (135 bucks for 3 games) instead of 60 bucks a game (180bucks for 3 games)

get the point?

[chadachada123]

Fair enough. You win. This time...

[thebudgetgamer]

Alienating the twenty plus million people that don't have internet is not good.

[f789790]

I doubt anyone playing GTA V will not have internet.

[Dno]

Your wrong i know about 3 friends who love GTA and do not have internet plus its a single player game you do not need the inernet....

[Awesome-Xanto]

Yea keep dreaming... the majority of sales on console are from retail. That's just asking GTA to not sell. Rockstar isn't stupid there is not chance in hell they would go digital which is still iffy compared to retail which is a sure thing.

[Wikkid666]

The only way they would do that is if it's divided up into Chapters/Episodes. You would end up having to pay to complete the game. With all the focus on dlc and season passes... the scary thing is it might happen.

Then after a year so release the complete package will be on physical media.

[AceofStaves]

I can't see it being released digital only. They might offer the d/l option alongside the physical release, but I doubt they will not offer the game on disk as well.

If I'm wrong, and they do go the digital-only route, I won't be purchasing the game. My internet usage is capped.

[Saladfax]

My guess is that they'd consider doing digital-only for the PC release (assuming there is one), but it's still too soon for big titles like that to completely ignore physical a physical medium, especially for consoles.

I've seen GTA4, GTA3 + VC and SA, and all of the classic GTAs up on the Steam sales a few times now. I'd wager that they've seen some decent extra cash flow not only from GTA4 (a lot of people buy it these days for the ICEnhancer), but also nice bits of extra profit from the older backlog.

There are a lot of really big benefits to an all-digital service (assuming it's run properly), the largest being purchasing at prices lower than used games and still supporting devs. As far as possession of a physical medium, most folks start to care a little less about seeing the well-stocked shelf when you can buy 3x as many games for 1/2 the cost.

[Publicglutton]

What the hell is wrong with pre-owning something anyway, When you buy a Car you expect to be able to sell it secondhand..Dont you?
If Rockstar do that then they can just go F*ck themselves.....

[Bleach]

Reality check. It's not digital only, it was a fake rumor spread by idiot pc fanboys.

The game is coming on physical format for PS3/360 and PC all at the same time.

[Tanir]

2 probs with download only.

the entire demographic of players that dont have highspeed internet would miss out on the game aka there would be less profit.

2nd is pretty simple, um if all games do this Ps4 and 720 are going to have to have 10 Terabyte hard drives because i dunno if i can fit my hundred+ games on any hard drive thats included with current Sku's

[kma2k]

The answer to me seems so simple for the used game market. Force retailers to pay some kind of fee for all used game sales. Nothing huge maybe say 5%-10% IF retailers laugh at this & tell the publishers to go to hell which i expect them to then offer to sell games directly to end users, let us buy games from EA or like companies on launch day for $40 plus s&h. Retail stores can have there used game with no online pass selling for $54.00 or you can buy it from EA or activision for $40 & the code is included its a no brainer!

Once the next COD game comes out & this is real i could almost garuntee retiail companies will be begging to discuss a kick back to developers/publishers! There you go problem solved!

[Bimkoblerutso]

I cannot BELIEVE how easily people are swayed by the fat cats when it comes to pre-owned games. You cannot pretend to practice and support capitalism, and then refuse to let consumers do what they will (within their legal rights) with the products they have purchased ownership of.

Why would greedy conglomerates NOT make bogus claims and cite iffy statistics when the pre-owned market is the perfect scape-goat with which to scam the industry into a more easily controllable, restrictive business model?

The fact of the matter is that the games that enter into used game circulation have already been purchased. The sale has been made. Usually the money that was made off of selling that game is pumped directly back into the industry anyway.

Ugh. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about where this industry is headed. Companies are going to continue to spit out excuse after excuse for why their games aren't selling as well as they wanted them to until we have absolutely no concept of ownership. Products will be controlled completely by the parent companies, and we will essentially be "renting" the rights to play them for a time.

[Venjense]

Yeah right, they'd never jeopardize the sales that way.

[PetitPiPi]

I wish they would keep this game for next gen.

[Noticeably_FAT]

It wont be digital only because the majority of console owners aren't connected online and some don't even have online accounts. I think sales would suffer tremendously if they tried to do that. Since GTA always sells so much anyway, I don't think some people buying the game used is that big a deal.

Where I live, my internet is kind of crummy..so even though I play online I have a cap as to how much I can download per month and it's kind of slow as it is. I think a lot of people are in the same boat and that's why we wont see digital only for a long, long time..if ever.