The Little Wing License Could be a Big Problem
Recently, we’ve heard a lot of chatter about publishers curtailing the growing used game market–a market they don’t directly see a penny from. A few developers have tried out marketing exclusive content solely to entice new game buyers, with only a few against the business of used, which only benefits gaming retailers. For the most part, used game players haven’t been shut out of a game’s principal experience solely from buying it second-hand.
But beginning now or soon, depending on where you live, Sega will change that with Phantasy Star Portable 2.
The game’s new Little Wing License, already live in the UK, will hit domestic Playstation Portable owners soon via an update. It will require the game code accompanying PSP2–available digitally upon first purchase or within the retail edition’s contents–in order to continue using online servers. Sega’s Aaron Webber outlined the details in a blog post today, and if you bought the game used, you may be out of luck:
US players will soon need the code granted within the retail copy of the game or which was automatically awarded when purchased digitally to access the online servers. This code is being updated, so you will need to download it once more. (Your download history should work.)
According to Webber, the move is meant to curtail piracy, and no one should be surprised at the code requirement; he claims it was covered during PSP2′s launch time in September:
For those playing on used copies, there is currently no additional method to purchase a code individually, though we did try to explore this possibility as much as we could for you guys. We know this was covered off back at launch, but just wanted to mention it once more as the question has come up before.
To be fair, it’s not like this game is ancient, so gamers who’ve held on to their PSP2 copies should have it easy. But for those who bought it used or endured other misfortune, it will shut them out of the game’s most critical component–online play.
It may be in the name of anti-piracy, but alredy Sega has taken one of the bolder steps in the industry toward protecting the value of a new game. Do you think that’s fair for folks who perhaps couldn’t afford to buy it new and were shut out of an original access code? Tell us in the comments section.
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This curbs piracy how? The PSN download lacks a key check so it will pirated like hell.
Filing this under another white lie by Webber, this is all about used games sales, there is no defense against piracy on the PSP none.
The PSN voucher isn’t a download. So it can’t be hacked.
The digital copies activate a voucher on PSN for you automatically and the retail copies come with a code you need to enter on PSN to activate the voucher that can only be used once for one account.
Now before anyone starts making drama out of that, the voucher can be re-activated through download history. Although nothing downloads. It’s just a verification telling SEGA’s servers that you legally own the game. I know that nothing downloads because I’ve redeemed the voucher just recently. There was no download screen like there is with other PSN content.
SEGA has every right to not allow you on their server if you pirated the game or bought it used. Running a server costs money, be really thankful they aren’t charging a monthly fee like they normally do with Phantasy Star games. If the game doesn’t sell then SEGA Japan will stop bringing Phantasy Star games to the west, and that would suck.
Come to think of it. PSO2 hasn’t even been announced for the west yet… hope PSP2 doesn’t affect that decision.
Just wanted to clarify parts of my comment. I kinda rushed it and parts of it don’t make sense.
“The digital copies activate a voucher on PSN for you automatically”
The digital download doesn’t come with a voucher directly in it. When you download it off PSN, a voucher activates for you. So there is no hacking a voucher out of a digital copy.
“SEGA has every right to not allow you on their server if you pirated the game or bought it used.”
Ruby (Aaron) recently said on the PSO-world forums that they tried making it so people with used copies could buy vouchers, but it just didn’t go through. Which isn’t surprising. It’s a PSP game in the west, not to mention Phantasy Star games already don’t sell that well. It’s no surprise SEGA didn’t want to put anymore resources into it.
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It’s not about curbing used game sales. It’s about keeping the servers for the game alive and active. If you have never played any of the recent Phantasy Star games ranging from PSO to PSU… then you wouldn’t understand.
Ruby is a huge Phantasy Star fan/SEGA fan in general and he wouldn’t dis-service the fans intentionally for corporate reasons.
Multiplayer on year old XBLA games have a bigger active community than this thing will ever have. I don’t know that much about the psp scene but the little I do know is that they get around every block that is thrown at them, psp2 online will be in flames by the end of the year.
Why are you sticking up for Ruby “Speed is something that is not given; but rather earned through dedication” Eclipse? His job is to spin corporate bullshit decisions into something consumable for the fans to keep them in line, he has no absolutely no pull whatsoever on the developers.
So freaking happy they are ditching handhelds for PSO2 it’s about damn time.
“Multiplayer on year old XBLA games have a bigger active community than this thing will ever have. I don’t know that much about the psp scene but the little I do know is that they get around every block that is thrown at them, psp2 online will be in flames by the end of the year.”
Multiplayer XBLA just run off general P2P. Not dedicated servers. I don’t even see how the two are related. What you said about PSP2 having a low population is true, and that’s why it’s all the more important to keep the pirates off the servers. Population doesn’t mean anything if SEGA doesn’t have the money to keep the servers up.
This is also a move to reduce cheating. Now they can perma-ban people who cheat through their PSN ID and if they want to come back on they will have to buy a whole new game.
“Why are you sticking up for Ruby”
Ruby is a SEGA fan. He was a SEGA fan before he worked for SEGA. He had tons of involvement in the Phantasy Star community. You have no idea how hard he works to get certain stuff into games that is based off of fan feedback. SEGA wouldn’t be the same without him.
“So freaking happy they are ditching handhelds for PSO2 it’s about damn time.”
I agree with this. Can’t wait for PSO2.
I can certainly appreciate folks sticking up for Webber…however, given how he handled Sonic 4: Episode 1 (he was one of the main, direct faces of that game’s promotion along with Balough) you can understand why that would be a pretty hard sell for some people.
-T
Yeah that is true. Sonic 4 promotion wasn’t handled very well. Not everyone is perfect though. people gotta learn from their mistakes. It was hyped way too highly for what it was.
I got a good feeling about Episode 2. Also, Ken Balough is an awesome guy too. I’m not sucking up to them or anything. They are both just really awesome people who truly care about SEGA and Sonic. Ken just gets a little too enthusiastic at times “this is truly Sonic the hedgehog 4 as you imagined it”
now Iizuka on the other hand… lol. I personally think he’s the exact opposite of Ruby and Ken and is actually what is holding Sonic 4 back.
Christ… just send them your resume already! I’m not wasting anymore words on a PR bootlicking toady like you.
lol they wouldn’t hire me.
I bash Iizuka a lot.
I don’t see how bashing Iizuka is PR licking. but okay.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:hxIzAqaqYUUJ:www.sonicretro.org/2010/12/iizuka-behind-the-p-r/+http://www.sonicretro.org/2010/12/iizuka-behind-the-p-r/&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a
Anyways. I used to think Ken was just some horrible PR guy, but then I saw another side of him. He is just as awesome as Ruby and very passionate about Sonic.
(EDIT – Had to flip your Retro link to a Google Cache archive because they don’t allow this site to link to them -T)
Finally I have discovered new levels of unfunny!
Also very passionate about Sonic:Chris “Sonichu” Chan
Webber may be sincere, but he is also sincerely scurrilous. He often argues that his debauches are the result of a high-minded urge to do sociological research. A similar argument was first made over 1200 years ago by a well-known radical and was quickly disproved. In those days, however, no one would have doubted that we must understand that Webber’s modus operandi is to terrorize fans. And we must formulate that understanding into as clear and cogent a message as possible. Should we be concerned that Webber wants to perpetuate what we all know is a corrupt system? I’ll answer that question for you: Yes, we should doubtlessly be concerned because many members of Sega of America believe that people find his unrelenting, over-the-top hostility rather refreshing. Even worse, almost all of his apologists believe that Webber is a saintly figure—philanthropic, noble, and wise. (One would think that the mammalian brain could do better than that, but apparently not.) My point is that Webber’s claim that everything he says is completely and absolutely true is not only an attack on the concept of objectivity but an assault on the human mind.
Yeah.. I’m done dealing with you guys =P you aren’t worth talking with. (Eggfang and Sonical)
@PSP wtf kinda crack are you on? =P
PS: SEGA does what Nintendon’t
Goodbye cruel
SonicNintendo fans. Maybe I’ll see be commenting with you in a future article :3There is one problem here:
I want these games to sell. But what if a code gets stolen out of a new copy? I know gamestop has boxes with booklets and everything in them open, so one can easily skim the contents, take a photo, steal the code, then pirate the game.
Secondly, even if someone was stupid enough to sell this excellent PSP title, wouldn’t it make more money for them if you could buy a license? That way, even when it goes in the used market, SEGA will still be seeing money coming from it for those who wish to play it online. That would also encourage them to keep the servers up longer- though I’ll probably stop playing it online come PSO2, to be honest.
Frankly, I think the Phantasy Star series needs more love in the US. It takes forever for them to localize stuff because it’s too niche here, even though there’s direct fan involvement in content that is released in localizations, a ton of awesome features, and a near-infinite amount of playability.
Can anyone confirm that Shad isn’t Webber?
They’re not one in the same–believe me.
-T