I'm very comfy not owning any console, thank you very much. SCNR

Those issues are real yet i find the term "not owning the console" a bit unfitting as the core of the issue is "not owning any software on this console", because the crux is that this console will not work without a software, be it firmware, games or whatever, it simply is useless without any software.

I mean, if i buy a car... and this car nowadays is full of computers and will NOT work without processors nor software (this age is over...). So, if i buy a car and every bit of software on this car is copyrighted, and lets say the manufacturer is deciding "they need to withdrawn" the software for whatever reason and there is only 5 years of software "usage" granted (some limited term) then in theory they can just pull the software plug and the car, completely, may fail to work. If it comes to consumer rights, not much could be done because the software is not owned by the car-owner and the car will not work without this software. It would be a pat-situation without any real outcome.

While on the same term the companies claim a complete, without any exclusions, copyright on any software stored on that hardware, at absolutely any spot. Of course using this "complete copyright claim" on every single bit stored on the console on any spot, even emulators can not really work anymore as they may need some bits stored there in order for them to work properly. Although, emulators may be able to grant some sort of "ownership" (because the company may not be able to pull the plug anymore at any given time) and even making some preservation possible as it will even work if the console-system is already "gone by whatever means". However, obviously this is not the thing a company will want... they usually may not care if a gamer at some point may completely "lose" a game, so they are able to sell it new at some future date. So they can basically charge for the same software over and over, and perhaps they can even extend the copyright, so it may never fade.

Final result is, because the console will not work without software, the console is realistically or practically not owned anymore (de jure it is owned, de facto it is now owned). In such a term they may have to rent the console but i am not sure if the gamers are open to this "rent a console-system" just so the companies can sell nothing more than a service at every single stage and spot.

If this is perhaps way to "unfriendly", then rest assured, Microsoft is already evaluation such a system with their "everything is an Xbox-mentality" in which the Xbox is basically not even a real hardware anymore, instead it is nothing more than a "service" and to some extend a cloud service.

Final result simply is... at least if the customers are willing to accept it, that they may own nothing anymore and perhaps still become happy with.

I only say... as a consumer... i would stand in for consumer rights, else the future surely may not look friendly toward this "huge group" anymore.

look that's great for you, honestly.

but a good amount of us like to keep our old tech running years after they turn off the servers.

And yes, Sony is in the same boat.. mostly, not entirely. I will tell the difference now:

Sony, such as Nintendo (no clue about MS, MS is almost a service-only company now) is using firmware updates and as long as the game is not compatible with the firmware version a console got, the game completely will fail to work. So the firmware always need to be "up to date" else any game which got a newer revision than the firmware it has been attached to... will fail to work. In this term, "the firmware is part of the game"... kinda like a tiny custom OS which is needed by the game.

So, a game itself is no use if we do not have the correct firmware attached to it, a firmware that is continuously updated and in general, if the firmware is way older than the game (updated game, mind it!) then it will fail to work together with the game. So the most brutal DRM is actually not even the console, it is the firmware!

However. there are a few points Sony is still "better", well more consumer friendly than Nintendo:

1. Sony was releasing a good bunch of DRM free games on PC, even on GOG. Nintendo did not even release a single game so far, and surely never without DRM.

2. The games stored on a BD are in most terms able to be played without a Online connection and the entire initial data is usually stored on the disc. However... the console may still need a firmware update and for this to happen the PS5 may have to go "online", just not permanently. The PS5 will also need a temporary Online connection in order to pair a disc drive (there are surely other options... so this is basically a DRM).

3. Sony is not trying to assassinate every single emulator on the net with all the might they are able to hand out; so, to some extend Sony is trying to "go along" with those "needs", and may only act if it gets to disturbing for them (perhaps if someone is emulating a PS5, although, no clue how this would be possible anyway).

Besides, sure, in theory Nintendo DS games are now "out of their practical lifetime, because they are not being sold anymore, and if so... only by using some Nintendo store emulators". On top of that... the games stored on a Nintendo DS card may not life much longer than 10-15 years, up to 20 years if very lucky (no warranty there!). Even the manufacturer of those cards never said that it will last above 20 years and it seems this is already the most upper limit.

So, those gamers owning such cards may soon (or already) completely lose their games. The only solution for them is to "get" or "make" a backup (which means the copyright or DRM will have to be circumvented) and they even may need other parts of the DS such as its firmware in order to even play this backup (no matter on the original console or by using a emulator).

So, just to say... if those gamers want to "keep" their games for above 10 years... they are doomed without going a, by the current rights situation, very "gray path". It sucks but this is the harsh reality!

Anyway, Nintendo, openly. is stating by their "rules" that they do not care this unlucky situation! Just to get that right and straight.

Sure, the "dream" of Nintendo is to make everything "a service" and to store any data online... forever... so any data is online now and this shapeshift is now already nearly complete on the Switch 2, because cards are mostly only a "game key", nothing more. They may not hold any game data anymore, so Nintendo may not even need to care if the key enabler or the account for whatever reason may "fade" at some point... because this would just allow for even more sales.

Although, until the "big mass" is realizing this very unlucky situation (well for the mass, not for Nintendo) it may already be to late. They will either accept this reality or perhaps they can still knock at GOGs door and use a Steamdeck or any other "custom handheld" for playing those PC games (kinda the same way they play Nintendo games): Ultimately it is their choice. The only thing i know is: It is not my choice.

Gamers bitching.

Farmers and Apple Fanboys* "First time?"

Unfortunately, DRMing hardware has already become a thing and pretty horrible. Farmers have been getting screwed over by corporations like John Deere and their "smart" equipment that forces them to have to shell over a couple thousand dollars and significant wait time for repairs due to "proprietary technology" instead of being allowed to fix their own equipment which is what the "right to repair" movement is all about. Same with Apple who has already implemented firmware that only allows for proprietary Apple products to be used to fix their iphones so when the iphone battery or screen inevitably breaks down, users need to go to Apple for repairs as the iphone will brick if other parts are used, even if they are Apple parts sourced from another iphone.

Honestly, this really sucks and as a Nintendo fan, has made me wary of the Switch 2. If it is as bad as they say, Im fine not upgrading to the next console. Honestly, alot of modern games feel the same now and kind of boring. Doesnt help that the "hype" video games everyone seems to adore (GTA, CoD, sports games, Ubisoft slop) are utterly unappealing to me and I would much rather play a classic from the SNES era like Megaman or Chrono Trigger again.

Apparently, the Nintendo EULA that is rumored to allow them to brick your console is only for the US and not the EU so I do wonder how legal this is or if its just an empty threat. I also honestly think the video game industry is primed for another crash (video games are way too expensive to develop now and are honestly shoveling really mediocre product most of the time) that the industry as it is does not seem sustainable. Enough major flops from stupid live service, huge AAAAs with Hollywood voice actor walkathons, and the overinflux of backlog + crashing economies as the rich get richer and the poor poorer and I do think entertainment as a whole is heading toward a nosedive. Im a pretty patient gamer and even I have a huge backlog now.

There is not really a "ultimate law" applicable for every country, not even if it comes to such basic human rights such as "being able to stay alive" which is not everywhere the case... in many countries there is still the death penalty, including US.

However, for matter less critical than something as critical such as a strong human right, for example copyright matters... there are even bigger "fluctuations" based on countries involved. On some countries piracy is legal and it will need to become accepted by the industry because there are simply no laws "protecting" those rights and those countries got the right creating their own laws. In many cases those countries simply may not get any support from the industry, yet it is not illegal being a pirate there.

If i would be a publisher, my dream success i want to achieve is that many gamers willingly and with full confidence, because they truly want to support me, are buying my game. Perhaps at a very variable pricing... dependable on the personal situation: Look, i would set a certain "allowed price range", there is no fixed pricing, which is fair to me and fair to those buying it. Dependable on amount spent i may even offer a certain bonus and goodies... this would be how i would be dealing with. DRM i would not really care. Those people "robbing" my game may have some reasons and i have to accept those reasons... if i like it or not. If i am able to offer sufficient value and respect... people may want to support me at free will without the use of "force"; at least this would be my personal mentality. Perhaps it is foolish... but i would not care... i have no issues going down as a fool as long as i feel like there was sufficient appreciation with what i am and with the work i did; this is even more important to me than making a lot of investors happy, because a investor may leave me way sooner than a happy gamer and fan... this is for certain.

"right to repair"
is a movement to get these companies to stop being difficult so we can fix what we own.

for details see louis rossman on youtube.

Remember, while it may not be legal, it is never morally wrong to take from Nintendo.

Heck even plain car Owners are in this scenario too.. It started with minor things like if you yourself orsome mechanic fixed whatever you drive a annoying light on the dashboard would stay on because you didn't take it to a specific place to get it fixed and even if you fix it yourself and then take it to such a place they charge a rediculise amount of money to just hook up some device that takes afew moments to do and afew more moments to end the light matter from telling the machine ''ya everything is okay'' basically ... which while the light on was and still is no real big deal .. but in newer cars its far far worse a drm deal.. As there is or was cases where if you don't pay a regular fee to the company despite paying for what you are driving already(no more payments on the car or whatever your driving ) it will do a number of things depending on what tech it has in it and the year it was made..

I have had the same Microsoft account since the original Xbox. Only one console at a time can be registered as the "home console" which allows for offline usage of stored games. I have a 360, One and Series X. Due to the shitty settings set in place by Microsoft, only one can be set to the "home console" setting, even though I can use my account across all the consoles, I can only play the games offline if that console is set to be the "home console". And yes all my consoles are registered, but again only one can be used offline after being set. otherwise they require online connections at all times to play the games I bought.

Morals are a very subjective thing, so it is not possible to speak for everyone... it will always stay a individual matter to some extend.

However, the things which should be considered is that many developers are not very successful, no matter if they do great work or not. Nintendo may have the role of the publisher so in this term "Nintendo is kinda the customer = investor, investing into this developer... for example Monolith Soft". As the biggest shareholder Nintendo can be considered their "owner" but this studio is still a own company... comparable to Bethesda + Microsoft.

If people "take" from Nintendo it could be affecting Monolith Soft because there is simply a strong connection. While personally i would consider it morally valid taking from Nintendo, i would consider it immoral taking from Monolith Soft. In a world sometimes that connected it could be difficult separating those dependencies with/from each others.

There are many comparable examples, and yes... although i would not care if Microsoft may "lose" some coins, i would still not enjoy to take something from Bethesda, as they usually was pretty fair to me as a consumer.

Microsoft "is a service", so i would not expect to much from them. Currently, Sony is offering the best deal if it comes to consumer rights and actually it is, apart from GOG, the only company i still use and can "accept" for playing games with.

I do not use Xbox (or other Microsoft services, apart from the OS at this point) nor do i use Nintendo, not even Steam (with some exceptions, if the game is DRM free), exactly because of the pretty low consumer rights, such as a pretty strong DRM in many cases.

So, those companies not being able to "suit my needs for sufficient rights on my side" simply are not being supported by me and other people who are acting like me, anymore. Although, so far it seems those companies do not need me and/or other people acting like me: Fair enough... the consumers accepting it may at some point "face the reality of their own actions... be it tasty to them or perhaps... not so tasty".

So far, GOG got several thousands of my coins, as well Sony... any other gamer company and/or distributor got zero or as good as zero coins (no rule without some rather rare exceptions... they only exception is if they provide DRM free).

And yes, i play very well by "how i handle it"... i can play nearly unlimited games, more than i am able to lend my time for.

And where's the surprise? Our phones haven't really belonged to us for years. The crazy part is, they didn't even need to spell it out in the Terms of Service to take control away from us. Just to name two examples, banks and service apps decide when we have to ditch our devices because simply been deprecated. Access to our camera, GPS, phone, keyboard, that's all standard now. Branchless neobanks and digital wallets are the norm, so don't expect to get full service any other way than through their app.
We basically gave up on ownership and control over our personal phones for convenience and constant connectivity.

True but if they are so comfortable not owning their console then next the dont own their game just like steam...
so don't complain when every platform makes it impossible to play your older games.
don't be shocked when a game disappears off your collection.
don't be shocked when you live in a gated online world where you have no access to anything.
don't be shocked when you cannot do or play anything even tho you paid and broke no rules.

We can jail break most of them that's why you choose a brand that lets you keep updating it yourself if need be.

Why websites like XDAdevelopers exist
GBATemp
PSPmod <rip

I actually have more trouble with GoG. Not because of their 'dreams' but more based on a philanthropic adventure i engaged in. The people you attract with such a mindset are diverse, but the most loud are the most hopeless. With the most vulnerable come the vultures that always have an eye for easy pickings. Those vultures tend to increase the amount of Chaos while order is prefered. It is the same reason why the lefties always gather into those elitist houses. It is all about protection. And protection online is 'vulnerable'at best

very true because the internet is a mad place with people who want to game and social.. and on the other end is people that want money and will use any means to extract it.