Reports claim the Xbox 720 may use an ‘always-on’ connection to prevent players from using second-hand games – and it’s not sitting well with the High Street.
We spoke to several retailers – both national and independent – to find out what impact the rumoured technology would have on their business and sales of the console itself.
Christopher Rogers
Category Manager – Games, Dixons Retail
A console that blocks pre-owned titles would have no impact on our business as we do not sell trade in games.
Having said that, I do not think the UK broadband infrastructure is robust/fast enough for this to be a prerequisite.
Surely last month’s teething troubles with SimCity are a warning for this?
Don McCabe
Joint MD, CHIPS
It would seem Microsoft is building in elements that could be used positively: games updated automatically, reduced load times, reduced piracy.
On the plus side, optical discs will be used for distribution so retail will still have a part to play. However, if elements are used to block second-hand and force gamers to pay more overall to play then this is a negative. ‘Always-on’ can work well for those who have that facility but even in the UK we still have a lot of customers who don’t have a broadband connection.
It could be that Microsoft has decided that customers who buy second-hand and are not connected are not profitable customers, and it would be more profitable to have a much smaller market with users who are willing to pay for entertainment and who spend constantly online.
Block second-hand and force a constant connection and the market will shrink rapidly, but Microsoft will still make a profit. As for the rest of us, tough titty.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/retai...happen/0113667