supergg2k
Shared on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 11:06I need the opinion of some hardware geeks.
Recently there has been a lot of conversation around a patent Sony filed that would allow a disc to be tied to a specific console. Rampant speculation around whether or not we will see this in the PS4 persists. Generally filing a patent does not mean that the hardware is forthcoming, but I have an idea on how Sony may try to implement this in the next console.
Game discs basically contain the game itself and some kind of copy protection to make it difficult to duplicate. Game systems have the means to verify that a disc is a legitimate copy usually by decrypting some kind of key.
One way to implement the functionality described in the patent is to design the game discs to be recordable. This would allow the game system to write a unique identifier to the disc (account name, mac address of system or a combination) if the system detects that this is the first use of the disc. On subsequent uses the system would verify that the identifier on the disc matches the identifier on the system.
Some questions that I have:
Is it possible to put data on media like a DVD or Blu Ray and then still write to it?
Is the cost of a DVD/Blu Ray writeable drive comparable to a non writeable drive?
Is this as simple as it seems? If so, why hasn't anyone included this in a system yet?
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Comments
Submitted by Lbsutke on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 11:25
well I am assuming here that instead of installing the hardware (BR burner) into the ps4, they would just do a software process to do the same thing. Have the unique identifiyer on each disc, then as the Ps4 is reading the disc, it gathers that info, sends back the disc identifer along with the unique console identifiyer back to the Sony (who ever) servers comparing that info to make sure it matches up. If the program does not see a record combination it adds it and sends it back telling the console "yep go ahead and play the game". If it sees that exact combo of identifiers it sends back a message of "yep go ahead and play the game" If the "authorization" program sees either the unique id for the game with another console or that console with different id for the same game. it sends back a message saying "nope not authorized to play with the game".
Now that last part of that idea could/would only be an exception if the unique id for the game has NEVER been attached to another game console. This would limit the screwing people people that may needed to buy a second copy of the game due to scratching the original disc or damaged it in some way.
A software solution with generally always be given the nod as long is it cheaper and does not cause a loss in performance or would be harder to implement then having a one time hardware install.
Submitted by supergg2k on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 11:34
I agree that a software based solution would be best if the console were connected to the internet.
Since the majority of consoles are not connected to the internet, could a software only solution still work?
Submitted by Lbsutke on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 15:14
unfortunately I was not able to find anything more current then this http://goo.gl/KDLzS . But according to that we are looking at around a 70% rate of being connected to the internet. Not necessarily "gaming" on the internet, but at least connected. I would also think as we go forward from this point on that percentage is only going to increase.
But in theory a console or game dev could require you to at least download the info to play. If someone does not have their console connected to the net, they could dl the data via a comp to a thumdrive and upload it to the console. I mean that is kind of a pain in the ass, but we are talking a small percentage of people not connected and being both not connected from a console AND pc/mac to the internet (or at least access to one) is probably an even smaller percentage. Hell maybe even the console companies could reimburse the cost of big box retailers or gaming specific companies to offer that as a free service to customers. Come into a GameStop with a thumbdrive to dl the current data.
Just spit balling here.
Submitted by JPNor on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 14:15
I'd have to agree with LB. Current-gen consoles have built in Wifi anyway, so I think it would probably be more practical for the manufacturers to require an active internet connection (even if only the first time the disk is used) than to use more expensive hardware and more expensive disks. I assume the mindset at Sony is that if somebody can afford a $400 console, they already have internet in their home.
There is plenty of PC software that requires a web connection to activate; Apple's computer software is now available only via the Mac App Store. Don't get me wrong, there's still rampant piracy, but the business model isn't stopping people from buying Macs and/or their software.
Submitted by CProRacing on Wed, 01/16/2013 - 08:28
So I guess they will be using this to stop second hand sales?
I suppose when you put the game in for the first it just writes your PS3 profile code to the disk and will only work with your profile in the future.
That way if you damage a disk and you buy a new one it will just link again and shouldn't change anything on the system?
Submitted by supergg2k on Thu, 01/17/2013 - 11:59
That would be the idea, IMO. The idea of writing to a disk the one time seems pretty straightforward to me and suprises me that no one has thought of it yet.