Category: Mobile Gaming

Industry experts are speculating that the company is beginning a strategy to cease disc resale.

Observers of the video and mobile gaming industry have noticed a new patent that has been issued to Sony, in which it has gained the ownership of an NFC technology that would make it virtually impossible for used PlayStation 4 game discs to be resold.

This strategy would apply a new form of ID scanning through the console so the exclusive owner can be identified.

Though many console and mobile gamers love to grab the latest games as soon as they are released, others prefer to wait a while so that those who like to have the games right away will finish with them and sell their used copies at a lower price. This is the bane of the existence of many game manufacturers as it gives people an opportunity to obtain the discs in a way that won’t generate full retail royalties. New efforts are always being made to help to prevent this activity, such as the patented NFC technology that has now been registered by Sony.

It is expected that NFC technology built right into a console and enabled on a disc will serve this purpose.

Near field communication (NFC technology) is most commonly found in certain credit cards as well as in the most recent models of smartphones. Typically it is used for mobile marketing as well as smartphone payments. However, the new patent received by Sony will allow the technique to be used in the PlayStation 4 so that the console will be able to link a specific enabled disc with an individual user’s account. This will allow the owner of the disc to be identified from the first time that it is used.

The speculations about the use of this NFC technology are not without evidence. The patent document that was discovered linked to the Sony Computer Entertainment Japan stated that “When the game is to be played, the reproduction device conveys the disc ID and a player ID to the use permission tag.”

That same document also descried that “The use permission tag stores the terms of use of the game and determines whether a combination of the disc ID and the player ID conveyed from the reproduction device fulfils the terms of use or not.” This indicates that it would not be possible for the owners of a game disc to sell or trade that product, as it would be connected specifically to their own consoles.

Charge for mobile gaming being lead by Taiwan

China is beginning to see a boost in mobile gaming, much of which is coming from Taiwan. In Taiwan, game developers are beginning to focus more on mobile platforms, largely due to their popularity among consumers. This popularity has lead to a spike in demand for mobile gaming application, which many consumers partake in for the sake of entertainment. Game developers are expected to ramp up their efforts to connect with these consumers in the coming year.

Developers look forward to a better year

Mobile gaming represents a major global market, which has been exceedingly lucrative for developers able to engage mobile consumers. 2012 saw a major increase in the launch of mobile games, with many finding their ways to tablet devices. Much of this success was seen outside of China, however, as native game developers kept their focus on more traditional platforms. In Taiwan, developers are looking to put the sluggish performance of 2012 behind them by focusing more on mobile platforms.

Taiwan developers begin to set sights on mobile gaming

Among the companies that are looking to focus on mobile gaming in 2013 are InterServ International, China Gamer International, and Softstar Entertainment. Over the past several years, these development companies have experiences their fair share of setbacks. Declining sales and the poor performance of their games have lead the developers to look for new ways to appeal to consumers. With the demand for mobile gaming of the rise, these developers may be able to find some degree of success, if they can produce quality games.

Analysts predict that mobile gaming will become more popular with Chinese consumers

Analysts from the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute note that mobile gaming is so popular because these games can be played anywhere and at any time. Consumers enjoy this aspect of mobile gaming because it allows them to control their entertainment experience. This convenience is one of the reasons mobile gaming has become such a popular pastime outside of China.