Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D is out in stores today and I was quite looking forward to buying it. My 3DS is finally getting some attention after a post-launch release drought and I was hoping to keep up the momentum started by Ocarina of Time 3D with Capcom's debut offering.
However, the news that it will contain persistent save data that cannot be reset has caused me to rethink my purchasing decision. After talking to gamers, GameStop, Capcom, and weighing my options, I have decided to keep my cash and wait for something else.
I will respectfully abstain from purchasing The Mercenaries 3D.
The driving factor of my decision is that I feel I would be supporting a cause I have staunchly opposed for many years -- the fight against used games. I support the secondhand game market because I believe it is ultimately beneficial to the games industry -- I think it helps poorer gamers afford brand new titles with trade-in credit, and I believe it generates greater exposure to an intellectual property, in that those who buy a game used are more likely to buy the sequel brand new if they enjoyed it.
These are long-term benefits to the used games industry, but unfortunately, publishers only ever think of childish, short-term gratification. They want their cash now, and they feel entitled to that cash even after they made an initial sale. Features such as online passes -- that hold content to ransom unless users input a purchasable code -- inconvenience new and used consumers alike, and eventually devalue used games, which could have long-term ramifications on the market. As someone who cares about the future of this industry, as well as consumer rights, I cannot in good faith support any move that fights used games in a direct and potentially damaging way.
Capcom has stated that the used market was not a factor. I can't say I am wholly inclined to believe it because ... what other factors could there be? I'd love for Capcom to set my mind at rest by explaining what DID factor into the decision, but the truth is -- it hasn't. I asked a very direct question while chatting with the publisher -- what influenced its decision to stop consumers erasing save data? My conversation with Capcom ended there. No answer was given.
Regardless of Capcom's justifications, however, the fact is that The Mercenaries 3D does represent harm to the used game market. Reports of GameStop's refusal to accept trade-ins for the game are increasing, and store managers have personally told me that their computers outright block the game from being processed. In essence, this has quite smartly locked The Mercenaries out of the used game market, and could easily inspire other 3DS game publishers to pull the same stunt.
It's not hard to imagine those publishers already fighting used games -- the likes of Electronic Arts and THQ -- are salivating at the prospect of games that are effectively immune to used sales.
Some will argue that, due to the non-linear nature of the game, this won't effect anybody. However, a used consumer will potentially risk buying a game that has all content unlocked, and a range of user-inputted high scores rather than scores set by the game itself. Some of you might not like unlockables, but I know I'm not alone when I say that the appeal of a non-linear, arena-based game like this personally lies in the discovery of new skills and fresh stages, a gradual release of content that keeps me invested in playing, rather than a complete explosion of gameplay with total access from the outset. Some of you might be fine with having all the content and somebody else's high scores -- I am not.
Even outside of that, I know of gamers who like resetting their data. Ars Technica's Ben Kuchera stated today that he regularly starts all types of handheld games again from scratch.
"I wasn't sent a review copy, was going to go out and buy it, but MAN that's just a direct attack on your customers. I can't support it," he Tweeted. "I really like wiping my save game files on portable games to start from scratch. Do it all the time. That makes this a shit deal for me."
I'm not a big data-eraser myself, but I understand why some like to do it, and I totally agree that Ben has a right to be perturbed by this. It's yet another instance of control being taken away from gamers -- a worrying theme of this generation.
Not to mention, Capcom's decision will inevitably lead to an increase in hacking. When you tell gamers they cannot do something, a certain subset of them will invariably take that as a challenge. Every time a company claims that its hardware is impossible to hack, the hackers rise to the challenge and prove them wrong. Capcom blocking the erasure of saved data is akin to painting a great big bullseye on every copy in stores. People will find the exploits that allow them to wipe data, and that could easily open the doors to other types of exploits that publishers won't like.
Ultimately, I'm not outraged by any of this, but after rationally examining the situation, I feel that I would be undermining my own principals if I gave monetary support to a game that directly conflicts with something I unequivocally, proudly believe in -- the importance and value of the secondhand game market. Whether Capcom truly did this to fight used games isn't the issue. The fact is that Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D does have an impact on the ongoing conflict, and as such, I abstain.
I've got too much respect for this industry and its consumers to support something that represents a direct assault on used games.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Still feel this issue is getting a little more blown out then it should, but it's entirely understandable.
Sorry brethren but I still will be buying the game. I just hope all this backlash do to locked saves will let capcom wake up and know it's bad for business.
Wholly agree with this. Gaming became as huge as it is with the help of the used market, not in spite of it. Without the added capital pumped into the system by the used market, gaming would never be able to sustain itself at this point. It's too expensive, and any added consumer spending power is a good thing.
Things like this are staunchly anti consumer. Fighting the used market will create a situation where gaming is so expensive only the richest companies will be able to produce software, and only the lucky few will be able to play them.
I respect your opinion, fully. I was actually talking to a Gamestop rep this morning about it, and he told me about the email that was sent out to all Gamestop employees, instructing them to not take it as a trade-in.
Either way, I bought it, and it's a pretty fun little diversion. I can easily see popping this in in-between the wait for titles like Ocarina of Time 3D, and Super Mario [3D]. Between this and Zelda 3D, this is all I need for now.
@master snake considering that revelations will actually have progression within an actual story line I hope not. I also hope they bring the typewriter type of saves back!
I chose not to buy it due to the fact that it is an overpriced minigame that we can easily play on our previous Resident Evil titles. I do admire your support, however, and it is quite a shame that Capcom is going down that road.
If what you hinted at DOES happen, and this becomes standard, what happens after a few years pass and people want to start playing the games they missed, but can't find a new or unused copy? They're getting rid of those customers too, and that's unfortunate. I hope publishers realize this was a bad mistake and decide not to do this.
Clever strategy by Capcom. +1 for their creativity. I think everyone is making too a big a deal out of this though. It'll be forgotten soon enough, like everything else in the videogame world.
While I have no problem with your decision, I also don't think developers have any moral imperative to make games "used game market friendly".
I also don't believe there is any real proof that the loss of the used game market would cause any kind of crash of the new game market. An adjustment period, yes, but that's a different situation entirely. The PC market has gotten by quite well without it.
I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo made a way to stop this from happening in future 3DS titles. If I were interested I would hold on to my money for a little longer.
does anyone have this and can confirm you cant start a new game at all? if so thats garbage, thats like paying 60$ to goto 6 flags and only being able to ride 1 ride once.
I agree with your points Jim and your points here changed my mind on the issue. Because of this I just had to send an email to my girl telling her not to pick up my preorder when she goes and gets hers (shes actually going there as I write this, from work).
I won't be able to reason with her on it, specially in a short email, in order to convince her not to buy hers but at least -hopefully- I can stop her from getting mine. I just hope this doesn't start a fight.
I don't own a 3DS so this doesn't concern me in most ways. I do wipe data and start games over from time to time though, and this would certainly affect my decision on purchase if this were a title I was considering. I really want to know specifically if not for stopping used sales, what reason this game can't reset. It's been a feature in games since the dawn of (game) time. If games on the NES could do it, why can't this? This is a really troubling practice.
It seems there are no masters of unlocking at Capcom.
I was all set to pick up this game after work but I too will abstain. I don't trade my games in because I usually go back and play them again, from a fresh file. Although it might not be the biggest deal in this ministyle game it bothers me to think.this.might spread to other types of titles.
I'm for the most part supportive of the online pass system. It doesn't take away content from people who buy it new, and it helps give the developers money. I'm not exactly opposed to the sale of used games, but they're only 5-10 dollars cheaper, and if you can't pay that extra small bit to support companies, then I think its fair to ask you to take a small hit to the game's content. However there is shit that needs to stop. Preordering for content needs to stop, if its on the disk but lost forever because you didn't want to take a 60 dollar gamble on day 1, then that's not cool. Day 1 DLC needs to stop, if it is available from day 1, then they purposely left it off the disk so they could milk you even more. Its like everybody realized that they couldn't realistically increase the price of games past 60 dollars so they decided to do it anyway sneakily with dlc.
Now there's this shit that capcom is doing. Capcom may make good games, but they are one of the greediest companies there are. Day 1 dlc, charging out the ass for costumes, DLC content on disk, DRM to PSN games, charging money for "hard mode", and now there's this. Do not buy this game, and do not support this bullshit, because capcom is punishing legitimate consumers just so they can make some extra money.
@pokota: I thiknk we have gotten by well without it due to digital distribution with it being kind of the equivalent to a used game market. If we can't afford a game we wait till one of those sites has a sell and buy it at a cheap price.
I am so sick of this "Lets kill the used games market" mentality. I'm considering the idea of never buying one of these "Handicapped" games new ever again, and FUCK the online content.
20 bucks less for me without online? Fine. I have other games that will ALLOW me to play online without ponying up extra cash. What a load of crock. They made their initial sale...And now it's no longer their game to do what they want with. That's called PURCHASING A GAME.
...remind me how GameStops Rip Off that is trading games is ultimately good for gamers?
Sounds like someone is fishing for hits instead of actually reporting. I mean I hate what Capcom has done but not looking at the other problem which is most likely why Capcom set this in the first place (which hurts consumers) as well, is like saying getting kicked in the nuts is better than getting punched in the nuts, aka picking one asshole over another instead of denouncing assholes altogether.
Are you sure about that? I know for downloads it saves to the SD card, but I just took out my SD card and loaded up Ocarina and my save file is still there.
A MORAL imperative to make games "used friendly"? Certainly not.
Then again, there's no imperative whatsoever for Capcom to exist. They could shrivel up and die, and there's nothing saying it "should" or "shouldn't" happen, morally. It's just, if they DON'T want it to happen, they and companies like them should stop pissing off their customers, treating them like dogs meant to lick their faces for the slighest scrap of a meal. You want me to pay an already pretty hefty retail price, and on top of it, have little to no control over my playing or re-playing experience, and absolutely ZERO say over whether or not I willfully trade something I rightfully paid for? Fuck them.
Bend over and spread wide for corporations while acting like their unpaid cheerleaders all you wish. I respect anyone willing to tell them to fuck the fuck off until they actually give a shit about the people mostly responsible for their existence.
What if you have siblings who want to share the game? Only one save file is stupid. I bought it but didn't realize this. I haven't opened it yet and am debating bringing it back for a refund but I really want to play it...
There's no such thing as "used market friendly", you're either dissuading the purchase of used goods or you aren't. In this case, the used market issue plays second fiddle to the fact that a game without the ability to ever erase your save file is inherently not consumer friendly, which should take precedence over the used market aspect.
"Sounds like someone is fishing for hits instead of actually reporting."
He's not reporting anything, its an opinion piece. Not everything written on this site is a news story, you have to know that by now if you've spent any time here at all.
One thing that I'm wondering about this persistent save file business is this:
If the file becomes corrupted by, say, the 3DS being deactivated in any way as the game is in the process of saving, would the data reset itself, remain eternally corrupt of return to the last workable save state?
If the first possible outcome, then there is a workaround, after all,not that such trickery should be required to delete a save file. If the second outcome is what comes to pass, then the thing is worthless to everyone all due to a loss of power at a critical moment. I wouldn't be too surprised if the last outcome is what occurs.
What exactly is the big deal? You don't get to see a little pop-up that says "next level unlocked"? People are angry because the lack of that pop-up takes away from the fun of playing the levels again? .. what?
The outrage people are showing is kind of silly. No game-play elements are being lost. It won't hurt you to play this game after someone else already has. If anything, people should be angry with GameStop, as it was their decision not to accept trade-ins, and it's kind of a dumb decision.
I agree with Jim on this one. I support the used game market too. Every other industry has to deal with a used second hand market, be it clothes or cars, and the game industry is no different. Publishers shouldn't handcuff their customers to a product that they don't want.
"People will find the exploits that allow them to wipe data, and that could easily open the doors to other types of exploits that publishers won't like. "
Too late.
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Contest:
4:00 PM on 06.28.2011 | 
Sorry brethren but I still will be buying the game. I just hope all this backlash do to locked saves will let capcom wake up and know it's bad for business.
Hopefully a firmware update fixes that issue.
Things like this are staunchly anti consumer. Fighting the used market will create a situation where gaming is so expensive only the richest companies will be able to produce software, and only the lucky few will be able to play them.
Either way, I bought it, and it's a pretty fun little diversion. I can easily see popping this in in-between the wait for titles like Ocarina of Time 3D, and Super Mario [3D]. Between this and Zelda 3D, this is all I need for now.
Good boy.
Have a shandy on the house.
- THE BEAR KING
sharks suck
I also don't believe there is any real proof that the loss of the used game market would cause any kind of crash of the new game market. An adjustment period, yes, but that's a different situation entirely. The PC market has gotten by quite well without it.
Seriously though, quite the dick move on Capcom's part.
I won't be able to reason with her on it, specially in a short email, in order to convince her not to buy hers but at least -hopefully- I can stop her from getting mine. I just hope this doesn't start a fight.
It seems there are no masters of unlocking at Capcom.
Not this one. This one saves to the game cart.
Now there's this shit that capcom is doing. Capcom may make good games, but they are one of the greediest companies there are. Day 1 dlc, charging out the ass for costumes, DLC content on disk, DRM to PSN games, charging money for "hard mode", and now there's this. Do not buy this game, and do not support this bullshit, because capcom is punishing legitimate consumers just so they can make some extra money.
I am so sick of this "Lets kill the used games market" mentality. I'm considering the idea of never buying one of these "Handicapped" games new ever again, and FUCK the online content.
20 bucks less for me without online? Fine. I have other games that will ALLOW me to play online without ponying up extra cash. What a load of crock. They made their initial sale...And now it's no longer their game to do what they want with. That's called PURCHASING A GAME.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQfyEdmUQ9s
...remind me how GameStops Rip Off that is trading games is ultimately good for gamers?
Sounds like someone is fishing for hits instead of actually reporting. I mean I hate what Capcom has done but not looking at the other problem which is most likely why Capcom set this in the first place (which hurts consumers) as well, is like saying getting kicked in the nuts is better than getting punched in the nuts, aka picking one asshole over another instead of denouncing assholes altogether.
Are you sure about that? I know for downloads it saves to the SD card, but I just took out my SD card and loaded up Ocarina and my save file is still there.
Then again, there's no imperative whatsoever for Capcom to exist. They could shrivel up and die, and there's nothing saying it "should" or "shouldn't" happen, morally. It's just, if they DON'T want it to happen, they and companies like them should stop pissing off their customers, treating them like dogs meant to lick their faces for the slighest scrap of a meal. You want me to pay an already pretty hefty retail price, and on top of it, have little to no control over my playing or re-playing experience, and absolutely ZERO say over whether or not I willfully trade something I rightfully paid for? Fuck them.
Bend over and spread wide for corporations while acting like their unpaid cheerleaders all you wish. I respect anyone willing to tell them to fuck the fuck off until they actually give a shit about the people mostly responsible for their existence.
There's no such thing as "used market friendly", you're either dissuading the purchase of used goods or you aren't. In this case, the used market issue plays second fiddle to the fact that a game without the ability to ever erase your save file is inherently not consumer friendly, which should take precedence over the used market aspect.
He's not reporting anything, its an opinion piece. Not everything written on this site is a news story, you have to know that by now if you've spent any time here at all.
If the file becomes corrupted by, say, the 3DS being deactivated in any way as the game is in the process of saving, would the data reset itself, remain eternally corrupt of return to the last workable save state?
If the first possible outcome, then there is a workaround, after all,not that such trickery should be required to delete a save file. If the second outcome is what comes to pass, then the thing is worthless to everyone all due to a loss of power at a critical moment. I wouldn't be too surprised if the last outcome is what occurs.
What exactly is the big deal? You don't get to see a little pop-up that says "next level unlocked"? People are angry because the lack of that pop-up takes away from the fun of playing the levels again? .. what?
The outrage people are showing is kind of silly. No game-play elements are being lost. It won't hurt you to play this game after someone else already has. If anything, people should be angry with GameStop, as it was their decision not to accept trade-ins, and it's kind of a dumb decision.
Too late.