Video Game Anti-Piracy Ideas Part 2: The Self-Serve Kiosk

Part 1.

This is an idea that not only addresses piracy, but supply and demand for video games both new and old. A kiosk that makes video game discs on-demand offers a lot of flexibility for the consumers, and plenty of potential for game publishers and mortar-and-brick stores.

First I’ll talk about the anti-piracy measures. If there is one common trait of all packaged video games it’s that they are mass-produced, an army of clones with no uniqueness. Each PC game is bundled with a unique key code, but that is as close to product differentiation as you’ll see for packaged media.

With this kiosk system, no two game discs would be the same. The kiosk would be able to generate unique identifying code for each copy. Anti-piracy could be done in two ways: unique ID markers on each disk which can be traced back to the point of purchase (and potentially the purchaser as well*) if that disc is shared online, which would make everyone very protective of their discs. The second route would be unique code that needs to be activated by a unique key on a USB stick — a tandem needed to play the game. An online check can verify the uniqueness of the disc and key code.

This system would be ideal for new releases on next-gen systems, but can issue older games as well. It’s just the older games would have no anti-piracy measures. Old games would be cheap enough to lure customers away from torrenting.

While these machines would carry extensive libraries, they’d have wait times and some manual work as well, like inserting the cover art into the case sleeve and the disc into the case.

But you’d have options! Maybe multiple games on one disc. Numerous options for the cover art would be available, or you could upload your own.

This takes all the guesswork out of distribution of video games. Have a few of these in the store and you’re all set. No telling customers you’re sold out. No games collecting dust or being moved to the discount bin.

Another thing I’d like to see for this system is pricing options. Your purchased could be subsided by several ads that autoplay once. You could decline a printed instruction booklet in favor of a .PDF file for a few dollars less. Maybe agree to a survey as to why you’re making this purchase. More point-of-sale incentives that will save customers money is always a good thing in my book (better than applying for a credit card to save 10%).

This would also work well for movies and music. Granted, this idea is still a decade late. But if companies still insist on using physical media for next-gen game systems, then this sort of delivery system should be considered.

*Sorry for going Big Brother there. But if you Pirate then you’re painting the bulls-eye on your own back.