Shyguy: Yeah I know it isn't happening...and that is one of the biggest hurdles keeping me out of gaming. It is just too blasted expensive these days.
Now, I personally understand why developers want to get rid of used games...it is a killer on the system. However, MS and Sony could figure out a way of doing this without relying on the console being online all the time. Just automatic system authorization via system being online to hooked up to the internet during first play. Your console is automatically registered for that game and then DRM technology could keep you from playing it on another system, unless you are logged into your Xbox Live account, so you can bring it to a friends house to play. Then Microsoft could allow you to de-authorize your system for the game and allow you to trade it in...if they so included.
This could be used as a means to help stop pirating. Then if your system is not online when you register your Xbox 360, you could be able to authorize your game via your computer with an Xbox Live app.
This won't be marketed as killing the used game market, but a means to combat piracy...and if the industry is moving this direction they better do it carefully...so that consumers do not get ticked off by the system.
Also, I do not think this would mean a large increase in used game prices if you had to re-register with MS and Sony to get a new number...solely because the used market games is fairly fixed in that it can never be higher than the new game in print...or at least shouldn't. And, Game Stop is already charging more than they ever should for used games.
Now, I am definitely not in favor of this idea...I think it sucks, and is the wrong direction...however I understand why this direction is happening, and I don't fault the developers or console makers at all for looking at this solution. Unfortunately for games the profits outweigh the negatives.