Rentable Digital Video-Games

[Active Hoper]

Lately, I've been engaging with my local libraries more often, with one of the ways that I've been doing that being the simple borrowing of video-games from them. A title that I recently borrowed is Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, which impressively allows the player to nearly seamlessly switch between its old and new visual styles - a feature that's been pleasantly advanced from Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. Yet, it lacks that balance between preservation and modernization in other areas, as seen with its absence of optional settings for auto-savings, creating an unnecessarily forced punishing atmosphere and an uneven experience.

I likely wouldn't have played and subsequently shared my thoughts on that game were it not for the ability to freely experience pieces of art these libraries provide me with. Libraries have their limits, though. They only provide physical titles, excluding a vast amount of digital-only video-games from being experienced with as much ease. That's where places like Steam can step in.

Places like Steam can provide to users an option to rent video-games for up to fourteen days for, say, $4.99, with games at that price or cheaper than it by default remaining unable to be rented. It's a simple idea, but it, or a rough adaptation of rental models from other industries' digital storefronts, can have the great impacts of increasing the number of people who play video-games and the conversations that are had about them.

[Mad Scientist]

This isn't physical media and a blockbuster. Be very careful what you wish for, as the best anti-copy solution would be forcing people to play via the cloud so they truly have nothing.

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

No, Rockstar would have to opt-in to it, assuming that it's not made a standard by default. Steam would be the one to set it up and allow it to be opted-in to, assuming, again, that it's not made a standard by default.

Each Dev would likely just make their own subscription. It would be silly to be part of a huge subscription or "rental" service and have to split between many, many devs.

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

Publicado originalmente por Artemida:

The example I showed you gives you access to just one game (with all DLCs) - so it is VERY SPECIFIC and not random at all.

It is up to you for how long you want to RENT it.

You showed me a sale. Sales exist for digital movies and television shows, as well, both of which can be rented. Your point is moot.

Steam Sales are well known to have massive percentages off, and smart shoppers especially for video games love paying little to nothing for a permanent license.

[Active Hoper]

Publicado originalmente por Wolf Knight:

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

No, Rockstar would have to opt-in to it, assuming that it's not made a standard by default. Steam would be the one to set it up and allow it to be opted-in to, assuming, again, that it's not made a standard by default.

so which is it? they have to set it up or they dont have to set it up? your saying something isnt there when it is already been shown to be there.

developers not using a system or rarely using it does not mean the system doesn't exist. if the system exists and it rarely used, maybe its because its not viewed as profitable.

I'm saying a rental system isn't there, which it's not, as I've not only stated but explained to you ad nauseam. As such, I will no longer be responding to any comments you post, for you refuse to provide any meaningful conversational developments and instead harp on the same thing.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

This suggestion would essentially be end the free to play week/weekend feature and destroy the subscription model.

[Wolf Knight]

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

Publicado originalmente por Wolf Knight:

so which is it? they have to set it up or they dont have to set it up? your saying something isnt there when it is already been shown to be there.

developers not using a system or rarely using it does not mean the system doesn't exist. if the system exists and it rarely used, maybe its because its not viewed as profitable.

I'm saying a rental system isn't there, which it's not, as I've not only stated but explained ad nauseam. As such, I will no longer be responding to any comments you post, for you refuse to provide any meaningful conversational developments and instead harp on the same thing.

then explain what the difference is between the 2. rent - play for X and pay Y, subscription Pay Y and play for X.

not much of a difference. if you see them as different, then define more clearly how they are different.

or is it that you want a 2 week subscription/rental option? again, the game developers have to see value in doing a 2 week option.

[Leonardo Da Pinchi]

If a Dev wanted you to pay only a portion of the game's price, beat it, and never buy the game itself. They'd opt into a subscription model.

You're aware these subscription lists for games are varied and random, because it's the Devs who opt into them right? Not because the games are chosen at random and forcibly added to the subscription.

[Artemida]

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

Publicado originalmente por Artemida:

The example I showed you gives you access to just one game (with all DLCs) - so it is VERY SPECIFIC and not random at all.

It is up to you for how long you want to RENT it.

You showed me a sale. Sales exist for digital movies and television shows, as well, both of which can be rented. Your point is moot.

NO, I have shown you a subscription/rent option. How about you click the link I provided and read the store page? Or is reading too hard for you? Stop being dishonest.

You can either buy the base game for $2.24 or subscribe to/rent the base game + all DLCs for a bit over $5.6/month.
(My store page is not in $ so the price may vary a bit.)

[Active Hoper]

Publicado originalmente por Leonardo Da Pinchi:

If a Dev wanted you to pay only a portion of the game's price, beat it, and never buy the game itself. They'd opt into a subscription model.

You're aware these subscription lists for games are varied and random, because it's the Devs who opt into them right? Not because the games are chosen at random and forcibly added to the subscription.

It's random in the sense of how it's not a separate standard (meaning rentals) where users can individually pick what they want to have access to for a temporary period of time. It's out of their control with subscriptions.

[Leonardo Da Pinchi]

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

Publicado originalmente por Leonardo Da Pinchi:

If a Dev wanted you to pay only a portion of the game's price, beat it, and never buy the game itself. They'd opt into a subscription model.

You're aware these subscription lists for games are varied and random, because it's the Devs who opt into them right? Not because the games are chosen at random and forcibly added to the subscription.

It's random in the sense of how it's not a separate standard (meaning rentals) where users can individually pick what they want to have access to for a temporary period of time. It's out of their control with subscriptions.

Yes, and since Devs have to opt in to the rental program. The offered list is going to be just as varied/random and a subscription service.

Steam cannot FORCE Devs to partake in a rental system, that's what I'm saying.

Another option is already THERE.

[Active Hoper]

Publicado originalmente por Artemida:

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

You showed me a sale. Sales exist for digital movies and television shows, as well, both of which can be rented. Your point is moot.

NO, I have shown you a subscription/rent option. How about you click the link I provided and read the store page? Or is reading too hard for you? Stop being dishonest.

You can either buy the base game for $2.24 or subscribe to/rent the base game + all DLCs for a bit over $5.6/month.
(My store page is not in $ so the price may vary a bit.)

You showed me what looked like an example of something that was low in price for a temporary period of time not set by the user, disproving, as you see it, the need for rentals, not an example that needed to be clicked on to show a game that opted-in to Steam's subscription service. Learn how to write and provide proper context to the sources you post.

Rentals do not have recurring payments; subscriptions do. The latter is not ideal for one game, the former is.

[Active Hoper]

Publicado originalmente por Leonardo Da Pinchi:

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

It's random in the sense of how it's not a separate standard (meaning rentals) where users can individually pick what they want to have access to for a temporary period of time. It's out of their control with subscriptions.

Yes, and since Devs have to opt in to the rental program. The offered list is going to be just as varied/random and a subscription service.

Steam cannot FORCE Devs to partake in a rental system, that's what I'm saying.

Another option is already THERE.

But, they can make a good enough service to where it would naturally become a standard. If it can be a standard elsewhere, it can be a standard here by fairly taking into account industry differences.

[Gwarsbane]

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

Publicado originalmente por Artemida:

It is possible, but it seems that most publishers/developers don't want to use it (geez, I wonder why...).

Here is an example:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/493340/Planet_Coaster/

Because it's a subscription-based -- which, as I've already explained, subscriptions are not the same thing as rentals -- model that is neither fully supported nor advertised.

You can rent/subscribe to the game for 1 month... OR you could rent/subscribe for a longer period of time which will end up cheaper per month.

Rent or subscribe... its LITERALLY THE SAME THING... you are getting it for X period of time, which will then be taken away from you after that period of time....


I can rent something month to month or I can rent for a period of time longer like 6 to 12 months

I can subscribe for something for month to month, or I can subscribe for a period of time longer like 6 to 12 months.

When I was younger there was a place that I could rent a game for 3 days for an amount of money OR I could rent it for a month long for more money.... If I wanted the game longer I could extend that time... again for more money. Sounds like a subscription to me but they called it game rental...


YOU ARE GETTING HUNG UP ON A WORD when what you want already exists but game developers generally don't want to use it because it puts less money in their pocket depending on the kind of game they have.


The game shown above, you can subscribe to it for a 1 month period for $6.49 CDN ($5.00 USD?) is for longer then your suggestion at a cheaper price.... the problem is its not on a game you want to rent/subscribe. Its a game with no real ending, meaning you could end up renting it for far more than you would pay for it. To buy it outright, play it as much as you want with all the DLC for as long as you want, is 47.25 bucks CDN. To rent it that 47.25 bucks will get you around 9 months of play, if you toss an extra 3 bucks on top.

Hmmm 51 dollars for a game that if I want to play it again will cost me more money if I rent/subscribe (that is if its still around and not removed by the developer) OR 48 dollars and I can start it back up and play it when ever I want and it won't cost me any extra money... Sounds like buying it would be the better choice.


You want Valve to force developers to use it... they won't. They already gave them the choice if they want to RENT out their game or not.... most choose not to.

[Mad Scientist]

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

You showed me what looked like an example of something that was low in price for a temporary period of time not set by the user

Businesses make the prices.
The low price is the games current sale price.
On that products page, it says the subscription price as well. The base game is literally cheaper than 2 months of a subscription right now during this very sale and you get to permanently keep the game.

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

disproving, as you see it, the need for rentals, not an example that needed to be clicked on to show a game that opted-in to Steam's subscription service. Learn how to write and provide proper context to the sources you post.

Rentals do not have recurring payments; subscriptions do.

What happens when you fail to "return" a rental or forget to cancel? It becomes a Subscription.
Presuming you can select an amount of time, guess who sets the price? The Developer/Publisher, and they're going to want to get a fair income, most know "renting" is not viable compared to selling a copy of their game.

Really, right now is a perfect example of being able to buy loads of games next to nothing, permanent ownership, far superior to renting especially the more hours you intend to play, compared to "renting" which again - they'd most likely resort to putting you into a cloud system so you have no files whatsoever on your system to prevent illegal copies.

[Crazy Tiger]

5 pages in and OP still hasn't given an actual substantial reason on how this would actually benefit game developers/publishers/platforms.

I see some what ifs based on false premises, but nothing actual or compelling.

[Leonardo Da Pinchi]

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

Publicado originalmente por Leonardo Da Pinchi:

Yes, and since Devs have to opt in to the rental program. The offered list is going to be just as varied/random and a subscription service.

Steam cannot FORCE Devs to partake in a rental system, that's what I'm saying.

Another option is already THERE.

But, they can make a good enough service to where it would naturally become a standard. If it can be a standard elsewhere, it can be a standard here by fairly taking into account industry differences.

It was only a standard with physical media because the games had already been BOUGHT and paid for by the rental store.

Devs want to get paid, preferably the asking price for their games. One of the primary reasons why you can "rent" digital movies, is because you don't DOWNLOAD them, you stream them.

[Active Hoper]

Publicado originalmente por Leonardo Da Pinchi:

Publicado originalmente por Active Hoper:

But, they can make a good enough service to where it would naturally become a standard. If it can be a standard elsewhere, it can be a standard here by fairly taking into account industry differences.

It was only a standard with physical media because the games had already been BOUGHT and paid for by the rental store.

Devs want to get paid, preferably the asking price for their games. One of the primary reasons why you can "rent" digital movies, is because you don't DOWNLOAD them, you stream them.

Rented digital movies can be downloaded.