GameRager: ALL games are rented if you think about it...even if rented is taken figuratively.
toxicTom: No. Steam and Co are figuratively "rented", since your usage right is tied to the service - when the service is terminated (for you, or in general) you lose the game.
If you buy a physical copy, or buy on GOG and download the backup installer, that single copy is all yours - you own it. Just like you own a vinyl record, even if there are no means to play it any more. Or a combustion engine car, even if in some future there will be no gas available.
What you can't do is make unlicensed copies of the product and spread them. Much like you can't (even if you had the resources) faithfully recreate your Porsche and sell the copies...
GameRager: Also let's not forget the legally questionable EULAs which state one only licenses a game COPY...not owns the game itself.
toxicTom: Most of these EULAs are not legally binding in Europe, fortunately there is something called "principle of exhaustion" - meaning, once you obtain ownership of a product (you own the COPY), you can do with it with it as you like, as long as it's legal (making illegal copies is not, of course). Microsoft tried to forbid the reselling of the cheap OEM editions of Windows and Office and fell flat with it.
1st bit: Agreed but once you have no hardware to play those copies on anymore(or anyone does) it doesn't really matter if you OWN a game copy or not....moot point, etc.
2nd bit: Nice, but here in the states I think they get away with much more with those EULAs, sadly. :\
GameRager: So then they can play a version with less bells and whistles, but as long as they can do so and others can enjoy the extra stuff then both can be happy and innovation can still happen. Take all the games which had optional shadows/colored lighting/etc in years past as examples.
Hickory: So what's your point? Innovation would not happen if it weren't for those who can. With only those who can't, it dies.
I thought you were trying to say games cannot innovate due to consoles/etc or they aren't innovating anymore, and I was trying to show that they can and do. If I mistook what you were trying to say In apologize.
novumZ: Hmm. In 20 years the games will be in real life and the title: Survival; if we don't change our arrogant behavior toward our planet. There is no Earth 2
Arnold: Get your arse to mars
(I know mars is a terrible choice....I just had to make that reference here)