Fewer things in video games are lamer than publishers whining about resold or rented games. You sold us the freakin’ thing. Like any other product we own, including cars, homes, and other electronics, we have a right to resell them. If you don’t like it, don’t sell us the game!
But I digress. Last night while reading the wonderful Game Over by David Sheff, a history of Nintendo’not to mention the industry’I learned that our beloved Japanese hero once hired a “government-relations” lobbyists to push legislation through congress that would outlaw the rental of video games (p. 285). Good thing it didn’t pass.
It was only a minor altercation of many in which Nintendo overstepped its bounds in the late ’80s, including anti-trust and racketeering charges. But as the book objectively tells, Nintendo wasn’t without some sincere justifications for their actions. If you haven’t read it, I strongly encourage you to do so, especially if you like John Grisham.