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Game Activation Tech Could Save Billions
A look into video game activation at retail services could save billions on current anti-theft policies and techniques.
The Entertainment Merchants Association trade group has stated that activation technology could save the games retailing business billions on theft prevention and theft itself. The technology would work similarly to gift cards, where the product isn't actually good until the cashier uses a machine to activate it behind the counter. This can allow companies to spend less money on building cabinets to lock game behinds, as well as creating an easy set-up allowing customers to look at the games and game cases without needing assistance from an employee. In addition, they seek to prevent thefts from employees themselves.
I see two holes in their plan, though. Firstly, when I worked at a games retailer back in the day, most of our customer-based thefts were just the empty cases being taken off the shelves by customers not aware we kept the disc behind the counter. Actual loss on a game was done by an employee on the inside that required heavy investigation, and an employee would have access to the activation tools. Unless the activation software requires a login to use and is therefore traceable, then I don't see much in the way of prevention.
In addition, this technology would ideally allow retailers to keep game cases where the customer can see them, and save man hours having to "gut" the contents of the case, put it behind the shelf and possibly reshrink wrap before having to place it back on the shelf. Now, this may be a fine strategy for unactivated gift cards, but that's because all a retailer loses is a cheap piece of plastic with no value. If someone takes an unactivated game, it's not only a worthless disc to the thief but a $60 loss to the retail store.
Before anyone makes any claims about how much this technology could supposedly save, I think more details into how it would work should be provided. As it stands, I don't see any way to save much money, just an additional wall of defense against theft.
I see two holes in their plan, though. Firstly, when I worked at a games retailer back in the day, most of our customer-based thefts were just the empty cases being taken off the shelves by customers not aware we kept the disc behind the counter. Actual loss on a game was done by an employee on the inside that required heavy investigation, and an employee would have access to the activation tools. Unless the activation software requires a login to use and is therefore traceable, then I don't see much in the way of prevention.
In addition, this technology would ideally allow retailers to keep game cases where the customer can see them, and save man hours having to "gut" the contents of the case, put it behind the shelf and possibly reshrink wrap before having to place it back on the shelf. Now, this may be a fine strategy for unactivated gift cards, but that's because all a retailer loses is a cheap piece of plastic with no value. If someone takes an unactivated game, it's not only a worthless disc to the thief but a $60 loss to the retail store.
Before anyone makes any claims about how much this technology could supposedly save, I think more details into how it would work should be provided. As it stands, I don't see any way to save much money, just an additional wall of defense against theft.