If you play MMOs, if you're using cloud storage for games (as we're moving towards), think for a moment how long a "game" will survive. Your collection of memory sticks and outdated save cards is nothing compared to the way gaming is going. I see it entirely possible that game data will survive for years, for more than a decade, in some situations.
This likely possibility is something those of us who play and make games and media should be seriously considering.
- MMO's will have to decide what to do with old data – and also the fact that each inactive account may yet become income producing.
- If anyone remembers the way some Metal Gear games used save files, those old save files could be used in so many ways in other games – or sequels.
- What happens when a game gets re-released? What do you do with save files floating around in the cloud?
- When a game gets a sequel/spinoff years later after whatever legal/ethical/company fooaraw delays it save files that can be used for extras, bonuses, etc. may still be out there.
- With all the ways to use old save and game information, what are the legal limits of what data you can use?
- * What legal rights does a company have to use data saved under previous games?
If you're a programmer or producer in gaming, a lot of potential opportunities and challenges are coming just due to sheer persistence of data. Some of these could be trouble – and many could be opportunities.