Capcom: Used Games 'Not a Factor' in Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Lacking Data Reset

So how is there progress in RE:TM? Everytime I hear or see it I see missions and such but it all seems like score based gameplay. Is there some sort of leveling up or upgrade mechanic in the game?

@gla55jAw said:

That's some BS if I ever heard it.

All controversy aside, I bet some dumbass just forgot to finalize the option to delete data.  In order to reset cartridges on the DS the user practically has to complete a mystical act of Nintendo shamanism.  First scour the text of the manual for proper procedure because you can never remember, contort your digits into inhumane finger pretzels to press the proper buttons, and hope it works?  Why so crazy...

So how is there progress in RE:TM? Everytime I hear or see it I see missions and such but it all seems like score based gameplay. Is there some sort of leveling up or upgrade mechanic in the game?

They couldn't just do 3 save slots? Really?

So, basically, this is absolutely pointless. I am definitely calling bullshit on this statement of theirs.
 
Congratulations, Capcom, you just landed in the pile of steaming dung that are bad publishers in my books. Lying to consumers is never a good marketing tactic.

Not that I agree with what Capcom is doing, but... This isn't really a big deal. Buy it used, start from the first mission. Does it really matter if it has someone else progress? No. Now, if they weren't letting people play through the game more than once or replay missions or something, THEN this would be a problem. Is it a dick move on their part? Yes, but it's not the end of the world.

I thought it was a cool idea to deter used game sales until I read that "secondhand game sales were not a factor in this development decision," which made me sad. 
 
I'd rather have to deal with an un-earesable save file than a fucking $15 downloadable unlock code. This might make me buy new, whereas a $15 code makes me not care in the slightest.

Hey, guess who still doesn't care about the 3DS or anything related to it? ME!

That seems... Silly. Hell, it almost sounds like there's some problem with the 3DS and this is just their way of covering. But maybe that's just what it sounds like to me because of how ridiculous the idea is.

@RE_Player92: Dude, if nothing else, it will be worth it just for the touchpad alone. I like touching the games to manipulate and such, but it sucks having your fingers take up valuable screen real estate. Having the same ability, but to make it so you don't cover up any of the action happening? Yes please.

If they wanted to limited used sales, they should have just sold it digitally...

@Matthew: Right on dude. Vita is going to be different though... right? I already put $200 down so please tell me it will be different...

All I see is shit coming out of their mouths. A whole lot of it.

This is filthy, and Capcom are liars.

I don't really see what the big problem is, this game doesn't have a campaign mode or anything. The point of the game is to play the stages and get high scores, just like the Mercenaries mode in RE4 and 5. All deleting data would really do is reset the high scores. Not that the option shouldn't be there, but I don't see how this ruins the game.

I know I like to start from the beginning of a game after I've beaten it at times. So this potentially hurts all consumers, not just those of used copies.

How can they say that used game sales were not a factor with a straight face. Of course that was the reason and only reason. You know, this (as far as i know) has never been done before, and it's really stupid. So obviously it was to hurt used copies of the game. They don't even  have the balls to tell the truth.

What a crock of shit. I don't understand why something like this would even exist or happen. I don't have a 3DS and never buy used games, but how is this beneficial to ANY consumer. What if i wanted to start over and "prestige"?

Used game sales were not a factor at all? That's fucking horseshit.

To be honest, I wasn't going to buy the game in the first place, but now I'm REALLY not going to buy it.

Well that....... is odd. If not to curb used game sales, then why the hell include such a strange feature. Leaving that decision up to the players seems to have worked fine up until now...

If this game is a glorified Mercinaries mode, Why would save games matter? Shouldn't it be like a "ha! beat that!" score game?

Either A.) they are lying or B.) Nintendo goofed up in a key part of the design in the 3ds.

So they've been able to erase saves on cartridges for years and now suddenly they can't? That's total BS.

@pyromaster222: My brain travels. I made the page concerning New Purchase Incentives, so I've already thought a bit about this topic, then I moved to the subject of 3D.

That's some BS if I ever heard it.

Somehow Ocarina of Time allows you to delete saves, even though it saves them directly to the cart. Must be Nintendo magic.

Say you spend a dozen hours with Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D and hand the cartridge to your buddy, who decides he'd like to start from square one. Delete the data, move on, play. Logical.

Except...

That option's not included in Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D. There's a line in the manual that makes this abundantly clear:

"Note: Saved data on this software cannot be reset."

The narrative that's been building amongst fans is how this represents a move on Capcom's part to push back on used game sales. If you want to have your "own" progress in Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, you need to buck up and purchase a brand-new copy of the game at $39.99.

As Tiny Cartridge points out, some Japanese shops are reportedly selling used copies of the game for very low prices because the data can't be reset, lowering the incentive for users to sell.

Capcom's issued a statement to me disputing this, however.

"Secondhand game sales were not a factor in this development decision," said the company, "so we hope that all our consumers will be able to enjoy the entirety of the survival-action experiences that the game does offer."

If used games aren't the issue, what is? Is there a technical reason that's preventing them from including data reset? That part's not totally clear, but here's what Capcom said.

"In Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, all mission progress is saved directly to the Nintendo 3DS cartridge, where it cannot be reset," said the company. "The nature of the game invites high levels of replayability in order to improve mission scores. In addition, this feature does not remove any content available for users."

I've followed-up with Capcom and will let you know what I hear back.

Regardless, if personalized progress is important, a used copy is out of the question for now.