are cheaper games worth it? (used games controversy)

[Lucem712]

~LE SNIP~

I never understood the connection between 'no used games = cheaper games'. Absolutely not. Publishers charge aussies an arm and a leg just because they can. There is literally no other reason. Are some people so dull as to think that some big publisher is gonna pass on the savings?

Instead of just trying to victimize themselves, they should be figuring out ways to get those cuts away from game-stores. Maybe if there was an actual intensive for digital downloads (On PSN, at least), I'd buy that way. But what's the point of paying 60 bucks DD when I can get it brand spankin' new (or used, whatever) for cheaper, in a physical form?

The reason Kangaroo prices are so high isn't because of some deep dark conspiracy, it is just a curious leftover of when your money wasn't worth anything.

I think extra credits did a bit about it.

Oh, I know it's not some dark conspiracy. There's just no current reason to do so. The publishers/devs are aware it no longer cost anything (more) to do them to release games in Australia. They do so simply because the games still are bought at those price.

 

[Bakuryukun]

It really is in game developers best interest to start lowering prices of their games, especially if they have a radically popular franchise, for example: if the next Call of Duty came out at $30 I can guarantee more people would be able and willing to buy it on launch, not only that but they would essentially undercut used sales, because it would make selling your game back to [insert game store name here] worth next to NO money. Essentially discouraging used sales at their root.

At it's core people most people don't care if their games are Used or New by principle what they actually want is affordability, something the game industry should really notice, and take advantage of.

 

[Acier]

You know what would *actually* drop game prices...
people not buying games at full price forcing companies to lower them to be profitable.

But no one wants to walk the walk ;~;

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Yeah, you've got to worry, Steam seem to have some kind of soul still intact, doing great deals on older games, and wonderful sales, along with all the other stuff they do, mod and indie support, etc.

However, next gen, when Sony and MS have their own specific online stores for their consoles, and only they are selling the games, there's going to be a problem. You need some vague sense of humanity to run a company like Steam, whereas those two are gonna try to sell new games for $100 a time, then 6 months later have an 'epic sale!' where you can buy two for $190, knowing you have a choice, you can pay up or not play any new games.

When the generation comes of no more physical discs, used games are over. That's going to be a very bad thing.

I still don't condone GAME and the like knocking five bucks off the new price for a second hand discs with scratches and peanut butter all over em, tho.

 

[Blade_125]

THe main problem I have with used games is that (at least in my area) used games are at best $5 less than the new title. I recall buying LA Noire last summer and when I saw that the usde game was $2 less than a new game (it was discounted by this point). When the clerk asked if I wanted to get the game used for cheaper I laughed in his face. Why would I want to get a used game to save $2 whole dollars. If this is the same everywhere else then I cannot understand why so many people would even buy used games.

I do have an issue with not having a physical copy. I have a limited amount of money (even more limited now that I have bought a condo), so I can only buy so many games. Some of my friends my buy something else that I would love to play once, but can't justify spending money on. I don't think that is a bad thing, adn it isn't going to cost the game company anything since i won't buy the game anyway. It just means I won't ever play the game. Which is sad, since if i really like it I may buy a sequal, but I wouldn't without trying the first game. Unfortunetly game companies don't follow this kind of logic.

Rather than bother trying for the used market, I wait 2-6 months for the price on a game to drop. It's rare that I think a game is going to be so good that it is worth paying full price for. Steam or game stop is a great way to do that for the PC (although you lose the trading option that way).

Also $60 is a lot of money when you have so many other bills to worry about. That means I have to be very selective in what I get at that price, hense why I wait for the price to go down.

 

[veloper]

Anyone who honestly thinks removal of used games or piracy will lead to cheaper games is a fool. It isn't going to lead to cheaper games, it is going to lead to higher profits for the publishers. Why would they sell a game at a lower price if they know they can get away with the higher one? Basic principle of economic here folks, you sell your product at the highest price to maximize returns based on sales. Eliminating used sales has not lowered the starting price for PC games, it will not lower the price for console games.

Actually, PC game prices have become CHEAPER over time, but that is only due to inflation over the years.
New AAA games for PC have nearly always been $50 or 50 euros, or 100 guilders/marks/etc. before the euro. New games go for almost 50% less now than games in 2000.

I conclude the disappearance of used PC game trade has had no ill effect on new prices. Moreover the biggest discounts nowadays a couple months after release come from digital download services like Steam and Gamer's gate.

That doesn't mean console land will fare as well though. There's potential for competition afteral.

The pressure or competition on the PC is coming from 5 directions: competing DD services, mailorder, what little is left of retail, piracy and different publishers making similar games. Scrapping PC retail and even mailorder wouldn't change the playing field too much here.

Kill console retail hypothetically along with used games and it will only be publishers competing against other publishers on 2 or 3 digital distribution channels: xbox live, PSN and whatever the WiiU may have.
That and 3rd world bootlegging and some piracy. Those are the options left for future console gamers, so less pressure on the publishers to lower digital download prices.
The publishers could milk the console consumer for more money, cut out the middle men, etc., etc. which means this scenario is very likely to happen sooner or later. Articles in gamemags about the ps4 and new xbox also point this way, so it may be sooner than later.
Sucks for consoles, but there it is.

 

[aba1]

I am not sure if I am the only one but with the way consoles are going I might actually just skip the next generation all together. I just don't get what I wanted from games anymore. I want to sit down on a couch with a few friends break out a few drinks and have a good time. With the no-used games policy I don't think I would be able to afford many games and the few I do buy I expect full ownership of which I won't get do to digital restrictions combined with the fact everything is online these days I can't even enjoy most games with my friends unless they go home and have there own console with there own tv with there own copy of the game and own subscription.... it just isn't worth the money anymore.

 

[Jodah]

Anyone who honestly thinks removal of used games or piracy will lead to cheaper games is a fool. It isn't going to lead to cheaper games, it is going to lead to higher profits for the publishers. Why would they sell a game at a lower price if they know they can get away with the higher one? Basic principle of economic here folks, you sell your product at the highest price to maximize returns based on sales. Eliminating used sales has not lowered the starting price for PC games, it will not lower the price for console games.

Actually, PC game prices have become CHEAPER over time, but that is only due to inflation over the years.
New AAA games for PC have nearly always been $50 or 50 euros, or 100 guilders/marks/etc. before the euro. New games go for almost 50% less now than games in 2000.

I conclude the disappearance of used PC game trade has had no ill effect on new prices. Moreover the biggest discounts nowadays a couple months after release come from digital download services like Steam and Gamer's gate.

That doesn't mean console land will fare as well though. There's potential for competition afteral.

The pressure or competition on the PC is coming from 5 directions: competing DD services, mailorder, what little is left of retail, piracy and different publishers making similar games. Scrapping PC retail and even mailorder wouldn't change the playing field too much here.

Kill console retail hypothetically along with used games and it will only be publishers competing against other publishers on 2 or 3 digital distribution channels: xbox live, PSN and whatever the WiiU may have.
That and 3rd world bootlegging and some piracy. Those are the options left for future console gamers, so less pressure on the publishers to lower digital download prices.
The publishers could milk the console consumer for more money, cut out the middle men, etc., etc. which means this scenario is very likely to happen sooner or later. Articles in gamemags about the ps4 and new xbox also point this way, so it may be sooner than later.
Sucks for consoles, but there it is.

Many AAA games are 60 dollars on PC now. MW3 and Kingdom of Amalur Reckoning just to name two are still 60 dollars on Steam, same price as PS3 and 360 versions.

 

[veloper]

Anyone who honestly thinks removal of used games or piracy will lead to cheaper games is a fool. It isn't going to lead to cheaper games, it is going to lead to higher profits for the publishers. Why would they sell a game at a lower price if they know they can get away with the higher one? Basic principle of economic here folks, you sell your product at the highest price to maximize returns based on sales. Eliminating used sales has not lowered the starting price for PC games, it will not lower the price for console games.

Actually, PC game prices have become CHEAPER over time, but that is only due to inflation over the years.
New AAA games for PC have nearly always been $50 or 50 euros, or 100 guilders/marks/etc. before the euro. New games go for almost 50% less now than games in 2000.

I conclude the disappearance of used PC game trade has had no ill effect on new prices. Moreover the biggest discounts nowadays a couple months after release come from digital download services like Steam and Gamer's gate.

That doesn't mean console land will fare as well though. There's potential for competition afteral.

The pressure or competition on the PC is coming from 5 directions: competing DD services, mailorder, what little is left of retail, piracy and different publishers making similar games. Scrapping PC retail and even mailorder wouldn't change the playing field too much here.

Kill console retail hypothetically along with used games and it will only be publishers competing against other publishers on 2 or 3 digital distribution channels: xbox live, PSN and whatever the WiiU may have.
That and 3rd world bootlegging and some piracy. Those are the options left for future console gamers, so less pressure on the publishers to lower digital download prices.
The publishers could milk the console consumer for more money, cut out the middle men, etc., etc. which means this scenario is very likely to happen sooner or later. Articles in gamemags about the ps4 and new xbox also point this way, so it may be sooner than later.
Sucks for consoles, but there it is.

Many AAA games are 60 dollars on PC now. MW3 and Kingdom of Amalur Reckoning just to name two are still 60 dollars on Steam, same price as PS3 and 360 versions.

It's true that Activision and EA have raised their prices. It's a recent thing though and luckily still not the rule.

 

[HardkorSB]

are games THAT unaffordable? no seriously...I dont think they are, and Im Australian

I was born and raised in Poland. Until recently, the minimum wage was about £200 per month (before taxation). Meanwhile, the prices for games were the same as in the UK (about £50 per new AAA title). I knew plenty of people with game consoles but (honestly) I have never seen a non-pirated game outside of game stores. Everyone pirated because nobody wanted to spend a quarter of their salary on a game that might turn out to be shit.
Right now, the minimum wage is about £300 but it's still shit. Piracy in Poland is the default position. There are banners in front of electronic stores that say that they can tweak your consoles (they don't say what for but it's obvious, as far as I'm aware there's only 1 type of tweak for consoles).

Me? I never bought new games, only used.
I bought used games for my NES, then I bought used games for my Saturn, now I buy used games for my 360. I refuse to pay over £20 for a game. No matter how good, it's not worth £50. Even the ones I really want to play, I'll just wait 6 months and get it used. No hurry.

Publishers don't seem to realize that they aren't selling anything essential for our lives and that if they will continue to fuck over the customers, they might end up broke one day.

 

[daveman247]

I can understand the publishers argument. Shops pocketing ALL the cash from used is a problem.

There is no argument there. Publishers deserve fuck all from used games because they do not have anything at all to do with them. They do not take any of the risk nor do they invest any money in those used games.

It becomes a problem when customers buy the used game, because it is £5 cheaper than new. And lets not try and pretend the used market is fair in itself. Customers who trade in get short changed as well, with it being resold for a £10 mark up. They are getting money essentially, for being even more lazy than the pubs. (didnt make the game and bought it for pennies from the customer.)


A cut is by no means the best solution, but its better than what is happening now. And with other markets it was an easier transition. Because unfortunatly a game cannot have a live show.

 

[daveman247]

snip

I guess. I just dont like the idea of having my buying options cut down by such a degree. Plus the whole digital media thing i dont like too much either. A physical copy lasts forever, a digital copy only lasts as long as the company wants it to.

Just look at origin, if thats a sign of what things would be like. Oh dear :/

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Many AAA games are 60 dollars on PC now. MW3 and Kingdom of Amalur Reckoning just to name two are still 60 dollars on Steam, same price as PS3 and 360 versions.

It's true that Activision and EA have raised their prices. It's a recent thing though and luckily still not the rule.[/quote]

The fucking arseholes... that price difference was because publishers/developers don't have to pay for licences to release games on PCs... so the slimy fucks are just pocketing the money.

 

[Westaway]

Isnip.

I dont know if its the case with any other industry...but when EVERYONE involved seems to have to be screwing each other just to survive..you know somthings wrong

I guess they figure its our time to bend over

I'm sorry, amd I can't believe I'm bothering to ask this, but why do you use "..." Instead of commas?

 

[daveman247]

snip

I wouldnt be surprised they didnt think of this. Most money comes from america and the UK. Maybe austrailia at a stretch. Poland is still a very small country :/ Not much money in it.