Blockbuster Defends Used Games

[Gmans uncle]

I love what Blockbuster are saying here, but they are making one fatal error if they expect publishers to listen. You can't make publishers change their stupuid, dangerous to the industry actions by telling them that their actions will kill retail, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KILL RETAIL! They hate retail (despite what EA seems to claim these days) becoase retail means less money going to them, and thats all the publishers care about, not preserving the industry, not getting games recognized as art (those are things WE care about), they care about their bottom line.
I say we buy more and more self-funded inde titles and fund more kickstarter projects to do our best to kill publishers, that's the only way out of this hole we're in now.

 

[RJ 17]

According to Butler, publishers and developers are using used games as a scapegoat to explain why some games aren't meeting sales expectations.

"When the market was growing, nobody spoke about trade-in. It didn't matter. Everyone was hitting their numbers," he said. "But as soon as someone starts missing the numbers, they are like: 'Well this trade-in is killing us. How do we stop it?'"

This has really been my view on the matter the whole time. Game companies don't make the majority of their money on some random shmuck buying the game new 4 months after it's already been out, they make their money on the launch dates. How do you make a ton of money on your launch date? Make games good enough that people WANT to buy them as they're released. Make games good enough that the gamer no longer has the internal monologue of "Should I buy this game when it comes out or wait a bit and buy it used?" If it's a good enough game, people will be more likely to want it immediately rather than waiting a few months to buy it used.

That or lower the game prices so people can actually afford to buy them new.

 

[shrekfan246]

This is operating under the assumption that specialty game stores are necessary... supermarkets will serve, and if gamestop vanishes, they will take its place in the world with ease.

Why do we need GameStop anyway?

if you are happy with only the top 20 for each platform, then you wont need them.

Really? I usually find a wider range of games other places than GameStop than when I actually shop at GameStop. I also get better prices, better service and a better organized store. I even get free coffee from time to time. I don't want GameStop to go out of business, but I wont miss them if they do.

That may be your case, but it isn't the case for everyone. Here in Vermont, we don't have much in the way of "supermarket" stores. Even "the" electronics store we have here (Best Buy) has been gouging its gaming section. They have a "better" selection of PC games than Gamestop does (mainly because they actually have a shelf for PC games, instead of just tiny rack), but everything else is pretty much just games that have been released in the last two years or the really popular ones. Wal-Mart might as well not even have a gaming section anymore, same goes for FYI or FYE or whatever it's called.

The two local Gamestops, on the other hand, have a rather large and varied selection of games on: Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintento Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, and even some Gamecube games still. For the older systems, you're never going to find a game new ever again. Hell, since production of games stops so soon after release for most games, even some of the older PS3/360 games are difficult to find. I wouldn't own Metal Gear Solid 4 if I couldn't find it used, because there are no new copies of it. And subsequently, I probably would not have purchased the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection and probably wouldn't be interested in the projects Hideo Kojima works on in the future.

I constantly read about how people have "horror stories" about their Gamestops, and every time I visit one I have to wonder how it even happens, because the employees in our Gamestops are all people who care about video games, just as I do. They know what they're talking about, they know how to talk about games, and hell, most of the time they want people to do things like pre-order games... which, I would hope I wouldn't need to remind people, is pretty much the exact opposite of buying used. I don't know how other Gamestops are run, but the ones I've been to have never been anything except helpful.

But maybe that's because I live in just about the only state that doesn't have a Target.

 

[Yopaz]

That may be your case, but it isn't the case for everyone.

This is the only part of your point that is really relevant. Stores aren't the same everywhere, so anyone saying that dedicated stores are needed are wrong. If GameStop didn't exist electronic stores would take in more titles because they would have more to gain in it.

The only horror stories I have from GameStop is that I can only find new titles and Call of Duty whenever I go there. Oh, and the fact that they refused to give me a refund for two of my games that I bought there which didn't work. Both new titles.

I don't hate GameStop like many others do. I simply don't see anything I'd miss.

 

[grigjd3]

It's funny to hear because back in the 80's, blockbuster used the same tactics to run all the local video rentals out of business. Anyhow, being hypocritical does not mean the point is wrong. Used game sales are not the cause of some publishers' and developers' woes - making crappy games are.

 

[Li Mu]

EA has just sent out the assassination squad to deal with Mr. Gerry Butler.

 

[ScruffyMcBalls]

stop making shitty games so game reviewers can stop giving you shitty scores for your shitty games.

(BTW Gerry Butler CEO of blockbuster in the UK is so right on this issue)

Pretty much covered it there. Scapegoat is now the word of the day.

 

[zombie711]

Who let Blockbuster talk? Better yet, who was still around to talk FOR them?

They are doing well in the UK

 

[ElPatron]

This is operating under the assumption that specialty game stores are necessary... supermarkets will serve, and if gamestop vanishes, they will take its place in the world with ease.

Why do we need GameStop anyway?

Because a lot of supermarkets sell overpriced games (xbox with no HDD + PES6 for 250 euro, and it stayed with that price until 2011 or something), they have no preorder deals, they generally suck ass and their staff just doesn't know a lot about games. Also, they don't sell used games.

I prefer to deal with the staff at GameStop.

Oh, by the way, this post was meant to tell you that just because the supermarket near you "works" for you, doesn't mean it works all around the world.

Yeah, specialized stores are a big advantage for the consumer. Not even electronic goods stores have good deals, the only reason to look for games in there is to shovel the "bargain bin".

 

[Sovereignty]

Am I the only one who thinks the real reason games aren't meeting their projected sales numbers isn't just because of quality concerns... But because the worlds economy is still hurting? What goes first when someone loses a job, or gets a pay cut?

Not the food, not the bills... The entertainment budget, IE game stipend.

 

[omicron1]

This is operating under the assumption that specialty game stores are necessary... supermarkets will serve, and if gamestop vanishes, they will take its place in the world with ease.

Why do we need GameStop anyway?

if you are happy with only the top 20 for each platform, then you wont need them.

This is the current state of affairs. The reason for it is that specialty stores exist and take up that section of the market; the buying public does not need Target to stock niche titles, and thus they do not.

If GameStop and its ilk vanish, as is my point, that market will go somewhere. It will most likely bifurcate between online retailers like Amazon and, yes, megastores. The increased flow of revenue from games will lead, inevitably, to increased value placed on that product by those that sell them, which will lead to increased presence and range of titles.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

This is operating under the assumption that specialty game stores are necessary... supermarkets will serve, and if gamestop vanishes, they will take its place in the world with ease.

Why do we need GameStop anyway?

if you are happy with only the top 20 for each platform, then you wont need them.

Really? I usually find a wider range of games other places than GameStop than when I actually shop at GameStop. I also get better prices, better service and a better organized store. I even get free coffee from time to time. I don't want GameStop to go out of business, but I wont miss them if they do.

wow, that is great service.
here in the UK we've got GAME taking a nose dive. if that and similar die out n we rely on the supermarkets, in this country atleast its top 20 and a few left overs only

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

This is operating under the assumption that specialty game stores are necessary... supermarkets will serve, and if gamestop vanishes, they will take its place in the world with ease.

Why do we need GameStop anyway?

if you are happy with only the top 20 for each platform, then you wont need them.

This is the current state of affairs. The reason for it is that specialty stores exist and take up that section of the market; the buying public does not need Target to stock niche titles, and thus they do not.

If GameStop and its ilk vanish, as is my point, that market will go somewhere. It will most likely bifurcate between online retailers like Amazon and, yes, megastores. The increased flow of revenue from games will lead, inevitably, to increased value placed on that product by those that sell them, which will lead to increased presence and range of titles.

I dont think it will go the way you think it will with the mega stores/super markets, but i think we'll find out for sure in a few years

 

[Strazdas]

Without the second-hand market, there's no way for specialized game stores to survive.

Good.
one more step towards digital distribution.

Watch a few Angry Video Game Episodes and say that again.

he said games 10 years ago, not games 20 years ago. Everyone know that most console games, both of the AVGN period and of current period sucks. Its the PC games, age of empires, starcraft, heroes, settlers, you name it, that shined so bright 10 years ago noone cared about piracy, second hand sales and so on.

Am I the only one who thinks the real reason games aren't meeting their projected sales numbers isn't just because of quality concerns... But because the worlds economy is still hurting? What goes first when someone loses a job, or gets a pay cut?

Not the food, not the bills... The entertainment budget, IE game stipend.

well actually game sales didnt take a dive during the economic crysis. The singleplayer games took a small dive, but it was otuswayed by increase in MMO subscriptions. why? because when your entertainment budget is small, you pick a cheaper entertainment choice. relatively, gaming is much cheaper than, say, a holyday near the beach. therefore there will be those who trade their hobbies into gaming. after all, 10 dollars a month isnt hard on the budget and gives you whole month of stuff to do online, so people do pick that.

 

[ThunderCavalier]

Wait, blockbusters are still around? and are able to make good points about things?

.... I'm scared, I need a hug.

If anyone knows anything about being forced out of the market, it's Blockbuster.

Quoted. For. Truth.

 

[thespyisdead]

this is true, but with a growing indie market, whose games are 10 times better than the AAA-titles, which are mainly digitally distributed, game stores might be fucked anyway...

 

[Antari]

Niether used games or piracy are the cause of the problems currently being experienced by any of these companies. What is responsible, is complete and total underachievement. When and if they ever figure this out, we might see some changes. In the meantime, find a new hobby.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Wait, blockbusters are still around? and are able to make good points about things?

.... I'm scared, I need a hug.

This was my thought. I haven't seen a Blockbuster in what...two years? So, they're saying that larger stores that can buy and sell games at a loss are the cause for them getting kicked out of business? Is this making excuses, or stating what's happening in a way we haven't grumbled about enough yet, since we're so busy grumbling at entities like Game and Gamestop? I mean, normally, my opinion of Blockbuster is neatly summarized by the Penny Arcade strip below, but in terms of being experts on how to get forced out of a market...I guess I have to defer to them.

Spoiler: I guess the article answers part of the question, if nothing else.

 

[Worgen]

Wait, blockbusters are still around? and are able to make good points about things?

.... I'm scared, I need a hug.

This was my thought. I haven't seen a Blockbuster in what...two years? So, they're saying that larger stores that can buy and sell games at a loss are the cause for them getting kicked out of business? Is this making excuses, or stating what's happening in a way we haven't grumbled about enough yet, since we're so busy grumbling at entities like Game and Gamestop? I mean, normally, my opinion of Blockbuster is neatly summarized by the Penny Arcade strip below, but in terms of being experts on how to get forced out of a market...I guess I have to defer to them.

Spoiler: I guess the article answers part of the question, if nothing else.

Actually its really easy for bigger stores to just bully smaller ones out of the market, the margins on games are rather small so used ones are really the only way smaller ones can really compete, and even then its hard unless they have the ability to ship games to other stores instead of just piling up inventory.