buying used games is stupid

[Ipsen]

When you buy games new, do note that, depending on when you buy the game, you support the developer (and publisher), or just the publisher. When games sell well at launch, (think 1-2 weeks after the launch date) it looks good for the developer, and gives them a much better chance of becoming employed for another project. After that point, the publisher doesn't care so much; should you decide to buy that game for $40-60 new, you only line the publisher's pocket, because they've already decided whether they'd can the developers or not.

I don't like this mishegoss about 'supporting the industry', especially when its developers continuously tie themselves to money-minded publishers. I recommend, if you like a game or its developers, express interest as early as possible. Pre-Order if you can, or buy within 1-2 weeks. Otherwise, save yourself money (and risk of a bad game) and get it used.

No time for sources, so take this as food for thought.

 

[getoffmycloud]

Without used games when I was in school I would have been lucky if I got one game a year for my birthday or Christmas so without being able to trade in games and buy new ones I would have missed out on a lot of awesome games. Now I have a job I buy a game new if it is available but there is nothing wrong with used games

 

[Raesvelg]

Not to weigh in on either side of this debate, but I do want to point out one thing that keeps bugging me: The "used car" analogy is bloody ridiculous.

A car wears out. It has a useful lifespan which is expended over the course of ownership, whether by one person or by multiple people. It cannot be traded around indefinitely after each person gets what they want out of it.

More importantly, a car has parts that wear out, and those parts are typically provided by the manufacturer, which makes them money. An old car requires quite a few parts over its lifetime, and that $1000 alternator, well, GM makes their share on that.

Used cars are not equivalent to used games. Used games do, in fact, occupy a nearly unique position in the market. Films have theater screenings, music has concert performances, and while books are similar to games in terms of longevity and tradeability, they don't cost $60 million to produce, and tend to sell for about 1/2 (in hardback) to 1/7th (in paperback) the cost of a game.

 

[Sonicron]

Wow, one example, that's real conclusive.

-Used games are often cheaper than the alternative,
-Used games benefit the used retailer, so it's not piracy (because I like the used retailer),
-It's easier to find old games in trade-in stores.

This one is especially relevant to me as a shop nearby has games going all the way back to the NES, but including SNES, Gameboy (original!), MegaDrive, Dreamcast, and a rather large collection of some classic and much sought after PS1 titles.

So yeah, I'll support them. I have no qualms about money not going to the developer if I buy Used from them.

Same here. The store near my home is run by friends of the family, and I'd rather support them than the big developers or retail chains any day of the week. They sell new games, too, but many folks go there for the used stuff; it's always in excellent condition, the prices are fair (in both selling and buying), and the store owners actually play the games themselves and are thus able to provide detailed information on the pros and cons of many popular titles.
In short, I love this kind of store, and it'd be a damn shame to see them go under because of some retarded hardware/software scheme that specifically torpedoes the used games market.

 

[Bluesclues]

snip

Now you're just trolling. Just count your losses and move on.

different snip

Your arguments are so flawed that those chinks in your armor you mentioned are becoming large gaping holes. In fact, I honestly believe that you're also trolling anyone who actually delivers you a proper argument that you can't seem to rebutt.

OT: If someone buys a game, returns it, and someone else buys that same game having become used, it's perfectly legal. Same as any other used market, no matter how "different" you seem to think they are. You claim that they're different because with cars, for example, you're still paying for parts and repair services. Well how about this: do consumers not do the same with DLC that has to be bought? Even if someone buys a game used, if they wanted access to the extra content, they'd still have to pay for it.

And to throw another fly in your oinment, using the same car argument: what about people who go to a junkyard and buy parts there? Or have repairs done at a repair shop not affiliated with the actual car company? Are they breaking the law by doing that? Are car companies throwing a hissy fit because of this? Didn't think so.

One of the many facts that you seem to not be able to understand is that some (actually, a lot of) gamers can't afford paying full price for every game or console that they'd like, due to extraneous situations, like being jobless for example, or dealing with school, loan, and other bill payments. There's also the younger gamers who have to rely on allowances (if they're lucky) as income for their expenses.

You're not better than those people just because you have the resources to waste on every new game you desire, nor does that give you the right to accuse someone who chooses to take advantage of a market that appeals to them a less dedicated gamer. Show some respect.

 

[DaWaffledude]

You guys have several options that are better, imo, like Amazon or other on-line shops. For example European consumers can go to Amazon.co.uk a buy deus ex for 15,99 pounds, that's 25 dollars!

Actually, only Britain uses the pound system. Most us us Europeans use the Euro.

<-- Nitpicker of the highest calibre.

 

[Racecarlock]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.284933-WHY-are-used-video-games-bad
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.298911-Sonys-Going-to-Make-You-Repurchase-Used-Games
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.306704-Used-Games-v-Piracy
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.306770-Poll-For-those-that-buy-or-have-bought-used-games-This-is-not-another-Used-games-are-evil-thread
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.318028-Gamestop-giving-used-Arkham-City-buyers-Catwoman-code
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.125539-Realtime-CEO-Blames-Used-Games-for-Flat-Crackdown-Sales
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.284926-Fable-3-Dev-Used-Games-Sales-are-More-Problematic-Than-Piracy


Pick one. My work here is done.

 

[Bluesclues]

Not to weigh in on either side of this debate, but I do want to point out one thing that keeps bugging me: The "used car" analogy is bloody ridiculous.

A car wears out. It has a useful lifespan which is expended over the course of ownership, whether by one person or by multiple people. It cannot be traded around indefinitely after each person gets what they want out of it.

More importantly, a car has parts that wear out, and those parts are typically provided by the manufacturer, which makes them money. An old car requires quite a few parts over its lifetime, and that $1000 alternator, well, GM makes their share on that.

Used cars are not equivalent to used games. Used games do, in fact, occupy a nearly unique position in the market. Films have theater screenings, music has concert performances, and while books are similar to games in terms of longevity and tradeability, they don't cost $60 million to produce, and tend to sell for about 1/2 (in hardback) to 1/7th (in paperback) the cost of a game.

Car parts don't always have to be provided by the manufacturer though. Obiviously this wouldn't work with every part in the car, but with a used car you could do some shopping around at say, a junkyard, to see if they have a car that may have the part you need, in working condition. Voila, part aquired and paid for, but not from the manufacturer.

Also, car collectors have proven that even old cars can be maintained, or updated, while still being consistent in their primary function. So their lifespan can be very long as well, in the right hands. Conversely, game discs can break or game data can become corrupted, in the wrong hands, meaning that games aren't exactly everlasting either.

Not all films have theatre screenings (like those that are direct to DVD), not all musical performers hold concerts (though this is the least likely).

Not trying to say you're wrong or anything, I agree that the used markets aren't the same, but by the same token, they aren't entirely different either.

 

[DirgeNovak]

I kind of agree with the OP. Kind of. The "it's cheaper" argument doesn't really sit well with me. I don't know about you guys, but the used games stores I go to sell used games only 5$ less than new games. Would five more dollars really make a huge hole in your budget? If so, maybe you should think about taking up a less expensive hobby.

However, for older, discontinued games, used is pretty much the only way to go. If the publisher doesn't sell the game to retailers anymore, we still have an alternative to play it.

 

[Iwata]

I kind of agree with the OP. Kind of. The "it's cheaper" argument doesn't really sit well with me. I don't know about you guys, but the used games stores I go to sell used games only 5$ less than new games. Would five more dollars really make a huge hole in your budget? If so, maybe you should think about taking up a less expensive hobby.

That's the thing: the used stores I go to (and worked at) usually have games for half, a third, or a quarter of the original price. We're talking about saving as much as 75% on buying used as compared to new.

And if the industry provides the means, thankfully, to avoid turning this into a solely rich people hobby, why should we, as consumers, deny that, ignored a cheaper game and keep buying expensive new games exclusively? By buying used, I buy way, way, waaaaaaaaaaay more games than I would if I just bought new. Surely that's not a bad thing by any measure.

Sorry, but the "if it's too expensive, go do something else" argument reeks of something foul.

 

[OpiateChicken]

I don't always buy used games, but when I do, I buy...

...The Most Interesting Man in the World: The Game of Dos Equis?

 

[BrionJames]

I buy games that I'm excited for new, most games however, that I'm not sure are going to be good I will always buy them used. Spending money on a game, at new prices, your not sure your going to like, is just a waste of your money and time.

 

[Sewer Rat]

Already upon reading the title of this thread I don't like you... Word of advice, try not to sound so bloody on the assault when you make a thread title, you'll make more friends that way.
As per your point, believe it or not some people do not have endless funds to buy everything new. That $7 reduction in price may seem laughably small but it still translates to $7 in my pocket and a game in my hand. Used games are not the devil, the developer still got the money for the game, and I paid (albeit through a middleman) a person to give me the game that they bought and they can do whatever they want with. Being a PC gamer, I don't often buy used, but typically when I do it is for a game that is hard to find new or a game that I frankly did not want to pay full price for, but I am willing to play the game at the used price. Frankly this is a still a winning situation for the developers, because since I wouldn't have payed full price for it anyway, then they are not losing a sale. What they are getting however is exposure. It's happened to me before, I've bought a game used, loved it, and immediately wanted to buy the game's sequel new when it came out. This translates out not to a loss of a sale, but rather a new customer.
Frankly good sir, before you start calling other people's actions stupid, consider why they are doing it and take a look at the bigger picture.

 

[revjor]

Why are video games the only industry that whines about this? Every year some new game gets massive news coverage for the money it's makes on opening weekend(halo3, modern warfare) then the next they are whining about used sales. You want to be taken seriously and considered art like movies, books and music? Then make sure as many people can see it as possible.

 

[esperandote]

It is stupid, stupidly SMART!

Here we go again.

They DON'T charge $50 multiple times on a single copy, the sale several copies and if it was the case that a copy sold is traded-in again the it's one purchase for each sale.

I wouldn't buy a used copy if it was almost the price of a new copy but if it's half the price the i would definately go for it.

 

[DSQ]

I like game shops in fact the used shops that i go to are all independently owned and I like supporting them, or as you put it 'making them richer.'

You do as you wish with your money and I'll do as I wish with mine.

 

[MR.Spartacus]

Depends on where and what exactly is being bought. If you're the sort who buys it then just trades it in to a place like Gamestop then yeah that's stupid. If you're just going to play it once then get rid of it why not just rent it?

 

[BrownGaijin]

Didn't we cover this on an episode of Extra Credits already? Then there was that video that Movie Bob did over at Game Trailers.


Not to get off topic, but sometimes I wonder if the San Fernando Valley is the only place left that has independent game stores (well that and the San Gabriel Valley).

 

[ToAsTy McBuTTeR]

Is it really worth buying a used copy of la noire, deus ex or resistance 3 for 53$? Remember that not a single penny goes to the developers and you're only making gamestop richer.

did you get beat up outside a gamestop by their ceo one lonely night while you were a kid?

did your mother teach you that second hand stores are only for the feeble minded and mentally ill?

or are you just a republican? haa i kid i kid

but seriously... how is gamestop bad? sure they're the most corporate of game stores that sell used games... but they arent wal mart...

so i guess in short... what the hell man?

 

[duchaked]

uhh...yea I haven't bought a used game at $55 like...ever