Crytek Dev Backpedals on Used Games Hate

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Gamestop? Gamestop? No, this is between developers and their consumers. Gamestop be damned. They know that people lend games to their friends and they HATE that. They don't want their consumer to have the freedom to do as they will with their product, because it means their power over them isn't properly enforced. To them, we're unwashed plebs, and they want to make us as desperate as possible so we shower them with money that they don't deserve.

...or something ominous and vaguely dickish like that.

 

[Murmillos]

I'll agree to banish "used" game sales for games under 4 years since release if it means the price of every and any new game would cost not more then $30.

For $30, you can delete used sales without much issue...

I say that with a heavy caveat for the loaning a game to a friend deal; I'm not sure how you can difference between used and borrowed tho, because at times 'borrowed games' can turn into a 'used' game sale between friends.
I know I have bought full games (or future games) of a series due to a friend letting me try a game that I wouldn't have normally tried - and even then, new/used prices was only in the $30ish range.

 

[bravetoaster]

Are the still bitching about piracy, though? Despite selling 4.5 million copies of Crysis+Warehead on the PC?

...but they would have sold 100 million copies if not for those meddling pirates!

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I guess Crytek's PR team went to same dimension that the Activision's PR team was trapped in ages ago when they let Bobby Kotick say all kinds of shit. Hopefully, they are released soon and put this Dev in the basement along with Kotick.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Well, I'm not against used games as an idea, but the way Gamestop does is it pretty scumbaggy. There isn't even that much of a discount from what I've heard.

 

[Vivi22]

"My comment made in the interview released on the 24th of April, touching upon 'blocking sales of used games', was not intended to be taken seriously"

Bullshit. Someone should tell this guy that consumers generally know when they're being lied to and it's a bit more insulting than just having really bad, anti-consumer business ideas.

Well, I'm not against used games as an idea, but the way Gamestop does is it pretty scumbaggy. There isn't even that much of a discount from what I've heard.

There isn't, and I dislike how they handle used games as well, but what no one seems to realize is that that should leave them open for chains which had better used games policies to undercut them and take business, but for some reason no one seems willing to try and make a good push on that front.

 

[Krantos]

David Braben (of Elite fame), claims it's killing off single player games [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/116391-Used-Game-Sales-Killing-Single-Player-Titles]

And yet Skyrim.

- Cost more to make than most games released these days.
- Contains no micro transactions.
- 100% single player
- No online pass
- No "New Copy Only" content.
- Sold 3.5 Million copies in 48 hrs.

I'm sorry David Braben. That shit doesn't wash. I hate to agree with Jim Sterling, but, yeah. Skyrim really did buck a lot of business trends that the industry says are required and yet it was one of the most profitable games released last year.

I have no real problems with devs wanting to make more money. But don't piss on me and tell me it's raining. These practices aren't necessary. It's just shit you want to do to increase your profits. I'd be a lot more tolerant of this crap if you'd just be honest about that.

 

[zombieshark6666]

David Braben (of Elite fame), claims it's killing off single player games

After seeing the news that they're adding multiplayer to the next God of War, I am inclined to agree with at least this claim. Adding multiplayer gives an excuse to include an online pass, and thus fuck anyone who buys it used. Now excuse me while I go mow down some hapless npc's in Saints Row 2 until my eyes uncross from the nerd rage I'm currently experiencing.

I also agree that this is probably the reason why story content is gutted for the making of a shitty online mode most of the time.

The problem is not used games, though. It's the fact that people trade their games in a store and would rather pay 5$ less for a used copy.

Y U NO sell your game to your friend for 35$ instead of a shitty store where you'll get 13$?

 

[zombieshark6666]

Hi, my name is Steam, and almost everyday I have a special and have the most wonderful seasonal sales!

And yet I don't want to deal with you nor your restrictions. Just 'cause. 2.

 

[zombieshark6666]

Hi, my name is Steam, and almost everyday I have a special and have the most wonderful seasonal sales!

And yet I don't want to deal with you nor your restrictions. Just 'cause. 2.

What restrictions? Its just over exaggerations.

Besides, if you don't want to move to PC gaming yet still demand the console market to stall progress JUST for you, then you have another thing coming. Especially since the console market is struggling with its current model. If things continue as they are right now, developers will just leave the market leaving only the developers directly owned by a huge corporation.

Things will change one way or the other. DRM is the lesser of the two evils at this point.

I do intend to go PC when I move and get a real job, but I can probably survive on 'other' games. I just refuse limitations, whether it's console or PC. I prefer entertainment to be hassle-free, otherwise it impairs my enjoyment too much. Thankfully, I'm into sims and off-beat projects, so I probably wouldn't miss out too much by refusing Steam's hegemony. I hope for the player base that the service doesn't degrade too much over time. It would suck to have spent hundreds or thousands of dollars and have your account in jeopardy.

 

[Versuvius]

David Braben (of Elite fame), claims it's killing off single player games [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/116391-Used-Game-Sales-Killing-Single-Player-Titles]

And yet Skyrim.

- Cost more to make than most games released these days.
- Contains no micro transactions.
- 100% single player
- No online pass
- No "New Copy Only" content.
- Sold 3.5 Million copies in 48 hrs.

I'm sorry David Braben. That shit doesn't wash. I hate to agree with Jim Sterling, but, yeah. Skyrim really did buck a lot of business trends that the industry says are required and yet it was one of the most profitable games released last year.

I have no real problems with devs wanting to make more money. But don't piss on me and tell me it's raining. These practices aren't necessary. It's just shit you want to do to increase your profits. I'd be a lot more tolerant of this crap if you'd just be honest about that.

Do you know how many console developer have the rabid fanbase of Bethesda, Bioware, or Bungie?

Not fucking many.

Do you know how many truly open world console games there are?

Not. Fucking. Many.

Skyrim has no bearing on anything.

Thats the point. Not fucking many have the kind of rabid fanbase or produce games that would aquire a rabid fanbase. Skyrim is nothing like 99% of games out there, and sold like hotcakes. They whinge about used sales and pump out their DLC riddled, 6 hour long shitfests for the same price. So maybe they SHOULD drop the practice and be more like Bethesda and GET a fanbase through producing quality product.

Captcha: Upper crust.

 

[Monsterfurby]

I still have to hear a single good reason why used game sales are different to, say, used car sales.

The only argument for this that I can think of is "used cars are inferior to new cars due to physical wear. What I'd say is: disks, too, suffer from the same thing. As long as there is a physical item, it will be less usable with every user.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I think someone must have gotten told off for that statement, idiot.

Remember folks, your'e not allowed to say anything any more because people get offended.

Disclaimer: My post is not to be taken seriously.

 

[Grey Day for Elcia]

People who buy used games are generally leaches on the industry, supporting retailers and not publishers or, more importantly, the artists.

I'd have zero problem with a used-copy-block type deal on consoles.

 

[Iron Criterion]

How about somehow restricting second hand sales of a game until after the game is a year old? The idea would need work, but I reckon it'd be better than outright banning used games.