Poll: Do you hate the used game market?

[Ranorak]

I hear the argument "Any used sale you make is a sale not going to the developers."

How is this even a reasonable argument?
If I let the game sit on my shelve it's not going to make money for the developers either.
In fact, if I sell a game used, MY money might actually go to a developer. You know, because I now have more money to spend on other games.

 

[Alberio]

I buy used games quite often although I tend to stick to buying them in person so that I can check the condition of the disks etc before I get it. Saying that GAME and Gamestation still insist on putting their own "security stickers" on the box after they've sold it to you so that you have to stand there and peel them off before you can even get them into the box.

As for the whole "hurting the devs" thing, I thought the shops paid the devs to stock X amount of their game so they don't actually profit from each individual sale as such.

 

[Goofguy]

I'd say my game purchases are half new, half used. I don't have any particular issues with the used game market. The games I buy from them tend to be second-rate single player games I looked up the day before because I wanted something I never played to help pass the time.

If I really want a game, I'll buy it new otherwise, I'm only too content to put $10-$15 down on some forgettable shooter or adventure game.

 

[Ailia]

I buy most of my games used, it's honestly the only place to get certain games at times (good lukc finding a new copy of BioShock, whereas I found an old copy in Microplay for 10$). Sure, there's money lost for the company and the stores are the ones coming out richer but it's not even remotely the same as piracy.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I'll happily buy older games used, as firstly I doubt I could find a new copy, and secondly I'm usually paying less than $5 for them, but when Black Ops is $60 and 'preowned' Black Ops is $55 in Gamestop, having paid the previous owner twenty cents, a peso and a button, well, no. I'll pay the extra and get a shiny new one.

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

I'm not paying full price for a game that came out 2 years ago.

 

[manaman]

I certainly think much worse of a game pirater than I do of a used-game buyer. I'm mostly fine with the latter. But eventually, I really do hope for them to realize the impact they make; because as mean as it sounds, their effects are just the same as piracy.

That is the biggest load of bullshit the game industry ever got people to buy.

The used game market helps the industry. It just doesn't help it as much as a new sale in place of a used sale, which is why they push for one over the other and try to guilt/force people into only buying new.

The vast majority of the time someone brings in a game for trade, they buy other games, a significant chunk of that money goes back into buying new games. The classic market is different of course as only a tiny fraction of the classic games sold ever makes it way back into the new market, but it's usually not what people are talking about when they talk of the used game market.

You can make all the arguments you want for how much money goes towards new games, how much it ends up costing the developer because of the people that buy the used games, etc. but there are no solid numbers. It makes sense that the industry would help more then hurt because that is exactly what it does in other industries. On the other side of the argument you have only the bitching of the publishers (who take far more of the profits from developers then you could ever attribute to piracy or the used game market).

 

[Kingsnake661]

No, but I can't say I like it particularly either, and I don't blame EA for stuff like project 10 dollar.

This is kind of where I'm at. I've bought used, when new wasn't an option. I tend to favor digital downloads, and new game, as apposed to used, i NEVER trade my stuff in, i'll NOT feed the gamestop monster, and thankfully, don't have to so far.. but, I don't blame or begrudge anyone who buys used. It is cheaper, sometimes ALOT cheaper, sometimes barely, but it is cheaper, and times are tough.

But, again, i don't begrudge EA and the like for trying to "work around" the used market with DLC and stuff like project 10 dollar. I think extra credits had a show on this, and suggested alterntives to project 10 dollar that worked better, but, either way, i like games, i relise game companys need money.. ALOT of money to make games, so, i will pay for what i play. So long as the penduliam does't swing to far in there favor and they start nickel dimeing us to death... at that point, bah, i'll prolly still pay up to a point, but prolly alot less. Have to go on a retro gaming trip. LOL

 

[natster43]

I have nothing against them, though I do mostly buy new, if it is a pretty old game or a game I know little about and want to see if i will like it, I buy used.

 

[WolfLordAndy]

People keep throwing the used car sales about to compare used game sales to. But even though the car manufacturer isn't getting money from used sales (apart from certified dealerships, franchised garages, etc) they do still get to sell parts to keep those used cars running.

Project $10 is effectively adding this ability for the games makers to make a lil extra on the games, like the car manufacturers can make with replacement parts.

Used sales in itself isn't a problem, or at least it didn't used to be. People used to love collecting all their games, now their is more of a "disposable" culture where people get something, play it, and exhange it in for osmething else, I've never traded a game in, and rarely buy used, I like my collection of games on my shelf! The major issue with this used sales thing is that its now become industrialised by all these game shops, meaning they're trading games on a huge scale that you didn't use to get, before, you had to trade games in a market or the like :/

 

[Cecilthedarkknight_234]

this is a well... crap yes and no i love game-stop or what they used to be/stand for. Now like all businesses, all they care about is making a quick buck and re-selling used games of games that came out at 5 dollars less then regular retail why only paying half if not less for the trade in. I don't mind flea markets, good will, smaller owned bossiness in the sense of selling used games at all "hell i got star ocean 2 for ps1 at good will for 3 bucks and works fine" I think it boils down to what are you looking to buy and are you going to be treated nicely or be treated just like another dollar sign to them.

 

[DanDeFool]

The only problem with places like GameStop is that a game may produice a sale milliouns of times, but it only counts if they are new copies. GameStop buys your games for dirt cheap, marks it up 300-400% and makes some ice profits.

Piracy isnt when you download a games ISO and then mount/play it.
Piracy is stealing shit on the high seas.

Which is why I buy most of my used games on Amazon Marketplace and eBay. There's a little 'buyer beware' factor on those places to be sure, and I've had a couple bad experiences, but overall I've done very well for myself. And (most of the time) you have the confidence that you're buying from a consumer or a small business.

Also, most of the used games I buy are out-of-print anyway; I like to hold on to my games, so for me the discount of $10 to $15 for buying a used copy of a game that was released less than 6 months ago doesn't really hold water. I'd rather just buy it new and know that I'm getting a copy of a game that is in pristine condition.

 

[Kingsnake661]

I certainly think much worse of a game pirater than I do of a used-game buyer. I'm mostly fine with the latter. But eventually, I really do hope for them to realize the impact they make; because as mean as it sounds, their effects are just the same as piracy.

That is the biggest load of bullshit the game industry ever got people to buy.

The used game market helps the industry. It just doesn't help it as much as a new sale in place of a used sale, which is why they push for one over the other and try to guilt/force people into only buying new.

The vast majority of the time someone brings in a game for trade, they buy other games, a significant chunk of that money goes back into buying new games. The classic market is different of course as only a tiny fraction of the classic games sold ever makes it way back into the new market, but it's usually not what people are talking about when they talk of the used game market.

You can make all the arguments you want for how much money goes towards new games, how much it ends up costing the developer because of the people that buy the used games, etc. but there are no solid numbers. It makes sense that the industry would help more then hurt because that is exactly what it does in other industries. On the other side of the argument you have only the bitching of the publishers (who take far more of the profits from developers then you could ever attribute to piracy or the used game market).

There is alot of truth in this post. I find when i'm at a game store, most kids/people are trading in stuff to buy a new game. Meaning if there wasn't a used game market for them to trade stuff in, they may not be able to buy the product new that they are currently buying.

I don't for a second thing use game buyer are anywhere near what pirates do. Pirates steal, plan and simple. The used game buyer doesn't steal a thing. At most, it's GAMESTOP that's stealing, with how much they give these people for there used games, and how much they charge for them... an argument could be made that it's highway robbery, but that's another topic.

The solutition is, pretty much what we are getting. Companys will start offering DLC for games, and exta content and make there money back in micro transactions the brick and morter stores can't userp them with. IF they were smart, they'd lower the cost of NEW games, making them more reasonable so people would be more willing to pay for DLC. It'd be a better workaround for gamestop IMO.

 

[Ranorak]

I have no problem with it, but when I buy used games, I am always rather frightened. I always worry if a game or system is still functional or if it will die somewhere along the road. I just ordered a NES with a few games and while I can wait to play it, I can't wait to discover if the entire package is still working or if I just blew a 130 euros.

Going by your avatar and your profile, I assume you're Dutch.
While I don't make a habit of advertising, I'd like to point you to this Dutch game store website:
http://www.nedgame.nl/tweedehands.html

Buying used games with a 3 month warranty. As far as I'm aware game disks either work or don't. So it's pretty much safe.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

i buy used occasionally, especially if its an older game, or a company i just really don't feel like giving my money to.

still..i think if developers wanted to be able to rake in long term cash, make dlc for their older games, or something new for that old game that makes the replayability for the game alot more fun, so when someone does pick up the game, whether it be new or used, they might really be craving more and can just buy that dlc

 

[veloper]

I certainly think much worse of a game pirater than I do of a used-game buyer. I'm mostly fine with the latter. But eventually, I really do hope for them to realize the impact they make; because as mean as it sounds, their effects are just the same as piracy.

That is the biggest load of bullshit the game industry ever got people to buy.

The used game market helps the industry. It just doesn't help it as much as a new sale in place of a used sale, which is why they push for one over the other and try to guilt/force people into only buying new.

The vast majority of the time someone brings in a game for trade, they buy other games, a significant chunk of that money goes back into buying new games.

Even piracy helps the industry by your logic.
You save EVEN MORE money getting a copy for free and that money could go back into buying new games.

More typically though, the pirate and the used buyer both don't buy new.

 

[The Grim Ace]

Unless I'm buying off Steam, I rarely buy new games. I don't exactly have the cash to throw around for brand new games no matter how good they might be and I've been buying used for as long as I've been buying games. I think the last game I bought new from a brick and mortar store was Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, and that's only because I'm a Castlevania junkie and the pre-order bonus was worth it. I bought my used games at GameStop (well, at the time, it was still FunCo Land) until I sold a game there, got some lunch, came back and I saw the same game I sold them being sold for four times what they gave me. I mainly stick to shops near my house and eBay now, last time I went to GameStop was for that same pre-ordered Castlevania I already mentioned.

 

[jboking]

Oh absolutely. I wasn't trying to say that that's how everyone that buys used feels. But I've seen a number of posts (in other threads at the very least) saying "I only buy used because the devs already got their money (which they haven't) and all publishers are big, bad, evil corporations."

I see where you are coming from, but I see that justification come from pirates who want to put morality in their evil activities to look like digital robin hoods.

Games cost money to make. Buying new ensures that developers (and, yes, publishers) have the money to put out the games we want to see made.

Let me ask you this - Which does a developer want more?: A) Someone who doesn't buy their game and never grows any interest for it because it is simply too expensive -or- B) Someone who buys their game used and stand the chance of becoming a fan of the game, making them more likely to buy games produced by them and to spread the word about how great their game is.

I believe they would chose B every time.

Of course, companies could fight the used market pretty easily: Lower the price of your game (especially if it isn't a AAA game) to lure people away from the used market. Offer things like free DLC for buying new. Give them incentive to avoid the used market for your game.

 

[ThatDaveDude1]

If it is, however, then buying used is douchie and stupid.

Then I trust that you have only even owned/driven new cars. Furthermore, I trust that when the time comes to buy your own home you will have it build from the ground up rather than buying one another family has already lived in. Finally I trust you never sell any of your own property that is still able to be purchased new on craigslist or ebay or that if you do you send an appropriate cut back to the original manufacturer . . . . .

Games are NO different that any other manufactured good. They deserve no special treatment when it comes to used sales. To say otherwise is just crazy

Actually, games are different than almost every other manufactured good.

Activision owns Call of Duty: Black Ops. If you walk into a store and buy a copy, Activision still owns Call of Duty: Black Ops. You own a copy of it. The reason that the store is allowed to sell you that copy, while Activision still owns the game itself, is because they're licenced distributors of the game. Unless you enter into a formal legal agreement with Activision, you're not a licenced distributor, ergo have no legal right to sell copies of things owned by Activision. You're not buying the game, you're paying for the right to access it.

Not being able to sell things you don't own, startling concept I know but bear with me.

When you buy a car, or a house, or anything else like that, you're not paying for access to it, you're buying it. If you buy a car, you own it, and have the legal right to sell it. If you buy a house, you own it, and have the legal right to sell it. When you "buy" a video game, however, you don't own it. You own a disc that's used to access the video game. You can certainly sell the disc if you manage to take the game off of it (why you would want to do this, I have no idea) but you can't sell the game itself because you don't own it.

 

[omega_peaches]

I don't have any thing against them, but most of the used games at my local gamestop are
A:Cases are punctured
B:Smell like cat piss.
And due to me being extremely anal about game cases, I hate it.