Used Game Sales are a "Bigger Problem Than Piracy"
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
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There's no used-game market until there's a new-game market. Used copies of a new game aren't generated out of a vacuum when that new game hits.
The price difference between a used game that's been recently-released and a new copy of that game is so slim that few I know don't opt instead to simply purchase a new copy.
By the time a used game is on its third or fourth cycle of ownership, it's usually either a case of that game is out of print, or it's so horrid it's passed around like a hot rash.
The used game market is strong. But it can never be stronger than the new game market, the one that dictates supply in the first place.
The price difference between a used game that's been recently-released and a new copy of that game is so slim that few I know don't opt instead to simply purchase a new copy.
By the time a used game is on its third or fourth cycle of ownership, it's usually either a case of that game is out of print, or it's so horrid it's passed around like a hot rash.
The used game market is strong. But it can never be stronger than the new game market, the one that dictates supply in the first place.
Yeah, but, seriously. You're telling me everyone who buys a game then downloads a torrent of the game for just the crack? Wait... something doesn't make sense here...The_root_of_all_evil said:
Oh, yeah, and the last time I verified this I used Modern Warfare 2... where once you buy it the disk is effectively a coaster, thanks to Steam. (Though, to your... marginal credit, I didn't let you know that before hand.) But, thanks for letting me know that 90% of the gamer population aren't pirates, just incredibly accident prone.
EDIT: Sorry, 100%, not 90.
Yeah, buh, what?acosn said:
I'm guessing that's not US$ (and I apologize that that's what I immediately think of when I see a $). In the states the standard price points are $50 for PC and $60 for 360/PS3. With $10 shaved off on some budget titles at launch.
Maybe they should print games longer. I don't trade games in since that's retarded but its nice to know I can go get basically any game for PS2 for dirt cheap without having to order it and hope the disc isn't messed up.
Also, kudos to EA. Fucking over Gamestop always gets a thumbs up from me.
Also, kudos to EA. Fucking over Gamestop always gets a thumbs up from me.
Okay
A) $60 is a LOT of %$#%ing money
I know the developers can't seem to understand this concept but the market price for a game is determined by market forces not what the accounting department comes up with to boost sales in the fourth quarter. Instead of only discounting new games I don't care about to $40 try discounting it to $20 after a few years. This way 1)we can pay for it. and b)you get a cut of the money.
B) Make interesting games
They sell used copies of FF7 for $70. Think about this. A highly demanded out-of-print game is $10 more than "Generic God of War Clone, Now with Eight Seconds of Tits."
It may be worth doing but its not worth overdoing. Why would I spend $60 for the rip-off when I can get the much better original for $20. It's like these guys have never sat in a single economics class. In order to sell a product you must provide a product customers are willing and able to buy for a price customers are willing and able to pay for.
Sorry but at this point the companies seem to have the heads three feet up their asses to not recognize the fact that they are doing wrong and need to correct this before they go belly up.
A) $60 is a LOT of %$#%ing money
I know the developers can't seem to understand this concept but the market price for a game is determined by market forces not what the accounting department comes up with to boost sales in the fourth quarter. Instead of only discounting new games I don't care about to $40 try discounting it to $20 after a few years. This way 1)we can pay for it. and b)you get a cut of the money.
B) Make interesting games
They sell used copies of FF7 for $70. Think about this. A highly demanded out-of-print game is $10 more than "Generic God of War Clone, Now with Eight Seconds of Tits."
It may be worth doing but its not worth overdoing. Why would I spend $60 for the rip-off when I can get the much better original for $20. It's like these guys have never sat in a single economics class. In order to sell a product you must provide a product customers are willing and able to buy for a price customers are willing and able to pay for.
Sorry but at this point the companies seem to have the heads three feet up their asses to not recognize the fact that they are doing wrong and need to correct this before they go belly up.
They can make a little money or no money at all, in my mind, the guy needs to shut up and let his masive paycheck come.
The only thing the company looks at with that idea in mind is the money they would have to spend putting that plan into place. Not to mention it is such an awesome idea that nobody with influence will even think of it. Might be a good time to send Riccitello at EA an email. I doubt Kotick or Nintendude would seize on it.Hithlain said:
I have to wonder if anybody has even looked at Blitz Games library. That is every single game that will be found in the bottom of Gamestop's used game bin that will be collecting dust, comprising 90% of the bin. Very little of that gets resold except to daycare centers which will just be giving the games away afterward.
Maybe if Blitz didn't make one-shot crap games, then they would actually be selling games and not crying about seeing their games getting sold back to a retailer used. I wouldn't be taking anything from this article except the potential for satire that could be applied to it.
There's this point I have a hard time understanding... Why do people think that a publisher has anything to gain from having "used" players playing their games? They're simply losing money with those people, especialy on services they have maintain the infrastructure for online play such as on the Playstation!
Think of it this way, they release patches, updates and maintain the communities with their paid staff... Paying the full price of a game goes directly to funding such activities. If they didn't see any of your money, I don't have a problem with them cutting you out.
Not only that... Used games outlet require some preorder promotions from developers otherwise they won't carry the title in their stores. The whole point of getting that new costume or bonus that's basicly worthless, is simply to drag you to their store and blast you with ads, try to sell you additional crap (magazines, waranty... etc!)
I don't see how people can actually support those stores, just like when I buy music CDs, it's usualy because i want to support the artist and make sure they keep at it!
On another note, I'd love to see the age of people posting, because so far, I think it's only people who don't yet have a full time job or are in school, 50$ once in a while isn't much when you are settled in life, most pay that much per month just internet on their iPhones!
Think of it this way, they release patches, updates and maintain the communities with their paid staff... Paying the full price of a game goes directly to funding such activities. If they didn't see any of your money, I don't have a problem with them cutting you out.
Not only that... Used games outlet require some preorder promotions from developers otherwise they won't carry the title in their stores. The whole point of getting that new costume or bonus that's basicly worthless, is simply to drag you to their store and blast you with ads, try to sell you additional crap (magazines, waranty... etc!)
I don't see how people can actually support those stores, just like when I buy music CDs, it's usualy because i want to support the artist and make sure they keep at it!
On another note, I'd love to see the age of people posting, because so far, I think it's only people who don't yet have a full time job or are in school, 50$ once in a while isn't much when you are settled in life, most pay that much per month just internet on their iPhones!
if their such a big deal why wont publishers release their games for PC?!!? We dont even HAVE a used game market anymore
I suppose that means I should buy a brand new house ... brand new car ... and whenever someone gives me a gift? Pfffh tell them to keep it and I'll buy the exact same model for the market retail price so that the developer gets his dough?rockingnic said:
Oh and heaven forbid if a friend loans me <insert name/concept/item here>.
Next this guy will say that loaning games to friends is hurting the video game economy.
Video games are a lucrative business ... lets say the devs get only 5% of the base market retail of their games at point of sale within the the first 6 months when they are at their peak.
Monster Hunter Tri has sold ... how many so far? 200 .... 300 thousand copies in Japan siince it's release (and at the equivalent of 60 US bucks a pop plus monthly subscription fees ... that's not bad for one litter series in Capcoms impressive lineup of games)?
I think the true message of this is that devs should perhaps make games that are fun to play for MORE than a week.
Cost accounting failure spotted.rockingnic said:
When you say that each games now costs $55 to make, you are ignoring several significant factors in how prices are determined.
There are two types of costs - fixed and variable. Variable costs relate specifically to each unit sold. Fixed costs do not relate on a one to one basis. Variable costs in the case of video games would be the licensing fees paid and manufacturing costs associated with each disc (case, manual, cover, disc). Fixed costs would be everything else you mentioned and anything else you did not mention that was involved in the development of the game
As long as the price of a video game is higher than it`s variable cost, the more copies you sell, the more of your fixed costs are recovered, and the less each copy costs to make. The tricky part with video games is that Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony take an additional fee in the way of a license for each disc. I believe that this license though, is charged only for games sold. Otherwise, you`d only ever see small runs of games made, with more runs done only after there is demand. In addition to that, you have the mark-up that stores charge. Now, I have never audited a game retailer, so I don`t know what that mark-up is, but it does play a factor, and it most likely is less than %100.
So yes, video games could be reduced in prices to something that people view as more affordable, and as long as the number of games sold increases in a way closely matching the price drop (so for a %10 drop in price, %10 increase) it would be fine.
Personally, I buy new games, but I also trade in games to get new games. I don`t like getting other people`s used games, because I don`t know what they did with their hands before handling the manual or case and I hate things that carry that stale smoke smell that you`ll find on the belongings of heavy smokers. I bought a used copy of Legend of Mana once and I could never ever ever play it, because every time I opened the case that odor just erupted and assaulted me.
