Games have a short lifespan. I don't trade in my treasured DVDs and Blu-rays because I love the films I own: they're part of my identity, sad to say. Videogames, on the other hand, are by and large junk food for the thumbs.
Used Game Sales are a "Bigger Problem Than Piracy"
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
I don't really have a problem with the $10 project. Unlike Oliver, EA is at least trying to solve the real problem, not the imaginary 75% of missing revenue problem. That is, the publishers need to be working on 2 main things: increasing new game sales over used, and preventing trade-ins. The $10 project is for the first issue. The second issue is all about replayability, so good game design that rewards replay is a start, then add periodic, compelling DLC, and the trade-ins will be reduced easily, especially if the upcoming DLC announcement comes right after the game release.
The way I see it, the only problem with the $10 project and DLC is illustrated by these comics:
http://bit.ly/bjaqSx
http://bit.ly/a62PQH
Also, as someone upthread mentioned, don't gut the main campaign just to have DLC, that will not go over well. We do read reviews.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention, do we really care what the publisher of iCarly and Karaoke Revolution thinks?
The way I see it, the only problem with the $10 project and DLC is illustrated by these comics:
http://bit.ly/bjaqSx
http://bit.ly/a62PQH
Also, as someone upthread mentioned, don't gut the main campaign just to have DLC, that will not go over well. We do read reviews.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention, do we really care what the publisher of iCarly and Karaoke Revolution thinks?
This doesn't make sound financial sense though, if a game has a resonable amount of longevity then what would be the point in the makers making sequels if no-one would buy them. This is one of the reasons modding has been phased out of games. Also games with much more repetitive value will probably been seen as focusing less on story which most people on this site claim is the most important aspect of a game. For exampl, I have played about 100 hours of MW multiplayer but I've only played Shadow of the Colossus once.darkknight9 said:
Im gonna have to say itrockingnic said:
i manage my budget by buying used games.
i could buy a brand new 360 game game for £39.99 - £49.99
or
i could buy an old second hand 360 game for £4.99 - £9.99
That my friend is smart money management
they are never happy!
EDIT: we gamers dont have large budgets so the only cheap and legal way to play full games is buying them used
EDIT: we gamers dont have large budgets so the only cheap and legal way to play full games is buying them used
They are totally overreacting...
Not every used sale is a lost sale for the publisher (same goes for pirating), people who buy used games sometimes can't affored more, so the alternative would be not buying any games.
Second hand sales are a big part in the gaming chain. "A" buys game, get bored and sales it to "B" -> "A" now has money again to buy new games. Althougt the Publisher doesn't profit directly from this secondhand trade, he may profit from the next buy, "A" does. Not to forget that "B" might like the game and decide to buy Addons or DLC or buy the next game in the franchise.
Publisher who complain over second hand sales are just quixotic. If they produce games which are good and long enough, people will sell their games much later, which may result in more first hand sales. (60 euro, approximately 75 bucks, for 6 hours of medicore gameplay, and I should feel bad about re-selling my games?.. yeah right...)
Not every used sale is a lost sale for the publisher (same goes for pirating), people who buy used games sometimes can't affored more, so the alternative would be not buying any games.
Second hand sales are a big part in the gaming chain. "A" buys game, get bored and sales it to "B" -> "A" now has money again to buy new games. Althougt the Publisher doesn't profit directly from this secondhand trade, he may profit from the next buy, "A" does. Not to forget that "B" might like the game and decide to buy Addons or DLC or buy the next game in the franchise.
Publisher who complain over second hand sales are just quixotic. If they produce games which are good and long enough, people will sell their games much later, which may result in more first hand sales. (60 euro, approximately 75 bucks, for 6 hours of medicore gameplay, and I should feel bad about re-selling my games?.. yeah right...)
I would have refused to serve you and then booted you the fuck out of my store, if what you just said is true. You had no reason to get all pissy and be a complete dick to a guy trying to help you out.rembrandtqeinstein said:
I only buy a game at full price if I absolutely know that I'm going to love it. Games are too expensive and too short to drop 60 bucks for each one. So long as there are retailers that sell physical copies of video games, there will be a second-hand market. Guys like this can complain until their eyeballs fall out, but there's nothing they can do to stop it except to quit releasing physical copies and only distribute games digitally. Even then, it's only a matter of time before games bought digitally are allowed to be traded in or sold, if it hasn't been done already.
The only people with a larger sense of entitlement than gamers are welfare recipients.
If you can't afford something, don't buy it (Nuts, I know!). Developers don't see anything from used game sales and the guy doing code or art is definatly NOT a fatcat.
If you can't afford something, don't buy it (Nuts, I know!). Developers don't see anything from used game sales and the guy doing code or art is definatly NOT a fatcat.
How are games revenus only "a fraction of what they were just a few years ago" because of used sales? Have used game sales skyrocketed for no reason these last few years, while a some years ago everyone was buying new? What bullshit.
Maybe people don't buy your games new because they're rubbish, or they're priced too high. Also, I hear there's sort of an economic thing going on right now, and I hear people are having trouble getting/keeping jobs. What, do game publishers/developers think they're the only ones affected by the recession? Oh, the poor guys, while everyone else is swimming in money and happy to pay extra for the same features you were getting free a while ago.
Maybe people don't buy your games new because they're rubbish, or they're priced too high. Also, I hear there's sort of an economic thing going on right now, and I hear people are having trouble getting/keeping jobs. What, do game publishers/developers think they're the only ones affected by the recession? Oh, the poor guys, while everyone else is swimming in money and happy to pay extra for the same features you were getting free a while ago.
If new games were cheaper, I wouldn't have to buy games used. Come on, I'm a college student, for god's sake! I'm broke by definition!
Really these guys should actually be the only ones happy with Gamestop.
They've done their best to ruin the used game market.
While I used to get used games for cheap, Gamestop has gouged all the prices so that even buying online is close enough to the new price that I tend to usually buy games new. If it's only a difference of a couple of bucks, I buy new. It's funny because back when you could get a 3 month old game off ebay for $10, they didn't complain about it as much.
Now that there's no value in the used game market, I don't care if the devs find a way to stop it. There are too many gamestops around anyway and most of the people who work at them are really too dense to put correct games in the cases.
They've done their best to ruin the used game market.
While I used to get used games for cheap, Gamestop has gouged all the prices so that even buying online is close enough to the new price that I tend to usually buy games new. If it's only a difference of a couple of bucks, I buy new. It's funny because back when you could get a 3 month old game off ebay for $10, they didn't complain about it as much.
Now that there's no value in the used game market, I don't care if the devs find a way to stop it. There are too many gamestops around anyway and most of the people who work at them are really too dense to put correct games in the cases.
I have long had an issue with the used game business. I worked for EB Games/ Gamestop for a few years, and there is a reason that the area managers used to say 'Pre-owned games are the lifeblood of the company'. The used game market makes 'MASSIVE' profits because the margin of profit on them are so high. This is the reason staff are trained to ALWAYS offer a used copy over a new one. They will actively try dissuade you from buying a new one and of course this affects the industry. Places like Gamestop are reaping the benefits over and over and over, while the people who brought you the game are missing out.
I don't like the idea of EA's project $10, but it was inevitable to try and claw back some kind of money at the expense of used game buyers.
To the people who are QQing about views expressed in the article, just stop and think of ANY way the pre-owned business is good for the longevity of the gaming industry, especially with Walmart thinking of re-entering the business.
I don't like the idea of EA's project $10, but it was inevitable to try and claw back some kind of money at the expense of used game buyers.
To the people who are QQing about views expressed in the article, just stop and think of ANY way the pre-owned business is good for the longevity of the gaming industry, especially with Walmart thinking of re-entering the business.
I dont understand why the developers dont try to get retailers to give them a part of the used sales like they do the new ones. Then it wouldnt be so bad for them. I mean how much does Gamestop make on a used game. They usually buy them really cheap and sell them for just under the new price its not like they cant give the developer some. They just need to demand it.
Really? You've never, ever bought anything used and you never plan on ever doing so? Not a car, not a piece of furniture, not anything from a yard sale? After all, if you can't afford it, don't buy it, right? You'd rather walk than touch a used car, right? *shudder*Cryo84R said:
This sounds just as monopolistic as the RIAA shit and their wanting to ban recording devices of all kinds couple of years back. Just another part of this slippery slope of ambiguous ownership (ie: nitwits that say you never actually own the game you buy).
That sounds like the kind of shit I'd say. Also, props on the handle! I really like the cut of your jib, dude!Commander Breetai said:
I know that there have been evil moments in the games industry for as long as gaming has been around.
but
Is seems as if the gaming industry been going through an
evil renaissance over the past year. EA drm, Nintendo being the ***** of casual gamers,
Microsoft (who has been evil from the start, Gamestop, Activision vs. Infinity Ward,
Gamestop again, etc.
?
but
Is seems as if the gaming industry been going through an
evil renaissance over the past year. EA drm, Nintendo being the ***** of casual gamers,
Microsoft (who has been evil from the start, Gamestop, Activision vs. Infinity Ward,
Gamestop again, etc.
?