Crackdown on Used Video Games!

[darkwarrior3007]

"Buying and selling used video games has become a fact of life for many consumers -- but if game publishers get their way, it's about to become a lot more difficult.

One 2009 estimate puts the size of the used game business at about $2 billion, representing about one-third of all annual game sales. That's a big deal, especially for market leader Gamestop, which is thought to get over 40% of its profits from reselling traded-in games. Major retail chains like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon have all dipped their toe in this lucrative market over the past year."
http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/game-makers-strike-back-at-used-game-market/1390305

 

[RoadRage76]

This will just hurt the video game industry more unless they drop the sixty dollar price tag on new games. I hardly have time to play them anyways so I will just learn to live without.

 

[Will E Worm]

Attacking your costumers is a bad idea.

Look for a huge sales drop if they mess with selling used games.

 

[RoadRage76]

Attacking your costumers is a bad idea.

Look for a huge sales drop if they mess with selling used games.

Companies have forgotten how to treat their costumers and employees over the years. They think they just can abuse us and we will come back. A reason why I am against Government Bailouts. It's time these jerks start going out of buisness and the new Sam Waltons emerge.

 

[Will E Worm]

Companies have forgotten how to treat their costumers and employees over the years. They think they just can abuse us and we will come back. A reason why I am against Government Bailouts. It's time these jerks start going out of buisness and the new Sam Waltons emerge.

That would be nice to see.

Sam Walton would kick those who run Wal-Mart out of the country if he could see what was going on today.

This will increase downloads and the blackmarket.
People aren't going to follow any new rules.

People barely follow the rules in place today.

 

[mr. jizz]

does anyone remember an article in Game informer about a year or so ago that said Sony had some technology that would only allow a game to be played on one console and one console only, rendering used games useless since the console would know that the game was used on a different console?

If they did that shit I would totally give up on video games, they are already screwing the customers over with the lack of content in video games and imagine if they didnt even allow you to purchase used games? That would be a huge pile of bullshit.

 

[darkwarrior3007]

Part of me can actually see where they're coming from because they are in the business to make money and they don't profit from used games. However pretty much trying to make used games useless is the worst move they can do.

9 times out of 10 you create future purchases of brand new games when your customers buy used games. Example: I bought Mass Effect used 2 years ago. I liked it so much that Mass Effect 2 was a day one brand new purchase. Same thing with Assassin's Creed. Assassin's Creed = used, Assassin's Creed 2 = brand new.

 

[whalers90]

what about people who bought games from a while ago...got rid of them (through trade in or whatever) and then 2 years later want to get that game again because they want to replay it or just get it to have it as a keepsake?
i did it with Sniper Elite. it was a different game,different type of game and i finished it and then a while later i went looking for it. it took me a week and about 5-8 different EBgames/ Gamestops to find 1....JUST 1 used. nobody had it

AND on top of that what about the kids who spend allowances on used games? whose parents dont have $$$ to spend 40-50-60 bucks on games new?you screw those kids you are gonna lose a huge percentage of your customers.i have seen plenty of times in line at the gamestop/EBgames
kids begging their parents for 4 or 5 more dollars so they can get 2 used games and the parents just flat out saying "no i dont have it, you spend your money,your allowance not my money on top of that"
dont alienate thse kids cause then you will be in trouble.

 

[zell]

does anyone remember an article in Game informer about a year or so ago that said Sony had some technology that would only allow a game to be played on one console and one console only, rendering used games useless since the console would know that the game was used on a different console?

I remember hearing about something like that before the PS3 was released.I initially thought that was the whole point of installing games onto your system.

what about people who bought games from a while ago...got rid of them (through trade in or whatever) and then 2 years later want to get that game again because they want to replay it or just get it to have it as a keepsake?
i did it with Sniper Elite. it was a different game,different type of game and i finished it and then a while later i went looking for it. it took me a week and about 5-8 different EBgames/ Gamestops to find 1....JUST 1 used. nobody had it

AND on top of that what about the kids who spend allowances on used games? whose parents dont have $$$ to spend 40-50-60 bucks on games new?you screw those kids you are gonna lose a huge percentage of your customers.i have seen plenty of times in line at the gamestop/EBgames
kids begging their parents for 4 or 5 more dollars so they can get 2 used games and the parents just flat out saying "no i dont have it, you spend your money,your allowance not my money on top of that"
dont alienate thse kids cause then you will be in trouble.

All excellent points.

Personally,I fucking hate GameStop,EB Game,Game Crazy,and the like.I wouldn't really have a problem if they only gave me $20 for a game that just came out a few months ago,if they wouldn't turn around and sell them for $45-$50 used.That's just fucking ridiculous!I know that they are out to make money,but raping your consumers is never a good thing.

Besides,if those places go out of business,there's always Craigslist,Ebay,and your local used DVD stores,that usually sell games as well.

As far as making the games single user restrictive,I'm leaning more towards the side of the developers on this one.I would rather see the guys that are making these games get the extra cash,than those jackass stores that are turning over stupid profits from used games sales.

 

[RoadRage76]

I never sell my used games. I know I am not going to get much for them and I'll get that itch sometime to play them again so I never bothered. Yeah Gamestop sells their used games when the newer ones first come out for around $55.00. I never bother buying those unless they are having their buy 2 get 1 free sales. I usually just wait till the used games come way down in price and I buy them. I'll try and go after the newer ones if they are not that much more then the used ones.

With all honesty what this is about really. The gaming industry has been having a lack of sales due to the hurting economy. People are cutting back and these hot heads want to blame it on used game sales of why they are down this year. I remember reading in the newspaper of how video game sales are down more then usual. It's just greed and lack of common sense on these CEO's parts. Thats what it is.

 

[shayd]

Personally,I fucking hate GameStop,EB Game,Game Crazy,and the like.I wouldn't really have a problem if they only gave me $20 for a game that just came out a few months ago,if they wouldn't turn around and sell them for $45-$50 used.That's just fucking ridiculous!I know that they are out to make money,but raping your consumers is never a good thing.

Bingo.



Personally I don't see this coming to fruition. The market for used games is large, however it's pretty clear that the value is inflated by gamers who want to save money, not gamers that want games regardless of cost. If this were to happen, I could realistically see the market for games decreasing by about 10-20% which is what I'd estimate to be about a quarter of the population of gamers who take advantage of used games today. Developers are assuming that if used games are eliminated, that people will just up and be willing to buy full priced games, which numbers-wise, hasn't really ever been justified.

 

[STDiva]

does anyone remember an article in Game informer about a year or so ago that said Sony had some technology that would only allow a game to be played on one console and one console only, rendering used games useless since the console would know that the game was used on a different console?

I actually wouldn't have a problem with this is game prices were cheaper. If I was spending $35-$40 on games and never got to trade them in, that's alright. But not $69.99.

Me and my friends borrow games from each other though. Hmm. Maybe I'm not down with this.