Topic: EA, Epic and MTV Games to fight...Used Games.

[Spinnzilla]

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55084

While, it's fairly lame, I like the idea of free DLC.    If this carries over to games I'm actually interested in I'll definately be more apt to buy them new.

[NWR_Lindy]

I think this makes perfect sense.  Up to this point there's really been no true incentive to buy new games unless you insist on having them on release day.  Those that buy new games have been getting screwed over by the used market to a degree, since they pay a premium price but get no true reward in return.  It's nice that new buyers will actually get meaningful bonuses that used buyers can't get.  In my eyes, that's completely fair.

[Dirk Temporo]

Up to this point there's really been no true incentive to buy new games unless you insist on having them on release day.

Unless you happen to care about supporting the industry.

[NWR_Lindy]

Unfortunately, most people could care less.  All they want to do is save some money.

[KDR_11k]

I'll gladly pay the "premium price" of 5€ more in order to get a new game instead of a used copy.

[Flames_of_chaos]

I'll gladly pay the "premium price" of 5€ more in order to get a new game instead of a used copy.

I'd pay the "premium price" too especially how bad gamestop is with the quality of used games they have.

[NWR_Lindy]

I'd expect that the vast majority of people on this board don't buy used games (since we want to support the industry), but judging by the amount of money that Gamestop makes off of used games, in the world overall we're the minority.

[DAaaMan64]

Artificially inflating the industry because we "support it" is the worst thing I've ever heard. I buy used all the time, and barter for games all the freaking time. Ebay, GameTz, Goozex, are all my friends. I love the market, but this is tough love.  Screw them, I'm gonna save some money.

[BranDonk Kong]

Buying new games is for suckers, unless it's an absolute AAA title. That's like only buying new cars because you want to support the dealer. Think about it, the industry is making games because they want *YOUR* money - make them earn it by only buying new games when it's a 5 star game.

[Flames_of_chaos]

I only buy used games from Toys and Gameland which is a indy gamestore that even slashes their prices of new games (like instead of 49.99 its 47.99  and instead of 59.99 its 56.99) and they charge fair prices for used games.

[Dirk Temporo]

Artificially inflating the industry because we "support it" is the worst thing I've ever heard. I buy used all the time, and barter for games all the freaking time. Ebay, GameTz, Goozex, are all my friends. I love the market, but this is tough love.  Screw them, I'm gonna save some money.

Yeah, screw the people that bring me games I love!

[that Baby guy]

Meh, the argument has been made day after day after day, selling your games isn't bad, buying used games isn't bad, it's like used cars, used televisions, used jewelry, used anything that isn't a consumable.

Granted, the stores that facilitate this kind of trade, well, they're almost all equally shady, but it's only fair to contend that buying and selling used games is fair, as fair as buying and selling anything else.

Now, then, the act of adding in DLC for first-time buyers is the market's response, and a clever response, at that, at least, if enough of your audience has the ability to download the content.  Now, for all those people who say screw new, let's save $5, there's a strong counterpoint not to.

[NWR_Lindy]

It's absolutely fair, but where Gamestop messes it up is when they double-dip.  They sell new games and pretend that they're the publisher's friend, but in reality their bread and butter is the used game market.  Dave Perry said it best (Source: http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/david-perry-blasts-gamestop-ceo-for-spewing-nonsense/?biz=1&page=1):

"I think the argument that [used game sales] competes with the new games is false. Imagine what new car sales would be like if you couldn't trade in your old car." Well that's interesting, as the vast majority of our industry has no issue with people selling their games on as many times as they like (eBay thrives on it.) What we object to is that our key retail PARTNER decides to pitch our consumers with rhetoric like, "You'd be crazy to buy the new copy, when you can buy the used one for less, and we guarantee it will work." Back to your car analogy, try partnering with Ford, doing co-op advertising TOGETHER, have Ford spend even more money dressing up your stores etc., then when a consumer finally walks in to buy a new Ford and says, "I'd like to buy a new Ford please," then your salesman (who is SUPPOSED to be Ford's promotional partner) says, "You'd be crazy to buy a new one, here buy this old Toyota instead, it's great, it's cheaper and we guarantee it will work." You'd be Ford's partner for about 5 seconds. Oh, and yes, if you stopped selling used games, I'd bet NEW game sales would go up. Let's try it!"

The guy undeniably has a point.

[DAaaMan64]

Artificially inflating the industry because we "support it" is the worst thing I've ever heard. I buy used all the time, and barter for games all the freaking time. Ebay, GameTz, Goozex, are all my friends. I love the market, but this is tough love.  Screw them, I'm gonna save some money.

Yeah, screw the people that bring me games I love!

Hey man, I gotta draw the line somewhere. I don't freakin' download stuff illegally or anything, but when it's time to save money, I save it in non-essentials. Such as entertainment.   The market's not my mother, it'll eat your **** alive if it means more money.  Tough love baby.

It's absolutely fair, but where Gamestop messes it up is when they double-dip.  They sell new games and pretend that they're the publisher's friend, but in reality their bread and butter is the used game market.  Dave Perry said it best (Source: http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/david-perry-blasts-gamestop-ceo-for-spewing-nonsense/?biz=1&page=1):

"I think the argument that [used game sales] competes with the new games is false. Imagine what new car sales would be like if you couldn't trade in your old car." Well that's interesting, as the vast majority of our industry has no issue with people selling their games on as many times as they like (eBay thrives on it.) What we object to is that our key retail PARTNER decides to pitch our consumers with rhetoric like, "You'd be crazy to buy the new copy, when you can buy the used one for less, and we guarantee it will work." Back to your car analogy, try partnering with Ford, doing co-op advertising TOGETHER, have Ford spend even more money dressing up your stores etc., then when a consumer finally walks in to buy a new Ford and says, "I'd like to buy a new Ford please," then your salesman (who is SUPPOSED to be Ford's promotional partner) says, "You'd be crazy to buy a new one, here buy this old Toyota instead, it's great, it's cheaper and we guarantee it will work." You'd be Ford's partner for about 5 seconds. Oh, and yes, if you stopped selling used games, I'd bet NEW game sales would go up. Let's try it!"

The guy undeniably has a point.

I don't care, it's not like they HAVE to partner up.  Market's can adjust to anything, including this. When I hear whining from CEO's and stuff like this, I just shut my ears off.

And this comes from a very free market kinda guy.

[KDR_11k]

I'd pay the "premium price" too especially how bad gamestop is with the quality of used games they have.

Yeah, that's my main concern. I risk tons of things like damaged packaging, scratched disks and whatnot and all that for a measly 5€ discount on a 60€ game? The only used game I bought from them was Cv COTM and that was a dud, the saves got wiped if the system was off for a bit.

Oh yeah and like Flames I tend to buy from stores at 2-3€ below MSRP, Media Markt (biggest electronics retailer) does that a lot. They also tend to break release dates so everything's good.

Besides, if I didn't want the game maker to get money I'd use TPB, not GameStop (cue comments about GS having worse service too).

[Flames_of_chaos]

What is TPB?  Well I just usually buy stuff from amazon and toy and game land since in T&GL they have a little card that looks like a credit card and whenever you buy stuff from there you get 5% store credit which is nice over time especially since I go there to buy rare games. Hell they even have Chu Chu Rocket new for the GBA for 19.99 I need to snag that.

[BranDonk Kong]

Saving $5 on a used purchase, now that is stupid. I'm talking wait a couple months, and get Guitar Hero 3 for $20 like I did. Oh...and don't use GameStop either. Used games =/= GameStop.

[Ian Sane]

I buy new when I want the game right f*cking now DAMMIT!  After that everything is an impulse buy that I'll usually get around the $20 or under mark.  In some cases I would pay the same for used as I would for new if I could avoid Player's Choice style budget packaging.  I don't care for that.  I never do the EB $5 off BS.  It's got to be a significant price difference or a game that I just can't find new anymore.

Discontinued games are a big part of used game sales for me.  Many games appear on shelves for like six months and they're gone.  Yet I imagine the game industry doesn't like that either.

Gamestop takes their focus on used games a little too damn far and it is similar to Dave Perry's analogy.  But I don't trust the game companies because I know the real reason they want to discourage used sales and it's the same crap that the music industry and the film industry is nuts over - they don't like giving the consumer any control.  They don't like that if I buy something used they don't get money.  They don't like if I buy something in an old format and keep it in good condition so that I don't buy it again in a new format.  They don't like it if I let my friend borrow it (not piracy) or invite my friend over to play the game or watch the movie with me.  They want me to buy a licence to use the product so they have an off switch and can force me to pay for it again when they want.  Used sales are freedom.  They don't want us to have it.  Simple as that.

[Bill Aurion]

I'll gladly pay the "premium price" of 5€ more in order to get a new game instead of a used copy.

Seriously...It's mind-blowing how Gamestop continues to rip off so many people...

Buying new games is for suckers, unless it's an absolute AAA title. That's like only buying new cars because you want to support the dealer. Think about it, the industry is making games because they want *YOUR* money - make them earn it by only buying new games when it's a 5 star game.

So you only enjoy "AAA" titles?  Thankfully I thoroughly enjoy plenty of "AA" and "A" games!

[BranDonk Kong]

I was exaggerating a little bit with AAA, I guess. Anyway, I can't believe I'm saying it, but I 100% agree with Ian's post.

[Dirk Temporo]

So you only enjoy "AAA" titles?

He never said that.

[Bill Aurion]

Well I meant "only like "AAA" titles enough to buy them at full price," my mistake for the lack of clarity...

[BranDonk Kong]

No, I don't do that either, I just suggest that other people do it to "stick it to the man", though RockBand 2 is the only game I've gotten on launch day in recent memory. Before that it was probably Twighlight Princess (Wii), and before that...WWE Day of Reckoning 2.

[bustin98]

I agree. If a game comes out that I want to support, I'll buy it day one at full price. But if its 'not up to snuff' I'll hold off for a price drop. I plan on getting Gears of War 2 on launch day, probably the 'special edition' one. To me, its worth it. I 'want' Medal of Honor Heroes 2 on Wii, but its selling for $40 still and from what I hear, its not low enough. $20 is the magic number for me, $10 used. If the price never appears then its a game I miss out on. No big loss as there's always another around the corner. Zack and Wiki, paid full price and proud to support the title.

[D_Average]

Most used games are full of germs, enough said.