are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

[demstix]

Question, how harmful is the used games business to the gaming industry?


With the cost of most games at $60/title I, like many other folks, usually go the used route whenever possible. Even though understand why the games cost so much it feels pretty steep for a part time gamer like myself. Next Gen consoles have really put the pressure on as far as realism and detail in games go. I mean games today are absolutely beautiful, but that work is also very expensive.

I might be wrong, if but new sales revenues take a big enough hit it could have the same impact on the gaming industry that mp3s have had on the music industry. I would really like to know the break even success rate for most of the next gen games that come out. it really seems like a catch 22 for the developers 1) if you make a game on a skimpy budget the game will look skimpy and no one will buy 2) If you break the bank with your game's budget you have to move a crap load of units to turn a profit.

What do you guys think?

[Sting]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

I hope so. I buy NCAA ps3 version used every year and buy the ps2 version new every year to prove a point that I'm not gonna put up with the trash that they've put out on next gen. My point is basically ******** and not proving anything, but it helps me sleep at night.

[Cebby]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

I might be wrong, if but new sales revenues take a big enough hit it could have the same impact on the gaming industry that mp3s have had on the music industry.

Used games have been around for at least 20 years.

MP3s are much different because nobody buys a copy originally. In the case of used games, you're looking at maybe 20% of the total games purchased and in those cases the original game was purchased.

As for cost, they're 10 dollars more expensive than last generation and PS1 games, and cheaper than N64, SNES, and Genesis games.

With inflation factored in, this is probably the lowest cost that games have been.

[JayBee74]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

Obviously not hurting Gamestop-they heavily promote the buying and selling of used games.

[deaduck]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

Is it hurting the game industry as a whole? Not that much when you figure all the parts that make up the industry

Is it hurting publishers? Yes, very much so.

[demstix]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

I just had a random thought about this and decided to start a thread. 5 minutes later I did a search on the net and discovered that this topic has been discussed ad naseum. The funny thing is that there are pretty convincing arguments on both sides of the debate. I think in the end the consumer will win. The market will ultimately bear only what the consumers pockets can bear. What I see happening is developers under utilizing the power of the newer machines to meet the lower cost demands of gamers. Something is gonna give eventually and u can expect folks to pay more for a product than they have to.

[dickey1331]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

I dont buy used games anymore. I also dont shop at gamestop anymore.

[choadler]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

I don't buy from gamestop either. I either go to best buy, target, or buy off amazon or steam (for PC games).

I also only buy new games to support the developers and publishers.

[demstix]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

Is it hurting the game industry as a whole? Not that much when you figure all the parts that make up the industry

Is it hurting publishers? Yes, very much so.

but when we say its hurting publishers and developers how does that impact the product that we get? If it means that the market isn't flooded with crappy games I'm fine with that. Let's be real, as long as there is a demand for games someone will make them no matter what.

Gamestop isn't going anywhere but yet games are still getting better and better.

also i didn't realize that there was such disdain towards gamestop. I've only bought two games in the last 10 years lol.

[dickey1331]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

but when we say its hurting publishers and developers how does that impact the product that we get? If it means that the market isn't flooded with crappy games I'm fine with that. Let's be real, as long as there is a demand for games someone will make them no matter what.

Gamestop isn't going anywhere but yet games are still getting better and better.

also i didn't realize that there was such disdain towards gamestop. I've only bought two games in the last 10 years lol.

Its bad because there wont be any 3rd party games that can challenge and sometimes be better than the 1st party games. For example take a look at Madden. Some people would say Madden has gotten worse since 2K left the market. Competition is everything and if people arent buying new games then there will be less and less competition which is bad for everyone.

[Cusefan]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

Wait until Video Games are Download Only, Its gonna happen, eventually.

[Russell_SCEA]

Re: are used game sales hurting gaming industry?

I dont buy used games anymore. I also dont shop at gamestop anymore.

[demstix]

I'm not really that keen on the idea of downloading my digital media. That goes for games, music, and movies. what happens when i switch platforms or if I have a hardware crash. i don't suspect that EA will be rushing to send me a second license if my nephew spills juice inside the playstation. Plus there is a certain level of satisfaction that comes with owning a tangible instruction manual and cd. I personally love the artwork that ships with these games.


back to the real topic. Economically speaking it is my responsibility as a consumer to not overpay for a product and pay an amount that my pockets are willing to bear. it would be foolish of me to buy a new game at $60 that's sitting right beside a lightly used version for $40. Developers can't expect the masses to not take that deal. wearing my Emotional i want to my gaming dollars to go direct to developers but wearing my smart, i have bills to pay hat, I can't justify doing such a thing.