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Topic: Are second-hand games killing the industry?

Posts 1 to 20 of 62

OldBoy

http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/eurogamer-asks-are-second-han...
An intresting little video about this on Eurogamer.
Even if you can't be bothered to watch the video what are your thoughts on this. Are games to expensive? Do you buy full price retail games or second hand etc? Is this trend towards the 2nd hand market going to stifle creativity or just speed up the reality of digital download only consoles? Do you think the online passes that are being introduced to games fair? etc.
Personally having a family to support means that I rarely buy new games anymore and when I do I wait for the inevitble price drop before purchasing. I do wish companies would start to seperate the online components of games and sell the single player seperatly as I'm not much of an online gamer so I'm paying for a lot of content that I'll never use.
Anyway lots of questions there. Any thoughts?

Edited on by OldBoy

What's this bit for again?

irken004

Yes games are expensive @_@ I've been reduced to buying games on sale on Steam lately. Otherwise, I try buying retail games at full price if I have the money. College is expensive D:

RoyalBlur

Well yes, I agree that games are to expensive these days. PS3 games are nearly sixty dollars while Wii games are almost fifty dollars.

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Robo-goose

60$ for a video game. 300$ for the console you play it on.

I'd say that big-name games are way too expensive, which is why Steam is doing so well.

Then again, lets take a look at how much games cost during the NES days, not including the inflation difference between now and then.

Edited on by Robo-goose

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CanisWolfred

I rarely buy a game new unless it'll be hard to find later. Used/bargain bin games are simply too cheap to resist.

Is that killing the Industry, though? I doubt it. Unless people are grabbing used when new games are available, in which case it would be, but used games take quite a while to go down in price. I'd still rather buy a game new for $30 than used for $25, but if I wait until it's out of print it'll probably be $15 used.

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LordJumpMad

Buying use games are not all bad.
it counting on the game.

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edhe

It won't be a problem when the publishers and developers succeed in proactively destroying the second hand market.

CD keys for PC games that can only be used by a single user/family member, download only platforms and online registration to unlock features or indeed multiplayer functions.

Obviously, it's cynical and against our basic urge to return something for money (or find it cheaper) - whether it be because the game is utter crap or because you've finished it, and don't want it cluttering up your living space, and a lot of shops are going to lose a lot of money, and many jobs may be lost in the process, but you can understand where the developers (and publishers, of course) are coming from, and they are having a difficult time of it.

But are big chains like GAME killing the industry too? They sell 2nd hand games, AND take some of the profits of first hand games to continue trading.

Edited on by edhe

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Hawker

Since I'm a collector of sorts, I want the case, artwork, & booklets for my games, so unless I just can't find a new version, I won't buy used games.

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TeeJay

The fact that used games exist mean that they were bought as new games at some point, so no, I don't think it's killing the industry. As for buying used games stealing future buyers of new games, I don't have any proof to support this, but it's just my personal opinion that no, it's not killing the industry.

Edited on by TeeJay

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Bankai

Yes, second hand games are hurting the industry.

What's going to happen is this - developers and publishers are going to, slowly but surely, move over to digital download platforms, where they don't have to compete with a second hand market. The only retail games that will be available will be the massive blockbusters, and those will get to the point where they're too expensive to make for the profit they bring in.

Then games retail will disappear. Although I don't necessarily consider that a bad thing.

The fact that used games exist mean that they were bought as new games at some point, so no, I don't think it's killing the industry. As for buying used games stealing future buyers of new games, I don't have any proof to support this, but it's just my personal opinion that no, it's not killing the industry.

The developer and publisher miss out on the second sale, though. That's a massive loss.

The only company that benefits out of second hand games is the retailer.

Edited on by Bankai

TTGlider

Killing, no. Changing, yes. Unethical, I say 'maybe'.

I'm on both sides of the issue. I always buy new, though usually from Amazon or elsewhere for a little discount. But I also often trade in games for credit. I know I'd buy fewer games if I couldn't trade in old ones for credit. But I don't necessarily feel I'm "entitled" to that option and don't expect it will be around forever. You can't ask for some money back on a $12 movie ticket if you didn't really love the film. For the most part you don't get a discount on a meal if you weren't thrilled with it. I think games are much more analogous to experiences than possessions, despite whatever niches of collecting/geek subculture may have grown out of nostalgia.

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Iggy

Yea I agree games are a bit pricey but i dont mind buying used games aslong as there in good condtion and come with the case and manual. But if the price difference between used and new isnt that big im just going to spend the extra bucks and get it new. But if its a Nintendo made game i buy it new pretty much 100% of the time just to get the club nintendo points.

I really dont think second hand games are killing the industry. Im sure they lose so money out of it but like tristen said they were once bought new so there still get somewhat of a profit. Also second hand games support businesses like gamestop that sell used and new games.

Iggy

OldBoy

tristenj1992 wrote:

The fact that used games exist mean that they were bought as new games at some point, so no, I don't think it's killing the industry. As for buying used games stealing future buyers of new games, I don't have any proof to support this, but it's just my personal opinion that no, it's not killing the industry.

But if the person that bought the 2nd hand game wasn't able to do that then they would most likely buy it new.So of course the devloper/publishers are missing out on sales.

WaltzElf wrote:

Yes, second hand games are hurting the industry.

What's going to happen is this - developers and publishers are going to, slowly but surely, move over to digital download platforms, where they don't have to compete with a second hand market. The only retail games that will be available will be the massive blockbusters, and those will get to the point where they're too expensive to make for the profit they bring in.

Then games retail will disappear. Although I don't necessarily consider that a bad thing.

I don't see digital being a bad thing either but do you think that this would lead to a price monopoly a la XBox store? (yeah I know they have sales but they are still charging £20 for 4-5 year old games on there!!) or could the digital market become as competitive as retail. I know music is like this already but I see games, when tied to specific consoles, a little differently.I could be wrong!
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Edited on by OldBoy

What's this bit for again?

edhe

And having watched the video, Rhod Gilbert makes a good point.

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Bankai

I don't see digital being a bad thing either but do you think that this would lead to a price monopoly a la XBox store? (yeah I know they have sales but they are still charging £20 for 4-5 year old games on there!!) or could the digital market become as competitive as retail. I know music is like this already but I see games, when tied to specific consoles, a little differently.I could be wrong!

I think the Apple App store is a good example that digital download mediums can be very price competitive. EA over christmas slashed its prices by 70% or so this year - Gameloft regularly does similar things.

XBLA and PlayStation Network tend to have more stable prices, which on the surface appear expensive when compared to what happens in retail shops, but remember, retail shops would be completely unsustainable if it wasn't for the second hand market - so the discounts you find there are often sold at break-even, or even loss, for the retailer.

So in other words, what you see on XBLA and PSN is closer to the truth for games pricing - what price games should be, and how long those games should be at that price... I dunno about XBLA, but there are some permanent price drops on PSN from time to time.

OldBoy

@WaltzElf Yeah you make a fair point , I suppose I've grown so used to paying £15 or less for retail games either 2nd hand or heavliy discounted that I fail to appreciate the value of games anymore versus entertainment hours as opposed to other media. Personally I find it a little dishearting though, as not having much disposable cash ,what with family commitments etc, then I would be severly limited as to the amount of games I could experience.Still at least it would stop me creating huge backlogs of games like I do now . I do like the digital model though both from an enviromental standpoint and the fact that I hate clutter!Converting my vast music collection to digital has been a revelation.Also I used to like the box art and manuals that come with games but these are becoming increasingly bland as well so I fail to see the point of physical media anymore.

Edited on by OldBoy

What's this bit for again?

Bankai

Luigi78 wrote:

@WaltzElf Yeah you make a fair point , I suppose I've grown so used to paying £15 or less for retail games either 2nd hand or heavliy discounted that I fail to appreciate the value of games anymore versus entertainment hours as opposed to other media. Personally I find it a little dishearting though, as not having much disposable cash ,what with family commitments etc, then I would be severly limited as to the amount of games I could experience.Still at least it would stop me creating huge backlogs of games like I do now . I do like the digital model though both from an enviromental standpoint and the fact that I hate clutter!Converting my vast music collection to digital has been a revelation.Also I used to like the box art and manuals that come with games but these are becoming increasingly bland as well so I fail to see the point of physical media anymore.

I agree that for the consumer, the gaming hobby becomes somewhat more expensive with digital downloads. But on the other hand, all the major vendors now have some kind of small, low-price download platform. Xbox has the Indie games section, PlayStation has the Minis, WiiWare and DSiWare are both relatively inexpensive and Steam and Apple's App Store are both famous for discount gaming.

Sure you don't get a blockbuster appearing on Minis, for instance, but there are some good, cheap games on there.

I think what will happen is there will be fewer games trying to be blockbusters in the future, but the few there are will be the kinds of games that everyone buys, and then people fill the time between those releases with those discounted gaming platforms - or retro "virtual console" type releases.

JohnDoe123

Its all so expensive. I like to get used occasionally, but my Canadian EB Games doesn't have a decent selection of used games. The decent ones are the same preice as the new ones. I think all the game developerséretailers should come together and give a fiveéten dollar price drop on all games. That would make things much more affordable for me, and there wouldn`t be much of a point for used games. I know this is highly unlikely, but there are many games I would want if they were just a little cheaper.

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