A take on how to solve the used game issue

[The Knightly Gamer]

Greetings everyone,

As we all know the used game business is a big topic in today's gaming community. We have developers and publishers saying it cuts in to their profits. We also have it being the main life blood of many game store chains. Now I think I might have a solution to this that makes both parties happy. What if the game industry did royalties? What about they get 5% of whatever the used game is sold for? I think this is a decent compromise but, what is your guys' opinion on this issue in the gaming community and how it can be solved?

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Why not this solution?

Leave used games the fuck alone publishers, you did fine before and you will do fine now.

The only people increasing the cost of games is yourself, we don't set your fucking budget. You don't see books with bloody DRM and chapter passes.

Also don't call them lost sales, that's the same as saying every book read in the library is taking money away from authors or the radio is killing musicians.

This. Seriously, people, the first sale doctrine is a legally protected consumer right. Quit being so quick to give it up just because the publishers ask nicely. You wouldn't do that for your civil rights, so don't start with it on your consumer rights.

 

[Esotera]

The market for used games is not an issue. Every other form of medium has a second-hand market (you can buy second-hand books, films, and cds) but for some reason game developers/publishers act as if it's the end of the world even more than other artists.

If people aren't buying games new, then obviously used games are seen as a superior option. In most cases this is price.

 

[Erana]

Why not this solution?

Leave used games the fuck alone publishers, you did fine before and you will do fine now.

The only people increasing the cost of games is yourself, we don't set your fucking budget. You don't see books with bloody DRM and chapter passes.

Also don't call them lost sales, that's the same as saying every book read in the library is taking money away from authors or the radio is killing musicians.

This. Seriously, people, the first sale doctrine is a legally protected consumer right. Quit being so quick to give it up just because the publishers ask nicely. You wouldn't do that for your civil rights, so don't start with it on your consumer rights.

Thirded.

Those publishers are sneaky devils, making us gamers antagonize ourselves over simply exercising our rights.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Why not this solution?

Leave used games the fuck alone publishers, you did fine before and you will do fine now.

The only people increasing the cost of games is yourself, we don't set your fucking budget. You don't see books with bloody DRM and chapter passes.

Also don't call them lost sales, that's the same as saying every book read in the library is taking money away from authors or the radio is killing musicians.

This. Seriously, people, the first sale doctrine is a legally protected consumer right. Quit being so quick to give it up just because the publishers ask nicely. You wouldn't do that for your civil rights, so don't start with it on your consumer rights.

Thirded.

Those publishers are sneaky devils, making us gamers antagonize ourselves over simply exercising our rights.

The worst part is they use the word "entitled" as an insult, when actually, yeah, gamers (and any other consumers) are legally entitled to resell their property without the original owner butting into the process. Once you sell something. it's no longer yours, and an EULA is nothing but a piece of shiny paper they've fooled a few judges with. The recording industry and the publishing industry both tried exactly that about 100 years ago, /and the courts struck it down as violating the first sale doctrine./ The only reason this is an issue at all is because judges tend to be old coots who don't understand technology.

 

[The Knightly Gamer]

You guys have made alot of very good points. My OP was more of a way to make everyone happy (even though you cant). Though you are right with every other medium having a second-hand market.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

My opinion on this resolution is the same as my opinion on all consumer submitted solutions: it's not your fucking problem, stop licking the arse of the publishers.

They're million dollar companies trying to weasel money out of you that isn't there. Why do you feel sorry for them? Why do you feel a need to help them out? Why do you continue to talk your way out of games that cost £5 a pop?

You're the consumer for Christ's sake.

 

[faefrost]

What gets me with this is that the publishers have yet to grasp the most basic point in all of this. Be it used game sales, or game piracy or whatever. It's the price point that drives the whole thing. If the price point of games at release was $20 USD, there would be very little piracy, very little used game sales or trade ins, and a huge burst in overall sales numbers. Customers would be willing to take risks on new games. They would be hang onto games longer and not rade them in simply because there would be greater value in doing so, and they wouldn't have to scrounge so hard to get the cash for the next game.

It's the price point stupid!!!! (This is the same thing that our idiot political leaders never grasp. Taxes generate the most revenue right at the %23 mark. Anytime they go over that gross revenues fall)

 

[RJ 17]

Why not this solution?

Leave used games the fuck alone publishers, you did fine before and you will do fine now.

The only people increasing the cost of games is yourself, we don't set your fucking budget. You don't see books with bloody DRM and chapter passes.

Also don't call them lost sales, that's the same as saying every book read in the library is taking money away from authors or the radio is killing musicians.

That's kinda been my take on this whole thing. If developers don't make enough money in the game's opening couple of weeks (when EVERYONE has to buy it new) to cover their costs and make a hell of a profit by selling (x) million copies, then it's a failure on their part for making a crappy game that no one wanted.

 

[Smooth Operator]

You can't do royalties because second hand sales are open business, you owe the publisher nothing.
If anyone was actually worried about them they would educate the customers on howmuch money they throw away, but they don't give a shit about the customer, they are only pissed at the extra money retailers make.

So we got project $10, publishers hustling money from a business model they didn't think off.

 

[RoBi3.0]

Why not this solution?

Leave used games the fuck alone publishers, you did fine before and you will do fine now.

The only people increasing the cost of games is yourself, we don't set your fucking budget. You don't see books with bloody DRM and chapter passes.

Also don't call them lost sales, that's the same as saying every book read in the library is taking money away from authors or the radio is killing musicians.

This. Seriously, people, the first sale doctrine is a legally protected consumer right. Quit being so quick to give it up just because the publishers ask nicely. You wouldn't do that for your civil rights, so don't start with it on your consumer rights.

Thirded.

Those publishers are sneaky devils, making us gamers antagonize ourselves over simply exercising our rights.

Fourthed

edit: low content prevention add-on -sorry this content is only available if you purchased the collector edition of this post or by paying 10 dollars for day 1 dlc

Spoiler

I don't understand why game publishers are just now thinking that this is a problem. When used games have been the norm from the beginning

 

[Drop_D-Bombshell]

Why not this solution?

Leave used games the fuck alone publishers, you did fine before and you will do fine now.

The only people increasing the cost of games is yourself, we don't set your fucking budget. You don't see books with bloody DRM and chapter passes.

Also don't call them lost sales, that's the same as saying every book read in the library is taking money away from authors or the radio is killing musicians.

Agreed, the used game "Problem" is just a myth used to bring out these DRM and codes IMO. Most people if there was a new game for £40 ($60) and a pre-owned game at £30 (?) would go for the pre-owned. They don't like this and try to bring out DRM to punish the many in order to bully them into buying their games used.

 

[random_bars]

Why SHOULD they get royalties, though? Why do they deserve it, when no other industry does?

Here's a better suggestion. Instead of focusing on the problem - people buying used games en masse - why not focus on the actual CAUSE of the problem, i.e. most games these days being short and boring, with reviews which rate the game solely on its hype and polish rather than how fun it actually is? Because that's what causes people to not want to buy games new in the first place. And moreover, that's what causes people to trade in their games two days after release - which is exactly what allows the used games market to take such a sizeable chunk out of the new games market.

If you don't want people buying your games used, why don't you make games that people don't want to trade in? Long, involved games that people can get invested in. Games with lots of variety that people would want to play through several times. Hard games that people will beat slowly and determinedly. Games with great, fun multiplayer. Really good games that people will want to keep on their shelf and not get rid of. Or simply cheap games that there's no point in trading in because you just won't get much back for it.

When you make a linear FPS that people can beat in a day and you charge $60 for it, are you really surprised that people have no reason to hang on to that game?

 

[Sampler]

or the radio is killing musicians.

Yeah, it's video who killed the radio stars..

[edit]

On topic, where do used games come from if no one's buying new?

 

[mikey7339]

Why not this solution?

Leave used games the fuck alone publishers, you did fine before and you will do fine now.

The only people increasing the cost of games is yourself, we don't set your fucking budget. You don't see books with bloody DRM and chapter passes.

Also don't call them lost sales, that's the same as saying every book read in the library is taking money away from authors or the radio is killing musicians.

This. Seriously, people, the first sale doctrine is a legally protected consumer right. Quit being so quick to give it up just because the publishers ask nicely. You wouldn't do that for your civil rights, so don't start with it on your consumer rights.

Thirded.

Those publishers are sneaky devils, making us gamers antagonize ourselves over simply exercising our rights.

Fourthed

Fithified!

I am glad to see a thread about this topic were everyone is actually talking sense.

You know if we don't like the practice we could always get together and start a class action lawsuit against the publishers.

 

[Keava]

Greetings everyone,

As we all know the used game business is a big topic in today's gaming community. We have developers and publishers saying it cuts in to their profits. We also have it being the main life blood of many game store chains. Now I think I might have a solution to this that makes both parties happy. What if the game industry did royalties? What about they get 5% of whatever the used game is sold for? I think this is a decent compromise but, what is your guys' opinion on this issue in the gaming community and how it can be solved?

Because the retails don't want to agree to it. Simple? There is no law preventing them from pulling 100% of second-hand game sale, so why would They settle for 95% or less?
In the end it's not them who loose on the online passes/project10$.

The customer get's fucked twice. Once by publishers, who want to protect their products and thus push their solutions to the problem. And second time by retailers who not only enforce high markup on new copies but also shove used copies down customers throats, abusing the lack of knowledge and often minimal price difference to maximize Their own profit at cost of customer and publisher.

That's how business works.

 

[veloper]

In a decade or so every game will be digital download only, so the TS doesn't need to invent anything. No more brick and mortar game stores and no more used game trade.

If you want to play you will have only 2 options: buy new or pirate. Actually that is not to different from now, because I don't consider buying used a valid choice. Data can be replicated in infinite supply, so the value of a copy (new, used, pirated, anything) is always zero and the only problem is development costs.

I see promise in what Double Fine are doing right now: consumers directly funding the development of a new game. That way you're paying for something real again, instead of giving charitable contributions afterwards.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

Actually that is not to different from now, because I don't consider buying used a valid choice

Interesting. Please, if you don't mind, explain how you've arrived at that conclusion.

OT: I see the used game problem as I see other problems: It's a service problem. People simply do not wish to own games any more, and wish to sell them in order to purchase other games. Publishers do not provide this service, so places like Gamestop do.