buying used games is stupid

[segataDC]

Kids nowadays don't like to keep their games and build a collection, they game, sell and trade games on a regular basis. Shops like gamestop are taking advantage of this circular cycle to rip off the costumer. Charging 50$ multiple times on a single copy.

Is it really worth buying a used copy of la noire, deus ex or resistance 3 for 53$? Remember that not a single penny goes to the developers and you're only making gamestop richer.

You guys have several options that are better, imo, like Amazon or other on-line shops. For example European consumers can go to Amazon.co.uk a buy deus ex for 15,99 pounds, that's 25 dollars!
The limited edition of dark souls costs 43?, any physical shop near me wont sell it for less than 60/70?(new or used).

And I'm sure that, regardless of what country you live in, you can find better and more economic solutions on-line.

I think that used games can be a good thing, for example I just bought msg2 and msg3 for 15?, but when it comes to recent ip's I think you should search for options that not only benefit your wallet but also contribute to the industry.

but if you prefer to spend 50 dollars on a used game, that's up to you.
whatever floats your boat...

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

.....you can buy used from Amazon too. And you act like supporting GameStop is a bad thing. I've went there for years, they have never treated me badly as a customer.

 

[MolotoK]

Do car makers sell less cars because people buy used cars? No.

People who sell used games need the money to buy new games. They probably wouldn't have bought the game in the first place if they knew they couldn't sell it again.

 

[tahrey]

I don't always buy used games, but when I do, I buy classics that I missed first time round, for like £10 / $15. Also works well as a christmas/birthday present gambit if I know someone who missed said game but always wanted to play it.

 

[Smooth Operator]

No, selling / buying them from retailers is stupid, an important distinction people seem to forget.

 

[Blue Hero]

Some people don't wanna buy things online. If I want to play a game, I want to play it now. I don't wanna wait a few weeks for it to arrive.

 

[Amnestic]

Wow, one example, that's real conclusive.

-Used games are often cheaper than the alternative,
-Used games benefit the used retailer, so it's not piracy (because I like the used retailer),
-It's easier to find old games in trade-in stores.

This one is especially relevant to me as a shop nearby has games going all the way back to the NES, but including SNES, Gameboy (original!), MegaDrive, Dreamcast, and a rather large collection of some classic and much sought after PS1 titles.

So yeah, I'll support them. I have no qualms about money not going to the developer if I buy Used from them.

 

[SirDeadly]

Not everyone has a credit card which they can use to buy games online. I don't care if I buy used games, I like EB Games. I doesn't bother me where my money goes as long as it is well spent.

 

[Wuggy]

I don't buy used games, really. I use steam, and IF I buy something from a gamestop, it's likely to be a day one purchase. However, I do see searching the best deal for a game, used or not, perfectly justified. It's the customer's right to re-sell their product or buy re-sold product.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Kids nowadays don't like to keep their games and build a collection, they game, sell and trade games on a regular basis.

No, the kids YOU know do that. Ihave an overall collection of aroud 65 games, mostly older pctitles with my 360 collecion. I have traded in two games inentire life, which were partculary bad Wii games.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

To be fair, I sold all my console games around the same time I sold all my consoles. I still own every PC game I've ever purchased. Since I am mostly a PC gamer, my entire collection is all digital now.
If I were still a console gamer, I think I would eventually sell games I don't intend to play again. However I sell on Ebay, not to Gamestop.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

Remember that not a single penny goes to the developers and you're only making gamestop richer.

You're right. It doesn't.

...

Your point? I mean, that's kinda how used products work. Did they, or did they not get paid the first time the game sold?

Yes? That's it, then.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

Buying used games is cheaper then buying new and faster then buying online. Also I am sure the poor multi million dollar companies will survive without my $120 for a new game.
Also I see no point in keeping a game I will not play much anymore. I am not one for nostalgia.

 

[segataDC]

Wow, one example, that's real conclusive.

-Used games are often cheaper than the alternative,
-Used games benefit the used retailer, so it's not piracy (because I like the used retailer),
-It's easier to find old games in trade-in stores.

This one is especially relevant to me as a shop nearby has games going all the way back to the NES, but including SNES, Gameboy (original!), MegaDrive, Dreamcast, and a rather large collection of some classic and much sought after PS1 titles.

So yeah, I'll support them. I have no qualms about money not going to the developer if I buy Used from them.

i also buying a shit ton of used games for my ps2 and dreamcast.

my thing is that I refuse to spend more than 20? on a used game(classics and rare gems notwithstanding) and a lot of shops near me sell ps3/xbox360 used games for well over 40?. I'd rather buy and new copy and contribute to the developers that made the game.

that's my point.

 

[Ruwrak]

Long thread short, everyone in the gamesindustry whines about their own subject while there is ... well not so much going on.

I prefer my games to be first hand for myself. Since I'm an elitist that way.
And as long as something is not 100% complete I will not be selling it.
Nor would I if it was 100% complete, if I have it 100% then I really must have liked the game riiiight?


Or well that's a partial lie.
I do buy N64 games second hand.

Why? Because the gamecompany stopped selling them. Therefor I have no quarrels with it for myself.
But I just don't like buying second hand games.

 

[NorthernStar]

Judging from the reactions here I'm almost afraid to say it, but I agree with the original poster.

I mean, seriously; games have always been expensive. So claiming that new games are expensive these days is nothing new.

Second, having worked in a gamestore, I know exactly how much money they make on second hand games. And trust me when I say that they make a lot of money on used sales. As a consumer, however, you're getting cheated out of money on every turn. New games were traded in for about 30 to 40 euro's (about half of their original value) while they were placed on the shelve for 50 or, more often, 55. That's a major profit right there and the developer won't see a single penny of it. You may like the gamestore, but I assume you like the developers more, don't you?

My problem with used games sales is not gamers trading or selling their games amongst each other, as this is relatively low scale and is less likely to impact developers the way used sales by gameshops are currently damaging developers. Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain lost between 5 and 10 million euro's to used sales (ref: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-09-12-used-market-cost-heavy-rain-1m-sales). Seriously, think about it. That's a huge loss and in the end it will only bite us gamers in the butt as the smaller devs won't be able to overcome these losses.

When it comes to old games I can imagine making an exception, since those are almost impossible to come by. But seriously; buying a game used when the new alternative is still in store but only 5 or 10 bucks cheaper? I'd rather know those 5 bucks go to the developer, instead of 30 of them being wasted on a store.

 

[Amnestic]

Wow, one example, that's real conclusive.

-Used games are often cheaper than the alternative,
-Used games benefit the used retailer, so it's not piracy (because I like the used retailer),
-It's easier to find old games in trade-in stores.

This one is especially relevant to me as a shop nearby has games going all the way back to the NES, but including SNES, Gameboy (original!), MegaDrive, Dreamcast, and a rather large collection of some classic and much sought after PS1 titles.

So yeah, I'll support them. I have no qualms about money not going to the developer if I buy Used from them.

:O that sounds like one awesome shop...

It really is! The guys who work there are friendly and agreeable too. They sold me a copy of the new Deus Ex with a used DLC code, I took it back and they had a replacement code for me the next day. No kerfuffle, no 'proving' my code didn't work or anything. Just took it back, explained it and they fixed it.

I just wish it wasn't in this backwater town I'm living in. It's basically the only thing I'm going to miss from this shithole when I move out at the end of this academic year.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain lost between 5 and 10 million euro's to used sales (ref: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-09-12-used-market-cost-heavy-rain-1m-sales). Seriously, think about it. That's a huge loss and in the end it will only bite us gamers in the butt as the smaller devs won't be able to overcome these losses.

He said that after the game sold 2 million copies. Which turned a profit for them. And if the "loss" of 1 million sales caused him to "lose" 5-10 million euros, then he must have gained 10-20 million, correct?

 

[loc978]

Buying used games that are only a few weeks old for under 20% off - pretty stupid, and directly supporting an exploitative business plan.

Buying older used games that are out of the limelight (and possibly out of production) for 50% off or better - just smart shopping.

 

[Furioso]

Wow, one example, that's real conclusive.

-Used games are often cheaper than the alternative,
-Used games benefit the used retailer, so it's not piracy (because I like the used retailer),
-It's easier to find old games in trade-in stores.

This one is especially relevant to me as a shop nearby has games going all the way back to the NES, but including SNES, Gameboy (original!), MegaDrive, Dreamcast, and a rather large collection of some classic and much sought after PS1 titles.

So yeah, I'll support them. I have no qualms about money not going to the developer if I buy Used from them.

i also buying a shit ton of used games for my ps2 and dreamcast.

my thing is that I refuse to spend more than 20? on a used game(classics and rare gems notwithstanding) and a lot of shops near me sell ps3/xbox360 used games for well over 40?. I'd rather buy and new copy and contribute to the developers that made the game.

that's my point.

They only do that for games that just came out and were traded back in, they wouldn't sell a brand new game for a super low price, and if someone buys a game new, that money goes to the industry, that person then trades the game in, and you buy it, the game company still has that money from that one game sold, and only one person owns that game, so your not really stealing from anyone