Ways to combat used games

[Blindswordmaster]

EA is going to great lengths to fight people buying their games used, even charging people who buy their games used $10 dollars to access the multiplayer.(But you know my stance on that and we're not discussing that here) I want to know what you guys think the game industry should do to combat used game sales.

 

[zfactor]

Make most of the DLC free for new copies. That is sort of what they are doing now, and I like it because I always buy new games.

 

[PlasmaFrog]

Why is this an issue? Most of their profits come from launch weeks to begin with, so everyone is generally buying their copy new.

Retailers buy the games, consumers purchase a copy from the retailers, original developers gain profit. It isn't effecting copyright issues or breaking any laws, so it isn't even necessary.

This just seems like a more effective way to penny pinch people to death. Also, how would this system even work to begin with?

 

[sicnasty77]

I would have to agree if they provided all content for only new game buyers then I would be much more likely to buy a game new then used.

 

[conflictofinterests]

It's hard to sell back a virtual copy!

Valve, you sly bastards!

Also, it will save on packaging costs.

Problem solved.

 

[BENZOOKA]

We don't really have any noticeable selling nor buying of used games here, so I can't see how this is such a big issue.

 

[migo]

#1) Make games suck less, so that people want to keep them.
#2) Make games have good replay value, so that people want to keep them longer.
#3) Steadily lower the price of games after release so that you don't need to buy used to get the game cheaper.
#4) Offer free DLC to people who have already bought the games, while charging people who buy the game after the DLC comes out, thereby rewarding people who buy the games early, and giving them something extra for the $60 they paid, while the people who bought games later at $30-$40 don't get as much.

1 & 2 are the most important though. I sell games I don't like, and keep games I do like. Obviously not all tastes are the same, so someone sold Mirror's Edge while I'm going to keep it, and it can't be avoided entirely.

 

[Blindswordmaster]

Why is this an issue? Most of their profits come from launch weeks to begin with, so everyone is generally buying their copy new.

Retailers buy the games, consumers purchase a copy from the retailers, original developers gain profit. It isn't effecting copyright issues or breaking any laws, so it isn't even necessary.

This just seems like a more effective way to penny pinch people to death. Also, how would this system even work to begin with?

Why couldn't you comment on my EA thread?

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Offer rewards an incentives to those who buy the game new.

 

[GotMalkAvian]

I'll take a controversial position and say that the $10 multiplayer license is actually a good idea. Sure, I'd love to save money on a game and still get everything that came in the box, but that's rarely the way that used products work; also, with multiplayer becoming more and more integral to a gaming experience, they've chosen a smart place to pick their fight.

Personally, I think that pre-order and new-release incentives are the best way to encourage people to buy new copies of games. Bioware is definitely leading the charge right now with the amount of content that was made available in new copies of Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2, and Dragon Age II looks set to give even more to people who buy new copies of the game.

 

[subtlefuge]

Make people want to hold on to their games. If people don't buy a game in the first few months, they probably wouldn't ever buy it new to begin with.

 

[Valagetti]

This is horrible. Gaming specialist shops like Gamestop and EB should work together with EA. Project ten dollar is just bad for gaming stores because, that's the only way they mke profit, from selling preowned games. EA, your coming off a little evil lately

 

[wasalp]

It's hard to sell back a virtual copy!

Valve, you sly bastards!

Also, it will save on packaging costs.

Problem solved.

wait since when can you sell used copies of pc games?

 

[Netrigan]

I would like to see a variation on Project $10.

Instead of offering a free DLC for the game you just bought, give players a $10 voucher for any DLC from their company. Considering that Gamestop usually only shaves $5 off of used games, they'd effectively undercut them.

 

[veloper]

Easiest way: DRM, even if it's dead easy to circumvent. It worked for PC games.
A used PC game has no value to anyone else.
I reckon this shit will come to the consoles too eventually.

 

[conflictofinterests]

It's hard to sell back a virtual copy!

Valve, you sly bastards!

Also, it will save on packaging costs.

Problem solved.

wait since when can you sell used copies of pc games?

You can download games for the Xbox and Playstation. Most people focus on DLC for games they have hard copies for, but my boyfriend has Sonic and Megaman on his PS3 and none of the packaging. It would take FOR FUCKING EVER to download something like Mass Effect or CoD, but PC's can do it. Why not consoles?

 

[FolkLikePanda]

Make games that good that people don't want to trade them back in.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I'll take a controversial position and say that the $10 multiplayer license is actually a good idea. Sure, I'd love to save money on a game and still get everything that came in the box, but that's rarely the way that used products work; also, with multiplayer becoming more and more integral to a gaming experience, they've chosen a smart place to pick their fight.

Personally, I think that pre-order and new-release incentives are the best way to encourage people to buy new copies of games. Bioware is definitely leading the charge right now with the amount of content that was made available in new copies of Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2, and Dragon Age II looks set to give even more to people who buy new copies of the game.

Just wondering, what used stuff have you been buying? Because I've never bought a used DVD that had the special features grayed out, and while I have purchased the occasional used book that was missing pages, the bookstore took it back because it was defective merchandise, the same way Gamestop takes back defective games.

OT: I think my viewpoints on this are well known at this point. Not only does the used market exist, but it's enshrined in U.S. law as a very important consumer protection. The only people that would be aided by the destruction of the used market are the large corporations, who contrary to popular opinion around here, aren't struggling, and aren't your friends.