Your take on pre-owned games.

[Zyxx]

Like buying anything else used, you just have to be careful about the condition. I'll happily buy used games.
I never sell games, though, even ones that I've finished and haven't played in years, or ones whose purchase turned out to be a mistake. I either store them or loan them out (sometimes with little concern for when or if I'm getting them back.)

 

[imagremlin]

I'm no industry expert, but I think that Used (i refuse to play the corporate game of calling them pre-owned) games are key to how the industry works.

Publishers know that there will be a market for used games and that they can't get a piece of it, so they price new games in such a way that the markup for the retailers is ridiculosly small. Retaliers make very little money on new games, and recoup that in used games sales.

In other words, new game sale = profit for the published/developer. Used game sale = profit for the retalier.

If retailers could not sell used games, they would have to jack up the markup for new games to stay in business, and we all would lose.

Oh, and its pefectly legal.

 

[Digitaldreamer7]

They're great, but I can't buy them because I'm a PC gamer. I bought used games all the time on PS2.

EDIT: although I dunno how safe they are, I went to sell some of my used games and he basically opened them up, looked at the CD and said "Yup, looks like a CD" and closed it up and put it on the shelf.

Yeah, that is the downside to PC gaming (kinda) but there's a certain pride and joy that comes from a new game.

typically new PC games arn't $60 US. Typically they are $50 us or cheaper. Starcraft 2 was the first 60$ PC game I have seen in a while. I buy all my PC games on steam . I love that store.

I buy all my console games used unless it's a release I have been waiting for (Mass Effect 2). I have in upwards of 30 games, and I may have bought 10 of those new. Most of my game purchases are impulse buys now a days. being 20-40$ helps me justify spending money on games. I have never had a problem with any of my used games. all of them still work well with no issues. I dont hasve any moral hang ups on it, some people think that its wrong because the devs and publishers don't get any money from the sale. IMHO once I have purchased the physical media, it is mine to resale as I please. I know I don't own the IP or the software etc contained on said disc, but as long as I am selling the mfr disc and not a copy I am free from any guilt or wrongdoing.

 

[Sharkosauros]

Not exacly my thing, since theres a probability of not working.. but i once bought a couple of games, brand new that did not work. so yeah.. *sad face*

 

[Marter]

About 90% of my games are pre-owned. I like them. It lets me save money, and I haven't had any issues with the discs not working.

 

[octafish]

It is a very rare occasion that I pay full price for a game anymore. I wait until PC games are on a discount and buy console games exclusively pre-owned. I also don't buy as many games as I used to. It's not that I think the games aren't worth full price (some very truly are) I just have a hard time justifying the cost to myself knowing that if I am patient the games will go on sale and I will have just as much fun for less money.

Yeah, I'm a PC so 2nd Hand isn't an option, and my Broadband sucks so Steam isn't an option either. Only when I'm giddy with excitment will I buy a game new, I bought Fallout 3, Dragon Age and ME2 (I'd just completed my second playthough of ME) on the day they released, but no others in the last few years. I will probably pre-order Civ 5, but wait for a price drop on New Vegas, The Witcher 2 and Mafia 2, although the pre-order DLC looks like it may have a Citroen DS included so that is pretty tempting.

 

[AngelOfBlueRoses]

I think ya'll are letting yourselves get trolled by Mister Hopeless Bastard here; he must really live up to his name, but... more on topic...

OT: I almost always buy my games new unless I'm looking for an older game. However, in a few years, I'll probably start buying more and more pre-owned games than I do new.

 

[Hiphophippo]

I always buy preowned if I have the option (unless I want the collector's edition or simply must have it on day of release). No reason not to, really. If it doesn't work, I can return it, so I've got nothing to lose.

The problem with that (and really, this is just me being a hopeless romantic for my hobby) is if more people did exactly that, that just means hard working developers who make interesting games and not the bland shit we see breaking sales records today lose out.

It's really not all that different to piracy to me. At least in the way that really matters. Money going to developers.

I follow a pretty strict policy myself on that matter. If it's a game that will sell a billion copies regardless of me I might buy it used. However, if it's a truly interesting or innovative game, which almost insures it won't sell enough copies to sustain itself, I will only buy it new. I want to support my hobby, not the pawn shops.

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

I don't prefer them, but I will buy them if it's a game that can only be obtained. All of my Fatal Frame and Silent Hill games except Origins and Shattered Memories are used.

 

[Susan Arendt]

I always buy preowned if I have the option (unless I want the collector's edition or simply must have it on day of release). No reason not to, really. If it doesn't work, I can return it, so I've got nothing to lose.

The problem with that (and really, this is just me being a hopeless romantic for my hobby) is if more people did exactly that, that just means hard working developers who make interesting games and not the bland shit we see breaking sales records today lose out.

It's really not all that different to piracy to me. At least in the way that really matters. Money going to developers.

I follow a pretty strict policy myself on that matter. If it's a game that will sell a billion copies regardless of me I might buy it used. However, if it's a truly interesting or innovative game, which almost insures it won't sell enough copies to sustain itself, I will only buy it new. I want to support my hobby, not the pawn shops.

I absolutely understand your point of view 100%. The system as it currently exists is broken, and the developers should, without question, get a cut of a used game sale. As for piracy...sorry, but no. While it's true that the developers and publishers don't profit from used game sales, it's still a single copy of a game that's going back and forth between owners. To me, that's reasonable. If I buy a shirt, it is then mine to do with what I want. I can keep it, sell it, or give it to a friend. I should be able to do the same with a game. What I should not be able to do is make a copy of that shirt (perhaps with replicator technology) and give it away to everyone on the street. That's piracy. One purchase, one owner at a time. That's fair.

 

[Dango]

I usually stick to buying pre-owned games. I can afford buying new ones but why would I, I'm paying for the same thing. I've only ever regretted buying a pre-owned game once, which I would've returned for a refund if I didn't buy it in another country.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

-snip-

My point there was legality is semantic, not absolute. If legality isn't absolute, then there is no difference.

Since you can't really come up with a reason the used game models of massive retail chains isn't directly equal to piracy beyond vague semantics, this can't end.

Also, the issue is not individuals selling their games to individuals for fair prices. The issue is massive corporations buying oceans of games for exploitative prices and putting them back on the shelves at a 600-900% markup. Reaping massive profits and simply cutting any publisher not willing to do the DLC whore-dance out of tons of revenue.

Whereas, no one directly responsible for piracy profits from piracy, and no pirated game can be proven to be a lost sale.

The Publishers aren't losing out on money though! That's what I'm trying to get people to see. The people who lose money are the stores (unless the publisher sells direct) who aren't losing money if they do that 900% mark up. They get just as much, sometimes more. So the only person losing out is the consumer.

Either way, I see your point in how it's unfair that stores can do that sort of price increase for something already used. Also, people who pirate games tend to be the people who won't buy the game in store unless they really want it so more often than not it is not a lost sale.

It may be worth noting that piracy is Illegal not because it is unfair to publishers and stores, but more because it is non-taxable. If governments could tax pirate games, they would legalise them and tax them faster than you can install it.

 

[migo]

I had bad luck once getting a used game from EB. Since then I always check the discs for scratches. Buying from craigslist I've never had a problem though. I very rarely, if ever, buy a game new.

Oh, I wouldn't risk craigslist... also it's not in big use where I live, or so it seems. I prefer to get mine from a Game. It's pretty much my favorite game shop. Along with cheap pre-owned game I get a free next day delivery (unless I order on a friday, saturday or sunday). The only bad experience I have had with them is that Oblivion sometimes takes a while to load the game but this may be the actual game rather than it being pre-owned.

Craigslist isn't a risk. You meet up, take a look at the disc and see it's not scratched, and then pay.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

Generally, I perfer to purchase new copies, simply beacuse it is far more certain that they are undamaged and working properly (not to mention that purchasing a new copy actually supports the developer). However, if I cannot obtain a new copy, then I will not hesitate buying a used one.

 

[esperandote]

Of course not, it is stolen no matter what. The only difference if it is reported stolen or not is the lack pursuit of getting it and thiefs punishment. The game doesn't become legal and illegal as you mentioned.

If i kill someone it isnt murder if no one reports it?

As far as the law is concerned, no body, no crime.

Alright that's the proof I needed to join the ones saying you're just trolling. Have a nice life.