Buying Used Games
Confuzor
Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2412Awaiting Authorization
Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2412Awaiting Authorization
in Discussions
<div class="IPBDescription">An action to be despised?</div> The basic drive for people to actually buy games is that the money spent goes some way to the developer, which financially supports them, as well as makes it possible for the people to further develop more games. This also applies to music CDs, which is why the often highlighted fact by RIAA haters is that very little of the money spent on a CD actually goes to the artist.
Now in the case of computer software, I don't know how bad the profit returns are for the developer, and neither is that the point. The main issue of contention is the moral issues behind a game buyer like me.
On the rare occassions that I do buy games (which has since ended years ago <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> ), I obviously scour the market for the lowliest price. This then often comes in the form of buying used games. Now legally I have done no wrong, I have paid for the game. However, what percentage at all does my money trickle to the game developers? Why, 0%. The money that went to the developers went through the first purchase from the original buyer. Any subsequent buyer after that has not been contributing to the developers, only the store selling the used games.
Now I'm not saying that the store shouldn't be allowed to earn any money, but with the seemingly increasing game profits in consoles, and the decrease in game profits for PCs, I would prefer to give incentive to game developers to continue making quality games for the PC.
Alas, an unemployed bastard like me under the care of a father who despises any computer game playing whatsoever, there is little I can do to reverse the tide... All I can say is my useless thank you to the makers of Syberia and The Longest Journey.
Now in the case of computer software, I don't know how bad the profit returns are for the developer, and neither is that the point. The main issue of contention is the moral issues behind a game buyer like me.
On the rare occassions that I do buy games (which has since ended years ago <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> ), I obviously scour the market for the lowliest price. This then often comes in the form of buying used games. Now legally I have done no wrong, I have paid for the game. However, what percentage at all does my money trickle to the game developers? Why, 0%. The money that went to the developers went through the first purchase from the original buyer. Any subsequent buyer after that has not been contributing to the developers, only the store selling the used games.
Now I'm not saying that the store shouldn't be allowed to earn any money, but with the seemingly increasing game profits in consoles, and the decrease in game profits for PCs, I would prefer to give incentive to game developers to continue making quality games for the PC.
Alas, an unemployed bastard like me under the care of a father who despises any computer game playing whatsoever, there is little I can do to reverse the tide... All I can say is my useless thank you to the makers of Syberia and The Longest Journey.
Comments
If the developers want your hard earned cash? They'd better start making a product that makes you salivate. Something you feel it necessary to go out and buy the instant it's on the shelf, etc, etc.
But my buying pattern has always been to "wait it out" so prices plummet. That's just my buying strategy... the "thrifty bastard" style.
If any game producers are reading this, don't do this, it is very evil.
Here here. Legally you payed for it.
If old games pose such a great threat to new games, producers should be ashamed of their current lineup.
As for your guilt...I also sometimes feel like sending Nintendo some cash for some things Ive done which are....in the gray area.
You could argue that buying games will free up shelf space and show the store that people want that game, but how is buying a used game any different? You're still freeing up shelf space and showing the store that somebody wants the game.