Buying Used Games

ConfuzorConfuzor Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2412Awaiting Authorization
<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.

Comments

  • ekentekent Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7801Members
    Since when do you have a moral obligation to support them? Just as when you don't buy a game because it's crappy, got bad reviews, and has 2 year old technology, buying used games is saying "I do not want to spend the money to pay for the full retail product."

    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.
  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    Not too horrorful off topic. Why exactly do Xbox, game cube and etc.. need Exclusive disc. I mean why not use the PC system for consoles, so you could play your PC games on your console <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> It doesnt make much sense if you think about it..
  • ConfuzorConfuzor Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2412Awaiting Authorization
    Grim Fandango made me salivate... believe me. That was an incredible piece of work, and I am saddened that it fared poorly in the market. I also bought a used copy, (by the time I bought it, I don't think any retail versions were still at EB).

    But my buying pattern has always been to "wait it out" so prices plummet. That's just my buying strategy... the "thrifty bastard" style.
  • panda_de_malheureuxpanda_de_malheureux Join Date: 2003-12-26 Member: 24775Members
    edited July 2004
    I think the game producers think about second hand game sales and whatnot, and just increase the origional price. This pretty much hurts everyone, if games were half price but only your system could play it, I would think there would be more games sold (a bit of anger) and a huge decrease in second hand game sales.

    If any game producers are reading this, don't do this, it is very evil.
  • BaconTheoryBaconTheory Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-(e)kent+Jul 7 2004, 03:52 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ((e)kent @ Jul 7 2004, 03:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Since when do you have a moral obligation to support them? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Here here. Legally you payed for it.
  • Umbraed_MonkeyUmbraed_Monkey Join Date: 2002-11-25 Member: 9922Members
    No. When I buy (good) old games, I think of myself as preserving a piece of art.

    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.
  • PulsePulse To create, to create and escape. Join Date: 2002-08-29 Member: 1248Members, Constellation
    edited July 2004
    When you buy games from a store - any store except for one directly affiliated with the company that made the game (such as the lucasarts store) none of the money actually makes it to the developers, because the store already bought the games.

    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.
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