Epic Games and EA Fight Used Game Sales

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Originally Posted by Drewbacca

Don't hoard your games. I like to keep a few of the games I want to hold on to (maybe a collection like Mortal Combat, Halflife or Final Fantasy) and get rid of the rest. It's so much better not being bogged down by possessions all the time.

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This. I was really anal about my game collection in top condition for a long time, and when I got to college and was moving constantly and rapidly losing money, I sat down and thought about why for the first time. I had no answer. So little by little I've been selling it all off to people who are made much happier by it than I am. Everybody wins.

That said, I can't find it in me to care too much about this, or even the concept of the DLC we've paid for disappearing 20 years from now. If I got my money's worth of fun out of them the first time, it's not gonna kill me to lose them eventually, I don't think.

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Originally Posted by squall_vb

This recent action may or may not end up being good for consumers, but it has the feel of corporate fascism. It doesn't pass the sniff test.

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One of the biggest retailers for the industry actively encourages a sales model that doesn't benefit said industry more than one that does. That doesn't pass the sniff test either.

The mere concept of used sales aren't the impetus here. It's more that used sales take overwhelming precedent over new ones according to Gamestop's business plan, and they're not shy about broadcasting that to customers. If they were more even-handed in their approach, it probably wouldn't have come to this.

There are almost as many clueless people in this thread as in the political one. Two things matter here:

1. Games, like CDs and DVDs, are not like tables or clothes. You aren't buying the physical item as much as you are buying the right to experience the intellectual property on it. This is why you can't buy one Windows disc and pass it around to 20 people and expect to use Windows Update, for example. From the developer and publisher point of view, reselling a used game is a kin to the warnings on DVDs and TV shows about charging people to watch it. You are making money on their IP, and they don't like that. I have mixed feelings about this, but you could make a case that what Josh said is true: Buying used is no different than downloading from the internet.

2. Stop bitching on an internet forum or signing some worthless petition and use the vote that you do have. Stop buying games from companies that have business practices you don't like. If you piss and moan in this thread and then go buy Madden or GoW2, then you clearly don't care that much about this issue. Every consumer gets to vote with their dollars. If enough of them agree, it will force a change in the companies they target. If not, then capitalism keeps rolling along.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

You are making money on their IP, and they don't like that.

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Another way to look at it is that places like Gamestop make money hand over fist because of their used game sales. We don't need them making scads of money and buying up more retailers. They just bought a 700 store strong chain in France last week. When our only brick and mortar selections come down to CC, BB, TRU and Target.......and then the Gamestop Borg, we have an issue.

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Originally Posted by squall_vb

The "day one" buys I always get new.

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You don't say :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

2. Stop bitching on an internet forum or signing some worthless petition and use the vote that you do have.

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Who says we can't bitch here and still vote with our dollars? Threads are for discussing. I complained in this thread and I also avoid buying certain games on principle (stuff with monthly fees, downloadable games where I can't make my own backup, etc.).

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Originally Posted by Drewbacca

I like to keep a few of the games I want to hold on to (maybe a collection like Mortal Combat, Halflife or Final Fantasy) and get rid of the rest. It's so much better not being bogged down by possessions all the time.

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What's wrong with you?

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

Who says we can't bitch here and still vote with our dollars? Threads are for discussing. I complained in this thread and I also avoid buying certain games on principle (stuff with monthly fees, downloadable games where I can't make my own backup, etc.).

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Obviously that works. I just don't think most people posting in this thread share your conviction. They'll bitch about it here and then do nothing when it really matters. My point was more that if you're only going to do one or the other, do the right one.

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Originally Posted by Dyne

Another way to look at it is that places like Gamestop make money hand over fist because of their used game sales. We don't need them making scads of money and buying up more retailers. They just bought a 700 store strong chain in France last week. When our only brick and mortar selections come down to CC, BB, TRU and Target.......and then the Gamestop Borg, we have an issue.

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I would agree if there weren't a ton of internet options that are always cheaper anyway. I think you all know what I think of GameStop, but I have no problem buying games from Target or Best Buy. In fact, those are literally the only places I buy games locally, unless there's a specific sale at CC or TRU.

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Originally Posted by YellerDog

What's wrong with you?

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He's just trying to pick a fight.