Game makers set to provide incentives to buy new as opposed to second-hand

ethan · 15 Oct 2008 at 17:48

http://www.physorg.com/news143220245.html

Wonder if the majority of players will be bothered?

Indy500 · 15 Oct 2008 at 17:57

The last thing we want to happen is for games to become like iTunes music or something...I only buy tangible discs, thank you very much.

Fisk · 15 Oct 2008 at 18:00

I don't think small things like a few extra maps will really bother any second hand buyers, it will only have an effect if they start restricting major parts of a game in that way, like making online play only available when buying new.

Mulder · 15 Oct 2008 at 18:00

sr4470 said:
The last thing we want to happen is for games to become like iTunes music or something...I only buy tangible discs, thank you very much.

+1.

ethan · 15 Oct 2008 at 18:03

The last thing we want to happen is for games to become like iTunes music or something...I only buy tangible discs, thank you very much

I agree wholeheartedly. Just to illustrate this point, it annoys me when you buy a game like gears of war, and you try to resell it only to be told it is worth only 1pence because of the exclusive online content to be had from the serial number.

rnickster · 15 Oct 2008 at 18:15

S'all about the money these days

why cant game developers just stop being greedy

theo · 15 Oct 2008 at 18:17

Won't this stop people who sell on their games stop buying so many games?

Cutshaw · 15 Oct 2008 at 18:59

sr4470 said:
The last thing we want to happen is for games to become like iTunes music or something...I only buy tangible discs, thank you very much.

Exactly.

saguy · 15 Oct 2008 at 19:37

theo said:
Won't this stop people who sell on their games stop buying so many games?

I was thinking the same thing. I buy a hell of a lot of games, some of which I sell. I would buy less if unable to do so.

Metalface Mark · 15 Oct 2008 at 20:11

The pc second market isnt anywhere near as vibrant as the console market. These tactics are based really on the console market, online codes are reason enough for most people not to buy second hand pc games.

Streeteh · 15 Oct 2008 at 20:29

Surely this would be counter productive? I put huge sums of money into buying new console games but only because i can recoup some of my costs by selling on older titles. If i were unable to sell on used copies at any half decent price my purchase rate would plummet.

Antar Bolaeisk · 15 Oct 2008 at 20:33

Collectors Editions, I think, are great incentives to buy new but I suppose the only people who'll buy such things as CEs would be the people who'd buy it on release anyways. Another thing they could try is, after a certain amount of time, they could make the games downloadable content for a much reduced price (in order to be competitive with second hand sales) via steam or an equivalent system.

ethan · 15 Oct 2008 at 22:16

Antar Bolaeisk said:
Collectors Editions, I think, are great incentives to buy new but I suppose the only people who'll buy such things as CEs would be the people who'd buy it on release anyways. Another thing they could try is, after a certain amount of time, they could make the games downloadable content for a much reduced price (in order to be competitive with second hand sales) via steam or an equivalent system.

There wouldn't be any problem with consumers supporting lower prices. One advantage of buying new however was with the example of being able to download the enhanced version of the witcher. You simply applied your original serial for the upgrade. I liked the idea of that.

thegoonden · 16 Oct 2008 at 09:47

Maybe we can unleash the enviro-mentalists on them?

Games you can't sell have to go in LANDFILL!!!! all that toxic yuck etc etc etc.

That's how you ruin anything these days, set the greentards on it.

Besides, I bet that unless THEY offer to buy it back off you, this may fall foul of the law in some countries.

Jono · 16 Oct 2008 at 12:48

Streeteh said:
Surely this would be counter productive? I put huge sums of money into buying new console games but only because i can recoup some of my costs by selling on older titles. If i were unable to sell on used copies at any half decent price my purchase rate would plummet.

I agree with this. If i buy a game based on published or forums reviews (if there's no demo or I've not tried it) then at least I have some confidence that since it's a new title, and it falls short of my expectations I should be able to take it back and sell it to a shop for most of what I paid it, or trade it for a new game + £10 or whatever - I've not made a massive loss.

If they do this then they can lower the price of new games for a start, or I'll pirate them.

domthecondom · 16 Oct 2008 at 13:14

man wtf, some people can't efford brand new games and have to buy second hand, and if i see a game that i havn't played yet second hand i might buy it.

peetee · 16 Oct 2008 at 13:20

yea but they dont get any of your money if you want to look at it in a narrowminded way.
Which ofcourse they always do/will/have.
This will probably push more towards piracy, lets face it who wants to go spend £20 on something which could end up being turd.

Jono · 16 Oct 2008 at 14:56

Do car Manufacturers make money from 2nd/3rd/4th hand private sales?
Do Film studios make money from 2nd hand film sales?
This is greed. Pure and simple.

Maybe if publishers got off games studios backs' and actually let them finish / polish a game then perhaps more people would rush out to buy it at launch, rather than think "hmm i'll wait until it's in the bargain bin".