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05-13-2010, 12:00 PM | #1 |
EQ-Viper
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,343
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I can't believe this prick:
GameSpy.com | Developer Says Used-Game Market a Bigger Problem than Piracy And before you come in and defend this guy, yes, we all know that video game developers don't see a single cent from used game sales. But guess what? That's how it works for just about everything, and I don't think world commerce has collapsed because of the widespread trade in used goods. When you buy an opened and "used" GI Joe action figure from a fellow collector or the various online toy shops on eBay, you don't hear Hasbro crying about lost sales. When you buy a used Civic from its owner or a used car outlet, Honda doesn't get a cut from the trade. When you buy an old home, the architect and the carpenters who worked on it don't get royalties, nor are the real estate agents obliged to pay them anything. Why should the video game industry be so fundamentally different? The common retort to this is "don't be cheap, just buy new" but my counter to that is why should people not save some money in their purchases? There's nothing wrong with being reasonably frugal with one's spending on personal entertainment. Besides, most people I know usually buy new when they like a game enough to warrant the $50-$70 price tag most games go for. But unfairly demonizing consumers for buying used games by saying that the practice is worse than video game piracy is wrong on multiple levels. If he (and the video game industry in general, EA's recently been going after used game players as well) want to change things without alienating the market, they should stop going after people legally exercising their rights as consumers and instead try to find a way to get some money from the used game retailer industry (via a re-sale surcharge of some sort maybe?) or even better yet, they should come out with more games that actually feel like they're worth $50. Also, this guy is the co-founder of Blitz Games? The company that gave us universally-panned shovelware like Bratz: Forever Diamondz and Barbie Horse Adventures: Wild Horse Rescue? The guy's probably just pissed off at used game buyers because nobody in his or her right mind would buy those games new (or at all). Last edited by zuludelta; 05-13-2010 at 12:22 PM.. |
05-13-2010, 12:18 PM | #2 |
Hog Driver
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 12,246
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I agree, Zulu, buying used doesn't hurt any business. It's like buying used books or CDs or anything for that matter. This douche just wants to increase his profits. He has no case.
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05-13-2010, 12:21 PM | #3 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Brumphis, NJ
Posts: 2,106
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I haven't read a license terms in a while, though they are included with every piece of software sold. The actual media is just a vessel, like the bottle when you buy a bottle of water. What you are actually paying for is a license to use the software included on that media. What I am uncertain of right now (I am at work and don't have a game handy) is if there is any stipulation for transferring that software license from one user to another.
The used game market may be a legal grey area, much like used CDs. In both cases you are buying a license to use 'soft' contents included on the media. Cars and homes are not licensed, and once purchased (and paid off) are fully owned by the purchaser. Software, on the other hand, is typically a non-transferable license as described in the EULA. Most game distributors don't seem to care when the initial sales of the product meet expectations. Last edited by Moses; 05-13-2010 at 12:38 PM.. |
05-13-2010, 12:24 PM | #4 |
Oktober Guard soldier
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Under the sea!
Posts: 5,468
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what an @ss.
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05-13-2010, 12:26 PM | #5 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Unofficial GI Joe fan site
Posts: 6,946
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Wow! What a tool. The unfortunate reality about gaming is companies are looking for any reason to start charging for online play. This is just another excuse. Charge someone for buying a used game to play online? EA and Activision will crash and burn if it happens. Maybe on the Wii or PS3 it could happen but I don't see too many heads that have an xbox that would be willing to dish out more loot considering how much they bitch already. Thanks for the article.
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05-13-2010, 12:30 PM | #6 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Manassas, Virginia
Posts: 1,008
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I intend at some point to start my own game studio. I personally don't buy used video games, and I won't buy them at EB or Gamestop if they have been opened. I figure if I am plunking down $50 to $60 bucks on a game I should have the pleasure of opening it. I rarely sell mine either. That having been said the used game market is more of an asset to the industry than anything else. It can generate intrest in newer titles especially if it is a sequel to an older or even out of print game. I still have a massive collection of PS1, PS2 and a growing PS3 library. I would really like to have all of the old Infocom text based games to play but guess what, they are all out of print. And the collections from a few years ago are insanely priced. I think the argument is without merit. There are some $60 dollar games that do not justify the price, and there are some that do.
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05-13-2010, 12:33 PM | #7 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Manassas, Virginia
Posts: 1,008
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Quote:
Wow! What a tool. The unfortunate reality about gaming is companies are looking for any reason to start charging for online play. This is just another excuse. Charge someone for buying a used game to play online? EA and Activision will crash and burn if it happens. Maybe on the Wii or PS3 it could happen but I don't see too many heads that have an xbox that would be willing to dish out more loot considering how much they bitch already. Thanks for the article.
Sony had something a few years back were you paid one price and could play all of thier online games. I think it was around twenty bucks and you got access to about 8 different games one of which was Everquest. I don't think aanyone is going to get away charging $20.00 for a single game. |
05-13-2010, 12:37 PM | #8 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Classified
Posts: 8,376
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these guys love the "free market" until it no longer serves their interests.
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05-13-2010, 12:38 PM | #9 |
EQ-Viper
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,343
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Quote:
I haven't read a license terms in a while, though they are included with every piece of software sold. The actual media is just a vessel, like the bottle when you buy a bottle of water. What you are actually paying for is a license to use the software included on that media.
Game companies have tried to restrict the usage of games to original-purchase users before by using all manner of embedded DRM, but for the most part, they've ended up creating more problems (see the recent issue with the European version of the PC port of Assassin's Creed 2), and developers are now shifting the onus to the consumer. Quote:
Quote:
If video game developers are serious about eliminating the trade in used games, they should just move to an online distribution-only model and stop shipping games on physical media like CDs and Blu-Rays and game cartridges. But they can't have it both ways, criticizing the practice of trading used games whilst supporting a distribution model that allows a consumer to purchase used games within the bounds of ethical commerce. Last edited by zuludelta; 05-13-2010 at 12:53 PM.. Reason: edited for format |
05-13-2010, 12:46 PM | #10 |
#voteblackjack
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Northwood, NH
Posts: 35,747
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Kill the used game market and I bet you'd see alot of Gamestop brick and mortar stores close up.
Which really, is probably going to happen eventually anyway. I seem 'em like Comic Book direct market stores, a thing of the past as the digital delivery gets better and better. As for the article, the guy's a prick. Simply looking to make a name for himself, cash in on the press with HTML Comics being in the news and people trying to crack down on torrent sites like Pirate Bay and Isohunt.
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