Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Pre-owned is Good For The Game Industry

One of leading video games retailer, GAME has provided arguments for the hated pre-owned buyers by game developers.


GAME CEO Ian Shepherd said, "I think, through conversations with developers and platform owners, that there is a growing realization that a healthy pre-owned marketplace is good for the whole industry".

"It has made the mint marketplace more affordable and has kept people in that marketplace", he said. "There has been endless debate over pre-owned versus mint, but my view is that a healthy pre-owned and trade-in marketplace - which we are largely the people who are involved in driving - is good for the whole industry."

Unfortunately there are still many developers who are not happy with the pre-owned market, such as THQ and EA, which requires players online to use an online pass.

One thing that is interesting, retail store GAME is trying a new feature in their store, which is pre-order pre-owned games.

16 comments:

  1. I really don't know why people would trade in their games to a store. Better to sell 'em on Craigslist; you actually make a few bucks and the customer has more opportunities to judge the product.

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  2. Then pirates will be more determined to crack EA & THQs games or run private servers. We all like to try before you buy, so do gamers try by giving you some cash, then trading in the shitty games, or do they try by getting an illegal copy & giving you nothing? It's up to you EA & THQ.

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  3. its a win win for the game industry

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  4. I agree. I will often find a semi-interesting looking game at a used-store, and end up liking it so much that I'll find more related games by the same developers, etc. I never would go buy the new retail game without whimsically buying the used one because it was cheaper.

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  5. I think it might reach the point where developer will only want to digitally distribute, thus removing the whole second hand issue. Will be a way off but not to far in the future. It would force consumers to buy new and force companies like game out of business. It is a real shame.

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  6. I never understood why EA feels the second hand market is evil.

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  7. Yeah, i think digital distribution will be the main way of getting games out soon. Saves a lot of costs for the businesses as well.

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  8. i hate EA so much, most of their sports titles are half-arsed efforts because they don't allow competition by getting all the licenses

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  9. I'm not quite sure I understand, what is "Preorder preowned games"?

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  10. i only buy maybe two games a year these days

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  11. EA will kill second hand games.

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  12. i support that. game industry shouldnt end like the music industry... i mean come on we want games haha

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  13. Regardless of how publishers see it as, it's an integral part of the industry, and it's here to stay.

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