Hello Darkhog,
First I want to add that I think also this thread should not be closed or deleted, this is an important subject for all game developers as it will affect their future.
Before i begin, I would also like to note I run my own software and 3d development/games company and when i was younger i worked in a game store.
If selling second hand games becomes prohibited, here is what will happen, right now game stores make very small amount from retail games, they have a very tiny markup, in most cases they need to rely on the consoles or pc's to make their money back (which is not always happening) they make enough from selling second hand games, this keeps them in business and allows them to continue selling retail games.
So without second hand games, many game (only) stores will go out of business from too high costs for electricity, rent and numerous other costs (like the store i worked at), which means the competition becomes less for other stores, these other stores will also try to save themselves by making an increased markup price on games, so a 69.99 game will become 79.99 or 89.99 and so on, in the end games will become to expensive for people to buy anyways and will increase pirating of games and chipping of consoles.
Most large scale game development companies and publishers make more than enough back from their released titles. For THQ was another problem, they were just extremely bad at handling their expenses/loans from trying to expand too fast.
Here is what i believe should happen if they really want to pursue this..... private persons should be able to sell their second hand games at any time without restrictions..... shops/stores should be prohibited from selling second hand releases of titles that are no more than 3 month old. This will allow time for people really willing to spend the money to go and buy the retail titles, and those that can't afford it to buy it second hand at the designated date (keeping the stores in business, allowing bigger access to also retail games for those that would like to buy them) - Games that are sold for 20$ or equivalent should have a higher offset for second hand compared to those that cost 60$. e.g. 60$ = 3 month, 20$ = 7 month, this will allow for the developers to recover more than enough money to begin working on their next release(s), however i agree that digitally downloaded games should not be transferable.
If you think of it like movies, they do not release the DVD at the same time as it is displayed at the cinema, as many people will watch the movie several times at the cinema, if they could buy it directly on DVD, many will not bother to go to the cinema, so second hand games should still be allowed to be sold, but as i said after an offset period of time.
-Colin
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks