Retro game prices too high on eBay?Gamestop thinks otherwise

[sabrage]

I buy the bulk of my games from Amazon/digital distro like Good Old Games and Steam, and I never have any problems. When it comes to new releases, I never buy used because you are directly screwing the developer when you do.

Thank god we all have enough cash to drop $60 every time a new game we want comes out.

No... We have patience and an eye for deals.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Waiting for new games to drop to $20 or so is nice in theory, but not always practical. Take Radiant Historia for example. Game was $40 at launch and throughout the following months, used copies were about $27 or so. Went out of print quickly, now new copies don't exist and used ones are $80. If I had waited for a "deal" on a new copy, I would have ever gotten it.

[AppleQueso]

$40 is more than reasonable for a new game imho.

If all games were $40 at launch i'd probably buy a lot more.

[sabrage]

Waiting for new games to drop to $20 or so is nice in theory, but not always practical. Take Radiant Historia for example. Game was $40 at launch and throughout the following months, used copies were about $27 or so. Went out of print quickly, now new copies don't exist and used ones are $80. If I had waited for a "deal" on a new copy, I would have ever gotten it.

Well, Radiant Historia is an Atlus game 99% of the time, a game's price will drop by half in a few weeks-months. The holdouts are either big-budget AAA titles like Modern Warfare or Blizzard games, or limited presses aimed at niche groups (so you know you want it and it'll be rare months in advance.) I challenge you to name 5 other games released in the released in the last year where the non-limited edition version has inflated in price the same way Radiant Historia has. And hell, I picked up Killzone 3 limited edition brand new for $25 a few months back, but I don't want you to pull out something like the Peace Walker HD Konami Style on me.

While you're at it, give me 5 games you bought on release in 2011 (besides Radiant Historia, obviously) and I'll show you a bundle of money you could've saved.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel and Infinite Space have both shot up in price pretty hard. Can't think of many more off the top of my head, I'd have to do research.

I don't disagree with you, I try to get deals on the new games too. For example, I waited awhile for Monster Hunter Tri to go on sale, got a sealed copy at Best Buy for $9.50 last night. Week before that I found a new Dragon Quest VI for $14.50 (same place).

But if I have a choice of A) buying an Atlus game new for $60 or B) buying it used for $40 before it goes out of print... than I'm going with the used. It's just the most financially sensible thing for me.

[sabrage]

I guess it helps that I'm not really a big RPG fan, I do most of my gaming on PC, and I'm always keeping tabs on the games I want. The games you mentioned are really just the exceptions that prove the rule, though, and if I was obsessed with JRPGs I'd probably buy all the ones you mentioned brand new just to encourage more of them. Especially with Platinum Games; if they go the way of Clover I will never buy a new console again.

[BurningDoom]

I buy the bulk of my games from Amazon/digital distro like Good Old Games and Steam, and I never have any problems. When it comes to new releases, I never buy used because you are directly screwing the developer when you do.

Bullshit.

Everything has a used market. Movies, music, books, clothes, collectibles, comic books, etc. But the video game industry is the only one whining about it. Used sales would have destroyed all of those other industries years ago if what the video game companies were saying was true. I see it as simple greed, nothing more. They just want more money.

I'd argue that those mediums have either evolved past used sales in ways that games have not, or fallen trying. The exception being clothes - there will always be market for clean clothes that weren't pawned off by a dirty hobo. Borders collapsed last year. I've seen several used book stores in my own town shut down, and print media in general - especially newspaper - is dying a slow and gruesome death. Artists generally don't make much money off CD sales on major labels, the bulk of their income comes from their contract, ticket sales and merchandise, with further bonuses awarded based on milestone sales (Gold, Platinum etc.) "Collectibles" could honestly refer to anything, but if you look at the example of vinyl toys, they're sold at exorbitant prices in low manufacturing runs to keep demand high. Those things cost maybe a few dollars to make, and the artists are making a killing off them. Comic books are already screwed, Marvel is mainly just pushing out new books to keep the movie licenses rolling and DC keeps trying to reinvent themselves in the most misguided fashion possible. Vintage comic books - unless you get first edition prints of a new, wildly popular run like Ultimate Spider-man - are by and large completely worthless.

And games? THQ made a loud, bold statement regarding used sales, but look where they stand just two years later. Based on easily-gauged popular opinion, things like always-on DRM, online passes, DLC and pre-order bonuses simply don't fly with gamers because we can see right through publisher's bullshit. In fact, I personally go out of my way to support developers who don't feel the need to screw their consumers. One way or another, used sales are poisoning this industry.

You've got to be kidding. I have multiple sources where I can buy all those things used including comic shops, used clothes shops, used music/movie shops, thrift shops, flea markets, Craigslist, eBay, etc.

Video games ARE NOT any different than those things. Why should they be treated differently, and why should we the consumer be labeled as the bad guy for doing so. There is a used market for EVERYTHING, unless it's in digital format. If there wasn't then thrift shops, used music shops, Craigslist, and flea markets wouldn't exist. When you buy the game, it becomes your property to do with as you please. The gaming companies have absolutely no right to tell us we can't resell it or that we shouldn't.

And please, explain to me how used sales are "poisoning" the industry? We've always had used sales in video games forever, and they are just recently complaining about it because sales are lagging. Even before GameStop we had chains like FuncoLand, Blockbuster Video, and Game Crazy that sold used games, and TONS of mom & pop and places. Instead of game companies looking at themselves to see what they can do to improve sales, they want to point the finger and hand out the blame and take more money from us while they're doing it.

I feel absolutely ZERO remorse for a greedy corporation wanting more money. Despite what they say, I am not stealing from them and I am not in the same catagory as pirates who want something for nothing, I am paying my hard earned money for it.

And I don't know about you, but I don't have $60 to put down on every single game I want, and I wouldn't pay that much unless it was a grade A title. I have paid that much for the really good ones like Elder Scrolls, Halos, and Marios, but only the grade A ones.

BTW, comic books are doing quite well. I go to the comic shop every Wednesday for new comics and it's always packed. DC's New 52 in particular is flying off the shelves, Justice League #1 is in it's 6th printing! And the X-Titles and Avengers titles are enjoying quite he rennasscaince at Marvel. And it's funny you bring up Ultimate comics as a success, lol, that's been nothing more than cheaper, crappier rip-off of the real Marvel Universe.

[sabrage]

You didn't really respond to a single point that I made, so I'll only respond to one of yours: only an impatient fool pays $60 for a new game.

[BurningDoom]

You didn't really respond to a single point that I made, so I'll only respond to one of yours: only an impatient fool pays $60 for a new game.

Uhh what? You said that all those items that I pointed out that are sold used no longer has a market and/or all their stores have shut down. I pointed out that's not true.

You also said the comic book market is all but dead, which I then proceded to point out is wrong.

And finally, you're whole point to begin with was that by buying used, we're hurting the industry, which I fail to see and explained why I fail to see this.

Are you having a problem following the conversation?

[ATARI800XLfan]

Nice, I only buy individual if it is a smaller run, like 25. What do you think of the Astounding wolf-man?

I can't say I've read it. I honestly don't read all that many comics/graphic novels, as they really add up fast. Right now I'm only keeping up with The Boys and Orc Stain, and eagerly awaiting the next installment of X'ed Out.

good series, then again it seems most of the stuff written by the creator of The Walking Dead seems good.