What if Sony or Microsoft sold used games?

[Anayo]

I've read in the news that game publishers are upset because lots of money is made selling used games, but they never see any profit from this.

What if the developers themselves decided to sell used games? I mean, what if Sony or Microsoft or someone went into direct competition with Gamestop? They already dedicate a lot of capital and man hours into creating games, what if they invested the resources into buying back and reselling used games as well?

[sabrage]

It would take a hefty investment to create the kind of infrastructure that Gamestop already has. I doubt anyone here (in the States at least) is more than 10 miles from a Gamestop.

[Weekend_Warrior]

I've read in the news that game publishers are upset because lots of money is made selling used games, but they never see any profit from this.

They already got their money from the original purchaser. Why should they get paid twice for the same game?

[KDub]

They would certainly make a lot of money that way. If you could trade in and buy games just from an online store that they run people would use it. They would have to be cheaper than other places and offer decent cash back though or no one would bother as it would be like they were just paid twice for the game, people would cry scam pretty fast.

[noiseredux]

They already got their money from the original purchaser. Why should they get paid twice for the same game?

I'm scratching my head here... what do you mean?

[vlame]

They already got their money from the original purchaser. Why should they get paid twice for the same game?

I'm scratching my head here... what do you mean?

you can't read english?

[isiolia]

They already got their money from the original purchaser. Why should they get paid twice for the same game?

I'm scratching my head here... what do you mean?

Licensing fees paid to the platform owner are part of new games sales, just like the developer gets a cut, store has their profit margin, and so on.


While I can understand the rationale behind the question, I don't think it'd be in MS or Sony's interest to pursue this kind of thing. They've already got direct-download sales locked down on their respective platforms, and in the long run that's likely where things are headed anyway. Better to invest in the infrastructure to support that than physical media.

[noiseredux]

you can't read english?

I just don't really get it.

Sony and GS gets $ for GS selling game new.
GS gets $ for selling it used.
= OK.

Sony and GS gets $ for GS selling game new.
Sony gets $ for selling it used.
= Not OK?

[vlame]

you can't read english?

I just don't really get it.

Sony and GS gets $ for GS selling game new.
GS gets $ for selling it used.
= OK.

Sony and GS gets $ for GS selling game new.
Sony gets $ for selling it used.
= Not OK?

except for the fact that they think it is a bad idea. i think M$, ninty and sony should make they own store and drive gamestop out of business.

[isiolia]

except for the fact that they think it is a bad idea. i think M$, ninty and sony should make they own store and drive gamestop out of business.

Technically, Sony and MS already have their own chain of stores. Nintendo would be the only one without something more than the gift shop at their headquarters, and even they have an online store (limited as it may be).

The problem is more that it makes little sense to try to put physical store locations enough places to really compete against Gamestop. Doubly so when they all can already sell directly to customers straight through their respective consoles.

Adding physical game sales to that would definitely be an interesting way to go, but I'm not sure what the benefit on their end would be for actually processing/reselling old copies of games. If they controlled distribution, then why would the model not be similar to direct-download? Instead of setting up the infrastructure to buy back, recondition, and resell the same discs (which are dirt cheap to actually manufacture), I'd expect them to try something more like the defunct DiVX model.

Now, of course, we actually have the other component in place to make it work in the form of Redbox and Blockbuster kiosks.
Figure, they could make something like that, wherein you could buy a disc for cheap as a "rental", then purchase an unlock code if you want to play it for more than a few days. If you don't pay for the permission to play it, then the disc is just a coaster, like so many AOL CDs back in the day.

Not that it's what I'd actually want to see happen, but I could certainly see it as a bridge between retail stores and direct download.