Do you feel bad about buying new(ish) releases used?

[Jmustang1968]

Say, for example, you're a game developer, and you need to sell 100,000 copies of your newly released game in order to break even.

You sell 50,000 units, and wind up declaring bankruptcy and shutting down. Yet you can see from XBL and PSN logins that 150,000 unique systems have played your game.

This is nice and all in a vacuum, but ignores the reality of the video game market.

Developer CEO: Sorry to say guys, but we have to shut down the office. Our 800k units sold came 200k under the mark. But on the bright side Gamestop is making a killing on selling 300k copies of our game used! Go team! Please have your desks cleared by the end of the week...

[o.pwuaioc]

Say, for example, you're a game developer, and you need to sell 100,000 copies of your newly released game in order to break even.

You sell 50,000 units, and wind up declaring bankruptcy and shutting down. Yet you can see from XBL and PSN logins that 150,000 unique systems have played your game.

This is nice and all in a vacuum, but ignores the reality of the video game market.

Developer CEO: Sorry to say guys, but we have to shut down the office. Our 800k units sold came 200k under the mark. But on the bright side Gamestop is making a killing on selling 300k copies of our game used! Go team! Please have your desks cleared by the end of the week...

You should become a writer. I'm sure TV audiences are just itching for another over-simplified and unrealistic scenario. Oh noes! There's a used game market! Instead of pricing games competitively and shifting focus to accommodate the demands of the buyer, we need to stick to what's not workin, but if we fail, it's all because of Gamestop! Oh noes!

Easy to over-simplify, huh?

[isiolia]

You should become a writer. I'm sure TV audiences are just itching for another over-simplified and unrealistic scenario. Oh noes! There's a used game market! Instead of pricing games competitively and shifting focus to accommodate the demands of the buyer, we need to stick to what's not workin, but if we fail, it's all because of Gamestop! Oh noes!

Easy to over-simplify, huh?

It's much easier to change the business model to one that works, hence, direct-download sales, DLC, online passes, and so on. Which, incidentally, is what they're doing.

[Jmustang1968]

Developer CEO: Sorry to say guys, but we have to shut down the office. Our 800k units sold came 200k under the mark. But on the bright side Gamestop is making a killing on selling 300k copies of our game used! Go team! Please have your desks cleared by the end of the week...

You should become a writer. I'm sure TV audiences are just itching for another over-simplified and unrealistic scenario. Oh noes! There's a used game market! Instead of pricing games competitively and shifting focus to accommodate the demands of the buyer, we need to stick to what's not workin, but if we fail, it's all because of Gamestop! Oh noes!

Easy to over-simplify, huh?

Of course there is over simplification. We simply don't have the time, resources, nor inside knowledge to tackle all the points and factors or take each thing on a case by case basis. We have to make generalizations to get points across. And it was obvious I wrote that for dramatic effect. You also accuse me of over simplifying when you have been doing the same all along.

It doesn't matter their price, used games will still be cheaper. They also do give the buyer what they want - more sequels because that's typically what we buy most... used game sales isn't the only reason companies fail or isn't the only issue in the industry. They are trying to come up with new strategies such as online pass and dlc, and you know what? It is working. They are seeing some profit off those tactics. I wish they didn't have to develop those tactics and we go back to the old new/used game system.

[o.pwuaioc]

I'm not trying to simplify at all. I'm actually arguing for a far more complex model than you or MrPopo even want to entertain. But we can't do that without some basic facts being recognized. Also, this has yet to be challenged:

This is the standard economic model for books, music, automobiles, furniture, appliances, and other electronics. There is no good reason at all to assume it doesn't automatically apply to video games.

And if GameStop was the ultimate cause of game companies going under, why did the market crash several times before GameStop was even considered? The glut of bad games caused the crash in the 70s and 80s, but today it's someone else's fault? Scapegoating at its finest.

[Jmustang1968]

I'm not trying to simplify at all. I'm actually arguing for a far more complex model than you or MrPopo even want to entertain. But we can't do that without some basic facts being recognized. Also, this has yet to be challenged:

This is the standard economic model for books, music, automobiles, furniture, appliances, and other electronics. There is no good reason at all to assume it doesn't automatically apply to video games.

And if GameStop was the ultimate cause of game companies going under, why did the market crash several times before GameStop was even considered? The glut of bad games caused the crash in the 70s and 80s, but today it's someone else's fault? Scapegoating at its finest.

I just conceded last post that gamestop isn't the root of what plagues the industry nor did I ever say there shouldn't be a used game market. Some games don't sell because they suck. Some games don't sell because they weren't properly marketed. I was just refuting that buying a used game supports the developer. I am not trying to end or villify used games

[o.pwuaioc]

I'm not trying to simplify at all. I'm actually arguing for a far more complex model than you or MrPopo even want to entertain. But we can't do that without some basic facts being recognized. Also, this has yet to be challenged:

This is the standard economic model for books, music, automobiles, furniture, appliances, and other electronics. There is no good reason at all to assume it doesn't automatically apply to video games.

And if GameStop was the ultimate cause of game companies going under, why did the market crash several times before GameStop was even considered? The glut of bad games caused the crash in the 70s and 80s, but today it's someone else's fault? Scapegoating at its finest.

I just conceded last post that gamestop isn't the root of what plagues the industry nor did I ever say there shouldn't be a used game market. Some games don't sell because they suck. Some games don't sell because they weren't properly marketed. I was just refuting that buying a used game supports the developer. I am not trying to end or villify used games

That wasn't all aimed at you. Also, you say refuting, but I haven't seen any actual refutation. The main point is still largely ignored. Ignoring evidence and then reasserting your case isn't refutation.

[Jmustang1968]

I'm not trying to simplify at all. I'm actually arguing for a far more complex model than you or MrPopo even want to entertain. But we can't do that without some basic facts being recognized. Also, this has yet to be challenged:

I just conceded last post that gamestop isn't the root of what plagues the industry nor did I ever say there shouldn't be a used game market. Some games don't sell because they suck. Some games don't sell because they weren't properly marketed. I was just refuting that buying a used game supports the developer. I am not trying to end or villify used games

That wasn't all aimed at you. Also, you say refuting, but I haven't seen any actual refutation. The main point is still largely ignored. Ignoring evidence and then reasserting your case isn't refutation.

What evidence? I didn't address one point you made that doesn't directly support yours nor does it contradict mine and I'm not refuting? Just because the new car market exists despite used car sales doesn't validate or invalidate my point. I still say you are not supporting a developer if you buy your games used. I didn't say the gaming market couldn't survive with both new and used game sales. It has for years now.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I'm not trying to simplify at all. I'm actually arguing for a far more complex model than you or MrPopo even want to entertain. But we can't do that without some basic facts being recognized. Also, this has yet to be challenged:

This is the standard economic model for books, music, automobiles, furniture, appliances, and other electronics. There is no good reason at all to assume it doesn't automatically apply to video games.

And if GameStop was the ultimate cause of game companies going under, why did the market crash several times before GameStop was even considered? The glut of bad games caused the crash in the 70s and 80s, but today it's someone else's fault? Scapegoating at its finest.

There was no crash in the 80s, let alone 70s (games didn't even really exist in the public mind till the late 70s). Gaming largely shifted to PC (which at the time were very console like) for a while is all that happened.

[gtmtnbiker]

Secondly, game sales had no problems in the NES and SNES era when the used market wasn't nearly as developed. The average gamer of that era wasn't thinking that they could get back $30 on their copy of Street Fighter II, so the secondary market wasn't a large factor in the value of the game.

I think rentals had an impact on those companies back then. People could go to Blockbuster or their local video store to rent games for the weekend.

Personally I have never rented games so I don't know how large of a factor that is. One could consider Gamestop to be the modern equivalent of "renting at Blockbuster".