Eurogamer Asks: Are second-hand games killing the industry?

In the world of Online Passes, the first-time buyer is king.

[NMC2007]

If it was then wouldn't the industry be dead by now?

[Christopher]

Killing? No.

Hurting? More than likely.

[ATiElite]

Crappy games are killing the industry. Need more games that push the technology and are more innovative. Casual games always bring in the cash but cutting edge moves the industry forward.

[mantisimo]

I kind of agree but have recently decided to buy only original games as I do want to support the devs who are working day in day out to give us the caliber of games we want and kinda deserve.

Second hand games of course hurt the industry, but do provide us (in the UK at least ) with a few game stores that are able to trade in very difficult times and still have launch games with a cheaper price tag than a download. Because of a healthy trade in resale cycle as well as sales of new "hard" copies.

[outwar6010]

lazy devs wanting their games to sell botaloads even though there titles are generic are very short

[Baka-akaB]

the way i see it , it's usually more the generic short stuff selling , while unique and underrated gems are brushed off to the"when it's available a 20$" or "when i find a used copy" lists .

Of course there are exception but still ...

[nevin1]

Used games been around since the 1st console released. If anything the used games helps the industry.

TThe video industry is dying in my opinion though. Black Ops is an example as I don't get why you ppl support a buggy game. I was always wonder why people on my friend's list sign out then sign when they play Black Ops due to bad servers.

In my case, Sports games in previous gens were my speciality and this gen their not getting it done.

Im sure all u PS3 owners are upset that thes comparison screen shots always show how the 360 version looks better.

pretty soon ppl will have enough of this.

[DarkFantasy]

"Im sure all u PS3 owners are upset that thes comparison screen shots always show how the 360 version looks better. " ...... any real gamer wouldn't give a shit about that and just play the game on there console of choice.but i do agree about black ops,it's obvious that activison just wanted a quick buck with COD so i will not agree or dissagree..Racing and Car combat(Twisted Metals) use to be my games but this gen i hate racing games,but least i got Twisted metal Ps3 coming :P but i can't stand need for speed anymore need for speed was my drug lol ..this gen im so tired of shooters yet theres like 6 im getting rofl

[Stealth20k]

second hand games are saving the industry

[Dazel]

If the retailers/Devs/Publishers can't agree on a common ground then Digital DL games are the way of the future imo. The problem at present is Digital DL games are way to expensive, maybe there will come a time when you can DL a game 2 weeks before the boxed version? Retailers are getting the lions share with the Devs getting pretty short changed by them and the publishers. While i like my second hand resales without good Devs, we won't have great games.

[jukins]

only thing that kills industries are CEOs or higher ups. as i see it if someone is buying second hand then the orginal buyer is usually no longer playing and if anything these days the second hand buyer may buy dlc and whatnot so. . . .

[Eamon]

Whether it's killing or not, it doesn't matter.

EA are already trying to implement multiplayer codes into their games so people would buy the original or buy a code.

It's this greed for more and more money that's killing the industry instead of sacrificing desire for wealth with desire for art.

Black Ops is a clear example of raw and original talent getting neglected in exchange for easy cash.

[skyblue14213]

The second-hand games market has been around since the first video game console released and the industry has done fine for all of that time, so why should it become an issue now? Imo the reason being is that companies are more greedy than ever and even though for the most part they make several times the amount of money off of a product than what they spent on it, that they now expect to make boatloads more than they deserve for an already overpriced product and want a slice of the pie of used games sales.

A lot of people(including myself) cant afford the $60(or more) price tag per game , if they lowered the initial m.s.r.p to lets say $40 per game I would be more inclined to buy games at that price but they don't and all that you hear from them is whining about used games sales in which they provide no concrete proof to their claims. What I do is I just wait until a price drop before getting games or I buy games used within that price range or lower if I cant find them new in a reasonable price range.

Maybe back when cartridges were the format/medium that was being used for games(in which the materials to produce cartridges were expensive back then) the prices were more reasonable, but discs are the format/medium that is being used now and discs are dirt cheap for companies to use, also some games are digital now which saves a company even more money.

For what they offer for what they charge it is simply not worth paying $60 for a game that is not worth the $60 asking price

[DarkFantasy]

this can be a complicated argument.on one hand if the person dosent play it anymore and sells it so he can buy a new game.. it's not like the money is not going back into the gaming industry so i would say no it's not hurting it at all if any thing it's helping people buy more games but on another hand devs don't make money on use'd games even tho they already made money on the same disc that someone bought used.BUT what about people who can't afford new games all the time used games are both good and bad..you might as well come up with a "are game Rentals hurting the gaming industry" argument there are so much pro and cons but I think it is our right to buy and sell games.... damn greedy bastards.

[ATiElite]

You made some very good points and publishers are just being greedy and trying to end used games and after that they will target rental companies.

The revenue that publishers loose to used games and rentals is more than what publishers loose to piracy.
sure MW2 got pirated 1 million times but I'm sure game stop sold 2 million used copies and gamefly has rented it 2 million times.

[xtremegamerage]

Drop the price to begin with, $60 or £40quid a game.

I bought Resistance 1 & 2 - Only just started getting into it,lol.

Both games together £10.

[aaaaaaaaa]

Maybe the industry is outgrowing there customer base due to all the games they release and how easy they are to complete.
I remember in the 80's most games could be played for weeks before you needed another.