Too close for comfort? the revival?

[Nasirosuchus]

The industry didn't use to have a problem with used games at all.

The differences is now, brand new games beat in a day end up on the used market. We have 1 day used games, instead of 1 month used games.

People who have no business buying the game when they should be renting it are instead buying the game, blowing through it (or giving up because they can't blow through it!) and then bringing it to gamestop for premium credit towards the next game for them to blow through. Essentially they rent the game for a premium instead of buying it. THe used game place sells the game for $5 below full retail, and people buy it because they want to save the 5 bucks. Then when the new game sells out,they jack up the price even more.

The 10$ "online pass" in this case is a great solution, as it forces the used game places to drop the price to remain competitive with the new games. Either they will drop the prices and lose money by doing so, or they won't, and no one will buy the game used if it's available new. And either way, the company that made the game gets a significant profit boost.

I'm aware that the locking of the game to the console is a bit unfair, but anyone else here have a better idea on how to stop people from renting non rental copies? The only alternative I can see is outlawing used game sales until a certain amount of time after the games release. And that will never go through, as that contravenes right of first sale.

Do you have any idea of the slippery slope you're heading down?

[dunpeal2064]

It seems to me if companies just made good enough games, people would keep them, and used purchases would be just like they were in the good old days.

By the way, if you buy a used game from gamestop and finish it in a day, you don't have to trade it in, you can return it for the full price, so that no one gains profit

[PC Engine Fan X!]

That's interesting to learn that you can still get the full refunded price at Gamestop upon finishing it in a day. I never buy the used games that are five cheaper than retail...that's just crazy. I'd want to purchase a brand new/sealed game at retail -- (of course, knowing that GS usually removes said shrinkwrap and slaps on a clear stick to denote that it's been already opened at the front counter) there are other retailers that don't resort to that particular practice (i.e Best Buy, Target, Wal-mart, etc).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[mjclark]

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water there's new screenshots of Demul 0.5.7 on the Russian forum running the one we've all been waiting for: Animal Basket

[Alfman]

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water there's new screenshots of Demul 0.5.7 on the Russian forum running the one we've all been waiting for: Animal Basket

Wooohooo.... now lets pray for a September Release

[joeboto]

cant wait for illvelo man. seriously.

[mjclark]

cant wait for illvelo man. seriously.

yeah- me too

[Nasirosuchus]

So close I can taste it.

[bcass]

Is Illvelo getting a US release? GameFAQs has it as cancelled.

[xbl0x180]

That's interesting to learn that you can still get the full refunded price at Gamestop upon finishing it in a day. I never buy the used games that are five cheaper than retail...that's just crazy. I'd want to purchase a brand new/sealed game at retail -- (of course, knowing that GS usually removes said shrinkwrap and slaps on a clear stick to denote that it's been already opened at the front counter) there are other retailers that don't resort to that particular practice (i.e Best Buy, Target, Wal-mart, etc).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I hate those goddamn gamestop stickers. Once you remove them, they leave perma-sticky residue on the case. They also have a knack of pasting the stickers on the paper cover itself! I bought Beautiful Katamari from them only to find out the sticker was not on the case, but the cover!

[brentsg]

That's interesting to learn that you can still get the full refunded price at Gamestop upon finishing it in a day. I never buy the used games that are five cheaper than retail...that's just crazy. I'd want to purchase a brand new/sealed game at retail -- (of course, knowing that GS usually removes said shrinkwrap and slaps on a clear stick to denote that it's been already opened at the front counter) there are other retailers that don't resort to that particular practice (i.e Best Buy, Target, Wal-mart, etc).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I hate those goddamn gamestop stickers. Once you remove them, they leave perma-sticky residue on the case. They also have a knack of pasting the stickers on the paper cover itself! I bought Beautiful Katamari from them only to find out the sticker was not on the case, but the cover!

Yeah the last time I ever bought anything from Gamestop, I didn't realize it was a re-shrink. Get it home and their stickers were all over the cover inside the case. I complained and they wouldn't do anything because I opened it..

It was just a DS game but fuck them, haven't been back.. mostly because of the attitude they've got.

[burgerkingdiamond]

Since they Ketsui and ESPgaluda are both in MAME now what's keeping Mushihimesama from being emulated?

(or is it?)

[moozooh]

Different platform (SH3). Ketsui and Galuda are both PGM.

[Gus]

Isn't the PS2 version playable on PCSX2 though?

[moozooh]

Yes, but the PS2 version is also blurry, inaccurate, and has quite some input lag on PCSX2. :P

[Jockel]

Here I was, expecting news. :/

[zaphod]

It seems to me if companies just made good enough games, people would keep them, and used purchases would be just like they were in the good old days.

By the way, if you buy a used game from gamestop and finish it in a day, you don't have to trade it in, you can return it for the full price, so that no one gains profit

People blow through games regardless now.

While a number of people like to buy and keep games, some people's idea of fun is blowing through a game and getting the used credit. No matter how good the game is, people will buy it on release, blow through it, then instantly return it for a lot of used credit and getting the next new game.

If it can't be finished rapidly without a walkthrough they go onto the internet and immediately grab it. If it's too hard for them to blow through they give up and return it for that reason.

Back when you couldn't get decent credit for any game no matter how good, this was not a very economical method of enjoying games. Instead they waited and rented them. But gamestop encouraging new released to be returned by offering generous credit for them, knowing they can sell them at a huge enough markup to make it all back and then some.

[Bananamatic]

I also have an economical approach to gaming - I just wait 5+ years before buying the system and by then there is a ton of decent games around 20$

...and I just found out that I lost about 50$ buying a DS Lite 6 months ago instead of waiting. Goddamn.

[Kasbe]

I also have an economical approach to gaming - I just wait 5+ years before buying the system and by then there is a ton of decent games around 20$

Me too. I recently bought a PS2, there are a lot of games I want to play on that system and they are so cheap around here (<10€). I found Gunbird Special Edition (1&2) for 2€ a few weeks ago!

[zaphod]

I also have an economical approach to gaming - I just wait 5+ years before buying the system and by then there is a ton of decent games around 20$

...and I just found out that I lost about 50$ buying a DS Lite 6 months ago instead of waiting. Goddamn.

Not being able to afford to buy the games new, and waiting for them to drop down in price or make greatest hits is reasonable, and not what's bothering the industry.

[Keade]

I have to disagree strongly here, zaphod...
It is a known fact that most publisher expect very quick revenues and good sales at release, not two months later.
Besides, many publishers do want people to buy the games new and try to think of more ways to prevent second-hand sales. DLC are another obvious way of killing resales (though not always released in that purpose, of course).

[Zorator]

Maybe Heavy Rain would have sold a little better if everyone wasn't certain it would wind up on the used rack in a short span of time. Maybe Heavy Rain is a bad example because it was atypical game that wasn't for everyone and many folks weren't sure they would be into it. But maybe if the industry didn't cater to the "I want games that I can beat quickly" mindset they wouldn't be feeling the need to put used sales down. Other media like movies, music, and books are able to get along fine with used sales and have for decades, I don't see why games are any different.

[Bananamatic]

So being patient is killing the industry

what an interesting world we live in

[mjclark]

I thought the industry was there to serve us not dictate to us. If so I would like a cup of coffee please.

[Ex-Cyber]

Other media like movies, music, and books are able to get along fine with used sales and have for decades, I don't see why games are any different.

Games are different because they're software, and software publishers tend to have a very odd sense of entitlement. For example, most believe that they're entitled to make you enter into a restrictive contract to use something that you already paid for.

[g0me3]

http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/sh ... art=1&vc=1

[Cers]

http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/sh ... art=1&vc=1

...nothing to see...

[Udderdude]

http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/sh ... art=1&vc=1 ;)

...nothing to see...

Them CAVE police sure is fast >_>

[g0me3]

http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/sh ... art=1&vc=1

...nothing to see...

you just doesn't even know where

[BeruBeru]

http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/sh ... art=1&vc=1

care to explain?