*Used Games?*

[ZenfoldorVGI]

mirgro said:

ZenfoldorVGI said:

...and yes mirgro, please do provide links, I will take a look and let you know what I think.

The GAO study:

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/04/us-government-finally-admits-most-piracy-estimates-are-bogus.ars

There is a link to the PDF in there.

The Dutch study:

http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2009/01/dutch-government-study-net-effect-of-p2p-use-is-positive.ars

The report they linked to was in all Dutch and 150 pages, but the link is in there as well if I remember correctly. (Notice that it says taht specifically for games, pirates buy even more than non-pirates).

Edit: It seems that the actual document of the Dutch study has been taken down from their sites, maybe I can find it stored somewhere. Also still looking for the IFPI report, it seems ot have gone underground.

Ok, so the GAO study ONLY says that it is impossible to determine the economic impact of piracy. It is also related to piracy of all types, not just videogames.

So, my question to you is, if your study says that it is impossible to determine how piracy effects game sales, then doesn't that mean that none of the other studies mean anything at all? Also, doesn't that mean that the effects of piracy could actually be WORSE than expected?

Now, I don't think that every instance of piracy is a sale lost, but I do think that it costs a lot of sales, especially amongst consoles like the PSP where it is so easy, and where many people obviously would buy games if they couldn't download all they want for free....

So, again, the study you presented isn't significant to this conversation, imo. It would only be significant if I were pointing to other studies to prove my point. My logic tells me that piracy causes games not to sell in some cases, and facts tell me that with used games, money stiumlates the economy and with piracy it does not.

The complete effect of piracy is unknown and undeterminable accoriding to your study.