While used games are being killed, swapping games among friends is next on the chopping block

[Mr Khan]

twesterm said:

HappySqurriel said:
If I'm only going to buy one game this month and my friend/family member is also only going to buy one game this month but we decide to trade games after we've completed them, how does this represent money lost to the publisher?

The maximum number of sales they could get is 2 and they received 2 sales, where is the lost sales?


Why is it "wrong" to do with videogames what has always been done with books? Should the book publishers be able to shut down libraries because they're cutting into their bottom line?

You may only buy one game this month, but what about next month?  If you hadn't borrowed that game couldn't you still buy it next month?  Or the month after that?

If you're borrowing a game from a friend there's obviously a want to play it.  That want may not be enough to buy it new, but you're still getting something from it and you're getting something for nothing.  In the case of lending the publisher and Gamestop miss out on the sale.

That all said, I'm fine with used games and even lending games, I'm just pointing out the flaw in your logic.  It's your license so it's yours to sell, lend, or even give away.  What isn't right is two people using the license at the same time.

But two people using the license simultaneously is impossible, unless we're talking about very old CD PC games. It hinges on the willingness of the lendor to give up their ability to play the game at will, which in turn introduces the new element of cost there (e.g. they paid for this and now they don't get to play it)