Why is buying used games such a big deal nowadays?

[Michael-5]

zorg1000 said:

Not every game needs to be AAA and just because a game doesnt cost 50 million or ehatever big blockbuster games cost, doesnt make them bad. They should focus on gameplay not graphics and other bullshit that raise the production costs. Were seeing games that dont sell mutliple millioms being considered failures. 

Square Enix is a good example, Tomb Raider, Sleeping Dogs and Hitman failed to meet sales expectations despite there being no reason SE thought they would sell that well.

THQ going under despite having 2 big franchises in Saints Row and Darksiders even tho those games were successful.

Idk maybe drop the budget in half and sell games at $40, they wont have to sell as many units to make the money and people will be more willing to try nee games.

This is why smaller studios (like many Japanese studios) are shifting to handheld games. Studio's should make WiiU/3DS/Vita games, and if successful, then they can make larger IP's.

After all it's not the budget of the game that determines success, it's how popular the game is. Platinum Studios has made some really amazing games which have all sold poorly, yet the company is making a large profit, and a name for themselves now (with games published by Nintendo and Konami now).

If Platinum Studios can make an excellent game with a small budget, then that's the standard we expect from devs. If SE or CAPCOM rely on major IP's, which sell well, but below expectations, and this hurts them financially, well.....maybe they need restructuring (just like General Motors did).

All this makes me believe, if we buy used games, yes we put devs in more of a pinch, but more competition breeds better quality in games. Just compare the number of well reviewed games on 7th gen consoles to 4th or 5th gen consoles. We have so much more, and it's all because of competition.

DJEVOLVE said:

All to keep the used games. F that.

LOL, but competiton is what's making our games better. If we just buy new, then we encourage devs to over-rely on large franchises.

If devs want their games to sell, they should make games people want to keep. Last I check used copies of Bioshock still sell for a lot, I guess people like that game so much they want to keep it, and now we have more Bioshock games.

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Just FYI, I buy games new, but only when it's something I know I'm going to keep, and it's a game I really want. I only buy used when it's a game I don't care too much for, and by the time I buy it it's a $20 game. I buy most of my games for about $20, I refuse to spend anymore unless it's really worth it.