I see a lot of back and forth, but I never feel like people list the actual reason that used game sales in the current form is killing the industry (Gamestop 100% profit - publishers 0%).

I figured I'd give it a shot and try to explain why I think used game sales are bad...

Used games sales are killing the industry because they are pushing the publishers to invest in fewer and fewer new original IPs and take less risks. This is because every high budget game is designed to push day 1 sales and sell as much as possible before trade-ins start to happen.

It’s no secret that gamers are more likely to impulse-buy franchise titles like Call of Duty or Halo on day 1 in comparison with lesser-known new IPs or genres that aren't as popular. Since devs know that used games sales are going to cut in to their revenue pretty much immediatly after the game is finished, single player games and ideas are being phased out, pointless multiplayer is being tacked on, on disk "DLC" is being held back,  and a lot of "AAA" games are designed with a clear formula in mind to reproduce previous day 1 success in sales. Since the publishers and devs are completely cut out of the used games sales loop in terms of revenue they have no incentive to invest in to games that are different from the day 1 sales "blockbuster" action shooter.

So the end result of the Xbox One reversal of policy and used game sales continuing to function as usual is that for the next 8 years we will see more micro-transactions, more instances of incentivised DLC and more complementary goods to ‘enhance’ the game so you don't trade it in. Single player will be next to dead in terms of creativity in AAA games while multiplayer will become the main focus high budget titles. Destiny, Titanfall, COD, Halo...plenty more where that came from. Expect a lot of episodic content too that gets unlocked over time.

Do consumers win at the end by being free to trade games freely and openly without publishers getting a cut? If you value your content I am not so sure that they do... You may pay more in the long run if you can't trade games but you will get higher quality and more varied content in return. You will also see cheaper games to begin with...having different companies competing for your dollar pretty much guarantees that the prices would go down as their bottom line is improved.

I do have to ask.. are you ok? these last 24 hours you seems so emotional about it.. its just videogames.. it's like the number 1 useless and unimportant thing in life..

haha...I'm alright. I am off work for a week so I'm a little bored. Bot to worry. going north to my cottage tomorrow and then its back to work so you won't hear from me for a while.

Speaking of originality, you've been reading some of those Cliffy B tweets lately, haven't you disolitude?

Slimebeast said: Speaking of originality, you've been reading some of those Cliffy B tweets lately, haven't you disolitude?

While I wasn't using him as my insiration for this, he had some valid points in his tweets for sure.

disolitude said: Slimebeast said: Speaking of originality, you've been reading some of those Cliffy B tweets lately, haven't you disolitude? While I wasn't using him as my insiration for this, he had some valid points in his tweets for sure.

All right.

I agree on valid points. Sad to see him being so mocked when I think he honestly cares about the industry as a gamer, not only as a business man.

You are trying too hard buddy. Chill for a moment instead of posting again and again your own personal disappointment and carefully rehashed concepts and arguments.

Quality post as usual buddy. 

I like your sig quote though...

I have always thought that used games never became a problem till they where sold next to new games and you had customers taking a new game to the counter prepared to buy it only to be talked into a used copy ,so the problem isn't so much used games it's where they are sold .

Selling games for me works only in 2 ways:

1. 100% of the sale money is going to you

2. small % is going to the develiper/publisher

So yeah, you're correct. Having retailers, who in 2013 for most people really aren't necessary in the whole scheme of things when it comes to games (games are digital by nature) take a huge cut is the issue.

Like I have a friends list and want to sell my game...why can't someone buy it from me digitally? Sony, Microsoft, Steam...whoever cracks this nut will move the industry forward leaps and bounds.