Nintendo: Used games aren't in the consumers best interests Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime has said the company does not believe second hand game sales are in the best interest of consumers. He said that consumers prefer brand new products, and claimed that sales of second hand goods in other entertainment mediums has not been successful. "We don’t believe used games are in the best interest of the consumer" Fils-Aime told Venture Beat. "We have products that consumers want to hold onto. They want to play all of the levels of a Zelda game and unlock all of the levels. A game like Personal Trainer Cooking has a long life." He continued: "Describe another form of entertainment that has a vibrant used goods market. Used books have never taken off. You don’t see businesses selling used music CDs or used DVDs. Why? The consumer likes having a brand-new experience and reliving it over and over again. If you create the right type of experience, that also happens in videogames." Fils-Aime suggested that some retailers can't make the second hand business model work, despite trying to copy competitors who have made it successful. "We just think it’s a bad idea," he insisted. "The one retailer that has a substantial business in this has figured out a way that is effective for the consumer. "That’s tough for other retailers experimenting with this, in part because their employees don’t have the expertise in this market." http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nintendo-used-games-arent-in-the-consumers-best-interests

He's essentially saying that nobody but Gamestop has ever made it work large-scale, which I suppose is true.

Just wants the new sales because they don't get any more profit if someone buys a copy used. He could have just went the route that they will try and make products that consumers want to hold on to longer, but to state that the consumer doesn't benefit from buying used is complete bullshit. They save money and get a game that works. Gamestop has only made it work on a large scale by buying out all the competition (Funcoland, EB games, etc..) Plus they sell new games and systems also.

There are shops/chains that sell used cds/dvds but it is getting less and less since most people just get mp3s now adays. Planet Replay is a chain in Austin that seems to be doing semi decently selling used games/cds/dvds.

The only people it hurts are the video game producers, developers, etc.. which eventually may hurt the consumer if not enough people buy a new copy. Thus, they might not get a series that they enjoy or type of game.  If he stuck to a point like that he would have actually seemed more credible. The way he put was such amateurish.

He's right as far as Nintendo games go. I rarely see Nintendo made games on Used shelves, it's 95% 3rd party games since people hold onto Mario Kart, SSBB, Fit Wii, Mario Galaxy, Endless Ocean etc. to play over and over. The notably exception is Zelda which doesn't offer a lot of replay value.

CoD4 and Halo 3 are also rare(r) finds because of replay value. But I know there's a ton of GTAIV and MGS4 everywhere and pretty much anything else.

He's right. Well, about me anyway. I don't want to buy stuff used if I don't absolutely have to.

Um, excuse me? In the UK, CEX is a national chain selling used dvds, cds, games, blu-rays, hell even laptops, phones and ipods, all used: www.cex.co.uk.

So yes, Reggie, you do see businesses doing exactly that, at least in this country.

Reggie only speaks about the American market, in fairness to him.

I buy used games when i see em..... $20 for 3 movies at Blockbuster is a weekly trip for me .... i dont know what he is talking bout.....

Ah!

Exciting times at CeX as we open three new stores for your buying, selling and exchanging pleasure in New York City:

• CeX Entertainment Exchange, 71 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC - trading in a full range of gaming, phones, computing, electronics, vision, DVDs and Blu-ray.
• CeX Phone Exchange, 422 East 14th Street, Manhattan, NYC - busting to the brim with phones, electronics, computing and a select range of gaming & movies products.
• CeX Entertainment Exchange, 840 8th Avenue, Manhattan, NYC is ready & waiting, trading in gaming, phones, DVDs, Blu-ray, computing, electronics and vision products.

From www.Cex.co.uk

There just seems something so naive about his comments here. I mean, in the UK used games and dvds is such a normal thing, especially games, which are sold used at GAME, Gamestation, Hmv, Cex and others. Maybe America isn't typically the same?

You're right - America isn't typically the same. Whenever a big chain pops up dealing in used games, Gamestop ends up buying them out.

I didn't know that about CeX though. I wonder if he did? Maybe not...