Are Used Games Worth it?

The used game market has suffered many setbacks in the last decade. Publishers and developers have encourage consumers to purchase new copies of their game by enticing the customer with exclusive content and online multiplayer passes, causing people looking for cheaper alternatives to lose out on certain options. But despite the price is purchasing new games; even at a higher cost better than buying a new copy? Or is it buying a used copy of a game you might be doing more harm than good for the people responsible for creating that product by siphoning money from those responsible for making the game.

When you purchase a used game you aren’t thinking about who profits from your expense but you product for less.  Buying a used title from Gamestop, ebay, or any other business causes the profits from that exchange go to that person or company, and those who published and created the game don’t. This doesn’t mean that all developers despise used games. According to Randy Pitchford, in a recent interview with IGN, “I don’t hate used games, I actually love it” stating that he wants something that would benefit developers, publishers, and consumers. Mr. Pitchford then attempts to discuss that experiencing a new game for the first time encourages a consumer to pay a high price for that adventure, but once completed that value diminishes and makes that person willing to sell that product to another for a lower price, causing that studio to lose a customer. This can cause layoffs and those who want these people to create new games in the future are lost to another studio or unemployed.

Pre-order bonuses have become so common for the game industry that business such as Gamestop, Bestbuy, and Amazon encourage consumers to buy the new game on the day of its release from there company by offering exclusive content. People can look to this as an attempt to bully consumers to buy these games on the day of the release rather than waiting till the price is reduced, and excludes content that was specified for that retailer. However pre-ordering a game allows publishers to predict how well a game will sell, allowing for more funding towards marketing and advertisement of the game. Randy Pitchford said in the same interview how Gamestop funded for the pre-order exclusive Creature Slaughter Dome, ensuring people pre-order the game. You shouldn’t look at pre-order content as a way to force you into buying the game at launch but a thank you from the developers for supporting them in creating something that they hope you enjoy.

It’s obvious why we purchase used games, it is a cheaper alternative. Not everyone can afford buying a new game new or on the release date but instead wait for the product to be sold and purchase later. With new addition such as day-one content and online passes purchasing used games was already difficult enough with the question that supersedes everything else, “Will it work?”. Let’s be honest people tend to take advantage of others by selling damage goods to unaware targets. Businesses such as Gamestop and Bestbuy have a policy that you can return it if it doesn’t work but when you buy something used there is always a chance may be brought something faulty and with used games that concern is even greater, especially if you don’t plan access all the content on the disc before the return policy becomes void.

The used game market has been bombarded by so many difficulties by publishers and developers. Although they are cheaper people may find themselves paying for more than they expected for online passes or finding out that the final level won’t load. Perhaps Mr. Pitchford’s expecting certain stores to pay publishers and developers for the sale of used games that were originally made by them, which will take hold and allow for more positive policies. So next time you buy a used game maybe you shouldn’t only be thinking about how much you are saving.

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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