Walk into any video game store and you’ll see them clear as day – walls of used games, marked down from the retail price, just begging to be picked up and brought home. But how much is it hurting the people who make the games, and is it actually a bad thing?

Colin Campbell over at Next-Gen has a very interesting little write-up, in which he clearly states that used games are devastating to publishers, because companies like GameStop make money off them while developers and publishers don’t make a damn dime.

Is he right? Yes. Re-sold games don’t make Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony or anyone else a single penny. It all goes to GameStop or whatever local store you might own... but are they evil? I say no, not at all, and in fact, they are necessary for the video game specialty store to survive. Take away used games, and you’ll watch every independent gaming store die quickly, with the giant juggernaut GameStop not far behind. Used games are a major source of revenue for these stores, in most cases more than new games.

Do they overcharge? Sometimes, especially GameStop. But why should the sale of these used games be so evil?

Campbell brings up that resale of video games is something that’s more unique to that industry, that you don’t see Barnes and Noble re-selling used books. The big retailers of things like books don’t resell them, that’s true. But what about the smaller, independent bookstores? Or how about Japan, where there’s an entire industry connected to the resale of both new and used manga books, and you can find these books side-by-side? Is Shogakukan getting screwed over because I can go buy thirty used volumes of a series they published at Book-Off, and it costs me half as much? Maybe, but I don’t hear them being vocal about it.

For example, I recently bought a new car over the summer, or I guess I should say my parents did as part of a promise they made to me several years ago when I got my first ride of them and they bought my sister a used ride: that I would eventually be bought a newer car of my own to replace the 1994 Chevy Astro they handed down to me. However, when dealing with used cars, it’s much the same as used games. Is GM going to come after me seeking a portion of the money we paid for my Pontiac Grand Prix? No. They only earned money on used cars sold off their lots, and in the case of my purchase, it was a local dealer we bought it from. Once the product passes into the hands of the consumer, then it is up to them to decide what to do with it, and if they sell it back to a store, then the store has the right to sell it back as a used item if they so choose.

Used games are also important to smaller game stores, like the one I often shop at here in Bowling Green. They have a total of two stores in northwest Ohio, and rather than driving to the GameStop that is further away, I support the store by buying used games there if they’ve got the cheapest price, which usually, they do. Used game sales make up a large part of the profits for the game stores, and honestly, it’s probably what keeps this store alive.

Digital distribution of titles, though, might be what the industry needs to make a little more money. All three consoles have the ability to download classic titles for a fee, as well as brand-new content.

Can the two work in harmony? Yes. Some people will be satisfied with a soft copy, while others will desire a hard copy of the title for one reason or another. Those who don’t care will buy digitally, while those who do will go buy the used titles. In the end, everyone makes money and stays in business, and everyone is happy.

Just don’t buy from GameStop. Seriously, they don’t deserve it.