Much has been said about the issue of used video game sales both in support and opposition to the practice. Very often those in support of used video game sales will point to the used car market as a means of supporting their point. However, there was always something unsettling about that comparison to me because I feel that this comparison actually brings up a major issue which I feel shows how used video games are bad for video games as a whole.

Basically, there is a difference between the value proposition of a new car versus a used car that is not significantly changed in any way by the used car market. However, the value proposition of a new game does seem to be changing for the worst precisely because of the way in which Gamestop has run their used game market. I am not sure if I am just seeing things given that no one on either side has, at least to my knowledge, brought up this point. However, I do think that it is a point that needs to be discussed and included in the discussion of the issue of used video game sales.

Before I am pegged as an industry plant, I just want to preface the meat of the blog by declaring that I do not work for the video game industry or the retail industry (I work for the pharmaceutical industry) and the only person I know remotely associated to the video game industry is an acquiantance from college that worked as a game QA tester during a summer.



The problem with comparing used video games and used cars is the difference in the relative value between "new" and "used" in these products. If I actually have money, I would much prefer to buy a new car (unless it is a special car like a DeLorean) as opposed to a used car. I agree that there is nothing inherently wrong with buying used cars (my own family bought two used car in the recent years) but admittedly, it goes without saying that generally, used cars are seen as being less reliable than new cars for generally justifiable reasons. As such, there is a value proposition to buying a new car that is pretty much untouched by the presence and existence of a used car market. If someone can afford to buy a new car, they will probably prefer a new car over a used car.



In comparison, the value proposition of a new game versus a used game is much different, largely because of the way Gamestop conducts its business. The problem is not that Gamestop is selling used video games: the problem is that they are desperately working to convince customers that there is no difference between new and used games and it appears that this tactic is working. Gamestop intermingles used video games with new video games and in fact many times the layout of the store makes it harder for me to find the new games. Gamestop has that ridiculous practice where they will cut open a new box of a video game in order to skimp on a display copy therefore turning a new video game into a used video game before it is even played. Most importantly though, Gamestop's aggressive pushing of their game buyback program as well as their ability to offer a used copy of the latest video game within hours of release pretty much sends the message that if you want to maximize your entertainment value, you should just buy a used video game, blow through it as quickly as possible, and then sell it back and use the credit to buy the next used game, continuing the cycle.



I cannot help but feel that the consequence of this is that video games are decreasing in perception as a long-term entertainment product because of the incentive that exists to go through a chain of used games in the way that Gamestop encourages with their business practices. This is why you see so many games with DLC now: publishers know that there are lots of people that buy used and sell quickly and so they feel less compelled to put the "full experience" of the game onto the disc, especially since a large number of gamers aren't "paying" or "holding onto the game" long enough to really care. I just think that the ultimate consequence of this will be ultimately harmful to the consumer. On one hand, we may reach a point where every game is sold via digital distribution and we will be completely at the mercy of content holders. There is also the possibility that publishers will eventually significantly drop the prices of new games but instead, they will pretty much be little more than glorified boxed demos that we will have to pay to access via DLC.

This is probably the shortest post I have ever written but I think that I will conclude here and wait for comments to come in and see what people think.

Again, to restate my point: there is a difference, both actual and perceived, between a new car and a used car that is not threated by the fact that used cars are being sold all the time. There is also a difference, both actual and perceived, between a new video game and a used video game. However, the way in which companies like Gamestop sell used video games are causing a massive shift in public perception which is hurting the value proposition of not just video games but new video games. While I concede that the used video game market may be beneficial to the consumer, I fear that in the long run, the reaction to this will end up really hurting the consumer.