This is a good point and one that doesnt really come up in the piracy debate too often. I buy used games and try not to pirate simply because I like having the box. I do care about the development companies but not enough to spend 60 quid on something I can get for a lot cheaper second hand. This is a far bigger threat to developers than piracy. I know a handful of people that pirate games but everyone I know buys used games.

I say used games are worse than piracy, because used game sales actually DETRACT from new game sales, all while propping up business like EB, who make 500% profit on the things, without any of it going to the developer. EB is a leech on the video game publishing industry. New games are a mafia front to sell used games and warranties. Nothing more.

I'm Aussie too, so I know your pain.

I think when I have a more steady source of income I'll definitely buy new games, it is nice having the box and manual that another person's greasy fingers haven't soiled.

Commercial piracy (selling pirated goods) is a lot worse than used games. Downloading stuff for free isn't.

Most people have it right. Downloading for free is essentially stealing. Buying used CDs, movies, games, these are not stealing. Sure, they don't help the developer, but if the FBI* shows up at your house, they're not going to fine you if you bought them used. Only if you got them through less than legal purposes.

Substitute FBI for whatever your country has.

As a gamer there is a sense to own and collect. Buy what you can. Pirate what you cant.

Of course I never actually owned an R4 in the first place. This was all hypothetical.

I don't really like the idea of buying used games unless they are old games that are unattainable new. Used games here in the UK don't cost that much cheaper than new copies especially new releases. I think on average they are about £5 cheaper which is $10 and to me that's not enough of a saving to warrant buying it used at all. If it's a good game worth owning a copy then I'd take the plunge and buy it used. If it's something I just want to play for a bit and not bothered about keeping it I'd not pirate

This has always been my point. Used games are far WORSE a problem for the industry, as this means the person is willing to purchase the game, but will be take the cheaper version the illustrious retail pawn shops offer, which results in pure profit for the used reseller and squat for the publisher. Generally speaking, when someone pirates a game, it's something they never would or could have afforded.

It'll all be moot anyways, once everything moves to digital distribution though. PC is well on it's way there, and I guarantee it'll be a focal point of the next generation of consoles.

Piracy is wrong, I buy CD's of bands I like, I buy games I like.

If you tell me you have never once had a pirated copy of anything, you are lying. Your friends will have sent you an MP3 over MSN, you'll have watched a copyrighted clip on Youtube which isn't by a user licenced to broadcast it. That's piracy. Everyone has done it atleast once, even unintentionally, so no-one has a right to take the moral highground. I bet record executives who try to sue torrent sites and such even have pirated materials on their computers. It's largely unavoidable.

When I'm going to buy a game that has been out for a while, I always aim to buy a new copy, I recently bought Odin Sphere, There was pre-owned for £10 and new for £20. I bought it new because it supports developers and I'm getting the game in better condition. I want to buy Zone of the Enders 2 and Final Fantasy 6 Advance, I'm not going to buy those brand new because they're incredibly hard to find brand new, and if you do find them, the prices are extortionate. Why should I pay £60 for a game I can probably get at around £15 if I find the right place? Would I pirate ZOE2 if I had a chipped PS2? Probably, but I don't so I won't. Would I pirate FF6 Advance if I didn't have it on the PS1? Yes, because you don't need to have played it to know it's legendary.

btw
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