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Oh, Patcher! I missed you!
I'm inclined to agree. What would it benefit Gamestop to support console manufacturers if they did away with used game access? There are other outlets to sell their consoles, obviously, but Gamestop is still making them money to some degree. I still wish that these guys would get the fuck together and come to some middle ground so that there's a possibility that we ALL just might fucking win.
I'm inclined to agree. What would it benefit Gamestop to support console manufacturers if they did away with used game access? There are other outlets to sell their consoles, obviously, but Gamestop is still making them money to some degree. I still wish that these guys would get the fuck together and come to some middle ground so that there's a possibility that we ALL just might fucking win.
I have to agree somewhat. Gamestop sells a fuckton of new consoles for both ms and Sony, every week. That's the only I don't get about them blocking used games. I can see all other (greedy and stupid) reasons, but just pissing on someone who shoves your shit out the door faster than they get shipments?
True, look at the PSPGo, that was merely a revision of a handheld console, and several outlets refused to carry it, though it also cost them new games since it was download only.
it's sad but true. it's not right that a corporation can have so much influence that they can bully content creators into essentially giving them all their money. it's elementary school lunch time all over again.
Sony unfortunately has a history of being THAT demented, if you look back at their business in the last ten years.
- CD copy protection to prevent MP3 ripping
- The war on Napster and filesharing
- PSP Go
- Online pass become mandatory for first part games
- Proprietary memory for Vita to make things inconvenient
Sony's nearing 15 years of consumer antagonism and they just do not learn from the mistakes. As such, they now have to dance to the tune of Apple, Hulu and Netflix, they remain a distant third in the handheld market and console markets respectively and are falling behind in every market they used to be leaders in.
Is Sony stupid enough to destroy the biggest moneymaker they have left? I can't say for sure, but history is pretty telling and I don't think I want to invest in their next console just to find out if they're that stupid.
- CD copy protection to prevent MP3 ripping
- The war on Napster and filesharing
- PSP Go
- Online pass become mandatory for first part games
- Proprietary memory for Vita to make things inconvenient
Sony's nearing 15 years of consumer antagonism and they just do not learn from the mistakes. As such, they now have to dance to the tune of Apple, Hulu and Netflix, they remain a distant third in the handheld market and console markets respectively and are falling behind in every market they used to be leaders in.
Is Sony stupid enough to destroy the biggest moneymaker they have left? I can't say for sure, but history is pretty telling and I don't think I want to invest in their next console just to find out if they're that stupid.
Crap. It's going to succeed.
/don't trust Pachter.
//Can you tell?
///Would double check if he said sky was blue or water was wet
/don't trust Pachter.
//Can you tell?
///Would double check if he said sky was blue or water was wet
What I don't see is why developers are even looking to consoles in this day and age. For the same price anyone can buy a PC capable of running pretty much any game a console can at a nominally increased framerate over the console.
That withstanding PCs don't have the drawn out validation process and don't charge you for the privilege of patching your own game..... nor licensing fees for the privilege of releasing the game for them.
Not saying PCs are poised to overtake consoles any time soon but every generation consoles are becoming more like PCs. The benefits of using a console over a PC are also slipping away one by one. Games now install, they now frequently patch, same issues with crashing etc. Almost everything that made me choose console over PC in the past is gone ~.~
That withstanding PCs don't have the drawn out validation process and don't charge you for the privilege of patching your own game..... nor licensing fees for the privilege of releasing the game for them.
Not saying PCs are poised to overtake consoles any time soon but every generation consoles are becoming more like PCs. The benefits of using a console over a PC are also slipping away one by one. Games now install, they now frequently patch, same issues with crashing etc. Almost everything that made me choose console over PC in the past is gone ~.~
It would undoubtedly hurt GameStop, but I can't imagine them refusing to carry the machine. If there's money to be made, I would imagine GameStop would carry it. It's not like they didn't stock PSPGos.
If all three console makers did this...I don't know. I'd have to question the sustainability of this industry and its practices more than I already do.
If all three console makers did this...I don't know. I'd have to question the sustainability of this industry and its practices more than I already do.
@Scuffles
My next-gen purchases will be completely predicated on how Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony handle my current library of physical and digital games/content.
It will be so amazingly easy to spend the dollars set aside for consoles on a SFF PC and never look back.
My next-gen purchases will be completely predicated on how Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony handle my current library of physical and digital games/content.
It will be so amazingly easy to spend the dollars set aside for consoles on a SFF PC and never look back.
I agree to an extent. The backlash would be ENORMOUS for whoever started this trend, but it would also open the gates to other companies doing this as well.
But if Sony could offer a service similar to Steam, with APPROPRIATE pricing, SIGNIFICANT sales (not just 10% off), and a streamlined update system, it could actually work.
The problem is that I think Sony is too stubborn to follow Valves ideas, and they would undoubtedly try to milk more out of the customer than they're willing to put up with. MS would probably do the same thing.
Basically, the public buys used because it saves them money. If they eliminate used games while simultaneously giving us good deals to fill the money-saving need, then I don't see much of a problem.
Aside from not being able to bring a game over to a friends house or lend a game to someone. That would kind of suck, but I think I'd be able to get over it in time.
But if Sony could offer a service similar to Steam, with APPROPRIATE pricing, SIGNIFICANT sales (not just 10% off), and a streamlined update system, it could actually work.
The problem is that I think Sony is too stubborn to follow Valves ideas, and they would undoubtedly try to milk more out of the customer than they're willing to put up with. MS would probably do the same thing.
Basically, the public buys used because it saves them money. If they eliminate used games while simultaneously giving us good deals to fill the money-saving need, then I don't see much of a problem.
Aside from not being able to bring a game over to a friends house or lend a game to someone. That would kind of suck, but I think I'd be able to get over it in time.
Would it matter if publishers finally won their battle with the "oh so destructive to the industry" used games market?
They'll want MORE even if they get their way and do you know who they'll be targeting next? People who wait for price drops. That's right. You, who just bought a game without the Limited Edition release codes and now you'll have to cough up money to unlock the full game. That will be utilized in every single game publishers release. You either buy the initial release in limited quantities, or you have to pay $10-$15 to unlock the full single-player campaign or the full multi-player package.
Decide to wait for a game to hit $20 a year or two after release? Well, I hope you're ready to buy "the rest of the game" through DLC. In fact, if the market does go fully digital, they won't even have to worry about limited editions. Just cut off "free for a limited time" game content past a certain date and throw them up there for priced DLC.
Oh and no, they won't drop the prices of games when they go digital, either. Nor will they give up on DRM to even further restrict you as a paying consumer while claiming it's "piracy prevention." They'll also STILL be milking everything with DLC regardless of winning the used games battle.
They'll want MORE even if they get their way and do you know who they'll be targeting next? People who wait for price drops. That's right. You, who just bought a game without the Limited Edition release codes and now you'll have to cough up money to unlock the full game. That will be utilized in every single game publishers release. You either buy the initial release in limited quantities, or you have to pay $10-$15 to unlock the full single-player campaign or the full multi-player package.
Decide to wait for a game to hit $20 a year or two after release? Well, I hope you're ready to buy "the rest of the game" through DLC. In fact, if the market does go fully digital, they won't even have to worry about limited editions. Just cut off "free for a limited time" game content past a certain date and throw them up there for priced DLC.
Oh and no, they won't drop the prices of games when they go digital, either. Nor will they give up on DRM to even further restrict you as a paying consumer while claiming it's "piracy prevention." They'll also STILL be milking everything with DLC regardless of winning the used games battle.
I think I'd be less inclined to spend 60 dollars on a game if I knew it had no value the minute I cracked the seal. Even a new car doesn't depreciate to zero when you drive it off the lot.
I buy games and keep them, for collection purposes but also because I know that they have at least some value should I decide to sell them later, or give them to someone, or whatever. Ripping that value away kills that entirely, and makes me feel like I'm paying for nothing, ala digital distribution.
Don't like the game? You're stuck with it. Buggy as hell? Too bad. That's just asking for even more developer laziness because they know people can't get rid of the game and their 60 dollars has been secured. That's not even accounting for how this whole thing would handle users with multiple systems, replacement systems, etc. If it's just a matter of PSN accounts then it'd be far too easy for you to just let anyone log onto your account to play the game, so it's likely more complex than that.
I buy games and keep them, for collection purposes but also because I know that they have at least some value should I decide to sell them later, or give them to someone, or whatever. Ripping that value away kills that entirely, and makes me feel like I'm paying for nothing, ala digital distribution.
Don't like the game? You're stuck with it. Buggy as hell? Too bad. That's just asking for even more developer laziness because they know people can't get rid of the game and their 60 dollars has been secured. That's not even accounting for how this whole thing would handle users with multiple systems, replacement systems, etc. If it's just a matter of PSN accounts then it'd be far too easy for you to just let anyone log onto your account to play the game, so it's likely more complex than that.
@ DinnertimeNinja - Seems you've read my mind cause I feel the same way. Also on a side note....is it really a big deal if the PS4 isn't backwards compatible with the PS3 games? Like really...just keep your damn PS3 people. And if your only argument is that you will more than likely be selling or trading in your PS3 system towards a new PS4 but still would like to play your PS3 games from time to time, then clearly a new system is not a luxury you can afford to have just yet. Get your priorities in order and don't reach too far too soon.
What I find ironic is when a company like Sony tries to do this, Gamestop and other retailers have a piss fit and refuse to carry the device (PSP Go). Users side with the retailers and say used games should be allowed, as well as physical games.
But then those same retailers and users are more then happy to bend over backwards to Apples digital only devices and totalitarian digital rules.
I'm not for or against used games (I am whole heatedly against companies like Gamestop and EA), I just see the interests of all these companies on all sides NOT considering the consumer for one second.
So I really don't care which company gets screwed, cause I know we'll get screwed regardless.
But then those same retailers and users are more then happy to bend over backwards to Apples digital only devices and totalitarian digital rules.
I'm not for or against used games (I am whole heatedly against companies like Gamestop and EA), I just see the interests of all these companies on all sides NOT considering the consumer for one second.
So I really don't care which company gets screwed, cause I know we'll get screwed regardless.
It's not like used buyers contribute to anything but GameStop. No one else ever sees a dime. Why should game companies care about used sales?
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft/Sony make it so your account is permanently locked to the system so you can't resell it.
If GameStop wasn't so damn greedy and actually shared their used sales with the companies that did the actual work, none of this would be happening. As it is, there's already legal precedent that makes selling used software (without sharing profits) illegal, it's just that no one has the balls to stand up to GameStop and have GameStop stop carrying their products.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft/Sony make it so your account is permanently locked to the system so you can't resell it.
If GameStop wasn't so damn greedy and actually shared their used sales with the companies that did the actual work, none of this would be happening. As it is, there's already legal precedent that makes selling used software (without sharing profits) illegal, it's just that no one has the balls to stand up to GameStop and have GameStop stop carrying their products.
Don't know about the rest of the world but EB Games in Australia refused to sell the PSP Go as they wouldn't benefit from digital sales. Hell they even refused to sell RE: Mercs on 3DS when they found out the save file couldn't be erased thus making less desirable second hand.
If a console blocked the ability to play used games you can be sure as hell that GS/EB wouldn't touch it.
Also I'd be interested to see how plausible this actually is in regards to RETURNING games. Most companies have return policies in place, even if you were a retail store who didn't delve into used game sales you'd be pissing off a whole lot of customers when you tell them they can't even return the game.
Then of course there's the whole rental system to consider.
This move is way to stupid for anyone to actually follow through. It's essentially dooming the console before it even hits shelves (the joke being it probably wouldn't).
tl;dr Can't be real and if it is, gl to Sony next gen it was nice knowing them.
If a console blocked the ability to play used games you can be sure as hell that GS/EB wouldn't touch it.
Also I'd be interested to see how plausible this actually is in regards to RETURNING games. Most companies have return policies in place, even if you were a retail store who didn't delve into used game sales you'd be pissing off a whole lot of customers when you tell them they can't even return the game.
Then of course there's the whole rental system to consider.
This move is way to stupid for anyone to actually follow through. It's essentially dooming the console before it even hits shelves (the joke being it probably wouldn't).
tl;dr Can't be real and if it is, gl to Sony next gen it was nice knowing them.
It's kinda amazing how many people actually seem to believe a rumor from an anonymous source on Kotaku.
Hypothetically
PS4 won't support used games
Therefore retailers won't sell it because they won't make much profit off it
Therefore no one has a PS4 so no third party dev will touch the thing since the market is tiny
Therefore PS4 dies and Sony loses tons of money and stops making consoles altogether
Where in this plan did this sound like a good idea to Sony?
PS4 won't support used games
Therefore retailers won't sell it because they won't make much profit off it
Therefore no one has a PS4 so no third party dev will touch the thing since the market is tiny
Therefore PS4 dies and Sony loses tons of money and stops making consoles altogether
Where in this plan did this sound like a good idea to Sony?
@Tristrix
Not really given precedents that Sony, MS and a hand full of the "top" developers have been setting over the years. While I don't fully subscribe to it.... It certainly wouldn't surprise me in the least if true.
Not really given precedents that Sony, MS and a hand full of the "top" developers have been setting over the years. While I don't fully subscribe to it.... It certainly wouldn't surprise me in the least if true.
Heck, EB games wouldn't stock their system, neither would Amazon or Best Buy, which also sells used games. Then word would spread to customers, who would be turned off. Then, gamers wouldn't be able to trade in old games to afford new ones, or buy a used game and become a fan and buy the next game in the franchise or from that developer new.
Heck, even word of mouth would drop. The list of negatives far outweighs the positives if you ask me. I for one would quit gaming for good. Or, I would wait for a hack, and just pirate all the games I want to play. The industry has two choices.
Choice # 1- Allow me to buy me games new AND used as I see fit. Allow me to trade in old games to afford new ones. Stop the attack on your customers and used games.
Choice # 2- Fail to listen to choice # 1, block the sale of used games, and force many more people into piracy.
The choice is yours.
Heck, even word of mouth would drop. The list of negatives far outweighs the positives if you ask me. I for one would quit gaming for good. Or, I would wait for a hack, and just pirate all the games I want to play. The industry has two choices.
Choice # 1- Allow me to buy me games new AND used as I see fit. Allow me to trade in old games to afford new ones. Stop the attack on your customers and used games.
Choice # 2- Fail to listen to choice # 1, block the sale of used games, and force many more people into piracy.
The choice is yours.
@Scuffles
Not being surprised, and starting the rhetoric train full steam ahead 18 months early (at least) are two very different things, don't you think?
Not being surprised, and starting the rhetoric train full steam ahead 18 months early (at least) are two very different things, don't you think?
@Tristix - Its not that people believe the rumor, its just based on this gen its hard not to be cynical about where things are going next.
Again, I want to believe Sony wouldn't be this stupid, but then I look at history and realize the idea is not that farfetched at all.
Look, its not the games division of Sony that makes them do the things I perceive as stupid shit. The games division knows they're fucked if they exclude the used market. But there's this stupid part of Sony that happens to run Sony and sign their checks that tells them they must do the stupid shit to "protect" their future.
And look where it has gotten Sony as a whole when they've operated that way.
Again, I want to believe Sony wouldn't be this stupid, but then I look at history and realize the idea is not that farfetched at all.
Look, its not the games division of Sony that makes them do the things I perceive as stupid shit. The games division knows they're fucked if they exclude the used market. But there's this stupid part of Sony that happens to run Sony and sign their checks that tells them they must do the stupid shit to "protect" their future.
And look where it has gotten Sony as a whole when they've operated that way.
Haha yeah right pachter. They are entirely "evil" enough to all do this and its coming. Gamestop will not be missed by this humble man.
good I hate gamestop and I hope they do go out of business. The employees open your games and take them home and play them and then turn around and sell them to you as new copies of the game. Seriously how is this allowed a new game is not new if it has been opened. Another thing, do people really not recognize that PC has been doing this for years so if you want to really think about it, this will end up happening at some point so don't be surprised when I say I told you so. WOW things are CHANGING in TECHNOLOGY, this is so surprising people. If it doesn't happen now it will happen in the near future.
Don't worry guys, if and more accurately when Microsoft and Sony decide to completely shut consumers out, the PC will still remain a bastion of relative freedom, as no one directly controls the production of them, no one can set such ludicrous standards for them the way these overstepping titans are. So remember, the master race will await you in your time of need.
/troll face
Seriously though, if Microsoft and Sony (and while we're at it, Activision and EA) decide to keep pushing for innovation in the field of fucking over consumers to make money that they likely don't need anywhere near as much as the person spending it, I sure as hell wont be supporting the next generation with the unbridled love that I have supported this generation with (read: throwing wads of cash at games for both consoles even though they don't get played oft as my rig.)
Anyone who still thinks you need to be a doctor or have a salary of one to buy/build a stellar machine that eats babies and shits out small universes should take the time before the potential coming storm and see how affordable a good PC can be. While this whole thing seems unlikely, we really can't trust companies who've infringed on consumer freedom in the past.
/troll face
Seriously though, if Microsoft and Sony (and while we're at it, Activision and EA) decide to keep pushing for innovation in the field of fucking over consumers to make money that they likely don't need anywhere near as much as the person spending it, I sure as hell wont be supporting the next generation with the unbridled love that I have supported this generation with (read: throwing wads of cash at games for both consoles even though they don't get played oft as my rig.)
Anyone who still thinks you need to be a doctor or have a salary of one to buy/build a stellar machine that eats babies and shits out small universes should take the time before the potential coming storm and see how affordable a good PC can be. While this whole thing seems unlikely, we really can't trust companies who've infringed on consumer freedom in the past.
@TSP
Of course it's far fetched. Why the fuck would Sony, or MS, or anyone pick this battle when we ALL KNOW it's a battle that they're going to win anyway without firing a single shot if they can just be patient a little while and wait for the inevitable switch to digital distribution that anyone can see will be here sooner rather than later?
There's being cynical (which I fucking hate personally, but more power to you I guess) and there's being plain old argumentative and short-sighted, dude. No one has ANY reason to pick a fight that they're going to win anyway without lifting a finger pretty soon anyway.
Of course it's far fetched. Why the fuck would Sony, or MS, or anyone pick this battle when we ALL KNOW it's a battle that they're going to win anyway without firing a single shot if they can just be patient a little while and wait for the inevitable switch to digital distribution that anyone can see will be here sooner rather than later?
There's being cynical (which I fucking hate personally, but more power to you I guess) and there's being plain old argumentative and short-sighted, dude. No one has ANY reason to pick a fight that they're going to win anyway without lifting a finger pretty soon anyway.
fucking hate this lock game system on the account.
plus i doubt sony, nintendo, or MS(especially MS) would drop price as low as we see it steam sales.
would be cool if that were to happen though.
plus i doubt sony, nintendo, or MS(especially MS) would drop price as low as we see it steam sales.
would be cool if that were to happen though.
@SkyrimFanatic88
Of course PCs have been doing this since forever but we're talking about an entirely different market, a market which has ALWAYS been able to purchase games with the security of knowing that if they don't like them at the very least the can resell/trade/give them away.
If a company is stupid enough to rip that security away it will do two things, the first is scare customers from spending obscene amounts of money on various games and cut back to only buying what they REALLY want. The second is forcing their customers to go over to the competition where they can still have that security.
This isn't JUST about retailers or more specfically GameStop like so many people seem to be focusing on.
I say, personally wait for the switch to digital. It will happen and people will be more inclined to accept it and the other alternatives will be doing it too.
If you do it now, with physical media you're just pissing way to many people off on the retailer and consumer sides.
Of course PCs have been doing this since forever but we're talking about an entirely different market, a market which has ALWAYS been able to purchase games with the security of knowing that if they don't like them at the very least the can resell/trade/give them away.
If a company is stupid enough to rip that security away it will do two things, the first is scare customers from spending obscene amounts of money on various games and cut back to only buying what they REALLY want. The second is forcing their customers to go over to the competition where they can still have that security.
This isn't JUST about retailers or more specfically GameStop like so many people seem to be focusing on.
I say, personally wait for the switch to digital. It will happen and people will be more inclined to accept it and the other alternatives will be doing it too.
If you do it now, with physical media you're just pissing way to many people off on the retailer and consumer sides.
Gamestop is big player in the video game industry. Sony might get screw big time if they block used games. Gamestop may even not carry any more Sony products. Gamestop wil still be making millions of money with Nintendo, PC, Microsoft. But Microsoft may all also block games
Yeah but the rumors are that the new Xbox will also lock out used games. I think they can get away with both doing it, even if the new Wii doesn't. At the end of the day, they barely compete with the Wii-U.
Gamestop can't refuse to sell -either- system's stuff, as selling hardware and new retail still represents 50% of their profit. Losing half of your profit doesn't mean you can just up and give up on the other half too. Gamestop isn't really in that strong of a position here.
Gamestop can't refuse to sell -either- system's stuff, as selling hardware and new retail still represents 50% of their profit. Losing half of your profit doesn't mean you can just up and give up on the other half too. Gamestop isn't really in that strong of a position here.
"this is how the great era of pirates began in one piece"
???
You could basically sell used PC games up until Steam became big. Sure, there was lots of obnoxious DRM and serial codes and stuff, but, at the end of the day, you could re-sell the majority of your games.
When Steam went big, the last vestiges of that all went away.. and the PC boomed.
???
You could basically sell used PC games up until Steam became big. Sure, there was lots of obnoxious DRM and serial codes and stuff, but, at the end of the day, you could re-sell the majority of your games.
When Steam went big, the last vestiges of that all went away.. and the PC boomed.
@killias2
I understand the point, and I think if MS jumped on board too then yes a united front is stronger.
I feel however I should point out that new sales are not 50% of their profits, there is very little margin on new video games and even less on hardware.
Hence the reason for scratch protection warranties and their need to push used games so hard. It's what keeps them alive.
It's also the reason massive retail outlets use games as loss leaders, there's no damn money to be made on them new anyway.
I understand the point, and I think if MS jumped on board too then yes a united front is stronger.
I feel however I should point out that new sales are not 50% of their profits, there is very little margin on new video games and even less on hardware.
Hence the reason for scratch protection warranties and their need to push used games so hard. It's what keeps them alive.
It's also the reason massive retail outlets use games as loss leaders, there's no damn money to be made on them new anyway.
All that aside however, even with the inevitable shift to digital I'm going to miss the ability to give a friend a game and tell them to check it out because it's really cool.
Instead I'll have to become a temporary member of a marketing division and try to pitch to them why this game is worth spending $109 (or $60 for Americans, $60 is your premium pricing right?).
Hell I probably won't even be able to load my account onto their console and let them download the game and play it because they'll lock my account to the console so I can never sell that.
Then they'll make it so your console gets locked to your TV so you can't even lend your console to someone.
Then they'll make it so you can only play the Sony consoles on Sony TVs.
Then they'll start merging the consoles INTO the TVs and TVs will just become the new gaming consoles.
Then you'll have to tune into channels to play games, and they'll start doing some Foxtel kind of shit with it where you can tune into a SciFi games channel or w/e, then you can do the "pay even more money to get the games on demand" thing.
Then Nintendo will turn around and go "wtf we were doing this balls back in '95 with the Satellaview!".
Thus life will have come full circle, the end.
Instead I'll have to become a temporary member of a marketing division and try to pitch to them why this game is worth spending $109 (or $60 for Americans, $60 is your premium pricing right?).
Hell I probably won't even be able to load my account onto their console and let them download the game and play it because they'll lock my account to the console so I can never sell that.
Then they'll make it so your console gets locked to your TV so you can't even lend your console to someone.
Then they'll make it so you can only play the Sony consoles on Sony TVs.
Then they'll start merging the consoles INTO the TVs and TVs will just become the new gaming consoles.
Then you'll have to tune into channels to play games, and they'll start doing some Foxtel kind of shit with it where you can tune into a SciFi games channel or w/e, then you can do the "pay even more money to get the games on demand" thing.
Then Nintendo will turn around and go "wtf we were doing this balls back in '95 with the Satellaview!".
Thus life will have come full circle, the end.
"I feel however I should point out that new sales are not 50% of their profits, there is very little margin on new video games and even less on hardware. "
Yeah, I guess you're right. I knew that used games made up 50%, so I assumed new games + hardware must be -close- to half. However, I'm looking at the figures now. Just under 30% is new video games hardware or software. Still, that's a -lot- of business, and they can't afford to give that up just out of spite.
Also, if they were forced to put their attention on new hardware, I think they could make more money on it. They just don't have the incentive, as is. Used game profit margins are double those of new game (~50 to ~25), so there's just no reason to have anything except super new games and random games you couldn't sell. Take away used games, however, and that 25% suddenly looks a lot more important.
I think Gamestop would do the smart thing and sell all three. They would take a heavy hitting and would almost certainly have to close a number of stores. Still, they'd survive and do fine.
Yeah, I guess you're right. I knew that used games made up 50%, so I assumed new games + hardware must be -close- to half. However, I'm looking at the figures now. Just under 30% is new video games hardware or software. Still, that's a -lot- of business, and they can't afford to give that up just out of spite.
Also, if they were forced to put their attention on new hardware, I think they could make more money on it. They just don't have the incentive, as is. Used game profit margins are double those of new game (~50 to ~25), so there's just no reason to have anything except super new games and random games you couldn't sell. Take away used games, however, and that 25% suddenly looks a lot more important.
I think Gamestop would do the smart thing and sell all three. They would take a heavy hitting and would almost certainly have to close a number of stores. Still, they'd survive and do fine.
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