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Perry: Used games pushing industry to digital distribution photo

Dave Perry is obsessed with the issue of used games. His rants on the subject have been numerous, and now he's implicated GameStop and its ilk in the game industry's recent drive to pursue digital distribution. Claiming that his own digital service Gaiki has already made folks at GameStop "hate" him, Perry has basically implied that such services are the company's own fault.

"I've made so much money from their store, so I can't be mean to them about that," says Perry, talking about Gaikai. "I can be mean about their used game policy, because they're pushing the industry to digital distribution perhaps faster than it would have gone."

Perry will likely never shut up about used games until the world has gone fully digital, but I really wish he'd can it. We get it -- publishers love making vast amounts of money and they feel cheated that they can't continue making cash off something they already sold once. Boo hoo, poor publisher.

Once again, I'll reiterate what I've said many times before -- it's a fact of life and a part of business. Capitalism is great for the games industry when it's using the system to make a fat profit, but sadly you can't just cut out the bits of capitalism you don't like. Take the good with the bad, the bad in this case being that GameStop has a right to sell secondhand products, just like car dealerships and charity chops can sell used cars and clothes.

I wish publishers would just sit tight and wait for the digital age. We all know they're going to rape we  customers with the fury of a thousand suns once they achieve complete market control, so the least they could do is shut up and take the hit while consumers still have a choice.


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33 comments | showing # 1 to 33

Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:08
Magnalon
The day that everything is digital will be the day all of us cease to actually own our games. These glorified "rental" mediums such as Steam (no internet? no game) and DRM protected digital software (heck, even Popcap only lets you install a game 5 times when you buy it digitally) are the first step to the darkside.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:09
Holyetheline
Rape us? Yes they will. Rape we? not so much...
Tha Meat's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:10
Tha Meat
What about the small idependent game stores? Gamestops arent the only ones selling used games. I try to buy most of my used games from independant games store while only buying at gamestop when they have those buy 2 get one free sales. This reminds me of a time when a Wallmart tried to slither into our town. What would happen to all the smaller local stores if it did, well, they'd be run out of business. So what did the town do...they protested it and didn't let it happen. In capitalist societies the consumers as a community have the power, so lets use that power to tell publishers to STFU and enjoy the $60 we spend on a new release, those greedy bastards. In this situation think about the little guys and not the gamestops!
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:11
Monodi
Well stop making games so god-awfully fucking expensive.
Jonathan Ross's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:13
Jonathan Ross
@magnalon

Steam has an offline mode that allows you to play any games you've purchased when you don't have an internet connection, unless it's an online only game like TF2.
GabrielMobius's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:16
GabrielMobius
That's something I've always found strange about the 'licensing' aspect of software, and I'm not quite sure if the legal aspects of it have really been examined yet. Technically, when you 'purchase' software, you do not actually own it. You are merely licensing it from the publisher. This means that a lot of the rights which should be conferred to you on purchase are not. And given that PC games haven't really been able to be sold 'used' since the advent of DRM which requires online activation (negating piracy, or a childish move to curtail used game sales? YOU DECIDE), I don't even see how his babbling makes any sense. No current gen consoles use digital distribution all that much for their primary sales, and the discs can still be resold easily. Really, he's talking out of his ass.
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:17
Monodi
Also SquareEnix should straight the fuck up, the ChronoTrigger port for DS costed me 40 bucks, is they are going to release a good game they actually put effort in it instead of moving the same sprites it is worth every penny.
koehler83's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:19
koehler83
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Perry is a retard.

I also think Earthworm Jim was fucking lame.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:21
Cowboy TTop
I still think that no industry should expect to get paid twice, for a single product. Sorry Dave Perry, you are a champ of the industry, but I disagree. The consumer doesn't want a DLC future, but the powers that be are forcing it on us. While I understand this from a piracy perspective, beyond that its very foggy.

The key in my view is co-existence. Physical and DLC.

You want to kill Gamestop's used games etc, then promote services like Goozex instead, yet it seems those in the industry are too greedy, just like Gamestop to do this. It has to be more money their way or else, which is bs. Why should we all get screwed twice?

For this reason, I'll be sticking to ebay and Goozex, because the industry does not have my (or your) best interests at heart.
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:22
Magnalon
@Jonathan
From the website:
"Please note that you must connect to the Steam Network and test each of the games you would like to use in Offline Mode at least once to set up your account and configure Offline Mode on your machine."

What if you have an unexpected outage, and forgot to set up a few games?

You are right though, that is good enough, and I am rather steam-noobish, but my thoughts on DRM still stands: which tends to go hand in hand with digital purchases.
protomark's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:29
protomark
I'm really not looking forward to the digital age. it puts a cramp on my geek reppin' skillz when i can't show off my mad shelvez of vidconz.
lou's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:30
lou
I think if everyone was forced to purchase their games "new" then there will just be less people playing a particular game. Some people can only afford to play a ton of games *because* there is a used market that allows someone to purchase games secondhand for cheaper. So this means certain IPs would never reach as wide an audience as they can now.

This also makes collecting games worthless. Why would you collect when there's no resell value for them? Game companies would be killing their own launch desirability with collector's editions and limited editions.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:36
Cowboy TTop
Adding to my last post, you know something, I think its about time us consumers stood up for ourselves, to make sure we still have access to physical media.

Game devs/pubs want to get paid twice, for a single product, like they are special fuckers or something. You lot will be getting paid twice from me, when hell freezes over. I support this industry with my money and time, so don't start fucking us over, otherwise, worse case scenario, I'll just quit supporting the industry with my money and play my collection.

Also, that stuff about us not owning stuff is cool in legal speak, but if that's the case, they should come build some shelves at mine, to store their games. Sorry, IMO, I OWN WHAT I BUY, regardless of any legal bs, only lawyers and judges ever understand.
Kagasumi's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:38
Kagasumi
Digital to fight piracy, that is a more legit reason. I can't imagine that used game sales really put any sort of crimp in the initial sales rush on a game...and that is when they make the bulk fo their money.
Sure it does cost them some money. If 1 person got the game used instead of new, that's a missed sale. But let's let capitalism function, and instead focus on true thefts.
Piracy will cause more and more games to require online connections, online registrations and reg codes, and digital downloading via Steam or PSN/XboxLive. I don't think this is a bad thing at all actually, but I do miss owning a box.
jawshoeuh's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:42
jawshoeuh
Hey, yea, you may be able to sell just about anything in this country second hand, but WE ARE THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY, people, our product is special and not meant for the desecration of a used game bargain bin.
Toucan Gourmand's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:45
Toucan Gourmand
I find this reasoning to be very hypocritical of the games industry.
They don't want people to be able to sell or trade their old games?
Movies, books, art and music all have used stores and people trade or borrow things directly with each other...why should video games be any different?

Eliminate used game stores, remove the ability to do used game trades and piracy levels will skyrocket.
Timmeh's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:46
Timmeh
I don't want an all digital future. Experience has shown that it won't bring down the price of games, we will be denied the ability to sell the titles we purchase, and publishers will just squeeze the (admittedly quite willing) gaming audience for ever more money.

Systems like Steam show how with a few kind words and a bit of PR people will happily relinquish their rights in return for nothing. I just love how great Steam is, like how if you own a game and buy a pack that contains it Valve basically just retain the extra serial key to sell to someone else. That's awesome isn't it? That way you don't have to go to the trouble of selling your extra copy on eBay or something - man, physical copies really suck.
KrazyKraut's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 14:48
KrazyKraut
that we buy used (not the psn/xbl shit, i mean on ebay, amazon or pawnbroker/flea market in a physical box) for older systems like psx, n64, dc, ps2 or even pc are only the revenge for the new shitty games that they bring out. they should stop crying and make their work like some years ago, when ppl had shinny/wet eyes when they hold the gamebox with wonderful artwork of a wonderful game in their hands. David Perry (http://www.dperry.com/) when you are passioned video gamer (because thats one of the biggest requirements of a video game developer/designer) than you should know that you talk bullshit.the game industry is becoming like in the european soccer league: its not about the game itself, its about the fucking money €_€ $_$. If I would be a game dev...and someone would say to me that i made fucking awesome game...and its his/her favorite game...I would like that my dick explodes...and not my purse.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 15:00
Cowboy TTop
I agree Kraut, the money has been spoiling the love for a while now. It helps make some great games too, but there must be a balance of customer fairness and money made.

Hey, Devs/Pubs of all shit games, I'm going to burn all of mine, if you still own them, come and claim them from me and my bonfire, since apparently I don't own them. Oh yeah, you can't can you, suckers.

There's an old saying, don't bite the hand that feeds you. I can live without the games industry (as I have other hobbies), but can the games industry truly live without me and my money? They should think carefully next time, that they wave that almighty DLC future flag.
KrazyKraut's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 15:07
KrazyKraut
@Cowboy TTop: yeah, thats true. and how many game studios will close in the next time...or devs get fired because of money probs?
farlander's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 15:22
farlander
I think he's right, and why Gamestop has the right to profit over and over off of the product it didn't even produce in the first place, and the actual developer doesn't have that right. I think Gamestop needs to share its used game profits - after all, those profits directly depend on how good the game is (how well the developers did their job).
that1dude24's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 16:01
that1dude24
@farlander

Better not buy a used car or antiques then. Or go to Pawn America. Or log on to ebay. In fact, never buy any previously owned items, as they won't give money to the developers/inventors.

I think it's ridiculous that game companies are whining about used games while used items have been a part of our society for a long time. To rehash an old statement: Does marvel deserve a share every time a copy of spiderman trades hands?
TriggerRedd's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 16:04
TriggerRedd
If publishers are whining that they can't make money off the same product twice, they're fools. But, if they're whining that they aren't making money once because instead of buying a game new, Johnny buys a used copy of the game, perhaps that's more legitimate.
Bioautographical's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 16:29
Bioautographical
Any "damage" from used games is going to be extremely limited. In any given area, if there are X amount of used copies for sale, that means an equal number of people must have first bought that game new. Once that supply of used games runs out, it's either new or nothing. At least SOME gamers are impulsive enough to not want to wait for a used copy to become available, and will still buy new. And that's not to mention the contingency of people who simply don't buy used if they can help it - who want to be the first and only to own the products they buy.

Will used copies prevent new, revenue-generating sales? Occasionally, yes. But it's limited to the number of copies bought used and relinquished back to the merchandiser; however, that is turned into store credit, which can again be used for the purchase of new OR used games.

Perhaps if the larger game outlets agreed to only apply store credit to the purchases of new game titles? Might that be a bit more mutually beneficial?
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 16:33
Monodi
@TriggerRedd

Still vents away a lot of potential buyers by overpricing them or not makin gmuch good titles that seem to deserve your cash.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 16:48
Cowboy TTop
No, No, No! The games industry needs to learn it can't have its cake, sell it and expect a slice to eat two weeks later.

And the funny thing is they don't even realise they are treading a dangerous path, that could easily end up like the dot com crunch.

Ask yourselves, why did Rome fall? Simple greed can end it all.
Turbofail's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 18:08
Turbofail
Does Perry not understand how utterly poor his argument is? Does he just put his hands over his ears while singing "LA LA LA" while he browses Ebay on his second hand chair in the house he bought from another family who lived in it years ago?
aZZmodan's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 18:35
aZZmodan
Jim, I used to not like you, a lot. But after reading this along with "used games are bad for customers" part, which I've missed when it came on, I can honestly say that I love you. You still smell funny, but I love you none the less...
Karma-Suture's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 18:51
Karma-Suture
Dave Perry hasn't touched a decent game since the glory days of Shiny, what, 15 years ago? If you want more money, make a game that sells copies *period* before you start worrying about whether or not they're new.

I absolutely loathe how high these twats toss their noses in the air at people that dare pay a fair price for a game... as if people will EVER pay 60 dollars for 95% of the drivel the industry floods shelves with year in and year out.

And what about game rentals? They profit off of an initial batch of copies sold, sure, but those copies are in turn lent to people for pennies on the dollar in exchange for the full retail experience, over and over and over again, and then ultimately sold off used at a discounted price. The nerve! Imagine a world where every one of those renters *had* to pay 60 dollars to play the game... I can see their dollar-sign slot-machine eyeballs spinning as I type this.

Bottom Line: You will not inherit my money if you deprive me of the opportunity to wait and pay the price I want at retail or on the secondhand market. I simply won't buy your game at all.

Win?
ration's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 19:00
ration
the digital age is going to make piracy a whole lot easier, so that will

keep the publishers in check I should hope. I don't think its wrong for

companies like Gamestop to sell used games, but they resell them at inflated

prices: I'd rather buy $60 for a new game then spend $5 less on a used one.

I don't even care for buying recent used games unless they will be at least

25% off.
capitan's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 23:22
capitan
even if we do reach the digital age where everything becomes digitally distributed, some guy will come along to hack the system because of all the nonsense that people have to deal with from the publishers. SecureROM limited installs? pointless CD/DVD detection systems? instead of wasting all their time and money developing these systems, they should just develop the game then sell it. we already know the people who pirate the game are just going to break the protection on it in a few days. why waste months and a million dollars developing something that will only take some guy in his basement computer 70 hours to break and spread it to everyone else? chances are they will make more money by cutting back development cost and time. with the reduced cost just sell the game at a lower price. there will always be piracy and a black market but you can reduce the incentive for it.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 00:10
Chronic Logic
As long as digital distribution makes game cheaper, why care?
aZZmodan's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 03:14
aZZmodan
On a sidenote, make good games. Good games sell. Of course they get pirated as well, but good games always sell none the less. Look at Blizzard for Christ's sake. Piracy doesn't kill games. Good games kill piracy.
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