Used Games Can Be Solved Very Easily: Cheaper Downloadable Games

[desura]

It is very simple. Simply make downloadable games available, concurrently, with retail games. Give a hefty discount. Say, $40 instead of $60. Make it available on launch also.

On the PSN already I believe you can buy AAA titles on the service, so it makes lots of sense to just emphasize downloadable titles more. Maybe even bundle larger hard drives, say 1tb instead of 500gb.

Getting rid of used games would have required a price drop anyways.

Retailers like Walmart wouldn't be happy, of course, and that's what probably keeps them from doing this.

 

[zerocool84]

This has already been said to death. It's not going happen even though it costs them significantly less to do it digitally than in store. It's just not going to happen. It's just convenience right now with the occasional sale that sometimes makes it cheaper.

 

[BrightCandle]

I think its also about rights and ownership. Second hand games are about giving games to your friends, lending a game to your wife and other basic human rights for ownership of something. Transference via secondary sales is one part of those rights that results in a money exchange but it isn't the only one.

Making the games cheaper does not solve the problem of a family playing the same game but on one console (and hence one at a time) or the lending of a game to a friend.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I think its also about rights and ownership. Second hand games are about giving games to your friends, lending a game to your wife and other basic human rights for ownership of something. Transference via secondary sales is one part of those rights that results in a money exchange but it isn't the only one.

Making the games cheaper does not solve the problem of a family playing the same game but on one console (and hence one at a time) or the lending of a game to a friend.

Yes, but the thought behind it is as the price falls, many are less concerned about it because you can generally buy more copies for the same price. Another words 1@60 or 2@30. You make the same amount of money, and with the lower price you also have the potential to draw in more people. As the price is lower, there is less value associated to it so people don't mind not being able to trade or buy used because you are already buying at "normal" used prices.

This is why Steam really took off with their mega sales. I never touched Steam until they started doing that. 90% of my catalog was $10 or less. Same with my console games, because anything I had to play right away I just rented. When a game can be beat in 6-20 hours, there is no reason to pay $60 for them.

The concept is completely different around multiplayer based games because there is inherently for much more game time. This is why product keys that prevent you from reselling are much more tolerated. However, it still doesn't solve the problem if the game just not being enjoyable to you and you are stuck with it. (Reviews only can do so much).

 

[cmdrdredd]

If the game was $60 on disk, $50 used but the digital one was $50 too people might consider digital.

 

[mmntech]

If the game was $60 on disk, $50 used but the digital one was $50 too people might consider digital.

That's how it is on PC. Generally games are $10 cheaper. Sony does charge less for digital copies on the Vita, but then rips you off on the memory cards. With consoles, the manufacturer has a monopoly over digital sales. So there's little incentive to lower the price. They'd rather change the $60 and pocket the logistics savings. The used game debate was always about monopolizing distribution and the industry looking for an excuse to do it.

 

[cmdrdredd]

That's how it is on PC. Generally games are $10 cheaper. Sony does charge less for digital copies on the Vita, but then rips you off on the memory cards. With consoles, the manufacturer has a monopoly over digital sales. So there's little incentive to lower the price. They'd rather change the $60 and pocket the logistics savings. The used game debate was always about monopolizing distribution and the industry looking for an excuse to do it.

Yeah, but if they want to force digital they have to show it as a better value. They haven't done that. Until you show cost savings for not having the physical media and box, people aren't going to be all in.

The other issue is ISPs imposing data caps. So for people who buy a lot of games in a month, they can get close to some of those caps.

 

[alangrift]

The problem with digital sales is they are generally done directly by the console provider. If there were multiple different vendors like there are for Android (to a certain extent) then it would make things fairer. Also allowing people to sell their license to a game or lending it to someone else digitally would be great too.

 

[Ancalagon44]

I dont think we need a "fix" - publishers need to respect the rights of consumers.

Put it this way - publishers are facing tough times, so instead of adjusting their business model to fit the market, they want to adjust the market to fit the business model. Sorry guys, not how it works, or at least, not how it should work.

 

[alangrift]

I dont think we need a "fix" - publishers need to respect the rights of consumers.

Put it this way - publishers are facing tough times, so instead of adjusting their business model to fit the market, they want to adjust the market to fit the business model. Sorry guys, not how it works, or at least, not how it should work.

Well if they could manipulate the market enough to ban used games, then everyone would have to buy it new making more money for them!

 

[Ancalagon44]

Well if they could manipulate the market enough to ban used games, then everyone would have to buy it new making more money for them!

And I could make more money if I could manipulate the market so that everyone is forced to buy a copy of my game (when it is eventually released).

That doesnt mean I should be able to do so.

 

[alangrift]

And I could make more money if I could manipulate the market so that everyone is forced to buy a copy of my game (when it is eventually released).

That doesnt mean I should be able to do so.

I'm just saying that all the digital publishers will want to make more money, and this is one method of doing it.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I dont think we need a "fix" - publishers need to respect the rights of consumers.

Put it this way - publishers are facing tough times, so instead of adjusting their business model to fit the market, they want to adjust the market to fit the business model. Sorry guys, not how it works, or at least, not how it should work.

Isn't this sort of like the music industry in a way? The industry kinda failed to be proactive on digital music.

 

[dagamer34]

The price of products is has and always will be more tightly related to what the market is willing to pay instead of individual component prices (hardware) or development costs (software) because the goal of these products is profits, not to cover costs.

As such, they will always strive for $60 digital games, since many people have already shown a willingness to spend $60 in the first place.

 

[alangrift]

Isn't this sort of like the music industry in a way? The industry kinda failed to be proactive on digital music.

But the music industry isn't limited to sell through a couple of vendors like publishers are with games.

 

[Ancalagon44]

Isn't this sort of like the music industry in a way? The industry kinda failed to be proactive on digital music.

And just like the games industry, they blamed piracy for many years.

First the games industry blamed piracy, now it blames used game sales. Next they will want 10% of our salaries "just in case".

 

[dagamer34]

The problem with digital sales is they are generally done directly by the console provider. If there were multiple different vendors like there are for Android (to a certain extent) then it would make things fairer. Also allowing people to sell their license to a game or lending it to someone else digitally would be great too.

Thing is, has this ever been implemented in any digital goods store? The problem is when you can make an exact replica of a piece of content, there's no idea of "used". There's no such thing as a used MP3, or used Kindle book, or used iTunes movie.

What you really want then is a digital subscription service for games, and I have a feeling that we are probably going to get that this generation since all games will be digital. I could see it being $15/month, pick 2 games out of 10 (they'd be 6-12 months old), and for that month (and that month only) you'd get to play them all you want. I'd also expect them to more heavily favor multiplayer titles. It's all about someone running the numbers.

 

[cmdrdredd]

And just like the games industry, they blamed piracy for many years.

First the games industry blamed piracy, now it blames used game sales. Next they will want 10% of our salaries "just in case".

Lol yeah...I did think it was similar in some ways.

 

[cmdrdredd]

But the music industry isn't limited to sell through a couple of vendors like publishers are with games.

Well what stops someone like Sony or MS offering download codes through GameStop, amazon, new egg, etc etc just like you can get a psn+ or xbl code instantly online or buy a PC game and get the download code.

 

[alangrift]

Well what stops someone like Sony or MS offering download codes through GameStop, amazon, new egg, etc etc just like you can get a psn+ or xbl code instantly online or buy a PC game and get the download code.

Well, that's just one extra man in the middle. Why can't video games publishers do that directly with stores instead of having to pay Sony (in one form or another).

 

[cmdrdredd]

Well, that's just one extra man in the middle. Why can't video games publishers do that directly with stores instead of having to pay Sony (in one form or another).

I wasn't aware that Sony charged anything to put up a game on psn. I know MS does, one of the reasons Indie devs seem to like Sony right now.

 

[dagamer34]

Well what stops someone like Sony or MS offering download codes through GameStop, amazon, new egg, etc etc just like you can get a psn+ or xbl code instantly online or buy a PC game and get the download code.

What good would a download code do you when you still need to download the game? The only market that would appeal to is teenagers who don't have debit/credit cards, care enough to desire a digital copy of the game, and have fast home internet connections. Seems pretty niche to me.

 

[cmdrdredd]

What good would a download code do you when you still need to download the game? The only market that would appeal to is teenagers who don't have debit/credit cards, care enough to desire a digital copy of the game, and have fast home internet connections. Seems pretty niche to me.

Amazon does it all the time with PC games. Put the code on steam but you buy from amazon.

But again it works cause amazon is not price locked and can discount the game.

 

[dagamer34]

I wasn't aware that Sony charged anything to put up a game on psn. I know MS does, one of the reasons Indie devs seem to like Sony right now.

Sony still isn't going to allow a free-for-all like Google Play. You need to send in a concept of your game (closer to demo-ready the better), then they'll give you feedback which you can do whatever with. I think they still reserve the right to reject your game if it's clearly a "my first game" attempt, they do not need that stuff cluttering up their store.

 

[dagamer34]

Amazon does it all the time with PC games. Put the code on steam but you buy from amazon.

Amazon is weird as a retailer since they are often willing to take a loss on the goods they sell for some reason just so you buy from them.