Do Games Industry People Buy Used Games?

By George Walker | October 23, 2006

Do professionals in the Games Industry buy their games used or new? That is the question Gamasutra put to their audience of game developers, teachers, and students. The answers varied wildy, as can be expected.

Once a game, or a book, or a record, or a DVD, is sold, the new owner of that copy of the item has always had a right to re-sell it. This is a fundamental right that comes with purchasing a product. Trying to re-write that fundamental rule of our society just so that publishers can make more money is wrong, plain and simple.
– George Rappolt, Hologic

I don’t buy used games, but I also don’t pay full price and would rather wait until it drops in price or buy it from discounters. The cost of game development is skyrocketing at least for now, and until that levels off in a way where less man hours are spent in the process, the developer community will continue to bleed money (except for the very few games which make a lot of course). I am concerned, but there are many ways to make money from the gaming community. In the end, you must cater to the customer and really deliver what they want. I know that for myself, the kinds of games I wish for or the kinds of technologies I am waiting for, I may have to wait a long time before I am satisfied enough to pay large amounts for the mostly idiotic games that are being produced these days.
– Armen Levonian, SCEA

As a dyed in the wool capitalist myself, I can’t support restricting any kind of restrictions on aftermarket selling. Just look at my opinions regarding PS3 selling.

At the same time, I won’t be surprised to see the big publishers do everything they can to squash this kind of activity. At the time, they turned out to be only rumors but it might not be long before someone implements Sony’s alledged evil anti-used game scheme.