Comment Re:Right of first sale, beotches! (Score 1) 197
Y'know, though, the thing Mark's on about (which isn't clear from the above) is that these stores are aggregators who are *actively* ripping off developers.
"I'd like a copy of Madden 2005, please."
Store clerk notices that there's a used copy available, so hands you that.
You're not even asked anymore, because the clerks are trained to give out used in preference to new. Trained not even to ask!
Using cars as an analogy is pretty weak, simply because buying a new car gives you real advantages over buying a used one. Warranty, for one. The fact that it's new and yours to drive without oil for another.
I don't think that game developers have any problem with people reselling their games. I think they have a problem with the people they want to distribute and sell their product actually preferring to sell a used version of that product.
Imagine if you went to the movie theatre and they offered to sell you a copy for less than the ticket price, but you just had to take the disc home to watch it? ...and you could sell back that disc after you were done with it, if you wanted.
I totally understand why independent game developers don't like resales of their games. As games get more and more expensive to make, I'm guessing the resale industry (as opposed to people selling on ebay or among acquaintances) is going to hasten the move to some DRM as a solution and that is something I surely don't want. Yes, I've been burned by many game purchases that sucked. Yes, I wish game developers could give us more content that was interesting and didn't make me "finish" it at any time, but the fact is, for the games *I* want to play, I want a compelling and interesting story that actually comes to an end. Best Buy, EB, and Gamestop selling as many used copies as new of a particular title means that it's that much less likely for a followup to that title.
"I'd like a copy of Madden 2005, please."
Store clerk notices that there's a used copy available, so hands you that.
You're not even asked anymore, because the clerks are trained to give out used in preference to new. Trained not even to ask!
Using cars as an analogy is pretty weak, simply because buying a new car gives you real advantages over buying a used one. Warranty, for one. The fact that it's new and yours to drive without oil for another.
I don't think that game developers have any problem with people reselling their games. I think they have a problem with the people they want to distribute and sell their product actually preferring to sell a used version of that product.
Imagine if you went to the movie theatre and they offered to sell you a copy for less than the ticket price, but you just had to take the disc home to watch it?
I totally understand why independent game developers don't like resales of their games. As games get more and more expensive to make, I'm guessing the resale industry (as opposed to people selling on ebay or among acquaintances) is going to hasten the move to some DRM as a solution and that is something I surely don't want. Yes, I've been burned by many game purchases that sucked. Yes, I wish game developers could give us more content that was interesting and didn't make me "finish" it at any time, but the fact is, for the games *I* want to play, I want a compelling and interesting story that actually comes to an end. Best Buy, EB, and Gamestop selling as many used copies as new of a particular title means that it's that much less likely for a followup to that title.
