MikeMcD

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Publishers are working hard to avoid losing out on potential sales due to the used games market. EA created the Online Pass earlier this year that would grant various features (depending on the game) to people who buy a new copy of the game, and THQ did the same thing with the latest UFC game. Activision is now looking to be more aggressive in trying to persuade gamers to opt for a new copy of its titles rather than saving a few bucks up-front by purchasing a used copy.
During an investors call yesterday, Activision Blizzard COO Thomas tippl explained (via CVG), "We are still evaluating various possibilities for greater participation in the used-games business. What's been working the best so far is providing additional content and therefore limiting the supply to used games.
"So that's a proven strategy that we will continue. And any other initiatives, we will be talking about when we get closer to it."

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beasTer

This is really annoying. Who wants to spend full price for an older game? What would happen if I bought a car used from a neighbor if the car industry tried this. I would then have to pay Chevy to be able to fill my gas tank?

WTF?

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TheHunter360

Maybe if Gamestop shared the profit they made from selling used games this wouldn't be an issue.

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Platy

The used game market is bigger in the UK than in America. There's shops dedicated to buying used games. I rarely buy new games because of it. I can see where they're coming from, but I'd hate to see it happen.

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beasTer

The thing is, while they might be losing some dollars here and there, video game sales are breaking records with every flipping release. Does it really matter all that much? And what about video game rentals and services like Gamefly? Are they going to work to impede that as well?

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Platy

As far as I know, the used game market has only recently taken off in the huge way it has. I'm assuming it's a largely undefined area, as in who gets what money. I wouldn't be against video games companies taking a small pecentage (say 3-5%) of used game sales as all the shops mark up the games by a lot to make some money from them.

I assume they also get some money from game rentals, so this isn't as big of a problem imo.

But yeah, they're making lots of money from games sales as it is. However, I can see used games affecting smaller companies more than it affects Activision and companies of that size.

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