Posted February 14, 2010
HertogJan: Actually it's exactly what's this about.
The $10 project is EA's way to make money out of the 2nd hand market.
PoSSeSSeDCoW: Yes, and no one has yet shown that it is wrong. They have shown that companies almost never make money from the 2nd hand market, but not that it is wrong for them to do so. The $10 project is EA's way to make money out of the 2nd hand market.
So far the only companies making money out of the 2nd hand market are 3rd parties, like auction sites.
I don't see why anyone would make money of of my property and on my expense.
I'm aware I'm not the owner of the software, but I am the owner of that specific copy of that game I bought.
HertogJan: Incorrect. It shows that people are willing to buy games, music, movies, etc. if the price is cheaper than the new price.
PoSSeSSeDCoW: The new price is not fixed. It changes over time. Some people aren't willing to wait till it's at a level they like it to be, so they buy a 2nd hand copy. PoSSeSSeDCoW: Initial sales will be posponed.
When I was younger and had less money, I used to sell games I played and had no more interest in.
Nothing to cite, just personal experience.
HertogJan: People will pospone buys till they can get a game for a descent price.
Less initial sales means publishers will take less risks, something that's already happening.
PoSSeSSeDCoW: Citation needed. Also, if they're already taking less risks because of less initial sales, how is the used games market helping? Less initial sales means publishers will take less risks, something that's already happening.
All major publishers have sacked people due to the economic situation.
They expect less sales so they take less risks and therefore go for "certain sales".
No used games market means less initial sales, as I explained above.
HertogJan: No 2nd hand market also means people are more likely to "buy" digital downloads instead of the physical product.
Steam is more likely to have a descent and better sale a lot earlier than retail stores will be able to.
A higher market share for Steam isn't good for gamers.
It means we get more DRM invested games which we don't buy but only rent.
PoSSeSSeDCoW: So used game prices being lower is bad, but new game prices being lower earlier is also bad. Okay. Steam is more likely to have a descent and better sale a lot earlier than retail stores will be able to.
A higher market share for Steam isn't good for gamers.
It means we get more DRM invested games which we don't buy but only rent.
If EA continues it plans and games get less content than used game prices will be lower.
Less content is indeed bad, lower prices for used games is a consequence.
HertogJan: The 2nd hand market has existed for ages and never did the original creator of the good get money out of it.
I don't see why game publishers should be any different.
2nd hand goods are part of the economy.
EA should realise that people buying 2nd hand games are willing to pay for games if the price is right.
PoSSeSSeDCoW: Once again, it isn't that the price is too high, it's that the price is lower for used games. Most people that I have met who primarily buy used games buy them because the price is cheaper than the new price, not because the new price is too high. I don't see why game publishers should be any different.
2nd hand goods are part of the economy.
EA should realise that people buying 2nd hand games are willing to pay for games if the price is right.
The new price for games here in retail stores is at least € 50 and in some cases already € 60.
In most cases that's the normal edition and not an edition with extras.
HertogJan: Activision disagrees with you. I wish prices came down sooner, but it isn't necessarily bad for business, as Activision's increase in revenue this quarter will tell you. CoD4 has sold over 13 million copies and the price has only dropped by $10.
PoSSeSSeDCoW: COD4 managed to remain popular due to the multiplayer component. It's one of the most popular multiplayer games for years.
COD5 is proofing you wrong and having read all the bad reviews from gamers about the COD6 multiplayer component, I doubt it will be that popular that long.
Post edited February 14, 2010 by HertogJan