Somehow this went right over my head, but many publishers such as THQ, EA, Ubisoft, and Activision are tired of lost profits because of the Secondary market for video games. Soon these companies will be implementing new techniques to "encourage" consumers to buy games when they're brand new.
First of all sorry that this is later in the day, but today has been a hectic day because I move back to school tomorrow. But of course I always have time for VGH so without further a due..
First up on the chopping block is THQ, known for their games such as:
-The Saints Row Series
-Red Faction Series
-WWE Games
-UFC Games
-A multitude of crappy Nickelodeon Games
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| I told you it was real. |
THQ has been bleeding money in the past few years and I see this move as desperate attempt to rake in more money. There first implementation of this idea was tried out in UFC Undisputed 2010 where gamers had to put in a one time code in order to play online multiplayer. If you buy a used copy and wanted to play multiplayer, you would have to buy a code for 400 MS points($5). My issue with THQ implementing this idea is that it's simple, most of their games are garbage...there I said it. I mean I love Saint's Row, Red Faction was good but kind of short, but sorry if the consumers don't exactly want to buy "Bratz Girls Really Rock" (which I kid you not is a real video game) or another one of SpongeBob's adventures for full price. If you make better games, more people will be willing to $50 to $60 for a new game.
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| Of course, that is if we make it to 2012, muhahahaha |
Next up is EA Sports. EA Sports' began this trend in Tiger Wood's PGA Tour 11. Now while I still do not like the idea of crushing the secondary market, I am glad that EA is only implementing this in it's sports titles (at least for now) and I don't think this will be as awful as most think. Before I go deeper, sports games aren't my area of expertise, but there is a new Madden, NCAA, FIFA, NBA, MLB, PGA, NHL, etc.. every year, which essentially means Madden 2010 will be obsolete when Madden 2011 comes out and 2011 will be outdated when 2012 comes out and so on and so on. Now I feel like due to the law of common sense, not too many people would go out and buy Madden 2010 a month before 2011 comes out. So what this leaves me to believe is that a majority of the people who are interested in sport games would buy the latest edition of game right when it comes out and would therefore get it new. So to sum up my rant would be: a lot of sports games are bought brand new already. However if you do buy the game used, like THQ, you can buy a code for $10 and unlock online play. In addition there is a free 7-day online trial.
Finally is Activision and Ubisoft, and while they haven't implemented or specifically said what they'll do, they have said that they are looking into ways to do this.
I'm poor, unemployed, college student and $60 per video games hurts my wallet. I do buy new games every now and then when I have some spare cash, but more often I buy games used. If I buy a game used for $20 compared to $60, I wouldn't mind if I didn't get the "full" experience. My issue with this whole idea is that
They are punishing the people who buy used games instead of rewarding the people who buy new.
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| I'm gonna let you finish, but DA:O had the best example of all time. |
In Dragon Age: Origins, oddly enough an EA game (which makes me wonder why they do just copy this model in their sports games), gamers who bought the game new got access to Shale, a golem companion, and her related quest if they bought the game new. Otherwise you would have to pay $15 dollars to download the character if you bought the game used. This is still a perfect model of rewarding people who buy new rather than punishing people who buy used. Effective ways of implementing this idea is by rewarding New game buyers with extra DLC or in-game exclusives rather than stripping used gamers of important game play mechanics like online play.
Crushing the secondary market is not the way to go. Instead gaming publishers should reward the primary market with extra content and entice consumers to buy new rather then removing content from the games that are used.
Do you think I'm wrong or right? Do you have your own questions, comments, our concerns? Please feel free to comment below, and don't forget to check out our forums too.
If your curious...
THQ:
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=259308EA:
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=246073Activision:
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=258926Ubisoft:
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=247171
I think rewarding the primary market with extra content is pretty awesome in terms of buyers actually buying the game when it comes out. But places like Gamestop or EB games (If they actually still exists) when you buy a second hand game from them, usually promo's that are included in game are sometimes not there anymore because it belonged to a previous owner. Anyways the point is, that it is a nice little treat for the person who actually bought the game full price rather than the game depreciating in value and still having that special in game content. Maybe, like have a "Release Date" promo in-game content. Something like that, anyways good article fun read. Keep em' coming!
That would be way too expensive to have a Release Date in-game content promo.
@lookin_boy
There could be release date only DLC that expires the day after the game is released, I don't think that'd be too hard/expensive.
Gamestop rips off customers so much.