Publishers Frustrated With Second-Hand Sales

Via Joystiq, a look at MCV into the increasing frustration publishers have with second-hand game sales. From the article: "As pressure has increased this year on sell-through and pricing of new releases, so games publishers have become more sensitive about the size of the pre-owned market - which is believed to be worth as much as £50m a year to leading chain GAME and possibly £100m across the market as a whole. Publishers have agreed to discuss privately what action may be possible to stop the trend, either under the auspices of trade body ELSPA or simply via legal protection." We've already reported on Epic VP Mark Rein's opinion on reselling games.

Comments

Morons.

[KDR_11k]

Publishers have agreed to discuss privately what action may be possible to stop the trend, either under the auspices of trade body ELSPA or simply via legal protection.

"Our business model isn't as profitable as it could be, let's outlaw competing with us!"

Isn't the point of capitalism that you're supposed to fix that yourself instead of bribing a politician to do it for you? The software industry already has a lot of special rights that should have been taken away long ago (beginning with that "it's not a sale, it's a license" crap), they don't need more.

Why do we sell games?

[dascandy]

> frustration publishers have with second-hand game sales.

If you'd make a DECENT GAME to start with, I wouldn't want to sell it.

Frustrations abound

[msuzio]

So... they're frustrated that they can't make more money?

Well, damn, we have a lot in common.

Give me a break

[Anonymous Coward]

This is ridiculous. You don't see car manufacturers trying to stop people selling second hand cars.

These people need to get it through their thick heads that once you've sold something to me, it becomes my property. You can't have it both ways. If you offer something for sale, then give it to me in exchange for money, then it's mine. And if it's mine, then it's mine to sell.

And don't give me any bullshit about "selling me a license". Do you say "buy a license NOW!" in adverts? Does the box say "License to play Gran Turismo" on it, or does it say "Gran Turismo"? You are selling the game, not a license.

You really want to make people stop selling second hand games? Fine. There's a legal way of doing that. Make them sign a contract when they buy it. That'll stop people selling second-hand. Why? Because they won't buy it in the first place, you eejits!

Re:Give me a break

[KDR_11k]

No. We are selling an experience, a community.

No, you're selling a box with some optical media in it because that's what I get for my money. I don't buy a good evening from Wolters and I don't buy a vacation in France from Opel.

The argument about causing more loss is only true if we assume that all copies resold would have gone into the trash instead because otherwise there'd still be a user attached to them causing you that loss. Assuming there's any actual loss caused by people owning the game, of course.