Thoughts on Used Games

[Riyonuk]

Just wanted to get some feedback on what my fellow CAG's think of used games. Do you buy them? If so, are you paranoid wether its really complete? Like it didnt come with a soundtrack or 2nd disc, and they have it in a 1 disc case? Someone from CAG should make a list of things that come with games, you know? For us poor guys like me that are starting to relize I can get 4 used games for 1 new one.

[mayoking93]

I absolutely love used games. I will only buy New games if it is a really good deal. There is no point in buying it new as long as it works. No reason being anal if buying a used game is going to save you a lot of money.

[LostRoad]

Wasm't there a topic about this just a little bit ago? All the same it is kinda easy to see how most of CAG looks at used games, check out the trading forum and request a deal forum. As for making a list, eh.. why bother just check the game as a trade in with estarland.com 9/10 times they have listed what comes with that game.

[Riyonuk]

Thanks, Ill check with estarland. Wow no wonder I have so few games, I'm gonna check into some used games.

[ZForce]

I don't mind buying used games so long as they're complete and in good condition. I'm pretty anal like that

[xghostsniperx]

Yea, they've gotta be complete and in pristine condition. I won't even touch it if the manual is missing.

Another thing I'm incredibly anal about is those damn EB/GS stickers. GS has much easier stickers to peel off, but I have to take the EB stickers to three rounds of Goo Gone. It's ridiculous.

[GrimNecroWizard]

I can normally find new games cheaper, especially with the GGC. I'd gladly pay a dollar or 2 more for a new one.

[stag8603]

Very rarely do I buy new games. Usually only when there is a new game I want that I can't wait to get. Madden 07 is one. That for $48 at CC is probably cheaper than what GS/EB will charge for their used copies, so that was easily worth it (for me). Other than that really the only times I buy games are when B2G1 free sales come around and I usually pick up at least 6 used games. Also when there's a sale like the CC $8.96 one.

Oh yeah, I like having the original case (some are blanks) and the manual. And the disc in good condition. The only problem I've ever had is when my brother bought Tekken 5 used and it was the chinese version or something so it didn't work. He just returned it and got the American one so no biggie.

[Allnatural]

I always buy new unless it's an extremely hard to find title. I only have a handful of used games in my collection, and most are in poor condition (they were the best available). Saving a few dollars isn't worth the hassle of looking at a half-dozen discs; trying to find one that isn't scratched all to hell...

[MidnightRain]

I buy used if the title is hard to find. I prefer buying new because I'm picky about the condition of my games. I generally won't buy something without the case or with a horribly beat-up case (usually because that means the instructions are gone and the disc is scratched beyond belief). However, I have absolutely no problem with buying used games if it's obvious to me that the previous owner(s) took good care of them.

[eaglebeak]

I think that I may have been a little unclear with a lot of people in other similar threads about "used vs.new" games issue. If someone is comfortable buying used games, then by all means do so. I am not against used games "per se" but I just don't like buying from stores like EB and GS. If someone can buy used from a friend or is certain that his source of the game is reputable, there is nothing wrong with used. But when someone orders a used game from one of these stores (as I have done in the past) and is repeatedly sent games that look like they were once used as coasters or frizzbees, that's where I draw the line. This is where stores like EB and GS are taking advantage of the public in the crap they sell. Even with their so called "return policy", a person should not have to be put through taking games back over and over again until they get it right. Not to mention the inability for them to provide the complete game (case and manual), but yet will charge you nearly the price of new.

Needless to say I would rather buy new for a couple bucks more, as they really turned me off about buying used. Also, many times I have bought new games cheaper than what could be purchased from them used.
If I have offended any of my fellow CAG members who love to buy used, I'm sorry, but that's my feeling on the issue.

[wubb]

I love buying used. But if it's not complete I'd have to get an awesome deal. For that reason I haven't bought a used game from EB.com since the merge and have never bought from GS.com.

I'd really love to know if the sales of pre-owned games took a hit after they changed that policy or not. I'd like to think it did - and therefore they might go back to guaranteeing case and manual again.

[ITDEFX]

I don't mind buying used games so long as they're complete and in good condition. I'm pretty anal like that

Me too... I check that case and instruction manual before I pay for it. Now the only, and I mean ONLY time I buy a used game is if I cannot find it new ANYWHERE and I find it used for a good price. When I ask for a game and they find it and once I see them turn around to access the USED Game draw, I say, do you have it new or COMPLETE? If all they do is have the game with no box or manual, I say forget it. We should get a percentage off for not having the manual or box.

[yashiroae86]

Dude......I work for EB....All i buy is used..... 1) I get a discount 2) i get to choose which disc (if theres more than one) and box.....so basically i can get the best looking ones.....usually if you ask an employee for the best condition theyll be nice about it and get you the best one......I do it for my customers.....BUT i do it on a first come first serve basis for them....but yea ill only buy it new if its a MUST have.......Like when i bought RE4 on Cube....bought a used Cube and a new RE4 the day RE4 came out....
Basically if your gonna play the game might as well save some money and get it used....cuz once you play it, its gonna become used.
just my 2 cents

[longdillon]

I'll buy used no problem. The disc cant be scratched to hell. A couple light scratches and maybe a smudge. Something I could clean. Other then that, I like them to be like new. Just check the discs. Usually you can find used games and get 2 used for the price of 1 new. as someone pointed out before, once its opened its also become used.

[Riyonuk]

Wise words you guys speak. The last time I went to GS and bought a used, they laid the 3 copys of the game out and left me to inspect them, there very nice. Ill probably be buying more used as its gonna be used when I open it, and I can inspect the games, and the cases are no biggy for me. Ill just order some mint ones....but..thats only for PS2 games, now with GC games I gotta have that "Warning, VG's cause seizures" and "Subscripe to NP" manuals. Same with DS, although I dont think they sell them complete, I think they throw the cases away. I could be wrong.

[tiredfornow]

I like buying used games, most of them here come in good quality boxes and what not, if the disc is scratched, the guys at gamecrazy buff 'em for free, and they usually hook you up with a better box if you just ask. :/

[Riyonuk]

Glad you mentioned that, Im a bit worried wether games have been reserfaced or not. Like in another topic, someone had said that "Thats the chance you take when buying used", because sometimes a resurfaced game looks good, but plays like its scratched.

[pimpinc333]

I never buy used games. New Games are the way to go. I will trade CAG's for Used games since I have a peace in mind that they take care of there games like I would.

[Riyonuk]

Lies, I bought 2 Used games from fellow CAG's and they were in horrible condition, but I still gave them a positive feedback. Im to much of a whimp to give a negative ^^

[ITDEFX]

One time I bought for the dreamcast a USED copy of RE: Code Veronica for 12.99, opened it up to check the discs (2 discs) and I saw this
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n26/ITDEFX101/scary.jpg

why do people do this to cases or what pisses me off is when they WRITE shit on the discs and gamestop/eb takes them anyways.

[YoshiFan1]

I really don't like used games. You don't know who owned it before you (it's really disgusting seeing customers sort through the games at stores coughing or sneezing into their hands and then picking up a game for example) and used games sometimes have scratches. I will only buy used imports for the most part because usually you can get used import games on EBay for a fraction of the new price and there aren't as many ways to get cheap import games compared to cheap domestic games.

[sj41]

I like buying new to support the game companies that I want to have the better sales and get some money for what they made. Im definitely going to buy a used copy of Madden 07 once it's cheaper, since I don't really like EA or how they sell millions of copies a year with the same game. They don't need my 1 unit sold, so I'll just buy used when it's cheaper.

I don't really care about the condition as long as it works, but I'll give the extra $2-4 to support games that I want more of. The better sales a game gets, the better chances of a sequel, most likely.

[Brak]

One time I bought for the dreamcast a USED copy of RE: Code Veronica for 12.99, opened it up to check the discs (2 discs) and I saw this
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n26/ITDEFX101/scary.jpg

why do people do this to cases or what pisses me off is when they WRITE shit on the discs and gamestop/eb takes them anyways.
THAT WAS A VOODOO CURSE! YOU DIDN'T PEEL IT OFF, DID YOU!?

[ITDEFX]

THAT WAS A VOODOO CURSE! YOU DIDN'T PEEL IT OFF, DID YOU!?


uh no, that thing is still on there as of the scan i did a few hours ago....

kinda reminded me of Murray from Curse of the Monkey Island

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c4/Murray3.gif

[RegalSin2020]

Personally buying a used game is like saving a Baby from a bad family.

Then again when you buy items new and they are sealed there is no way besides using a special X-ray or shacking the item to see if the item is really in the package. Then I open to find the item in the package and presto it becomes used.

Buying a used game is okay if the game is a mint. Then some games is so hard to find on this planet sometimes you have to take that chance.

[tangytangerine]

I love buying used games. It saves me money for gas. The conditions don't matter, just has to have the case & instructions(unless it's a rare game, which I'll get it disc only). If it's scratched up, I just get the replacement plan w/ EB that way I can always replace it later for a better copy.

But if it's a collector's edition w/ a bonus disc(like Jade Empire & Splinter Cell:CT), those need to have the extra disc otherwise I'll pass on them. I'm not going to pay extra for a case that says "limited edition" with the extra disc missing. The Game Crazys I've been to are pretty anal about the extras being included, I got a copy of Silent Hill 3 w/ the soundtrack disc there(of course, it had no instructions and was in a Hollywood video rental case, but still good for $12.99).

[GuilewasNK]

Just wanted to get some feedback on what my fellow CAG's think of used games. Do you buy them? If so, are you paranoid wether its really complete? Like it didnt come with a soundtrack or 2nd disc, and they have it in a 1 disc case? Someone from CAG should make a list of things that come with games, you know? For us poor guys like me that are starting to relize I can get 4 used games for 1 new one.

Any current-gen games I buy MUST be complete. I won't even consider a disc only PS2, GCN, or Xbox game. There is no reason people can't take better care of their stuff.

With PS One games, I am a little more forgiving (considering the games are usually older) unless it is a RPG. I want those complete. I'd prefer they all were complete, but if disc only is the only way I can find something I might get it.

GBA must be complete. I bought a few loose and I hate it.

Saturn must be complete because of the unique cases, unless it is something uber-rare and I can't find it anymore. The only disc only game I have is a used Fighters Megamix from Blockbuster.

PC must be complete.

Dreamcast must be complete.

NES, SNES, Genesis, N64 I'll buy loose. I prefer complete but loose is ok.

Pre-NES stuff I'll buy loose. It's hard to find those complete anyway.

-------

In a nutshell, I pretty much prefer CD games to be complete, and cart can be loose (except GBA).

[Riyonuk]

Yeah most games I like loose, cause well its a lot of money to get new SNES games.

What makes gba games diffrent? Just wondering, cause I like them complete also. Is it the fact thats its still possible to get these games complete?

[GuilewasNK]

Yeah most games I like loose, cause well its a lot of money to get new SNES games.

What makes gba games diffrent? Just wondering, cause I like them complete also. Is it the fact thats its still possible to get these games complete?

That's the main reason. Another reason is I store the games in their boxes because they are small. I hate having loose, tiny carts lying around. They are harder to display like that.

I forgot to mention that older GB and GBC games I'll buy loose if I have to.

The main reason I hate buying disc only CD games is because there is no reason for them to be stored in anything other than the original case w/instructions (Gamestop and EB, I'm looking at you!). I have never lost a case or instructions in my life. When they were uber-cheap on EBGames I would take a chance buying disc only, but they had to be cheap for me to do it.

[lionheart4life]

Used games are great, as long as they are in decent condition. I'm not going to buy something if it's beat to hell, no matter what. I'd take a mint used game over a new game even for $5 less any day, since I open and play the new stuff right away. I like them to be complete as well, even though I normally won't look at the manuals. The original case is a must, I don't know why EB/GS even bother with their weird looking cheap cases where they just write the title of the game on it, especially when they have complete copies of the same game in store.

A few little scratches on a disk is fine, but big ones or rental stickers are a big no-no. I bought a used game for a $1 off EB.com before, and it was the exact opposite of everything I want in a used game. Blockbuster sticker on the front, which they tried to black out with marker in every single spot it said BB, generic case without the title even written in, and no manual.

[Number83]

I only buy used games if the title is no longer in print. And it must be complete, near mint.

[BlaqRenaissance]

A couple months ago I found a used Mario Tennis for the Cube for $10 at GameRush. Got home and the game didn't even work :bomb:, so I had to take it back. No scratches or smudges, it just wouldn't load past the seizure warning screen.