Advertisement

Register for free to remove this ad

Originally Posted by nightmare452 This is a nice idea, but IMO it would never happen. Why? Cause a digital copy cannot in and of itself ever be considered 'used' the way we consider used games today. A digital copy is still the same today, than it was the day it was sold initially. Who would ever buy a new digital copy of a game when you can get 100% the same thing cheaper on an off-side digital store. Again, I would welcome this idea, but it would never happen if it sold digital games at cheaper prices cause it would eliminate actual sales. A rental system I could see, where you rent a digital game for a few hours or a day for a portion of the full game.

Mindbending: Gamestop exploring selling used downloadable games

I'd be curious to see what the landscape would look like if each piece of digital content had a lifetime - like 3 re-sells. Someone buys it initially for $60, they sell it for $40 to the next person (or Gamestop), they can sell it to the next person for $20 who's stuck with it but paid >= 1/3 of retail.

Everyone ultimately "pays" about the same amount. Except for the last person no one has anything to show for it. Sounds godawful, but the question isn't whether or not it's terrible, it's whether or not it would succeed.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Saablic 4. I never sell back games personally. I build my collection and keep it. Since I do a lot of research into games I buy it is very rarely that I feel like I paid more than I got out of it so I don't have that desire to get some money back out of it versus not having it available for some random replay.

This is one thing I think a lot folks miss completely - the price / hour ratio of video game entertainment absolutely crushes virtually every other medium. Folks will pay $10 to go see a new movie at the theater for 3 hours. Nothing wrong with that. But paying $60 for something you potentially get 30+ hours of entertainment out of should be (in comparison) amazing. It's just a lot of money to part with at once.

If we do get to all digital, does that mean gamestop would be out of business? haha

Originally Posted by Saablic I might get day one digital releases. Most of the time I won't because I am a cheapass and 10% off (for being a + member) won't be enough. My reasons that I might are as follows: 1. I don't have to leave my house to get it if I didn't decide to pay for release day shipping or something. Going to the store costs gas and time and my time is the most valuable thing to me now. 2. I don't need more game laying around my house. This is why I am almost exclusively digital on PC. I get day one PC digital version all the time because they do have sales for them. 3. A digital version could work out for the better in the future. If I had bought more of my PSP games digitally I would be able to play them on my Vita. Not a for sure thing but if you aren't tied to a format it helps. Of course Sony could take it off the store so it is a risk both ways in that sense. 4. I never sell back games personally. I build my collection and keep it. Since I do a lot of research into games I buy it is very rarely that I feel like I paid more than I got out of it so I don't have that desire to get some money back out of it versus not having it available for some random replay. 5. No risk of me misplacing a game or having it damaged. After moving around a couple of times I cannot tell you where some of my old PC games ended up. Damage doesn't usually happen but it does not and again. Such as the 360 tearing up a disc. It will probably be a bigger issue when I have a kid tearing around the house / playing my old games. While this might be more valid for just why I like digital as an option, it still applies to why I might end up with a day one digital download. I can see the argument for a physical copy, especially if you love to resell games, but I am primarily a PC gamer and even before digital I wasn't able to resell my games most of the time for years now and you see consoles following the same route (CD Keys!) TLDR: I like the advantages there are for digital and I am all for more options.

Originally Posted by FriskyTanuki There are CAGs that are excited about this kind of stuff, as I've seen people PMing me and posting in the PS Store threads I run about whether games like Borderlands 2, FIFA 13, and others were going to be on the PS Store at launch or even have the option to pre-order. I'd guess that not everybody plays games like you and throws them out to Amazon, GameStop, or whoever as a trade-in. There are a number of games that people will play for an extremely long time, so it's worth it to get the digital version to have instant access to it whenever they want to play it. Some of these games are going to be a bit cheaper for PS+, so they can save a little in the same process. I'm surprised that you guys cannot even fathom why this news would appeal to some people. I'll be picking up LBP Vita today when the store updates because that's a game I'd like to have digitally without the need to swap cards just to play it, though it'd be a bigger help if Sony added folders ASAP so I'd be able to keep more games on my memory card without having to delete stuff first.

Valid points all around, but there is definitely a premium to be paid when buying digital content. It was probably my poor assumption as a CAG to assume so many people were not willing to pay these premiums.

Me personally, I would need close to a 50% Day 1 discount to buy major games (Borderlands 2, FIFA 13, RE6, etc.) digitally, and probably around a 25% day 1 discount to even consider smaller games (LBP Vita) digitally on day 1.

Originally Posted by tylerh1701 Valid points all around, but there is definitely a premium to be paid when buying digital content. It was probably my poor assumption as a CAG to assume so many people were not willing to pay these premiums. Me personally, I would need close to a 50% Day 1 discount to buy major games (Borderlands 2, FIFA 13, RE6, etc.) digitally, and probably around a 25% day 1 discount to even consider smaller games (LBP Vita) digitally on day 1.

There is only a premium on PSN because they don't have digital competition. I get my digital content very cheap on PC though such as most recently, Borderlands 2 preorder for ~$40. Also my Steam collection would like a word with you.

My hope is that they start selling PSN download codes again in a lot of different retail stores. It would do a lot to help seeing nice sale prices on Sony's digital content. Unfortunately with the closed nature of consoles, digital is going to lag behind physical sales.

Originally Posted by tylerh1701 You're both right. I think the number 1 hurdle is that there really isn't an incentive for the distributor (Sony/Microsoft) to open up a 2nd hand market, since they already see the profits from the first hand market. But if Sony did open up something like that, it could create a competitive advantage for them. As a very crude example, I could either buy a $10 PSN game and have the option to re-sell it on the PSN 2nd hand market for $1.50, or buy a $10 XBLA game and have no re-sell option. That might shift some of the market share over to PSN's side. I'm just speculating here, obviously there's a ton of obstacles in the way of this ever happening. I'll just say that I think there is a possibility it could work for all parties involved, and leave it at that.

Another problem is, with digital goods, there is literally no difference between a new copy and a used copy. I don't buy used games because I don't trust the hygiene of gamers and kids. This is crude but how do I know they didn't wipe their dick on the disc before trading it in? More likely though is people reading the manuals while taking a shit. When I buy new, I know none of that has happened.

With digital though, why would anyone buy new?

Originally Posted by gettinmoney662 Another problem is, with digital goods, there is literally no difference between a new copy and a used copy. I don't buy used games because I don't trust the hygiene of gamers and kids. This is crude but how do I know they didn't wipe their dick on the disc before trading it in? More likely though is people reading the manuals while taking a shit. When I buy new, I know none of that has happened. With digital though, why would anyone buy new?

*looks over at his couple of used games in a new light.... shudders* Well at least games don't have a manual worth looking at anymore these days.

Also I have seen a few digital sites that buy back digital games but it doesn't make sense to resell it as it is the exact same product. They buy them back and you get a few bucks because you won't hit their servers for the game anymore. Agreed that there is no point in buying new if you could get used digital versions.

Originally Posted by gettinmoney662 Another problem is, with digital goods, there is literally no difference between a new copy and a used copy. I don't buy used games because I don't trust the hygiene of gamers and kids. This is crude but how do I know they didn't wipe their dick on the disc before trading it in? More likely though is people reading the manuals while taking a shit. When I buy new, I know none of that has happened. With digital though, why would anyone buy new?

With your criteria, I sure hope you weren't buying any "New" games from GameStop.

Originally Posted by gettinmoney662 Another problem is, with digital goods, there is literally no difference between a new copy and a used copy. I don't buy used games because I don't trust the hygiene of gamers and kids. This is crude but how do I know they didn't wipe their dick on the disc before trading it in? More likely though is people reading the manuals while taking a shit. When I buy new, I know none of that has happened. With digital though, why would anyone buy new?

I have no idea what the volume of games on the used market would look like, because I don't know what percentage of gamers would be comfortable in reselling their games for a couple bucks. But the way I see it, either way could work:

1) If the volume of the games on the 2nd hand market is high, then you're right, people wouldn't buy new anymore. 1-2 months after the game is released, the 2nd hand market would be flooded and everyone would buy the "used" version for a slight discount (let's say 20% off). But since Sony is still controlling the 2nd hand market, they and the publishers are still getting a cut of the profits of the sale. It will be slightly lower than if someone bought the game new, but Sony should be able to make up that difference in market share increases.

For example, 2 months down the line I decide I've just got to have "Hell Yeah!". As an owner of both an Xbox and a PS3, I'm gonna buy it on PS3 for the $3 discount. Obviously this relies on Capitalism working, but I've found that capitalism usually does work.

2) If the volume of the games on the 2nd hand market is low, then there won't be a problem. I'm thinking that if someone wants to re-sell one of their digital games on the 2nd hand market, they only get somewhere around 15%-20% of the value of their game back. That's obviously not very much, but there's definitely a few games in my PSN download history that I wouldn't mind getting $1 back on because I know I'll never boot it up again (PixelJunk Eden, Cuboid, Brain Challenge, Dungeon Hunter: Alliance, and Polar Panic, just to name a few)

For example, take a game like Hamilton's Great Adventure. I haven't looked at leaderboards in a while, but there can't be more than 5,000 people that own that game. So it's valued at $10, and I'm only promised $1.50 back for it if I put it on the 2nd hand market and it sells. So I'm not going to even bother putting it on the market, because even after I've beaten it, it's worth more than $1.50 to me. So in this scenario, there really shouldn't be all that many copies of the "used" game available, and some people will still have to buy new if they want it.

Also, apologies to anyone who feel like I'm hijacking this thread.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/...-on-psn-today/

Noticed this news about Tokyo Jungle DLC being free for PS+:

I’ve got great news for PlayStation Plus members: You’ll be able to get TOKYO JUNGLE at a 20% discount for two weeks (until October 9th)! In addition, we are giving away four DLC animals for free! These animals will only be free for one week (until October 2nd), so don’t miss out!

Originally Posted by FriskyTanuki http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/...-on-psn-today/ Noticed this news about Tokyo Jungle DLC being free for PS+:

Wow, that just double solidified my day one purchase. Sony is making MS look like a HUGE joke.

Originally Posted by GT With your criteria, I sure hope you weren't buying any "New" games from GameStop.

That's exactly why I don't buy anything from Gamestop.

Originally Posted by Romeo Wow, that just double solidified my day one purchase. Sony is making MS look like a HUGE joke.

Haha, i was gonna say something similar...I'm double sold now. Very excited for the release

Originally Posted by Romeo Sony is making MS look like a HUGE joke.

system sales so otherwise

and im a ps3 fangirl

If you had $49.99 in the One Piece Pirate Warriors price sweepstakes, you've "won."

Update is up. Huge update, tons of avatars and 2 more free themes for PS+ for those that really like those.

Definitely appreciate all the Add-On content we're getting. While I'm not getting Starhawk Multiplayer or Tokyo Jungle right now, it's still nice to get that stuff free now so I'll have it when I do get it.

And while it doesn't affect me personally, I'm sure there will be a few people unhappy that the 10% off the Ratchet & Clank and Infamous Collections is nowhere to be found.

sony and the blogcast liars, where the is Spelunker HD dlc and the rest of it, seriously?

Originally Posted by realit3y sony and the blogcast liars, where the is Spelunker HD dlc and the rest of it, seriously?

Damn, I'm guessin you really like Spelunker.

Originally Posted by gettinmoney662 Damn, I'm guessin you really like Spelunker.

Yes I really like it the problem is they announced it on the blogcast and out of all the dlc annouced on the miscelleanous part I've heard the whole show and add to deal to listening playstation battle all stars part, about the concept of the game and etc.

Then they only spoke for a tiny bit my sub for ps+ ends this week which means I won't be able to get it next week with 50% discount the remaining dlc which means that Sony is playing with us, Sony isn't serious Sony is joking from us

Originally Posted by tylerh1701 Update is up. Huge update, tons of avatars and 2 more free themes for PS+ for those that really like those. Definitely appreciate all the Add-On content we're getting. While I'm not getting Starhawk Multiplayer or Tokyo Jungle right now, it's still nice to get that stuff free now so I'll have it when I do get it. And while it doesn't affect me personally, I'm sure there will be a few people unhappy that the 10% off the Ratchet & Clank and Infamous Collections is nowhere to be found.

No MSH Origins PS+ discount or dynamic theme, makes me really sad that one of my favorite arcade games of all time did not get the same treatment as SFIII 3rd Strike

Originally Posted by FerDK No MSH Origins PS+ discount or dynamic theme, makes me really sad that one of my favorite arcade games of all time did not get the same treatment as SFIII 3rd Strike

3rd Strike was part of the PSN Play promotion, which is the reasoning behind the discount and the dynamic theme.