Used game sales unfair say developers
- October 30, 2007 08:43 AM PST
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Free Radical Design and Frontier Developments both agree that used game sales by retailers is an unfair practice.
"It isn't fair that retailers are claiming all of the profits from the sale of second-hand titles, and it is bizarre that our industry tolerates it," said Free Radical's Steve Ellis in an interview with MCV.
"I can't imagine going into PC World and buying a pre-owned copy of MS Office," Ellis added while deeming the video game practice unfair for publishers and developers.
Frontier Developments David Braben says the same.
"Clearly from the developer and publisher point of view, the second-hand market is a real problem. The shops are essentially defrauding the rest of the industry by this practice, whether they intend it or not."
Game retailers regularly resell titles at a slightly cheaper price, often $5-10 less than a sealed game. The custom is largely seen as a contributing factor in keeping retailer doors open as stores like GameStop and Game Crazy retain all profits of used games sales.
The used software sales argument would make sense, if (and only if) you could install console games rather than needing a disc to play them. Regardless, do you see used game sales as being unfair? What about eBaying your used games?
