gaming Are used games as bad as Piracy?

[Boyevyye De 244]

From a technical standpoint yes, at least for games in which you play Multiplayer. The reason why is who is paying for the servers? Well the game developers of course, and they get money from folks buying new games, but with used games, the money does not go into upkeep, as it does not reach the developers, just the retailers. But the retailer does not manage the servers nor tech support. The cost to keep an online game running does not just go away once the game is finished. It is not like a movie in which once it is finished, there are no more recurring costs to it. Games now adays are closer to services then just games in that respect. 

 

Now some people say that having a used copy of a game does not create additional costs because it was already bought new once in the first place. But here is the issue. The person who first bought it new, did not play it anymore, hense why he/she sold it in the first place. So with that being said, the game was intended to not be played anymore, thus less stress (and cost) onto the servers. But then you have it bought again and played again with the servers used again, but this time no money went to the developers. 

 

 

Just thoughts.

[Megas 28,147]

No, used games are as harmless as used cars, DVDs, CDs, books, and etc. I can understand the whole "support developer x" argument, but why is it such a big deal to buy games used when it's such a non issue for virtually every other medium. Like many folks from Rockstar or Nintendo have said "if you want people to keep your games, make them better"

 

The only reason I can see it bothering people is because Gamestop loves to gauge their used prices(people buy used because they're supposed to be cheaper, but in many instances GS loves to sell used games that are only 2-5 dollars cheaper, at that point you may as well buy them new) and this can be frustrating especially if you like buying Nintendo games

[Boyevyye De 244]

No, used games are as harmless as used cars, DVDs, CDs, books, and etc. I can understand the whole "support developer x" argument, but why is it such a big deal to buy games used when it's such a non issue for virtually every other medium. Like many folks from Rockstar or Nintendo have said "if you want people to keep your games, make them better"

 

Well the reason why it is an issue here is as I said. Recurring costs. With books, movies, ect, ect. The creators of those things do not have to pay upkeep on them after it is made. That is not the case games with multiplayer. 

[Limeblossom 482]

It's not piracy. Sounds like the nonsense from the ESA, who called preserving old games/consoles for museums and research just as worse as illegal hacking.

[Discordian 6,021]

You're putting money back into the economy when you buy used. It may not help the developers as much (except publicity) but the stores or websites you buy them at get upkeep money. You can also help friends who need a bit of cash by buying games from them.

 

Piracy, on the other hand, is literally stolen goods. You aren't giving anyone money and it's serving no purpose except a single person's greed or apathy.

 

On the other hand, piracy brings an interesting precedent: Pay what you think the game is worth. If you don't think the game is even worth paying for, why should you? Of course, that's kind of scummy thinking. It can be easily turned around into "if you aren't paying for it, why should you be able to experience it?"

 

Alternatively it can be used as a sort of makeshift demo system for games that have no demos to check out the game.

 

It also doesn't work that well in practice where some people will pirate literally everything. Even those who mean to "check out the game" don't always go out and pay for the game because they already have it in playing condition.

[Guest]

Well developers sure seem to think so. They don't get any money from second hand, but really what do they expect when the price of games is going up and up and the cost of living is not being met by more and more people? Sorry devs, but people can't afford to buy new as much these days.

[Grepper 3,193]

Buying used games adds value to the physical copies themselves because anyone who buys a new one knows that they can sell it later.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

As long as you paid to play the game, its alright.

[Luna_tic 120]

No, not even close.  The rights to use that particular disc as a means for entertainment and intended purposes are being bought and sold legally.  There is an exchange of a product partnered with rights, the original buyer paid for the rights to that disc upon purchase of said disc.  Once those rights are theirs, they can sell the disc along with all rights to use it to anybody they want.  Unless you are making illegal copies of a game (which is the dealing aspect of piracy so doesn't fit into this prompt) then no party has done anything wrong.

[Silvy 36]

Honestly depends on the game. If its a game that requires a code its basically someone stealing your money because your basically screwed.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

Are you kidding? If I buy a game, it should be mine to do with as I please.

[Limeblossom 482]

If its a game that requires a code its basically someone stealing your money because your basically screwed.

Like DRM. That draconian system didn't fought piracy, it made piracy a heroic act.