David Braben Sez: We Want More Money.
I am personally a huge fan on pre-played titles. When "next-gen" titles for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are running a retail of $60 a pop, and since I have some internal aversion to renting games and playing demos, my pocketbook can really afford to use the extra savings. As with everything else in the world, when money is in the picture you're sure to see someone complain about exactly where the buck is stopping.
David Braben of Free Radical Design and Frontier Developments does not like pre-played titles. He illustrated a good point, developers do no receive any money off titles which have been sold more than once. Of course, he says this in a much longer, more arduous manner.
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.
At one point he draws the association between Microsoft Office, and how it would be absurd to purchase a used copy of that software. I've seen it happen, and frankly, the fact that I don't see used PC software is somewhat of a mystery to me. I find it more impressive that he doesn't draw the association between used anything for that matter. By his logic, yard sales essentially defraud hundreds of companies. Millions of tacky lamps, dated LPs and clothing that the original creators will never see a dime for! Essentially it all comes down to ownership. He wants you to live in a world where $60 gets you a non-transferable license to his property. I have a hard time spending that kind of cash on something that would be immediately devalued to nothing. Is it just me or is David on a yacht in that photo?
Pressure piles on pre-owned [MCV]
[via Destructoid]
Asterick
Posted to Video Games on 29 October 2007
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: David Braben, income not quite high enough, moneys, resale
Bravo.
What a douche.
His image certainly does have a douche-like quality to it.
This is probably yet another reason why game companies are in love with MMOs right now. In addition to a subscription fee, even if you get a used copy of the game, you still have to fork over cash to play it. It's also probably why digital distribution is such an attractive option.
Really, I think they just want to eliminate the middle man.
Blah Blah Blah.
Garth Brooks tried this same whiny tactic after selling a kerjillion records back in the 90's. Lou's Records in Escondido, CA did the only fitting thing that they could. They had a Brooks BBQ where they burned all his discs on an outdoor grill.
Wake up and smell the cocaine. I only buy used games 'cuz the new games have very short play times in comparison to the games of five years ago.
That's what I can afford. I play more games and am more satisfied with the hours to dollar ratio.
The killed the American music industry this way and now they head to games. Sad.
Thanks.
@Brion
Yes, but a new breed of recording artists are now totally sidestepping Big Music and releasing music themselves by creating their own advertising and handling production themselves. They then release songs cheaper to the public and still get a hefty chunk of profit, more than they EVER did if they signed up a recording contract.
I bet video games are going to be like that.
Games are expensive as hell, and I am a poor student. I love used games and this toolbot isn't going to make me feel bad about it.
I used to avoid used games in the cartridge days. I felt so dirty knowing that someone else had saved on MY cartridge. Now that most games are optical disks, I feel like I am buying a copy with a beat up case.