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Developers hope to stop the sale of pre-owned games

Silver Mirror | August 03, 2008 | News | Company Misc 
You'd think illegal downloading or piracy would be a bigger issue for the gaming industry but some developers have set their sights on stopping the selling of pre-owned games. Presumably because each pre-owned sale not only means one less official sale for them but that they also don't get the royalties shops must pay when ordering shipments. David Braben, founder of Frontier in particular is a supporter of a move towards the destruction of pre-owned games, suggesting either special codes or digital downloads.
David Braben, founder of Frontier (Lost Winds, Thrillville) has some interesting ideas that developers can use to avoid consumers from trading in their games to get newer ones. In an interview with DevelopMag, Braben proposes that “struggling” developers should utilize unique box codes or create single-use incentives.

Braben ultimately concedes that downloadable is really the only route to go in terms of avoiding pre-owned sales, considering that consumers can do nothing with them other than keep them on their hard drive.
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  • 1 thumbs!
    chautemoc | August 04, 2008
    Uhhhhhhhhhhhh......infringement on personal freedom much? Screw Frontier. I understand its hard and they want to find ways to do better but..trying to restrict people's behaviour just isn't the way to go about it.

    Although, digital downloads would be more environmentally friendly..so there would be an upside if that happened.
  • 1 thumbs!
    Zeon I | August 04, 2008
    What? Those bastards! Actually, this is kind of funny considering Lost Winds is only available through Wii Ware and Thrillville *bleep*. :/
  • 0 thumbs!
    Dance Floor Killah | August 04, 2008
    Goodness gracious, is it that much of a problem when gamers buy used games? Of course not.
  • 5 thumbs!
    Livewire_19 | August 04, 2008
    I for one hate downloading games. If I pay for something I want to have the ability lend it, sell it, or chuck it out a window if I want to.
    • 0 thumbs!
      kik36 | August 04, 2008
      Kinda funny you said that......my Dad loves to ride his bike and one day found a mint condition of Dragon Ball Z for PS2.......I nearly chucked it out my car window like the poor bastard before me!! LOL
  • 5 thumbs!
    tidus04 | August 04, 2008
    If they cut the price of the game by 50% then I would consider it.. other then that I would hate for something like this to be implemented.
  • 0 thumbs!
    HawkMan | August 04, 2008
    bad idea. I for one will not support any developer that keeps me from buying used games. If anything they should try suing the people who sell used games to give them royalties.

    I also see this as being bad business.
  • 0 thumbs!
    HisServant77 | August 04, 2008
    I don't like downloading games. I'd prefer a hard copy thank you. But . . . what's next? "Here I'm selling you my HDD with this game on it. You not only get this game, but the HDD space with it!" That's still a way to resell if you really wanted to. And with HDDs getting cheaper, this is a big possibility!

    I can understand why they'd be against the reselling, but . . . if you own something then you should be able to sell it. Now for stores/businesses reselling games . . . I don't know. I'm both for and against it. Let's just leave it as it is right now, shall we?
  • 0 thumbs!
    Zero and X | August 04, 2008
    Excuse me, but I like getting some cash back for games I am no longer playing, and getting to pay less for games that would usually cost more.
  • 0 thumbs!
    MusiKon | August 04, 2008
    I think they're trying to make them like PC games, which Gamestop and franchises like that won't resell. But then again, there's this little site I heard about called eBay...
    • 0 thumbs!
      HisServant77 | August 04, 2008
      Ugh, I hope it doesn't get to that.
  • 0 thumbs!
    nflsmc | August 04, 2008
    Gamefly. Much better.

    Why pay $60 for a game that will likely only last a few weeks, only to sell it for $20?

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