Game retailers go back and forth on Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D sales policies

by Griffin McElroy on Jun 29th 2011 1:40PM

Used games retailers across the globe have adopted a number of uncharacteristic policies regarding sales and trade-ins of Capcom's one-save-only title, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D. When news of the game's unrestartability first surfaced, North American Gamestops announced they would not accept the game as a trade-in -- a policy which reversed today.

Speaking to IGN, a Gamestop rep explained, "GameStop did ask the U.S. store base to stop accepting trades on Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D as we evaluated the save system for the game." The representative added, "Upon further review of the process with our publisher partner, Capcom, GameStop will resume taking trades on the game effective Wednesday, June 29."

Overseas, British retailer HMV has ceased taking trades for the title -- and EB Games Australia has apparently stopped stocking the game altogether. A representative on the EB Games Facebook group explained, "If you would like to purchase it with us then of course we will sell it to you, it will be a case of an order with our store." They added, "We made the tough decision to remove it from sale because we have everybody's best interests in mind, and don't feel its fair that you guys would be paying $60 for what is essentially a one use game."

Source: IGN, EB Games Australia Facebook group, VG247

Tags: australia, capcom, ds, eb-games, gamestop, hmv, industry, nintendo, resident-evil-the-mercenaries-3d, sales, used-games

Reader Comments (85)

Capcom Exec: "Our image isn't bad enough. We need fresh ideas. NOW!"

Capcom programmer: "I have one................"

And thus, history is made.

I have a fresh idea. If you want to combat used game sales, give bonuses for buying early, then reduce the game's price on a predictable schedule, but NEVER penalize a person that paid full price in order to implement a deterrent against used sales. Especially at $60. Friggin' idiots.

@Aguiluz

That's only fair. Obviously Capcom doesn't support you **points finger directly at customers**

@CaptainProtonX
I thought the best way to combat used game sales was to make a game with killer online or replayability. For instance, look at Rockstar games and Call of Dutys, their new and used price stays so high because the market isnt saturated with used games. However, a Bioshock 2 retails new for $9 due to the short experience and design mistakes.

@CaptainProtonX

Part of the reason I am willing to pay $60 for a game is that I know I can make at least some of it back when I sell it to a place like Gamestop. There is no way I would ever pay that much if I wasn't able to recoup some of that investment.

@nandokun

I agree 100%. Capcom should emulate companies like NIS or Atlus. These companies give out small tokens as a way to reward their fans for buying on Day 1. Sure they aren't worth much, but its nice when companies reward consumer loyalty.

Although, its possible Capcom just hates their fans.....

@Aguiluz
Just always remember that's Clover Studios you're talking about - the group that left Capcom because it was tired of dealing with them (but still needed them for producers).

*pssst: Get "God Hand"*

@blahblah55
Dammit I meant publishers.

*no seriously, get God Hand*

@CaptainProtonX

If you look at the Amazon reviews right now, it has over 60+ 1 star reviews because of this factor. Looks like we have a Capcom boycott on our hands.

At least it's well deserved. Shame shame Capcom...

@blahblah55 Wow your information is 100% incorrect, Clover didn't leave because they wanted to, they were cut and sent out on their own because they weren't making any profits as no one was buying their games. As a huge fan of all of their work I'd appreciate if you didn't use them to make any anti-capcom claims that are untrue.

@CaptainProtonX

Wait a damn minute, they seriously thought that this is a good - wait. Capcom? And it all makes sense.

That's surprising. There's still game shops with character.

People are really having a huff about this. If Merc's no sale policy was put on all games, then no one would but PC games or digital titles.

If I sold my copy, the next owner would be happy to not have to deal with the crappy tutorial missions right from the get go. Thanks for teaching me how to walk, I haven't been doing that in games for 20 years or something.

@Master Marik Well, this sort of save system only works when the data can only be saved on the cartridge.

I don't want to give them any ideas, but they could require a unique product key whose only function is to allow that console to save. Then at least the owner will still be able to start from scratch again, should he desire too.

@Master Marik

Yeah, I'm sure they'll be really happy to pay $34.99 for a game where everything has already been unlocked and all their leaderboards are filled with scores from some random jerk.

This is a terrible idea from a cynical (and increasingly creatively bankrupt) company that knows that they've got a game that isn't worth what they're charging for it, but still wants to squeeze as much out of the retail market as possible. The sad thing is, if it were anyone but Capcom doing this, I'd be way more shocked at their audacity.

@nandokun

And so the guy that buys it used realizes he can't reset unless he pays $10! Brilliant!

/sarcasm

@MaJoR Well, the point is that would be preferable to what they are doing. The developers should be getting the money, not the used game shops. Used game sales are a big problem for game devs/publishers, and the reason that new game prices are so high. They have two choices, price their games competitively so there is no incentive to buy used, or enforce some sort of transaction that ensures you still have to pay to get the full experience. If you bought a used game for $10 and had to pay another $10 to unlock saves, it would still be cheaper than paying $60 for new, and the devs would get some of the money that they deserve more than GameStop.

@Master Marik I'd like to have the tutorials, thank you very much.

But
it's NOT a $60 game unless it's getting a 50% markup from every other 3DS game.

@Deathofthedead

Australia's game prices are ridonkeykong compared to US's.

@Deathofthedead Australian prices are higher than the U.S., IIRC.

$60?!

@Player1

games in the au cost more
http://www.ebgames.com.au/3ds-150952-Kid-Icarus-Uprising-3D-Nintendo-3DS

@Player1

America The World.

Prices are higher in other countries due to tariffs and price exchanges.

Great job, Capcom! I'm sure this will boost your new game sales!

@ShokLoc

As will the stellar reviews, I'm sure.

It's incredibly stupid that you can't restart. I was going to get it on Gamefly, but they've made it un-rentable because of this :/

@MEMgrizzlies7 That's why they did it.

@MEMgrizzlies7

That's the point, buddy. Capcom just read your comment and patted it's self on the bank, i mean back.

Perhaps they will start selling an online token for $10 that allows you to reset your save one time.

@(Unverified) Thats fair right?
*rolls eyes*

@(Unverified)

Sure, it's GRRRRREAT!

@(Unverified)
No, they'll just release an updated version that you'll have to buy on its own.

@blahblah55
The updated version will feature Frank West and Super-Mega-Akuma!!!

Isn't there a way to reset the cartridge with some button presses at startup? I know some DS games didn't have a way to reset it without using the bootup button press sequence like Elite Beat Agents. Does this not work?

@FriedConsole

Yea, it's:

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Select, Start

@FriedConsole Yeah, I remember some DS games having to use that button press combo on startup to reset the card... I wonder if that would work or not...

L+R+A+B+X+Y while the Nintendo logo is displayed will work for many DS games...
SOMEONE TRY IT!

@(Unverified)

That wasn't the DS though, that was per game card.

You do realize this opens the door for Capcom to add an eShop DLC to "RNA: Restart a New Adventure."

It's there. You know it is.

Capcom, cut the bullshit and admit it.

I think the problem is this game will just suffer poor sales because of the backlash against it. Also because people think this is a traditional RE game when it is not, it is basically an arcade version where you try to do the best time.

They are stupid though for even bringing this on themselves. I am sure this is going to be one of the games that we will see for $20 by the end of the year.

I'm guessing EB Games Australia decided not to stock DC Universe Online for PS3. That is the definition of a one use game ... you can only play the disc based game on the initial system it was played on. How it knows is beyond me ... maybe when it communicates with the server it sends out a unique identifier code.

@Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell

And add to that being an MMO, aaaand that MMOs have no resale value anyways since accounts are tied to unique keys that come with the games.

So...what happens when you beat the game? It's just...done? How could this possibly work? What if the game keeps crashing at a certain point? What if you want to redo a level to improve your score? (since this is an arcade-y sort of game)

@Arniluk26

You can redo as many levels as you want. The only thing is that you can't reset high scores, or reset the unlocks.

So if the kid who traded in his game already got Leon's alt costume unlocked, you can't erase all data and reunlock his costume yourself.

I wouldn't say it's a one use game, but it certainly kills any of the value if you buy it used.

@Colin

Nah it doesn't kill the value at all! Not by a bit! I mean, Capcom said that it is so in their official statement. What, proof to the contrary? Lalalaaaa we can't hear you! The game's value isn't decreased, didn't you just hear us say so?

I used to love Capcom games but now I wish they would go under and sell off their properties to companies that still know how to make good games. Lord knows that's the only way we'll ever get a new Darkstalkers, Onimusha, Viewtiful Joe, or Strider.

@The Joy of Painting w Bob Ross
Maybe if they stop spending money to make 10 copies of the same game(street fighter, resident evil 5, etc), CAPCOM has so many classic IPs under their belt like classic resident evil(not this African voodoo zombie B.S.), street fighter, final fight(which could just get a new 2d adventure on PSN/XBLA), Dino Crisis, Marvel vs CAPCOM, etc, etc, etc. Im sure I'm missing a lot but I don't see how this company doesn't have money. All their money seems to go to(besides making more versions of the same game) finding ways to lock us out of their content, like when it comes to sharing your PSN account over 5 systems, which was a feature Sony flaunted when the ps3 first came out, it used to be in the descriptions of the PSN downloads, now it's like a best kept secret. if anyone wants to play this, just play it on Resident Evil 4, isn't there an HD port in the works anyways?

Or Breath of Fire. ;_;

Hey newbies, they've been doing this same shit since the 1990's, and guess what? They're still one of the best publishers out there.

You people will complain about anything.

I just can't stop thinking about this.

....................WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? Seriously, WHY?

Seriously, let's go farther. Why don't you sell ingame items on the eShop. Make guns irreplacable. Or never heal yourself. Your character has bad vision, and you need to pay an eShop doctor for corrective vision to help shoot zombies.

GOD DAMMIT IT!. You character has diarrhea and can't shoot straight. You need eShop vaccines.

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Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

Game retailers go back and forth on Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D sales policies

Reader Comments (85)

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:44PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:50PM nandokun said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:43PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:57PM ijustw1n said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 3:09PM Dismissile said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 3:24PM mac15444 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 4:19PM blahblah55 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 4:23PM blahblah55 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 4:40PM sheisjustaglitch said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 5:35PM Sift said

Posted: Jun 30th 2011 12:08AM Dlord said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:45PM rob47 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:46PM Master Marik said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:54PM nandokun said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:55PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 5:34PM MaJoR said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 8:16PM nandokun said

Posted: Jul 5th 2011 3:39AM Design by Adrian said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:46PM Deathofthedead said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:47PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:55PM Rollins said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:47PM Player1 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:53PM majorcrabs said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:54PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:47PM ShokLoc said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:49PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:50PM MEMgrizzlies7 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:09PM rob47 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 3:26PM Juelz345 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:54PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:58PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:35PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 4:22PM blahblah55 said

Posted: Jun 30th 2011 2:30AM SuperWoody64 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:55PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:30PM barrit said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 3:17PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 3:53PM Punkrawk Bbob said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 1:56PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:00PM bingbangboom said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:02PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:14PM Zombie Jesus said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:02PM Arniluk26 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:27PM Colin said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 3:07PM bm111 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:03PM The Joy of Painting w Bob Ross said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 3:08PM mikemyerz666 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 3:08PM bm111 said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 5:15PM jsx said

Posted: Jun 29th 2011 2:10PM CaptainProtonX said

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