Y2M

You know...call me crazy, but could used video game sales actually be helping new video game sales in the long run? Think on it for a second:

Used games tend to be most popular with kids and parents of kids because they're... well.. cheaper. The kid then gets hooked on video games, and then 10 years down the road has a job and buys the hot new games on day one - that'd be your key late teen/twenty something demographic.

GameStop has exploded in the past 10 years - they've quadrupled in size. Video game sales over have exploded too.

I'm not saying it's a causation... but there could be a correlation. If there is...then what hurts the developers today helps them tomorrow.

My preferred gaming attire totally has to be co-ed naked gameplay. Depending on the co-eds, of course

This is awesome! So I can buy a NEW game at Best Buy for the same price as a USED game at GameStop? Sweet!

Can I still return it later if I open it up, play it, and don't like it?

No?

Crap. I'm going to GameStop.

(honestly I'd pay more for the used game just because I CAN return a clunker. As an aside, maybe we can get a games for clunkers program from the government?)

If the develeper's were to get a cut of the money, used games would go up in price. After all, Gamestop and their competition such as Game Dude isn't going to dip into their operating profit out of the goodness of their hearts. Without competition and used games forcing the price of new games down (Grand Theft Auto IV is $40 used at Gamestop; how long is it really gonna stay at $60 new?), we as consumers pay for these games, which means we have less money to spend. That means we buy less total games for our collections. We go out to eat less. We don't take trips to the beach.

I'm all in favor of the game developer's making money, but why on earth do consumers, as a whole, want to pay more money and sacrifice their standard of living?

And yes, I thoroughly realize that, as a consumer, I get more money if I resell personally over eBay, etc. I realize I can spend less money if I buy games over eBay, etc. I'm just too lazy to take the time to do that. GameStop is convenient. Like going to 7-11 rather than Wal-Mart, I'm paying more for my convenience. And I'm OK with that.

The biggest problem I see in Boom Blox's sales is that everyone is still going into stores and looking for Mario Kart and Wii Fit. Which are both most often in a "sold out" status. As long as Boom Blox keeps a decent advertising state, the game should have some legs. Carnival Games continued to (almost inexplicably) sell wells months and months after it came out. It wasn't the number one choice for holiday '07, but it frequently came in as a number two.

"Would you like Fries with that?"

Everyone knows what it means - that McDonalds is trying to get an add on transaction to help make it more money. Why does only GameStop get blasted for their versions of this? (i.e. trades, reserves, et al)

If you go out to eat, did your waitress ask if you wanted an appetizer or desert? She's trying to upsell you!

If you buy most anything from Best Buy, did the salesman try to offer an extended warranty? He's trying to upsell you!

If you go to get your car repaired, did the mechanic find something that could be wrong that he recommends you fix? He's trying to upsell you!

If you go to GameStop, did you get offered a reserve? He's trying to upsell you!

It's a common business practice. Every retail company I've been with advocates the rule of three - get three "No" answers before you stop offering add-ons.

Reserves. Trades. Game Informer.

So again. Why does only GameStop get this hate? Please - educate me!

Questions:
1) How many songs have been released via DLC since Rock Band came out?
2) How many songs have been released via DLC since Guitar Hero 3 came out?
3) How many tracks are on Guitar Hero: Aerosmith?

In a round about way, I'm trying to find out who will have released more music as of July 1st since GH3 and RB came out. I know DLC is all the rage, but you can't write off the fact that making a whole extra game counts as some work, even if you aren't the biggest Aerosmith fan.

Do some of you even realize how many games come out in a year? Keeping track of all of them is a herculean task. And yes, asking what platform you want to reserve Smash Bros. on sounds ridiculous. But I've been in a video game store and seen people ask for Mario on the Playstation 3. Swear up and down that it exists and they've played it. And that the employee is a liar for saying otherwise.

So maybe it's best to confirm these things rather than order a game and tell the customer after fact that they're a retard.

OK I admit I'm a corporate drone. That said:

(1) I really doubt it was a new game, and that instead the customer merely thought it was. I can't recall the last time I saw a copy of Steambot Chronicles in any store new. But it happens all the time....customers don't read the sticker that says NEW or USED on it, and assume it's the exact opposite. Let's see the sales receipt! If the product code started with a 9, then it was used. If the product code started with a 2 then I'll eat crow.

Also note that the article doesn't say a thing about how the situtation was resolved. Because the customer in all likelihood was taken care of.

(2) Yes, used games really are often about 10% cheaper than a new game. Which, to me, is fair. (a) The game content is the exact same (b) It's still protected by a 30 day in store warranty...with a new game you have to go through the manufacturer's warranty (c) It has the extra 7day ANY REASON exchange/refund period (d) No, it doesn't always have the original box or directions. But hey! You can find it! The store I'm at has a selection of about 300 new PS2 titles. And about 800 used PS2 titles. You tell me which category gives you, the consumer, greater choice. Much better to have something to sell than nothing (e) The moment you play a new game it's used anyway...guess what. They trade in for the same either way.

If you're planning on keeping the game forever, and take care of your stuff, I understand why you might want to buy it new and I don't care. But please...used does not equal abused. And you scoff at a $5 discount, but hey. That's a meal at McDonald's

(3) Believe it or not, Wal-mart, Best Buy, etc., reshrink wrap product that gets returned and sells it as new too. Ask an associate; if they're honest they'll admit to it. Most companies will take stuff back that they know works fine when the customer "says" it doesn't work just to shut them up, and resells it as new (the way in entered inventory) to avoid having to write $60 off as they throw it out. Yes, it's of questionable ethicality, I agree. But it happens EVERYWHERE

(4) On that note, factory-sealed games aren't immune from not working. Every year at least one game goes out that gets stamped wrong, and has to be recalled. Stuff happens, and buying new all the time can't save you from that

(5) Different stores yield different results, especially in small-box environments. Is every McDonald's you go to the same? The employees the same level of friendly, the bathrooms the same level of clean...heck the food the same temperature? I doubt it. Why apply the uniform standard to GameStop? Especially to GameStop - that's a company built up from an amalgamation of Babbage's, Software Etc., FuncoLand, Planet X, GameStop, Rhyno Games, EBX, EB Games, Electronics Boutique, and probably more? If you don't like one store, chances are there's another near by that you may like better.

(6) If you don't like the trade in values GameStop gives you, keep the game! Sell it on your own! If you take the time, you'll probably make more. That said...you have to take the time; GameStop offers the convenience of a guaranteed buy. Ever priced milk at a convenience store vs a supermarket? You don't get the better deal at where it's convenient for you, now do you?

(7) I LOVE how some people complain about the checkout policy, and then complain how employees aren't knowledgable about games that just came out. Look. Either let us play the damn game so we can tell you if it's good or not, or don't complain if we don't. You know what we get paid. We aren't about to buy every game. Make up your mind as to what's more important to you, tell our corporate overlords, and they just may listen

(8) Lastly, if you have tried several different GameStop's in your area and you're still not happy with the service you get...excercise your freedom of choice and don't shop there. Just don't yell at people who excercise their freedom of choice and still shop at GameStop because they find a value there that you don't.

Seriously, why the blind hatred towards GameStop? I don't get it. Yeah, some of the GameStop's around me suck. Guess what? I don't shop at those! Some of the others are great...it's always a pleasure to go in there.

GameStop is just like any other massive company. Some McDonald's are good...clean restaurants, outgoing employees, properly prepared food. Some suck...dirt everywhere, cold, soggy fries, and heaven forbid someone crack a smile.

But (with respect to the video game industry) it's only GameStop that gets such blind hatred. Just clue me in, please!