Used video-game sales annoy EA

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

russ davis — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:55:10 GMT

ea sucks activision rules

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

CommieCowboy — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:21:49 GMT

If EA goes that route, they deserve to be bankrupted by pirates. Ever notice that piracy rates are highest in regions that meet one of two criteria: People lack disposable income (i.e. parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America) or they have a history of being screwed by the software industry (i.e. Europe, Australia, and, to a lesser extent, Canada...I mean, Simply Accounting 2003 cost 2.5 times more in Canada even after adjusting for the exchange rate...You think people are happy when they find out?). I don't believe in taxing the Hell out of corporations; the tax burden should instead be borne by wealthy consumers via luxury taxes and high marginal tax rates on high income brackets. If you're going to create an entity that produces something of value and that builds the economy rather than spend the money on a 3rd Lexus or horde it in some offshore bank account, I believe you should be rewarded. I do believe in regulating the Hell out of companies so as to shield society from anti-labour, anti-environment, and anti-consumer practices...It's BS that cellphone companies are allowed to lock phones to their networs or bar you from using music you've already paid for as ringtones. If the entertainment industry is willing to switch to a buy once, use anywhere model and becomes more accommodating to the public domain, I'd be far more willing to see the political class accommodate them on IP and piracy issues. How is it wrong to download the new Metallica album if I've already purchased the songs on Guitar Hero?

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

Mad Jim — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:14:48 GMT

Yes, some games come with EULA's that prohibit reselling games. Some games are 'locked' with username/passwords that prevent reselling. Neither of these things mean jack, however. The doctrine of first sale, a principle set within laws by Congress and upheld frequently by the courts, explicitly state that among the rights a consumer has is to resell the things they have bought, including games and software; once the 'first sale' was made, the entity that was selling the product loses any right to say when and how the product can be resold. Any portion of the EULA that tries to circumvent the consumer protections is invalid, and the bull about 'licensing' the games and not selling them hasn't held any water, either.

Time and time again, the courts have upheld the rights to resell a legally made purchase, and slapped down any company that somehow tries to prevent that. Sony and Novell have tried and failed to get around it, and after Microsoft was sued under the Clayton Act (for anticompetitive practices), it settled out of court.

Furthermore, EA and all of the companies know that they can't do what many fear and somehow try to make it impossible to resell, so their only venue is to try and actually provide more value than the current price tag of $60 provides. Of course if they created their games with something besides an "it's either a smash hit or a complete failure" mindset, they could reduce how much it costs to make, reduce the price, and make smaller but more numerous profitable games and even increase the chance of making a surprise breakout game that reshapes the gaming landscape, instead of merely adding a one to the game's number and rereleasing it.

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

Dan — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:46:33 GMT

Actually, apparently E.A.'s strategy now (which from a business viewpoint is pretty smart) is to limit the number of times you can install a game to something low like 3 (through the use of DRM), which then in turn limits the ability of a game to be re-sold.

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

AK — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:06:12 GMT

First of all, I realize it takes many hours and a lot of talent to develop a smooth running game that will stand the test of time.

With that in mind, I would happily pay for an extra level or campaign and new maps for the games I like if EA would continue to support them. It's cheap entertainment.

Mercenary Gaming [merc] is a family based gaming clan that plays Medal of Honor Spearhead among other games. The clan really grew together around a single EA game and I think most of us would pay for more maps and updates in an effort to keep the games we love fresh and fun to play. We all worry that someday the game engine and play will no longer be relevant because of the age of the game.

A mere $70 investment over 5 years has returned many hours of exciting gameplay for me and I would spend $20-$50 year without hesitation for game updates. On the whole, this form of entertainment is much more economical than renting movies, going to the movies, or bowlling.

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

mnrumbler — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:48:45 GMT

Remember board games?

Low cost, real interaction with other human beings, hours of fun, never broke down or needed to reboot. If you lost a piece you just made a replacement piece yourself or created a new rule to the game.

Card games were even simpler and more portable. Take them anywhere, play them anywhere.

Sports video games. Whatever happened to actually going out and playing the sport with other human beings,actually interacting, and getting some excercise to boot. Imagine, buying a basketball, playing on the courts and not having to buy something new each time. You can reuse the ball over and over and over again. it never runs out of power, maybe some air occassionally, and is always ready to play whenever you are.

I'm glad I never got into the video game habit. My time and money are more valuable than that.

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

nygiant — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:07:03 GMT

Yikes,looks like buying up exclusives licenses(Madden,NCAA,etc),is biting EA in the butt.No one told to spend millions to lock up game series.Oh well,get your money online or in game advertising.I buy mostly new,but either people buy games used or wait until the price drops.i.e. 6 months after said game is out.

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

EA sucks — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:21:07 GMT

Increasing the price of a standard game to $60 from $50 is too big a jump not to notice by consumers. Besides gas, what other product has jumped 20%?

And it isn't as if a hurricane came through the video game world; the technology simply changed, and it's the company's choice to spend more on video game production.

They need to wake up though, because crap like NBA 2007 is the reason why the aftermarket is so large. If people don't want to play your game, they won't keep it, meaning there are more to sell second hand.

And don't forget, even if they shut down Game Stop, they can't shut down ebay!

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

John Monahan — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:01:15 GMT

I agree with the other poster.. Hey EA why don't you release games that actually worked. The last one I bought (NEW) was so buggy I never got it to work on any of my computers then I finally fond a friend who it would play on his machine. The darn game would lock up every 5-15 minutes. Funny part (well not too funny) was the demo worked great.

re: Used video-game sales annoy EA

eXTRemnod — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:49:22 GMT

avid player...loved westwood till EA bought it....loved my command and conquer,,,there was no better game back in aug of 1998 when Tiberian came out.... finally...I think 2006 cnc3 came out,....totally different and now 2008 look what came out and the diff factions....Just not the same......Ghost recon was great,,,still is......then graw2 came out.. looks more like rainbow six....Just not the same either........Now tiger Woods 2008 bought 2006,,2007 now I hear 2008 is the last one for PC users....EA doesnt like what we do with their CD'S himmmmm............ more fun now playing at brainking.com and itsyourturn.com cd playing is just getting more expensive and getting worse