The ScooterBlog

In a recent case of the pot calling the kettle black, Kotaku wrote that Next-Gen editor Colin Campbell (doesn’t he dole out suspensions in the NHL?!) wrote that used game sales are "parasitic" and cost the industry a billion dollars. This is my attempt to write that I am proud of my small but important contribution to this effort. Some of us are just not blessed, either by choice or by budget. Here’s the reason list:

• I would much rather support an independent retailer than I would a box chain. My $10 or $15 of profit is better spent for my needs supporting local economy than it is supporting a multi billion dollar company. Not to mention, if I’m buying the game used, someone somewhere in the line of the process has gotten paid, so the whole guilting process does nothing for me.
• Game Developers are finding new ways to make a buck directly, and I don’t mind them. With content going digital, most downloadable content and all of these mini Arcade style games can only be bought new, and that’s money in the pocket of developers. There are few things I appreciate more than continuing support for games and I’ve been faithful in getting updates to many games (Gears of War, Forza 2, Halo 3 are examples) and will continue to do so.
• The quoted numbers of $1 Billion are no different than their attempts to quote a number due to piracy. It’s a number thrown out there that would seem to be nearly impossible to substantiate or prove whether those people would buy new games should the opportunity present itself, which I would venture to say many would not.

Stores that I have worked for and patronized would not even exist if it wasn’t for the presence of used games, and I am willing to bet that franchises would never hit cult status if it wasn’t for the used game scene. It helps the industry and gamers as a whole, bashing it is nothing more than an unwanted cash grab.