Like it or not, a storm is brewing, and one that is likely to impact gamers everywhere in a negative light. That storm would be the on-going battle for used game sales and DRM. With every new day bringing on the potential rumors of the next generation of consoles blocking used games, the war for this seems to be seeping through at every corner. But just why should this be allowed? Where is there an underlining rule that says used games are bad for business?

I heard an interesting analogy the other day, and I think it fits this argument wonderfully: a company doesn't get paid twice when a used car is sold, so why should a game developer and publisher get paid twice when their game sells? This is an excellent argument, and I agree with this 100%. Why should developers be given even more money? When their game launches, and its a relatively big title, why should they be paid twice? Skyrim, Mass Effect 3, Gears of War 3, all of these did exceptionally well when they were released. Why should these companies get paid again when this game sells at a used game store? That is how companies like Gamestop make their money, so if we block used game usage, then this is a gigantic nail in the coffin for companies like gamestop.

Gamer's are generally not wealthy people. For me personally, I have to really factor a new game purchase well, because I don't want to waste $60 - $70 on a game that might potentially suck. My most recent example of this would be Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. I owned that game for a grand total of six hours, and until I saw the horrible reviews, I finally returned it and ended up picking a different game up instead. Now, in a situation like that, yes reviews saved me there, but what about the good old method of trying a game out and returning it because you didn't like it? I can name countless times I've picked up a used game, tried it out, and returned it (or even the good old fashioned video game rental). This kind of thing will go down the tube fast if Microsoft and Sony decide to block used games.

Sure, we've already begun to see the downside of this with Online passes. I also hate the idea of this because if you want to let a friend borrow a game, then you simply have to buy the online pass, and that's like spending another ten dollars on something you already spent full price on (if you picked this up used that is).

Now no, I don't hate game developers. I just feel that a sense of greed is starting to become overwhelming in the games marketplace. With 2013 ramping up to most likely be the inevitable launch of new consoles, I for one hope that this used game, DRM business gets subsided. Plus we all know in the end, Gamestop will probably pay a large sum of money under the table to these compaines to keep this blocking used game business at bay. I just don't see a company like Gamestop rolling over and dying anytime soon.